Synthesis of collagen-like sequential polypeptides containing O-phospho-L-hydroxyproline and preparation of electrospun composite fibers for possible dental application

A synthetic route is described for collagen-like polypeptides constructed from O-phospho-L-hydroxyproline [Hyp(PO(3)H(2))] residues. Using the synthetic polypeptides and a natural protein, gelatin, fine fibers and their network structures (ESNWs) were prepared via electrospinning. The composite ESNWs can induce the mineralization of calcium phosphate. The phosphoryl groups of the Hyp(PO(3)H(2)) residues affect both the crystalline phase and amount of the calcium phosphate, depending on the chemical structure in the repeating sequence. The composite ESNWs can be developed as a biocompatible replacement of the extracellular matrix of hard tissues, and thus can be applied as dental materials for restoration of dental cavities or as a sealant for pits and fissures.     

Chemiluminescence from singlet oxygen that was detected at two wavelengths and effects of biomolecules on it

We developed the detection apparatus that equipped with the two-photomultiplier tubes for chemiluminescence from singlet oxygen. Singlet oxygen was generated with reaction between sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide. The chemiluminescence from singlet oxygen, the dimol light emission (ca. 634 nm) and the monomol light emission (ca. 1270 nm), was observed simultaneously for the same reaction cell. The effects of sodium azide as an antioxidant, human serum albumin, and α-amino acids on the chemiluminescence based on the both emissions were examined; the observed chemiluminescence could provide direct information with regard to the reaction between singlet oxygen and antioxidant/biomolecules. The apparent rate constants for quenching singlet oxygen in the presence of human serum albumin were calculated to be ca. 3.3 × 10⁹ and ca. 8.8 × 10⁸ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for the dimol and monomol light emissions, respectively, under the present conditions. The chemiluminescence intensities of the dimol emission decreased in the presence of His, Asp, Phe, Ser, and Tyr, and that of the monomol decreased in the presence of Cys and Trp. The chemiluminescence observed in the presence of biomolcules was discussed together with the reactivities of sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide to biomolecules.     

Synthesis and characterization of A4[Re6Q8L6]@SiO2 red-emitting silica nanoparticles based on Re6 metal atom clusters (A = Cs or K, Q = S or Se, and L = OH or CN)

Metal atom clusters constitute very promising candidates as luminophores for applications in biotechnology because they are nanosized entities offering robust luminescence in the near-infrared field (NIR). However, they cannot be used as prepared for biological applications because of potential toxic effects and quenching of the clusters' luminescence in aqueous media, and they therefore need to be dispersed in a biocompatible matrix. We describe herein the encapsulation of octahedral rhenium clusters, denoted as A(4)[Re(6)Q(8)L(6)] (A = Cs or K, Q = S or Se, and L = OH or CN), in silica nanoparticles by a water-in-oil microemulsion process, paying particular attention to the clusters' stability. The obtained A(4)[Re(6)Q(8)L(6)]@SiO(2) nanoparticles are 30 nm in size with good monodispersity and a perfectly spherical shape, as shown by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The presence of cluster units inside the silica matrix was evidenced by scanning transmission electron microscopy in annular dark-field mode (ADF-STEM). From the point of view of their optical properties, the A(4)[Re(6)Q(8)L(6)]@SiO(2) nanoparticles show red and NIR emission under UV excitation, even when dispersed in water. The evolution of the structural and luminescence properties of clusters before and after encapsulation was followed by Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy.     

An efficient unnatural base pair for PCR amplification

Expansion of the genetic alphabet by an unnatural base pair system provides a powerful tool for modern biotechnology. As an alternative to previous unnatural base pairs, we have developed a new pair between 7-(2-thienyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (Ds) and 2-nitropyrrole (Pn), which functions in DNA amplification. Pn more selectively pairs with Ds in replication than another previously reported pairing partner, pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde (Pa). The nitro group of Pn efficiently prevented the mispairing with A. High efficiency and selectivity of the Ds-Pn pair in PCR amplification were achieved by using a substrate mixture of the gamma-amidotriphosphate of Ds and the usual triphosphates of Pn and the natural bases, with Vent DNA polymerase as a 3' to 5' exonuclease-proficient polymerase. After 20 cycles of PCR, the total mutation rate of the Ds-Pn site in an amplified DNA fragment was approximately 1%. PCR amplification of DNA fragments containing the unnatural Ds-Pn pair would be useful for expanded genetic systems in DNA-based biotechnology.     

A new plane type sensor for concentration measurement in liquid

In this paper, we propose a new plane type sensor for measurement of the liquid. In the proposed sensor, the PVDF films with the transparent conductive electrodes are respectively arranged on the surface of a LED and a photodiode. The optical properties of the liquid are measured using the LED and the photodiode, and the electrical and ultrasonic properties are measured using the PVDF films on the surface of the LED and photodiode. Therefore, the optical, electrical and ultrasonic properties at same space are measured by the proposed sensor. Three parameters in the sample liquid were estimated by the proposed sensor.     

Optical and electronic properties of siloxane-bridged cyclic dimers with naphthylene or pyrenylene moieties

The optical and electronic properties of novel siloxane-bridged cyclic dimers with naphthylene (CD1) or pyrenylene (CD2) moieties are described. CD1 and CD2 were obtained by the cyclic dimerization of 1,4-bis(dimethylhydroxysilyl)naphthalene (M1) and 1,6-bis(dimethylhydroxysilyl)pyrene (M2), respectively. CD1 and CD2 mainly exhibited the emission from their excimers owing to their short distances between aryl moieties in CD1 and CD2, which were determined to be 3.44 Å and 3.41 Å by the X-ray crystallographic analysis, respectively. The absorption spectra of CD2 in the presence of 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) revealed that CD2 has the ability to form 1:1 charge-transfer complex with TCNQ, indicating the existence of the transannular π-π interaction between closely located pyrene components in CD2.     

Ab initio study of isolated chlorine defects in cubic SiC

The electronic properties and formation energy of isolated Cl defects in SiC were investigated by first-principles calculations. Chlorine was studied in a substitutional position, in either a carbon (Cl(C)) or a silicon site (Cl(Si)), and in two interstitial positions (Cl(i)), either tetrahedral or octahedral configurations. Our calculations revealed that Cl(C) is energetically favored and it is a likely candidate to explain the nature of the experimentally observed Cl incorporation reported in SiC epilayers grown by chloride-based chemical vapor deposition.     

Rate-determining process in chemical vapor deposition of SiC on off-axis -SiC

Homoepitaxial growth on off-axis α-SiC at reduced pressures in a horizontal cold-wall chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system operating at has been investigated. The growth rate was found inversely proportional to the square root of total pressure or the partial pressure of H₂, a carrier gas. A model to explain the experimental results is proposed, where the rate-determining process in CVD is competition between Si species and hydrogen atoms for C (carbon) dangling bonds at SiC step edges.     

Unsteady and chaotic characteristics of natural convection field in vertical slots at large Prandtl number

In this study we examined the unsteady and chaotic characteristics of the natural convection field in vertical slots at large Prandtl number. In the computation, temperature dependence of viscosity was partially taken into consideration. As a result we discovered that the spatial region where a significant temperature fluctuation is detected corresponds to the spatial region where the secondary cells exist. The largest Lyapunov exponents calculated from the temperature on the center line have a local maximum at the lower region of the enclosure when the viscosity change was considered. These characteristics agree well with the experimental ones that have been observed by authors (Ishida, Kure and Kimoto 2001).