Concentration-Dependent Interactions of Amphiphilic PiB Derivative Metal Complexes with Amyloid Peptides Aβ and Amylin**

Metal chelates targeted to amyloid peptides are widely explored as diagnostic tools or therapeutic agents. The attachment of a metal complex to amyloid recognition units typically leads to a decrease in peptide affinity. We show here that by separating a macrocyclic GdL chelate and a PiB targeting unit with a long hydrophobic C10 linker, it is possible to attain nanomolar affinities for both Aβ_1-40 (K_d=4.4 nm ) and amylin (K_d=4.5 nm ), implicated, respectively in Alzheimer's disease and diabetes. The Scatchard analysis of surface plasmon resonance data obtained for a series of amphiphilic, PiB derivative GdL complexes indicate that their Aβ_1-40 or amylin binding affinity varies with their concentration, thus micellar aggregation state. The GdL chelates also affect peptide aggregation kinetics, as probed by thioflavin-T fluorescence assays. A 2D NMR study allowed identifying that the hydrophilic region of Aβ_1-40 is involved in the interaction between the monomer peptide and the Gd³⁺ complex. Finally, ex vivo biodistribution experiments were conducted in healthy mice by using ¹¹¹In labeled analogues. Their pancreatic uptake, ∼3 %ID g⁻¹, is promising to envisage amylin imaging in diabetic animals.     

Loss of metallicity in metal rich lithium oxide clusters

Mixed lithium-lithium oxide aggregates are experimentally obtained from unimolecular evaporative cascades starting at metal rich Li _p ⁺ (Li₂O)_n species and ending with the stoichiometric limit Li⁺(Li₂O)_n, for several sizes of the oxide part (Li₂O)_n with 0 ≤ n ≤ 8. The results show evidence of the vanishing of the properties of the quantum metallic droplet i.e. shell closing and odd-even alternation, portrayed in the dissociation energy, with increasing size of the oxide component. The competition between monomer and dimer lithium evaporation from the heated metal rich Li _p ⁺ (Li₂O)_n species points out the influence of the perturbation induced by the oxide component on the mixed metal oxide clusters.     

Synthesis of poly(vinylidene chloride)-based composite latexes by emulsion polymerization from epoxy functional seeds for improved thermal stability

Poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-butyl methacrylate)/poly(vinylidene chloride-co-methyl acrylate) (poly(GMA-co-BMA)/poly(VDC-co-MA)) composite latexes have been successfully synthesized via a two-stage emulsion polymerization process. In a first step, emulsion copolymerization of GMA and BMA was carried out in optimized conditions (low temperature, neutral pH, starved-feed conditions) to both limit the hydrolysis of epoxy groups and obtain small particle size (typically 30-50 nm size range). Composite latexes were then obtained by a second-stage seeded copolymerization of VDC and MA in the presence of tetrasodium pyrophosphate to control the pH and reach high molecular weight, leading to partial encapsulation of the seed particles (snow-man morphology, in agreement with theoretical expectations). Thermogravimetric analyses performed on the resulting composite particles showed that the epoxy-functionalized seed polymer behaved as an efficient thermal stabilizer of PVDC.     

Epoxy-amine multimethacrylic prepolymers,kinetic and structural studies

Epoxy-amine methacrylated prepolymers are prepared in a 1-step synthesis by the reaction of Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, glycidyl methacrylate, and different diamines. The adaptation of these reactions to production processes with a reduced reaction time requires a kinetic control and the use of efficient catalysts. The comparative kinetic treatment of the epoxy-amine reaction in the frame of Horie's and Rozenberg's kinetic schemes have been made. Cases where an efficient acid catalyst is used are also examined. Structural studies of these reactions established the occurrence of a Michael amine/double bond addition, when some amines are used. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

SPE–NMR metabolite sub-profiling of urine

NMR-based metabolite profiling of urine is a fast and reproducible method for detection of numerous metabolites with diverse chemical properties. However, signal overlap in the (1)H NMR profiles of human urine may hamper quantification and identification of metabolites. Therefore, a new method has been developed using automated solid-phase extraction (SPE) combined with NMR metabolite profiling. SPE-NMR of urine resulted in three fractions with complementary and reproducible sub-profiles. The sub-profile from the wash fraction (100?% water) contained polar metabolites; that from the first eluted fraction (10?% methanol-90?% water) semi-polar metabolites; and that from the second eluted fraction (100?% methanol) aromatic metabolites. The method was validated by analysis of urine samples collected from a crossover human nutritional intervention trial in which healthy volunteers consumed capsules containing a polyphenol-rich mixture of red wine and grape juice extract (WGM), the same polyphenol mixture dissolved in a soy drink (WGM_Soy), or a placebo (PLA), over a period of five days. Consumption of WGM clearly increased urinary excretion of 4-hydroxyhippuric acid, hippuric acid, 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid, and 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxypropionic acid. However, there was no difference between the excreted amounts of these metabolites after consumption of WGM or WGM_Soy, indicating that the soy drink is a suitable carrier for WGM polyphenols. Interestingly, WGM_Soy induced a significant increase in excretion of cis-aconitate compared with WGM and PLA, suggesting a higher demand on the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In conclusion, SPE-NMR metabolite sub-profiling is a reliable and improved method for quantification and identification of metabolites in urine to discover dietary effects and markers of phytochemical exposure.     

Surface functionalization of silica nanoparticles supports colloidal stability in physiological media and facilitates internalization in cells

The influence of the surface functionalization of silica particles on their colloidal stability in physiological media is studied and correlated with their uptake in cells. The surface of 55 ± 2 nm diameter silica particles is functionalized by amino acids or amino- or poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-terminated alkoxysilanes to adjust the zeta potential from highly negative to positive values in ethanol. A transfer of the particles into water, physiological buffers, and cell culture media reduces the absolute value of the zeta potential and changes the colloidal stability. Particles stabilized by L-arginine, L-lysine, and amino silanes with short alkyl chains are only moderately stable in water and partially in PBS or TRIS buffer, but aggregate in cell culture media. Nonfunctionalized, N-(6-aminohexyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxy silane (AHAPS), and PEG-functionalized particles are stable in all media under study. The high colloidal stability of positively charged AHAPS-functionalized particles scales with the ionic strength of the media, indicating a mainly electrostatical stabilization. PEG-functionalized particles show, independently from the ionic strength, no or only minor aggregation due to additional steric stabilization. AHAPS stabilized particles are readily taken up by HeLa cells, likely as the positive zeta potential enhances the association with the negatively charged cell membrane. Positively charged particles stabilized by short alkyl chain aminosilanes adsorb on the cell membrane, but are weakly taken up, since aggregation inhibits their transport. Nonfunctionalized particles are barely taken up and PEG-stabilized particles are not taken up at all into HeLa cells, despite their high colloidal stability. The results indicate that a high colloidal stability of nanoparticles combined with an initial charge-driven adsorption on the cell membrane is essential for efficient cellular uptake.     

A water soluble Cu(I)-NHC for CuAAC ligation of unprotected peptides under open air conditions

A reducing agent-free version of CuAAC able to operate under open air conditions is reported. A readily-synthesizable, hydrophilic and highly stable Cu(I)-NHC allows the clean ligations of unprotected peptides comprising sensitive side chains, at millimolar concentrations.     

Shape-dependent electrocatalysis: formic acid electrooxidation on cubic Pd nanoparticles

The electrocatalytic properties of palladium nanocubes towards the electrochemical oxidation of formic acid were studied in H(2)SO(4) and HClO(4) solutions and compared with those of spherical Pd nanoparticles. The spherical and cubic Pd nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The intrinsic electrocatalytic properties of both nanoparticles were shown to be strongly dependent on the amount of metal deposited on the gold substrate. Thus, to properly compare the activity of both systems (spheres and nanocubes), the amount of sample has to be optimized to avoid problems due to a lower diffusion flux of reactants in the internal parts of the catalyst layer resulting in a lower apparent activity. Under the optimized conditions, the activity of the spheres and nanocubes was very similar between 0.1 and 0.35 V. From this potential value, the activity of the Pd nanocubes was remarkably higher. This enhanced electrocatalytic activity was attributed to the prevalence of Pd(100) facets in agreement with previous studies with Pd single crystal electrodes. The effect of HSO(4)(-)/SO(4)(2-) desorption-adsorption was also evaluated. The activity found in HClO(4) was significantly higher than that obtained in H(2)SO(4) in the whole potential range.