Supramolecular assemblies of two piperazine metal-organic bismuth(III) derivatives: a new precursor for the preparation of bismuth(III) oxide bromide nano-structures

Two BiBr₃ supramolecular complexes, [Bi(2-bpmp)Br_2.06Cl_0.94] (1) and [Bi(4-H₂bpmp)Br_4.29Cl_0.71]·H₂O (2) {2-bpmp = N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)piperazine and 4-bpmp = N,N′-bis(4-pyridylmethyl)piperazine}, were prepared by reaction of bismuth(III) chloride and potassium bromide with two nitrogen donor ligands under thermal gradient conditions using the branched tube method. Compounds 1 and 2 were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In monomeric 1, bismuth is coordinated by two pyridyl and piperazine nitrogens of 2-bpmp, and by three halides. Compound 2 is also monomeric but is bonded to only one pyridyl nitrogen. In both compounds, extensive hydrogen-bonding interactions lead to supramolecular networks; in 2, the hydrogen bonds are augmented by π–π stacking interactions. Thermal stabilities of both compounds were studied by thermal gravimetric and differential thermal analyses. Thermal decomposition of nanosized 1 and 2 in air produced BiOBr nanoparticles.     

Multiresidue analysis of sulfonamides in meat by supramolecular solvent microextraction,liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection and method validation according to the 2002/657/EC decision

A multiresidue method was described for determining eight sulfonamides, SAs (sulfadiazine, sulfamerazine, sulfamethoxypyridazine, sulfachloropyridazine, sulfadoxine, sulfamethoxazole, sulfadimethoxine and sulfaquinoxaline) in animal muscle tissues (pork, chicken, turkey, lamb and beef) at concentrations below the maximum residue limit (100 μg kg⁻¹) set by the European Commission. The method was based on the microextraction of SAs in 300-mg muscle samples with 1 mL of a supramolecular solvent made up of reverse micelles of decanoic acid (DeA) and posterior determination of SAs in the extract by LC/fluorescence detection, after in situ derivatization with fluorescamine. Recoveries were quantitative (98–109%) and matrix-independent, no concentration of the extracts was required, the microextraction took about 30 min and several samples could be simultaneously treated. Formation of multiple hydrogen bonds between the carboxylic groups of the solvent and the target SAs (hydrogen donor and acceptor sum between 9 and 11) were considered as the major forces driving microextraction. The method was validated according to the European Union regulation 2002/657/EC. Analytical performance in terms of linearity, selectivity, trueness, precision, stability of SAs, decision limit and detection capability were determined. Quantitation limits for the different SAs ranged between 12 μg kg⁻¹ and 44 μg kg⁻¹, they being nearly independent of matrix composition. Repeatability and reproducibility, expressed as relative standard deviation, were in the ranges 1.8–3.6% and 3.3–6.1%. The results of the validation process proved that the method is suitable for determining sulfonamide residues in surveillance programs.     

Supramolecular solvent-based microextraction of ochratoxin A in raw wheat prior to liquid chromatography-fluorescence determination

A supramolecular solvent made up of reverse micelles of decanoic acid, dispersed in a continuous phase of THF:water, was proposed for the simple, fast and efficient microextraction of OTA in wheat prior to liquid chromatography-fluorescence determination. The method involved the stirring of 300 mg-wheat subsamples (particle size 50 μm) and 350 μL of supramolecular solvent for 15 min, subsequent centrifugation for 15 min and the direct quantitation of OTA in the extract, previous 5.7-fold dilution with ethanol/water/acetic acid (49.5/49.5/1), against solvent-based calibration curves. No clean-up of the extracts or solvent evaporation was needed. Interactions between the supramolecular solvent and major matrix components in the wheat (i.e. carbohydrates, lipids and proteins) were investigated. The reverse micelles in the extractant induced gluten flocculation but only in the coacervation region of lower analytical interest (i.e. at percentages of THF above 11%). The quantitation of OTA was interference-free. Representativity of the 300 mg-wheat subsamples was proved by analysing a reference material. OTA recoveries in wheat ranged between 84% and 95% and the precision of the method, expressed as relative standard deviation, was 2%. The quantitation limit of the method was 1.5 μg kg⁻¹ and was below the threshold limit established for OTA in raw cereals by EU directives (5.0 μg kg⁻¹). The method developed was validated by using a certified reference material and it was successfully applied to the determination of OTA in different wheat varieties from crops harvested in the South of Spain. OTA was not detected in any of the analysed samples. This method allows quick and simple microextraction of OTA with minimal solvent consumption, while delivering accurate and precise data.     

Towards the construction of mesoscopic species with emergent and functional properties via the derivatisation of molybdenum-oxide ‘Giant-Wheel’ clusters

Polyoxometalate chemistry has proved to be an extraordinary source of a large variety of compounds, clusters and solid–state structures—these are built using very simple metal oxygen fragments linked together in an enormous variety of modes. Herein we focus on the ‘Giant-Wheel’ clusters which contain 154 and 176 Mo atoms and examine the variety of structural modifications that has been achieved to date with these systems. The generation of structural vacancies (here referred to as defects), substitution of ligands, and incorporation of hetero-metallic centres offers many fascinating possibilities with respect to the targeted functionalisation of these species for a pre-determined function and application. Furthermore, evidence is presented which suggests the identity of the most labile and, therefore, most easily derivatised units present in these systems. The consequences of this assignment are then discussed in the context of inter- (formation of layers and chains) and intra- (assembly inside the cavity) molecular growth.     

One-pot synthesis of supramolecular polymer containing quadruple hydrogen bonding units

A facile, efficient technique was built to synthesize a supramolecular material containing quadruple hydrogen bonding sites. The current approach presented here involves a single-step reaction between the amine of precursor, e.g. methyl isocytosine (MIC) and the epoxy group of polymer, e.g. poly(ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether) (PEG DGE, M_n = 526 g/mol, as verified using ¹H NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy. Wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), UV/visible spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) clearly show that the product is not a simple mixture of two components, but the supramolecular polymer containing quadruple hydrogen bonding sites. Complex melt viscosities reveal that mechanical properties of the supramolecular polymer are enhanced by more than 10⁴ times compared to the pristine low molecular weight polymer, giving rise to the significant change of physical state from liquid to solid. Current approach also illustrates an advantageous route because it does not need the selective use of monofunctionalized precursor and not produce a dead, difunctionalized precursor.     

A versatile liposome/cyclodextrin supramolecular carrier for drug delivery through the blood-brain barrier

For many commercial drugs, reaching the central nervous system in large amount without damaging the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) remains a challenging task. We present here a supramolecular strategy aiming at using a well-defined cyclodextrin-coated liposomes as drug carrier and adamantoyl saccharides as BBB-interacting ligands. In this study, the liposome is constituted of n-alkyldimethylammoniumcyclodextrins incorporated in the lipid bilayer of a 3/7 cholesterol/dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine mixture and the ligand is constituted of an adamantoylglucose molecule whose adamantoyl moiety can be included in the CD cavity. The whole supramolecular assembly has been characterized by light-scattering and ³¹P NMR measurements. Toxicity and permeability studies on an in vitro model of the BBB clearly demonstrated a 5-fold improved ability of the modified liposome to enter the BBB-endothelial cells compared to the non-coated liposome. Fluorescence labelling of these liposomes is also displayed with DiI as a fluorescent probe.     

New Calix[4]arene‐Cored Peripherally Functionalized Dendrimers: Synthesis and Conformational Characteristics

New calixarene‐based dendrimers, containing calix[4]arene as the core and different generations of Fréchet‐type poly(benzyl ether) dendrons as building blocks, which possess either Br‐atoms or COO^tBu groups at their surface were synthesized and presented herein for the first time. The new calix[4]arene‐cored dendritic macromolecules were fully characterized and found to prefer strictly the cone conformation.     

2-羟丙基-β-环糊精与二茂铁衍生物超分子胶束通过氧化还原响应控制药物释放

合成了新型的具有长链的二茂铁衍生物(P-Fc),并将其包络在2-羟丙基-β-环糊精(HP-β-CD)的空腔中,自组装形成超分子囊泡,并通过FTIR、1 HNMR、SEM和CV曲线对其进行结构形貌表征;分别以罗丹明6G(R6G)、盐酸阿霉素(DOX)作为药物,实现了R6G、DOX在囊泡中的成功装载。并通过加入氧化剂,将二茂铁氧化成二茂铁盐,将囊泡破坏,实现了 R6G 和 DOX 的快速定向释放,其药物装载量分别为6.89和39.06μg/mg,最大释放率分别为73.7%和88.2%。     

超分子水凝胶作为胰岛素缓释体系的研究

利用α-环糊精(α-CD)与含有聚乙二醇(PEG)链段的聚合物Pluronic F127的超分子作用制备水凝胶.该物理交联水凝胶的交联点包括α-CD与PEG链包合物堆积形成的微晶区和聚合物疏水链段聚集区.优化水凝胶组分,得到具有较低固含量和较短凝胶化时间的体系用于胰岛素的负载和释放研究.通过X射线衍射(XRD),扫描显微镜(SEM)对水凝胶结构进行表征.通过紫外分光光度计监测胰岛素的释放过程,结果表明,水凝胶释药时间约为65 h,且释放曲线较为平缓.细胞毒性实验结果表明该水凝胶材料对细胞生长无明显抑制作用.小鼠体内释药实验结果表明该水凝胶载体对延长胰岛素的释药时间有一定效果,可作为多肽类药物的缓释体系.     

Redox-responsive supramolecular nanoparticles based on amphiphilic sulfonatocalixarene and selenocystamine dihydrochloride

A supramolecular nanoparticle was fabricated based on the aggregation of amphiphilic p-sulfonatocalixarene induced by selenocystamine dihydrochloride (Se-Cys). Owing to the property of Se-Cys, the nanoparticles showed the redox-responsive disassembly behaviors with the addition of H2O2 and GSH