Development of surface chemistry for surface plasmon resonance based sensors for the detection of proteins and DNA molecules

The immobilisation of biological recognition elements onto a sensor chip surface is a crucial step for the construction of biosensors. While some of the optical biosensors utilise silicon dioxide as the sensor surface, most of the biosensor surfaces are coated with metals for transduction of the signal. Biological recognition elements such as proteins can be adsorbed spontaneously on metal or silicon dioxide substrates but this may denature the molecule and can result in either activity reduction or loss. Self assembled monolayers (SAMs) provide an effective method to protect the biological recognition elements from the sensor surface, thereby providing ligand immobilisation that enables the repeated binding and regeneration cycles to be performed without losing the immobilised ligand, as well as additionally helping to minimise non-specific adsorption. Therefore, in this study different surface chemistries were constructed on SPR sensor chips to investigate protein and DNA immobilisation on Au surfaces. A cysteamine surface and 1%, 10% and 100% mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUDA) coatings with or without dendrimer modification were utilised to construct the various sensor surfaces used in this investigation. A higher response was obtained for NeutrAvidin immobilisation on dendrimer modified surfaces compared to MUDA and cysteamine layers, however, protein or DNA capture responses on the immobilised NeutrAvidin did not show a similar higher response when dendrimer modified surfaces were used.     

Preparation and characterization of PEPPSI-palladium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes using benzimidazolium salts catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross coupling reaction and their antitumor and antimicrobial activities

New palladium complexes were efficiently synthesized from the reaction of benzimidazolium salts 2a–e, potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) and palladium chloride (PdCl₂) in pyridine (for 3a–e). The catalytic activity of these complexes in a catalytic system including palladium complexes and K₂CO₃ in DMF-H₂O was evaluated in Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides and chlorides with phenylboronic acid. Our novel complexes show excellent catalytic activities with high turnover numbers (TON) and high turnover frequencies (TOF) (e.g. for the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction: TON up to 370 and TOF up to 123.3?h^?1). Both benzimidazolium salts 2a–e and complexes 3 have been characterized using spectroscopic data and elemental analysis. The antimicrobial activity of the N-heterocyclic carbene palladium complexes 3a–e varies with the nature of the ligands. Also, the IC₅₀ values of both, complexes (3a–e) and benzimidazoles 2a–e, have been determined. In addition, the new palladium complexes were screened for their antitumor activity. Complexes 3e and 3d exhibited the highest antitumor effect with IC₅₀ values 6.85?μg/mL against MCF-7 and 10.75?μg/mL against T47D, respectively.     

Axial-ligation and macrocyclization of novel (E,E)-dioximes of nickel(II) palladium(II), platinum(II) and cobalt(III)

Summary The synthesis and characterization of new Ni^II, Pd^II, Pt^II and Co^III complexes, with the BF _inf2 ^sup+ -bridged,bis(-di-oximato) ligands are described. The initially formed six-coordinate hydrogen-bonded macrocycles, were used as metal templates to prepare the corresponding BF _inf2 ^sup+ - capped macrocycles. The complexes were characterized by¹H-n.m.r. and i.r. spectroscopy, and by elemental analysis.     

Mass spectral studies of some 1,2,4-oxa-(thia)diazol-5(4H)-ones(thiones)

Electron ionization mass spectra of some 3,4-disubstituted 1,2,4-oxadiazole-5(4H)-thiones, thiadiazol-5(4H)-ones and thiadiazole-5(4H)-thiones are reported and fragmentation pathways of their molecular ions are studied in view of metastable ion experiments and accurate mass measurements. The main fragmentation route of the compounds under investigation is retro 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Mono- and Trinuclear Complexes of BF2+ Bridged Macrocycles

Dibenzo[e,k]-2,3-bis(hydroxyimino)-1,4-dithia-7,10-diaza-2,3,8,9-tetrahydrocyclododecine (H₂L) has been prepared from 1,2-bis(o-mercaptoanilino) ethane ( 4 ) and (E,E)-dichloroglyoxime. A mononuclear complex with a metal: ligand ratio of 1:2 has been isolated for cobalt(III). The Co^III complex of H₂L has been prepared with L′ = 2,6-lutidine, and with a chlorine ion as axial ligands. In addition to that, the synthesis of a new cobalt complex which contains BF₂⁺ bridges is achieved with the bis(E,E)-dioxime ligand. The trinuclear complex of this Co^III complex has been obtained by the reaction of BF₂⁺ bridged Co^III complex with Pd[bis(benzonitrile)]Cl₂. The structures of these complexes and (E,E)-dioxime were identified by using elemental analysis, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR, IR and MS spectral data.     

A new vicinal-dioxime and its mono and trinuclear complexes containing the monoazatetraoxa macrocyclic moiety

Mononuclear [Co(HL)2LCl)], [Co(LBF2)2LCl] or [Cu-(HL)2] H2L = {N,N-bis (4-N-phenylaza [15]crown-5)diaminoglyoxime} and a trinuclear, [Cu(L)2(CuL)2](NO3)2, complex of the ligand were synthesized and characterized. The mononuclear copper(II) species coordinates to two copper(II) ions through the deprotonated oximate oxygens to yield a trinuclear structure cis-bridged by the oximate groups, with 1,10-phenanthroline as an end-cap ligand. The terminal copper adopts an essentially planar configuration with the nitrogen atoms of H2L. The structure of the ligand and its complexes is proposed and formulated according to the elemental analyses, 1H- and 13C-n.m.r, i.r. and m.s. spectral data.     

Thiophenepropyltrichlorosilane as chemical modifier on silicagel for reversed phase chromatography

Summary Modification of silica gel with thiophene-propyl-trichlorosilane is described as well as the synthesis of the silane. The chromatographic performance and selectivity are demonstrated with various polyaromatic compounds. Thiophene-modified silica gel was found to exhibit a selectivity comparable with both ODS-and amino-phases.     

Determination of carotenoids in two algae species from the saline water of Kapulukaya reservoir by HPLC

The local algae species, Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus regularis, from a highly saline water body of Kapulukaya Reservoir were isolated to analyze their carotenoid composition and content using HPLC method. The gradient solvent system of methanol–acetonitrile–water (84:14:2, v/v/v) and methylene chloride (100%), used to resolve a range of carotenoids from the saponified cells, proved an acceptable separation as inferred from the retention factor (k) ranging between 0.75 and 7.76 and the separation factor (α) values greater than 1. Resolution peaks assigned to carotenoids, 21 for C. vulgaris extracts and 22 for S. regularis extracts, were reached within the duration time of 45?min. Main carotenoids identified either tentatively or positively were all-trans-lutein, 9- or 9′-cis-lutein, 13- or 13′-cis-lutein, cis-lutein, All-trans-α-carotene, 9- or 9′-cis-α-carotene, All-trans-β-carotene, 9- or 9′-cis-β-carotene in the species except for all-trans-β-cryptoxanthin found only in S. regularis. Auroxanthin, neochrome, neoxanthin, and cis-neoxanthin were identified as epoxy-containing compounds. Quantitatively, C. vulgaris was distinguished to have greater amount of lutein and cis-isomers (2.74?mg/g), 77.89% while S. regularis was predominated by β-carotene and cis isomers as major component, being 80.72% (5.76?mg/g) in total carotenoids (TC). In terms of total carotenoids, the species were considered to be efficient sources for further practical applications.     

Studies on the Synthesis of bis(Benzo diaza 23-crown-7) and its Complexes with K+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and Ba2+ Perchlorates

A novel (E,E)-dioxime (H2L) containing a 23-membered macrocyclic ionophore was synthesized from the reaction of 2,3-(4-aminobenzo)-1,4,11,14,17-pentaoxa-6,22-dioxo-7,21-diaza-cyclotricosane-2-ene (5) prepared from 2,3-(4-nitrobenzo)-1,4,11,14,17-pentaoxa-6,22-dioxo-7,21-diazacyclotricosane-2-ene (4) and cyanogen di-N-oxide (6). H2L encapsulates and coordinates to alkaline earth metal cations via the oxygen atom to form complexes, H2L2MX (M = K+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and Ba2+; X = ClO4-). After the complexation with alkaline earth metal cations, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and IR data were obtained and a comparison of these spectral data is presented.     

Backflush HPLC for the isolation of polycyclic aromatic compounds — A comparative study

Summary Semipreparative HPLC utilizing a polar bonded phase was applied to the isolation of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC) from complex samples using a backflush technique. Aminopropyl- and cyanopropyl-modified silica was tested. Aminopropyl-modified silica was found to be superior in achieving rapid, selective and non discriminating isolation of PAC. This was compared with the most commonly used isolation methods, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF) and nitromethane liquid-liquid extractions, and silica and SephadexLH-20 open column chromatography. Strong discrimination of alkylated PAC and polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocyclics (PANH) was found for the liquid-liquid extractions and the LH-20 column chromatography. These comparisions were made using both standard compounds and a sample of used crankcase oil, indicating the necessity of using a real sample for evaluation of extraction methods. Recoveries of 42 PACs are reported.