The use of FTIR microscopy for evaluation of herpes viruses infection development kinetics

The kinetics of Herpes simplex infection development was studied using an FTIR microscopy (FTIR-M) method. The family of herpes viruses includes several members like H. simplex types I and II (HSV I, II), Varicella zoster (VZV) viruses which are involved in various human and animal infections of different parts of the body. In our previous study, we found significant spectral differences between normal uninfected cells in cultures and cells infected with herpes viruses at early stages of the infection. In the present study, cells in cultures were infected with either HSV-I or VZV and at various times post-infection they were examined either by optical microscopy or by advanced FTIR-M. Spectroscopic measurements show a consistent decrease in the intensity of the carbohydrate peak in correlation with the viral infection development, observed by optical microscopy. This decrease in cellular carbohydrate level was used as indicator for herpes viruses infection kinetics. This parameter could be used as a basis for applying a spectroscopic method for the evaluation of herpes virus infection development. Our results show also that the development kinetics of viral infection has an exponential character for these viruses.     

A method for determination of dimethyl benzoylphenyl urea (BPU) in human plasma by using LC/UV

Dimethyl benzoylphenyl urea (BPU) inhibited tubulin polymerization, caused microtubule depolymerization in vitro and demonstrated activity against solid tumors. BPU is being tested in phase I clinical trials. A rapid and specific method using LC/UV has been developed for quantitation of BPU in human heparin-containing plasma to perform pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies. BPU is extracted from plasma into acetonitrile:n-butyl-chloride using paclitaxel as the internal standard and separated on a Waters Symmetry C18 (3.9 x 150 mm, 5 microm) column with acetonitrile-water mobile phase (70:30, v/v) using isocratic flow at 1 mL/min for a run time of 5 min. Ultraviolet detection was utilized and performed at 225 nm for BPU and paclitaxel. The retention times were 1.9 min for paclitaxel and 4.1 min for BPU. Calibration curves were generated over the range of 0.01-10 microg/mL with coefficient of determination of > 0.99. The values for within-day and between-day precision were < or = 17.0% at the LLOQ and < or = 7.4% at the low, medium and high quality controls; accuracy was +/- 5.4%. Following administration of BPU 320 mg as a weekly oral dose to a patient with advanced solid tumor malignancies, the maximum plasma concentration was 2 micro g/mL and concentrations were quantifiable up to 168 h after administration. The lower limit of quantitation of 0.01 microg/mL allows for successful measurement of plasma concentrations in patients.     

Thermodynamics, kinetics, and mechanism of (silox)3M(olefin) to (silox)3M(alkylidene) rearrangements (silox = tBu3SiO; M = Nb, Ta)

Olefin complexes (silox)(3)M(ole) (silox = (t)Bu(3)SiO; M = Nb (1-ole), Ta (2-ole); ole = C(2)H(4), C(2)H(3)Me, C(2)H(3)Et, C(2)H(3)C(6)H(4)-p-X (X = OMe, H, CF(3)), C(2)H(3)(t)Bu, (c)C(5)H(8), (c)C(6)H(10), (c)C(7)H(10) (norbornene)) rearrange to alkylidene isomers (silox)(3)M(alk) (M = Nb (1=alk), Ta (2=alk); alk = CHMe, CHEt, CH(n)Pr, CHCH(2)C(6)H(4)-p-X (X = OMe, H, CF(3) (Ta only)), CHCH(2)(t)Bu, (c)C(5)H(8), (c)C(6)H(10), (c)C(7)H(10) (norbornylidene)). Kinetics and labeling experiments suggest that the rearrangement proceeds via a delta-abstraction on a silox CH bond by the beta-olefin carbon to give (silox)(2)RM(kappa(2)-O,C-OSi(t)Bu(2)CMe(2)CH(2)) (M = Nb (4-R), Ta (6-R); R = Me, Et, (n)Pr, (n)Bu, CH(2)CH(2)C(6)H(4)-p-X (X = OMe, H, CF(3) (Ta only)), CH(2)CH(2)(t)Bu, (c)C(5)H(9), (c)C(6)H(11), (c)C(7)H(11) (norbornyl)). A subsequent alpha-abstraction by the cylometalated "arm" of the intermediate on an alpha-CH bond of R generates the alkylidene 1=alk or 2=alk. Equilibrations of 1-ole with ole' to give 1-ole' and ole, and relevant calculations on 1-ole and 2-ole, permit interpretation of all relative ground and transition state energies for the complexes of either metal.     

Synthesis of polymer intermediates containing the hexafluoroisopropylidene group via functionalization of 2,2-diphenylhexafluoropropane

The title compound was synthesized by hydrogenolysis of its precursor 2,2-bis(4-trifluoromethanesulfonatophenyl)hexafluoropropane ( 2 ) in the presence of a base. 2,2-Diphenylhexafluoropropane ( 6 ) can be appropriately functionalized at the 3,3′-positions to give the diamino ( 7 ), dibromo ( 11 ), dicarboxaldehydo ( 13 ), 3-ethynyl-3′-carboxaldehydo ( 14 ) derivatives which are important monomers in the synthesis of various high-temperatures resistant polymers and oligomers containing the hexafluoroisopropylidene (6F) group. 2,2-Bis(4-triflatophenyl)hexafluoropropane ( 2 ) undergoes quantitative dinitration at the 3,3′-positions to yield 2,2-bis(3-nitro-4-triflatophenyl)hexafluoropropane ( 3 ) which ultimately leads to the 3,3′-diamino-4,4′-bis(arylamino) ( 5 ) and 3,3′-diamino-4,4′-dihydroxy ( 8 ) derivatives which are specifically designed for phenylbenzimidazole, benzimidazoquinazoline, and benzoxazole polymers and oligomers.     

An expeditious aqueous Suzuki-Miyaura method for the arylation of bromophenols

The development of a novel Suzuki-Miyaura method has been achieved to allow the efficient arylation of bromophenols. A range of functionality is tolerated with regard to the boronic acid coupling partner and the reaction exhibits complete chemoselectivity for the C_aryl-Br bond versus the C_aryl-Cl bond in the aryl halide input. The experimental protocol features a short reaction time of 15 min, utilizes inexpensive Pd/C as a catalyst, and is conducted with water as the solvent.     

The reversible giant change in the contact angle on the polysulfone and polyethersulfone films exposed to UV irradiation

Water contact angles on polysulfone and polyethersulfone films exposed to UV irradiation have been found to decrease dramatically. We relate this phenomenon to the formation and release of disulfonic acid from the irradiated films, a well-known surfactant. The phenomenon appears to be reversible, namely, cleansed surfaces retained their initial contact angle. The revealed phenomenon may provide a means of controlling the spreading of liquids on polysulfone and polyethersulfone films and seems promising for use in microfluidics applications.     

Processable polyisoimide polymer blends for application as thermally stable adhesives for composites and advanced metal alloys

Polyimides are effective thermally stable bonding agents for substrates including titanium, aluminum alloys, steel alloys, metal matrix composites, and polymer/fiber composites with good tolerance toward elevated temperature and humidity. Problems associated with polyimide adhesives, including high processing temperatures and pressures and high melt viscosity, can be partially or totally alleviated by use of blends of polyisoimides. During thermal processing, the polyisoimides are isomerized to their polyimide modifications.