Acid–Base Equilibrium and Self-Association in Relation to High Antitumor Activity of Selected Unsymmetrical Bisacridines Established by Extensive Chemometric Analysis

Unsymmetrical bisacridines (UAs) represent a novel class of anticancer agents previously synthesized by our group. Our recent studies have demonstrated their high antitumor potential against multiple cancer cell lines and human tumor xenografts in nude mice. At the cellular level, these compounds affected 3D cancer spheroid growth and their cellular uptake was selectively modulated by quantum dots. UAs were shown to undergo metabolic transformations in vitro and in tumor cells. However, the physicochemical properties of UAs, which could possibly affect their interactions with molecular targets, remain unknown. Therefore, we selected four highly active UAs for the assessment of physicochemical parameters under various pH conditions. We determined the compounds’ pK_a dissociation constants as well as their potential to self-associate. Both parameters were determined by detailed and complex chemometric analysis of UV-Vis spectra supported by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The obtained results indicate that general molecular properties of UAs in aqueous media, including their protonation state, self-association ratio, and solubility, are strongly pH-dependent, particularly in the physiological pH range of 6 to 8. In conclusion, we describe the detailed physicochemical characteristics of UAs, which might contribute to their selectivity towards tumour cells as opposed to their effect on normal cells.     

The Classification of Rice Blast Resistant Seed Based on Ranman Spectroscopy and SVM

Rice blast is a serious threat to rice yield. Breeding disease-resistant varieties is one of the most economical and effective ways to prevent damage from rice blast. The traditional identification of resistant rice seeds has some shortcoming, such as long possession time, high cost and complex operation. The purpose of this study was to develop an optimal prediction model for determining resistant rice seeds using Ranman spectroscopy. First, the support vector machine (SVM), BP neural network (BP) and probabilistic neural network (PNN) models were initially established on the original spectral data. Second, due to the recognition accuracy of the Raw-SVM model, the running time was fast. The support vector machine model was selected for optimization, and four improved support vector machine models (ABC-SVM (artificial bee colony algorithm, ABC), IABC-SVM (improving the artificial bee colony algorithm, IABC), GSA-SVM (gravity search algorithm, GSA) and GWO-SVM (gray wolf algorithm, GWO)) were used to identify resistant rice seeds. The difference in modeling accuracy and running time between the improved support vector machine model established in feature wavelengths and full wavelengths (200–3202 cm⁻¹) was compared. Finally, five spectral preproccessing algorithms, Savitzky–Golay 1-Der (SGD), Savitzky–Golay Smoothing (SGS), baseline (Base), multivariate scatter correction (MSC) and standard normal variable (SNV), were used to preprocess the original spectra. The random forest algorithm (RF) was used to extract the characteristic wavelengths. After different spectral preproccessing algorithms and the RF feature extraction, the improved support vector machine models were established. The results show that the recognition accuracy of the optimal IABC-SVM model based on the original data was 71%. Among the five spectral preproccessing algorithms, the SNV algorithm’s accuracy was the best. The accuracy of the test set in the IABC-SVM model was 100%, and the running time was 13 s. After SNV algorithms and the RF feature extraction, the classification accuracy of the IABC-SVM model did not decrease, and the running time was shortened to 9 s. This demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of IABC in SVM parameter optimization, with higher prediction accuracy and better stability. Therefore, the improved support vector machine model based on Ranman spectroscopy can be applied to the fast and non-destructive identification of resistant rice seeds.     

Spider Silk-Improved Quartz-Enhanced Conductance Spectroscopy for Medical Mask Humidity Sensing

Spider silk is one of the hottest biomaterials researched currently, due to its excellent mechanical properties. This work reports a novel humidity sensing platform based on a spider silk-modified quartz tuning fork (SSM-QTF). Since spider silk is a kind of natural moisture-sensitive material, it does not demand additional sensitization. Quartz-enhanced conductance spectroscopy (QECS) was combined with the SSM-QTF to access humidity sensing sensitively. The results indicate that the resonance frequency of the SSM-QTF decreased monotonously with the ambient humidity. The detection sensitivity of the proposed SSM-QTF sensor was 12.7 ppm at 1 min. The SSM-QTF sensor showed good linearity of ~0.99. Using this sensor, we successfully measured the humidity of disposable medical masks for different periods of wearing time. The results showed that even a 20 min wearing time can lead to a >70% humidity in the mask enclosed space. It is suggested that a disposable medical mask should be changed <2 h.     

Quantitative Raman Analysis of Carotenoid Protein Complexes in Aqueous Solution

Carotenoids are naturally abundant, fat-soluble pigmented compounds with dietary, antioxidant and vision protection advantages. The dietary carotenoids, Beta Carotene, Lutein, and Zeaxanthin, complexed with in bovine serum albumin (BSA) in aqueous solution, were explored using Raman spectroscopy to differentiate and quantify their spectral signatures. UV visible absorption spectroscopy was employed to confirm the linearity of responses over the concentration range employed (0.05–1 mg/mL) and, of the 4 Raman source wavelengths (785 nm, 660 nm, 532 nm, 473 nm), 532 nm was chosen to provide the optimal response. After preprocessing to remove water and BSA contributions, and correct for self-absorption, a partial least squares model with R² of 0.9995, resulted in an accuracy of the Root Mean Squared Error of Prediction for Beta Carotene of 0.0032 mg/mL and Limit of Detection 0.0106 mg/mL. Principal Components Analysis clearly differentiated solutions of the three carotenoids, based primarily on small shifts of the main peak at ~1520 cm⁻¹. Least squares fitting analysis of the spectra of admixtures of the carotenoid:protein complexes showed reasonable correlation between norminal% and fitted%, yielding 100% contribution when fitted with individual carotenoid complexes and variable contributions with multiple ratios of admixtures. The results indicate the technique can potentially be used to quantify the carotenoid content of human serum and to identify their differential contributions for application in clinical analysis.     

光程变化对基于近红外光谱的黄酒品质检测的影响

以绍兴酒为研究对象,利用近红外光谱分析技术和化学计量学分析方法,开展了光程变化对基于近红外光谱的黄酒品质检测影响的研究,建立了黄酒酒精度、糖度和pH值3个品质指标的分析模型.通过比较0.5,1,1.5,2,2.5和3 mm 6个不同光程,并比较原始光谱、一阶微分光谱和二阶微分光谱三种光谱预处理方式对模型性能的影响,确定了这3个指标的最佳检测方式.黄酒酒精度和pH的最佳检测方式为:光程2 mm,采用偏最小二乘回归结合原始光谱;糖度的最佳检测方式为光程1mm,采用偏最小二乘回归结合原始光谱.这一研究表明光程变化对基于近红外光谱的黄酒品质检测有影响,选择合适的光程能够有效地提高检测精度.     

Interaction of cellulase with sodium dodecyl sulfate at critical micelle concentration level

The interactions between Trichoderma reesei cellulase and an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), at critical micelle concentration level have been investigated using isothermal titration calorimetry, fluorescence spectroscopy, and circular dichroism. SDS micelles have dual interactions with cellulase: electrostatic at first and then hydrophobic interactions. When the concentration of SDS is smaller than 45.0 mM, SDS micelles cause a partial loss in the hydrolytic activity together with a steep decrease in the -helical content of cellulase. With further increasing the concentration of SDS, however, a re-formation of the -helical structure and a partial recovery of the hydrolytic activity of cellulase induced by SDS micelles are observed. Taken together, these results indicate that SDS micelles exert dual effects on cellulase through binding as both a denaturant and a recovery reagent.     

Spectroscopic study on the interaction between[Hg（SCN）4]2- and hemoglobin

The interaction between[Hg（SCN）₄]^2- and hemoglobin（Hb） under conditions that simulate a physiological environment was investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy,fluorescence spectroscopy,resonance Rayleigh scattering（RRS） spectroscopy and circular dichroism（CD） spectroscopy.The results obtained from the change of UV-vis and CD spectra,the quenching of Hb fluorescence and the enhancement of RRS intensity proved that a 10:1 type complex was formed between[Hg（SCN）₄]^2- and Hb.The possible mechanism suggested for the interaction was that ten Hg（SCN）₄]^2- anions entered the four subunits of a Hb molecule to react with some residues to form an adduct by coordination and electrostatic forces.The coordination of[Hg（SCN）₄]^2- with Trp was the major cause of the fluorescence quenching of Hb.     

In situ scanning FTIR microscopy and IR imaging of Pt electrode surface towards CO adsorption

In situ scanning FTIR microscopy was built up for the first time in the present work, which consists of an FTIR apparatus, an IR microscope, an X-Y mapping stage, and the specially designed electrochemical IR cell and computer software. It has been demonstrated that this new space-resolvd in situ IR technique can be used to study vibration properties of micro-area, and to perform IR imaging of electrode surface. The chemical image obtained using this technique fur CO adsorption on Pt electrode illustrated, at a space-resolution of 10~(-2) cm, the inhomogeneity and the distribution of reactivity of micro-area of electrode surface.     

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of poly{pyrrole-trans-[(RuCl2(pmp)4]} copolymer films deposited on platinum electrodes

The present study focuses on the electronic and electrochemical features of a copolymer electrochemically grown from pyrrole and trans-[RuCl₂(pmp)₄] monomers, where pmp = 3-(pyrrol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine. The results from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses revealed the redox behavior of the poly{pyrrole-trans-[RuCl₂(pmp)₄]} compound as well as the non-homogeneous nature of the extremely thin polymeric layers. An equivalent circuit is proposed for an optimized film produced under the scope of the work. Received: 4 May 1998 / Accepted: 24 August 1998     

Combined use of nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy for studying recognition processes between amphenicolic antibiotics and albumin

Biological reactions are mostly concerned with selective interactions between small ligands and macromolecular receptors. The same ligands may activate responses of different intensities and/or effects in the presence of different receptors. Many approaches based on spectroscopic and non‐spectroscopic methods have been used to study interactions between small ligands and macromolecular receptors, including methods based on NMR and IR spectroscopic analysis of the solution behaviour of the ligand in the presence of receptors. In this work, we investigated the interaction between ovine serum albumin with two amphenicolic antibiotics [chloramphenicol (CAP) and thiamphenicol (TAP)], using a combined approach based on NMR and IR methodologies, furnishing complementary information about the recognition process occurring within the two systems. The two ligands, despite their similar structures, showed different affinities towards albumin. NMR methodology is based on the comparison of selective ( ) and non‐selective ( ) spin–lattice relaxation rates of the ligands in the presence and absence of macromolecular receptors and and temperature dependence analysis. From these studies, the ligand–receptor binding strength was evaluated on the basis of the ‘affinity index.’ The derivation of the affinity index from chemical equilibrium kinetics for both the CAP–albumin and TAP–albumin systems allowed a comparison of the abilities of the two amphenicolic antibiotics to interact with the protein. IR methodology is based on the comparison of the ligand–protein ‘complex’ spectra with those of the non‐interacting systems. On the basis of the differences revealed, a more thorough IR analysis was performed in order to understand the structural changes which occurred on both ligand and protein molecules within the interacting system. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.