Preparation and characterization of silver/TiO2 composite hollow spheres

Silver-coated poly(methyl acrylic acid) (PSA) core-shell colloid particles were prepared by an in situ chemical reduction method. Crystalline silver/titania composite hollow spheres were obtained by coating the as-prepared PSA/silver particles with an amorphous titania layer and subsequently calcining in Ar atmosphere. SEM and TEM investigation indicated that the size of the as-prepared PSA/silver and PSA/silver/TiO(2) core-shell particles and silver/titania composite hollow particles was fairly uniform and the wall thickness of the hollow spheres was in the range of 40-80 nm. UV-vis absorption spectra were recorded to investigate their optical properties.     

A Pauson-Khand-type reaction between alkynes and olefinic aldehydes catalyzed by rhodium/cobalt heterobimetallic nanoparticles: an olefinic aldehyde as an olefin and CO source

Co/Rh (Co:Rh = 2:2) heterobimetallic nanoparticles derived from Co(2)Rh(2)(CO)(12) react with alkynes and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes such as acrolein, crotonaldehyde, and cinnamic aldehyde and release products resulting from [2 + 2 + 1]cycloaddition of alkyne, carbon monoxide, and alkene. alpha,beta-Unsaturated aldehydes act as a CO and alkene source. These reactions produce 2-substituted cyclopentenones.     

Effect of mobile phase pH, aqueous-organic ratio, and buffer concentration on electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric fragmentation patterns: implications in liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric bioanalysis

Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) based on selected reaction monitoring (SRM) is the standard methodology in quantitative analysis of administered xenobiotics in biological samples. Utilizing two SRM channels during positive electrospray ionization (ESI) LC/MS/MS method development for a drug compound containing two basic functional groups, we found that the response ratio (SRM1/SRM2) obtained using an acidic mobile phase was dramatically different from that obtained using a basic mobile phase. This observation is different from the well-established phenomenon of mobile phase affecting the [M+H](+) response, which is directly related to the amount of the [M+H](+) ions produced during the ionization. Results from follow-up work reported herein revealed that the MS/MS fragmentation patterns of four drug or drug-like compounds are affected not only by the pH, but also by the aqueous-organic ratio of the mobile phase and the buffer concentration at a given apparent pH. The observed phenomenon can be explained by invoking that a mixture of [M+H](+) ions of the same m/z value for the analyte is produced that is composed of two or more species which differ only in the site of the proton attachment, which in turn affects their MS/MS fragmentation pattern. The ratio of the different protonated species changes depending on the pH, aqueous-organic ratio, or ionic strength of the mobile phase used. The awareness of the mobile phase dependency of the MS/MS fragmentation pattern of precursor ions of identical m/z value will influence LC/MS/MS-based bioanalytical method development strategies. Specifically, we are recommending that multiple SRM transitions be monitored during mobile phase screening, with the MS/MS parameters used for each SRM optimized for the composition of the mobile phase (pH, organic percentage, and ionic strength) in which the analyte elutes.     

Optimized preparation, characterization and biodistribution in heart of breviscapine lipid emulsion

Breviscapine is a Traditional Chinese Medicine treating cardiovascular diseases by promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. The major active component of breviscapine has low aqueous solubility, poor chemical stability, short biological half-life and rapid elimination rate from the plasma. The use of a lipid emulsion formulation containing breviscapine might improve chemical stability, increase drug loading, exhibit sustained release profile. In the present study, we developed an optimized formulation and technological method for the preparation of sterile and stable breviscapine lipid emulsion (Bre-LE) for intravenous infusion. The average particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, stability constant (K(s)) value and content of final product were (225.3±8.8) nm, 0.221±0.020, (-29.6±1.5) mV, (24.3±2.9)% and (94.5±0.6)% respectively (n=3). The results of in vitro release experiment suggest that lipid emulsion as breviscapine carrier showed a desirable sustained release profile. Dilution stability and long-term stability were also researched in the present paper. The results show the carrier could protect drug from degradation after dilution by phosphate buffered saline and fetal calf serum. And Bre-LE was stable for up to 6 months at room temperature storage condition. The biodistribution of drug in heart of mice increased dramatically after encapsulation into lipid emulsion which was beneficial to heart disease therapy.     

Characterization, synthesis and self-aggregation of (-)-alternarlactam: a new fungal cytotoxin with cyclopentenone and isoquinolinone scaffolds

(-)-Alternarlactam [(-)-1], a new promising cytotoxin against two human cancer cell lines, was isolated from an endophyte culture and synthesized (along with (+)-1) from readily available starting materials. The absolute configuration, chirality-activity relevance and self-aggregation of (-)-1 were assigned by a combination of synthetic, spectroscopic and computational approaches. The full characterization of the new fungal cytotoxin may provide valuable information in the discovery of new antitumor agents.     

Guanidinium Alkynesulfonates with Single‐Layer Stacking Motif: Interlayer Hydrogen Bonding Between Sulfonate Anions Changes the Orientation of the Organosulfonate R Group from “Alternate Side” to “Same Side”

Hydrolyses of HC?CSO₃SiMe₃ ( 1 ) and CH₃C?CSO₃SiMe₃ ( 2 ) lead to the formation of acetylenic sulfonic acids HC?CSO₃H?2.33 H₂O ( 3 ) and CH₃C?CSO₃H?1.88 H₂O ( 4 ). These acids were reacted with guanidinium carbonate to yield [⁺C(NH₂)₃][HC?CSO₃^?] ( 5 ) and [⁺C(NH₂)₃][CH₃C?CSO₃^?] ( 6 ). Compounds 1 – 6 were characterized by spectroscopic methods, and the X‐ray crystal structures of the guanidinium salts were determined. The X‐ray results of 5 show that the guanidinium cations and organosulfonate anions associate into 1D ribbons through ${{\rm R}{{2\hfill \atop 2\hfill}}}$ (8) dimer interactions, whereas association of these ions in 6 is achieved through ${{\rm R}{{2\hfill \atop 2\hfill}}}$ (8) and ${{\rm R}{{1\hfill \atop 2\hfill}}}$ (6) interactions. The ribbons in 5 associate into 2D sheets through ${{\rm R}{{2\hfill \atop 2\hfill}}}$ (8) dimer interactions and ${{\rm R}{{3\hfill \atop 6\hfill}}}$ (12) rings, whereas those in 6 are connected through ${{\rm R}{{1\hfill \atop 2\hfill}}}$ (6) and ${{\rm R}{{2\hfill \atop 2\hfill}}}$ (8) dimer interactions and ${{\rm R}{{4\hfill \atop 6\hfill}}}$ (14) rings. Compound 6 exhibits a single‐layer stacking motif similar to that found in guanidinium alkane‐ and arenesulfonates, that is, the alkynyl groups alternate orientation from one ribbon to the next. The stacking motif in 5 is also single‐layer, but due to interlayer hydrogen bonding between sulfonate anions, the alkynyl groups of each sheet all point to the same side of the sheet.     

General and efficient synthetic approach to novel tricyclic spiroketones

A general and efficient synthetic approach to tricyclic spiroketones of interest as useful scaffolds in drug discovery was developed. Starting from commercially available benzyl 4-oxo-1-piperidinecarboxylate (5), spirocyclic tetralone 4, spirocyclic indanone 14, and spirocyclic benzocycloheptanone 15 were synthesized via six reaction steps in excellent overall yield.     

Preparation of polymeric monoliths by copolymerization of acrylate monomers with amine functionalities for anion-exchange capillary liquid chromatography of proteins

Two novel polymeric monoliths for anion-exchange capillary liquid chromatography of proteins were prepared in a single step by a simple photoinitiated copolymerization of 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), or copolymerization of 2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl trimethylammonium chloride and PEGDA, in the presence of selected porogens. The resulting monoliths contained functionalities of diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) as a weak anion-exchanger and quaternary amine as a strong anion-exchanger, respectively. An alternative weak anion-exchange monolith with DEAE functionalities was also synthesized by chemical modification after photoinitiated copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and PEGDA. Important physical and chromatographic properties of the synthesized monoliths were characterized. The dynamic binding capacities of the three monoliths (24 mg/mL, 56 mg/mL and 32 mg/mL of column volume, respectively) were comparable or superior to values that have been reported for various other monoliths. Chromatographic performance was also similar to that provided by a modified poly(GMA-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) monolith. Separation of standard proteins was achieved under gradient elution conditions using these monolithic columns. Peak capacities of 34, 58 and 36 proteins were obtained with analysis times of 20–30 min. This work represents a successful attempt to prepare functionalized monoliths via direct copolymerization of monomers with desired functionalities. Compared to earlier publications, additional surface modifications were avoided and the PEGDA crosslinker helped to improve the biocompatibility of the monolithic backbone.