Effect of molecular weight on the exponential growth and morphology of hyaluronan/chitosan multilayers: a surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy investigation

The layer-by-layer growth of multilayer assemblies of two polysaccharides, the polyanion hyaluronan (HA) and the polycation chitosan (CH), was investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy, with primary emphasis on the effect of the polysaccharide molecular weights on the film thickness and surface morphology. The HA/CH multilayers exhibit an exponential increase of the optical film thickness with the number of deposited bilayers. We show that the multilayer thickness at a given stage depends on the size of both CH, the diffusing polyelectrolyte, and HA, the non-diffusing species. Assemblies (12 bilayers) of high molecular weight polysaccharides (HA, 360,000; CH, 160,000) were twice as thick (approximately 900 nm vs approximately 450 nm) as those obtained with low molecular weight polymers (HA, 30,000; CH, 31,000), as assessed by AFM scratch tests. The exponential growth rate is the same for the high and low molecular weight pairs; the larger film thicknesses observed by SPR and by AFM arising from an earlier onset of the steep exponential growth phase in the case of the high molecular weight pair. In all cases, isolated islets form during the deposition of the first CH layer onto the underlying HA. Upon further film growth, individual islets coalesce into larger vermiculate features. The transition from distinct islands to vermiculate structures depends on the molecular weights of the polysaccharides and the lower molecular weight construct presents larger worm-like surface domains than the high molecular weight pair.     

On the High Viscosity of Aqueous Solution of Lysozyme Induced by Some Organic Solvents

A remarkably high viscosity has been induced in protein aqueous solutions by the addition of certain structurally related organic solvents. The effect has been observed for lysozyme aqueous solutions containing tetramethylurea (TMU), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide, and hexamethylphosphortriamide. The effect has also been induced in ferrocytochrome c aqueous solutions by TMU. Critical concentrations for both the protein and organic solvent were verified for the onset of the viscosity increase. A common feature of the solvents which were able to induce the effect is a dipolar moiety (C=O, S → O and P → O) and a nonpolar region represented by the methyl groups. The resulting fluids show an extremely restricted flow and a typical non-Newtonian, pseudoplastic behavior. Use was made of¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Raman spectroscopy to characterize protein structural modifications and of¹³C NMR to investigate changes in relaxation times and chemical shifts in the solvent/water solutions. A systematic rheological characterization of the systems was undertaken for some of the solvents, and unusual patterns of viscous effects were identified for the solvent/water systems both with and without protein. The process was found to be at least partially reversible, as concluded from the recovered original solution rheological characteristics and the original protein¹H NMR spectrum, after eliminating the organic solvent by ultrafiltration. The whole process was characterized as consisting of two mutually independent stages. The first involves an extensive conformational transition of the polypeptide backbone, from a predominantly α-helical to increased random coiled and β-sheet structures, with the occurrence of nonorthodox protein secondary structures at regions above the solvent critical point. The second stage consists of short-lived interchain contacts leading to an entanglement of the macromolecular system as a whole. A microphase reversion in the organic solvent/water mixture, supported by¹³C NMR and rheological results, is proposed as the driving force causing the observed behavior.     

2-Cyano Δ3piperideine VII1 : the condensation of 2-cyano Δ3piperideine with sodium dimethylmalonate catalyzed by ZnCl2 or zero valent palladium and platinum complexes

ZnCl₂, Pd (PØ₃)₄ and Pt(PØ₃)₄ were found to be effective catalysts for the condensation of sodium dimethyl malonate with 2-cyano Δ³piperideine $\text{1}$ a–d.     

Anionic copper complex fragmentations from enkephalins under low-energy collision-induced dissociation in an ion trap mass spectrometer

Peptide metallation with Cu2+ was explored in the negative ESI mode using an ion trap mass spectrometer. Under these conditions, the [(M-3H) + CuII]- species formed were investigated under low-energy collision-induced dissociation conditions. MS2 experiments indicate a very different behavior of CuII metallated complexes compared with [M-H]- species. CuII induces an easy loss of CO2 and specific side-chain cleavages (by radical losses) at the C-terminal residue, as observed previously by prompt 'in source' dissociation experiments. The loss of CO2 yields an unstable carbylide that leads to further dissociations involving the migration of a proton or a hydrogen radical (through the reduction of CuII). Multistage MS3 experiments were carried out to rationalize this behavior. Fragmentation pathways are proposed in order to explain the product ions observed. The side-chain radical loss at the C-terminus was demonstrated to be a consecutive process. Finally, evidence is provided that the specific side-chain cleavages can be used for the differentiation of Leu/Ile and Gln/Lys residues when they are located at the C-terminus. The existence of a zwitterionic form in the case of the anionic YGGFK-CuII complex is proposed.     

Development and validation of a high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of clomazone residues in surface water

A method is described for the determination of clomazone residues in surface water by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. The method involves solid-phase extraction with C18 extraction tubes. Clomazone was separated on a C18 column with a mobile phase of methanol-water (65:35, v/v) at pH 4.0 and a flow-rate of 1.0 ml/min. After optimization of the extraction and separation conditions, the method was validated. The method developed can be used for determination of clomazone in surface water, at the limit of 0.1 mcirog/l set by the European Union drinking water directive, with a 400-fold preconcentration.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of flumetralin in tobacco

Summary This work evaluates the level of Flumetralin residues in real tobacco samples. Conventional extraction methods were compared with SFE methods in both static and dynamic modes using CO₂ and CO₂ with modifier. Additionally, in the dynamic SFE mode, different collection approaches, such as collection at room temperature without solvent, collection at room temperature in the presence of solvent (hexane) and collection in an ice bath, without solvent, were studied. SFE showed itself to be a promising extraction technique for pesticide residues in tobacco samples.     

Chemometric interpretation of pesticide occurence in soil samples from an intensive horticulture area in north Portugal

An extensive monitoring programme of pesticides was carried out in soil samples from an intensive horticulture area in north of Portugal, putting into practice the needs for increased control of soil quality as far as organic pollution is concerned. The area under investigation was additionally defined as vulnerable to nitrates due to local soil and aquifer characteristics, which might be extended to pesticides contamination. Five sampling sites were selected and soils analysed at three depths in eight sampling campaigns, for the period of 2 years. A stepwise multivariate statistical approach was selected to uncover most relevant patterns inside a complex environmental data matrix. Cluster analysis was applied both to group pesticides and samples, giving a primary and unsupervised overlook of privileged relationships. Clusters of persistent pesticides and selected herbicides were identified, whereas sample classes were also formed and disposed geographically. Thirty eight percent of analysed soils samples fell into one class characterized by low contamination (class 1 in cluster analysis), which is entirely representative of the sampling site no. 1. Afterwards, linear discriminant analysis was applied to identify those pesticides, which had a higher impact in the definition of classes. Finally, factor analysis using a five component model was implemented in order to bring to light the constitution and data variance explained by each of the five main principal components, as well as, their relation to pest management practices. A factor was identified (PC1 – 22% variance) composed of chlorinated pesticides, which was representative of one of the investigated sites indicating its high contamination status. Qualitative main findings and class average concentration values were obtained through this multivariate statistical approach.     

Expeditious synthesis of porphyrin-cobaltacarborane conjugates

Two porphyrin-cobaltacarborane conjugates and were prepared in high yields via a nucleophilic ring-opening reaction of . These novel boron-rich and fluorescent compounds have potential application as boron delivery agents for the boron neutron capture therapy of tumors.     

Competitive adsorption and desorption of a bi-solute mixture: effect of activated carbon type

This study aims to clarify the effects of carbon activation type and physical form on the extent of adsorption capacity and desorption capacity of a bi-solute mixture of phenol and 2-chlorophenol (2-CP). For this purpose, two different PACs; thermally activated Norit SA4 and chemically activated Norit CA1, and their granular countertypes with similar physical characteristics, thermally activated Norit PKDA and chemically activated Norit CAgran, were used. The thermally activated carbons were better adsorbers for phenol and 2-CP compared with chemically activated carbons, but adsorption was more reversible in the latter case. 2-CP was adsorbed preferentially by each type of activated carbon, but adsorption of phenol was strongly suppressed in the presence of 2-CP. The simplified ideal adsorbed solution (SIAS) model underestimated the 2-CP loadings and overestimated the phenol loadings. However, the improved and modified forms of the SIAS model could better predict the competitive adsorption. The type of carbon activation was decisive in the application of these models. For each activated carbon type, phenol was desorbed more readily in the bi-solute case, but desorption of 2-CP was less compared with single-solute. This was attributed to higher energies of 2-CP adsorption.     

Redox behaviour of cysteine in the presence of ammonium trioxovanadate(V)

The interaction of ammonium trioxovanadate(V) with cysteine in aqueous solution was studied by cyclic voltammetry and absorption spectroscopy techniques. In the absence of cysteine, the cyclic voltammogram (CV) of ammonium trioxovanadate(V) solution in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7) gave two peaks at -0.130 V (reversible) and -0.400 V (irreversible). These peaks (-0.130 V, -0.400 V) can be attributed to V(V)/V(IV) and V(IV)/V(III) redox processes, respectively. In the presence of cysteine at low scan rate (40 mV/s), the peak at -0.780 V, which is assigned to the irreversible reduction of free cystine, was observed. In addition, the reduction peak of the disulfidic anion S(2)(2-) was seen at -0.650 V. Under aerobic conditions, the peaks of the disulfidic anion S(2)(2-) and free cystine are well separated. From electronic spectra of ammonium trioxovanadate(V) and cysteine mixtures, LMCT transition associated with V(V)-cyteine complex was obtained at 743 nm. The stoichiometry (ML(2)) and stability constant (log beta(1:2)=6.67) of V(V)-cysteine complex were determined by means of mole ratio method.