Age-Related Absorption of the Human Lens in the Near-Ultraviolet Range

The purpose of the present study was to determine the age dependence of the ultraviolet (UV) absorption of the different parts of the human crystalline lens. Cryostat sections of human cadaveric lenses (60 μm) were cut. The UV absorbance of nine samples, derived from different parts of the lens, was determined using a Shimadzu scanning spectrophotometer. The absorbance of the anterior and posterior lens capsules was measured separately. The absorption coefficients were calculated from the measured absorbance and values taken at 280 as well as at 360 nm were compared statistically. ANCOVA analysis of the values taken at 280 and at 360 nm wavelengths shows that correlation between the absorption coefficients and age can be found only in the case of the posterior layers. These results suggest a differential age-dependent increase of the UV absorption of the posterior layers compared to the anterior ones and can be related to the differential protein expression in the anterior and posterior parts. Posterior crystalline lens capsules have higher absorption coefficients than the anterior ones regardless of age.     

Design,Synthesis and Preclinical Assessment of 99mTc-iFAP for In Vivo Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) Imaging

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is expressed in the microenvironment of most human epithelial tumors. ⁶⁸Ga-labeled FAP inhibitors based on the cyanopyrrolidine structure (FAPI) are currently used for the detection of the tumor microenvironment by PET imaging. This research aimed to design, synthesize and preclinically evaluate a new FAP inhibitor radiopharmaceutical based on the ^99mTc-((R)-1-((6-hydrazinylnicotinoyl)-D-alanyl) pyrrolidin-2-yl) boronic acid (^99mTc-iFAP) structure for SPECT imaging. Molecular docking for affinity calculations was performed using the AutoDock software. The chemical synthesis was based on a series of coupling reactions of 6-hidrazinylnicotinic acid (HYNIC) and D-alanine to a boronic acid derivative. The iFAP was prepared as a lyophilized formulation based on EDDA/SnCl₂ for labeling with ^99mTc. The radiochemical purity (R.P.) was verified via ITLC-SG and reversed-phase radio-HPLC. The stability in human serum was evaluated by size-exclusion HPLC. In vitro cell uptake was assessed using N30 stromal endometrial cells (FAP positive) and human fibroblasts (FAP negative). Biodistribution and tumor uptake were determined in Hep-G2 tumor-bearing nude mice, from which images were acquired using a micro-SPECT/CT. The iFAP ligand (Ki = 0.536 nm, AutoDock affinity), characterized by UV-Vis, FT-IR, ¹H–NMR and UPLC-mass spectroscopies, was synthesized with a chemical purity of 92%. The ^99mTc-iFAP was obtained with a R.P. >98%. In vitro and in vivo studies indicated high radiotracer stability in human serum (>95% at 24 h), specific recognition for FAP, high tumor uptake (7.05 ± 1.13% ID/g at 30 min) and fast kidney elimination. The results found in this research justify additional dosimetric and clinical studies to establish the sensitivity and specificity of the ^99mTc-iFAP.     

An investigation of site-selective gas-phase reactions of amino alcohols with dimethyl ether ions

The reactions of dimethyl ether ions with neutral amino alcohols were examined in both a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer and a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. These ion-molecule reactions produced two types of ions: the protonated species [M+l]⁺ and a more complex product at [M+13]⁺. The abundance of the [M+13]⁺ ions relative to that of the [M+1]⁺ ions decreases with increasing formal interfunctional distance. Multistage collision-activated dissociation techniques were used to characterize the [M+13]⁺ product ions, their reactivities, and the mechanisms for their formation and dissociation. In addition, molecular semiempirical calculation methods were used to probe the thermochemistry of these reactions. Reaction at the amino alcohol nitrogen site is favored, and the resulting [M+13]⁺ addition products may cyclize for additional stabilization. Comparisons were made among the behavior of related compounds, such as alcohols, diols, amines, and diamines. The alcohols reacted only to form the protonated species, but the diols, amines, and diamines all formed significant amounts of [M+13]⁺ ions or related dissociation products.     

How glucosylation triggers physical–chemical properties of curcumin: an experimental and theoretical study

In the present study, we investigate the structures of glucosylated curcumin derivatives with DFT at B3LYP/6‐31G* level. A conformational analysis is performed in order to determine the conformational minimum (GS) and rotational transition state (TS) of curcumin derivatives and then their electronic features are evaluated. HOMO and LUMO frontier orbitals and maps of electron density potential (MEPs) are plotted and compared. In order to correlate their predicted spectroscopic properties with IR, UV–vis and NMR experimental data we extended the theoretical study on electronic properties to different solvents (H₂O, MeOH, ACN, DMSO). The main finding is that the curcuminic core maintains the same geometrical and electronic structures in all compounds miming the metal coordination capability showed by curcumin. Therefore, we may confirm that the presence of glucose does not affect the electronic properties of the derivatives. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Highly Efficient Trityl-Nitroxide Biradicals for Biomolecular High-Field Dynamic Nuclear Polarization

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is a powerful method to enhance the sensitivity of solid-state magnetic nuclear resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy. However, its biomolecular applications at high magnetic fields (preferably>14 T) have so far been limited by the intrinsically low efficiency of polarizing agents and sample preparation aspects. Herein, we report a new class of trityl-nitroxide biradicals, dubbed SNAPols that combine high DNP efficiency with greatly enhanced hydrophilicity. SNAPol-1, the best compound in the series, shows DNP enhancement factors at 18.8 T of more than 100 in small molecules and globular proteins and also exhibits strong DNP enhancements in membrane proteins and cellular preparations. By integrating optimal sensitivity and high resolution, we expect widespread applications of this new polarizing agent in high-field DNP/ssNMR spectroscopy, especially for complex biomolecules.     

Synthesis of the non-reducing end trisaccharide of the antithrombin-binding domain of heparin and its bioisosteric sulfonic acid analogues

A glucoronic acid-containing trisaccharide related to the antithrombin-binding DEFGH domain of heparin and its methanesulfonic acid analogues were synthesized. Trisaccharides without sulfonic acid content or possessing a sulfonatomethyl moiety at position 2 or 6 of unit F were prepared in high yields by [DE+F] couplings using the same disaccharide uronate donor, respectively. Synthesis of the trisaccharide with a 3-deoxy-3-sulfonatomethyl function was accomplished in three different pathways, from which a [D+EF] coupling and applying a non-oxidized precursor of the glucuronic acid afforded the trisaccharide in the highest yield.     

Infinite Volume Limit for the Stationary Distribution of Abelian Sandpile Models

We study the stationary distribution of the standard Abelian sandpile model in the box Λ_n = [-n, n] ^d ∩ ℤ ^d for d≥ 2. We show that as n→ ∞, the finite volume stationary distributions weakly converge to a translation invariant measure on allowed sandpile configurations in ℤ ^d . This allows us to define infinite volume versions of the avalanche-size distribution and related quantities. The proof is based on a mapping of the sandpile model to the uniform spanning tree due to Majumdar and Dhar, and the existence of the wired uniform spanning forest measure on ℤ ^d . In the case d > 4, we also make use of Wilson’s method. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Langmuir monolayers of bent-core molecules

A systematic study of five different, symmetric bent-core liquid crystals in Langmuir thin films at the air/water interface is presented. Both the end chains (siloxane vs hydrocarbon) and the core (more or less amphiphilic) are varied, to allow an exploration of different possible layer structures at the interface. The characterization includes systematic surface pressure isotherms, Brewster angle microscopy, and surface potential measurements. The properties of these layers are strongly dependent on the individual type of molecule: the molecules with amphiphilic end chains lie quite flat on the surface, while the molecules with hydrophobic end chains construct multilayer structures. In both cases, the three-dimensional collapse structure is reversible.