Hidden chemistry of substituted aniline radical cations in water: a mechanistic study

Absolute rate constants for hydroxyl radical, azide radical, and hydrated electron reactions with a sulfa drug 4,4'‐diamino diphenyl sulfone (dapsone) in water have been evaluated using electron pulse radiolysis technique. Absolute rate constants for hydroxyl radical and azide radical were determined as (8.4 ± 0.3) × 10⁹ and (5.6 ± 0.5) × 10⁹ M^?1 s^?1, respectively. The reduction of dapsone with the hydrated electron occurred with rate constant of (9.2 ± 0.1) × 10⁹ M^?1 s^?1. Hydroxyl radical reactions result in the synchronous formation of adduct as well as anilino radical. The interesting observation is that the yield of the anilino radical increases with increase in pH. Contrary to this, the yield of the adduct decreases with pH. We propose that hydroxyl radical adds predominantly to the aniline. In contrast, the reaction of azide radical with the dapsone suggests that the reaction occurs at the –NH₂ moiety of the aniline ring. The free radical electron transfer from dapsone to parent radical cation of non‐polar solvent also results in the formation of anilino radical only suggesting that the radical cation of dapsone has a short lifetime. The reaction of hydrated electrons with the dapsone suggests that the reaction occurs at different reaction site. The experimental results supported by theoretical calculations of this study provide fundamental mechanistic parameters that probably decide the fate of the radical cation of aniline derivatives. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Production, Purification, and Biochemical Characterization of a Fibrinolytic Enzyme from Thermophilic Streptomyces sp. MCMB-379

Production of the fibrinolytic enzyme was carried out using 2.5-L glass fermentor, culture of thermophilic Streptomyces sp., and glucose yeast extract peptone medium of pH 8.0. Five successive batches were carried out under controlled fermentation conditions viz., agitation 140 rpm, aeration 0.5 vvm, 55 °C, and 18 h. The total protein extracellularly produced in the cell-free broth was ~300-500 mg/L. The enzyme belongs to serine endopeptidase type. Studies on the fibrin degradation indicate that the enzyme degrades the fibrin into small molecular weight products as seen from HPLC profile. Phase-contrast microscopic structure of fibrin showed that enzyme cleaves the fibrin filaments. The ex vivo activity of the actinokinase was compared with 500 IU of urokinase and 350 IU of streptokinase. The ex vivo clot lysis was found to be faster as compared to the commercial available enzymes.     

Comparative study of p‐amino benzhydrazide and m‐amino benzhydrazide by free radicals and free electron transfer

The bimolecular electron transfer from p‐amino benzhydrazide (PABH) and its meta‐derivative (m‐amino benzhydrazide (MABH)) to specific one‐electron oxidant results in the formation of anilino radical. In case of PABH, reaction with ^?OH radicals results in the synchronous formation of adduct as well as anilino radical. The interesting observation is that the yield of the anilino radical increases with increase in pH. The effect of substitution also has a significant effect on the formation of adduct. In case of MABH, significant yield of anilino radical gets form on reaction with ^?OH radical. The free radical electron transfer from PABH and MABH to parent radical cation of non‐polar solvent also results in the formation of anilino radical only suggesting that the radical cation of PABH and MABH has short life time. The above results were supported by quantum chemical calculations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface derivatization strategy for combinatorial analysis of cell response to mixtures of protein domains

We report a robust strategy for conjugating mixtures of two or more protein domains to nonfouling polyurethane surfaces. In our strategy, the carbamate groups of polyurethane are reacted with zirconium alkoxide from the vapor phase to give a surface-bound oxide that serves as a chemical layer that can be used to bond organics to the polymer substrate. A hydroxyalkylphosphonate monolayer was synthesized on this layer, which was then used to covalently bind primary amine groups in protein domains using chloroformate-derived cross-linking. The effectiveness of this synthesis strategy was gauged by using an ELISA to measure competitive, covalent bonding of cell-binding (III(9-10)) and fibronectin-binding (III(1-2)) domains of the cell adhesion protein fibronectin. Cell adhesion, spreading, and fibronectin matrix assembly were examined on surfaces conjugated with single domains, a 1:1 surface mixture of III(1-2) and III(9-10), and a recombinant protein "duplex" containing both domains in one fusion protein. The mixture performed as well as or better than the other surfaces in these assays. Our surface activation strategy is amenable to a wide range of polymer substrates and free amino group-containing protein fragments. As such, this technique may be used to create biologically specific materials through the immobilization of specific protein groups or mixtures thereof on a substrate surface.     

Development and validation of a dried blood spot test for thiamine deficiency among infants by HPLC–fluorimetry

Thiamine deficiency, if detected early in infancy, can be treated with thiamine supplementation and can prevent seizures, other disabilities and death. The dried blood spot (DBS) sampling technique is an attractive sample collection technique for infants. The present study reports the development and validation of a highly sensitive and precise method for quantification of thiamine diphosphate from DBS. The method utilizes full‐spot analysis of a volumetrically deposited 40 μl DBS. The analyte was extracted from the DBS using 50% methanol and then derivatized using potassium ferricyanide to thiochrome. Separation was achieved with the help of an Inertsil ODS C₁₈ column (5.0 μm, 250 × 4.6 mm) using 150 mm phosphate buffer pH 7–acetonitrile (90:10, % v/v) as the mobile phase. The use of a fluorimetric detector gave a good response to the thiochrome derivative offering good sensitivity for the method. The excitation and emission wavelengths were 367 and 435 nm, respectively. The limit of detection and lower limit of quantification were 5 and 10 ng/ml, respectively. Linearity was demonstrated from 10 to 1000 ng/ml, and precision (CV) was <12.08%, at all tested quality control levels. The method accuracy was 89.34–118.89% with recoveries >80%. Bland–Altman analysis of DBS sampling vs. whole blood demonstrated a mean bias of only 1.16 ng/ml, with a majority of the 60 investigated patient samples lying within 7.2% of the corresponding concentration measured in blood, thereby meeting the clinical desirable biological specification criterion and showing that the two methods are comparable.     

An expeditious synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinozoline-4(1H)-ones using graphene-supported sulfonic acid

Graphene-supported sulfonic acid (Gr@SO₃H) has been prepared by covalent grafting of (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane in the matrix of graphene followed by treatment with sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide. Gr@SO₃H has been successfully characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform Raman (FT-Raman) spectroscopy, CP-MAS ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) analysis. Gr@SO₃H served as a robust heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of bioactive 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones from anthranilamide and aryl aldehydes in ethanol. Recyclability experiments were executed successfully for six consecutive runs.     

RP-LC Simultaneous Determination of Nebivolol Hydrochloride and Amlodipine Besilate in Bi-Layer Tablets

A simple and rapid LC method was developed and validated for simultaneous estimation of nebivolol and amlodipine in a bi-layer tablet formulation. Efficient chromatographic separation was achieved on (USP L10) Hypersil BDS cyano, 5 μm, 250 mm × 4.6 mm column with simple mobile phase composition delivered in isocratic mode. The method had requisite accuracy, selectivity, sensitivity, robustness and precision to assay nebivolol and amlodipine in pharmaceutical dosage form. Degradation products resulting from the stress studies did not interfere with the detection of nebivolol and amlodipine, these peaks remained pure and thus proved to be stability indicating. The mass balance of the stressed sample was in the range 99.0–100.2% for amlodipine and 99.3–100.3% for nebivolol.     

Water Hyacinth as Carbon Source for the Production of Cellulase by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma reesei</Emphasis>

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), an aquatic weed common to the subtropic/tropical regions, was utilized as an inexpensive lignocellulosic substrate for production of cellulase by Trichoderma reesei. The effects of process parameters like substrate pretreatment, substrate concentration, initial medium pH, mode of inoculation, and incubation temperature on cellulase production were investigated. Under optimal conditions, a maximal cellulase activity of 0.22 ± 0.04 IU/ml (approximately 73.3 IU/g cellulose) was recorded at the end of 15-day incubation period. Specific activity of the enzyme was 6.25 IU/mg protein. Hydrolysis of 1% substrate (water hyacinth) using crude enzyme dosage of 1.2 IU/g water hyacinth showed 28.7% saccharification in 1 h. The observations in present study indicate that saccharification of cellulose from water hyacinth was significantly higher by laboratory-produced cellulase than the commercial blend.     

Triboluminescence of a new family of CuI–NHC complexes in crystalline solid and in amorphous polymer films

Triboluminescent compounds that generate emission of light in response to mechanical stimulus are promising targets in the development of “smart materials” and damage sensors. Among triboluminescent metal complexes, rare-earth europium and terbium complexes are most widely used, while there is no systematic data on more readily available and inexpensive Cu complexes. We report a new family of photoluminescent Cu–NHC complexes that show bright triboluminescence (TL) in the crystal state visible in ambient indoor light under air. Moreover, when these complexes are blended into amorphous polymer films even at small concentrations, TL is easily observed. Observation of TL in polymer films overcomes the limitation of using crystals and opens up possibilities for the development of mechanoresponsive coatings and materials based on inexpensive metals such as Cu. Our results may also have implications for the understanding of the TL effect''s origin in polymer films.

Triboluminescent compounds that generate emission of light in response to mechanical stimulus are promising targets in the development of “smart materials” and damage sensors.