Theoretical analysis of ferromagnetic microparticles in streaming liquid under the influence of external magnetic forces

The microsphere based detoxification system (MDS) is designed for high specific toxin removal in extracorporeal blood purification using functionalized microparticles. A thin wall hollow fiber membrane filter separates the microparticle-plasma suspension from the bloodstream. For patient safety, it is necessary to have a safety system to detect membrane ruptures that could lead to the release of microparticles into the bloodstream. A non-invasive optical detection system including a magnetic trap is developed to monitor the extracorporeal venous bloodstream for the presence of released microparticles. For detection, fluorescence-labeled ferromagnetic beads are suspended together with adsorbent particles in the MDS circuit. In case of a membrane rupture, the labeled particles would be released into the venous bloodstream and partly captured by the magnetic trap of the detector.A physical model based on fluidic, gravitational and magnetic forces was developed to simulate the motion and sedimentation of ferromagnetic particles in a magnetic trap. In detailed simulation runs, the concentrations of accumulated particles under different applied magnetic fields within the magnetic trap are shown. The simulation results are qualitatively compared with laboratory experiments and show excellent accordance. Additionally, the sensitivity of the particle detection system is proofed in a MDS laboratory experiment by simulation of a membrane rupture.     

Dissecting Ubiquitin Signaling with Linkage‐Defined and Protease Resistant Ubiquitin Chains

Ubiquitylation is a complex posttranslational protein modification and deregulation of this pathway has been associated with different human disorders. Ubiquitylation comes in different flavors: Besides mono‐ubiquitylation, ubiquitin chains of various topologies are formed on substrate proteins. The fate of ubiquitylated proteins is determined by the linkage‐type of the attached ubiquitin chains, however, the underlying mechanism is poorly characterized. Herein, we describe a new method based on codon expansion and click‐chemistry‐based polymerization to generate linkage‐defined ubiquitin chains that are resistant to ubiquitin‐specific proteases and adopt native‐like functions. The potential of these artificial chains for analyzing ubiquitin signaling is demonstrated by linkage‐specific effects on cell‐cycle progression.     

The First Selenonium Azides and a Selenonium Selenocyanate

The reaction of [R₃Se]I (R = CH₃, C₆H₅) with silver azide resulted in the formation of [(CH₃)₃Se]N₃ ( 1 ) and [(C₆H₅)₃Se]N₃ ( 2 ); these are the first selenium—azide species to be obtained in pure form. A similar reaction with silver selenocyanate yielded [(CH₃)₃Se]SeCN ( 3 ), an example of a mixed valence selenium compound. Thorough characterization by multinuclear NMR and vibrational spectroscopy and crystal structure determination has been carried out.     

Einfluß der Anionensolvatation auf die Komplexbildung in Donorlösungsmitteln

Zusammenfassung Der Einfluß der Anionensolvatation auf die Komplexbildung in Donorlösungsmitteln wird folgendermaßen beschrieben: Der thermodynamische Solvatationseffekt hängt vom Verhältnis der freien Solvatationsenthalpien zur freien Enthalpie des Gesamtvorganges der Komplexbildung ab; d. h., je geringer die Akzeptorstärke des Akzeptors, um so mehr wird durch die Solvatation die Donorstärke eines Anions im Vergleich zu derjenigen des Neutraldonors erniedrigt. Der spezifische Solvatationseffekt bringt das spezifische Solvatisierungsvermögen eines Lösungsmittels gegenüber einem Anion (bei gegebenem Akzeptor) zum Ausdruck. Protonenhaltige Lösungsmittel, z. B. Wasser, Methanol, Essigsäure, Ameisensäure, Formamid, haben eine hohe Tendenz zur Wasserstoffbrückenwechselwirkung; sie solvatisieren Halogenid- und Pseudohalogenidionen wesentlich stärker als aprotische Donorlösungsmittel. Die Donorstärke eines anionischen Liganden wird in einem solchen Lösungsmittel entsprechend erniedrigt. Zum Vergleich der Stabilität eines Komplexes in verschiedenen Lösungsmitteln können ihre Donizitäten allein nicht herangezogen werden. Die solvatisierenden Eigenschaften von Donorlösungsmitteln nehmen ab: H₂O>ROHDMSOES>ANTMSNMDMF>DMA>HMPT.

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The influence of anion-solvation on complex formation in donor solvents

The said influence is described as follows: the thermodynamic solvation effect depends on the ratio of the free enthalpy of solvation to the free enthalpy of the complex forming reaction. It is increased by decreasing acceptor strength of the acceptor. The specific solvation effect is due to the specific solvating power of a solvent towards an anion (with given acceptor). Protonic solvents are known to have higher tendencies for hydrogen bridge interactions. They are stronger solvating agents for halide and pseudohalide ions than aprotic donor solvents. The donor properties of a donor anion is decreased in such solvents and the donicity alone is no longer a useful guide to estimate the relative stabilities of a complex in such media. The solvating properties of donor solvents decrease in the following order: H₂O>ROHDMSOES>ANTMSNMDMF>DMA>HMPT.

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Herrn Professor Dr.Richard Kieffer zum 65. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Determination of heavy metal ions by microchip capillary electrophoresis coupled with contactless conductivity detection

An integrated detection circuitry based on a lock-in amplifier was designed for contactless conductivity determination of heavy metals. Combined with a simple-structure electrophoresis microchip, the detection system is successfully utilized for the separation and determination of various heavy metals. The influences of the running buffer and detection conditions on the response of the detector have been investigated. Six millimole 2-morpholinoethanesulfonic acid + histidine were selected as buffer for its stable baseline and high sensitivity. The best signals were recorded with a frequency of 38 kHz and 20 V(pp). The results showed that Mn(2+), Cd(2+), Co(2+), and Cu(2+) can be successfully separated and detected within 100 s by our system. The detection limits for five heavy metals (Mn(2+), Pb(2+), Cd(2+), Co(2+), and Cu(2+)) were determined to range from about 0.7 to 5.4 μM. This microchip system performs a crucial step toward the realization of a simple, inexpensive, and portable analytical device for metal analysis.     

Protonating polymer oligomers in the gas phase to change fragmentation pathways

Ionization of polymers in mass spectrometry is usually achieved by forming metal ion adducts. The metal ion has been shown by Wesdemiotis to often play a spectator role in the collision-induced dissociation (CID) chemistry of these species, wherein they fragment according to a free-radical mechanism similar to that found in their pyrolysis. The result is a predominance of low-mass ions in the CID mass spectrum. We have changed this behavior by generating protonated oligomers in the gas phase by first forming proton-bound complexes of the oligomers with amino acids or peptides by electrospray ionization. These complexes dissociate first by loss of the amino acid/peptide to form protonated oligomers, which then undergo a unique fragmentation chemistry. In this article we discuss the results for poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA). Initially, protonated PMMA and PBA lose methanol and butanol, respectively, from the side chains of the respective monomers. The resulting PMMA-derived ion then undergoes a series of neutral losses corresponding to 32 and 28 Da, methanol and carbon monoxide. This continues as collision energy increases until a final, carbon-rich backbone ion is formed, which then undergoes a classic hydrocarbon fragmentation pattern. The PBA-derived ions are proposed to fragment by the loss of butylether molecules to form anhydride rings along the oligomer chain. The number of ether molecules lost corresponded to half the number of available side chains in the oligomer. The resulting poly-anhydride ion dissociates by small molecule loss. Mechanisms have been suggested for the fragmentation chemistry of these two classes of oligomers.     

Investigating the effect of the zwitterion/lactone equilibrium of rhodamine B on the cybotactic region of the acetonitrile/scCO2 cosolvent

We investigated the effect of adding acetonitrile to supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) in the presence of rhodamine B. This spectroscopic investigation of the scCO(2)/acetonitrile, rhodamine B/scCO(2), and rhodamine B/acetonitrile interactions revealed that rhodamine B, which possesses a temperature dependent equilibrium between a zwitterionic form and a neutral form, had a strong affect on the cybotactic region. To confirm that this effect was only dependent upon the rhodamine B/acetonitrile interactions and not merely due to the bulk-phase behavior of the scCO(2), we measured the compressibility of the scCO(2)/acetonitrile mixture and found it to be independent of the acetonitrile concentration to less than approximately 0.047 mol fraction. We fit the compressibility data using the Peng-Robinson equation of state because it is most appropriate for fluids in the region between 1.72 and 12.45 MPa and between 313 and 333 K.     

BTA copper complexes

Cupric oxide is one of the most important additives used (a) to catalyze decomposition reactions in gas generators to obtain cooler reaction gases, (b) as burning enhancer for ammonium perchlorate-based composite propellants, and (c) as coloring agent in pyrotechnics. In this context, the reaction of Cu(2+) ions in aqueous ammonia solution with bis(tetrazolyl)amine (H(2)bta) was investigated. Depending on the reaction conditions three complexes were obtained: Cu(bta)(NH(3))(2) (1), Cu(bta)(NH(3))(2).H(2)O (2), and (NH(4))(2)Cu(bta)(2).2.5H(2)O (3). The crystal structures of 1 and 2 are discussed with respect to the coordination mode of the dianion of N,N-bis(1(2)H-tetrazol-5-yl)-amine (bta), which mediates in the case of 1 and 2 weak superexchange interactions between the adjacent magnetic transition-metal Cu(II) cations. These antiferromagnetic interactions result from 1D copper chains over an hidden azide end-to-end bridge. Interestingly, the structural arrangement of 1 completely changes in the presence of crystal-bound water. Moreover, some physicochemical properties (e.g., heat of formation, friction, and impact sensitivity, DSC) of these complexes with respect to high-energetic materials are discussed.