Layer by layer buildup of polysaccharide films: physical chemistry and cellular adhesion aspects

The formation ofpolysaccharide films based on the alternate deposition of chitosan (CHI) and hyaluronan (HA) was investigated by several techniques. The multilayer buildup takes place in two stages: during the first stage, the surface is covered by isolated islets that grow and coalesce as the construction goes on. After several deposition steps, a continuous film is formed and the second stage of the buildup process takes place. The whole process is characterized by an exponential increase of the mass and thickness of the film with the number of deposition steps. This exponential growth mechanism is related to the ability of the polycation to diffuse "in" and "out" of the whole film at each deposition step. Using confocal laser microscopy and fluorescently labeled CHI, we show that such a diffusion behavior, already observed with poly(L-lysine) as a polycation, is also found with CHI, a polycation presenting a large persistence length. We also analyze the effect of the molecular weight (MW) of the diffusing polyelectrolyte (CHI) on the buildup process and observe a faster growth for low MW chitosan. The influence of the salt concentration during buildup is also investigated. Whereas the CHI/HA films grow rapidly at high salt concentration (0.15 M NaCl) with the formation of a uniform film after only a few deposition steps, it is very difficult to build the film at 10(-4) M NaCl. In this latter case, the deposited mass increases linearly with the number of deposition steps and the first deposition stage, where the surface is covered by islets, lasts at least up to 50 bilayer deposition steps. However, even at these low salt concentrations and in the islet configuration, CHI chains seem to diffuse in and out of the CHI/HA complexes. The linear mass increase of the film with the number of deposition steps despite the CHI diffusion is explained by a partial redissolution of the CHI/HA complexes forming the film during different steps of the buildup process. Finally, the uniform films built at high salt concentrations were also found to be chondrocyte resistant and, more interestingly, bacterial resistant. Therefore, the (CHI/HA) films may be used as an antimicrobial coating.     

The complex of a bivalent derivative of galanthamine with torpedo acetylcholinesterase displays drastic deformation of the active-site gorge: implications for structure-based drug design

Bifunctional derivatives of the alkaloid galanthamine, designed to interact with both the active site of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and its peripheral cation binding site, have been assayed with Torpedo californica AChE (TcAChE), and the three-dimensional structures of their complexes with the enzyme have been solved by X-ray crystallography. Differences were noted between the IC(50) values obtained for TcAChE and those for Electrophorus electricus AChE. These differences are ascribed to sequence differences in one or two residues lining the active-site gorge of the enzyme. The binding of one of the inhibitors disrupts the native conformation of one wall of the gorge, formed by the loop Trp279-Phe290. It is proposed that flexibility of this loop may permit the binding of inhibitors such as galanthamine, which are too bulky to penetrate the narrow neck of the gorge formed by Tyr121 and Phe330 as seen in the crystal structure.     

Cobalt(II) halide complexes ofN-2-(4-picolyl)-,N-2-(6-picolyl)-andN-2-(4,6-lutidyl)-N′-phenylthioureas

Summary Co^II complexes of various stoichiometries have been isolated from reactions of the metal chlorides and bromides withN-2-(4-picolyl)-,N-2-(6-picolyl)- andN-2-(4,6-lutidyl)-N-phenylthioureas.     

Chiral separation of N-imidazole derivatives, aromatase inhibitors, by cyclodextrin-capillary zone electrophoresis. Mechanism of enantioselective recognition

Baseline separation of ten new, substituted [1-(imidazo-1-yl)-1-phenylmethyl)] benzothiazolinone and benzoxazolinone derivatives with one chiral center was achieved using cyclodextrin-capillary zone electrophoresis (CD-CZE). A method for the enantiomeric resolution of these compounds was developed using neutral CDs (native alpha-, beta-, gamma-CDs or alpha-, beta-, gamma-hydroxypropyl (HP)-CDs) as chiral selectors. Operational parameters including the nature and concentration of the chiral selectors, pH, ionic strength, organic modifiers, temperature, and applied voltage were investigated. The use of neutral CDs provides enantiomeric resolution by inclusion of compounds in the CD cavity. The HP-alpha-CD and HP-beta-CD were found to be the most effective complexing agents and allowed efficient enantiomeric resolutions. Optimal separation of N-imidazole derivatives was obtained using 50 mM phosphate buffer at pH 2.5 containing either HP-alpha-CD or HP-beta-CD (7.5-12.5 mM) at 25 degrees C, with an applied field of 0.50 kV.cm(-1) giving resolution factors Rs superior to 1.70 with migration times of the second enantiomer less than 13 min. The same enantiomer migration order observed for all molecules can be related to a close interaction mechanism with CDs. The influence of structural features of the solutes on Rs and tm was studied. The lipophilic character (log kw) of the solutes and the apparent and averaged association constants of inclusion complexes for four compounds with the six different CDs led us to rationalize the enantioseparation mechanisms. The conclusions were corroborated with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on chiral stationary phases (CSPs) based on CDs.     

An efficient way to 1,7-enynes and ethyl 8-yn-2-enoates from aldohexoses and to polyhydroxylated 1-vinylcyclohexenes

In this paper, we report the synthesis of carbohydrate-derived 1,7-enynes and subsequent metathesis to yield polyhydroxylated 1-vinylcyclohexenes. For example, we converted D-glucose 2 to the (6,7)-dideoxy-D-gluco-hept-6-ene-pyranose 7, which led to the desired 1,7-enyne 16. The ring-closing metathesis of this 1,7-enyne 16 with the second generation Grubbs catalyst, under Mori's conditions, gave the corresponding polyhydroxylated 1-vinylcyclohexene 25 in 76% yield. The conversion of several aldohexoses into polyhydroxylated 1-vinylcyclohexenes was carried out with satisfying yields. We report also the synthesis of two carbohydrate-derived ethyl 8-yn-2-enoates from D-glucose derivatives.     

Room temperature, high-yield synthesis of multiple shapes of gold nanoparticles in aqueous solution

A seed-mediated growth method was used to control the morphology and dimensions of Au nanocrystals by the manipulation of the experimental parameters in aqueous solution at room temperature. This chemical route produces various structural architectures with rod-, rectangle-, hexagon-, cube-, triangle-, and starlike profiles and branched (such as bi-, tri-, tetra-, and multipod) Au nanocrystals of various dimensions in high yield in the presence of a single surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide.     

Experimental design and the optimization of a polymer supported palladium complex for use in the Heck reaction

Optimization of the Heck reaction of 4-bromoacetophenone with styrene by a polymer supported, sulfur-containing palladacycle, varying 6 factors at a total of 28 different levels, corresponding to 5760 different possibilities was undertaken. Conversion improved from 34%, with large observable leaching to 88% with no leaching. This was accomplished using a Design of Experiments approach facilitated by the Statistical Design Package, MODDE 7.0^TM.     

Recovery of phosphonate surface contaminants from glass using a simple vacuum extractor with a solid-phase microextraction fiber

Recovery of chemical contaminants from fixed surfaces for analysis can be challenging, particularly if it is not possible to acquire a solid sample to be taken to the laboratory. A simple device is described that collects semi-volatile organic compounds from fixed surfaces by creating an enclosed volume over the surface, then generating a modest vacuum. A solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber is then inserted into the evacuated volume where it functions to sorb volatilized organic contaminants. The device is based on a syringe modified with a seal that is used to create the vacuum, with a perforable plunger through which the SPME fiber is inserted. The reduced pressure speeds partitioning of the semi-volatile compounds into the gas phase and reduces the boundary layer around the SPME fiber, which enables a fraction of the volatilized organics to partition into the SPME fiber. After sample collection, the SPME fiber is analyzed using conventional gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The methodology has been used to collect organophosphorus compounds from glass surfaces, to provide a simple test for the functionality of the devices. Thirty minute sampling times (ΔT(vac)) resulted in fractional recovery efficiencies that ranged from 10(-3) to >10(-2), and in absolute terms, collection of low nanograms was demonstrated. Fractional recovery values were positively correlated to the vapor pressure of the compounds being sampled. Fractional recovery also increased with increasing ΔT(vac) and displayed a roughly logarithmic profile, indicating that an operational equilibrium is being approached. Fractional recovery decreased with increasing time between exposure and sampling; however, recordable quantities of the phosphonates could be collected three weeks after exposure.