Multiparametric microsensor chips for screening applications

The identification of drug targets for pharmaceutical screening can be greatly accelerated by gene databases and expression studies. The identification of leading compounds from growing libraries is realized by high throughput screening platforms. Subsequently, for optimization and validation of identified leading compounds studies of their functionality have to be carried out, and just these functionality tests are a limiting factor. A rigorous preselection of identified compounds by in vitro cellular screening is necessary prior to using the drug candidates for the further time consuming and expensive stage, e.g. in animal models. Our efforts are focused to the parallel development, adaptation and integration of different microelectronic sensors into miniaturized biochips for a multiparametric, functional on-line analysis of living cells in physiologically environments. Parallel and on-line acquisition of data related to different cellular targets is required for advanced stages of drug screening and for economizing animal tests.     

Fast sample preparation involving MASE and coupled column normal phase liquid chromatography for the rapid trace analysis of dioxins in air-dust samples from fire catastrophe emissions

A new approach has been developed and tested for the urgent analysis of dioxins in samples of air-dust filters originating from catastrophe emissions. The procedure consists of a fast extraction of the sample with microwave solvent extraction (MASE) and acetone as solvent followed by a fast cleanup of the extract with normal phase coupled column liquid chromatography (LC/LC).

The multi-dimensional LC/LC system employs a 50 mm×4.6 mm i.d. column packed with 3 μm silica and a 150 mm×4.6 mm i.d. column packed with 5 μm PYE as the first and second analytical column, respectively. Iso-hexane is used on both columns to perform cleanup and dichloromethane to perform efficient back-flush elution of the compounds from the second column. The obtained polarity-based separation in the first dimension and molecular-structure based separation in the second dimension provides a fast and powerful cleanup.

Validation was done by analysing samples of homemade RIVM air-dust with aged residues (n=8, spiking level about 15 pg mg⁻¹ per compound) of dioxins/furans and samples of reference Urban Dust SRM 1649a (n=4) with both the new approach and the existing conventional procedure and were instrumentally analyzed with capillary gas chromatography and high resolution mass spectrometric detection (GC/HRMS).

In comparison to the existing conventional procedure, the new approach reduces sample processing from several days to several hours per sample.

As regards the aged-residue air-dust samples, the new method shows a good accuracy, precision and high selectivity providing a performance in good agreement with the existing procedure. In SRM air-dust, the concentration of a few compounds obtained by the new method was below (10–50%) the certified value.     

Characterization of CNS disorders and evaluation of therapy using structural and functional MRI

Modern drug development requires technologies that allow rapid translation from the preclinical to the clinical stage. It is obvious that non-invasive imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will play a central role in this regard. This article reviews the use of structural and functional MRI readouts for characterization of central nervous system (CNS) disorders and evaluation of the efficacy of potential CNS drugs. Examples comprise dementia of Alzheimer's type, cerebral ischemia, and neuroinflammation covering both clinical and preclinical aspects. In these examples MRI has been used to obtain relevant structural information on brain atrophy, on the location and extent of ischemic brain areas, and on the number and distribution of demyelinated plaques. These structural data are complemented by readouts assessing the functional consequences associated with the pathomorphological changes. In the last decade, MRI has evolved into a standard tool for the development of CNS drugs. With regard to target-specific/molecular imaging applications MRI is limited by its inherently low sensitivity; complementary imaging modalities utilizing optical and radionuclear reporter systems will thus be required.     

A coated-platinum sulfate-selective electrode

Sulfate-selective electrodes can be fabricated from commercial platinum electrodes by coating them with a mixture of Aliquat-336 and trifluoroacetyl-p-butylbenzene in polyvinyl chloride matrix. Adding a solid, sparingly soluble sulfate such as that of strontium, lead, barium, or 2-aminoperimidine (2-AP) improves the selectivity for sulfate relative to nitrate. The 2-AP electrode shows the best physical stability and is described in detail. The order ofanion interference is ClO₄^->Cl^->NO₃^->H₂PO₄^->F^-. The useful pH range is 4–9. The response is Nernstian from 10^-5 to 10^-1 M in sodium sulfate solutions.     

The number of kekulé structures for rectangle-shaped benzenoids,part VIII: Some perforated rectangles

Summary Classes of coronoids (or degenerate coronoids), r and q are obtained by providing the rectangle-shaped benzenoids R^j (m, 3) with a naphthalenic or pyrenic hole, respectively. The numbers of Kekulé structures (K) are studied. It was found for theK numbers of the classes in question:r=4/5R andq=1/5R. The classes r and q are similar to r and q, respectively, but the naphthalenic or pyrenic hole is oriented in a different way. For these classes it was found:r=3/5R,q=2/5R.

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Die Anzahl von Kekulé-Strukturen für hochkondensierte Benzenoide mit rechteckigem Umriß, 8. Mitt.: Einige perforierte benzenoide Rechteck-Strukturen

Zusammenfassung Es werden Klassen r und q von Coronoiden (oder degenerierten Coronoiden) erhalten, wobei Benzenoide mit rechteckigem Umriß, R^j(m, 3), mit einem Naphthalin- oder Pyren-Loch versehen werden. Die Anzahl von Kekulé-Strukturen (K) wird untersucht; dabei wurde für die untersuchten Klassenr=4/5R undq=1/5R gefunden. Die Klassen r und q verhalten sich ähnlich, das Naphthalin- oder Pyren-Loch ist jedoch anders orientiert; dafür wurder=3/5R undq=2/5R gefunden.

     

Bi- and trinuclear oxalamidinate complexes of palladium as catalysts in the copper-free Sonogashira reaction and in the Negishi reaction

The binuclear complex [(acac)Pd(oxam)Pd(acac)] 1 (oxam: tetraphenyl oxalic amidinate) has been prepared from H₂oxam and Pd(acac)₂ in excellent yield. The complex was characterized by elemental analyses, mass spectroscopy, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by X-ray single crystal diffraction analyses. 1 consists of a bimetallic centrosymmetric unit in which the planar oxam ligand acts in a bis-chelating fashion. Each palladium center is in a planar environment.The complex 1 acts as highly selective pre-catalyst in the copper-free Sonogashira reaction between 4-bromoacetophenone and phenylacetylene. Its long-time catalytic activity is higher than that of the related binuclear complex 2 (oxam: tetra-p-tolyl oxalic amidinate) or that of the trinuclear compound [(acac)Pd(oxam)Zn(oxam)Pd(acac)] (3), the solid-state structure of which was also determined by an X-ray structural analysis of single crystals. In addition, 2 is an active and extremely selective pre-catalyst for the Negishi reaction between 3,5,6,8-tetrabromophenanthroline and R-CC-ZnCl (R: Ph, (ⁱprop)₃Si) to form tetra-alkyne-substituted derivatives.     

Offene und cyclische Methylstibonigsäureester. II

Esters of Methylstibonous Acid. II. The reaction of methyldibromstibine with sodium alcoholates and phenolates yield methyldialkoxi and methyldiphenoxistibines. Interchange reactions of the methyldiethoxistibine with thiols, 1,2-diols, 1,2-dithiols, and 2-mercapto-1-oles form dithioesters and cyclic esters of the methylstibonous acid in nearly quantitativ amount and high purity.     

Phase stability in the systems AeAl(2-x)Mgx (Ae = Ca, Sr, Ba): electron concentration and size controlled variations on the laves phase structural theme

The systems AeAl(2-x)Mgx (Ae = Ca, Sr, Ba) display electron concentration induced Laves phase structural changes. However, the complete sequence MgCu2 --> MgNi2 --> MgZn2 with increasing x (decreasing electron count) is only observed for Ae = Ca. Compounds SrAl(2-x)Mgx (0 < x < or = 2) and BaAl(2-x)Mgx (x = 0.85 and 2.0) were synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction experiments. For the Sr system the structural sequence CeCu2 --> MgNi2 --> MgZn2 occurs with increasing Mg content x. Thus, larger Sr does not allow the realization of the MgCu2 structure at low x. For Ae = Ba a binary compound BaAl2 does not exist, but more Ba-rich Ba7Al13 forms. The reinvestigation of the crystal structure of Ba7Al13 by selected area and convergent beam electron diffraction in a transmission electron microscope revealed a superstructure, which subsequently could be refined from single X-ray diffraction data. The formula unit of the superstructure is Ba21Al40 (space group P31m, Z = 1, a = 10.568(1) angstroms, c = 17.205(6) angstroms). In Ba21Al40 a size match problem between Ba and Al present in Ba7Al13 is resolved. The structure of Ba7Al13 (Ba21Al40) can be considered as a Ba excess variant of the hexagonal MgNi2 Laves phase type structure. An incommensurately modulated variant of the MgNi2 structure is obtained for phases BaAl(2-x)Mgx with x = 0.8-1. At even higher Mg concentrations a structural change to the proper MgZn2 type structure takes place.     

Zwitterionic titanoxanes {Cp[η-C5H4B(C6F5)3]Ti}2O and {(η-PrC5H4)[η-1,3-PrC5H3B(C6F5)3]Ti}2O as catalysts for cationic ring-opening polymerization

Zwitterionic titanoxanes {Cp[η⁵-C₅H₄B(C₆F₅)₃]Ti}₂O (I) and {(η⁵-ⁱPrC₅H₄)[η⁵-1,3-ⁱPrC₅H₃B(C₆F₅)₃]Ti}₂O (II), which contain two positively charged Ti(IV) centres in the molecule, are able to catalyse the ring-opening polymerization of -caprolactone (-CL) in toluene solution and in bulk. The process proceeds with a noticeable rate even at room temperature and accelerates strongly on raising the temperature to 60 °C. The best results have been obtained on carrying out the reaction in bulk. Under these conditions, the use of I as a catalyst (-CL:I = 1000:1) gives at 60 °C close to quantitative yield of poly--CL with the molecular mass of 197 000. An increase in the -CL:I ratio to 6000:1 increases the molecular mass of poly--CL to 530 000. Tetrahydrofuran (THF) is also polymerized under the action of I albeit with a lesser rate. However, the molecular mass of the resulting poly-THF can reach rather big values under optimal conditions (up to 217 000 at 20 °C and the THF:I ratio of 770:1). A rise in the reaction temperature from 20 to 60 °C results here to a decrease in the efficiency of the process. Titanoxane II is close to I in its catalytic activity in the -CL polymerization but it is much less active in the polymerization of THF. Propylene oxide (PO), in contrast to -CL and THF, gives with I only liquid oligomers in wide temperature and PO:I molar ratio ranges (−30 to +20 °C, PO:I = 500–2000:1). γ-Butyrolactone and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone are not polymerized under the action of I at room temperature. The reactions found are the first examples of catalysis of the cationic ring-opening polymerization by zwitterionic metallocenes of the group IVB metals.     

Characterisation of thin sputtered silicon nitride films by NRA, ERDA, RBS and SEM

Summary Thin, amorphous silicon nitride (a-SIN_x) films were deposited on n-type (100) silicon substrates using an argon ion beam for sputtering a HPSN block under high vacuum conditions. The substrates were kept at room temperature. Nitrogen depth distributions were determined by NRA using the resonance reaction ¹⁵N(p,)¹²C at 429 keV. Hydrogen profiles were analysed by NRA (¹H(¹⁵N,)¹²C at E_o=6.385 MeV) and by ERDA (²⁰Ne²⁺, E_o=10 MeV). The NRA was used to determine the depth distributions (concentration vs. areal density) of nitrogen and hydrogen taking calibration standards into consideration. The silicon depth distributions and the N/Si ratios of the deposited a-SiN_x films were determined by RBS (⁴He⁺, E_o=2.0 MeV). Film thicknesses were obtained by SEM. The density of the deposited a-SiN_x films was found to be =2.7 (±0.1) g/cm³ by correlating RBS data and real film thicknesses as obtained by SEM.