Electrostatic free energy of weakly charged macromolecules in solution and intermacromolecular complexes consisting of oppositely charged polymers

When oppositely charged polyelectrolytes are mixed in water, attraction between oppositely charged groups may lead to the formation of polyelectrolyte complexes (associative phase separation, complex coacervation, interpolymer complexes). Theory is presented to describe the electrostatic free energy change when ionizable (annealed) (macro-)molecules form a macroscopic polyelectrolyte complex. The electrostatic free energy includes an electric term as well as a chemical term that is related to the dissociation of the ionic groups in the polymer. An example calculation for complexation of polyacid with polybase uses a cylindrical diffuse double layer model for free polymer in solution and electroneutrality within the complex and calculates the free energy of the system when the polymer is in solution or in a polyelectrolyte complex. Combined with a term for the nonelectrostatic free energy change upon complexation, a theoretical stability diagram is constructed that relates pH, salt concentration, and mixing ratio, which is in qualitative agreement with an experimental diagram obtained by Bungenberg de Jong (1949) for complex coacervation of arabic gum and gelatin. The theory furthermore explains the increased tendency toward phase separation when the polymer becomes more strongly charged and suggests that complexation of polyacid or polybase with zwitterionic polymer (e.g., protein) of the same charge sign (at the "wrong side" of the iso-electric point) may be due (in part) to an induced charge reversal of the protein.     

Crystallographic evidence for different modes of interaction of BF3/BF4 species with water molecules and 18-crown-6

We report the crystal and molecular structures of the complex of 18-C-6 with H₃O⁺BF₄⁻ (I) and the complex of 18-C-6 with BF₃OH₂·H₂O (II). The different modes of appearance of the “BF₃” species as BF₃, BF₃OH₂, BF₃OH₂·H₂O and BF₄⁻, as well as their structurally significant intermolecular and intramolecular interactions, are discussed. In complex I the oxonium ion is bound at the centre of the 18-C-6 macrocycle. The oxonium oxygen is located practically equidistant (2.68–2.73 Å) from the six macrocyclic ethereal oxygens. The BF₄⁻ counter-ion is positioned 7.3 Å away from the oxonium ion in the same general plane of the crown ether. This anion is not involved in any direct intermolecular contacts, a fact that may explain why it is spherically disordered. In complex II there is no guest molecule (or ion) present in the “cavity” of the macrocycle, but there are two hydrogen-bonded systems of BF₃OH₂·H₂O that are interacting with the crown ether on either side of the general macrocyclic plane. Complex II features three types of hydrogen bonds—the O(water)-HO(crown) bonds (2.83 and 2.85 Å), the O(water)H-O(BF₃) bond (2.49 Å) and the O(BF₃)-HO(crown) bond (2.65 Å). The strong intermolecular O(crown)O(water)O(BF₃) and O(crown)O(BF₃) interactions stabilize the normally unstable BF₃OH₂·H₂O species.     

Synthesis, binding affinity, and relaxivity of target-specific MRI contrast agents

Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most important imaging modalities of the central nervous system (CNS), one of the main drawbacks of MRI is its limited specificity. This can potentially be partially alleviated by target-specific contrast agents. In the present paper we describe a simple high yield synthesis of two such gadolinium-based spiperone targeted MRI contrast agents, 1a and 1b. The R₁ relaxivities of 1a and 1b were evaluated and found to be 5.94 and 8.31 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively at 9.4T, while their R₂ relaxivities at the same magnetic field were found to be 18.05 and 22.60 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. In addition and very importantly compound 1a, which is a gadolinium-based, spiperone-targeted MRI contrast agent, was found to preserve some of the spiperone affinity toward the dopamine D2 receptor. Compounds 1a and 1b thus represent potential agents for in vitro dopamine receptor imaging using MRI in experimental models. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Structure of microemulsions with gemini surfactant studied by solvatochromic probe and diffusion NMR

The structure of microemulsions prepared by the anionic gemini surfactant didodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate (C12-DADS) was investigated by a solvatochromic probe and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) diffusion measurements. The NMR measurements indicate the presence of bicontinuous and oil-in-water microemulsions depending on microemulsion composition. The absorbance spectra of the solvatochromic probe, Nile red, indicate the solubilization of the probe in different sites, in agreement with the NMR findings. It was also found that the microemulsions were capable of dissolving the hydrophobic probe, Nile red, up to four times better than expected if it were simply dissolved in the toluene phase.     

Electrokinetic effects of adsorbed neutral polymers

On the basis of a previously developed hydrodynamic model for adsorbed polymers the charge flow along a charged interface with adsorbed (uncharged) polymer is calculated. An effective electrokinetic layer thickness is defined and its dependence on the characteristics of the adsorbed polymer and the ionic strength is studied. It is found that tails are very important for the hydrodynamic effects considered because they effectively screen the solvent flow from inner parts of the absorbed layer. The electrokinetic layer thickness increases with decreasing ionic strength, and tends to a limit equal to the hydrodynamic thickness at very low ionic strength.     

Solvent effects on relaxation of the 1B2u state of benzene

Values of triplet yields for dilute solutions of benzene in methylcylohexane, cyclohexane, methanol, ethanol, acetonitrile, perfluoro-n- hexane, and water, and also fluorescence yields and lifetimes in perfluoro-n-hexane are reported. The calculated rate constants for fluorescence and intersystem crossing are only slightly affected by solvent, except for water. The enhancement of “internal conversion” by increasing solvent polarity is interpreted as a result of an increase in the pre-exponential factor for a possible ¹(π,π^*) → ¹(σ,π^*) transition.     

Homogeneous fluorescent derivatization of large proteins

A method of homogeneously derivatizing large proteins for highly sensitive analysis is described. Homogeneity of the derivative was realized by tagging all the free amino groups of proteins. With this method, alpha-chymotrypsinogen A, ovalbumin and bovine serum albumin were derivatized with 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC). Prior to the derivatization, all the proteins were reduced and alkylated. After reacting the resulting unfolded proteins with excessive amounts of AQC, the samples were analyzed with matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) to determine the derivatization degree. The results indicated that all three proteins had been, or had almost been, fully derivatized. HPLC and CE were used for characterizing these protein derivatives. Under the optimized fluorescence detection conditions, the detectability of the tagged proteins was 2400-6200 times better than that detected at UV 280 nm, 170-300 times better than detected at UV 214 nm, and 150-420 times better than measured with their native fluorescence.