Nanoparticle-DNA conjugates bearing a specific number of short DNA strands by enzymatic manipulation of nanoparticle-bound DNA

Self-assembling of metallic nanoparticles to form well-defined nanostructured structures is a field that has been receiving considerable research interest in recent years. In this field, DNA is a commonly used linker molecule to direct the assembly of the nanoscale building blocks because of its unique recognition capabilities, mechanical rigidity, and physicochemical stability. This study reported our novel approach to generate gold nanoparticle-DNA conjugates bearing specially designed DNA linker molecules that can be used as building blocks to construct nanoassemblies with precisely controlled structure or as nanoprobes for quantitative DNA sequence detection analysis. In our approach, gold nanoparticle-DNA conjugates bearing a specific number of long double-stranded DNA strands were prepared by gel electrophoresis. A restriction endonuclease enzyme was then used to manipulate the length of the nanoparticle-bound DNA. This enzymatic cleavage was confirmed by gel electrophoresis, and digestion efficiency of 90% or more was achieved. With this approach, nanoparticle conjugates bearing a specific number of strands of short DNA with less than 20-base can be achieved.     

Liquid-phase parallel synthesis of tetrahydro-β-carbolines

Parallel synthesis of β-carbolines on soluble polyethylene glycol (PEG-OH) support is demonstrated. One-pot condensation of polymer-bound tryptophan residues with various aldehydes and ketones has been carried out in the presence of p-TSA as a catalyst to deliver immobilized 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carbolines. Subsequent disengagement of the appendant from the polymer support afforded the desired products in good yield and acceptable purity.     

Trace measurements of the antineoplastic agent methotrexate by adsorptive stripping voltammetry

An extremely sensitive voltammetric method is presented for trace measurement of the cancer chemotherapy drug methotrexate. The method is based on controlled adsorptive preconcentration of methotrexate on the hanging mercury-drop electrode, followed by voltammetric determination of the surface species. Cyclic voltammetry was used to explore the interfacial behaviour. The adsorptive stripping response was evaluated with respect to preconcentration time and potential, pH, concentration dependence, stripping mode, possible interferences, and other variables. The detection limit found was 2 x 10(-9)M (5-min preconcentration), the response was linear, and the relative standard deviation (at the 1.6 x 10(-7)M level) 2.2%. Sensitive adsorptive stripping measurements were also obtained by use of a carbon-paste disk electrode. Applicability to urine analysis is illustrated.     

The cationic polymerization and copolymerization of isopropenylmetallocene monomers

Three types of isopropenylmetallocene monomers were synthesized and subjected to polymerization and copolymerization by cationic initiators; (1) isopropenylferrocene (IF); (2) (η⁵-isopropenylcyclopentadienyl)dicarbonylnitrosylmolybdenum (IDM); and (3) 1,1′-diisopropenylcyclopentadienylstannocene (DIS), and related derivatives of each. IF was synthesized by a three-step procedure involving the acetylation of ferrocene, conversion of the latter to 2-ferrocenyl-2-propanol, and dehydration of the carbinol. IF was homopolymerized under various cationic initiation conditions, but only low molecular weight homopolymers were obtained. Copolymerization of IF with styrene and with p-methoxy-α-methylstyrene also gave only low molecular weight products. The formation of only low molecular weight polymers in all polymerization reactions is believed to result from the effect of the unusually high stability of ferrocenyl carbenium ions on its propagation reaction. The observed polymerization behavior of α-trifluoromethylvinylferrocene is in accord with this conclusion. IDM and DIS did not form polymeric products under cationic conditions, although copolymers could be obtained for each of these monomers and styrene with a free radical polymerization initiator (AIBN).     

Aldol reactions of a cyclobutanone enolate

Addition of an aldehyde and zinc chloride to a cyclobutanone enolate, prepared by the reaction of an α-chlorocyclobutanone with dimethylcopperlithium, gave an aldol adduct in good yield.     

Polymeric silver(I) complexes with pyridyl dithioether ligands: experimental and theoretical investigations on the coordination properties of the ligands

The reactions of four flexible tetradentate ligands, 1,3-bis(2-pyridylthio)propane (L1), 1,4-bis(2-pyridylthio)butane (L2), 1,5-bis(2-pyridylthio)pentane (L3) and 1,6-bis(2-pyridylthio)hexane (L4) with AgX (X = BF4-, ClO4-, PF6-, or CF3SO3-) lead to the formation of seven new complexes: [AgL1(BF4)]2 (1), [[AgL2](ClO4)]infinity (2), [[AgL2(CH3CN)](PF6)]infinity (3), [[AgL3](BF4)(CHCl3)]2 (4), [[AgL3(CF3SO3)](CH3OH)(0.5)]infinity (5), [[Ag2L4(2)](BF4)2]infinity (6), and [[AgL4](PF6)]infinity (7), which have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. Single-crystal X-ray analyses show that complexes 1 and 4 possess dinuclear macrometallacyclic structures, and complexes 2, 3 and 5-7 take chain structures. In all the complexes, the nitrogen atoms of ligands preferentially coordinate to silver atoms to form normal coordination bonds, while the sulfur atoms only show weak interactions with silver atoms and the intermolecular AgS weak contacts connect the low-dimensional complexes into high-dimensional supramolecular networks. Additional weak interactions, such as pi-pi stacking, F...F weak interactions, Ag...O contacts or C-H...O hydrogen bonds, also help to stabilize the crystal structures. It was found that the parity of the -(CH2)n- spacers (n = 3-6) affect the orientation of the two terminal pyridyl rings, thereby significantly influence the framework formations of these complexes. The coordination features of ligands and their conformation changes between free and coordination states have been investigated by DFT calculations.     

Activation and racemization of trifluoroacetate esters in the cationic polymerization of styrene

1-Phenylethyl trifluoroacetate ( 1 ) does not react directly with styrene but it is readily incorporated into polymer chains in the presence of an excess of trifluoroacetic acid. The proportion of the nondeuterated 1-phenylethyl end groups in the polymerization of deuterated styrene coinitiated with the acid was much higher than the proportion of the end groups formed by direct incorporation of the acidic protons ([CH₃? CHPh? CD₂? CDPh? …] > [HCD₂? CDPh? CH₂? CDPh? …]). The racemization of the optically active ester-(pseudo-first order rate constant at [HA]₀ = 0.79 mol/L at 20°C equals k^R = 1.7 × 10^?4 S^?1) is more rapid than the incorporation of the ester into polymer chains (k^E = 1.5 × 10^?4 mol^?1 Ls^?1, [M]₀ < 0.4 mol L^?1, i.e., k^R > k^E · [M]). These results and the complete loss of the optical activity in the final polymer indicate that the ester is activated by the acid but it is incorporated into polymer chain via ionic intermediates.     

多支链烷基苯磺酸钠水溶液的表面性质

用自制的四种高纯度多支链烷基苯磺酸钠,研究了支链结构对其表面性质的影响.结果表明,随支链烷基碳数增加,临界胶束浓度降低,标准吸附自由能DGadӨ更负;但是,饱和吸附量Γmax却随支链烷基碳数增加而减小,且临界胶束浓度时的表面张力γcmc随吸附量减小而降低,表现出与一般表面活性剂不同的变化趋势.从多支链烷基苯磺酸钠的分子结构特点,解释了随支链烷基碳数增加Γmax和γcmc的变化规律,探讨了分子的独占面积(as)对Γmax及γcmc的影响.     

Development and validation of an isotope-dilution electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method with an on-line sample clean-up device for the quantitative analysis of the benzene exposure biomarker S-phenylmercapturic acid in human urine

An isotope-dilution electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) method with an on-line sample clean-up device, for the quantitative analysis of human urine for the benzene exposure biomarker S-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA), was developed and validated. The sample clean-up system was constructed from an autosampler, a reversed-phase C18 trap cartridge, a two-position switching valve, and controlling computer software and hardware. The sample clean-up system was interfaced via 1/20 splitting to the ESI source of a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer using negative ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring for SPMA and the isotope-labeled internal standard. A strategy was adopted to acquire pooled blank urine matrix and quality control samples spiked with standards. Validated procedures and data on method specificity, detection limits, standard curves, precision and recovery, sample storage stability, and inter-laboratory comparison are presented. The analytical system was fully automated. No tedious manual sample clean-up procedures are required. With the selectivity and the sensitivity provided by ESI-MS/MS detection, the analytical system can be used for high-throughput and accurate determination of SPMA levels in human urine samples, as a biomarker for environmental as well as occupational benzene exposure.     

胞嘧啶水溶液体系辐解的瞬态产物研究

Using the ns pulse radolysis, we studied the characteristic absorption spectrum and kinetic decay of cytosine anion radical (Cyt-). Results showed that the characteristic absorption of Cyt- was located at λ=355±5 nm, and decayed following the first order kinetics with τ1/2=265 ns at pH=7.0. The decay became slower and τ1/2 rapidly rised with the increment of pH value, Cyt- protonated at C6 in acidic solution, and the characteristic absorption was located at λ=310±5 nm, and decayed following the second order kinetics: Cyt- protonated at N3 in aqueous solution of pH≥7, and the characteristic absorption was located at λ=295±5 nm, and decayed following the second order kinetics.