Biocompatible Size‐Defined Dendrimer–Albumin Binding Protein Hybrid Materials as a Versatile Platform for Biomedical Applications

For the design of a biohybrid structure as a ligand‐tailored drug delivery system (DDS), it is highly sophisticated to fabricate a DDS based on smoothly controllable conjugation steps. This article reports on the synthesis and the characterization of biohybrid conjugates based on noncovalent conjugation between a multivalent biotinylated and PEGylated poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrimer and a tetrameric streptavidin‐small protein binding scaffold. This protein binding scaffold (SA‐ABDwt) possesses nM affinity toward human serum albumin (HSA). Thus, well‐defined biohybrid structures, finalized by binding of one or two HSA molecules, are available at each conjugation step in a controlled molar ratio. Overall, these biohybrid assemblies can be used for (i) a controlled modification of dendrimers with the HSA molecules to increase their blood‐circulation half‐life and passive accumulation in tumor; (ii) rendering dendrimers a specific affinity to various ligands based on mutated ABD domain, thus replacing tedious dendrimer–antibody covalent coupling and purification procedures.

     

Interpretation of synchrotron radiation circular dichroism spectra of anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic dialanine forms

Electronic absorption and synchrotron radiation circular dichroism (SRCD) spectra of the anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic forms of L-alanyl-L-alanine (AA) in aqueous solutions were measured and interpreted by molecular dynamics (MD) and ab initio computations. Time-dependent density functional theory (TD DFT) was applied to predict the electronic excited states. The modeling enabled the assessment of the role of molecular conformation, charge, and interaction with the polar environment in the formation of the spectral shapes. Particularly, inclusion of explicit solvent molecules in the computations appeared to be imperative because of the participation of water orbitals in the amide electronic structure. Implicit dielectric continuum solvent models gave inferior results for clusters, especially at low-energy transitions. Because of the dispersion of transition energies, tens of water/AA clusters had to be averaged in order to obtain reasonable spectral shapes with a more realistic inhomogeneous broadening. The modeling explained most of the observed differences, as the anionic and zwitterionic SRCD spectra were similar and significantly different from the cationic spectrum. The greatest deviation between the experimental and theoretical curves observed for the lowest-energy negative anion signal can be explained by the limited precision of the TD DFT method, but also by the complex dynamics of the amine group. The results also indicate that differences in the experimental spectral shapes do not directly correlate with the peptide main-chain conformation. Future peptide and protein conformational studies based on circular dichroic spectroscopy can be reliable only if such effects of molecular dynamics, solvent structure, and polar solvent-solute interactions are taken into account.     

Automation of solid-phase microextraction on a 96-well plate format

Studies have been performed assessing the feasibility and characterizing the automation of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) on a multi-well plate format. Four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), naphthalene, fluorene, anthracene and fluoranthene, were chosen as test analytes to demonstrate the technique due to their favorable partition coefficients, K(fw), between polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) extraction phases and water. Four different PDMS configurations were investigated regarding their suitability. These included (i) a PDMS membrane; (ii) a multi-fiber device containing lengths of PDMS-coated flexible wire; (iii) a stainless steel pin covered with silicone hollow fiber membrane and (iv) commercial PDMS-coated flexible metal fiber assemblies. Of these configurations, the stainless steel pin covered with silicone tubing was chosen as a robust alternative. An array of 96 SPME devices that can be placed simultaneously into a 96-well plate was constructed to demonstrate the high-throughput potential when performing multiple microextractions in parallel. Different agitation methods were assessed including magnetic stirring, sonication, and orbital shaking at different speeds. Orbital shaking whilst holding the SPME device in a stationary position provided the optimum agitation conditions for liquid SPME. Once the analytes had been extracted, desorption of the analytes into an appropriate solvent was investigated. Liquid-phase SPME and solvent desorption on the multi-well plate format is shown to be a viable alternative for automated high-throughput SPME analysis compatible with both gas- and liquid-chromatography platforms.     

Development and optimization of ultra-high performance supercritical fluid chromatography mass spectrometry method for high-throughput determination of tocopherols and tocotrienols in human serum

The goal of this study was to develop an effective supercritical fluid chromatography method using single quadrupole MS for analysis of all isomeric forms of vitamin E. Finally, two fast and effective methods, the high resolution one and the high speed one, for the determination of 8 vitamin E isomers in human serum were developed.     

RP-HPLC analysis of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in beverages and plant extracts using a CoulArray detector

Methods were developed for the analysis of natural antioxidants including phenolic compounds and flavonoids in beverages and plant extracts using gradient HPLC with multi-channel electrochemical coulometric detection. Suitability of various reversed-phase columns for this purpose was compared; pH and mobile phase gradients were optimized with respect to the separation selectivity and sensitivity of detection. Because of different target compounds in various sample types, the overlapping resolution maps and the normalized resolution product approaches described earlier were used to select optimum columns and gradients to suit the analysis of the individual sample types. The methods were applied to the analysis of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in beer, wine, tea, and yacon extracts. 32 phenolic compounds were identified and determined, including derivatives of benzoic and cinnamic acids, flavones, and a few related glycosides. Eight-channel CoulArray detection offers high selectivity and sensitivity with limits of detection in the low microg L(-1) range, at least an order of magnitude lower than single-channel coulometric detection using the Coulochem detector. No special sample pretreatment is necessary and, because of the compatibility of the CoulArray detector with gradient elution, phenolic antioxidants of different polarities can be determined in a single run. In addition to the retention times, the ratios of the areas of the pre-dominant and post-dominant peaks to the area of the dominant peak can be used for improved identification of natural antioxidants.     

Glycosyl azide—a novel substrate for enzymatic transglycosylations

Glycosyl azides are new efficient donors for glycosidases. Their high water solubility facilitates transglycosylations with comparable or better yields than common O-glycosides. The azido group totally changes the β-GalNAc-ase/β-GlcNAc-ase ratio in β-N-acetylhexosaminidases (from the usual 0.3-1.0 to <0.01), contrary to all known aglycons.     

Development and validation of methods for the trace determination of phthalates in sludge and vegetables

A routine method which is simple, quick and precise has been set up and validated for phthalate analysis in environmental samples (tomato plants and sewage sludges). Six phthalates have been studied simultaneously: dimethylphthalate, diethylphthalate, di-n-butylphthalate, n-butylbenzylphthalate, di-2-ethyl-hexyl phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-octylphthalate. Optimization of sample, solvent extraction uses a Soxtec apparatus and extract purification with an a solid-phase extraction cartridge allows between 90 and 110% recovery of phthalates. Precise, sensitive and selective identification and quantifying of analytes is by GC-MS in the single ion monitoring mode. This protocol allows analytes with concentrations as low as 10 microg/kg dry matter (DM) to be determined from small (1-2 g DM) samples. This analytical method has been applied to the phthalate transfer study for agricultural recycling of sludges, where phthalate bioavailability has been studied in aquiculture using two types of experiments. Tomatoes have been grown in containers where the trace organics have been directly introduced as pure substances, and in a second experiment under the same growth conditions, sewage sludge has replaced the pure substances. Transfer of these trace organics has been followed into the various parts of the tomato plant and in general only the DEHP is worthy of note although its percentage transfer remains very low even in an experiment designed to maximize this.     

A comparison of performance of various analytical columns in pharmaceutical analysis: conventional C18 and high throughput C18 zorbax columns

New improved types of analytical columns Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 (75 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., 3.5 microm) and Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 (50 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., 1.8 microm) have been tested for determination of estradiol (active substance), methylparaben, propylparaben (preservatives) and estrone (degradation product) and compared with the conventional C18 columns (250 mm x 3.0 mm i.d., 5.0 microm). The Zorbax columns differ with their particle size, column length and ODS (octadecylsilica) type as well. Higher flow-rates (up to about 2.5 ml min(-1)) could be applied regardless to back-pressure. The analysis - previously done at 40 degrees C - could be performed even at ambient temperature. Analytical run was shortened to 3.5 min (from 12 min used for the conventional C18 column) with the same or better retention characteristics. System suitability data for all Zorbax columns show the advantages of these columns for the practical use in routine quality control of pharmaceuticals, particularly from the point of view of speed of analysis and solvent consumption.     

Epitope extraction technique using a proteolytic magnetic reactor combined with Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry as a tool for the screening of potential vaccine lead peptides

Epitope extraction technique is based on the specific digestion of a target protein followed by immunoaffinity isolation of a specific recognition peptide. This technique, in combination with mass spectrometry, has been efficiently used for epitope identification. The major goal of this work was to utilize newly developed enzyme and immunoaffinity magnetic reactors for the epitope extraction procedure and confirm the efficiency of this improved system for epitope screening of proteins. Alginic acid-coated magnetite microparticles with immobilized TPCK-trypsin provided high working efficiency with low non-specific adsorption, digestion time in minutes and low frequency of missed cleavages. The sensitivity and specificity of tryptic fragmentation of the beta-amyloid-peptide Abeta (1-40) as a model polypeptide was confirmed by Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry analysis. The Sepharose reactor or immunoaffinity magnetic reactors, both with anti-amyloid-beta monoclonal antibodies, were used for specific isolation and identification of target peptides. In this way, the epitope extraction technique combined with mass spectrometric analysis is shown to be an excellent base for molecular screening of potential vaccine lead proteins.