Synthesis and characterization of temperature‐ and pH‐sensitive hydrogels based on poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) and poly(D,L‐lactide)

A novel series of temperature‐ and pH‐sensitive hydrogels based on poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) and three‐arm poly(D,L ‐lactide) were synthesized via photocopolymerization. For the creation of polymeric networks, two types of macromers terminated with methacrylate groups were prepared: poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) dimethacrylate and three‐arm poly(D,L ‐lactide) trimethacrylate. The chemical structures were analyzed with ¹H NMR and Fourier transform infrared techniques. The thermal behaviors, morphologies, and swelling properties were measured for the characterization of the polymeric networks. All the poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline)/three‐arm poly(D,L ‐lactide)hydrogels provided high water retention capacity and exhibited reversible swelling–shrinking behavior in response to temperature and pH variations. The hydrogels with higher poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) dimethacrylate contents were more effective in raising the swelling ratio and temperature and pH sensitivity. However, higher contents of three‐arm poly(D,L ‐lactide) trimethacrylate produced larger particles and pore sizes in the hydrogels. This study effectively proves that this unique combination of water swellability and biodegradability provides hydrogels with a much wider range of applications in biomedical fields. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1112–1121, 2002     

Self‐Assembly of Dialkyltin Moieties and Mercaptobenzoic Acid into Macrocyclic Complexes with Hydrophobic “Pseudo‐Cage” or Double‐Cavity Structures: Supramolecular Infrastructures Involving Intermolecular C?H⋅⋅⋅S Weak Hydrogen Bonds and π–π Interactions

Four novel organotin complexes of two types—[R₂Sn(o‐SC₆H₄CO₂)]₆ (R=Me, 1 ?H₂O; nBu, 2 ) and {[R₂Sn(m‐CO₂C₆H₄S)R₂Sn(m‐SC₆H₄CO₂)SnR₂]O}₂ (R=Me, 3 ; nBu, 4 )—have been prepared by treatment of o‐ or m‐mercaptobenzoic acid and the corresponding R₂SnCl₂ (R=Me, nBu) with sodium ethoxide in ethanol (95 %). All the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR and NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn) spectroscopy, TGA, and X‐ray crystallography diffraction analysis. The molecular structure analyses reveal that both 1 and 2 are hexanuclear macrocycles with hydrophobic “pseudo‐cage” structures, while 3 and 4 are hexanuclear macrocycles with double‐cavity structures. Furthermore, the supramolecular structure analyses show that looser and more intriguing supramolecular infrastructures were also found in complexes 1 – 4 , which exist either as one‐dimensional chains of rings or as two‐dimensional networks assembled from the organometallic subunits through intermolecular C? H???S weak hydrogen bonds (WHBs) and π–π interactions.     

Two-dimensional Blue Native/sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis for analysis of multimeric proteins in platelets

Two-dimensional (2-D) Blue Native/SDS gel electrophoresis combines a first-dimensional separation of monomeric and multimeric proteins in their native state with a second denaturing dimension. These high-resolution 2-D gels aim at identifying multiprotein complexes with respect to their subunit composition. We applied this method for the first time to analyze two human platelet subproteomes: the cytosolic and the microsomal membrane protein fraction. Solubilization of platelet membrane proteins was achieved with the nondenaturing detergent n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside. To validate native solubilization conditions, we demonstrated the correct assembly of the Na,K-ATPase, a functional multimeric transmembrane protein, when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. We identified 63 platelet proteins after in-gel tryptic digestion of 58 selected protein spots and liquid chromatography-coupled tandem mass spectrometry. Nine proteins were detected for the first time in platelets by a proteomic approach. We also show that this technology efficiently resolves several known membrane and cytosolic multiprotein complexes. Blue Native/SDS gel electrophoresis is thus a valuable procedure to analyze specific platelet subproteomes, like the membrane(-bound) protein fraction, by mass spectrometry and immunoblotting and could be relevant for the study of protein-protein interactions generated following platelet activation.     

Dipyrrolyldiketone difluoroboron complexes: novel anion sensors with C-H...X- interactions

1,3-Dipyrrolyl-1,3-propanediones, synthesized from pyrroles and malonyl chloride, form BF2 complexes, which represent a new class of naked-eye sensors for halide and oxoanions. The association mode for the interactions of both the pyrrolyl NH and bridging CH protons with anions was confirmed by 1H NMR chemical shifts in CD2Cl2 and supported by theoretical studies. The binding constants (Ka) were estimated as 8.1x10(4), 2.0x10(3), 3.3x10(2), 1.3x10(4), and 80 M(-1) for F-, Cl-, Br-, H2PO4(-), and HSO4(-) by UV/Vis absorption spectral changes in CH2Cl2. Augmentation of Ka compared with dipyrrolylquinoxaline for H2PO4(-) is much larger than those for other anions. Contrary to other anions, F- quenches the emission almost completely, which was detected by the fluorescence spectrum as well as the naked-eye. In the case of the chloride anion complex, the formation of Cl(-)-bridged 1D networks, in which anion is associated with two BF2 complexes, is observed in the solid state.     

SPE – Microwave‐assisted extraction coupled system for the extraction of pesticides from water samples

SPE is a commonly applied technique for preconcentration of pesticides from water samples. Microwave‐assisted extraction (MAE) technique is the extraction applied for preconcentration of different compounds from solid samples. SPE coupled with MAE is capable of preconcentrating these compounds from water samples too. This investigation was aimed at improving the efficiency of atrazine, alachlor, and α‐cypermethrin pesticide extraction from the spiked water samples applying SPE followed by MAE. In this way, MAE served for elution of pesticides from C₁₈‐extraction disks with solvent heated by microwave energy. Various elution conditions were tested for their effects on the extraction efficiency of the SPE–MAE combined technique. Several parameters, such as elution solvent volume (mL), elution temperature (°C), and duration of elution (min), affect the extraction efficiency of the SPE–MAE coupled system and need to be optimized for the selected pesticides. In order to develop a mathematical model, 15 experiments were performed in the central composite design. The equation was then used to predict recoveries of the pesticides under specific experimental conditions. Optimization of microwave extraction was accomplished using the genetic algorithm approach. Best results were achieved using 20 mL of ethanol at 60°C. Optimal hold time was 5 min and 24 s. The SPE–MAE combination was also compared with the conventional SPE extraction technique with elution of a nonpolar or a moderately polar compound with nonpolar solvents.     

Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Cadmium Complexes with Thiophenedicarboxylate and Bipyridine‐like Ligands

Two new coordination polymers [Cd(tdc)(bpy)(H₂O)]_n ( 1 ) and [Cd(tdc)(phen)]_n ( 2 ) (H₂tdc = thiophene‐2,5‐dicarboxylic acid, bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridine and phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline) have been synthesized under hydrothermal condition. Their crystal structures have been established by X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction. Complex 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Fdd2 with a = 14.757(7), b = 45.38(2), c = 10.518(5) Å, V = 7044(6) ų, Z = 16; 2 in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 7.262(1), b = 21.970(2), c = 10.051(1) Å, β = 105.01(1)°, V = 1548.8(2) ų, Z = 4. Both of them are double‐stranded chains and further assembled into three‐dimensional networks by π‐π stacking interactions. 1 and 2 are stable in air, and show blue photoluminescence at 415 nm and 410 nm, respectively.     

Pb2(OH)2[p‐O2C‐C6H4‐CO2]: Synthese und Kristallstruktur

Pb₂(OH)₂[p‐O₂C‐C₆H₄‐CO₂]: Synthesis and Crystal Structure Single crystals of Pb₂(OH)₂[p‐O₂C‐C₆H₄‐CO₂] ( 1 ) were obtained by hydrothermal reaction of terephthalic acid and PbCO₃ at 180 °C (10 days). 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with Z = 2 (a = 1115.6(2) pm, b = 380.10(4) pm, c = 1141.3(2) pm, β = 93.39(1)°, V = 0.4831(1) nm³). The crystal structure is characterized by ladder‐type Pb(OH)_3/3 double chains, which are connected to a three‐dimensional framework by terephthalate dianions.     

Competition STD NMR for the detection of high-affinity ligands and NMR-based screening

The reported competition STD NMR method combines saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR with competition binding experiments to allow the detection of high-affinity ligands that undergo slow chemical exchange on the NMR time-scale. With this technique, the presence of a competing high-affinity ligand in the compound mixture can be detected by the disappearance or reduction of the STD signals of a low-affinity indicator ligand. This is demonstrated on a BACE1 (beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1) protein-inhibitor system. This method can also be used to derive an approximate value, or a lower limit, for the dissociation constant of the potential ligand based on the reduction of the signal intensity of the STD indicator, which is illustrated on an HSA (human serum albumin) model system. This leads to important applications of the competition STD NMR method for lead discovery: it can be used (i) for compound library screening against a broad range of drug targets to identify both high- and low-affinity ligands and (ii) to rank order analogs rapidly and derive structure-activity relationships, which are used to optimize these NMR hits into viable drug leads.     

Separation and characterisation of sphingoceramides by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

We developed a simple and reliable analytical method for the quantification and the characterization of ceramides extracted from biological samples by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI/MS/MS). The chromatographic separation of analytes was carried out in a RP8 column, eluting with a methanol-water mixture in gradient elution mode. The separated lipids were detected by total ion monitoring and characterised by MS/MS spectra; quantitative analysis was performed by integrating the extracted ion peaks obtained in the negative ion mode. Good repeatability was obtained for retention time (0.3-2%), peak area ratio (A(S)/A(IS), 2-8%), as well as limit of detection (LOD, 5-26 pg) and quantification (LOQ, 13-53 pg). The method was validated for the analysis of N-palmitoyl-D-erythro-sphingosine (Cer16), N-stearoyl-D-erythro-sphingosine (Cer18), N-tetracosanoyl-D-erythro-sphingosine (N24:0, lignoceric ceramide, Cer24:0), and N-tetracos-15'-enoyl-D-erythro-sphingosine (N24:1, nervonic ceramide, Cer24:1), giving good results. Lipid mixtures, extracted from skin and epidermal cells, were analysed for their content of the studied ceramides.     

A Novel 3‐D Heterobimetallic Cyano‐bridged Coordination Polymer Incorporating Ag···Ag Interaction: [Cu(dien)Ag(CN)2]2[Ag2(CN)3][Ag(CN)2]

A three‐dimensional cyano‐bridged copper(II) complex, [Cu(dien)Ag(CN)₂]₂[Ag₂(CN)₃][Ag(CN)₂] ( 1 ) (dien = diethylenetriamine), has been prepared and characterized by X‐ray crystallography. Complex 1 crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with a = 6.988(2), b = 17.615(6), c = 12.564(4) Å, β = 90.790(5)°. The crystal consists of cis‐[Cu(dien)]²⁺ units bridged by [Ag(CN)₂]^— to form a zig‐zag chain. The Ag atoms of the free and bridging [Ag(CN)₂]^— link together to form additional infinite zig‐zag chains with short Ag···Ag distances. The presence of Ag···Ag interactions effectively increases the dimensionality from a 1‐D chain to a 3‐D coordination polymer.