Amide Moieties Modulate the Antimicrobial Activities of Conjugated Oligoelectrolytes against Gram-negative Bacteria

Cationic conjugated oligoelectrolytes (COEs) are a class of compounds that can be tailored to achieve relevant in vitro antimicrobial properties with relatively low cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. Three distyrylbenzene-based COEs were designed containing amide functional groups on the side chains. Their properties were compared to two representative COEs with only quaternary ammonium groups. The optimal compound, COE2−3C−C3-Apropyl , has an antimicrobial efficacy against Escherichia coli with an MIC=2 μg mL⁻¹, even in the presence of human serum albumin low cytotoxicity (IC₅₀=740 μg mL⁻¹) and minimal hemolytic activity. Moreover, we find that amide groups increase interactions between COEs and a bacterial lipid mimic based on calcein leakage assay and allow COEs to readily permeabilize the cytoplasmic membrane of E. coli. These findings suggest that hydrogen bond forming moieties can be further applied in the molecular design of antimicrobial COEs to further improve their selectivity towards bacteria.     

Tuning the Lewis acid phenol $$\varvec{}$$-prenylation as a molecular diversity tool

A diversity-oriented approach for the synthesis of various structurally different prenylated alcohols from readily accessible and common precursors was developed. With varying approaches, this article describes some successful examples of a Friedel–Crafts alkylation using methoxyphenols and different prenyl alcohols (geraniol and (E,E)-farnesol). We demonstrated that just by varying the stoichiometry of the Lewis acid used, the course of the reaction can be shifted to produce the alkylated or the cyclized product. Eighteen unique products were obtained with good isolated yields by direct alkylation with or without a consecutive \(\pi \)-cationic cyclization.     

On feedback and stable price adjustment mechanisms

Given an excess demand function of an economy, say Z(p)$Z(p)$, a stable price adjustment mechanism (SPAM) guarantees convergence of solution path p(t,_p0)$p(t,p_0)$ to an equilibrium _peq$p_{\mathit{eq}}$ solution of Z(p)=0$Z(p)=0$. Besides, all equilibrium points of Z(p)$Z(p)$ are asymptotically stable. Some SPAMs have been proposed, including Newton and transpose Jacobian methods. Despite this powerful stability property of SPAMs, their acceptation in the economics community has been limited by a lack of interpretation. This paper focuses on this issue. Specifically, feedback control theory is used to link SPAMs and price dynamics models with control inputs, which match the economically intuitive Walrasian Hypothesis (i.e., prices change with excess demand sign). Under mild conditions, it is shown the existence of a feedback function that transforms the price dynamics into a desired SPAM. Hence, a SPAM is interpreted as a fundamental (e.g., Walrasian) price dynamics under the action of a feedback function aimed to stabilize the equilibrium set of the excess demand function.     

Isolation and Immobilization of Influenza Virus-Specific N-SA-α-2,3-Gal Receptors Using Magnetic Nanoparticles Coated with Chitosan and Maackia amurensis Lectin

Avian influenza viruses preferentially bind to sialic acid alpha-2,3-galactose (N-SA-α-2,3-Gal) receptors on epithelial cells. Herein, we describe a procedure we have developed for isolation of N-SA-α-2,3-Gal receptors from porcine trachea using magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) coated with chitosan (NP-Ch) and functionalized with Maackia amurensis lectin (NP-lectin). Magnetic nanoparticles were coated with chitosan in a one-step co-precipitation, and then M. amurensis lectin was immobilized covalently using glutaraldehyde. Lectin coated nanoparticles were incubated with sialic acid enriched fraction of tracheal homogenate, and N-SA-α-2,3-Gal receptor was extracted under magnetic field in two cycles. The presence of 66.4 kDa protein was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The interaction of immobilized receptor (NP-Ch-R) with M. amurensis lectin (NP-Ch-R-L) was demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).     

Theoretical investigation of the molecular structure,vibrational spectra,and molecular docking of tramadol using density functional theory

The optimized molecular structures, harmonic vibrational wavenumbers, and the corresponding vibrational assignments of (1S,2S)-tramadol and (1R,2R)-tramadol are computationally examined using the B3LYP density functional theory method together with the standard 6–311++G(d,p) and def2-TVZP basis sets. The optimized structures show that phenolic rings of both 1R,2R and 1S,2S tramadol adopt planar geometry, which are slightly distorted due to the substitution at the meta-position; and the six-membered cyclohexane adopts a slightly distorted chair conformation. The 1S,2S enantiomer is energetically more favorable than 1R,2R with the energy differences of 1.32 and 1.03 kcal/mol obtained at B3LYP/6–311++G(d,p) and B3LYP/Def2-TVZP levels, respectively. The analysis of the binding pocket in the silico molecular docking with the m-opioid receptor shows that it originated two clusters with the 1S,2S enantiomer and one cluster with the 1R,2R enantiomer of tramadol. The results point to a more stable complex of the m-opioid receptor with the 1R,2R enantiomer of tramadol.     

Living and stereoselective polymerization of [2.2]-paracyclophan-2-ENE derivatives

Paracyclophene based monomers can be polymerized in a living fashion using the alkylidene initiator Mo(NAr)(CHCMe₂Ph)(OCMe(CF₃)₂)₂. The cis-specific nature of the polymerization is critical, since small amounts of trans olefin in the backbone renders the material insoluble. These polymers have complex photophysical behavior, probably a consequence of the close proximity of chromophores along the polymer backbone. Polymerization of 9-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-[2.2]-paracyclophan-1-ene produces a new precursor material which furnishes PPV under remarkably mild conditions.     

Multi-element analysis by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry of airborne particulate matter collected with a low-pressure cascade impactor

A method was developed for the elemental analysis of size segregated particles ranging from 0.03 to 10 microns. Sampling and analysis problems are discussed in this paper. Particles were collected with a Dekati low-pressure cascade impactor. PTFE filters coated with oleic acid were used as substrate. Particles were microwave digested in closed vessels. The optimum digestion mixture was composed of HNO3 (1 mL), HF (50 microL) and H2O (1 mL). The optimal power setting and digestion time were studied in order to achieve an efficient digestion. A ca. 35 min microwave digestion cycle at a 650 W maximum power allowed complete digestion of the samples. Special emphasis was placed on the pressure in the closed vessels to avoid sample losses. Solution samples were analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry using an ultrasonic nebuliser for 18 elements (Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, S, Sr, Ti, V, Zn). This procedure was tested with NIST Standard Reference Material 1648 Urban Particulate. Recoveries for certified elements ranged from 95 to 105% except for Al (90%). The influence of cascade impactor materials was investigated with 44 field samples. Strong artefacts due to contamination were shown for analysis at environmental concentrations of Al, Cr, Mn and Ni.     

Submicellar liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection improves the analysis of naproxen in plasma and brain tissue

Rapid, simple, and sensitive submicellar liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection was developed and validated to quantify naproxen in plasma and brain samples after oral administration of Naproxen formulations. The method used tramadol as an internal standard. Different submicellar mobile phases with organic phases ranging from 40 to 60% were studied to improve the native fluorescence of the Naproxen and decrease retention times. Separation was done in a Zorbax SB C8 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) with a mobile phase containing acidic 0.007 M sodium dodecyl sulfate/acetonitrile (50:50, v/v) at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Detection was performed with an excitation wavelength of 280 nm and emission of 310 nm and 360 nm for internal standard and Naproxen, respectively. The method was validated by International Conference of Harmonization standards. The method is specific, accurate, and precise (relative standard deviation <3%). Limits of detection and quantification were 0.08 and 0.25 μg/mL, respectively, for biological samples. This method was applied to analyze brain/plasma ratios in mice that had received oral administrations of Naproxen micellar formulations containing 10% w/w of sodium dodecyl sulfate, Cremophor RH 40, or Tween 80. The sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles were faster and more widely distributed in the mouse brains.     

MRI of hepatic lymphoma

Thirteen patients with biopsy proven hepatic lymphoma (2 Hodgkin, 11 Non-Hodgkin) and a control group of 15 patients with hepatic metastases were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively by MRI. Focal hepatic lymphoma was most reliably detected (eight of eight patients) and appeared hypointense relative to liver on T₁ weighted (CNR − 7.4 ± 2.3) and hyperintense on T₂ weighted (CNR + 8.4 ± 2.9) images. The mean T₁ and T₂ relaxation times of focal hepatic lymphoma (T₁ = 832 ± 234 msec, T₂ = 84 ± 16 ms) differed significantly from adjacent non-tumorous liver (T₁ = 420 ± 121 ms, T₂ = 51 ± 9 ms; p < 0.05), however CNR values and relaxation times were similar to those of hepatic metastases. Diffuse hepatic lymphoma (microscopic periportal infiltration) was undetectable by MRI in three patients by either morphologic features or quantitative criteria. A mixed pattern of hepatic lymphoma (focal lesions and diffuse infiltration) showed focal areas of slightly decreased signal intensity on T₁ weighted images (CNR = −1.7 ± 0.4) while T₂ weighted images revealed multiple regions of focal hyperintensity (CNR = +13.3 ± 8.4) superimposed on a diffusely hyperintense liver. Our experience demonstrates that either T₁ or T₂ weighted techniques are useful in detecting focal and that T₂ weighted techniques are useful in detecting mixed hepatic lymphoma. Conventional image derived relaxation time measurements and quantitative parameters were of no additional diagnostic value.