A fluorescence toolbox: A review of investigation of electrophoretic separations,process, and interfaces

This review focuses on fluorescence spectroscopy techniques for the investigation of electrophoretic separations. Fluorescence has been used as a sensitive detector for capillary, gel, and microchip electrophoresis for decades. However, advanced fluorescence methods can be used to study transport, interfacial phenomena, intermolecular and affinity interactions, and other processes that occur during separation. This so‐called spectroscopic toolkit can be implemented to understand fundamental behavior in electrophoresis and electrokinetic chromatography. Techniques such as fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, and fluorescence anisotropy are discussed in relation to electrophoretic separations. Newer methods such as super‐resolution microscope are also introduced.     

A Fluorescent Activatable AND‐Gate Chemokine CCL2 Enables In Vivo Detection of Metastasis‐Associated Macrophages

We report the novel chemical design of fluorescent activatable chemokines as highly specific functional probes for imaging subpopulations of immune cells in live tumours. Activatable chemokines behave as AND‐gates since they emit only after receptor binding and intracellular activation, showing enhanced selectivity over existing agents. We have applied this strategy to produce mCCL2‐MAF as the first probe for in vivo detection of metastasis‐associated macrophages in a preclinical model of lung metastasis. This strategy will accelerate the preparation of new chemokine‐based probes for imaging immune cell function in tumours.     

Mechanistic study of stereoselective gas-phase reactions of phosphenium ions with cis- and trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexanes

The 1,3-dioxolane-2-phosphenium ion, 1,3-benzodioxole-2-phosphenium ion, and o-biphenylenephosphenium ion are reported to react in a stereoselective manner with cis- and trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexanes in the gas phase in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. Elimination of NH3 from an addition product was observed only for the trans isomer. Several reaction mechanisms were experimentally and computationally examined (B3LYP/6-31G(d)//HF/6-31G(d) + ZPVE level of theory). The most plausible mechanism is initiated by addition of one of the amino groups to the electrophilic phosphorus atom followed by proton transfer between the amino groups. A change to a diaxial conformation for the trans isomer facilitates anchimeric assistance by the now nucleophilic phosphorus atom as the C-N bond breaks to release NH3. Intramolecular proton transfer competes with the conformational change and ultimately leads to ethylene glycol elimination. The transition states for the critical steps of these two reactions are calculated to be nearly equal in magnitude, which rationalizes the observation of both reactions for the trans-diamine. In contrast, the adduct of the cis isomer can eliminate NH3 via a concerted 1,2-hydride shift without a need for a conformational change. However, the barrier associated with this reaction was found to be substantially greater than for proton transfer between the N- and O-atoms. The latter reaction dominates and ultimately leads to ethylene glycol elimination.     

Fluorescence Lifetime Spectroscopy of Glioblastoma Multiforme¶

Fluorescence spectroscopy of the endogenous emission of brain tumors has been researched as a potentially important method for the intraoperative localization of brain tumor margins. We investigated the use of time‐resolved, laser‐induced fluorescence spectroscopy for demarcation of primary brain tumors by studying the time‐resolved spectra of gliomas. The fluorescence of human brain samples (glioblastoma multiforme, cortex and white matter: six patients, 23 sites) was induced ex vivo with a pulsed nitrogen laser (337 nm, 3 ns). The time‐resolved spectra were detected in a 360–550 nm wavelength range using a fast digitizer and gated detection. Parameters derived from both the spectral‐ (intensities from narrow spectral bands) and the time domain (average lifetime) measured at 390 and 460 nm were used for tissue characterization. We determined that high‐grade gliomas are characterized by fluorescence lifetimes that varied with the emission wavelength (>3 ns at 390 nm, <1 ns at 460 nm) and their emission is overall longer than that of normal brain tissue. Our study demonstrates that the use of fluorescence lifetime not only improves the specificity of fluorescence measurements but also allows a more robust evaluation of data collected from brain tissue. Combined information from both the spectraland the time domain can enhance the ability of fluorescencebased techniques to diagnose and detect brain tumor margins intraoperatively.     

Molecular dynamics studies of melting and solid-state transitions of ammonium nitrate

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to calculate the melting point and some aspects of high-temperature solid-state phase transitions of ammonium nitrate (AN). The force field used in the simulations is that developed by Sorescu and Thompson [J. Phys. Chem. A 105, 720 (2001)] to describe the solid-state properties of the low-temperature phase-V AN. Simulations at various temperatures were performed with this force field for a 4 x 4 x 5 supercell of phase-II AN. The melting point of AN was determined from calculations on this supercell with voids introduced in the solid structure to eliminate superheating effects. The melting temperature was determined by calculating the density and the nitrogen-nitrogen radial distribution functions as functions of temperature. The melting point was predicted to be in the range 445 +/- 10 K, in excellent agreement with the experimental value of 442 K. The computed temperature dependences of the density, diffusion, and viscosity coefficient for the liquid are in good agreement with experiment. Structural changes in the perfect crystal at various temperatures were also investigated. The ammonium ions in the phase-II structure are rotationally disordered at 400 K. At higher temperatures, beginning at 530 K, the nitrate ions are essentially rotationally unhindered. The density and radial distribution functions in this temperature range show that the AN solid is superheated. The rotational disorder is qualitatively similar to that observed in the experimental phase-II to phase-I solid-state transition.     

Surface chemistry to minimize fouling from blood-based fluids

Upon contact with bodily fluids/tissues, exogenous materials spontaneously develop a layer of proteins on their surface. In the case of biomedical implants and equipment, biological processes with deleterious effects may ensue. For biosensing platforms, it is synonymous with an overwhelming background signal that prevents the detection/quantification of target analytes present in considerably lower concentrations. To address this ubiquitous problem, tremendous efforts have been dedicated over the years to engineer protein-resistant coatings. There is now extensive literature available on stealth organic adlayers able to minimize fouling down to a few ng cm(-2), however from technologically irrelevant single-protein buffered solutions. Unfortunately, few coatings have been reported to present such level of performance when exposed to highly complex proteinaceous, real-world media such as blood serum and plasma, even diluted. Herein, we concisely review the surface chemistry developed to date to minimize fouling from these considerably more challenging blood-based fluids. Adsorption dynamics is also discussed.     

A Facile Route to Substituted Dimethoxy Phosphonothionates Using Dimethyl Thiophosphite

Dimethyl thiophosphite reacts with aliphatic aldehydes and ketones, Michael acceptors, and N-benzyl imines to afford excellent yields of f -hydroxy phosphonothionates, g -substituted phosphonothionates and f -amino phosphonothionates, respectively. Dealkylation of f -amino phosphonothionates affords N-benzyl f -amino phosphonothioic acids. Dimethyl thiophosphite reacts with electrophiles at a significantly greater rate than dimethyl phosphite.     

Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of 3H-imidazo[4,5-c]-pyridazine, 1H-imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazine and 1H-benzimidazole analogues of 9-(2-fluorobenzyl)-6-methylamino-9H-purine

The 3H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridazine, 1H-imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazine, and 1H-benzimidazole analogues of the potent anticonvulsant purine 9-(2-fluorobenzyl)-6-methylamino-9H-purine (1, 78U79) were synthesized and tested for anticonvulsant activity. The 3H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridazines 8 and 9 were prepared in five stages from 3,4,5-trichloropyridazine (2) . The 1H-imidazolo[4,5-d]pyridazine 15 was synthesized in four stages from 5-[(benzyloxy)methyl]-1,5-dihydro-4H-imidazo[4,5-d] pyridazin-4-one (10a) . The benz-imidazole analogues 18 and 20 were prepared from 2,6-dinitroaniline in three stages. These compounds were one-tenth or less as active as 1 in protecting rats against maximal electroshock-induced seizures.     

In situ infrared spectroscopic study of brucite carbonation in dry to water-saturated supercritical carbon dioxide

In geologic carbon sequestration, whereas part of the injected carbon dioxide will dissolve into host brine, some will remain as neat to water saturated supercritical CO(2) (scCO(2)) near the well bore and at the caprock, especially in the short term life cycle of the sequestration site. Little is known about the reactivity of minerals with scCO(2) containing variable concentrations of water. In this study, we used high-pressure infrared spectroscopy to examine the carbonation of brucite (Mg(OH)(2)) in situ over a 24 h reaction period with scCO(2) containing water concentrations between 0% and 100% saturation, at temperatures of 35, 50, and 70 °C, and at a pressure of 100 bar. Little or no detectable carbonation was observed when brucite was reacted with neat scCO(2). Higher water concentrations and higher temperatures led to greater brucite carbonation rates and larger extents of conversion to magnesium carbonate products. The only observed carbonation product at 35 °C was nesquehonite (MgCO(3)·3H(2)O). Mixtures of nesquehonite and magnesite (MgCO(3)) were detected at 50 °C, but magnesite was more prevalent with increasing water concentration. Both an amorphous hydrated magnesium carbonate solid and magnesite were detected at 70 °C, but magnesite predominated with increasing water concentration. The identity of the magnesium carbonate products appears strongly linked to magnesium water exchange kinetics through temperature and water availability effects.