Knowledge-Based Expert Systems for Toxicity and Metabolism Prediction: DEREK,StAR and METEOR

Abstract

It has long been recognised that the ability to predict the metabolic fate of a chemical substance and the potential toxicity of either the parent compound or its metabolites are important in novel drug design. The popularity of using computer models as an aid in this area has grown considerably in recent years.

LHASA Limited has been developing knowledge-based expert systems for toxicity and metabolism prediction in collaboration with industry and regulatory authorities. These systems, DEREK, StAR and METEOR, use rules to describe the relationship between chemical structure and either toxicity in the case of DEREK and StAR, or metabolic fate in the case of METEOR.

The rule refinement process for DEREK often involves assessing the predictions for a novel set of compounds and comparing them to their biological assay results as a measure of the system's performance. For example, 266 non-congeneric chemicals from the National Toxicology Program database have been processed through the DEREK mutagenicity knowledge base and the predictions compared to their Salmonella typhimurium mutagenicity data. Initially, 81 of 114 mutagens (71%) and 117 of 152 non-mutagens (77%) were correctly identified. Following further knowledge base development, the number of correctly identified mutagens has increased to 96 (84%). Further work on improving the predictive capabilities of DEREK, StAR and METEOR is in progress.     

Broadband Visible Light-Absorbing [70]Fullerene-BODIPY-Triphenylamine Triad: Synthesis and Application as Heavy Atom-Free Organic Triplet Photosensitizer for Photooxidation

A broadband visible light-absorbing [70]fullerene-BODIPY-triphenylamine triad (C₇₀-B-T) has been synthesized and applied as a heavy atom-free organic triplet photosensitizer for photooxidation. By attaching two triphenylmethyl amine units (TPAs) to the π-core of BODIPY via ethynyl linkers, the absorption range of the antenna is extended to 700 nm with a peak at 600 nm. Thus, the absorption spectrum of C₇₀-B-T almost covers the entire UV–visible region (270–700 nm). The photophysical processes are investigated by means of steady-state and transient spectroscopies. Upon photoexcitation at 339 nm, an efficient energy transfer (ET) from TPA to BODIPY occurs both in C₇₀-B-T and B-T, resulting in the appearance of the BODIPY emission at 664 nm. Direct or indirect (via ET) excitation of the BODIPY-part of C₇₀-B-T is followed by photoinduced ET from the antenna to C₇₀, thus the singlet excited state of C₇₀ (¹C₇₀^*) is populated. Subsequently, the triplet excited state of C₇₀ (³C₇₀^*) is produced via the intrinsic intersystem crossing of C₇₀. The photooxidation ability of C₇₀-B-T was studied using 1,5-dihydroxy naphthalene (DHN) as a chemical sensor. The photooxidation efficiency of C₇₀-B-T is higher than that of the individual components of C₇₀-1 and B-T, and even higher than that of methylene blue (MB). The photooxidation rate constant of C₇₀-B-T is 1.47 and 1.51 times as that of C₇₀-1 and MB, respectively. The results indicate that the C₇₀-antenna systems can be used as another structure motif for a heavy atom-free organic triplet photosensitizer.     

The Impact of C2 Insertion into a Carbazole Donor on the Physicochemical Properties of Dibenzo[a,j]phenazine-Cored Donor–Acceptor–Donor Triads

Novel electron donor–acceptor–donor (D-A-D) compounds comprising dibenzo[a,j]phenazine as the central acceptor core and two 7-membered diarylamines (iminodibenzyl and iminostilbene) as the donors have been designed and synthesized. Investigation of their physicochemical properties revealed the impact of C₂ insertion into well-known carbazole electron donors on the properties of previously reported twisted dibenzo[a,j]phenazine-core D-A-D triads. Slight structural modification caused a drastic change in conformational preference, allowing unique photophysical behavior of dual emission derived from room-temperature phosphorescence and triplet–triplet annihilation. Furthermore, electrochemical analysis suggested sigma-dimer formation and electrochemical polymerization on the electrode. Quantum chemical calculations also rationalized the experimental results.     

Rationally Investigating the Influence of T1 Location on Electroluminescence Performance of Aryl Amine Modified Phosphine Oxide Materials

The correspondence between triplet location effect and host‐localized triplet–triplet annihilation and triplet–polaron quenching effects was performed on the basis of a series of naphthyldiphenylamine (DPNA)‐modified phosphine oxide hosts. The number and ratio of DPNA and diphenylphosphine oxide was adjusted to afford symmetrical and unsymmetrical molecular structures and different electronic environments. As designed, the first triplet (T₁) states were successfully localized on the specific DPNA chromophores. Owing to the meso‐ and multi‐insulating linkages, identical optical properties and comparable electrical performance was observed, including the same first singlet (S₁) and T₁ energy levels to support the similar singlet and triplet energy transfer and the close frontier molecular orbital energy levels. This established the basis of rational investigation on T₁ location effect without interference from other optoelectronic factors.     

Semiconductor Quantum Dots as Components of Photoactive Supramolecular Architectures

Luminescent quantum dots (QDs) are colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals consisting of an inorganic core covered by a molecular layer of organic surfactants. Although QDs have been known for more than thirty years, they are still attracting the interest of researchers because of their unique size-tunable optical and electrical properties arising from quantum confinement. Moreover, the controlled decoration of the QD surface with suitable molecular species enables the rational design of inorganic-organic multicomponent architectures that can show a vast array of functionalities. This minireview highlights the recent progress in the use of surface-modified QDs – in particular, those based on cadmium chalcogenides – as supramolecular platforms for light-related applications such as optical sensing, triplet photosensitization, photocatalysis and phototherapy.     

Engineering Sensitized Photon Upconversion Efficiency via Nanocrystal Wavefunction and Molecular Geometry

Triplet energy transfer from inorganic nanocrystals to molecular acceptors has attracted strong attention for high‐efficiency photon upconversion. Here we study this problem using CsPbBr₃ and CdSe nanocrystals as triplet donors and carboxylated anthracene isomers as acceptors. We find that the position of the carboxyl anchoring group on the molecule dictates the donor‐acceptor coupling to be either through‐bond or through‐space, while the relative strength of the two coupling pathways is controlled by the wavefunction leakage of nanocrystals that can be quantitatively tuned by nanocrystal sizes or shell thicknesses. By simultaneously engineering molecular geometry and nanocrystal wavefunction, energy transfer and photon upconversion efficiencies of a nanocrystal/molecule system can be improved by orders of magnitude.     

Triallylstannyllithium-allyllithium as an initiator for the anionic reversible chain transfer polymerization of 1,3-butadiene

The anionic polymerization of 1,3-butadiene using a novel metalloidal anion initiator, triallylstannyllithium (TALi)-allyllithium (ALi), was studied. The TALi-ALi initiated anionic polymerization of 1,3-butadiene gave the star polymer along with the linear polybutadiene (PBD). The star polymer consisted of three PBD branches and a central tin atom. What is striking is a fact that the number-average molecular weights (M_n) and molecular weight distribution of three PBD branches and linear PBD were almost identical. A reversible chain transfer polymerization mechanism, which includes the equilibrium between tri(macroallyl)-stannyllithium and macroallylic anion, is proposed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

对地观测平台恒星敏感器离焦成像折中设计分析

从对地观测平台角秒量级姿态确定需求出发,在构建星敏感器惯性系成像模型的基础上指出,恒星在成像面上的定位误差是星敏感器姿态确定误差的主要来源。同时,结合理想光学系统离焦模型,分析了星敏感器主要性能指标间的量化关系,并给出了成像面定位误差最低限。仿真结果表明,从优化系统性能考虑,成像模糊区直径为2~3个像元的配置是利用星敏感器焦平面的“轻微离焦”来实现亚像元定位的最佳方案,定位误差可达0.2个像元,能够满足星敏感器惯性姿态确定精度4″~5″的要求。理论分析和数值仿真结果可为后续星敏感器指标的提出及仪器设计提供技术参考。