Controlling cell attachment selectively onto biological polymer-colloid templates using polymer-on-polymer stamping

A new patterning approach using polymer-on-polymer stamping (POPS) has been developed to fabricate polymer-colloid templates for controlling selective cell attachment. In this paper, a polyamine surface patterned onto a poly(acrylic acid)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAA/PAH) cell resistant multilayer platform serves as a template for the deposition of close- or loose-packed colloidal particles. Peptides containing the RGD adhesion sequence were used to modify the PAH/colloid surface for specific cell attachment. Cell behavior was studied by varying colloidal packing array density, pattern geometry, and surface chemistry. It was found that loose-packed RGD-modified colloidal arrays enhance cell adhesion, as observed through the development of focal adhesion contacts and orientation of actin stress fibers, but close-packed colloidal arrays induce a rounded and nonadhesive cell morphology and yield a smaller number of attached cells. On loose-packed arrays, cells adjust their shapes to the pattern geometry when the stripe width is smaller than 50 microm and increase their extent of attachment when the concentration of surface RGD peptides is increased. This new biomaterials system allows the examination of cell behavior as a function of RGD surface distribution on the molecular to micrometer scale and reveals cellular response to different surface roughnesses.     

The effect of vicinyl olefinic halogens on cross-coupling reactions using Pd(0) catalysis

(trans) 1-Chloro-2-iodoethylene (3), (trans) 1-bromo-2-iodoethylene (4), (trans) 1,2-diiodoethylene (5) and (cis and trans) 1,2-dibromoethylene (11) were reacted under Suzuki, Sonogashira and Negishi cross-coupling conditions using Pd catalysis to obtain mono coupled products. Only olefin template 3 provided the desired coupling products reliably under all reaction conditions. Compound 5 did not provide cross coupled products under any of the reaction conditions used. The Negishi reaction was the only one that worked for templates 4 and 11. Studies indicate that oxidative addition of the most reactive carbon-halogen bond to Pd(0) is followed by elimination of the second halide, when the second halide is a bromide or an iodide. This happens to a much lesser degree when the second halogen is a chloride.     

Novel carbohydrate-appended metal complexes for potential use in molecular imaging

Seven discrete sugar-pendant diamines were complexed to the {M(CO)(3)}(+) ((99m)Tc/Re) core: 1,3-diamino-2-propyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (L(1)), 1,3-diamino-2-propyl beta-D-xylopyranoside (L(2)), 1,3-diamino-2-propyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside (L(3)), 1,3-diamino-2-propyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside (L(4)), 1,3-diamino-2-propyl beta-D-galactopyranoside (L(5)), 1,3-diamino-2-propyl beta-(alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1,4)-D-glucopyranoside) (L(6)), and bis(aminomethyl)bis[(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)methyl]methane (L(7)). The Re complexes [Re(L(1)-L(7))(Br)(CO)(3)] were characterized by (1)H and (13)C 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy which confirmed the pendant nature of the carbohydrate moieties in solution. Additional characterization was provided by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry. Two analogues, [Re(L(2))(CO)(3)Br] and [Re(L(3))(CO)(3)Br], were characterized in the solid state by X-ray crystallography and represent the first reported structures of Re organometallic carbohydrate compounds. Conductivity measurements in H(2)O established that the complexes exist as [Re(L(1)-L(7))(H(2)O)(CO)(3)]Br in aqueous conditions. Radiolabelling of L(1)-L(7) with [(99m)Tc(H(2)O)(3)(CO)(3)](+) afforded in high yield compounds of identical character to the Re analogues. The radiolabelled compounds were determined to exhibit high in vitro stability towards ligand exchange in the presence of an excess of either cysteine or histidine over a 24 h period.     

Synthesis and thermal cyclization of an enediyne-sulfonamide

The synthesis of an enediyne sulfonamide by alkylidene carbene rearrangement is reported. The compound cyclizes thermally to give the Bergman product, which was prepared independently for comparison. Like other σ-acceptor substituents at the enediyne alkyne termini, such as fluoride, oxonium or ammonium groups, the sulfonamide moiety enhances the reactivity for thermal Bergman cyclization as shown by the cyclization kinetic of the title compound.     

Hydrogels of poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and hydroxyethyl methacrylate—glycerol monomethacry-late copolymers

Hydrophilic three-dimensional polymer networks (hydrogels) were prepared from hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and the copolymer HEMA and glycerol monomethacrylate (GMMA). The equilibrium water content of the hydrogels in water was investigated as a function of the initial dilution of the polymerization mixture, the type of solvent, and the hydrophilicity of the polymer. The initial dilution was found to have a decisive effect on the swelling or deswelling of hydrogels after the completion of the gel formation. With relatively less hydrophilic hydrogels, there is a critical initial dilution to produce the gel which does not swell or deswell in water after the gel formation. This “isovolumic” initial dilution shifts toward a higher dilution as the hydrophilicity of the hydrogels increases; however, when hydrophilicity of the polymer rises above a certain point, gels always swell in water. Permeability of oxygen through hydrogels was also studied.     

Ground vs. excited state electron transfer: adsorbed monolayers and trimers in solution

Transient emission spectroscopy has been used to probe the rate of photoinduced electron transfer between metal centres within a novel trimeric complex [[Os(bpy)2(bpe)2][Os(bpy)2Cl]2]4+, where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridyl and bpe is trans-1,2-bis-(4-pyridyl)ethylene. Transient emission experiments on the trimer, and on [Os(bpy)2 (bpe)2]2+ in which the [Os(bpy)2 Cl]+ quenching moieties are absent, reveal that the rate of photoinduced electron transfer (PET) across the bpe bridge is 1.3 +/- 0.1 x 10(8) s(-1). Investigations into the driving forces for oxidation and reduction of the electronically excited state within the trimer indicate that quenching of the [Os(bpy)2 (bpe)2]2+ centre within the trimer involves electron transfer from the [bpe Os(bpy)2 Cl]+ centres to the electronically excited state with a driving force of -0.3 eV. Monolayers of the complex, [Os(bpy)2 bpe pyridine]2+, have been formed by spontaneous adsorption onto platinum microelectrodes and used to probe the dynamics of electron transfer across the trans-1,2-bis-(4-pyridyl)ethylene bridge in the ground state. These monolayers are stable and exhibit well defined voltammetric responses for the Os2+/3+ redox reaction. Cyclic voltammograms recorded at high scan rates can be accurately modelled according to a non-adiabatic electron transfer model based on the Marcus theory using a standard heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant, k(o), of 3.1 +/- 0.2 x 10(4) s(-1) and a reorganization energy of 0.4 +/- 0.1 eV. This rate constant is a factor of approximately two orders of magnitude smaller than that found for photoinduced electron transfer across the same bpe bridge for identical driving forces. This significant difference is interpreted in terms of both the nature of the orbitals involved in electrochemically and optically driven electron transfer, as well as the strength of electronic coupling between two molecular components as opposed to a molecular component and a metal electrode.     

Synthesis and near infrared luminescence of a tetrametallic Zn2Yb2 architecture from a trinuclear Zn3L2 Schiff base complex

Near infrared luminescence is observed in tetrametallic [Zn2Yb2L2(mu-OH)2Cl4].2MeCN which is obtained from the Zn3 Schiff-base complex [Zn3L2(NO3)2].MeOH, (H2L =N,N'-bis(5-bromo-3-methoxysalicylidene)propylene-1,3-diamine).     

Protein adsorption in fused-silica and polyacrylamide-coated capillaries

The model proteins cytochrome c, myoglobin, ovalbumin, and beta-lactoglobulin were investigated with regard to their adsorption properties on capillaries for electrophoresis. The model compounds were selected to cover a wide range of properties. Cytochrome c is a basic protein (isoelectric point (pI): 9.6; M(r): 11.7 kDa), beta-lactoglobulin is rather acidic (pI: 5.4, M(r): 18.4 kDa), myoglobin was chosen as a neutral reference protein (pI: 6.8-7.4, M(r): 17.8 kDa), and ovalbumin (pI: 5.1, M(r): 45.0 kDa) was selected as a relatively larger analyte. First, the pH dependence of adsorption was investigated for the bare fused silica. A clear correlation to the respective pIs was noted. For myoglobin and ovalbumin, none or negligible adsorption was found above the pI, whereas strong adsorption was noted just below this parameter. Cytochrome c and beta-lactoglobulin already showed distinct adsorption above their pIs. However, none of the proteins showed any significant adsorption more than one pH unit above the pIs. For linear polyacrylamide-coated capillaries, a decreased but not a complete lack of adsorption was observed. Here, pH-dependent adsorption was noted as well. Regeneration of the capillaries by rinsing with buffers containing 200 mM SDS was also investigated. This method was completely successful for myoglobin, but that too for only freshly-adsorbed protein. After a storage time of 24 h and due to the aging of the adsorbate, a sufficient regeneration was no longer possible.     

Kinetics studies of aqueous phase reactions of Cl atoms and Cl2(-) radicals with organic sulfur compounds of atmospheric interest

A laser flash photolysis-long path UV-visible absorption technique has been employed to investigate the kinetics of aqueous phase reactions of chlorine atoms (Cl) and dichloride radicals (Cl2(-)) with four organic sulfur compounds of atmospheric interest, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; CH3S(O)CH3), dimethyl sulfone (DMSO2; CH3(O)S(O)CH3), methanesulfinate (MSI; CH3S(O)O-), and methanesulfonate (MS; CH3(O)S(O)O-). Measured rate coefficients at T = 295 +/- 1 K (in units of M(-1) s(-1)) are as follows: Cl + DMSO, (6.3 +/- 0.6) x 10(9); Cl2(-) + DMSO, (1.6 +/- 0.8) x 10(7); Cl + DMSO2, (8.2 +/- 1.6) x 10(5); Cl2(-) + DMSO2, (8.2 +/- 5.5) x 10(3); Cl2(-) + MSI, (8.0 +/- 1.0) x 10(8); Cl + MS, (4.9 +/- 0.6) x 10(5); Cl2(-) + MS, (3.9 +/- 0.7) x 10(3). Reported uncertainties are estimates of accuracy at the 95% confidence level and the rate coefficients for MSI and MS reactions with Cl2(-) are corrected to the zero ionic strength limit. The absorption spectrum of the DMSO-Cl adduct is reported; peak absorbance is observed at 390 nm and the peak extinction coefficient is found to be 5760 M(-1) cm(-1) with a 2sigma uncertainty of +/-30%. Some implications of the new kinetics results for understanding the atmospheric sulfur cycle are discussed.     

Zur Ermittlung der Äthylen-Sequenzlängenverteilung und der chemischen Uneinheitlichkeit in Copolymeren mit Propylen durch Pyrolyse-Gas-Chromatographie

Pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography has been applied to investigate the sequence distribution in copolymers of ethylene and propylene. The copolymers analyzed have been prepared with soluble Ziegler-Natta-catalysts and show different degrees of crystallinity. In one series of samples the methyl group of the propylene units has been labeled with tritium. It was then possible to detect carbons by flame ionization detector and simultaneously the methyl groups by the radio-detector in parallel. Within the errors of these methods the results from both detectors are consistent with the calculations from kinetics. The accuracy of the data is best in copolymers with long ethylene sequences. By GPC fractionation a heterogeneity in the chemical composition can be observed. One component of the copolymers is of high molecular weight, while the other has a molecular weight of less than 1000 and is very rich in ethylene. The influence of chemical heterogeneity on sequence distribution derived from kinetics and pyrolysis has been discussed. A mechanism in which chains with different chemical composition are growing from different species of the catalyst has been proposed. The experimental results show that the heterogeneity is not critical for the sequence analysis by kinetics and pyrolysis.