PEGylated polyplex micelles from triblock catiomers with spatially ordered layering of condensed pDNA and buffering units for enhanced intracellular gene delivery

An A-B-C type triblock copolymer, tandemly aligning two types of polycations with different pKa values in a single polymer strand, was developed for the construction of novel polyplex micelles, satisfying a high DNA condensing ability as well as a proton buffering activity directed to elevating gene transfection. The micelle might feature the distinctive three-layered structure, where an inner polyplex layer of condensed pDNA with poly(l-lysine) (pKa approximately 9.4) as the C segment is successively wrapped with an intermediate layer of poly[(3-morpholinopropyl)aspartamide] (B segment) with a comparatively low pKa of approximately 6.2, to provide a buffering effect, and an outer PEG layer (A segment) as a biocompatible palisade.     

A new-type photoreaction of a carbonyl compound: Part 2. Photoinduced ω-bond dissociation in p-halomethylbenzophenone studied by time-resolved EPR technique and laser flash photolysis

Photodissociation of the carbon-X (X = Br and Cl) bonds in p-bromo- and p-chloromethylbenzophenone (BMBP and CMBP) in solution were investigated by time-resolved EPR and laser flash photolysis techniques. BMBP and CMBP were found to undergo ω-bond cleavage to yield the p-benzoylbenzyl radical (BBR) at 295 K, and the quantum yields (Φ_BBR) were determined. The CIDEP signal originated from BBR formed upon decomposition of CMBP was obtained while that for BMBP was absent. By using triplet sensitization of acetone, the efficiencies (_BBR) of the CX bond fission in the triplet states of BMBP and CMBP were determined. The agreement between the Φ_BBR and _BBR values for CMBP indicates that the CCl bond dissociation occurs only in the triplet state. In contrast to CMBP, the cleavage of the CBr bond in BMBP upon direct excitation was concluded to be the event only in the excited singlet state without triplet formation, whereas the triplet state was also reactive for ω-bond dissociation. The rate of CBr bond dissociation seemed to be greater than that of intersystem crossing from the S₁ to the T₁ state. Schematic energy diagrams of the excited states of BMBP and CMBP were shown, and the reaction profiles were discussed from the viewpoint of the CX bond enthalpies.     

Analysis of organotin compounds by grignard derivatization and gas chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry

The determination of organotin compounds in water using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) is described. Several organotin derivatives were synthesized by the reaction of organotin chlorides with Grignard reagents such as methyl-, propyl- and pentylmagnesium halides. After the optimization of the GC-MS-MS conditions, several derivatizations with the Grignard reagents were compared by evaluating the molar responses and volatilities of the derivatives and derivatization yields. As a result, the derivatizing reagent of choice is pentylmagnesium bromide. Calibration curves for the mono-, di- and tributyltins and mono-, di- and triphenyltins with pentylmagnesium bromide were linear in the range of 0.5-100 pg of Sn. The instrumental detection limits of six organotins ranged from 0.20 to 0.35 pg of Sn. The recovery tests from water samples (500 ml) were performed by using sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) as a complexing reagent. Except for monophenyltin, the absolute recoveries of organotins from pure water at 200 ng of Sn/l were satisfactory. The recoveries calibrated by surrogate compounds (perdeuterated organotin chlorides) ranged from 71 to 109%. The method detection limits ranged from 0.26 to 0.84 pg of Sn (500-ml sample). This method was applied to the recovery of organotins from river water and seawater. The calibrated recoveries were between 90 and 122%.     

Electronic polarizability and crystallization of K2O-TiO2-GeO2 glasses with high TiO2 contents

Some K₂O-TiO₂-GeO₂ glasses with a large amount of TiO₂ contents (15-25 mol%) such as 25K₂O-25TiO₂-50GeO₂ have been prepared, and their electronic polarizability, Raman scattering spectra, and crystallization behavior are examined to clarify thermal properties and structure of the glasses and to develop new nonlinear optical crystallized glasses. It is proposed that the glasses consist of the network of TiO₆ and GeO₄ polyhedra. The glasses show large optical basicities of Λ=0.88-0.92, indicating the high polarizabity of TiO_n (n=4-6) polyhedra in the glasses. K₂TiGe₃O₉ crystals are formed through crystallization in all glasses prepared in the present study. In particular, 20K₂O-20TiO₂-60GeO₂ glass shows bulk crystallization and 18K₂O-18TiO₂-64GeO₂ glass exhibits surface crystallization giving the c-axis orientation. The crystallized glasses show second harmonic generations (SHGs), and it is suggested that the distortion of TiO₆ octahedra in K₂TiGe₃O₉ crystals induces SHGs.     

Novel and efficient method for esterification, amidation between carboxylic acids and equimolar amounts of alcohols, and amines utilizing Me2NSO2Cl and N,N-dimethylamines; its application to the synthesis of coumaperine, a natural chemopreventive dieneamide

Various carboxylic esters or amides were prepared in good to excellent yield between carboxylic acids and equimolar amounts of alcohols or amines under very mild conditions (0-45°C; within 3 h) using dimethylsulfamoyl chloride (Me₂NSO₂Cl; 1) combined with N,N-dimethylamines (Me₂NR: 2a; R=Me, 2b; R=Bu). The choice of the sulfamoyl chloride and the amine is crucial for the reaction; that is, sterically uncrowded amines accelerated the present esterification and amidation. This agent had some advantages over methanesulfonyl chloride (3)/amines as for the atom-economy, avoidance of side reactions, and had very high chemoselectivity toward the carboxyl group vs the hydroxyl group; the experiment was performed by the addition of 1 to the mixture of carboxylic acids and alcohols. Application of this method to the synthesis of coumaperine, a chemopreventive natural product, was performed using the present amidation as a key step.     

Polycyclic N-heterocyclic compounds. XLI. Synthesis of 4-substituted 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrimido[5,4-d][1]benzazepines, 1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-imidazo[1′,2′:1,6]pyrimido[5,4-d][1]benzazepines and their related compounds as a series of potential blood platelet aggregation inhibitors

As a series of polyheterocyclic compounds for exploitation as anti-platelet agents, tricyclic heterocyclic compounds, 4-substituted 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrimido[5,4-d][1]benzazepines 3–6, 9, 12–14 , and 16–26 , having nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur containing functional groups at the 4-position, were prepared. In addition, tetra-cyclic heterocyclic compounds, 3-methyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-imidazo[1′,2′:1,6]pyrimido[5,4-d][1]benzaze-pinium chloride ( 7 ), 1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-imidazo[1′,2′:1,6]pyrimido[5,4-d][1]benzazepines 10a-e , 2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H 5H-pyrimido[1′,2′:1,6]pyrimido[5,4-d][1]benzazepine ( 11 ), and 1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-thiazolo-[3′,2′:1,6]pyrimido[5,4-d][1]benzazepinium chloride ( 15 ) via ring closure of 4-(hydroxyalkylamino)- 6, 9a-e , and 3c , and 4-(2-hydroxyethylthio)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrimido[5,4-d][1]benzazepine ( 14 ) with phosphoryl chloride or thionyl chloride, respectively, were also prepared. Their inhibitory activities against collagen-induced aggregation of rabbit blood platelets in vitro were investigated. Among them, compound 5 having a morpholino group at the 4-position on the tricyclic nucleus, which enhanced the activity more than 14-fold as compared with aspirin, was found to have the most satisfactory in inhibitory activity.     

Stereoblock poly(lactic acid): synthesis via solid-state polycondensation of a stereocomplexed mixture of poly(L-lactic acid) and poly(D-lactic acid)

Stereoblock poly(lactic acid) consisting of D- and L-lactate stereosequences can be successfully synthesized by solid-state polycondensation of a 1:1 mixture of poly(L-lactic acid) and poly(D-lactic acid). In the first step, melt-polycondensation of L- and D-lactic acids is conducted to synthesize poly(L-lactic acid) and poly(D-lactic acid) with a medium-molecular-weight, respectively. In the next step, these poly(L-lactic acid) and poly(D-lactic acid) are melt-blended in 1:1 ratio to allow formation of their stereocomplex. In the last step, this melt-blend is subjected to solid-state polycondensation at temperature where the dehydrative condensation is allowed to promote chain extension in the amorphous phase with the stereocomplex crystals preserved. Finally, stereoblock poly(lactic acid) having high-molecular-weight is obtained. The stereoblock poly(lactic acid) synthesized by this way shows a higher melting temperature in consequence of the controlled block lengths and the resulting higher-molecular-weight. The product characterization as well as the optimization of the polymerization conditions is described. Changes in M(w) of stereoblock poly(lactic acid) (sb-PLA) as a function of the reaction time.     

SO+(A2Π-X2Πr) emission produced from a dissociative charge-transfer reaction of He+ with SO2 at thermal energy

The extensive bands observed from the helium afterglow reaction of SO₂ in the 250–540 nm region are assigned to the new SO⁺(A²Π-X²Π_r) system produced from the He⁺/SO₂ dissociative charge-transfer reaction at thermal energy. They had been erroneously interpreted as the SO⁺₂ (C?-X?) system produced from He(2³S)/SO₂ Penning ionization. The spectroscopic constants for the SO⁺A²Π) and SO⁺(X²Π_r) states were determined.     

Regioselective synthesis and biological activity of oxidized chitosan derivatives

Oxidized chitosan derivatives with various degrees of oxidation (DS, 0.1–1.0) were prepared by the treatment of chitosan with CrO₃/aq HClO₄ or by the oxidation of ­3‐O‐ and N‐protected chitosan with 30% aq H₂O₂/Na₂WO₄ followed by 3‐O‐ and N‐deprotection. The oxidized products were then N‐acetylated with Ac₂O in order to improve their water‐solubility. Although the oxidized chitosan derivative of DS 0.28 and the degree of N‐acetylation of chitosan (DA) 38% was insoluble in the pH 3–8 region, that of DS 0.26 and DA 76% was soluble in the neutral pH range. The newly‐prepared acetylated and oxidized chitosan derivatives were found to suppress the chemiluminescence response of inflammatory cells such as canine polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). Analysis by the surface plasmon resonance method revealed that the bind and release behavior of PMNs to acetylated oxidized chitosan derivatives was similar to that against carboxymethylated chitosan derivatives. The amount of water‐soluble chitosan derivative bound to cytokine IL‐8 was found to be affected by the structural and electronic features of the chitosan substituents in the chitosan chain. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enantiomeric separation of dansylamino acids by capillary zone electrophoresis based on complexation with cyclodextrins

Summary The enantiomeric separation ability of unmodified and methylated cyclodextrins (CDs) during capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) was investigated using twelve dansylamino acids. Unmodified - and -CDs exhibited high enantioselectivities. -CD could scarcely separate the enantiomers before and after dimethylation, but obtained enantioselectivity after trimethylation. On the other hand, dimethylation of -CD removed much of its high enantioselectivity. Moreover, the chemical modifications produced a reverse in the migration order of the enantiomers. The inclusion of dansyl-DL-phenylalanine with CDs was evaluated using 600 MHz ¹H NMR spectroscopy.