Synthesis and Characterization of Multifunctional Nanovesicles Composed of POPC Lipid Molecules for Nuclear Imaging

The integration of nuclear imaging analysis with nanomedicine has tremendously grown and represents a valid and powerful tool for the development and clinical translation of drug delivery systems. Among the various types of nanostructures used as drug carriers, nanovesicles represent intriguing platforms due to their capability to entrap both lipophilic and hydrophilic agents, and their well-known biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this respect, here we present the development of a labelling procedure of POPC (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine)-based liposomes incorporating an ad hoc designed lipophilic NOTA (1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid) analogue, derivatized with an oleic acid residue, able to bind the positron emitter gallium-68(III). Based on POPC features, the optimal conditions for liposome labelling were studied with the aim of optimizing the Ga(III) incorporation and obtaining a significant radiochemical yield. The data presented in this work demonstrate the feasibility of the labelling procedure on POPC liposomes co-formulated with the ad hoc designed NOTA analogue. We thus provided a critical insight into the practical aspects of the development of vesicles for theranostic approaches, which in principle can be extended to other nanosystems exploiting a variety of bioconjugation protocols.     

A Modular Approach for Interlocking Enzymes in Whatman Paper

A potentially universal approach is presented for enzyme attachment to cellulose that significantly enhances enzyme stability while retaining high activity, and involves no chemical functionalization of cellulose. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was interlocked in cellulose to form a protein‐friendly surface (named BSA‐Paper), while also providing COOH and NH₂ groups for subsequent attachment of enzymes. The desired enzyme is then mixed with additional BSA and interlocked on BSA‐Paper. The second BSA layer dilutes and crosslinks the enzyme for improved stability. Laccase was tested as a model enzyme for interlocking on BSA‐Paper, and was found to retain over 100 % activity and was 240 times more stable at 25 °C (half life=180 d) than laccase. This new approach was also tested with a few other enzymes with encouraging results, thus providing a potentially universal method for stabilization of enzymes on cellulose with retention of high activities.     

Self-assembly of a high-nuclearity chloride-centered copper(II) cluster. Structure and magnetic properties of [Au(PPh3)2][trans-Cu6(micro-OH)6[micro-(3,5-CF3)2pz]6Cl

A chloride-centered hexanuclear copper(II) pyrazolate [Au(PPh3)2][trans-Cu6(micro-OH)6[micro-(3,5-CF3)2pz]6Cl] is isolated from the reaction of the trinuclear copper(I) pyrazolate [Cu3[micro-(CF3)2pz]3] with PPh3AuCl and Ph3P in moist air. The six copper atoms are bridged by pyrazolate and hydroxyl ligands, above and below the copper plane. The chloride anion exists at the center of the planar cavity formed by the copper atoms with Cu-Cl distances of 3.02-3.13 A. The magnetic susceptibility measurements show a strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the copper centers with an estimated exchange constant of J approximately 650 cm-1.     

Reliable treatment of electrostatics in combined QM/MM simulation of macromolecules

A robust approach for dealing with electrostatic interactions for spherical boundary conditions has been implemented in the QM/MM framework. The development was based on the generalized solvent boundary potential (GSBP) method proposed by Im et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 114, 2924 (2001)], and the specific implementation was applied to the self-consistent-charge density-functional tight-binding approach as the quantum mechanics (QM) level, although extension to other QM methods is straightforward. Compared to the popular stochastic boundary-condition scheme, the new protocol offers a balanced treatment between quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) and MM/MM interactions; it also includes the effect of the bulk solvent and macromolecule atoms outside of the microscopic region at the Poisson-Boltzmann level. The new method was illustrated with application to the enzyme human carbonic anhydrase II and compared to stochastic boundary-condition simulations using different electrostatic treatments. The GSBP-based QM/MM simulations were most consistent with available experimental data, while conventional stochastic boundary simulations yielded various artifacts depending on different electrostatic models. The results highlight the importance of carefully treating electrostatics in QM/MM simulations of biomolecules and suggest that the commonly used truncation schemes should be avoided in QM/MM simulations, especially in simulations that involve extensive conformational samplings. The development of the GSBP-based QM/MM protocol has opened up the exciting possibility of studying chemical events in very complex biomolecular systems in a multiscale framework.     

A Novel Method to Obtain a β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Compound by Solid State Reaction: the Ketoprofen Case Revisited

The ketoprofen/beta-cyclodextrin (-CD) inclusion compounds may be conveniently obtained through a solid state reaction at room temperature in the presence of saturated water vapour. Relative to the corresponding complexes produced with the usual coprecipitation method, the new compounds have a higher ketoprofen content and/or different properties. In particular, the formation reaction is not accompanied by a loss of hydration water, which is released in distinct stages upon heating. The thermodynamics of the dehydration process is discussed.     

Crystal structure of a novel Hg(II) complex, [Hg(tri-2-furylphosphine)2(tri-2-furylphosphinoxide)3] [ClO4]2

The Hg(II) complex [Hg(TFP)₂(OTFP)₃][ClO₄]₂ with TFP=tri-2-furyl-phosphine and OTFP=tri-2-furylphosphinoxide has been prepared and characterised. It crystallises in the hexagonal P6₃/m space group with Z=2, a=13.308(3), c=21.092 (4) Å, V=3235(1) Å³. The structure of the complex cation consists of independent molecules with Hg pentacoordinated in exact trigonal bipyramidal geometry.     

Characterization of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-epsilon-caprolactone] copolymers by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) of narrowly dispersed molecular weight gel permeation chromatography (GPC) fractions was used to characterize random and microblock poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-epsilon-caprolactone] [P(HB-co-CL)] copolymers obtained via the acid-catalyzed transesterification of the corresponding homopolymers, poly([(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL). High-quality mass spectra were obtained, which made it possible to establish the nature of the polymer end groups. Besides the carboxylic termination, two other moieties were found: alcoholic and tosyl end groups. MALDI mass spectra of CL-rich samples possessed mostly tosyl end groups, while HB-rich samples possessed mostly alcoholic end groups, showing that the tosyl moiety is linked prevalently to CL terminal units. The higher resolution of electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectra of lower molecular weight GPC fractions permitted the identification of the different oligomer species hypothesized in the assignment of the corresponding MALDI mass spectra. Partial methanolysis of these copolymers was explored as a method of producing mixed HB-CL oligomers to be utilized as new synthons, possessing a minor number of chiral centers from those obtained from hydrolysis of biotechnologically synthesized poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs).     

Evaluating the strategic behavior of cement producers: An equilibrium problem with equilibrium constraints

This paper investigates the equilibria reached by a number of strategic producers in the cement sector through a technological representation of the market. We present a bilevel model for each producer that characterizes its profit maximizing behavior. In the bilevel model, the upper-level problem of each producer is constrained by a lower-level market clearing problem representing cement trading and whose objective function corresponds to social welfare. Replacing the lower level problem by its optimality condition yields a Mathematical Program with Equilibrium Constraints (MPEC). Then, all strategic producers are jointly considered. Representing their interaction requires solving jointly the interrelated MPECs of all producers, which results in an Equilibrium Problem with Equilibrium Constraints (EPEC).A parametric analysis concerning cost, capacity and demand fluctuations has been conducted. Our analysis shows that the European cement sector is mature and has lost its competitiveness; African cement market can assume a prominent role in international markets in the coming future if investments in new and efficient capacity are carried out. Finally, the Far East will remain the reference exporter of cement at worldwide level.     

Towards microphase separation in epoxy systems containing PEO/PPO/PEO block copolymers by controlling cure conditions and molar ratios between blocks. Part 2. Structural characterization

The influence of addition of poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO–PPO–PEO) copolymers on final morphologies of modified epoxy matrices has been investigated as a function of PEO:PPO molar ratio and cure conditions by comparison with the cured epoxy blends only containing poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) or poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) homopolymers. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to characterize structural features of blends. Whilst diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA)/4,4’-diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM)/PPO system macrophase separates, the interactions between PEO and cured epoxy are responsible for miscibility of DGEBA/DDM/PEO system. Depending on PEO:PPO molar ratio, micro- or macrophase separated morphologies have been obtained for block copolymer modified epoxy matrices. Moreover, the influence of both copolymer content and cure temperature on final morphologies has also been investigated by both experimental and theoretical analysis.     

Structure and Orientation of Tetracarboxylic Acids at Oil–Water Interfaces

Fouling caused by tetracarboxylic acids in transport and separation process chains involving petroemulsions occurs when the interfacial concentration of tetraacids becomes large enough for calcium ions in the water phase to “crosslink” the adsorbed tetraacid molecules and form a precipitate. At present, the structure and orientation of tetraacid molecules at oil–water interfaces, which influences the precipitation behavior, has not been studied in detail. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations of indigenous and synthetic tetracarboxylic acid compounds are presented to describe the structure and spatial orientation of tetraacid molecules at oil–water interfaces. Molecular distributions relative to the oil–water dividing surface along with the length and orientation angle distributions of the acidic arm groups are presented. The probability distributions determined here that describe the tetraacids at an oil–water interface can be employed to reconstruct the density of carboxylic acid groups at the oil–water interface. The interfacial carboxylic acid density can be employed to determine the fraction of adsorbed tetraacid molecules that are “crosslinked” with calcium ions based on the distances between carboxylic acid groups. The simulations presented also form a basis to calculate interfacial molecular areas and virial coefficients to employ in molecular mixed monolayer adsorption isotherms.