The application of amine-terminated silicon quantum dots on the imaging of human serum proteins after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE)

Novel amine-terminated silicon (Si) quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized and applied for the detection of human serum proteins on gels directly after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The diameter of these stable amine-terminated Si?QDs was in the range of 0.5-2.0 nm. In this study, the fluorescent imaging conditions, such as the buffer solution, pH value, buffer concentration and quantity of Si?QDs, were optimized and the possible mechanisms of Si?QDs-protein interaction were analyzed. The mode of Si?QDs and human serum albumin association was found to occur by hydrogen bond interactions; this was probably attributed to the interaction between the amino group of amine-terminated Si?QDs and the carboxyl group of proteins. Meanwhile, human serum proteins separated by native 1D and native 2D electrophoresis were detected by Si QD-based fluorescent imaging. Some proteins, such as isoform 1 of α-1-antitrypsin, complement C3 (Fragment) and hemopexin, which were identified by mass spectrometry (MS), were easily detected by using Si?QDs, but not with CBB-R250 staining. The Si?QDs-based fluorescent imaging technique with high resolution is a sensitive and dependable method for direct detection of human serum proteins, and has enormous potential in clinical diagnosis.     

Ionic pair complexes with well-separated columnar stack structure based on [Pt(mnt)2]- ions showing unusual magnetic transition: syntheses, crystal structures, and magnetic properties

Three ion pair complexes, [4-R-benzylpyridinium][bis(maleodinitriledithiolato)platinum(III)] (abbreviated as [RBzPy][Pt(mnt)(2)]; R = Cl (1), Br (2), or NO(2) (3)), have been synthesized. The cations and anions stack into well-separated columns in the solid state, and the Pt(III) ions form a 1-D zigzag chain within a [Pt(mnt)(2)](-) column through Pt...S, S...S, and Pt...S...Pt interactions. The chain is uniform in 1 and 2, while it alternates in 3. Unusual magnetic phase transitions from paramagnetism to diamagnetism were observed in these three complexes at approximately 275 K for 1, approximately 269 K for 2, and approximately 184 K for 3. These phase transitions were also found in DSC measurements for 1 and 2. The overall magnetic behaviors for 1-3 indicate the presence of antiferromagnetic exchange interactions in the high-temperature phase and spin-gapped systems in the low-temperature phase. Below 50 K, 2 exhibits weak ferromagnetism. The spontaneous moments are nearly repressed by a field of 1.0 T. The crystal structure of 2 at 173 K reveals that there are two crystallographically independent [Pt(mnt)(2)](-) entries in an asymmetric unit. These two crystallographically independent [Pt(mnt)(2)](-) entries satisfy the spin-canting condition, and the EPR spectra measured at room temperature exhibit anisotropic character. Therefore, the weak ferromagnetic behavior in the low-temperature region for 2 can be attributed to the spin-canting phenomenon.     

Synthesis and characterization of temperature-sensitive cellulose-graft-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) copolymers

A new series of cellulose-graft-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(cellulose-g-PNIPAM) copolymers were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization(ATRP) of N-isopropylacrylamide monomers from a cellulose-based macro-initiator, which was homogeneously synthesized in an ionic liquid 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride(Amim Cl). The composition of cellulose-g-PNIPAM copolymers could be adjusted by altering the feeding ratio and reaction time. The resultant copolymers with relatively high content of PNIPAM segments(molar substitution of PNIPAM ? 18.3) were soluble in water at room temperature. Aqueous solutions of cellulose-g-PNIPAM copolymers exhibited clear temperature-sensitive behavior, and their sol-to-gel phase transition properties were investigated by dynamic light scattering(DLS) and UV measurements. Compared with pure PNIPAM, the cellulose-g-PNIPAM copolymers possessed higher lower critical solution temperatures(LCST) in a range from 36.9 ?C to 40.8 ?C, which are close to normal human body temperature, and could be tuned by adjusting the content of PNIPAM segments in copolymers. Spherical structure of cellulose-g-PNIPAM copolymers formed at temperatures above LCST and its morphology was observed by TEM and SEM. These novel cellulose-g-PNIPAM copolymers may be attractive substrates for some biomedical applications, such as drug release and tissue engineering.     

Direct and quantitative analysis of underivatized acylcarnitines in serum and whole blood using paper spray mass spectrometry

A simple protocol for rapid quantitation of acylcarnitines in serum and whole blood has been developed using paper spray mass spectrometry. Dried serum and whole blood containing a mixture of ten acylcarnitines at various concentrations were analyzed as spots from paper directly without any sample pretreatment, separation, or derivatization. The composition of the spray solvent was found to be a critical factor: for serum samples, spray solvent of methanol/water/formic acid (80:20:0.1) gave the best signal intensity while for blood samples which contain more matrix components, acetonitrile/water (90:10) was a much more suitable spray solvent. For the paper type and size used, 0.5 μL of sample provided an optimal signal for both serum and whole blood samples. For quantitative profiling, the limits of quantitation obtained from both serum and blood were much lower than the clinically validated cutoff values for diagnosis of fatty acid oxidation disorders in newborn screening. Linearity (R(2) > 0.95) and reproducibility (RSD ~10 %) were achieved in the concentration ranges from 100 nM to 5 μM for the C2 acylcarnitine, and for other acylcarnitines, these values were from 10 to 500 nM. Acylcarnitine profiles offer an effective demonstration of the fact that paper spray mass spectrometry is an appropriate, simple, rapid method with high sensitivity and high reproducibility applicable to newborn screening tests.     

Tailoring the structure of metal oxide nanostructures towards enhanced sensing properties for environmental applications

The present article reviews recent works in our laboratory about the sensing properties to toxic gases using nanostructured WO(3), TiO(2), FTiO(2), and CuO functionalized quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors. WO(3) and TiO(2) functionalized QCM sensors have much shorter response time than those functionalized by conventional hydrogen-bond acidic branched copolymers for detection of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP). FTiO(2) functionalized QCM sensors can improve the gas sensing characteristics by shortening the response time but at the price of partial irreversibility. The sensing mechanism was examined by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). Varied CuO nanostructures were synthesized by simple modulation of reaction conditions. All the as-prepared CuO was applied on QCM resonators and explored for HCN sensing. Surprisingly, responses of all the sensors to HCN were found to be in an opposite direction as compared with other common volatile substances, offering excellent selectivity for HCN detection. The sensitivity was very high, and the response and recovery were very fast. Comparison of the specific surface areas of CuO nanostructures showed that CuO of higher surface area is more sensitive than that of lower surface area, indicating that the specific surface area of these CuO nanostructures plays an important role in the sensitivity of related sensors. Based on experimental results, a sensing mechanism was proposed in which a surface redox reaction occurs between CuO and Cu(2)O on the CuO nanostructures reversibly upon contact with HCN and air, respectively. The CuO functionalized QCM sensors are considered to be a promising candidate for trace HCN gas detection in practical applications.     

Experimental and theoretical study of the reactions between vanadium oxide cluster cations and water

Vanadium oxide cluster cations V(x)O(y)(+) (x = 2-6) are prepared by laser ablation and are reacted with D(2)O in a fast flow reactor under room temperature conditions. A time-of-flight mass spectrometer is used to detect the cluster distribution before and after the reactions. Observation of the products (V(2)O(5))(1-3)D(+) indicates the deuterium atom abstraction reaction (V(2)O(5))(1-3)(+) + D(2)O → (V(2)O(5))(1-3)D(+) + OD. In addition, significant association products (V(2)O(5))(1-3)D(2)O(+) are also observed in the experiments. Density functional theory calculations are performed to study the reaction mechanisms of V(4)O(10)(+) with H(2)O. The calculated results are in agreement with the experimental observations and indicate that H(2)O is dissociatively rather than molecularly adsorbed in V(4)O(10)H(2)O(+) complex.     

Modification of the surfaces of Wyoming montmorillonite by the cationic surfactants alkyl trimethyl, dialkyl dimethyl, and trialkyl methyl ammonium bromides

Surfaces of a Wyoming SWy-2 sodium montmorillonite were modified using microwave radiation through intercalation with the cationic surfactants octadecyl-trimethyl ammonium bromide, dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide, and methyl-tri-octadecyl ammonium bromide by an ion exchange mechanism. Changes in the surfaces and structure were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (TG) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Different configurations of surfactants within montmorillonite interlayer are proposed based on d(001) basal spacings. A range of surfactant molecular environments within the surface-modified montmorillonite are proposed based upon their thermal decomposition. IR spectroscopy using a smart endurance single bounce diamond attenuated total reflection (ATR) cell has been used to study the changes in the spectra of CH asymmetric and symmetric stretching modes of the surfactants to provide more information of the surfactant molecular configurations.     

Synthesis,characterization and DNA binding studies of ruthenium(II) complexes: [Ru(bpy)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(dtmi)]<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and [Ru(bpy)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(dtni)]<Superscript>2+</Superscript>

Two new ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes (1) (dtmi = 3-(pyrazin-2-yl)-as-triazino[5,6-f]-5-methoxylisatin) and (2) (dtni = 3-(pyrazin-2-yl)-as-triazino[5,6-f]-5-nitroisatin) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FAB-MS, ES-MS and ¹H-n.m.r. The DNA-binding patterns of complexes were investigated by spectroscopic titration, viscosity measurements and thermal denaturation. The results indicate that the complexes (1) and (2) interact with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) by intercalative mode. Due to the withdrawing electronic substitutent in the intercalative ligand, ptni, the DNA-binding affinity of the complexes (2) is larger than that complex (1) does.     

Asymmetric synthesis of ring functionalized trans-2,6-disubstituted piperidines from N-sulfinyl delta-amino beta-keto phosphonates. total synthesis of (-)-myrtine

Sulfinimine-derived N-sulfinyl delta-amino beta-ketophosphonates are transformed via the enaminones to the phosphoryl dihydropyridones that selectively give trans-2,6-disubstituted 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines on organocuprate addition and dephosphorylation.