Quantitative real-time measurements of DNA hybridization with alkylated nonoxidized silicon nanowires in electrolyte solution

The quantitative, real-time detection of single-stranded oligonucleotides with silicon nanowires (SiNWs) in physiologically relevant electrolyte solution is demonstrated. Debye screening of the hybridization event is circumvented by utilizing electrostatically adsorbed primary DNA on an amine-terminated NW surface. Two surface functionalization chemistries are compared: an amine-terminated siloxane monolayer on the native SiO2 surface of the SiNW, and an amine-terminated alkyl monolayer grown directly on a hydrogen-terminated SiNW surface. The SiNWs without the native oxide exhibit improved solution-gated field-effect transistor characteristics and a significantly enhanced sensitivity to single-stranded DNA detection, with an accompanying 2 orders of magnitude improvement in the dynamic range of sensing. A model for the detection of analyte by SiNW sensors is developed and utilized to extract DNA-binding kinetic parameters. Those values are directly compared with values obtained by the standard method of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and demonstrated to be similar. The nanowires, however, are characterized by higher detection sensitivity. The implication is that SiNWs can be utilized to quantitate the solution-phase concentration of biomolecules at low concentrations. This work also demonstrates the importance of surface chemistry for optimizing biomolecular sensing with silicon nanowires.     

Benzyl vs. tropylium ions in the decomposition of some alkylnitrobenzenes

The [NO₂C₇H₆]⁺ ions generated from m-alkylnitrobenzenes have been shown to be different in their decomposition from those generated from p-alkylnitrobenzenes, even when the alkyl group is methyl and the departing fragment a hydrogen radical. Thus, in these cases even molecular ions of relatively high internal energy do not reversibly ring-expand to cycloheptatriene structures. In addition, the [NO₂C₇H₆]⁺ ions, assumed to be benzylic, do not ring-expand to nitrotropylium ions at internal energies sufficient to cause subsequent loss of NO or NO₂ from the p- and m-isomers, respectively.     

Microstructure effect in the coupling reactions of polymeric organolithium compounds using chlorosilanes

The most important variable affecting the yield in the coupling reactions of polymeric organolithium compounds with chlorosilane compounds has been investigated through size-exclusion chromatographic (SEC) analysis. The coupling reaction of poly(styryl)lithium with dichlorodimethylsilane as a silane-coupling agent provided 44 wt % of the coupling yield. The coupling yield, depending on the chain end reactivity of active polymers, was not greatly affected. The addition of a Lewis base such as N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) even after complete polymerization of the dienes in hydrocarbon seems to affect the coupling reaction, resulting in decreasing the yield. The 1,2- or 3,4-enchain contents in the polydiene backbones affected the reduction of the linking efficiency in the coupling of the poly(dienyl)lithiums with chlorosilanes as the linking agent. The linking yields of the active polymers including over 75 mol % of 1,2- or 3,4-enchainment on the polydiene segment were below 20 wt %. The linking yields exhibited a dependence not only on the steric requirement of the chain end, but also the microstructure of the polydiene segment. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1743–1753, 1998     

Effect of short-term ethanol on the proliferative response of Swiss 3T3 cells to mitogenic growth factors

Both adaptive and deleterious responses of cells to ethanol are likely triggered by short-term interactions of the cells with ethanol. Many studies have demonstrated the direct effect of ethanol on growth factor-stimulated cell proliferation. Using Swiss 3T3 cells whose growth was inhibited by ethanol in a concentration-dependent manner, we further investigated the molecular mechanisms of acute ethanol treatment by examining its effect on EGF- and PDGF-mediated cellular signaling systems for the mitogenic function. Tyrosine autophosphorylation of the growth factor receptors was partially prevented by ethanol in intact cells. When ethanol was included before or after EGF stimulation, no effect on the receptor signaling was observed. Here we also report that ethanol inhibits activation of ERK induced by both EGF and PDGF. EGF-induced JNK activation was reduced but PDGF-induced rapid JNK activation was delayed by the addition of ethanol. The balance between its inhibitory and stimulatory effect on the signaling molecules might determine the rate of cell growth.     

Chiral palladium template promoted asymmetric hydrophosphination reaction between diphenylphosphine and vinylphosphines

An organopalladium complex containing ortho-metalated (S)-(1-(dimethylamino)ethyl)naphthalene as the chiral auxiliary has been used to promote the asymmetric hydrophosphination reactions between diphenylphosphine and (E)- or (Z)-diphenyl-1-propenylphosphine in high regio- and stereoselectivities under mild conditions. Hydrophosphination of (Z)-diphenyl-1-propenylphosphine with diphenylphosphine gave (S)-(-)-prophos as the major product. Using the same chiral metal template, the corresponding hydrophosphination reaction with (E)-diphenyl-1-propenylphosphine gave (R)-(+)-prophos predominantly. The hydrophosphination reactions generated the asymmetric diphosphines as bidentate chelates on the chiral naphthylamine palladium templates. The template products obtained undergo cis-trans isomerization in solution to form an equilibrium mixture of regioisomers. X-ray analysis of the major template products obtained from the hydrophosphination of (Z)-diphenyl-1-propenylphosphine reveals that the two regioisomers are cocrystallized in a 1:1 ratio. The naphthylamine auxiliary could be removed chemoselectively from the template products by treatment with concentrated hydrochloric acid to form the corresponding optically pure neutral complexes [(R)- or (S)-(prophos)PdCl(2)]. Subsequently, the (R)- and (S)-dichloro complexes undergo ligand displacement with aqueous cyanide to generate the corresponding optically pure diphosphine ligands in high yields. Mechanistic pathways explaining the stereoselectivity of the chiral organopalladium template promoted hydrophosphination reactions are also proposed.     

Simple preparation and characteristics of silk fibroin microsphere

We investigated the biomaterial and pharmaceutical utility of pure silk fibroin (SF) protein as a possible for separation, using Sephadex G-25 gel filtration chromatography and simply preparing SF microsphere particles (SFMP) by spray dryer. Also, some of its physicochemical properties and morphology were investigated. Obtaining microspheres and/or submicronic particles by spray dryer method was accelerated or completed with the transition from the random coil to the β-sheet structure during spray dryer treatment. It was identified by the basic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of SFMP. The various pH range of SFMP’s swelling ratio is dependent on the pH of the solution, not on the occurred gelation. Morphologically, SFMP was spherical in shape, and particles, average 2±10 μm in size, were observed by scanning electron microscope and particle analyzer, respectively. The average molecular weight (M_W) of pure SF protein dissolved in calcium chloride is about 61,500 g/mol as measured by gel permeation chromatography.     

Immuno‐Chemotherapeutic Platinum(IV) Prodrugs of Cisplatin as Multimodal Anticancer Agents

There is growing consensus that the clinical therapeutic efficacy of some chemotherapeutic agents depends on their off‐target immune‐modulating effects. Pt anticancer drugs have previously been identified to be potent immunomodulators of both the innate and the adaptive immune system. Nevertheless, there has been little development in the rational design of Pt‐based chemotherapeutic agents to exploit their immune‐activating capabilities. The FPR1/2 formyl peptide receptors are highly expressed in immune cells, as well as in many metastatic cancers. Herein, we report a rationally designed multimodal Pt^IV prodrug containing a FPR1/2‐targeting peptide that combines chemotherapy with immunotherapy to achieve therapeutic synergy and demonstrate the feasibility of this approach.