A combinatorial approach to obtain affinity media with binding properties towards the aflatoxins

In our work we performed a combinatorial solid-phase synthesis in aqueous medium to prepare peptide libraries from which to select an amino acid sequence with binding properties towards aflatoxins.We used polystyrene beads, functionalised with carboxylic groups as solid support and eight amino acids as monomers. During the first step 64 different sequences of two amino acids were prepared by exploiting the principles of combinatorial chemistry; then the binding properties of all sequences towards aflatoxin B(1 )were checked. We determined binding constants towards aflatoxin B(1) and towards aflatoxins B(2), G(1) and G(2). Results were promising, so we prepared a new library by using the selected dipeptide as the starting solid phase. After selecting the best tetrapeptide sequences, we determined binding constants towards the quoted aflatoxins. We obtained binding constants ( K>10(4) M(-1)) similar to those shown by human serum albumin for similar compounds. Preliminary studies on an extraction column were promising for the development of an SPE system and for its application in food matrices.     

Dynamic study of photosensitized one-electron oxidation of polyG by menadione

Quinones including menadione are ubiquitous in nature. They play important roles in aerobic respira- tion and photosynthesis[1,2]. In addition, exogenous quinones are used as antibiotics and anticancer drugs. Their function is closely related to their red…     

Computation of equilibrium oxidation and reduction potentials for reversible and dissociative electron-transfer reactions in solution

Equilibrium free-energy cycles relating oxidation and reduction potentials in solution to ionization potentials and electron affinities in the gas phase are constructed and the utilities of various levels of theory for computing particular free-energy changes within these cycles are discussed within the context of several examples. Emphasis is placed on the use of quantum-mechanical continuum solvation models to compute free energies of solvation. Key systems discussed include quinones, substituted anilines, substituted phenols, and reductive dechlorination reactions.Dedicated to Prof. Jean-Louis Rivail, whose pioneering efforts in developing and exploiting continuum solvent models were critical in making quantum chemistry more applicable to solution phenomenaProceedings of the 11th International Congress of Quantum Chemistry satellite meeting in honor of Jean-Louis Rivail     

Study of non-isothermal crystallization of amorphous Cu<Subscript>50</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>50</Subscript> alloy

The crystallization kinetics of amorphous Cu₅₀Ti₅₀ has been studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) under non-isothermal conditions. The curves at different linear heating rates (2, 4, 8 and 16 K min^–1) show sharp crystallization peaks. The crystallization peak shifts to higher temperatures with increasing heating rate. The Kissingers method of analysis of the shift in the transformation peak is applied to evaluate the activation energy (E _c). The KJMA formalism, which is basically developed for isothermal experiments, is also used to obtain E _c and the Avrami parameter (n).The DSC data have been analysed in terms of kinetic parameters, viz. activation energy (E _c), Avrami exponent (n) and frequency factor K ₀ using three different theoretical models. It is observed that the activation energy values derived from KJMA approach and modified Kissinger equation agree fairly well with each other. The activation energy values obtained from normal Kissinger method, and Gao and Wang expression underestimate the activation energy.The financial support provided by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), New Delhi (Govt. of India) is gratefully acknowledged.     

Analytical procedures for quantification of peptides in pharmaceutical research by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

Peptide quantification by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) combines the high resolving power of reversed-phase (RP) chromatography with the excellent selectivity and sensitivity of mass spectrometric detection. On the basis of comprehensive practical experience in the analysis of small molecules, pharmaceutical research is developing technologies for analysis of a growing number of peptidic drug candidates. This article is a detailed review of procedures based on LC–MS techniques for quantitative determination of peptides. With the focus on pharmaceutical applications several technologies for sample preparation, various aspects of peptide chromatography, important characteristics of ESI–MS, selectivity of MS-detection modes, the large variability of internal standards, and modern instrumentation are discussed. The demand for reliable, robust, sensitive, and accurate methods is discussed using numerous examples from the literature, complemented by experiments and results from our laboratory.     

Determination of extremely localized molecular orbitals in the framework of density functional theory

Extremely localized molecular orbitals are rigorously localized on only a preselected set of atoms and do not have any tails outside the localization region. The importance of these orbitals lies in their ability to be transferred from one molecule to another one. A new algorithm to determine extremely localized molecular orbitals in the framework of the density functional theory method is presented. This could also be a valuable tool in the quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics methodology where localized molecular orbitals are used to describe covalent bonds across the frontier region. The present approach is used to build up the electron density of thymopentin, a polypeptide constituted by five residues, starting from extremely localized molecular orbitals determined on a set of model molecules. The results obtained confirm good transferability properties for these orbitals.Proceedings of the 11th International Congress of Quantum Chemistry satellite meeting in honor of Jean-Louis Rivail     

Transport properties of alkyltrimethylammonium bromide surfactants in aqueous solutions

Differential mutual diffusion coefficients of n-alkyltrimethylammonium bromides [CH₃(CH₂)_n–1N(CH₃)₃Br, C_nTAB] (n=10, 12, 14, 16) have been measured in aqueous solutions at 298.15 K using a conductimetric cell and an automatic apparatus to follow diffusion. The cell is based on an open-ended capillary, and the technique follows the diffusion process by measuring the resistance of a solution inside the capillaries at various times. The electrical conductances of those solutions have also been measured to calculate the critical micellar concentration (cmc). Thermodynamic analysis of the data suggests that the free ion concentration decreases at concentrations above the cmc, in agreement with theoretical predictions. The obtained values of the micellization parameters were used to model the mutual diffusion coefficients of C_nTAB aqueous solutions.     

Potential distribution around a charged spherical colloidal particle in a medium containing its counterions and a small amount of added salts

A theory is developed for the potential distribution around a charged spherical colloidal particle carrying ionized groups on the particle surface in a medium containing its counterions (i.e., counterions produced from dissociation of the particle surface groups) and a small amount of added salts on the basis of the theory of Imai and Oosawa. Numerical solutions to the Poisson–Boltzmann equation for the potential distribution are obtained for the case of dilute (but not infinitely dilute) particle suspensions of volume fraction 1 for a1 (where is the Debye–Hückel parameter and a is the particle radius). Here we have taken into account the effects of (i) counterions from the particle surface groups, and (ii) the finite particle volume fraction. These effects, which are usually neglected in the conventional Poisson–Boltzmann equation, are found to be important. It is found that, as in the case of completely salt-free media, there is a certain critical value of the particle charge (which is the same as that for the completely salt-free case). When the particle charge is lower than the critical value, the potential is given by a Coulomb potential. If the particle charge is higher than the critical value, then counterions are accumulated in the vicinity of the particle surface (counterion condensation) and the potential becomes less dependent on the particle charge. The above behaviors can be observed even for the case where the electrolyte concentration is higher than the concentration of counterions from the particle surface groups, if the conditions 1 and a1are both satisfied.     

The Effects of Beating,Web Forming and Sizing on the Surface Energy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus globulus</Emphasis> Kraft Fibres Evaluated by Inverse Gas Chromatography

In this work attention has been focused on the effects of papermaking beating, web forming and sizing operations on the physical/chemical surface properties of bleached Eucalyptus globulus kraft fibres. Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) was used to determine the dispersive component of surface tension (γ_s^d) as well as the acidic/basic character (according to the Lewis concept) of the solid surfaces (pulp fibres and pulp handsheets). The results have shown that the main effect of beating is to increase the fibre's Lewis acidic character. Web forming caused a strong decrease in γ_s^d and significant increments in the adhesion works of both acidic and basic probes, lowering the ratio between the two. Nevertheless, the surface of handsheets still exhibited a dominant acidic character. The sizing operation did not change the dispersive component of the surface tension significantly but decreased the difference between the adhesion works of the acidic and basic probes, rendering the handsheet surface less Lewis acidic and more Lewis basic. Thus, although internal sizing is expected to strongly influence liquid spreading at the paper surface and liquid penetration of the fibre's network, it is concluded that beating and web forming lead to important changes in the surface energetic properties of the Eucalyptus globulus kraft fibres.     

Fluorescence ratiometric pH sensor prepared from covalently immobilized porphyrin and benzothioxanthene

A fluorescence ratiometric sensor for pH determination is described in this paper. The sensor incorporated the pH-sensitive dye meso-5,10,15,20-tetra-(4-allyloxyphenyl)porphyrin (TAPP) as an indicator and a pH-insensitive dye N-(2-methacryloxyethyl)benzo[k,l]thioxanthene-3,4-dicarboximide (MBTD), a benzothioxanthene derivative, as a reference for fluorescence ratiometric measurement. To prevent leakage of the dyes, both were photocopolymerized with acrylamide, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate on the silanized glass surface. The reproducibility and response time of the prepared sensor were sufficient. Most common coexisting inorganic ions and organic compounds did not interfere with pH sensing. In the acidic pH range from 1.5 to 5.0 the fluorescence intensity ratio of the two dyes varied linearly as a function of pH. The sensing membrane was found to have a lifetime of at least one month. The sensor was applied to the analysis of waste water and artificial samples.