Interpretation of synchrotron radiation circular dichroism spectra of anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic dialanine forms

Electronic absorption and synchrotron radiation circular dichroism (SRCD) spectra of the anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic forms of L-alanyl-L-alanine (AA) in aqueous solutions were measured and interpreted by molecular dynamics (MD) and ab initio computations. Time-dependent density functional theory (TD DFT) was applied to predict the electronic excited states. The modeling enabled the assessment of the role of molecular conformation, charge, and interaction with the polar environment in the formation of the spectral shapes. Particularly, inclusion of explicit solvent molecules in the computations appeared to be imperative because of the participation of water orbitals in the amide electronic structure. Implicit dielectric continuum solvent models gave inferior results for clusters, especially at low-energy transitions. Because of the dispersion of transition energies, tens of water/AA clusters had to be averaged in order to obtain reasonable spectral shapes with a more realistic inhomogeneous broadening. The modeling explained most of the observed differences, as the anionic and zwitterionic SRCD spectra were similar and significantly different from the cationic spectrum. The greatest deviation between the experimental and theoretical curves observed for the lowest-energy negative anion signal can be explained by the limited precision of the TD DFT method, but also by the complex dynamics of the amine group. The results also indicate that differences in the experimental spectral shapes do not directly correlate with the peptide main-chain conformation. Future peptide and protein conformational studies based on circular dichroic spectroscopy can be reliable only if such effects of molecular dynamics, solvent structure, and polar solvent-solute interactions are taken into account.     

Automation of solid-phase microextraction on a 96-well plate format

Studies have been performed assessing the feasibility and characterizing the automation of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) on a multi-well plate format. Four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), naphthalene, fluorene, anthracene and fluoranthene, were chosen as test analytes to demonstrate the technique due to their favorable partition coefficients, K(fw), between polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) extraction phases and water. Four different PDMS configurations were investigated regarding their suitability. These included (i) a PDMS membrane; (ii) a multi-fiber device containing lengths of PDMS-coated flexible wire; (iii) a stainless steel pin covered with silicone hollow fiber membrane and (iv) commercial PDMS-coated flexible metal fiber assemblies. Of these configurations, the stainless steel pin covered with silicone tubing was chosen as a robust alternative. An array of 96 SPME devices that can be placed simultaneously into a 96-well plate was constructed to demonstrate the high-throughput potential when performing multiple microextractions in parallel. Different agitation methods were assessed including magnetic stirring, sonication, and orbital shaking at different speeds. Orbital shaking whilst holding the SPME device in a stationary position provided the optimum agitation conditions for liquid SPME. Once the analytes had been extracted, desorption of the analytes into an appropriate solvent was investigated. Liquid-phase SPME and solvent desorption on the multi-well plate format is shown to be a viable alternative for automated high-throughput SPME analysis compatible with both gas- and liquid-chromatography platforms.     

Development and optimization of ultra-high performance supercritical fluid chromatography mass spectrometry method for high-throughput determination of tocopherols and tocotrienols in human serum

The goal of this study was to develop an effective supercritical fluid chromatography method using single quadrupole MS for analysis of all isomeric forms of vitamin E. Finally, two fast and effective methods, the high resolution one and the high speed one, for the determination of 8 vitamin E isomers in human serum were developed.     

RP-HPLC analysis of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in beverages and plant extracts using a CoulArray detector

Methods were developed for the analysis of natural antioxidants including phenolic compounds and flavonoids in beverages and plant extracts using gradient HPLC with multi-channel electrochemical coulometric detection. Suitability of various reversed-phase columns for this purpose was compared; pH and mobile phase gradients were optimized with respect to the separation selectivity and sensitivity of detection. Because of different target compounds in various sample types, the overlapping resolution maps and the normalized resolution product approaches described earlier were used to select optimum columns and gradients to suit the analysis of the individual sample types. The methods were applied to the analysis of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in beer, wine, tea, and yacon extracts. 32 phenolic compounds were identified and determined, including derivatives of benzoic and cinnamic acids, flavones, and a few related glycosides. Eight-channel CoulArray detection offers high selectivity and sensitivity with limits of detection in the low microg L(-1) range, at least an order of magnitude lower than single-channel coulometric detection using the Coulochem detector. No special sample pretreatment is necessary and, because of the compatibility of the CoulArray detector with gradient elution, phenolic antioxidants of different polarities can be determined in a single run. In addition to the retention times, the ratios of the areas of the pre-dominant and post-dominant peaks to the area of the dominant peak can be used for improved identification of natural antioxidants.     

A New Insight into the Stereoelectronic Control of the Pd0-Catalyzed Allylic Substitution: Application for the Synthesis of Multisubstituted Pyran-2-ones via an Unusual 1,3-Transposition

Pyran-2-ones 3 undergo a novel Pd⁰-catalyzed 1,3-rearrangement to afford isomers 6 . The reaction proceeds via an η²-Pd complex, the pyramidalization of which (confirmed by quantum chemistry calculations) offers a favorable antiperiplanar alignment of the Pd−C and allylic C−O bonds ( C ), thus allowing the formation of an η³-Pd intermediate. Subsequent rotation and rate-limiting recombination with the carboxylate arm then gives isomeric pyran-2-ones 6 . The calculated free energies reproduce the observed kinetics semi-quantitatively.     

Glycosyl azide—a novel substrate for enzymatic transglycosylations

Glycosyl azides are new efficient donors for glycosidases. Their high water solubility facilitates transglycosylations with comparable or better yields than common O-glycosides. The azido group totally changes the β-GalNAc-ase/β-GlcNAc-ase ratio in β-N-acetylhexosaminidases (from the usual 0.3-1.0 to <0.01), contrary to all known aglycons.     

Development and validation of methods for the trace determination of phthalates in sludge and vegetables

A routine method which is simple, quick and precise has been set up and validated for phthalate analysis in environmental samples (tomato plants and sewage sludges). Six phthalates have been studied simultaneously: dimethylphthalate, diethylphthalate, di-n-butylphthalate, n-butylbenzylphthalate, di-2-ethyl-hexyl phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-octylphthalate. Optimization of sample, solvent extraction uses a Soxtec apparatus and extract purification with an a solid-phase extraction cartridge allows between 90 and 110% recovery of phthalates. Precise, sensitive and selective identification and quantifying of analytes is by GC-MS in the single ion monitoring mode. This protocol allows analytes with concentrations as low as 10 microg/kg dry matter (DM) to be determined from small (1-2 g DM) samples. This analytical method has been applied to the phthalate transfer study for agricultural recycling of sludges, where phthalate bioavailability has been studied in aquiculture using two types of experiments. Tomatoes have been grown in containers where the trace organics have been directly introduced as pure substances, and in a second experiment under the same growth conditions, sewage sludge has replaced the pure substances. Transfer of these trace organics has been followed into the various parts of the tomato plant and in general only the DEHP is worthy of note although its percentage transfer remains very low even in an experiment designed to maximize this.     

Influence of UV irradiation and subsequent chemical grafting on the surface properties of cellulose

Cellulose - This work is devoted to the study of surface properties of cellulose before and after a surface modification. Surface modification of polymeric materials was carried out in two steps:...     

Biocompatible hydrogels based on chitosan,cellulose/starch,PVA and PEDOT:PSS with high flexibility and high mechanical strength

Fabricating mechanically strong hydrogels that can withstand the conditions in internal tissues is a challenging task. We have designed hydrogels based on multicomponent systems by combining chitosan, starch/cellulose, PVA, and PEDOT:PSS via one-pot synthesis. The starch-based hydrogels were homogeneous, while the cellulose-based hydrogels showed the presence of cellulose micro- and nanofibers. The cellulose-based hydrogels demonstrated a swelling ratio between 121 and 156%, while the starch-based hydrogels showed higher values, from 234 to 280%. Tensile tests indicated that the presence of starch in the hydrogels provided high flexibility (strain at break?>?300%), while combination with cellulose led to the formation of stiffer hydrogels (elastic moduli 3.9–6.6 MPa). The ultimate tensile strength for both types of hydrogels was similar (2.8–3.9 MPa). The adhesion and growth of human osteoblast-like SAOS-2 cells was higher on hydrogels with cellulose than on hydrogels with starch, and was higher on hydrogels with PEDOT:PSS than on hydrogels without this polymer. The metabolic activity of cells cultivated for 3 days in the hydrogel infusions indicated that no acutely toxic compounds were released. This is promising for further possible applications of these hydrogels in tissue engineering or in wound dressings.

Graphical abstract