Multi-function fibre-optic sensor for the bioluminescent flow determination of ATP or NADH

A multi-function biosensor for the determination of either ATP or NADH using a single bioluminescence-based fibre-optic probe is described. This was made possible by co-immobilizing the firefly luciferase from Photinus pyralis for ATP analysis with the bacterial/oxidoreductase system from Vibrio harveyi for NADH analysis, on the same preactivated polyamide membrane. Compatible analytical conditions with regard to the activity and stability of each bioluminescent system were selected, enabling them to attain their highest performances. It was possible to perform continuous-flow measurements of ATP and NADH over a wide (log-log) linear calibration range with a relative standard deviation of 4.0–4.5% and detection limits of 0.25 pmol ATP and 5 pmol NADH.     

A Nernstian Biosupercapacitor

We propose the very first “Nernstian biosupercapacitor”, a biodevice based on only one redox polymer: poly(vinyl imidazole‐co‐allylamine)[Os(bpy)₂Cl], and two biocatalysts. At the bioanode PQQ‐dependent glucose dehydrogenase reduces the Os³⁺ moieties at the polymer to Os²⁺ shifting the Nernst potential of the Os³⁺/Os²⁺ redox couple to negative values. Concomitantly, at the biocathode the reduction of O₂ by means of bilirubin oxidase embedded in the same redox polymer leads to the oxidation of Os²⁺ to Os³⁺ shifting the Nernst potential to higher values. Despite the use of just one redox polymer an open circuit voltage of more than 0.45 V was obtained during charging and the charge is stored in the redox polymer at both the bioanode and the biocathode. By connecting both electrodes via a predefined resistor a high power density is obtained for a short time exceeding the steady state power of a corresponding biofuel cell by a factor of 8.     

Stabilization of the thermodynamically favored polymorph of cadmium chalcogenide nanoparticles CdX (X = S, Se, Te) in the polar mesopores of SBA-15 silica

A versatile synthetic approach to cadmium chalcogenide nanoparticles in the mesopores of SBA-15 silica as a host matrix was developed. The use of cadmium organochalcogenolates of the type Cd(XPh)(2).TMEDA (X = S, Se, Te) allowed the preparation of nanoparticles of all three cadmium chalcogenides following the same experimental protocol. Particles of CdS, CdSe, and CdTe with a particle size of 7 nm were prepared from this class of single-source precursors. The incorporation of the precursor molecules into the pores was achieved by melt infiltration at a temperature of 140 degrees C. Subsequent pyrolysis of the precursors in the mesopores yielded the semiconductor particles. Owing to the high polarity of the silanol-covered pore walls, which lower the surface energy of the particles to a large extent, the dimorphic cadmium chalcogenides are obtained in their thermodynamically favored modifications; e.g., CdS particles crystallize in the wurtzite type, CdTe particles are obtained in the zinc blende structure, and CdSe (where no unambiguous preference exists) crystallizes as a "mixture" of both structures with a rather random stacking sequence.     

Structural characterization of flavonol di-O-glycosides from Farsetia aegyptia by electrospray ionization and collision-induced dissociation mass spectrometry

This study reports the application of mass spectrometric methods to characterize unknown flavonoids of the herb Farsetia aegyptia Turra (Crucifereae). High-performance liquid chromatography was performed in combination with UV-photodiode array detection (LC/UV-DAD) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) in both positive and negative ion modes. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) mass spectral data were obtained off-line by nanospray (nano-ESI) analysis, which provided a wealth of information and led to the structural proposal of the flavonol di-O-glycosides present in the herb extract. In addition to the mass spectral data, we also report NMR data for the major compound which allowed the completion of its structural elucidation. The Farsetia aegyptia Turra herb extract was found to contain three flavonol di-O-glycosides containing a monosaccharidic residue linked to the 3-O position and a disaccharidic residue linked to the 7-O position; the major compound was characterized as the new flavonoid, isorhamnetin 3-O-alpha-L-arabinoside 7-O-[beta-D-glucosyl-1 --> 2]-alpha(L)rhamnoside. Different types of CID spectra, i.e., low-energy [M+H]+, [M+Na]+ and [M--H]- spectra as well as high-energy [M+Na]+ spectra, were evaluated with respect to their utility to locate the O-linked saccharidic residues in flavonol di-O-glycosides and to determine the sequence in the disaccharidic part. In agreement with previously published data, the 3-O-glycosyl residue was more readily lost from the protonated molecule than the 7-O-glycosyl residue. The opposite behavior was noted for the fragmentation of the deprotonated and sodiated molecules. Radical ions were observed in the high-energy [M+Na]+ CID spectra which provided supporting information on the glycosylation positions.     

A straightforward approach towards cyclic peptides via ring-closing metathesis--scope and limitations

N- and C-terminal diallylated peptides are obtained by several approaches, such as peptide Claisen rearrangement, N- and O- allylation, and the Ugi reaction of allyl-protected components. These diallylated peptides are suitable substrates for ring-closing metathesis and the success of this cyclisation was investigated with respect to the ring size, the position of the allyl moieties and the reaction parameters. In general, excellent yields are obtained for cyclisation of allyl glycine subunits and N-allylated amides, while allyl esters and allyl carbamates often presented serious problems. However, yields of up to 73% were obtained under optimised conditions, and the new generated double bond is formed with excellent trans-selectivity.     

Cellular Response to Reagent‐Free Electron‐Irradiated Gelatin Hydrogels

As a biomaterial, it is well established that gelatin exhibits low cytotoxicity and can promote cellular growth. However, to circumvent the potential toxicity of chemical crosslinkers, reagent‐free crosslinking methods such as electron irradiation are highly desirable. While high energy irradiation has been shown to exhibit precise control over the degree of crosslinking, these hydrogels have not been thoroughly investigated for biocompatibility and degradability. Here, NIH 3T3 murine fibroblasts are seeded onto irradiated gelatin hydrogels to examine the hydrogel's influence on cellular viability and morphology. The average projected area of cells seeded onto the hydrogels increases with irradiation dose, which correlates with an increase in the hydrogel's shear modulus up to 10 kPa. Cells on these hydrogels are highly viable and exhibits normal cell cycles, particularly when compared to those grown on glutaraldehyde crosslinked gelatin hydrogels. However, proliferation is reduced on both types of crosslinked samples. To mimic the response of the hydrogels in physiological conditions, degradability is monitored in simulated body fluid to reveal strongly dose‐dependent degradation times. Overall, given the low cytotoxicity, influence on cellular morphology and variability in degradation times of the electron irradiated gelatin hydrogels, there is significant potential for application in areas ranging from regenerative medicine to mechanobiology.

     

Inactivation by Pulsed Light of Bacillus subtilis Spores with Impaired Protection Factors

The resistance to pulsed light (PL) of spores of Bacillus subtilis strain 168 and of strains with mutations increasing sensitivity to UV‐C or affecting spore structure was evaluated and compared to resistance to continuous UV‐C and moist heat, in order to reveal original mechanisms of inactivation by PL. Spores of B. subtilis strain 168 (1A1) and eight mutant strains (sspA, sspB, sspAB, cotA, gerE, cotE, uvrA and recA) were exposed to PL (up to 1.77 J cm^?2), continuous UV‐C (up to 147 mJ cm^?2) and moist heat at 90°C. Spores of the strains lacking proteins linked to coat formation or structure (cotA, gerE and cotE) were markedly more sensitive to PL than 1A1, while their sensitivity to continuous UV‐C or to moist heat was similar to the one of strain 1A1. Coat proteins had a major contribution to the resistance of B. subtilis spores to PL irradiation characterized by short‐time and high‐energy pulses of white light in the wavelengths 200–1100 nm. In contrast the role of coat proteins to UV‐C or to moist heat resistance was marginal or null.     

Selective Protein Hyperpolarization in Cell Lysates Using Targeted Dynamic Nuclear Polarization

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has the intrinsic capabilities to investigate proteins in native environments. In general, however, NMR relies on non‐natural protein purity and concentration to increase the desired signal over the background. We here report on the efficient and specific hyperpolarization of low amounts of a target protein in a large isotope‐labeled background by combining dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) and the selectivity of protein interactions. Using a biradical‐labeled ligand, we were able to direct the hyperpolarization to the protein of interest, maintaining comparable signal enhancement with about 400‐fold less radicals than conventionally used. We could selectively filter out our target protein directly from crude cell lysate obtained from only 8 mL of fully isotope‐enriched cell culture. Our approach offers effective means to study proteins with atomic resolution in increasingly native concentrations and environments.     

Triptycene‐Based Chiral and meso‐N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands and Metal Complexes

Based on 1‐amino‐4‐hydroxy‐triptycene, new saturated and unsaturated triptycene‐NHC (N‐heterocyclic carbene) ligands were synthesized from glyoxal‐derived diimines. The respective carbenes were converted into metal complexes [(NHC)MX] (M=Cu, Ag, Au; X=Cl, Br) and [(NHC)MCl(cod)] (M=Rh, Ir; cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) in good yields. The new azolium salts and metal complexes suffer from limited solubility in common organic solvents. Consequently, the introduction of solubilizing groups (such as 2‐ethylhexyl or 1‐hexyl by O‐alkylation) is essential to render the complexes soluble. The triptycene unit infers special steric properties onto the metal complexes that enable the steric shielding of selected areas close to the metal center. Next, chiral and meso‐triptycene based N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands were prepared. The key step in the synthesis of the chiral ligand is the Buchwald–Hartwig amination of 1‐bromo‐4‐butoxy‐triptycene with (1S,2S)‐1,2‐diphenyl‐1,2‐diaminoethane, followed by cyclization to the azolinium salt with HC(OEt)₃. The analogous reaction with meso‐1,2‐diphenyl‐1,2‐diaminoethane provides the respective meso‐azolinium salt. Both the chiral and meso‐azolinium salts were converted into metal complexes including [(NHC)AuCl], [(NHC)RhCl(cod)], [(NHC)IrCl(cod)], and [(NHC)PdCl(allyl)]. An in situ prepared chiral copper complex was tested in the enantioselective borylation of α,β‐unsaturated esters and found to give an excellent enantiomeric ratio (er close to 90:10).     

Nucleophilicity of Alkyl Zirconocene and Titanocene Precatalysts,and Kinetics of Activation by Carbenium Ions and by B(C6F5)3

Kinetics of activation of methyl and benzyl metallocene precatalysts by benzhydrylium ions, tritylium ions, and triarylborane B(C₆F₅)₃ were measured spectrophotometrically. The rate constants correlate linearly with the electrophilicity parameter E of the benzhydrylium and tritylium ions employed, allowing us to determine the σ‐nucleophilicities of the metal–carbon bond of several zirconocenes and titanocenes. Bridging, substitution, metal, and ligand effects on the rates of metal–alkyl bond cleavage (M=Zr, Ti) were studied and structure–reactivity correlations were used to predict the kinetics of generation of metallocenium ions pairs, which are active catalysts in polymerization reactions and are highly electrophilic Lewis acids in frustrated Lewis pair catalysis.