Iron hydroxide nanoparticles coated with poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(aspartic acid) block copolymer as novel magnetic resonance contrast agents for in vivo cancer imaging

PEG-coated β-FeOOH nanoparticles were prepared through electrostatic complex formation of iron oxide nanoparticles with poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(aspartic acid) block copolymer [PEG-P(Asp)] in distilled water. By dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurement, the nanopaticle size was determined to be 70 nm with narrow distribution. The FT-IR and zeta potential experimental results proved that PEG-PAsp molecules bound to the surface of the iron oxide nanoparticles via the coordination between the carboxylic acid residues in the PAsp segment of the block copolymer and the surface Fe of the β-FeOOH nanoparticles. The PEG-coated nanoparticles revealed excellent solubility and stability in aqueous solution as well as in physiological saline. In vivo MRI experiments on tumor-bearing mice demonstrated that the PEG-coated nanoparticles prepared by the current approach achieved an appreciable accumulation into solid tumor, suggesting their potential utility as tumor-selective MRI contrast agents.     

pi-Electron interaction of PAHs with anion-exchange silica gels modified with anionic metal-porphine and -phthalocyanine derivatives as HPLC stationary phase for preparative column in organic solvents

To develop easy-to-prepare stationary phases for HPLC, we investigated anion-exchange silica gels, Nucleosil 5SB (Nuc), modified with metal-porphines and -phthalocyanines (M-P). The modified silica gels (M-P_N) were evaluated for the availability as a stationary phase of HPLC for the separation of π-electron-rich polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in polar and non-polar eluents. Separation ability of silica gels modified with Cu-phthalocyanine derivative (Cu-PCS_N) was comparable to that of the silica gels binding Cu-PCS through sulfonamide bonds; however, the latter requires troublesome procedures for the preparation. The PAHs tested interact with Cu-PCS_N in non-polar organic eluents through their π-electrons similarly as in the case of the PYE column^®, in which interaction with PAHs was reported to be only the π-π-electron interaction.     

Fabrications of some kinds of 2-D frameworks consisting of nanosized polyoxomolybdate anion [Mo36O112(H2O)16] via condensation processes

We succeeded to prepare novel [Mo₃₆O₁₁₂(H₂O)₁₆]⁸⁻ ({Mo₃₆}) compounds by using 1,3-diamino-2-propanol (βOHC₃-DA) and 1,3,5-tris(aminomethyl)benzene (MES-TA)+1,3-diaminopropane (C₃-DA) as linkers, and determined their crystal structures. We have confirmed they have unique two-dimensional (2-D) molybdenum oxide frameworks, which are formed by condensation of {Mo₃₆}s. Side-staggered arrays of {Mo₃₆}s, connected in lying position by eight bridges per a {Mo₃₆}, are formed in the compound with βOHC₃-DA, while herringbone arrays of {Mo₃₆}s, connected in standing position by four bridges per a {Mo₃₆}, are built in the compound with MES-TA+C₃-DA. The latter compound exhibited non-stoichiometric property, and its composition and cell parameters varied depending on the relative concentration of MES-TA in the mother solution.     

Chiral oxazoline substituted optically active poly(m‐phenylene)s: Synthesis and coupling polymerizations of (S)‐4‐benzyl‐2‐(3,5‐dihalidephenyl) oxazoline using transition metal catalysts

Optically active poly(m‐phenylene)s substituted with chiral oxazoline derivatives have been synthesized by the nickel‐catalyzed Yamamoto coupling reaction of optically active (S)‐4‐benzyl‐2‐(3,5‐dihalidephenyl)oxazoline derivatives (X = Br or I). The structures and chiroptical properties of the polymers were characterized by spectroscopic methods and thermal gravimetric analyses. The polymers showed higher absolute optical specific rotation values than their corresponding monomer, and showed a Cotton effect at transition region of conjugated main chain. The optical activities of the polymers should be attributed to the higher order structure such as helical conformations. Moreover, the helical conformation could be induced by addition of metal salts into polymer solutions. The polymers showed good thermal stabilities, which was attributable to the oxazoline side chains. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Trace inequalities for products of matrices

In this short paper, we study some trace inequalities of the products of the matrices and the power of matrices by the use of elementary calculations.     

Asymmetric reduction of prochiral inclusion complex in aqueous media

Abstract

In the formation of an inclusion compound, the interaction of both ionic and hydrogen bonds were shown to be involved in the asymmetric reduction of a keto acid in the presence of 6-deoxy-6-amino-β-cyclodextrin with NaBH₄ in an aqueous buffer solution. Furthermore, multiple interactions were elucidated and the enatioface differentiating reduction was induced in the concerted interactions. Asymmetric reduction of a keto acid in the presence of newly prepared alkylamino-substituted β-cyclodextrin (CD) gave a higher optical yield. There should be a steric effect by a substituent group on the CD to form the conformation favoured by the multi-interaction between host and guest A mechanistic scheme for the enatioface differentiating attack of a reducing reagent on the included substrate is suggested.