Beta-1,3-glucan polysaccharides as novel one-dimensional hosts for DNA/RNA, conjugated polymers and nanoparticles

Beta-1,3-glucan polysaccharides have triple-stranded helical structures whose sense and pitch are comparable to those of polynucleotides. We recently revealed that the beta-1,3-glucans could interact with certain polynucleotides to form triple-stranded and helical macromolecular complexes consisting of two polysaccharide-strands and one polynucleotide-strand. This unique property of the beta-1,3-glucans has made it possible to utilize these polysaccharides as potential carriers for various functional polynucleotides. In particular, cell-uptake efficiency of the resultant polysaccharide/polynucleotide complexes was remarkably enhanced when functional groups recognized in a biological system were introduced as pendent groups. The beta-1,3-glucans can also interact with various one-dimensional architectures, such as single-walled carbon nanotubes, to produce unique nanocomposites, in which the single-walled carbon nanotubes are entrapped within the helical superstructure of beta-1,3-glucans. Various conductive polymers and gold nanoparticles are also entrapped within the helical superstructure in a similar manner. In addition, diacetylene monomers entrapped within the helical superstructure can be photo-polymerized to afford the corresponding poly(diacetylene)-nanofibers with a uniform diameter. These findings indicate that the beta-1,3-glucans are very attractive and useful materials not only in biotechnology but also in nanotechnology. These unique properties of the beta-1,3-glucans undoubtedly originate from their inherent, very strong helix-forming character which has never been observed for other polysaccharides.     

Modeling the adsorption of U(VI) onto animal chitin using coupled mass transfer and surface complexation

This paper reports the development of a treatment system, using animal chitin as a passive biosorbent, for removing U(VI) from aqueous waste streams. An integral part of this system is a model that provides for the optimization of the treatment system through simulation of U(VI) removal efficiency based on the characteristics of the influent waste stream. The model accounts for changing solution matrix conditions through the coupling of surface complexation and mass transfer models. Complexation of U(VI) by chitin surface sites was modeled using FITEQL. Application of FITEQL in the “forward” mode provided the sorbed and aqueous phase concentrations needed for the mass transfer model. The mass transfer model was derived for both batch and continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) configurations using Fick's Law, reactor mass balances and rate law expressions. The coupled model was successfully validated using CSTR data at pH 6.5 and rate constants determined from batch sorption experiments. The CSTR configuration yields a steady-state, eighty percent U(VI) removal for 1 μM influent U(VI) with a solution-phase pH of 6.5 and 3.9 g l⁻¹ chitin.     

TYROSINE-SENSITIZED PHOTODIMERIZATION OF THYMINE IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION

Abstract. Photodimerization of thymine in aqueous solution in the presence of tyrosine was studied with monochromatic UV irradiation. The total dimer formation was sensitized in the presence of tyrosine. The action spectrum of sensitized total dimer formation has a peak near 280 nm corresponding to the absorption maximum of tyrosine. Triplet quenchers reduced the sensitization substantially. It seems probable that tyrosine-sensitized photodimerization of thymine occurred via triplet-triplet energy transfer from tyrosine to thymine.     

Insoluble monolayers of irisresorcinol at the air/water interface

Monolayer properties of irisresorcinol [5-(cis-10-heptadecenyl) resorcinol] were measured at the air/water interface. TheA-T isobars of the monolayers at 10 and 15 mN/m gave two-dimensional thermal expansivities of 1.4 × 10^–4/K and 1.3 × 10^–4/K at a temperature span from 7–40 C, respectively. The- A isotherms of the material showed only a little dependence on temperature from 5–35 C and onpH except at highpH, where monolayers expanded by ionization of resorcinol headgroups. Some types of saccharose in the subphase exhibited a characteristic interaction with irisresorcinol in monolayers, and there is a possibility that this material will be used for molecular recognition of some saccharoses.     

Midgap levels of photoexcited conductive polymers. I. A simple description of the midgap levels based on molecular orbital interaction

We studied the midgap levels appearing in the photoexcited conductive polymers such as trans- and cis-polyacetylenes, poly(p-phenylene), polypyrrole, and polyacene based on the molecular orbital analysis. The midgap levels are constructed from the transformation of the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of the ground state. As the result of the localization of the wave functions associated with these midgap levels, large polarization is induced between adjacent carbon atoms. Based on the examination of the energy gap between the two midgap levels, the polymers with a nondegenerate ground state such as cis-polyacetylene, poly(p-phenylene), and polypyrrole would show no sizable photoconductivities.     

Nitrogen adsorption on fluorinated activated carbon fiber

Nitrogen adsorption isotherms for fluorinated activated carbon fiber (F-ACF) and fluorinated carbon black (F-CB) were measured at 77 K. Surface structures of F-ACF and F-CB were examined by _s -plot analysis using the adsorption data on the nonporous carbon black (CB) and F-CB. The surface energy of F-ACF was lower than that of ACF. The micropore structure of ACF was preserved even after fluorination, although the limiting adsorption amount and the micropore width decreased with fluorination.     

Isotone solutions of parametric linear complementarity problems

The parametric linear complementarity problem is given by the conditions:q + p + Mz 0, 0,z 0,z ^T (q + p + Mz) = 0. Under the assumption thatM is a P-matrix, Cottle proved that the solution mapz() of the above problem is montonically nondecreasing in the parameter for every nonnegativeq and everyp if and only ifM is a Minkowski matrix. This paper examines whether a similar result holds in various other settings including a nonlinear case.     

PREPARATION AND PROPERTY OF POLYMERIC PENDANT Ru(bpy)_3~(2+) COMPLEXES

Polymeric pendant Ru(bpy)_3~(2+) complexes were prepared from homopolymer and copolymers of 4-methyl-4'-vinyl-2,2'-bipyridine (Vbpy). Vbpy was prepared from 4-methylpyridine. The comonomers were styrene (St), acrylic acid (AA), N-vinylpyrrolidone (Pyr), 4-vinylpyridine (Vpy), methyl methacrylate (MMA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), acrylonitrile (AN) and N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridium bromide (EQ-Vpy). The fraction of the pendant Ru(bpy)_3~(2+) repeating unit in the polymeric complex was 0.022 to 0.052. Absorption maximum, molar extinction coefficient, emission maximum and relative emission intensity of the polymeric complexes were studied.     

A practical synthesis of 4′-thioribonucleosides

A practical synthesis of 4′-thioribonucleosides starting from inexpensive l-arabinose is described. 1,4-Anhydro-2,3-O-isopropylidene-4-thioribitol, which was prepared by using a novel reductive ring-contraction reaction, was converted to the 5-O-silylated sulfoxides. The Pummerer-type thioglycosylation of the sulfoxides gave the 4′-thioribonucleosides stereoselectively.     

Affinity transformation from hydrophilicity to hydrophobicity of water molecules on the basis of adsorption of water in graphitic nanopores

The interaction of water with hydrophobic surfaces is quite important in a variety of chemical and biochemical phenomena. The coexistence of water and oil can be realized by introduction of surfactants. In the case of water vapor adsorption on graphitic nanopores, plenty of water can be adsorbed in graphitic nanopores without surfactants, although the graphitic surface is not hydrophilic. Why are water molecules adsorbed in hydrophobic nanopores remarkably? This work can give an explicit insight to water adsorption in hydrophobic graphite nanopores using experimental and theoretical approaches. Water molecules are associated with each other to form the cluster of 1 nm in size, leading to a significant stabilization of the cluster in the graphitic nanopores. This mechanism can be widely applied to interfacial phenomena relating to coexistence of water and nanostructural materials of hydrophobicity.