Accelerated screening of phage-display output with alkaline phosphatase fusions

When using multiple targets and libraries, selection of affinity reagents from phage-displayed libraries is a relatively time-consuming process. Herein, we describe an automation-amenable approach to accelerate the process by using alkaline phosphatase (AP) fusion proteins in place of the phage ELISA screening and subsequent confirmation steps with purified protein. After two or three rounds of affinity selection, the open reading frames that encode the affinity selected molecules (i.e., antibody fragments, engineered scaffold proteins, combinatorial peptides) are amplified from the phage or phagemid DNA molecules by PCR and cloned en masse by a Ligation Independent Cloning (LIC) method into a plasmid encoding a highly active variant of E. coli AP. This time-saving process identifies affinity reagents that work out of context of the phage and that can be used in various downstream enzyme linked binding assays. The utility of this approach was demonstrated by analyzing single-chain antibodies (scFvs), engineered fibronectin type III domains (FN3), and combinatorial peptides that were selected for binding to the Epsin N-terminal Homology (ENTH) domain of epsin 1, the c-Src SH3 domain, and the appendage domain of the gamma subunit of the clathrin adaptor complex, AP-1, respectively.     

Synthesis,characterization and catalytic activity of peripherally tetra‐substituted Co(II) phthalocyanines for cyclohexene oxidation

New 3,3‐diphenylpropoxyphthalonitrile (5) was obtained from 3,3‐diphenylpropanol (3) and 4‐nitrophthalonitrile (4) with K₂CO₃ in DMF at 50 °C. The novel cobalt(II) phthalocyanine complexes, tetrakis‐[2‐(1,4‐dioxa‐8‐azaspiro[4.5]dec‐8‐yl)ethoxy] phthalocyaninato cobalt(II) (2) and tetrakis‐(3,3‐diphenylpropoxy)phthalocyaninato cobalt(II) (6) were prepared by the reaction of the phthalonitrile derivatives 1 and 5 with CoCl₂ by microwave irradiation in 2‐(dimethylamino)ethanol for at 175 °C, 350 W for 7 and 10 min, respectively. These new cobalt(II)phthalocyanine complexes were characterized by spectroscopic methods (IR, UV–visible and mass spectroscopy) as well as elemental analysis. Complexes 2 and 6 are employed as catalyst for the oxidation of cyclohexene using tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), m‐chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m‐CPBA), aerobic oxygen and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as oxidant. It is observed that both complexes can selectively oxidize cyclohexene to give 2‐cyclohexene‐1‐ol as major product, and 2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one and cyclohexene oxide as minor products. TBHP was found to be the best oxidant since minimal destruction of the catalyst, higher selectivity and conversion were observed in the products. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anthracene Substituted Co (II) and Cu (II) phthalocyanines; Preparations,Investigation of Catalytical and Electrochemical Behaviors

An approach to investigation of catalytical behaviors of Co (II) and Cu (II) phthalocyanines is reported that is based on changing any parameter to effect these behaviors. Towards this end, new anthracene substituted Co (II) and Cu (II) phthalocyanines were prepared and characterized spectroscopic methods. New cobalt (II) and copper (II) phthalocyanines were used as catalyst for oxidation of different phenolic compounds (such as 2,3‐dichlorophenol, 4‐methoxyphenol, 4‐nitrophenol, 2,3,6‐trimethylphenol) with different oxidants. Then, electrochemical characterization of cobalt (II) and copper (II) phthallocyanines were determined by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) techniques. Although copper (II) phthalocyanine showed similar Pc based electron transfer processes, cobalt (II) phthalocyanine showed metal and ligand based reduction reactions as expected.     

A structural analysis of ultrathin barrier (In)AlN/GaN heterostructures for GaN-based high-frequency power electronics

Metal–organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) is one of the best growth methods for GaN-based materials as well-known. GaN-based materials with very quality are grown the MOCVD, so we used this growth technique to grow InAlN/GaN and AlN/GaN heterostructures in this study. The structural and surface properties of ultrathin barrier AlN/GaN and InAlN/GaN heterostructures are studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. Screw, edge, and total dislocation densities for the grown samples have been calculated by using XRD results. The lowest dislocation density is found to be 1.69 × 10⁸ cm⁻² for Sample B with a lattice-matched In_0.17Al_0.83N barrier. The crystal quality of the studied samples is determined using (002) symmetric and (102) asymmetric diffractions of the GaN material. In terms of the surface roughness, although reference sample has a lower value as 0.27 nm of root mean square values (RMS), Sample A with 4-nm AlN barrier layer exhibits the highest rough surface as 1.52 nm of RMS. The structural quality of the studied samples is significantly affected by the barrier layer thickness. The obtained structural properties of the samples are very important for potential applications like high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs).     

Electrochemical Determination of Homocysteine at Disposable Graphite Electrodes

In the case of disruption of Hcy metabolism, the blood level of Hcy increases and it causes particularly the cardiovascular diseases, cancer, dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Thus, the sensitive analysis of Hcy levels in biological fluids is very important. Hcy analysis was performed herein using very practical and cost‐effective protocol using differential pulse voltammetry and graphite electrode. Detection limit of Hcy was found to be 1.21 µM in the linear range from 2 µM to 20 µM. The electrochemical Hcy detection in artificial urine medium was also successfully performed even in the presence of L ‐Cysteine, L ‐Methionine and Glutathione.     

Electrochemistry of Cobalta Bis(dicarbollide) Ions Substituted at Carbon Atoms with Hydrophilic Alkylhydroxy and Carboxy Groups

In this study we explore the effect on the electrochemical signals in aqueous buffers of the presence of hydrophilic alkylhydroxy and carboxy groups on the carbon atoms of cobalta bis(dicarbollide) ions. The oxygen-containing exo-skeletal substituents of cobalta bis(dicarbollide) ions belong to the perspective building blocks that are considered for bioconjugation. Carbon substitution provides wider versatility and applicability in terms of the flexibility of possible chemical pathways. However, until recently, the electrochemistry of compounds substituted only on boron atoms could be studied, due to the unavailability of carbon-substituted congeners. In the present study, electrochemistry in aqueous phosphate buffers is considered along with the dependence of electrochemical response on pH and concentration. The compounds used show electrochemical signals around −1.3 and +1.1 V of similar or slightly higher intensities than in the parent cobalta bis(dicarbollide) ion. The signals at positive electrochemical potential correspond to irreversible oxidation of the boron cage (the C2B9 building block) and at negative potential correspond to the reversible redox process of (CoIII/CoII) at the central atom. Although the first signal is typically sharp and its potential can be altered by a number of substituents, the second signal is complex and is composed of three overlapping peaks. This signal shows sigmoidal character at higher concentrations and may be used as a diagnostic tool for aggregation in solution. Surprisingly enough, the observed effects of the site of substitution (boron or carbon) and between individual groups on the electrochemical response were insignificant. Therefore, the substitutions would preserve promising properties of the parent cage for redox labelling, but would not allow for the further tuning of signal position in the electrochemical window.     

Cobalt-modified nickel–zinc catalyst for electrooxidation of methanol in alkaline medium

Cobalt-modified nickel-zinc catalyst CuNi(Zn)Co is prepared on a copper substrate by using electrodeposition. Its catalytic efficiency for methanol oxidation is studied with cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and chronopotentiometry techniques. The surface morphology and chemical composition of catalyst are characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The oxidation kinetic parameters activation energy (Ea), active species on the surface (Γ), and rate constant (k) are determined from cyclic voltammograms which are performed at different methanol concentrations and temperatures. The results show that Ni(Zn)Co catalyst has higher catalytic activity than Ni, Co, and NiZn coatings as a composite catalyst for a promising choice of methanol electrooxidation in the alkaline medium.     

Urea dimethacrylates functionalized with bisphosphonate/bisphosphonic acid for improved dental materials

Incorporation of bisphosphonate/bisphosphonic acid groups in dental monomer structures should increase interaction of these monomers with dental tissue as these groups have strong affinity for hydroxyapatite. Therefore, new urea dimethacrylates functionalized with bisphosphonate (1a, 1b) and bisphosphonic acid (2a, 2b) groups are synthesized and evaluated for dental applications. Monomers 1a and 1b are synthesized from 2‐isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (IEM) and two bisphosphonated amines (BPA1 and BPA2), prepared as reported elsewhere. Selective dealkylation of the bisphosphonate ester groups of 1a and 1b using trimethylsilyl bromide (TMSBr) gives monomers (2a and 2b) with bisphosphonic acid functionality. X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses of monomer‐treated HAP particles show that 2a induces formation of stable monomer‐calcium salts, similar to 10‐methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP), with higher chemical interaction than 2b. The photopolymerization studies indicate good copolymerizability with commercial dental monomers. In vitro studies on NIH 3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells have clearly shown that the tested monomers (1b and 2b) are not toxic according to the MTT standards. All these properties make these monomers suitable as biocompatible cross‐linkers/adhesives for dental applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3195–3204     

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes‐Chitosan Modified Single‐Use Biosensors for Electrochemical Monitoring of Drug‐DNA Interactions

A multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT)‐chitosan (CHIT) modified pencil graphite electrode (CNT‐CHIT/PGE) was developed for the first time herein for electrochemical monitoring of the interaction of an anticancer drug, mitomycin C (MC) and DNA. The characterization of unmodified PGE, CHIT/PGE, CNT/PGE and CHIT‐CNT/PGE were performed by scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry techniques. The oxidation signals of MC and guanine were measured before and after interaction at the surface of CNT‐CHIT/PGEs using differential pulse voltammetry. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique was also successfully utilized for monitoring of the interaction process at the surface of CNT‐CHIT/PGEs in different interaction times.