On-chip diagnosis of subclinical mastitis in cows by electrochemical measurement of neutrophil activity in milk

Subclinical mastitis is a common infectious disease affecting dairy cows. To develop an early diagnostic device for this disease, we focused on measuring an increase in the number of neutrophils in raw milk of mastitic cows. Superoxide anions (O(2)(-)), secreted by neutrophils, can be a good indicator of neutrophil concentration, and therefore, the seriousness of the mastitis. In this study, neutrophils in raw milk samples were separated from fat globules in a flow channel using differences in specific gravity and specific adhesion of neutrophils to P-selectin. Neutrophils trapped in the flow channel were subsequently concentrated in an array of micropillars of a working electrode modified with P-selectin and superoxide dismutase. The O(2)(-) secreted from the trapped neutrophils was electrochemically detected. A difference in the detection current was observed between normal and mastitic milk samples. A clear linear relationship between the electric current and cell density was observed.     

Mechanofluorochromism of carbazole-type D–π–A fluorescent dyes

We have newly designed and synthesized unsymmetrical carbazole-type D–π–A fluorescent dyes. The dyes show a bathochromic shift-type mechanofluorochromism (MFC): grinding of as-recrystallized dyes induces a bathochromic shift of fluorescent color and the fluorescent color is recovered by heating or exposure to solvent vapor. In order to clarify the MFC mechanism for the carbazole-type D–π–A fluorescent dyes, time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffractometry, single-crystal X-ray structural analysis, IR spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry are performed before and after grinding of the solids. On the basis of experimental results and semi-empirical molecular orbital calculations (AM1 and INDO/S), we have revealed that the MFC is attributed to a reversible switching between crystalline and amorphous states with changes of intermolecular hydrogen bonding and π–π interaction.     

Palladium-catalyzed formation and reactions of iodo- and bromosiloxane intermediates

Polysiloxanes are useful materials because of their functionality, such as high thermal stability, electrical resistance, and hydrophobicity. In this regard, we studied palladium-catalyzed formation of iodo- and bromopolysiloxanes from two types of hydrosiloxanes, α,ω-dihydropoly(dimethylsiloxane) (1) and cyclotetra(hydromethylsiloxane) (2), and their reactions. Treatment of 1 with mixtures of cyclic ethers or lactones and MeI or allylBr in the presence of a catalytic amount of PdCl₂ gave the corresponding α,ω-bis(haloalkoxy and haloalkanoyloxy)poly(dimethylsiloxane)s in good yields, via iodo- and bromopoly(dimethylsiloxane) intermediates. Transformation of the iodobutoxy-terminal units in the resulting poly(dimethylsiloxane) into aminoalkoxy groups was examined. The formation of α,ω-diiodo- and dibromopoly(dimethylsiloxane)s from 1 was confirmed by spectrometric analysis as well as by quenching experiments with ethanol. A reaction of α,ω-dibromopoly(dimethylsiloxane) with 2,5-dilithiothiophene gave a polydimethylsiloxane-thiophene alternating polymer. Similar palladium-catalyzed reactions of 2 with THF/MeI, THF/allylBr, and δ-valerolactone/allylBr afforded cyclo-(halobutoxy- and bromobutanoyloxymethylsiloxane)s in moderate yields. This would provide a new strategy for the introduction of various substituents to the terminal positions of linear polysiloxane and to the cyclosiloxane core.     

Planar-chiral metal complexes comprised of square-planar metal and achiral tetradentate ligands: design, optical resolution, and thermodynamics

Planar-chiral palladium complexes {[[N,N'-[1,4-butanediylbis(oxy-7,1-naphthalenediyl)]bis(2-pyridinecarboxamidato)](2-)-κN(1),κN(1)',κN(2),κN(2)']palladium (PdL(4)) and [[2,2'-[1,4-butanediylbis[[(oxy-7,1-naphthalenediyl)imino]methyl]]dipyrrolato](2-)-κN(1),κN(1)',κN(2),κN(2)']palladium (PdL(5))} were synthesized from achiral tetradentate ligands N,N'-[1,4-butanediylbis(oxy-7,1-naphthalenediyl)]bis(2-pyridinecarboxamide) (H(2)L(4)) and N,N'-bis[(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylidene]-7,7'-(1,4-butanediyldioxy)bis(1-naphthalenamine) (H(2)L(5)) bearing two dissymmetric bidentate units at both ends and a Pd(II) ion, respectively. The palladium complexes were crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with the unit cell parameters a = 16.5464(6) ?, b = 11.3534(4) ?, c = 17.6697(7) ?, β = 115.5300(10)°, and Z = 4 for PdL(4) and a = 17.2271(8) ?, b = 10.1016(5) ?, c = 17.9361(9) ?, β = 105.6310(10)°, and Z = 4 for PdL(5). The planar-chiral structures of PdL(4) and PdL(5) were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analyses, resulting in the fact that the crystals were racemic mixtures. The racemic mixtures were successfully resolved by using chiral high-performance liquid-chromatography techniques. Racemizations of the complexes were found to be drastically dependent on the arrangement of the charged or uncharged metal-binding N atoms of the ligands.     

An electrically conductive metallocycle: densely packed molecular hexagons with π-stacked radicals

Electrical conduction among metallocycles has been unexplored because of the difficulty in creating electronic transport pathways. In this work, we present an electrocrystallization strategy for synthesizing an intrinsically electron-conductive metallocycle, [Ni₆(NDI-Hpz)₆(dma)₁₂(NO₃)₆]·5DMA·nH₂O (PMC-hexagon) (NDI-Hpz = N,N′-di(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxdiimide). The hexagonal metallocycle units are assembled into a densely packed ABCABC… sequence (like the fcc geometry) to construct one-dimensional (1D) helical π-stacked columns and 1D pore channels, which were maintained under the liberation of H₂O molecules. The NDI cores were partially reduced to form radicals as charge carriers, resulting in a room-temperature conductivity of (1.2–2.1) × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ (pressed pellet), which is superior to that of most NDI-based conductors including metal–organic frameworks and organic crystals. These findings open up the use of metallocycles as building blocks for fabricating conductive porous molecular materials.

Intrinsically electron-conductive metallocycle was synthesized. π-Radicals play a key role in constructing π-stacked columns among molecular hexagons and achieving high electrical conductivity over 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ in polycrystalline pellet.     

Colloidal Stability of TiO2 Nanoparticles: The Roles of Phosphonate Ligand Length and Solution Temperature

Surface ligands are essential tools for the stabilization of colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) in solvents. However, knowledge regarding the effects of the ligand shell, especially the ligand length, is insufficient and controversial. Here we demonstrate solution-based experiments on n-alkylphosphonate-capped TiO₂ NPs to investigate the effects of ligand length and solution temperature on colloidal stability. A robust ligand-exchange process is achieved that draws free ligands and impurities away from the colloidal solution. In the case of 8 nm anatase NPs in toluene, the dodecylphosphonate ligand provided better colloidal stability than all the other n-alkylphosphonate ligands. In addition, relaxation studies suggested there is kinetic hysteresis in the dispersion/agglomeration transition. The proposed method is applicable to a wide range of surface ligands designed to maximize the colloidal stability of NPs.     

Synthesis of alkaline‐developable,photosensitive hyperbranched polyimides through the reaction of carboxylic acid dianhydrides and trisamines

Hyperbranched polyimides (HBPI)s with high glass‐transition temperatures and excellent thermal stability were synthesized through the reaction of commercially available carboxylic acid dianhydrides with tris[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]ethane (TAPE). In particular, hyperbranched polyimide HBPI(TAPE‐DSDA), prepared through the reaction of TAPE with 3,3′,4,4′‐diphenylsulfonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (DSDA), showed higher thermal stability and good solubility. Furthermore, alkaline‐developable, photosensitive HBPI(TAPE‐DSDA)‐MA‐CA was prepared through the reaction of HBPI(TAPE‐DSDA) with glycidyl methacrylate with tetrabutylammonium bromide as a catalyst in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NMP) followed by the addition reaction of cis‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydrophthalic anhydride with triphenylphosphine as a catalyst in NMP. The glass‐transition temperatures of HBPI(TAPE‐DSDA)‐MA‐CA were greater than 300 °C. A resist composed of 74 wt % HBPI(TAPE‐DSDA)‐MA‐CA, 22.2 wt % trimethylpropane triacrylate, and 3.8 wt % Irgacure 907 as a photoinitiator achieved a resolution of a 55‐μm line pattern and a 275‐μm space pattern by UV irradiation (1000 mJ/cm²). © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3697–3707, 2004     

Palladium(0)-catalyzed synthesis of medium-sized heterocycles by using bromoallenes as an allyl dication equivalent

We have developed a highly regio- and stereoselective synthesis of medium-sized heterocycles containing one or two heteroatoms via cyclization of bromoallenes bearing an oxygen, nitrogen, or carbon nucleophilic functionality in the presence of a palladium(0) catalyst and alcohol. In this reaction, bromoallenes act as an allyl dication equivalent, and the intramolecular nucleophilic attack takes place exclusively at the central carbon atom of the allene moiety. Interestingly, bromoallenes having a carbon nucleophile with a five-atom tether afford eight-membered rings with trans-configuration, while those having an oxygen or a nitrogen nucleophile give the corresponding cis-rings selectively. This is the first example that demonstrates the synthesis of medium-sized rings via cyclization of bromoallenes, and this reaction provides a very useful method for a catalytic synthesis of seven- and eight-membered heterocycles without using high dilution conditions.     

Development of novel polymer-type dehydrocondensing reagents comprised of chlorotriazines

A novel immobilized dehydrocondensing reagent comprised of a triazine-type dehydrocondensing reagent itself in a polymerized form was synthesized by copolymerization between tetra(ethylene glycol) bis(dichlorotriazinyl) ether and tris(2-aminoethyl)amine.     

Electro-optic effects of colloidal crystals of polymer-modified silica spheres immobilized with gelator

Electro-optic responses of colloidal crystals consist of poly(maleic anhydride-co-styrene)-modified silica spheres (P(MA-ST)/SiO₂) in acetonitrile and the crystals immobilized with a gelator, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-isoleucilaminooctadecane (Z-L-Ile-C-18), are studied by reflected-light intensity measurements and time-resolved reflection spectroscopy. Application of an alternating electric field deforms P(MA-ST)/SiO₂ crystal lattices reversibly. The response waveforms from the crystals are dependent on the frequency and strength of the applied electric field; similar dependencies have been qualitatively observed for the colloidal crystals consisting of polystyrene or silica spheres in aqueous media in our previous studies. Both gelated and ungelated P(MA-ST)/SiO₂ crystals change the reflection intensity, however, the amplitude is larger for the latter. The small response for the gelated P(MA-ST)/SiO₂ crystals is attributed to the higher elastic modulus (G). The G value of the gelated P(MA-ST)/SiO₂ crystals in acetonitrile is estimated from the change in the inter-sphere distance to be 8.0 Pa, which is about 2.3 and 2.4 times larger than that for ungelated P(MA-ST)/SiO₂ crystals in acetonitrile and colloidal silica crystals in aqueous media, respectively.