Stereological simulations of asymmetric polymerization in channels of bile acid inclusion compounds: A detailed analysis of the monomer arrangements in the channels

We studied simulations by computer graphics to estimate the steric mechanism of the asymmetric polymerization of prochiral diene monomers in channels of inclusion compounds of steroidal bile acids, such as deoxycholic acid (DCA) and cholic acid. We applied a hierarchization method to interpret the crystal structures of bile acids, clarifying that the chiral host molecules associated to form characteristic 2₁-helical assemblies with uneven surfaces. A detailed analysis of the uneven channels in a close-packing state indicated that there were many possible arrangements of the monomers in the channels. The plausible arrangements in the channel could explain a previous study, which showed that the polymerization in the DCA channel yielded chiral polymers with a predominant configuration from prochiral diene monomers, such as 2-methyl-trans-1,3-pentadiene. On the basis of such simulation studies of the arrangements of guest monomers in the channel, we examined a plausible steric mechanism for asymmetric inclusion polymerization. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4648–4655, 2004     

The inhomogeneous electron liquid in some bioinorganic assemblies studied by density functional methods

The review starts with a discussion of some recent advances related to the foundations of density functional theory (DFT). Some emphasis is placed on methods which should have special relevance to bioinorganic assemblies. In particular, the inhomogeneous electron liquid in the ground state of such systems is a specific focal point. After a brief summary concerning the possible variational validity of some popular energy functionals, the future value of the important Dirac idempotent density matrix is emphasised, both from first principles and semiempirically by making use of X-ray diffraction experiments. The review concludes with two topical examples of bioinorganic assemblies. The first concerns our own work on an anticancer drug based on a Ru complex, while as a second example a recent DFT study of a molecular biosensor by K. Salazar-Salinas, L.A. Jauregui, C. Kubli-Garfias, J.M. Seminario [J. Chem. Phys. 130, 105101 (2009)] involving an Fe complex is briefly summarised.     

Geometry of rank 2 distributions with nonzero Wilczynski invariants

In the famous 1910 “cinq variables” paper Cartan showed in particular that for maximally nonholonomic rank 2 distributions in ?⁵ with non-zero covariant binary biquadratic form the dimension of the pseudo-group of local symmetries does not exceed 7 and among such distributions he described the one-parametric family of distributions for which this pseudo-group is exactly 7-dimensional. Using the novel interpretation of the Cartan covariant binary biquadratic form via the classical Wilczynski invariant of curves in projective spaces associated with abnormal extremals of the distributions [4, 27, 28] one can generalize this Cartan result to rank 2 distributions in ?ⁿ satisfying certain genericity assumption, called maximality of class, for arbitrary n ≥ 5.

In the present paper for any rank 2 distribution of maximal class with at least one nonvanishing generalized Wilczynski invariants we construct the canonical frame on a (2n — 3)-dimensional bundle and describe explicitly the moduli spaces of the most symmetric models. The relation of our results to the divergence equivalence of Lagrangians of higher order is given as well.     

Fabricating tunable nanoparticle density gradients with the contact printing based approach

Recently, the generation of spatial gradient nanoparticle assemblies has attracted much attention. Such assemblies can be intriguing templates for building novel molecular architectures, and be employed as a combinatorial tool for quick determination of interaction selectivity for nanoparticles. In this communication, we report on convenient contact printing based techniques for generating lateral gradients containing nanoparticles with tunable geometry, scale and steepness. In the first method, octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) gradient surfaces were generated via the contact printing approach, and then spaces un-occupied by OTS molecules were back-filled with an amine-terminated silane, which allows the grafting of nanoparticles that were surface functionalized with carboxylic acid. By varying the size and geometry of the stamp, different geometrical gradients were generated. In addition, by changing the stamping procedures, either well-defined stepwise gradients or continuous gradients can be achieved. Furthermore, the contact printing based technique can be utilized in combination with diffusion of the aminosilane molecules to directly create its gradient, and consequently a nanoparticle density gradient.     

A semiflexible polymer ring acting as a nano-propeller

The dynamics of a rotating elastic nano-ring driven in a viscous fluid by an externally applied torque about a specific axis is studied using elasto-hydrodynamic simulations. We show that a helical deformation of the ring filament is excited, and that this leads to directed propulsion which is independent of the direction of rotation. It is found that the propulsive force and efficiency initially increase as the torque is increased, and then decrease discontinuously at a buckling transition at a critical torque. This unique propulsive behavior at the shape transition arises due to its specific geometry, i.e., circularity of an elastic filament. The implications of the behavior for artificial microscopic devices are discussed.     

Characterizing Methyl‐Bearing Side Chain Contacts and Dynamics Mediating Amyloid β Protofibril Interactions Using 13Cmethyl‐DEST and Lifetime Line Broadening

Many details pertaining to the formation and interactions of protein aggregates associated with neurodegenerative diseases are invisible to conventional biophysical techniques. We recently introduced ¹⁵N dark‐state exchange saturation transfer (DEST) and ¹⁵N lifetime line‐broadening to study solution backbone dynamics and position‐specific binding probabilities for amyloid β (Aβ) monomers in exchange with large (2–80 MDa) protofibrillar Aβ aggregates. Here we use ¹³C_methyl DEST and lifetime line‐broadening to probe the interactions and dynamics of methyl‐bearing side chains in the Aβ‐protofibril‐bound state. We show that all methyl groups of Aβ40 populate direct‐contact bound states with a very fast effective transverse relaxation rate, indicative of side‐chain‐mediated direct binding to the protofibril surface. The data are consistent with position‐specific enhancements of ¹³C_methyl‐${R{{{\rm tethered}\hfill \atop 2\hfill}}}$ values in tethered states, providing further insights into the structural ensemble of the protofibril‐bound state.     

Controlled evaporative self-assembly of polymer nanoribbons using oscillating capillary bridges

Evaporative self-assembly (ESA), based on the “coffee-ring” effect, is a versatile technique for assembling particle solutions into mesoscale patterns and structures on different substrates. ESA works with a wide variety of organic and inorganic materials, where the solution is a combination of volatile solvent and nonvolatile solute. Modified ESA methods, such as “stop-and-go flow coating,” use a programmed meniscus “stick–slip” motion to create mesoscale assemblies with controlled shape, size, and architecture. However, current methods are not scalable for increased production volumes or patterning large surface areas. We demonstrate a new ESA method, where an oscillating blade controls the meniscus depinning and drives the evaporative assembly of solutes at the pinned meniscus. Results show that oscillation frequency and substrate speed control time/distance intervals between successive meniscus depinning, and the assembly dimensions depend on solution concentration, oscillation frequency, substrate speed, and meniscus height. We report the mechanism of the meniscus depinning and the control over assembly cross-sectional dimensions. This advance provides a scalable ESA method with faster processing times and maintained advantages. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56, 1545–1551     

Morphology Regulation in Redox Destructible Amphiphilic Block Copolymers and Impact on Intracellular Drug Delivery

In two ABA type amphiphilic block copolymers (P1, P2), the hydrophobic B block consists of a bioreducible segmented poly(disulfide) (PDS), while poly‐N‐isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM) or poly(triethyleneglycol)methylether‐methacrylate (PTEGMA) serve as the hydrophilic A blocks in P1 and P2, respectively, leading to the formation of polymersome and micelle, owing to the difference in the packing parameters. Both exhibit comparable doxorubicin (Dox) encapsulation efficiency, but glutathione (GSH) triggered release appears much faster from the polymersome than micelle owing to the complete degradation of the PDS segment in polymersome morphology unlike in micelle. Dox‐loaded polymers (P1‐Dox and P2‐Dox) exhibit minimum toxicity to normal cells like C2C12. By contrast, P1‐Dox shows excellent killing efficiency to the HeLa cells (cancer cell) (in which the GSH concentration is significantly higher). However, P2‐Dox reveals a rather poor activity even to HeLa cells. Fluorescence microscopy studies show comparable cellular uptake of P1‐Dox and P2‐Dox. But the polymersome entrapped dye escapes fast from the cargo and reach the nucleus, while the drug‐loaded micelle remains trapped in the perinuclear zone explaining the significant difference in the drug delivery performance of polymersome and micelle.