Development of a zinc ion-selective luminescent lanthanide chemosensor for biological applications

Detection of chelatable zinc (Zn(2+)) in biological studies has attracted much attention recently, because chelatable Zn(2+) plays important roles in many biological systems. Lanthanide complexes (Eu(3+), Tb(3+), etc.) have excellent spectroscopic properties for biological applications, such as long luminescence lifetimes of the order of milliseconds, a large Stoke's shift of >200 nm, and high water solubility. Herein, we present the design and synthesis of a novel lanthanide sensor molecule, [Eu-7], for detecting Zn(2+). This europium (Eu(3+)) complex employs a quinolyl ligand as both a chromophore and an acceptor for Zn(2+). Upon addition of Zn(2+) to a solution of [Eu-7], the luminescence of Eu(3+) is strongly enhanced, with high selectivity for Zn(2+) over other biologically relevant metal cations. One of the important advantages of [Eu-7] is that this complex can be excited with longer excitation wavelengths (around 340 nm) as compared with previously reported Zn(2+)-sensitive luminescent lamthanide sensors, whose excitation wavelength is at too high an energy level for biological applications. The usefulness of [Eu-7] for monitoring Zn(2+) changes in living HeLa cells was confirmed. This novel Zn(2+)-selective luminescent lanthanide chemosensor [Eu-7]should be an excellent lead compound for the development of a range of novel luminescent lanthanide chemosensors for biological applications.     

Clove oil prevents glycyrrhizin gel formation in aqueous solution

One persistent problem with using therapeutic concentrations of glycyrrhizin (GZ) is that, at these high concentrations, it forms a gel in an aqueous solution. We previously solved this problem by dissolving GZ in a highly concentrated phosphate buffer. Unfortunately, the resulting GZ solution has a hyperosmotic pressure that renders it unsuitable for use in patients. The aim of this study was to prepare a highly concentrated GZ solution having an osmotic pressure ratio of 1 and a pH of 7.4. By adding small amounts of oil and using a 100 mM phosphate buffer, we achieved an emulsified GZ solution that is stable at room temperature and has a physiological osmotic pressure and pH. When clove oil was used as an emulsifier, the gel formation temperature of GZ solution decreased appreciably compared to that of GZ solution without clove oil. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we examined the detailed characteristics of GZ gels prepared from solutions with or without clove oil. SEM of cross sections of GZ gels revealed an irregular structure in gels prepared with clove oil, indicating that clove oil prevented the formation of the intermolecular GZ networks typically characterized by gels derived from pure GZ solutions.     

Synthesis and fluorescent properties of model compounds for conjugated polymer containing maleimide units at the main chain

2,3‐Diaryl substituted maleimides as model compounds of conjugated maleimide polymers [poly(RMI‐alt‐Ar) and poly(RMI‐co‐Ar)] were synthesized from 2,3‐dibromo‐N‐substituted maleimide (DBrRMI) [R= cyclohexyl (DBrCHMI) and n‐hexyl (DBrHMI)] and aryl boronic acid using palladium catalysts. To clarify structures of conjugated polymer containing maleimide units at the main chain, ¹³C NMR spectra of 2‐aryl or 2,3‐diaryl substituted maleimides were compared with those of N‐substituted maleimide polymers. Copolymers obtained with DBrRMI via Suzuki‐Miyaura cross‐coupling polymerizations or Yamamoto coupling polymerizations were dehalogenated structures at the terminal end. This dehalogenation may contribute to the low polymerizability of DBrRMIs. On the other hand, the π‐conjugated compounds showed high solubility in common organic solvents. The N‐substituents of maleimide cannot significantly affect the photoluminescence spectra of 2,3‐diaryl substituted maleimides derivatives. The fluorescence spectra of poly(RMI‐alt‐Ar) and poly(RMI‐co‐Ar) varied with N‐substituents of the maleimide ring. When exposed to ultraviolet light of wavelength 352 nm, a series of 1,4‐phenylene‐ and/or 2,5‐thienylene‐based copolymers containing N‐substituted maleimide derivatives fluoresced in a yellow to blue color. It was found that photoluminescence emissions and electronic state of π‐conjugated maleimide derivatives were controlled by aryl‐ and N‐substituents, and maleimide sequences of copolymers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

A mathematical model for pollution in a river and its remediation by aeration

We present a simple mathematical model for river pollution and investigate the effect of aeration on the degradation of pollutant. The model consists of a pair of coupled reaction–diffusion–advection equations for the pollutant and dissolved oxygen concentrations, respectively. The coupling of these equations occurs because of reactions between oxygen and pollutant to produce harmless compounds. Here we consider the steady-state case in one spatial dimension. For simplified cases the model is solved analytically. We also present a numerical approach to the solution in the general case. The extension to the transient spatial model is relatively straightforward. The study is motivated by the crucial problem of water pollution in many countries and specifically within the Tha Chin River in Thailand. For such real situations, simple models can provide decision support for planning restrictions to be imposed on farming and urban practices.     

1,21‐Henicosanediol

In the molecular structure of the title compound, C₂₁H₄₄O₂, the hydro­carbon skeleton has an all‐trans conformation. One of the terminal hydroxyl groups is also trans with respect to the skeleton, while the other is gauche. In the crystal structure, the mol­ecules lie parallel to the b axis, forming layers with a thickness of b/2. The packing is similar to that in the smectic A phase of liquid crystals. These features are similar to those of the homologues with an odd number of C atoms, but different from those with an even number.     

A note on chordal bound graphs and posets

We study relations between induced subgraphs and (n,m)-subposets. Using properties of (n,m)-subposets, we consider a characterization of chordal double bound graphs in terms of forbidden subposets. Furthermore, we deal with properties of a poset whose double bound graph is isomorphic to its upper bound graph or its comparability graph, etc.     

On double bound graphs and forbidden subposets

For a poset P=(X,≤_P), the double bound graph (DB-graph) of P is the graph DB(P)=(X,E_DB(P)), where xy∈E_DB(P) if and only if x≠y and there exist n,m∈X such that n≤_Px,y≤_Pm. We obtain that for a subposet Q of a poset P,Q is an (n, m)-subposet of P if and only if DB(Q) is an induced subgraph DB(P). Using this result, we show some characterizations of split double bound graphs, threshold double bound graphs and difference double bound graphs in terms of (n, m)-subposets and double canonical posets.