Predictions of novel two-photon absorption bands in fluorescent proteins

By means of time-dependent density functional theory, we calculate the two-photon cross-sections for the lowest relevant excitations in some model chromophores of intrinsically fluorescent proteins. The two-photon strength of the first, one-photon active transition varies among the various chromophores, in line with experimental findings. Interestingly, additional transitions with large two-photon cross-sections are found in the 500-700 nm region arising from near-resonant enhancement, as revealed by few-state model analysis. Multiphoton excitation of fluorescent proteins in this spectral region can lead to relevant application for bioimaging.     

Electrochemical characterization of ordered arrays of metallo-porphyrins in aqueous solution

Metallated meso-tetrakis(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin (MTMPyP) and 5,11,17,23-tetrasulfonato-25,26,27,28-tetrakis-(hydroxylcarbonylmethoxy)-calix[4]arene (C(4)TsTc) were used as key components for building up discrete supramolecular entities starting from the formation of the template species MTMPyP:C(4)TsTc (1?:?4, M = Cu, Zn). The stepwise addition of further amount of porphyrin allows the facile non-covalent synthesis of discrete supramolecular entities (2?:?4 and 3?:?4) which can be built up just by programming the right stoichiometric addition of the proper porphyrin. The redox potentials of these supramolecular complexes in aqueous media, as well as those of the parent metalloporphyrins, have been characterized by using square wave voltammetry technique. The use of the simulation procedure leads us to establish the electrochemical steps involved in the redox processes for each supramolecular species, evidencing multistep electron reductions which were not experimentally resolved clearly because of their closeness. The most striking result is that the electrochemistry of each of these supramolecular complexes is different from that of the parent components. This "anomalous" behavior can be explained only considering each of these supramolecular complexes as a unique entity, in which such an internal electronic communication might occur. The formation of the 1?:?4 supramolecular complex produces a negative shift as to the metallated porphyrin redox potentials of about 30 mV. In the case of 2?:?4 and 3?:?4 species, the redox potentials progressively shifts towards more positive values by about 10-15 mV for each complexation step.     

Copper complex species within a fragment of the N-terminal repeat region in opossum PrP protein

A spectroscopic (UV-Vis, CD and EPR), thermodynamic and voltammetric study of the copper(ii) complexes with the Ac-PHPGGSNWGQ-NH(2) polypeptide (L), a fragment of the opossum PrP protein N-terminal four-repeat region, was carried out in aqueous solution. It suggests the formation of a highly distorted [Cu(L)H(-2)] complex species in the neutral region, the stereochemistry of which is ascribable to a square base pyramid and a CuN(3)O(2) chromophore, resulting from the coordination of a histidine imidazole and two peptide nitrogen atoms and probably oxygen atoms from water molecules. At basic pH values a [Cu(L)H(-3)](-) species with a pseudo-octahedral geometry was also obtained, with four nitrogen donor atoms in its equatorial plane, coming from the histidine residue and from peptidic nitrogen atoms. Interestingly, at pH values relatively higher than the neutrality, the coordination sphere of the copper complex in the [Cu(L)H(-2)] species changes its stereochemistry towards a pseudo-octahedron, as suggested by the change in the parallel copper hyperfine coupling constant of the EPR spectra at low temperature. A slight difference in the redox potentials between this two-faced [Cu(L)H(-2)] complex species seems to confirm this behaviour. Both potentiometric and spectroscopic data were compared with the analogous species obtained with the Ac-PHGGGWGQ-NH(2) peptide, belonging to the octarepeat domain of the human prion protein (hPrP) N-terminal region. The [Cu(L)H(-2)] species formed by the Ac-PHPGGSNWGQ-NH(2) decapeptide, having a slightly lower stability, turned out to be less abundant and to exist within a narrow pH range.     

Predicting self-assembly: from empirism to determinism

Self-assembly is one of the most important concepts of the 21st century. Strikingly, despite the rational design of molecules for biological and pharmaceutical applications is rather well established, only few are the attempts to formally refine predictions of self-assembly in material science. In the present tutorial review, we encompass some of the most significant efforts towards the systematic study of (thermodynamically stable) self-assembly. We discuss experimental and computer-simulated self-assembly events in hard-matter, soft-matter and higher symmetry architectures under the common framework of partition functions. In this framework, we endeavor to correlate state-of-the-art chemical design, programming and/or engineering of reversible (thermal and chemical equilibrium) self-assembly with knowledge of the underlying partition function landscape in a step towards quantitative predictions and ab initio molecular design.     

Probing the copper(II) binding features of angiogenin. Similarities and differences between a N-terminus peptide fragment and the recombinant human protein

The angiogenin protein (hAng) is a potent angiogenic factor and its cellular activities may be affected by copper ions even if it is yet unknown how this metal ion is able to produce this effect. Among the different regions of hAng potentially able to bind copper ions, the N-terminal domain appears to be an ideal candidate. Copper(II) complexes of the peptide fragments encompassing the amino acid residues 4-17 of hAng protein were characterized by potentiometric, UV-vis, CD, and EPR spectroscopic methods. The results show that these fragments have an unusual copper(II) binding ability. At physiological pH, the prevailing complex species formed by the peptide encompassing the protein sequence 4-17 is [CuHL], in which the metal ion is bound to two imidazole and two deprotonated amide nitrogen atoms disposed in a planar equatorial arrangement. Preliminary spectroscopic (UV-vis, CD, and EPR) data obtained on the copper(II) complexes formed by the whole recombinant hAng protein, show a great similarity with those obtained for the N-terminal peptide fragments. These findings indicate that within the N-terminal domain there is one of the preferred copper(II) ions anchoring site of the whole recombinant hAng protein.     

Colloidal Flower‐Shaped Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis Strategies and Coatings

The assembly of magnetic cores into regular structures may notably influence the properties displayed by a magnetic colloid. Here, key synthesis parameters driving the self‐assembly process capable of organizing colloidal magnetic cores into highly regular and reproducible multi‐core nanoparticles are determined. In addition, a self‐consistent picture that explains the collective magnetic properties exhibited by these complex assemblies is achieved through structural, colloidal, and magnetic means. For this purpose, different strategies to obtain flower‐shaped iron oxide assemblies in the size range 25–100 nm are examined. The routes are based on the partial oxidation of Fe(OH)₂, polyol‐mediated synthesis or the reduction of iron acetylacetonate. The nanoparticles are functionalized either with dextran, citric acid, or alternatively embedded in polystyrene and their long‐term stability is assessed. The core size is measured, calculated, and modeled using both structural and magnetic means, while the Debye model and multi‐core extended model are used to study interparticle interactions. This is the first step toward standardized protocols of synthesis and characterization of flower‐shaped nanoparticles.     

Evidence of mechanisms occurring in thermally induced phase separation of polymeric systems

Thermally induced phase separation is a fabrication technique for porous polymeric structures. By means of easy‐to‐tune processing parameters, such as system composition and demixing temperature, a vast latitude of average pore dimensions, pore size distributions, and morphologies can be obtained. The relation between demixing temperature and morphology was demonstrated via cloud point curve measurement and foams fabrication with controlled thermal protocols, for the model system poly‐l ‐lactide–dioxane–water. The morphologies obtained at a temperature lower than cloud point showed a closed‐pore architecture, suggesting a “nucleation‐and‐growth” separation mechanism, which produced larger pores at higher holding times. Conversely, the porous structures attained when holding the sample above the cloud point exhibited open pores with dimensions independent of time, denoting a phase separation occurring during sample freezing. Finally, the influence of the cooling rate on final morphology was investigated, showing a clear correlation with microstructure and pore size. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 979–983