Biocompatible hydrogels based on chitosan,cellulose/starch,PVA and PEDOT:PSS with high flexibility and high mechanical strength

Fabricating mechanically strong hydrogels that can withstand the conditions in internal tissues is a challenging task. We have designed hydrogels based on multicomponent systems by combining chitosan, starch/cellulose, PVA, and PEDOT:PSS via one-pot synthesis. The starch-based hydrogels were homogeneous, while the cellulose-based hydrogels showed the presence of cellulose micro- and nanofibers. The cellulose-based hydrogels demonstrated a swelling ratio between 121 and 156%, while the starch-based hydrogels showed higher values, from 234 to 280%. Tensile tests indicated that the presence of starch in the hydrogels provided high flexibility (strain at break?>?300%), while combination with cellulose led to the formation of stiffer hydrogels (elastic moduli 3.9–6.6 MPa). The ultimate tensile strength for both types of hydrogels was similar (2.8–3.9 MPa). The adhesion and growth of human osteoblast-like SAOS-2 cells was higher on hydrogels with cellulose than on hydrogels with starch, and was higher on hydrogels with PEDOT:PSS than on hydrogels without this polymer. The metabolic activity of cells cultivated for 3 days in the hydrogel infusions indicated that no acutely toxic compounds were released. This is promising for further possible applications of these hydrogels in tissue engineering or in wound dressings.

Graphical abstract

     

Group 6 heteroatom- and non-heteroatom-stabilized carbene complexes. beta,beta'- and alpha,beta,beta'-annulation reactions of cyclic enamines

Cyclization reactions of group 6 Fischer carbene complexes with cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone enamines are described. Enamine 3a undergoes thermal alpha,beta,beta'-annulation with alkenylcarbene complexes 1 and 2 (THF, 60 degrees C), affording semibullvalenes 5. The metalate intermediates 6, resulting from beta,beta'-annulation of the enamines 3a and 4a, were quantitatively formed by running the reaction in hexane at room temperature. Acid-promoted demetalation of 6 afforded endo-2-bicyclo[3.2.1]octen-8-ones 7 and endo/exo-2-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonen-9-ones 8 (endo/exo = 5:1). Using (S)-methoxymethylpyrrolidine-derived enamines 3b and 4b,c allowed highly enantioenriched cycloadducts endo-(+)-7 as well as endo-(-)-8 and exo-(-)-8 to be accessed. The non-heteroatom-stabilized carbene complex 10 was formed from complex 6 by Me(3)SiOTf-promoted elimination of the methoxy group, characterized by (13)C NMR, and transformed into the organic compounds 7, 7-d, and 11 as well as into bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2,8-diones 14 and cycloheptanones 15. On the basis of this sequence, enantioenriched cycloheptanones (+)-15 were efficiently prepared in one pot from carbene complexes 2 and enamine 3b (51-55% yield, 91-96% ee). Extension of this work to simple Fischer carbene complexes 16 allowed an appropriate way to generate the nonstabilized pentacarbonyl[(phenyl(alkyl)carbene]tungsten complex 17 to be designed, for which the thermal and chemical behavior leading to compounds 18-21 is described.     

On the mechanism of the copper-catalyzed cyclopropanation reaction

The selectivity-determining step in enantioselective copper-catalyzed cyclopropanation with diazo compounds has been studied by experimental and computational methods. The addition of the very reactive metallacarbene intermediate in an early transition state to the substrate alkene is concerted but strongly asynchronous, with substantial cationic character on one alkene carbon in the neighborhood of the transition state. Evidence from isotope effects and Hammett studies supports the nature of the transition state. Formation of a metallacyclobutane intermediate by a [2+2] addition is kinetically disfavored. Ligand-substrate interactions influencing the enantio- and diastereoselectivity have been identified, and the preferred orientation of the alkene substrate during the addition is suggested.     

Cyclization of 1-bromo-2,7- and 1-bromo-2,8-enynes mediated by indium

[reaction: see text] The cyclization of 1-bromo-2,7- and 1-bromo-2,8-enynes mediated by indium in DMF produced five- and six-membered cyclic compounds. Although KI was a necessary additive in the cyclization of terminal 1-bromo-2,7-enynes to give the desired products at 25 degrees C, reactions of terminal 1-bromo-2,8-enynes and internal 1-bromo-2,7-enynes with indium proceeded at 100 degrees C in DMF without KI. After cyclizations, subsequent cross-coupling reaction and iodolysis increase the usefulness of this reaction.     

Identification of acylated xanthone glycosides by liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry in positive and negative modes from the lichen Umbilicaria proboscidea

The xanthoside composition of the crude extract of Umbilicaria proboscidea (L.) Schrader was characterized using LC-UV diode array detection and LC-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) MS methods. The presence of acylated xanthone-O-glucosides was determined by both positive and negative ion LC-APCI-MS methods. Based on UV and MS spectral data and NMR spectroscopy, a total of 14 compounds (6-O-acylated umbilicaxanthosides A and B) were identified in U. proboscidea for the first time. In order to further develop the applicability of LC-MS techniques in phytochemical characterization, the effect of different ionization energy on fragmentation was studied using APCI. The optimal ionization conditions were achieved in positive ion APCI by using ammonium acetate buffer and in negative ion APCI by using formic acid (pH 4).     

High-throughput capillary electrophoretic method for determination of total aminothiols in plasma and urine.

Increased interest in the analysis of aminothiols in body fluids during the last years results in a request for high-throughput analytical methods for their determination. We report here a novel, high-throughput method for the determination of total concentrations of biogenous aminothiols - homocysteine, cysteine, glutathione, cysteinylglycine, gamma-glutamylcysteine, and of penicilamine, mercaptopropionylglycine, and cysteamine, three compounds used to treat disorders of aminothiol metabolism in plasma and urine. Samples were reduced with tris(carboxyethyl)phosphine and labeled with 5-(bromomethyl)fluorescein. Capillary electrophoretic separations were performed in 60 mmol/L borate - 15 mmol/L sodium dodecyl sulfate - 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, pH 10.0, with laser-induced fluorescence detection. Analysis time was less than 2 min. The assay is linear (r > 0.999) up to 500 micromol/L. Reproducibilities of migration times (coefficient of variation, CV) were < 0.5%. Interassay repeatabilities (CV, n = 10) were 5.08% and 6.09% for 5 micromol/L addition of homocysteine and 0.60% and 3.78% for 100 micromol/L addition of cysteine in plasma and urine, respectively. Recovery values were within 94-106% and sensitivity was better than 0.19 micromol/L for all analyzed compounds. Results agreed well with a standard high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The diagnostic usefulness of the method has been proven on 79 samples of cystinuric patients and 12 samples of homocystinuric patients. We report here a novel method for the determination of aminothiols in body fluids by capillary electrophoresis (CE). Determination is fast and sensitive enough for diagnostic purposes.     

High throughput drug screening by direct RNA profiling on DNA sensors

The feasibility of DNA microarray sensor technology as a routine technique of molecular pharmacology to perform high throughput drug screening and the advantages of directly labeled RNA for a high throughput experiment are presented in this paper. A novel, single-step direct chemical labeling method for DNA microarray target samples has been developed to reduce the sample amount, cost, time and error of the experiment by eliminating the need for enzyme mediated labeling. Reproducibility of the data for high throughput drug screening is demonstrated by monitoring differential gene expression of a set of 45 gene targets involved in the genotoxic stress response pathways.     

Mechanism of silver-mediated di-tert-butylsilylene transfer from a silacyclopropane to an alkene

Kinetic studies of the reactions of cyclohexene silacyclopropane 1 and monosubstituted alkenes in the presence of 5 mol % of (Ph3P)2AgOTf suggested a possible mechanism for silver-mediated di-tert-butylsilylene transfer. The kinetic order in cyclohexene silacyclopropane 1 was determined to be one. Inverse kinetic saturation behavior (rate inhibition) was observed in monosubstituted alkene and cyclohexene concentrations. Saturation kinetic behavior in catalyst concentration was observed. A reactive intermediate, a silylsilver complex, was observed using low temperature 29Si NMR spectroscopy. Competition experiments between substituted styrenes and a deficient amount of 1 correlated well with the Hammett equation and provided a rho value of -0.62 +/- 0.02 using sigmap constants. These data support a mechanism involving reversible silver-promoted di-tert-butylsilylene extrusion from 1 followed by irreversible concerted electrophilic attack of the silylsilver intermediate on the alkene.     

High thermodynamic stability and extraordinary kinetic inertness of copper(II) complexes with 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,8-bis(methylphosphonic acid): example of a rare isomerism between kinetically inert penta- and hexacoordinated copper(II) complexes

In an aqueous solution at room temperature, 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,8-bis(methylphosphonic acid) (H(4)L(1)) and Cu(I) (I) form a pentacoordinated (pc) complex, pc-[Cu(L(1))](2-), exhibiting conformation I of the cyclam ring. At high temperature, the complex isomerises to a hexacoordinated isomer, trans-O,O-[Cu(L(1))](2-), with a trans-III conformation of the cyclam ring. In pc-[Cu(L(1))](2-), four ring nitrogen atoms and one phosphonate oxygen atom are arranged around Cu(I) (I) in a structure that is half-way between a trigonal bipyramid and a tetragonal pyramid, with one phosphonic acid group uncoordinated. In the trans-O,O-[Cu(L(1))](2-) isomer, the nitrogen atoms form a plane and the phosphonic acid groups are in a mutually trans configuration. A structurally very similar ligand, 4-methyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,8-bis(methylphosphonic acid) (H(4)L(2)), forms an analogous pentacoordinated complex, pc-[Cu(L(2))](2-), at room temperature. However, the complex does not isomerise to the octahedral complex analogous to trans-O,O-[Cu(L(1))](2-). Because of the high thermodynamic stability of pc-[Cu(L(1))](2-), (logbeta=25.40(4), 25 degrees C, I=0.1 mol dm(-3) KNO(3)) and the formation of protonated species, Cu(I) (I) is fully complexed in acidic solution (-log [H(+)] approximately 3). Acid-assisted decomplexation of both of the isomers of [Cu(H(2)L(1))] takes place only after protonation of both uncoordinated oxygen atoms of each phosphonate moiety and at least one nitrogen atom of the cycle. The exceptional kinetic inertness of both isomers is illustrated by their half-lives tau(1/2)=19.7 min for pc-[Cu(H(2)L(1))] and tau(1/2) about seven months for trans-O,O-[Cu(H(2)L(1))] for decomplexation in 5 M HClO(4) at 25 degrees C. The mechanism of formation of pc-[Cu(L(1))](2-) is similar to those observed for other macrocyclic complexes.     

Diffuse-reflectance Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopic microanalysis of the flavonolignans

Diffuse-reflectance Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopic (DRIFT) microanalysis (10 g samples) of a selected series of flavonoids was studied, comparing to transmission FT-IR spectroscopic analysis of the same samples at the mg level. DRIFT was shown to be a useful, sample-saving and reliable IR technique for the structural analysis and compound identification of the mainSilybum genus 3-OH-flavonolignans (silybin, isosilybin, silydianin, silychristin and isosilychristin) and the dihydroflavonol taxifolin.