Characterization of different substrates for Raman spectroscopic imaging of eukaryotic cells

For Raman spectroscopic analyses of the cells and other biological samples, the choice of the right substrate material is very important to avoid loss of information in characteristic spectral features because of competing background signals. In the current study, Raman spectroscopy is used to characterize several potential Raman substrates. Raman vibrational bands of the substrate material are discussed. The surface topography is analyzed by atomic force microscopy, and the root mean square surface roughness values are reported. Biocompatibility of the substrates is tested with Hep G2 cells evaluating cellular morphology as well as live/dead staining. Calcium fluoride, silicon, fused silica, borofloat glass, and silicon nitride membranes support cell growth and adherence. Silicon, borofloat glass, and fused silica give rise to Raman signals in the region of interest. Calcium fluoride substrate (UV grade) is suitable for Raman spectroscopic investigation of living cells. Nickel foil is suitable substrate for Raman spectroscopic investigation but cellular adherence and viability depend on the quality of the foil. Silicon nitride membranes coated with nickel chrome is a suitable Raman substrate in closed microfluidic systems. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and immobilization of molecular switches onto titaniumdioxide nanowires

The precursor [Fe^III(L)Cl (L = N,N′-bis(2′-hydroxy-3′-methyl-benzyliden)-1,7-diamino-4-azaheptane) is combined with [Mo(CN)₈]^4? yields a star shaped nona-nuclear cluster, [Mo^IV{(CN)Fe^III(L)}₈]Cl₄. This Fe₈Mo molecule is a high-spin system at room temperature. On cooling to 20 K some of the iron(III) centres in the molybdenum(IV)-star switch to the low-spin state as proven by Mössbauer spectroscopy. This molecule was deposited on TiO₂ nanowires by electrostatic interactions between the cluster cations and the surface functionalized titanium oxide nanowire. The synthesis and surface binding of the multistable molecular switch was demonstrated using IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy (high-resolution) transmission electron microscopy ((HR)TEM) and Mössbauer spectroscopy. High- and low-temperature Mössbauer spectra indicate that the spin state transition of the free cluster molecules is preserved after surface binding. The above results emphasize the possibility of fabricating molecule-based low-dimensional structures by using traditional bottom-up approaches based on the electrostatic interaction between the cluster cations and polymer functionalized nanowires. These results can be generalized for the application to both charged and non-charged molecules.     

Syndiotactic‐specific radical polymerization of N,N‐dimethylacrylamide in the presence of tartrates: A proposed mechanism for the polymerization

Radical polymerization of N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAAm) was investigated in the presence of tartrates, such as diethyl L ‐tartrate, diisopropyl L ‐tartrate, and di‐n‐butyl L ‐tartrate, in toluene at low temperatures. Syndiotactic polymers were obtained in the presence of tartrates, whereas isotactic polymers were obtained in the absence of tartrates. The syndiotactic‐specificity increased with increasing amount of tartrates and with decreasing polymerization temperature. NMR analysis suggested that DMAAm and tartrates formed a 1:1 complex through double hydrogen bonding. A mechanism for the syndiotactic‐specific radical polymerization of DMAAm is proposed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1192–1203, 2009     

The effect of the N‐substituent s‐trans to the carbonyl group of N‐methylacrylamide derivatives on the stereospecificity of radical polymerizations

Radical polymerization of N‐methylacrylamide (NMAAm), N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAAm), and N‐methyl‐N‐phenylacrylamide (MPhAAm) was investigated in toluene at low temperatures. Atactic, isotactic, and syndiotactic polymers were obtained by the polymerization of NMAAm, DMAAm, and MPhAAm, respectively, indicating that the stereospecificity of the radical polymerization of acrylamide derivatives depended on the N‐substituents of the monomer used. From the viewpoint of monomer structure, the origin of the stereospecificity of radical polymerization of NMAAm derivatives is discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6534–6539, 2009     

Systematic optimisation of high-performance liquid chromatographic separation by varying the temperature, gradient, and stationary phase

Optimisation of the separation of a synthetic drug mixture by HPLC is performed by changing both continuous variables, i.e. mobile phase composition and temperature, and categorical variables, here the stationary phase. The retention of solutes is described on the basis of a general linear model in which the different columns are modelled by indicator variables. From the solute-specific retention models the global separation optimum is evaluated on the basis of multidimensional window diagrams using relative retentions of all peak pairs as the figure-of-merit.     

The influence of a γ-oxygen in the spacer of liquid crystal side group polysiloxanes on their ferroelectric properties

Two types of side group polysiloxanes which differ in their spacer between backbone and mesogenic part were synthesized via polymer analogous reaction. The impact of an oxygen atom localized in the γ position to the siloxane main chain on the ferroelectric properties was investigated. In addition, the link between the terminal chiral moiety and the mesogenic part in each series was varied. The phase transition behaviour, spontaneous polarization and the electro-optical response time for the two series of polymers are compared. The mesophase structures were determined by X-ray measurements on magnetically oriented samples at different temperatures. The additional oxygen atom in the spacer near to the main chain leads to broader range smectic C* phases and shorter electro-optical response times, which suggests that the ether linkage promotes a better decoupling between main chain and mesogenic side group.     

Substrate binding to vanadate-dependent bromoperoxidase from Ascophyllum nodosum: a vanadium K-edge XAS approach

The EXAFS region of vanadium K-edge XAS spectra of native vanadate-dependent bromoperoxidase (isoenzyme I) from Ascophyllum nodosum in the presence of the substrate bromide can be fitted to three shells (at 1.62, 1.73-1.78 and 1.99-2.07 A) in the first coordination sphere of vanadium plus two more distant shells at 4.1A, possibly corresponding to bromide, and 4.7 A due to light scatterers stemming from the protein pocket. Bromide does not directly bind to the vanadium centre. The XANES and the EXAFS features for the enzyme are essentially reproduced by model complexes of the general composition [VO(H(2)O)(n)(ONO)] (n= 1 or 2) where ONO is the dianion of a Schiff base from bromosalicylaldehydes (Brsal; with the Br substituent in the position 3, 4, 5 or 6) and amino acids. The 3-Brsal derivatives exhibit an outer sphere shell at 3.8 A, which is traced back to intermolecular contacts. The data obtained from EXAFS are compared to those obtained from single crystal X-ray diffraction of [VO(H(2)O)(2)(4-Brsal-gly)] and [VO(H(2)O)(2)(6-Brsal-gly)] (gly = glycinate). In the complex [VOBr(2)(ONO)']] ((ONO)' is the Schiff base from o-anisole and o-hydroxyaniline), the V-Br distance is 2.44 A.