Functionalization of silicon surfaces with catalytically active Pd complexes and application to the aerobic oxidation of benzylic alcohols

A single-crystal silicon surface was modified with a bisoxazoline-Pd molecular layer and utilized as a highly efficient (catalyst turnover number up to 780,000, 110 degrees C, 72 h) and recyclable catalyst in the aerobic oxidation of benzylic alcohols.     

Enzymatic synthesis of poly(α-ethyl β-aspartate) by poly(ethylene glycol) modified poly(aspartate) hydrolase-1

We recently discovered that poly(aspartate) (PAA) hydrolase‐1 from Pedobacter sp. KP‐2 has a unique property of specifically cleaving the amide bond between β‐aspartate units in thermally synthesized PAA (tPAA). In the present study, the enzymatic synthesis of poly(α‐ethyl β‐aspartate) (β‐PAA) was performed by taking advantage of the substrate specificity of PAA hydrolase‐1. No polymerization of diethyl L ‐aspartate by native PAA hydrolase‐1 occurred because of the low dispersibility of the enzyme in organic solvent. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) modification of the enzyme improved its dispersibility and enabled it to polymerize the monomer substrate. MALDI‐TOF MS analysis showed that the synthesized polymer was observed in the range of m/z = 750–2 500. This analysis also revealed that the polymer was composed of ethyl aspartate units, containing either an ethyl ester or a free carboxyl end group at its carboxyl terminus. ¹H NMR analysis demonstrated that the synthesized polymer consisted of only β‐amide linkages. Thus, the present results indicate that PAA hydrolase‐1 modified with PEG is useful for the synthesis of β‐PAA due to its unique substrate specificity and good dispersibility in organic solvent.

     

On-chip magnetically actuated robot with ultrasonic vibration for single cell manipulations

This paper presents an innovative driving method for an on-chip robot actuated by permanent magnets in a microfluidic chip. A piezoelectric ceramic is applied to induce ultrasonic vibration to the microfluidic chip and the high-frequency vibration reduces the effective friction on the MMT significantly. As a result, we achieved 1.1 micrometre positioning accuracy of the microrobot, which is 100 times higher accuracy than without vibration. The response speed is also improved and the microrobot can be actuated with a speed of 5.5 mm s(-1) in 3 degrees of freedom. The novelty of the ultrasonic vibration appears in the output force as well. Contrary to the reduction of friction on the microrobot, the output force increased twice as much by the ultrasonic vibration. Using this high accuracy, high speed, and high power microrobot, swine oocyte manipulations are presented in a microfluidic chip.     

Preparation of an Electrode Modified with an Electropolymerized Film as a Mediator of NADH Oxidation and Its Application in an Ethanol/O2 Biofuel Cell

This paper reports a novel mediator for the oxidation of β‐nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺/NADH), an electropolymeric film (pAPRu) of [Ru(NH₂‐phen)₃]²⁺. A pAPRu‐modified electrode was prepared via electropolymerization and exhibited catalytic activity toward the electrochemical oxidation of NADH due to the imine moieties of pAPRu. The electrochemical oxidation of ethanol was observed using an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)‐immobilized electrode. A compartmentless ethanol/O₂ biofuel cell composed of an ADH anode and a bilirubin oxidase cathode was constructed. The maximum current density and the maximum power density of the biofuel cell were 190 µA cm^?2 and 31 µW cm^?2 (at 0.29 V), respectively.     

Simultaneous determination of serine enantiomers in plasma using Mosher's reagent and stable isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

D-Serine is a co-agonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in glutamate neurotransmission and has been proposed as a potential therapeutic agent for schizophrenia. However, D-serine also acts as a nephrotoxic substance in rats at high doses. To investigate the pharmacokinetics and toxicokinetics of D-serine, a method for the stereoselective determination of serine enantiomers in rat plasma was developed using GC-MS with selected ion monitoring (GC-MS-SIM). DL-[(2)H(3)]Serine was used as an internal standard to account for losses associated with the extraction, derivatization and chromatography. Serine enantiomers were purified by cation-exchange chromatography using BondElut SCX cartridge and derivatized with HCl in methanol to form methyl ester followed by subsequent N,O-diacylation with optically active (+)-α-methoxy-α-trifluoromethylphenylacetyl chloride to form epimeric amide. Quantitation was performed by SIM of the molecular-related ions of the epimers in the chemical ionization mode. The intra- and inter-day reproducibility of the assay was less than 5% for D-serine and 3% for L-serine. The method was successively applied to study the pharmacokinetics of D-serine in rats.     

Corrosion resistant performances of alkanoic and phosphonic acids derived self-assembled monolayers on magnesium alloy AZ31 by vapor-phase method

Alkanoic and phosphonic acid derived self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were formed on magnesium alloy by the vapor phase method. AFM and XPS studies showed that SAMs were formed on Mg alloy. The chemical and anticorrosive properties of the SAMs prepared on magnesium alloys were characterized using contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical measurements. Water contact angle measurements revealed that, although SA and ISA have the same headgroup to anchor to the magnesium alloy surface, the packing density on the magnesium alloy surface could be considerably different. The contact angle hysteresis of SAMs with a carboxylate headgroup is much larger than that of SAMs with a phosphonic acid group. The XPS O 1s peaks indicated more likely a mix of mono-, bi-, or tridentate binding of phosphonic acid SAM to the oxide or hydroxide surface of the Mg alloy. The electrochemical measurements showed that the phosphonic acid derived SAM had better corrosion resistance compared to alkanoic acid derived SAM. The chemical stability of SAMs modified magnesium alloy was investigated using water contact angle and XPS measurements. The water contact angle and XPS measurements revealed that the molecular density of OP and PFEP on magnesium alloy would be higher than those of SA and ISA on magnesium alloy.