Characterization and carbohydrate specificity of pradimicin s

The pradimicin family of antibiotics is attracting attention due to its anti-infective properties and as a model for understanding the requirements for carbohydrate recognition by small molecules. Members of the pradimicin family are unique among natural products in their ability to bind sugars in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner, but the oligomerization to insoluble aggregates that occurs upon Ca(2+) binding has prevented detailed characterization of their carbohydrate specificity and biologically relevant form. Here we take advantage of the water solubility of pradimicin S (PRM-S), a sulfated glucose-containing analogue of pradimicin A (PRM-A), to show by NMR spectroscopy and analytical ultracentrifugation that at biologically relevant concentrations, PRM-S binds Ca(2+) to form a tetrameric species that selectively binds and engulfs the trisaccharide Manα1-3(Manα1-6)Man over mannose or mannobiose. In functional HIV-1 entry assays, IC(50) values of 2-4 μM for PRM-S corrrelate with the concentrations at which oligomerization occurs as well as the affinities with which PRM-S binds the HIV surface envelope glycoprotein gp120. Together these data reveal the biologically active form of PRM-S, provide an explanation for previous speculations that PRM-A may contain a second mannose binding site, and expand our understanding of the characteristics that can engender a small molecule with the ability to function as a carbohydrate receptor.     

Nanocomposites from biopolymer hydrogels: Blueprints for white biotechnology and green materials chemistry

Bionanocomposites based on the association between biological polymers and inorganic colloids are an emerging class of materials, with main applications in biotechnology and biomedicine. They combine the chemical diversity, hierarchical structure, and biocompatibility of natural biomacromolecules with the robustness and functionality of mineral phases. In particular, biopolymer hydrogels can act as templates and/or host matrices for nanoparticles to design bionanocomposites with tailored optical, conductive, magnetic, mechanical, and bioactive properties. This review presents the key concepts on which such materials are currently designed, in terms of chemistry and physics. Specific examples are provided to illustrate the importance of the bio‐organic/inorganic interface on the final properties of the composite structures. It is finally suggested that bionanocomposites have a major role to play for the development of green materials and bio‐responsive devices. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

A high-frequency and high-field EPR study of new azide and fluoride mononuclear Mn(III) complexes

The isolation, structural characterization and electronic properties of three new six-coordinated Mn(III) complexes, [Mn(bpea)(F)(3)] (1), [Mn(bpea)(N(3))(3)] (2), and [Mn(terpy)(F)(3)] (3) are reported (bpea = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-ethylamine; terpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine). As for [Mn(terpy)(N(3))(3)] (4) (previously described by Limburg J.; Vrettos J. S.; Crabtree R. H.; Brudvig G. W.; de Paula J. C.; Hassan A.; Barra A-L.; Duboc-Toia C.; Collomb M-N. Inorg. Chem. 2001, 40, 1698), all these complexes exhibit a Jahn-Teller distortion of the octahedron characteristic of high-spin Mn(III) (S = 2). The analysis of the crystallographic data shows an elongation along the tetragonal axis of the octahedron for complexes 1 and 3, while complex 2 presents an unexpected compression. The electronic properties were investigated using a high-field and high-frequency EPR study performed between 5 and 15 K (190-575 GHz). The spin Hamiltonian parameters determined in solid state are in agreement with the geometry of the complexes observed in the crystal structures. A negative D value found for 1 and 3 is related to the elongated tetragonal distortion, whereas the positive D value determined for 2 is in accordance with a compressed octahedron. The high E/D values, in the range of 0.103 to 0.230 for all complexes, are correlated with the highly distorted geometry present around the Mn(III) ion. HF-EPR experiments were also performed on complex 1 in solution and show that the D value is the only spin Hamiltonian parameter which is slightly modified compared to the solid state (D = -3.67 cm(-1) in solid state; D = -3.95 cm(-1) in solution).     

Application of heat conduction calorimetry to high explosives

This paper describes some thermal analysis experiments conducted on high explosive samples. These employ differential scanning calorimetry to monitor thermal effects at elevated temperatures (around 200 °C) and heat conduction calorimetry to record thermal effects at much lower temperatures (below 100 °C).The work shows that, due to the generally high thermal stability of many high explosive compositions, heat generation rates are very low, if detectable at all, at normal storage temperatures, even when using a very sensitive instrument. The sensitivity and reproducibility of this technique has been investigated in detail by Wilker et al. [S. Wilker, U. Ticmanis, G. Pantel, Detailed investigation of sensitivity and reproducibility of heat flow calorimetry, in: Proceedings of the 11th Symposium on Chemical Problems Connected with the Stability of Explosives, Sweden, 1998] and shown to be capable of recording heat generation rates of less than a microwatt. This allows continuous measurement of decomposition processes in nitrate ester based propellants at temperatures as low as 40 °C. However, the measurement of very low levels of heat generation is difficult, time consuming and therefore expensive. If the assumption is made that the life limiting process is invariably the slow decomposition of the energetic component, this will frequently lead to very long service lifetime predictions.A number of possible complications are identified. Firstly, due to its low detection threshold, a heat conduction calorimeter may detect other reactions which will not lead to failure, but which may still dominate the heat flow signal. Secondly, the true failure process may generate little energy and be overlooked. In view of these considerations, at present it seems unwise to rely on heat conduction microcalorimetry as the only tool for the assessment of the life of high explosive energetic systems.Based on examples of life terminating processes in high explosives during storage and use, it is clear that decomposition of the energetic material is not invariably the cause of system failure. It is also by no means the only reaction that may take place in, and be observed by, a heat conduction calorimeter.     

What a difference ancillary thienyl makes: unexpected additional stabilization of the diruthenium(III,II) but not the diosmium(III,II) mixed-valent state in tetrazine ligand-bridged complexes

The Ru(2)(III,II) mixed-valent state is strongly stabilized in [(bpy)(2)Ru(mu-bttz)Ru(bpy)(2)](5+) (3(5+), bttz = 3,6-bis(2-thienyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine, as evident from lowered oxidation potentials and isolability, a strongly increased comproportionation constant K(c) = 10(16.6), and a high-energy intervalence charge transfer band at 10100 cm(-1). Curiously, no such effects were observed for the diosmium(III,II) analogue, whereas the related systems [(bpy)(2)M(mu-bmptz)M(bpy)(2)](5+), bmptz = 3,6-bis(4-methyl-2-pyridyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine, exhibit conventional behavior, i.e., a slightly higher K(c) value of the Os(2)(III,II) analogue. EPR signals were observed at 4 K for 3(5+) but not for the other mixed-valent species, and high-frequency (285 GHz) EPR was employed to study the diruthenium(II) radical complexes 2(3+) and 3(3+).     

Unraveling the Crystal Structure of Lanthanide–Murexide Complexes: Use of an Ancient Complexometry Indicator as a Near‐Infrared‐Emitting Single‐Ion Magnet

Herein, we provide some structural evidence of the complexation color‐change of murexide solutions in presence of lanthanide, which has been used for decades in complexometric studies. For Ln=Sm to Lu and Y, the compounds crystallize as monomeric [Ln(Murex)₃] ? 11 H₂O with an N3O6 tricapped square‐antiprism environment, which are stable up to 250 °C. Single‐ion magnet (SIM) behavior is then observed on the Yb^III derivative in an original nine‐coordinated environment. In‐field slow relaxation (Δ=(15.6±1) K; τ₀=2.73×10^?6 s) is observed with a very narrow distribution of the relaxation time (α_max=0.09). Magnetic and photophysical properties can be correlated. On one hand the analysis of NIR emission spectrum permits to have access to crystal field parameters and to compare them with those extracted from dc measurements. On the other hand, magnetic measurements permit to identify the nature of the M _J states involved in the ²F_5/2→²F_7/2 luminescence spectrum. The gap between the low‐lying states is in agreement with the energy barrier obtained from magnetic slow‐relaxation measurement.     

NMR studies of interactions of new CB2 cannabinoid receptor ligands with cyclodextrins hosts. Correlation with micellar electrokinetic chromatography and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography

Three selective CB₂ cannabinoid receptor ligands have recently been discovered to be promising anti-inflammatory agents but their low water solubility hinder their per os administration. The popularity of the cyclodextrins, from a pharmaceutical standpoint lies on their ability to interact with poorly water-soluble drugs and improve their solubility. Herein, three experimental approaches for calculating the stability constant of complexes between the selective CB₂ ligands and either the β-CD or the HP-β-CD, were tested: nuclear magnetic resonance, micellar electrokinetic chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography in reversed phase. In NMR studies the calculated K values were relatively high and were between 1486 and 3571 M^?1 with β-CD. With HP-β-CD they were between 1203 and 2650 M^?1. Concerning the two others techniques the K values were found lower. In MECK studies with β-CD they were between 308 and 792 M^?1 and with HP-β-CD between 124 and 764 M^?1. Finally in RP-HPLC studies with β-CD, they were between 539 and 1144 M^?1 and with HP-β-CD between 196 and 396 M^?1. These calculated constants suggest that a complexation phenomenon occurs. A model for inclusion of one of the CB₂ ligands in the β-CD was then proposed from molecular modeling studies.     

Nanometrization of Lanthanide‐Based Coordination Polymers

Heteronuclear lanthanide‐based coordination polymers are microcrystalline powders, the luminescence properties of which can be precisely tuned by judicious choice of the rare‐earth ions. In this study, we demonstrate that such materials can also be obtained as stable solutions of nanoparticles in non‐toxic polyols. Bulk powders of the formula [Ln_2?2xLn′_2x(bdc)₃ ? 4 H₂O]_∞ (where H₂bdc denotes 1,4‐benzene‐dicarboxylic acid, 0≤x≤1, and Ln and Ln′ denote lanthanide ions of the series La to Tm plus Y) afford nanoparticles that have been characterized by dynamic light‐scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements. Their luminescence properties are similar to those of the bulk materials. Stabilities versus time and versus dilution with another solvent have been studied. This study has revealed that it is possible to tune the size of the nanoparticles. This process offers a reliable means of synthesizing suspensions of nanoparticles with tunable luminescence properties and tunable size distributions in a green solvent (glycerol). The process is also extendable to other coordination polymers and other solvents (ethylene glycol, for example). It constitutes a new route for the facile solubilization of lanthanide‐based coordination polymers.     

Mesoporous‐Silica‐Functionalized Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery

The ever‐growing interest for finding efficient and reliable methods for treatment of diseases has set a precedent for the design and synthesis of new functional hybrid materials, namely porous nanoparticles, for controlled drug delivery. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) represent one of the most promising nanocarriers for drug delivery as they possess interesting chemical and physical properties, thermal and mechanical stabilities, and are biocompatibile. In particular, their easily functionalizable surface allows a large number of property modifications further improving their efficiency in this field. This Concept article deals with the advances on the novel methods of functionalizing MSNPs, inside or outside the pores, as well as within the walls, to produce efficient and smart drug carriers for therapy.