De novo design of strand-swapped beta-hairpin hydrogels

De novo designed peptides, capable of undergoing a thermally triggered beta-strand-swapped self-assembly event leading to hydrogel formation were prepared. Strand-swapping peptide 1 (SSP1) incorporates an exchangeable beta-strand domain composed of eight residues appended to a nonexchangeable beta-hairpin domain. CD shows that, at pH 9 and temperatures less than 35 degrees C, this peptide adopts a random coil conformation, rendering it soluble in aqueous solution. On heating to 37 degrees C or greater, SSP1 adopts a beta-hairpin that displays an exchangeable beta-strand region. The exchangeable strand domain participates in swapping with the exchangeable domain of another peptide, affording a strand-swapped dimer. These dimers further assemble into fibrils that define the hydrogel. A second peptide (SSP2) containing an exchangeable strand composed of only four residues was also studied. Microscopy and scattering data show that the length of the exchangeable domain directly influences the fibril nanostructure and can be used as a design element to construct either twisted (SSP1) or nontwisted (SSP2) fibril morphologies. CD, FTIR, and WAXS confirm that both peptides adopt beta-sheet secondary structure when assembled into fibrils. Fibril dimensions, as measured by TEM, AFM, and SANS indicate a fibril diameter of 6.4 nm, a height of 6.0 nm, and a pitch of 50.4 nm for the twisted SSP1 fibrils. The nontwisted SSP2 fibrils are 6.2 nm in diameter and 2.5 nm in height. Oscillatory rheology, used to measure bulk hydrogel rigidity, showed that the gel composed of the nontwisted fibrils is more mechanically rigid (517 Pa at 6 rad/s) than the gel composed of twisted fibrils (367 Pa at 6 rad/s). This work demonstrates that beta-strand-swapping can be used to fabricate biomaterials with tunable fibril nanostructure and bulk hydrogel rheological properties.     

Facile and effective approach for oxidation of boronic acids

This present work illustrates facile and effective approach for oxidation of boronic acids using environmentally benign dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as a solvent with H₂O₂ as an oxidant at room temperature. In contrast to previous reaction reports, which make use of metal catalyst, hazardous reagent and oxidants that creates environmental concern. This method provides good to excellent yield of products and showed better tolerance towards various functional groups present on boronic acids. Moreover, this developed process is an alternative in terms of inexpensive, non toxic and easy reaction conditions.     

Degradable precision polynorbornenes via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization

In an attempt to introduce monomer sequence control in a growing polynorbornene via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization, we employ dioxepins to efficiently determine the location of the monomers on the macromolecule backbone. Owing to the acid‐labile acetal group, dioxepins allow scission of the polymer at the point of the dioxepin insertion and thus provide an indirect way to determine the monomer location. Additionally, dioxepins are used as spacers in the synthesis of multiblock polynorbornenes that are readily cleavable to afford the individual polynorbornene blocks. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1236–1242     

Nano ceria catalyzed Ullmann type coupling reactions

Ullmann type intermolecular coupling of aryl halide with hetero-aromatic compounds, such as phenols, amines, and thiophenols are key reactions for the formation of carbon-heteroatom bond in organic synthesis. We report a robust and novel method that provides an efficient and economic route for the synthesis of O, N, and S-arylation via Ullman coupling by using nano cerium oxide (ceria, CeO₂). CeO₂ is a cheaper catalyst compared to related copper based catalysts. This method provides a wide range of substrate applicability in the case of phenols and amines. Less reactive chlorobenzene substituted with strong electron withdrawing groups such as 4-nitrochlorobenzene and 4-cyanochlorobenzene favor the reaction. This protocol avoids the use of ligand and gives arylated product in satisfactory yields.     

Bistable dynamic coordination polymer showing reversible structural and functional transformations

A bistable dynamic coordination polymer [Ni(pca)(bdc)(0.5)(H(2)O)(2)] having a two-dimensional (2D) zigzag sheet structure is synthesized solvothermally. Topological analysis revealed that the frameworks have an hcb type of uninodal net. The compound exhibits guest specific reversible structural transformations accompanying reversible changes in physical properties driven by inherent flexibility and transformability.     

Measuring the elongation viscosity of lyocell using a semi-hyperbolic die

The lyocell process involves dry jet—wet spinning of a solution of cellulose in N-methyl morpholine oxide monohydrate. Measurement of the elongation viscosity of lyocell is important for the design and optimization of the lyocell process. We present a useful method for the determination of the elongation viscosity of lyocell by using a combination of experimental measurements on a semi-hyperbolic die and viscoelastic simulations.     

Steady streaming around a spherical drop displaced from the velocity antinode in an acoustic levitation field

The steady (acoustic) streaming associated with a sphericaldrop displaced from the velocity antinode of a standing waveis studied. The ratio of the particle size to the acoustic wavelengthis treated as small but non-zero, and the solution is developedin the form of a two-term expansion in terms of the correspondingsmallness parameter. The drop viscosity is assumed to be muchhigher than that of the surrounding fluid, which is the casefor a drop in a gas medium. There are essentially three distinctregions where the steady streaming flow is analysed: insidethe drop (internal circulation), in the Stokes shear-wave layerat the surface on the gas side, and the gas outside the Stokeslayer (the outer streaming region). Solutions for the internalcirculation and the outer streaming are obtained in the limitof small Reynolds number. Despite the gas-to-liquid viscosity ratio being small, the outerstreaming may be dramatically affected by the fact that thesphere is liquid as opposed to solid. The parameter that measuresthe effect of liquidity is essentially the viscosity ratio dividedby the relative (to the particle size) thickness of the Stokeslayer. The case of a solid sphere is recovered by letting thisparameter go to zero.     

Electrochemical synthesis of copper nanoparticles on nafion–graphene nanoribbons and its application for the synthesis of diaryl ethers

Electrochemical synthesis of copper nanoparticles on nafion–graphene nanoribbons support for the synthesis of diaryl ethers via Ullmann type coupling is reported. The catalyst showed excellent performance for C–O cross coupling reactions under ligand free condition. The catalyst was characterized by various techniques such as SEM, TEM, XRD, EDX, BET, TGA, and UV spectrophotometry. It was recycled several times without significant loss in its catalytic activity.