Investigation of the resonance‐assisted hydrogen bond in model β‐diketones through localized molecular orbital analysis of the spin–spin coupling constants related to the O–H · · · O hydrogen bond

The resonance‐assisted hydrogen bond (HB) phenomenon has been studied theoretically by a localized molecular orbital (LMO) decomposition of the spin–spin coupling constants between atoms either involved or close to the O–H · · · O system of some β‐diketones and their saturated counterparts. The analysis, carried out at the level of the second‐order polarization propagator approximation, shows that the contributions in terms of LMO to the paramagnetic spin orbital and the spin dipolar Ramsey terms proof the importance of the delocalized π‐electron structure supporting the idea of the existence of the resonance‐assisted HB phenomenon phenomenon. The LMO contributions to the Fermi contact term indicate mainly the presence of the HB that may or not be linked to the π‐electrons. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ag2 and Ag3 Clusters: Synthesis,Characterization, and Interaction with DNA

Subnanometric samples, containing exclusively Ag₂ and Ag₃ clusters, were synthesized for the first time by kinetic control using an electrochemical technique without the use of surfactants or capping agents. By combination of thermodynamic and kinetic measurements and theoretical calculations, we show herein that Ag₃ clusters interact with DNA through intercalation, inducing significant structural distortion to the DNA. The lifetime of Ag₃ clusters in the intercalated position is two to three orders of magnitude longer than for classical organic intercalators, such as ethidium bromide or proflavine.     

Isolation of Biogenic Amines Using Paramagnetic Microparticles Off-Line Coupled with Ion Exchange Liquid Chromatography

This study aims at the possibility of single structured paramagnetic microparticles (PMPs), composed of maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃) core modified with chitosan called MAN8, or tetraethyl orthosilicate covered with Dowex called MAN35, to be helpful for isolation of biogenic amines prior to their further analysis. Primarily, we synthesized and characterized PMPs. To obtain the information about bead morphology, scanning electron microscopy was employed. Furthermore, X-ray fluorescence was employed to carry out the elemental composition analyses. To obtain further insight into interaction between PMP surface and biogenic amines, scanning electron microscope was employed. It was shown that binding of biogenic amines causes increase of relative current response of deprotonated microparticles. We tested the specificity of PMPs to bind biogenic amines on histamine, tyramine, spermine, spermidine, putrescine, and cadaverine. We found that two types of our PMPs were able to selectively bind spermidine, cadaverine, and histamine in the case of MAN35; and histamine, tyramine, and putrescine in the case of MAN8. Finally, we carried out the analyses of real samples obtained from patients suffering from prostate carcinoma, where histamine was determined as the most abundant biogenic amine (10.456–13.654 µg mL⁻¹). The prepared PMPs were able to isolate the biogenic amines from real samples, and thus they may be helpful in construction of biosensors, or Lab-on-a-Chip platforms, enabling less painful, and more rapid diagnosis of prostate cancer.