Fluorometric determination of sugars using fluorescein-labeled concanavalin A–glycogen conjugates

The fluorescence of fluoresceinisothiocyanate-labeled concanavalin A (FITC-Con A) was quenched by forming an FITC-Con A–glycogen conjugate and dequenched upon addition of sugars to the conjugate solution due to disaggregation of the conjugate. However, fluorescence quenching was barely observed upon formation of FITC-Con A–dextran conjugate. The sugar-induced fluorescence response of the FITC-Con A–glycogen conjugate depended significantly on the type of sugar: methylated α-D-glucose and α-D-mannose both induced high and rapid responses, while the responses to D-mannose and D-glucose were moderate. In contrast, no response was observed in the presence of D-galactose due to a lack of affinity to Con A. Thus, it is apparent that D-glucose and other sugars can be detected via the fluorescence of the FITC-Con A–glycogen conjugate.      

Pt(II)- or Au(III)-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of metal-containing azomethine ylides: highly efficient synthesis of the mitosene skeleton

[reaction: see text] Only 1-3 mol % of PtCl(2) or AuBr(3) was sufficient to promote generation and [3+2] cycloaddition of transition-metal-containing azomethine ylides derived from N-(o-alkynylphenyl)imines bearing an internal alkyne moiety. A highly efficient method for the preparation of synthetically useful tricyclic indole derivatives having a substituent at the 3-position of the indole nucleus was established by this method.     

Effect of ultrasound sonication on electroplating of iridium

Effect of ultrasound sonication was examined on the electroplating of iridium in aqueous hexabromoiridate(III) solution. The electrodeposits were evaluated by observing the defects of the iridium deposits by means of voltammetry, in which the current-potential curves of the iridium deposits on copper were measured. Applying ultrasound sonication to the electroplating of iridium decreased the defects including the cracks in the deposit whenever the glycerol as the additives was contained or not in the electrolyte.     

Widely tunable terahertz-wave generation using an N-benzyl-2-methyl-4-nitroaniline crystal

Widely tunable terahertz (THz)-wave generation using difference frequency generation (DFG) in an organic N-benzyl-2-methyl-4-nitroaniline (BNA) crystal was demonstrated. To our knowledge, this is the first report of THz-wave generation by BNA DFG. Large, high-quality single crystals of BNA (phi 8 mm x 30 mm) were grown using the vertical Bridgman method. The nonlinear optical (NLO) coefficient d(33) of the BNA crystal is approximately 234 pm/V, which is the largest value reported for any yellow NLO material. The collinear phase-matching condition of the type-0 configuration is satisfied using a 0.7-1 microm band pump wavelength. We generated THz waves using an organic BNA crystal; the generation range is 0.1-15 THz.     

Photophysical property and photostability of J-aggregate thin films of thiacyanine dyes prepared by the spin-coating method

By use of electrostatic interactions of dye molecules and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA), the spin-coating technique has been successfully applied to the preparation of stable J-aggregate thin films of thiacarbocyanine dyes on a polycarbonate or quartz plate. The J-aggregate thin films were prepared by the spin-coating of PDDA aqueous solution on dye thin films prepared on a substrate by the spin-coating of 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propanol solution of dyes. Photophysical properties of the dye thin films and J-aggregate thin films were studied by measuring the fluorescence spectra, quantum yields, and lifetimes. Coherent size of the J-aggregates was estimated to be 3-12 by means of the absorption bandwidth (full width at half maximum) or radiative lifetime. Photostability of the J-aggregate thin films was also studied in terms of photodegradation efficiency under argon and oxygen in comparison with the dye thin films, and J-aggregate thin films were found to be more stable than the corresponding dye thin films.     

Biomaterials and biofunctionality in layered macromolecular assemblies

Recent research in the field of LbL assembly is summarized and categorized as fabrication, sensing, drug release/delivery, and cell technology. Special emphasis is given to topics such as cell-membrane-mimic assembly, fabrication of free-standing biomolecular structures including protein microtubes, detection of DNA adducts and reactive metabolites, DNA hybridization analysis, sensing of toxic and bio-active chemicals, entrapment of proteins and DNA, biocomponent carriers with barcode encoding, release and delivery of DNA plasmids, multiagent delivery, smart defense capsules and oxidation-resistant films, vector introduction to cells, patterned cell culturing and microfluidic microreactors, stem cell differentiation, cellular uptake and degradation, and control of cellular apoptosis.