Site‐Specific Encoding of Photoactivity in Antibodies Enables Light‐Mediated Antibody–Antigen Binding on Live Cells

Antibodies have found applications in several fields, including, medicine, diagnostics, and nanotechnology, yet methods to modulate antibody–antigen binding using an external agent remain limited. Here, we have developed photoactive antibody fragments by genetic site‐specific replacement of single tyrosine residues with photocaged tyrosine, in an antibody fragment, 7D12. A simple and robust assay is adopted to evaluate the light‐mediated binding of 7D12 mutants to its target, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), on the surface of cancer cells. Presence of photocaged tyrosine reduces 7D12‐EGFR binding affinity by over 20‐fold in two out of three 7D12 mutants studied, and binding is restored upon exposure to 365 nm light. Molecular dynamics simulations explain the difference in effect of photocaging on 7D12‐EGFR interaction among the mutants. Finally, we demonstrate the application of photoactive antibodies in delivering fluorophores to EGFR‐positive live cancer cells in a light‐dependent manner.     

Scaling behavior in on‐chip field‐amplified sample stacking

Field amplified sample stacking (FASS) uses differential electrophoretic velocity of analyte ions in the high‐conductivity background electrolyte zone and low conductivity sample zone for increasing the analyte concentration. The stacking rate of analyte ions in FASS is limited by molecular diffusion and convective dispersion due to nonuniform electroosmotic flow (EOF). We present a theoretical scaling analysis of stacking dynamics in FASS and its validation with a large set of on‐chip sample stacking experiments and numerical simulations. Through scaling analysis, we have identified two stacking regimes that are relevant for on‐chip FASS, depending upon whether the broadening of the stacked peak is dominated by axial diffusion or convective dispersion. We show that these two regimes are characterized by distinct length and time scales, based on which we obtain simplified nondimensional relations for the temporal growth of peak concentration and width in FASS. We first verify the theoretical scaling behavior in diffusion‐ and convection‐dominated regimes using numerical simulations. Thereafter, we show that the experimental data of temporal growth of peak concentration and width at varying electric fields, conductivity gradients, and EOF exhibit the theoretically predicted scaling behavior. The scaling behavior described in this work provides insights into the effect of varying experimental parameters, such as electric field, conductivity gradient, electroosmotic mobility, and electrophoretic mobility of the analyte on the dynamics of on‐chip FASS.     

Biocatalytic reversible control of the stiffness of DNA-modified responsive hydrogels: applications in shape-memory,self-healing and autonomous controlled release of insulin

The enzymes glucose oxidase (GOx), acetylcholine esterase (AchE) and urease that drive biocatalytic transformations to alter pH, are integrated into pH-responsive DNA-based hydrogels. A two-enzyme-loaded hydrogel composed of GOx/urease or AchE/urease and a three-enzyme-loaded hydrogel composed of GOx/AchE/urease are presented. The biocatalytic transformations within the hydrogels lead to the dictated reconfiguration of nucleic acid bridges and the switchable control over the stiffness of the respective hydrogels. The switchable stiffness features are used to develop biocatalytically guided shape-memory and self-healing matrices. In addition, loading of GOx/insulin in a pH-responsive DNA-based hydrogel yields a glucose-triggered matrix for the controlled release of insulin, acting as an artificial pancreas. The release of insulin is controlled by the concentrations of glucose, hence, the biocatalytic insulin-loaded hydrogel provides an interesting sense-and-treat carrier for controlling diabetes.

Biocatalytic control over the stiffness of pH-responsive hydrogels is applied to develop shape-memory, self-healing and controlled release matrices.     

Effect of ionic liquid on dielectric, mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polychloroprene rubber composites

This paper focuses on the influence of ionic liquid on carbon nanotube based elastomeric composites. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are modified using an ionic liquid at room temperature, 1-butyl 3-methyl imidazolium bis (trifluoromethylsulphonyl) imide (BMI) and modified MWCNTs exhibit physical (cation–π/π–π) interaction with BMI. The polychloroprene rubber (CR) composites are prepared using unmodified and BMI modified MWCNTs. The presence of BMI not only increases the alternating current (AC) electrical conductivity and polarisability of the composites but also improves the state of dispersion of the tubes as observed from dielectric spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy respectively. In addition to the hydrodynamic reinforcement, the formation of improved filler–filler networks is reflected in the dynamic storage modulus (E′) for modified MWCNTs/CR composites in amplitude sweep measurement upon increasing the proportion of BMI. Hardness and mechanical properties are also studied for the composites as a function of BMI.     

Evidence for a near-resonant charge transfer mechanism for double-stranded peptide nucleic acid

We present evidence for a near-resonant mechanism of charge transfer in short peptide nucleic acid (PNA) duplexes obtained through electrochemical, STM break junction (STM-BJ), and computational studies. A seven base pair (7-bp) PNA duplex with the sequence (TA)(3)-(XY)-(TA)(3) was studied, in which XY is a complementary nucleobase pair. The experiments showed that the heterogeneous charge transfer rate constant (k(0)) and the single-molecule conductance (σ) correlate with the oxidation potential of the purine base in the XY base pair. The electrochemical measurements showed that the enhancement of k(0) is independent, within experimental error, of which of the two PNA strands contains the purine base of the XY base pair. 7-bp PNA duplexes with one or two GC base pairs had similar measured k(0) and conductance values. While a simple superexchange model, previously used to rationalize charge transfer in single stranded PNA (Paul et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 6498-6507), describes some of the experimental observations, the model does not explain the absence of an enhancement in the experimental k(0) and σ upon increasing the G content in the duplexes from one to two. Moreover, the superexchange model is not consistent with other studies (Paul et al. J. Phys. Chem. B 2010, 114, 14140), that showed a hopping charge transport mechanism is likely important for PNA duplexes longer than seven base pairs. A quantitative computational analysis shows that a near-resonant charge transfer regime, wherein a mix of superexchange and hopping mechanisms are expected to coexist, can rationalize all of the experimental results.     

Major ginsenoside contents in rhizomes of Panax sokpayensis and Panax bipinnatifidus

This study compared eight major ginsenosides (Rg1, Rg2, Rf, Re, Rd, Rc, Rb1 and Rb2) between Panax sokpayensis and Panax bipinnatifidus collected from Sikkim Himalaya, India. High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis revealed that all major ginsenosides were present in the rhizomes of P. sokpayensis except ginsenoside Rc, whereas ginsenoside Rf, Rc and Rb2 were not detected in P. bipinnatifidus.     

Self-assembly approach toward magnetic silica-type nanoparticles of different shapes from reverse block copolymer mesophases

In the present study poly(isoprene-block-ethylene oxide), PI-b-PEO, block copolymers are used to structure iron oxide and silica precursors into reverse mesophases, which upon dissolution of the organic matrix lead to well-defined nanoparticles of spheres, cylinders, and plates based on the original structure of the mesophase prepared. The hybrid mesophases with sphere, cylinder, and lamellar morphologies containing the inorganic components in the minority phases are characterized through a combination of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). After heat treatments the respective nanoparticles on mica surfaces are characterized by scanning force microscopy (SFM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer measurements are performed to demonstrate that the heat treatment leads to the formation of a magnetic gamma-Fe2O3 crystalline phase within the amorphous aluminosilicate. The results pave the way to functional, i.e., magnetic nanoparticles where the size, shape, and iron oxide concentration can be controlled opening a range of possible applications.     

Electron transfer reactions. Reaction of tetracyclone,tetraphenylfuran and related substrates with potassium

The reaction of tetracyclone (1) with potassium in THF gave a mixture of benzoic acid (4), tetraphenylfuran (5) and cis-1,2-dibenzoylstilbene (6). The reaction of 1 with potassium in oxygen-saturated THF gave a mixture of 2-hydroxy-2,4,5-triphenyl-3(2H)furanone (3), 4, 5 and 6, whereas the reaction of 1 with potassium superoxide gave a moderate yield of 3,4,5,6-tetraphenyl-2-pyrartone (7), besides 3, 4, 5, and 6. The reaction of tetraphenylfuran (5) itself with potassium in THF gave a mixture of 6, 1,2,3,4-tetraphenylbutan-1-one (9), 2,3-diphenyl-1-indenone (10) and 2,3-epoxy-4-hydroxy-2,3,4-tnphenyltetralone-l (11), whereas practically no reaction occurred on treatment of 5 with potassium superoxide. Treatment of 10 with potassium in THF, however, gave a mixture of 4, dibenzo[a,c]-13-fluorenone (13), 2,3-diphenyl-2-hydroxyl-1-indanone (14) and 2,3-diphenylbenzofuran (15). A similar mixture of products consisting of 4, 13, 14 and 15 was obtained when the reaction of 10 with potassium was carried out in oxygen-saturated THF or when 10 was treated with potassium superoxide. Treatment of 2,3-diphenyl-2,3-epoxy-1-indanone (16) with potassium on the other hand, gave 10 in excellent yield. Cyclic voltammetric studies have been carried out to measure the reduction potentials of 1, 5, 10 and 16 in the generation of their radical anions. The radical anions of 1, 5, 10 and 16 were also generated pulse radiolytically in methanol and their spectra showed absorption maxima in the region 320–380 nm.     

Selective Oxidation of Sulfides to Sulfones Using H2O2 and Anderson-Type Hexamolybdochromate(III) as Catalyst

An Anderson-type hexamolybdochromate(III) is found to be an effective catalyst for the selective oxidation of sulfides to their corresponding sulfones. The reaction was carried out in 60% aq. acetonitrile (v/v) using 30% H₂O₂ at 60°C. Various dialkyl, alkyl-aryl, and diaryl sulfides were selectively oxidized, giving high yields of sulfones after a simple workup procedure.