Physicochemical and thermodynamic characterization of hydroxy pentacyclic triterpenoic acid/γ-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes

Hydroxy pentacyclic triterpenoic acids (HPTAs) have been described to exhibit numerous pharmacological properties. They also exhibit poor hydrosolubility, thus affecting their potential clinical interest. The association of these active substances with cyclodextrins could be employed to improve some properties such as bioavailability and activity. 1:1 Inclusion complexes of ursolic, oleanolic and betulinic acids with γ-cyclodextrin were evaluated by DSC and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The apparent formation constants (K_f) of the formed complexes were determined using RP-HPLC. Thermodynamic parameters ΔGo, ΔHo and ΔSo were calculated with temperatures ranging from 25 to 45?°C to evaluate the complexation process. Finally the influence of γ-CD on the HPTA water solubility was investigated by phase-solubility studies.     

Rheological constitutive equation of solids: a link between models based on irreversible thermodynamics and on fractional order derivative equations

In this paper we focus on the rheological problem of defining a constitutive equation for viscoelastic materials. In this simple case, we show that writing the dissipative component of the observable response to a given excitation as the result of multiple internal processes working for equilibrium recovery (flux of internal hidden variables), can yield a recursive series in time. This can be obtained when use is made of the theorem of created entropy equipartition as a model for fluctuation regression. A distribution (spectrum) for relaxation times naturally follows. The model thus obtained reflects the concept of a hierarchically constrained dynamic behavior. The conclusion is that the operator of non-integer differentiation in time applied to field variables can also be recovered from pure thermodynamic considerations.     

GaN nanowires for piezoelectric generators

We demonstrate the high potential of GaN nanowires (NWs) to convert mechanical energy into electric energy. Using an atomic force microscope equipped with a Resiscope module, an average output voltage of –74 mV and a maximum of –443 mV ± 2% per NW were measured. This latter value is the highest reported so far for GaN NWs. By considering these output signals, we have estimated an average and a maximum power density generated by one layer of GaN NWs of the order of 5.9 mW/cm² and 130 mW/cm², respectively. These results offer promising prospects for the use of GaN NWs for high‐efficiency ultracompact piezogenerators. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The Influence of Adnectin Binding on the Extracellular Domain of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor

The precise and unambiguous elucidation and characterization of interactions between a high affinity recognition entity and its cognate protein provides important insights for the design and development of drugs with optimized properties and efficacy. In oncology, one important target protein has been shown to be the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) through the development of therapeutic anticancer antibodies that are selective inhibitors of EGFR activity. More recently, smaller protein derived from the 10th type III domain of human fibronectin termed an adnectin has also been shown to inhibit EGFR in clinical studies. The mechanism of EGFR inhibition by either an adnectin or an antibody results from specific binding of the high affinity protein to the extracellular portion of EGFR (exEGFR) in a manner that prevents phosphorylation of the intracellular kinase domain of the receptor and thereby blocks intracellular signaling. Here, the structural changes induced upon binding were studied by probing the solution conformations of full length exEGFR alone and bound to a cognate adnectin through hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX MS). The effects of binding in solution were identified and compared with the structure of a bound complex determined by X-ray crystallography. ?      

Convenient synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines via regioselective palladium-catalyzed reactions

A novel and effective route for the synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines III is reported starting from the corresponding 2,4-dichloropyridopyrimidine 1 through regioselective functionalization palladium-catalyzed C–C coupling reactions, by two successive palladium-catalyzed reactions involving an original regioselective chlorine discrimination. Alternatively, type III compounds were elaborated from 2 by C-2 chlorine further displacement of the C-4 isopropylsulfanyl group, which acted as a temporary C-4 protecting group. Further Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions led to C-2 and C-4 disubstituted compounds.     

Reaction of trimethylchlorosilane in spin-on Silicalite-1 zeolite film

We present a study on the hydrophobization of spin-on Silicalite-1 zeolite films through silylation with trimethylchlorosilane. Microporous and micro-mesoporous Silicalite-1 films were synthesized by spin coating of suspensions of Silicalite-1 nanozeolite crystallized for different times. Ellipsometric porosimetry with toluene and water adsorbates reveals that silylation decreases the porosity and makes the films hydrophobic. The decrease in porosity depends on the exposed surface area in the pores. Water contact angle measurements confirm the hydrophobicity. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy reveals that the trimethylsilyl groups are chemisorbed selectively on isolated silanols and less on geminal and vicinal silanols due to steric limitations. Time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectroscopy and in situ ellipsometry analysis of the reaction kinetics show that the silylation is a bulk process occurring in the absence of diffusion limitation. Electrical current leakage on films decreases upon silylation. Silylation with trimethylchlorosilane is shown to be an effective hydrophobization method for spin-on Silicalite-1 zeolite films.     

Microencapsulation of nisin in alginate-cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) microbeads for prolonged efficacy against Listeria monocytogenes

The present study was undertaken to develop edible nisin-microencapsulated beads in order to inhibit growth of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) ham. Different concentrations of nisin (16, 31, and 63 μg/ml) were microencapsulated into alginate-cellulose nanocrystal beads. Microencapsulation kept the available nisin (63 μg/ml) content 20 times greater compared with free nisin (63 μg/ml) during 28 days of storage at 4 °C. Results showed that 63 μg/ml microencapsulated nisin exhibited 31.26 μg/ml available nisin content after 28 days of storage at 4 °C, whereas there was no available nisin content left for free nisin. Cooked ham slices were then coated by the microencapsulated nisin beads, inoculated with L. monocytogenes [~3 log colony-forming units (CFU)/g], and stored at 4 °C under vacuum packaging for 28 days. The beads containing 16, 31, and 63 μg/ml nisin significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced the L. monocytogenes counts by 2.65, 1.50, and 3.04 log CFU/g after 28 days of storage compared with free nisin. Furthermore, microencapsulated nisin beads did not change the physicochemical properties (pH and color) of RTE ham during storage.     

New strategies in the synthesis of regioselectively trifluoromethyl- and trifluoromethoxy-substituted arenes as building blocks for biologically active molecules

Regioisomerically pure trifluoromethyl- and trifluoromethoxy-substituted aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes and carboxylic acids are valuable building blocks for the synthesis of biologically active molecules. They have been prepared by employing modern organometallic methods. On this basis, a novel access to 2,3-dihydro-5-(trifluoromethoxy)indole was developed which represents an intriguing example of how organometallic and radical chemistry can fecundate each other.     

Phthalocyanine-pyrene conjugates: a powerful approach toward carbon nanotube solar cells

In the present work, a new family of pyrene (Py)-substituted phthalocyanines (Pcs), i.e., ZnPc-Py and H(2)Pc-Py, were designed, synthesized, and probed in light of their spectroscopic properties as well as their interactions with single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The pyrene units provide the means for non-covalent functionalization of SWNTs via π-π interactions. Such a versatile approach ensures that the electronic properties of SWNTs are not impacted by the chemical modification of the carbon skeleton. The characterization of ZnPc-Py/SWNT and H(2)Pc-Py/SWNT has been performed in suspension and in thin films by means of different spectroscopic and photoelectrochemical techniques. Transient absorption experiments reveal photoinduced electron transfer between the photoactive components. ZnPc-Py/SWNT and H(2)Pc-Py/SWNT have been integrated into photoactive electrodes, revealing stable and reproducible photocurrents with monochromatic internal photoconversion efficiency values for H(2)Pc-Py/SWNT as large as 15 and 23% without and with an applied bias of +0.1 V.