Block copolymer micelles with enzyme molecules at the interfaces

This research provides an efficient method for the fabrication of hybrid micelles with enzyme molecules at the interfaces. Amphiphilic block copolymer is synthesized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, and thiol‐modified porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL‐SH) is obtained by treatment of native PPL with Traut's reagent. PPL‐SH is conjugated to the block copolymer chains by thiol‐disulfide exchange reaction. In phosphate buffered saline, the bioconjugate self‐assembles into micelles with enzyme molecules at the interfaces between hydrophobic cores and hydrophilic coronae. The bioactivity of the enzyme molecules on the micelles are compared with the native enzyme. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2047–2052     

Synthesis and healing properties of poly(arylether sulfone)–poly(alkylthioether) multiblock copolymers containing disulfide bonds

Thermoplastic elastomers composed of soft and hard segments are important elastic and processable synthetic polymers. The microphase‐separated soft domains show low glass transition temperature and possess sufficient chain mobility at room temperature. In this study, we report the synthesis and healing properties of multiblock copolymers containing disulfide bonds as dynamic covalent bonds. The multiblock copolymers composed of poly(arylether sulfone) and poly(alkylthioether) segments were synthesized by oxidative coupling polymerization of the corresponding thiol‐terminated oligomers. Atomic force microscopy phase images, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic mechanical analysis curves indicated the microphase‐separated morphology of the multiblock copolymer. Self‐healing properties of the polymer were evaluated by changes in the elongation at break of the cut/adhered samples. The elongation recovery increased with UV irradiation time, and the multiblock copolymer showed a 93% recovery after UV irradiation for 5 h. The healing efficiency induced by UV irradiation, determined by subtracting the recovery without UV irradiation, was calculated to be 51%. According to the UV spectra and solubility changes after UV irradiation, the main healing factor in this study was the crosslinking reactions caused by thiyl radicals generated from UV irradiation instead of disulfide exchange reactions. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3545–3553     

Negishi cross-coupling of organotellurium compounds: synthesis of biaryls, aryl-, and diaryl acetylenes

A functional group tolerant palladium-catalyzed Negishi coupling of diaryl tellurides with organozinc has been developed. This methodology permits efficient preparation of biaryls, aryl acetylenes and diaryl acetylenes in moderate to good yields. A preliminary study to gain further insight into the reaction was performed using in situ ReactIR technology.     

An efficient one-pot access to trithiocarbonate-tethered peptidomimetics

A simple protocol for the synthesis of a new class of trithiocarbonate-linked peptidomimetics and neoglycosylated amino acids is described. N-Protected amino alkyl thiols were treated with CS₂ in the presence of triethylamine (TEA) to generate trithiocarbonate salt, which upon reaction with appropriate halides afforded dipeptidomimetics in good yields. Further, the procedure was also extended for the synthesis of N,N′-orthogonally protected trithiocarbonate-linked dipeptidomimetics.     

Dynamic chirality in selected diaryl methane containing drugs. An exploratory ab initio conformational study

Diaryl methane molecules (Ar–CH₂–Ar) represent double rotor conformational problems. The simplest diaryl methane, diphenyl methane (Ph–CH₂–Ph), governs certain symmetric conformational potential energy surface (PES) topology. With the replacement of one of the phenyl groups by a heterocyclic moiety, the PES topology may change dramatically. The induction of point-chirality, in the prochiral CH₂ group, by axis-chirality or plane-chirality is explored within the framework of ‘dynamic chirality’.     

量化计算在二芳基二硫代膦酸结构和光谱分析中的应用

在拉曼和红外光谱分析中，谱峰的归属直接关系到对分子结构的判定。本工作以量子化学理论计算为基础，探索对二芳基二硫代磷酸实验拉曼谱图进行谱峰归属的可行性。结果表明：二芳基二硫代膦酸理论计算谱图与实验谱图具有相关性，理论计算谱图可以指导实验谱图谱峰的归属分析。     

单层MoS2悬浊液的制备及其摩擦学行为研究

用插层法制备了单层MoS2在水中的悬浊液，采用X射线衍射仪、透射电子显微镜以及扫描电子显微镜表征了单层MoS2的结构，用四球长时摩擦磨损试验机考察了单层MoS2在水中的悬浊液的摩擦学行为．结果表明：MoS2经剥层一重堆过程处理后形成单层MoS2，单层MoS2在水中以单片或者多片重叠形式存在，其间距由0．615nm增大为0．622nm；所合成的单层MoS2悬浊液在一定添加量范围内表现出良好的减摩能力．这是因为其在钢球磨损表面生成含FeS的保护膜，而保护膜的剪切强度较低，因而表现出良好的减摩性能，但活性元素S易导致钢的过度腐蚀而使抗磨性能反而变差．     

Diaminodiacid Bridges to Improve Folding and Tune the Bioactivity of Disulfide‐Rich Peptides

Disulfide‐rich peptides containing three or more disulfide bonds are promising therapeutic and diagnostic agents, but their preparation is often limited by the tedious and low‐yielding folding process. We found that a single cystine‐to‐diaminodiacid replacement could significantly increase the folding efficiency of disulfide‐rich peptides and thus improve their production yields. The practicality of this strategy was demonstrated by the synthesis and folding of derivatives of the μ‐conotoxin SIIIA, the preclinical hormone hepcidin, and the trypsin inhibitor EETI‐II. NMR and X‐ray crystallography studies confirmed that these derivatives of disulfide‐rich peptide retained the correct three‐dimensional conformations. Moreover, the cystine‐to‐diaminodiacid replacement enabled structural tuning, thereby leading to an EETI‐II derivative with higher bioactivity than the native peptide.     

Electrochemical Sensors Using Two‐Dimensional Layered Nanomaterials

Two‐dimensional (2D) layered nanomaterials, e.g. graphene and molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), have rapidly emerged in material sciences due to their unique physical, chemical and mechanical properties. In the meanwhile, there is a growing interest in constructing electrochemical sensors for a wide range of chemical and biological molecules by using these 2D nanomaterials. In this review, we summarize recent advances on using graphene and MoS₂ for the development of electrochemical sensors for small molecules, proteins, nucleic acids and cells detection. We also provide our perspectives in this rapidly developing field.     

The effect of disulfide bonds on protein folding,unfolding, and misfolding investigated by FT–Raman spectroscopy

Disulfide bond is relevant to many protein folding/unfolding functions and conformational diseases. To elucidate the effects of disulfide bonds on protein folding, unfolding, and misfolding, we performed Fourier transform–Raman measurements on serial chemical‐induced denaturations of bovine serum albumin (BSA). By directly monitoring Raman stretching at S–S (~507 cm⁻¹), S–H (~2566 cm⁻¹), amide I (1655 cm⁻¹ for α‐helix; 1667 cm⁻¹ for β‐sheet structure), and amide III (>1300 cm⁻¹ for α‐helix; 1246 cm⁻¹ for β‐sheet structure), the status of disulfide bonds and secondary structure of BSA at different states were elucidated. Both disulfide bonds and secondary structure (mostly in α‐helix) of BSA appeared relatively stable even when the protein was unfolded by urea solution. However, disulfide bonds were completely reduced and protein secondary structure changed from α‐helix to a relatively β‐sheet dominant when the protein was modified by the mixed solution of urea and dithiothreitol (urea/DTT). Adhering to these structural changes, the protein proceeded to different degrees of polymerization. BSA would aggregate into a high molecular mass (over 700 kDa) of protein ensemble when it was exposed to the mixed urea/DTT solution. An irreversible change in S–S/S–H conversion and secondary structure was responsible for protein misfolding. We demonstrate here that Fourier transform–Raman directly probe S–S/S–H conversion and secondary structural change of BSA at different states, and these results clearly indicate that disulfide bonds and secondary structure of BSA serve as concrete frameworks to stabilize protein structure. As the frameworks collapse, the protein undergoes an irreversible structural change and results in protein misfolding. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.