Spectrometric study on the interaction of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide with curcumin

The interaction between dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and curcumin has been studied in pH 5.0 sodium phosphate buffer using absorption and fluorescence measurements. With increasing DTAB concentration (C(DTAB)) from 0 to 20 mM, the absorption peak of curcumin at 430 nm, corresponding to the conjugated structure of curcumin, first weakens gradually into a shoulder but increases back into one peak with much higher absorption intensity. On the contrary, as C(DTAB) increases, the initial small absorption shoulder of curcumin at 355 nm, corresponding to the feruloyl unit of curcumin, first increases gradually into a clear peak but decreases back into one shoulder until almost disappeared finally. By remaining at nearly the same wavelength, the fluorescence of curcumin first decreases at C(DTAB) lower than 5 mM and then increases gradually up to C(DTAB) = 10 mM, which is followed by sharp increases of fluorescence intensity with marked blue-shifts at higher C(DTAB). The values of anisotropy and microviscosity of curcumin obtained from the fluorescence polarization technique also showed pronounced changes at different surfactant concentrations. The interaction mechanisms of DTAB with curcumin have been presented at low, intermediate, and high surfactant concentrations, which is relating to interaction forces, surfactant aggregations, as well as structural alterations of curcumin.     

Morphologies and mechanical properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-1,4-butadiene rubber/polyethylene blends

The mechanical properties and phase morphologies of cis-1,4-butadiene rubber (BR) blended with polyethylene (PE) at different blend ratios were studied. The tensile test results show that the PE exhibits excellent reinforcing capabilities towards BR. Blending BR with PE results in a remarkable enhancement of tensile strength, modulus and the elongation at break simultaneously. An increment of tensile strength from 1.11 MPa to 16.26 MPa was achieved by incorporation of 40 wt% PE in the blends. The modulus and elongation at break of 40/60 PE/BR blends are also about 5 times higher than those of the pure BR treated under exactly the same conditions. The tear test indicates that the tear strength also increases with the increase of PE content. It reaches 58.38 MPa for the 40/60 PE/BR blend, which is approximately 10 times higher than that of the pure BR. Morphological study demonstrates that the PE forms elongated microdomains finely dispersed in the BR matrix when its content is over 30 wt%, which corresponds to the remarkably enhanced mechanical properties. According to the results, reinforcement mechanism of PE toward BR dependent on the microstructure has been discussed and two different mechanisms have been proposed.     

Neutral and cationic chiral NCN pincer nickel(II) complexes with 1,3-bis(2'-imidazolinyl)benzenes: synthesis and characterization

Chiral 1,3-bis(2'-imidazolinyl)benzenes 1a-e easily undergo direct nickelation at the C2 position of the central benzene ring via the C-H bond activation in the reaction with anhydrous NiCl(2) giving neutral NCN pincer nickel(II) complexes 2a-e in 40-87% yields. Treatment of the nickel pincers 2a or 2c with AgBF(4) in CH(3)CN-CH(2)Cl(2) afforded the cationic nickel pincers 3a or 3c in good yields. All the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, (1)H, (13)C NMR, and IR spectra. Molecular structures of the neutral complexes 2a, 2b and 2c as well as the cationic complex 3c have been determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction. The cationic nickel pincers 3 are found to be effective catalysts for the Michael addition of ethyl 2-cyanopropionate to methyl vinyl ketone in the presence of i-Pr(2)NEt base with a catalyst loading of 5 mol% even at -78 °C, producing the adduct in >99% yield after 24 h albeit with no ee.     

Simultaneous determination of bisphenol A and alkylphenol in plant oil by gel permeation chromatography and isotopic dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A simple analytical method was developed for the simultaneous analysis of bisphenol A (BPA), nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) in plant oil. The target compounds were extracted by cyclohexane/ethyl acetate (1:1), purified by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and analyzed by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) in the negative ion mode. An isolator column was attached in front of the injection valve of the LC to separate background contaminants. Recovery studies were performed at three fortification levels. Mean recoveries were from 92.9% to 119.0%, with an acceptable coefficient of variation (4.4-18.5%, n=6). The limits of quantification of the method were 2, 2 and 0.5 μg/kg for BPA, NP and OP, respectively. This method can be applied for screening and confirming target compounds in plant oil.     

Non-hemolytic α-AApeptides as antimicrobial peptidomimetics

We report a new class of peptide mimetics, α-AApeptides, that display broad-spectrum activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. With non-hemolytic activity, resistance to protease hydrolysis, and easy sequence programmability, α-AApeptides may emerge as a novel class of antibiotics.     

A core-shell magnetic mesoporous silica sorbent for organic targets with high extraction performance and anti-interference ability

C(18)-functionalized mesoporous silica shell was successfully fabricated on the surface of an Fe(3)O(4)/SiO(2) core to obtain an Fe(3)O(4)/SiO(2)/SiO(2)-C(18) magnetic microsphere. The microsphere exhibited high extraction efficiency to organic targets and strong anti-interference ability to natural organic matter. It could be easily isolated from water solution after extraction.     

In situ encapsulation of laccase in nanofibers by electrospinning for development of enzyme biosensors for chlorophenol monitoring

A biosensor based on Trametes versicolor laccase (Lac) was developed for the determination of phenolic compounds. The biosensor was prepared by in situ electrospinning of a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), Lac, PEO-PPO-PEO (F108) and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), where F108 was used as an enzyme stabilizing additive and Au NPs was used to enhance the conductivity of the biosensor. Laser confocal scanning microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy proved that the enzyme was successfully encapsulated into the electrospun nanofibers. Under the optimal conditions, the lowest detection limit was found to be 0.04 μM (S/N = 3) for 2,4-DCP and the highest detection limit was found to be 12.10 μM for 4-CP. The sensitivity of the biosensor obtained in the linear range for chlorophenols followed the sequence 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) > 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) > 4-chlorophenol (4-CP). The sensing performance for chlorophenols was attributed to the suitable electrochemical interface of PVA/F108/Au NPs/Lac, resulting from biocompatibility, a high surface area-to-volume ratio (10.42 m(2) g(-1)) and superior mechanical properties of the electrospun nanofibers. The biosensor exhibited good repeatabilities of 7.6%, 2.8% and 9.0% (R.S.D.) and reproducibilities of 14.9%, 10.4% and 13.7% (R.S.D.) for 4-CP, 2,4-DCP and 2,4,6-TCP, respectively. Lac retained 65.8% of its initial activity after a 30-day storage period.     

Synthesis, structure and magnetism of a S-shaped multi-iron substituted arsenotungstate containing a trivacant Keggin [B-α-AsW9O34] and a hexavacant Keggin [α-AsW6O26] fragments

A S-shaped multi-iron substituted arsenotungstate [enH₂]₂[(α-H₂As^VW₆O₂₆)Fe₃(H₂O)(B-α-H₄As^VW₉O₃₄)]₂[Fe]₂·8H₂O (1) (en=ethylenediamine) has been prepared by reaction of K₁₄[As₂^IIIW₁₉O₆₇(H₂O)]·nH₂O with Fe₂(SO₄)₃·xH₂O under hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, UV spectra, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The skeleton of 1 consists of two asymmetric sandwich-type subunits [(α-H₂As^VW₆O₂₆)Fe₃(H₂O)(B-α-H₄As^VW₉O₃₄)]⁵⁻ linked by a di-Fe^III cluster. Moreover, magnetic susceptibility measurements demonstrate that 1 indicates the antiferromagnetic coupling interactions within Fe^III centers with the best-fitting set of parameters of J₁=−7.07 cm⁻¹, J₂=−0.45 cm⁻¹ and g=2.05, which are generated by the addition of the expressions of the molar susceptibilities of two tri-Fe^III clusters and one di-Fe^III cluster derived from for spin pairs coupled through the isotropic exchange interactions.     

Comprehensive characterization of natural organic matter by MALDI- and ESI-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Natural organic matter (NOM) is a complex and non-uniform mixture of organic compounds which plays an important role in environmental processes. Due to the complexity, it is challenging to obtain fully detailed structural information about NOM. Although Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) has been demonstrated to be a powerful tool for providing molecular information about NOM, multiple ionization methods are needed for comprehensive characterization of NOM at the molecular level considering the ionizing selectivity of different ionization methods. This paper reports the first use of matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) method coupled with FT-ICR-MS for molecular characterization of NOM within a mass range of 200–800 Da. The mass spectral data obtained by MALDI were systematically compared with data generated by electrospray ionization (ESI). It showed that complementary molecular information about NOM which could not be detected by ESI, were provided by MALDI. More unsaturated and aromatic constituents of NOM with lower O/C ratio (O/C ratio < 0.5) were preferentially ionized in MALDI negative mode, whereas more polar constituents of NOM with higher O/C ratio were preferentially ionized in ESI negative mode. Molecular anions of NOM appearing at even m/z in MALDI negative ion mode were detected. The results show that NOM molecules with aromatic structures, moderate O/C ratio (0.7 > O/C ratio > 0.25) and lower H/C ratio were liable to form molecular anions at even m/z, whereas those with higher H/C ratio are more likely to form deprotonated ions at odd m/z. It is speculated that almost half of the NOM molecules identified by MALDI may be aromatic or condensed aromatic compounds with special groups which are liable to absorb electron from other molecules to generate free radical anions during MALDI ionization.