Fluorescent Tris-Imidazolium Sensors for Picric Acid Explosive

Two new anthracene-functionalized fluorescent tris-imidazolium salts have been synthesized, characterized, and proven to be selective sensors for picric acid, which is a common constituent of many powerful explosives. Theoretical studies revealed an unusual ground-state electron transfer from picrate anion to the sensor molecules.

Structure, tensile properties and cytotoxicity assessment of sebacic acid based biodegradable polyesters with ricinoleic acid

A new family of ricinoleic acid based polyesters was synthesized using catalyst free melt-condensation polymerization with sebacic acid, citric acid, mannitol and ricinoleic acid as precursors. The use of FT-IR and NMR characterisation techniques confirms the presence of ester linkages in the as-synthesized polymers. Depending on the precursor combination, their relative amount and the degree of curing, a broad range of elastic modulus (22-327 MPa) and tensile strength (0.7-12.7 MPa) can be obtained in the newly synthesized biopolymers. The polymers show rubbery behaviour at a physiological temperature (37 degrees C) and the contact angles of the synthesized polymers fall in the range of 42 degrees to 71 degrees, making them ideal substrates to study delivery of drugs through polymer scaffolds. The cytocompatibility assessment of the cured polymers confirmed good cell attachment and growth of smooth muscle cells (C2C12 myoblast cells). Importantly, oriented cell growth was observed after culturing myoblast cells for 3 days. The in vitro degradation in PBS indicates that the mild cured polymers follow a first order reaction kinetics and have degradation rate constants in the range of 0.009-0.038 h(-1), depending on the relative proportions of monomers. Overall, the results of our study indicate that the physical properties can be tailored by varying the composition of the monomers and curing conditions in the newly developed polyesters. Hence, they may be used as potential substrates for tissue engineering scaffolds and for localized drug delivery.

Detection of glycated hemoglobin using 3-Aminophenylboronic acid modified graphene oxide

This paper presents the chemical synthesis of 3-Aminophenylboronic acid (APBA) modified graphene oxide (GO) and its application to the electrochemical detection of glycated hemoglobin (GHb). The compound (GO-APBA) was synthesized by forming an amide linkage between the amino group (-NH2) of APBA and the carboxylic group (-COOH) of GO. The compound was characterized using IR spectroscopy. Detection of GHb was carried out using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopic (EIS) measurements with GO-APBA modified glassy carbon electrode as the working electrode.

Vibrational spectroscopy and density functional theory analysis of 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are being performed to investigate the geometric, vibrational, and electronic properties of the chlorogenic acid isomer 3-CQA (1R,3R,4S,5R)-3-{(2E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxy}-1,4, 5-trihydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acid), a major phenolic compound in coffee. DFT calculations with the 6-311G(d,p) basis set produce very good results. The electrostatic potential mapped onto an isodensity surface has been obtained. A natural bond orbital analysis (NBO) has been performed in order to study intramolecular bonding, interactions among bonds, and delocalization of unpaired electrons. HOMO-LUMO studies give insights into the interaction of the molecule with other species. The calculated HOMO and LUMO energies indicate that a charge transfer occurs within the molecule. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Surface modification and paclitaxel drug delivery of folic acid modified polyethylene glycol functionalized hydroxyapatite nanoparticles

Nanoparticles are used for a number of biomedical applications. In this work we report the synthesis of folic acid (FA) modified polyethylene glycol (PEG) functionalized hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles. The anticancer drug, paclitaxel, is attached to the folic acid modified polyethylene glycol functionalized hydroxyapatite nanoparticles and the in vitro drug release is analyzed. The surface modification and functionalization is confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and UV spectroscopy. The importance of the paper is the investigation of the release behavior of paclitaxel conjugated folic acid modified polyethylene glycol functionalized hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. The results show an initial rapid release and then a sustained release. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of lipopolysaccharide on alteration of phospholipids and their fatty acid composition in spleen and thymus by in vitro metabolic labeling

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an endotoxin, a potent stimulator of immune response and induction of LPS leads to acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ARDS is a life-threatening disease worldwide with a high mortality rate. The immunological effect of LPS with spleen and thymus is well documented; however the impact on membrane phospholipid during endotoxemia has not yet been studied. Hence we aimed to investigate the influence of LPS on spleen and thymus phospholipid and fatty acid composition by 32P]orthophosphate labeling in rats. The in vitro labeling was carried out with phosphate-free medium (saline). Time course, LPS concentration-dependent, pre- and post-labeling with LPS and fatty acid analysis of phospholipid were performed. Labeling studies showed that 50 mu g LPS specifically altered the major phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol in spleen and phosphatidylcholine in thymus. Fatty acid analysis showed a marked alteration of unsaturated fatty acids/saturated fatty acids in spleen and thymus leading to immune impairment via the fatty acid remodeling pathway. Our present in vitro lipid metabolic labeling study could open up new vistas for exploring LPS-induced immune impairment in spleen and thymus, as well as the underlying mechanism.

Electronic energy transfer between long-range resonance states of 3-mercaptopropionic acid capped CdTe quantum dots in aqueous media

We demonstrate electronic energy transfer between resonance states of 2 and 2.8 nm CdTe quantum dots in aqueous media using steady-state photoluminescence spectroscopy without using any external linker molecule. With increasing concentration of larger dots, there is subsequent quenching of luminescence in smaller dots accompanied by the enhancement of luminescence in larger dots. Our experimental evidence suggests that there is long-range resonance energy transfer among electronic excitations, specifically from the electronically confined states of the smaller dots to the higher excited states of the larger dots.

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein lysine acylation in mycobacteria regulates fatty acid and propionate metabolism

Acetylation of lysine residues is a posttranslational modification that is used by both eukaryotes and prokaryotes to regulate a variety of biological processes. Here we identify multiple substrates for the cAMP-dependent protein lysine acetyltransferase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (KATmt). We demonstrate that a catalytically important lysine residue in a number of FadD (fatty acyl CoA synthetase) enzymes is acetylated by KATmt in a cAMP-dependent manner and that acetylation inhibits the activity of FadD enzymes. A sirtuin-like enzyme can deacetylate multiple FadDs, thus completing the regulatory cycle. Using a strain deleted for the KATmt ortholog in Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), we show for the first time that acetylation is dependent on intracellular cAMP levels. KATmt can utilize propionyl CoA as a substrate and, therefore, plays a critical role in alleviating propionyl CoA toxicity in mycobacteria by inactivating acyl CoA synthetase (ACS). The precision by which mycobacteria can regulate the metabolism of fatty acids in a cAMP-dependent manner appears to be unparalleled in other biological organisms and is ideally suited to adapt to the complex environment that pathogenic mycobacteria experience in the host.

Organogels from Dimeric Bile Acid Esters: In Situ Formation of Gold Nanoparticles

A new class of steroid dimers (bile acid derivatives) linked through ester functionalities were synthesized, which gelled various aromatic solvents. The organogels formed by the three dimeric ester molecules showed birefringent textures and fibrous nature by polarizing optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. A detailed rheological study was performed to estimate the mechanical strengths of two sets of organogels. In these systems, the storage modulus varied in the range of 0.8-3.5 X 10(4) at 1% w/v of the organogelators. The exponents of scaling of the storage modulus and yield stress of the two systems agreed well with those expected for viscoelastic soft colloidal gels with fibrillar flocs. The nanofibers in the organogel were utilized to engineer gold nanoparticles of different sizes and shapes and generate new gel-nanoparticle hybrid materials.

Total Synthesis of (+)-Pinellic Acid

A straightforward strategy for the synthesis of (+)-pinellic acid in 16% overall yield and 13 steps, starting from (1R)-1-(furan-2-yl)hexan-1-ol, is described. Key reactions in the synthesis include a Sharpless kinetic resolution, oxidation of a protected furan to reveal a but-2-ene-1,4-dione moiety, and an asymmetric reduction.

Ellagic acid - a novel organic electrode material for high capacity lithium ion batteries

Ellagic acid, a naturally occurring polyphenol, extracted from pomegranate husk, is found to be a very good organic electrode material for rechargeable lithium batteries with high reversible capacities of similar to 450 and 200 mA h g(-1) at C/10 and C/2.5 discharge rates, respectively; ex situ NMR studies reveal possible lithiation-delithiation modes at different stages of the charge-discharge process.

Redox regulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B): Importance of steric and electronic effects on the unusual cyclization of the sulfenic acid intermediate to a sulfenyl amide

The redox regulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) via the unusual transformation of its sulfenic acid (PTP1B-SOH) to a cyclic sulfenyl amide intermediate is studied by using small molecule chemical models. These studies suggest that the sulfenic acids derived from the H2O2-mediated reactions o-amido thiophenols do not efficiently cyclize to sulfenyl amides and the sulfenic acids produced in situ can be trapped by using methyl iodide. Theoretical calculations suggest that the most stable conformer of such sulfenic acids are stabilized by n(O) -> sigma* (S-OH) orbital interactions, which force the -OH group to adopt a position trans to the S center dot center dot center dot O interaction, leading to an almost linear arrangement of the O center dot center dot center dot S-O moiety and this may be the reason for the slow cyclization of such sulfenic acids to their corresponding sulfenyl amides. On the other hand, additional substituents at the 6-position of o-amido phenylsulfenic acids that can induce steric environment and alter the electronic properties around the sulfenic acid moiety by S center dot center dot center dot N or S center dot center dot center dot O nonbonded interactions destabilize the sulfenic acids by inducing strain in the molecule. This may lead to efficient the cyclization of such sulfenic acids. This model study suggests that the amino acid residues in the close proximity of the sulfenic acid moiety in PTP1B may play an important role in the cyclization of PTP1B-SOH to produce the corresponding sulfenyl amide.

Induction of Supramolecular Chirality in the Self-Assemblies of Lipophilic Pyrimidine Derivatives by Choice of the Amino Acid-Based Chiral Spacer

A new family of supramolecular organogelators, based on chiral amino acid derivatives of 2,4,6-trichloro-pyrimidine-5-carbaldehyde, has been synthesized. L-alanine was incorporated as a spacer between the pyrimidine core and long hydrocarbon tails to compare the effect of chirality and hydrogen bonding to that of the achiral analogue. The role of aromatic moiety on the chiral spacer was also investigated by introducing L-phenyl alanine moieties. The presence of intermolecular hydrogen-bonding leading to the chiral self-assembly was probed by concentration-dependent FTIR and UV/Vis spectroscopies, in addition to circular dichroism (CD) studies. Temperature and concentration-dependent CD spectroscopy ascribed to the formation of -sheet-type H-bonded networks. The morphology and the arrangements of the molecules in the freeze-dried gels were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Calculation of the length of each molecular system by energy minimization in its extended conformation and comparison with the small-angle XRD pattern reveals that this class of gelator molecules adopts a lamellar organization. Polarized optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicate that the solid state phase behavior of these molecules is totally dependent on the choice of their amino acid spacers. Structure-induced aggregation properties based on the H-bonding motifs and the packing of the molecule in three dimensions leading to gelation was elucidated by rheological studies. However, viscoelasticity was shown to depend only marginally on the H-bonding interactions; rather it depends on the packing of the gelators to a greater extent.

A naturally occurring amino acid substitution in the voltage-dependent sodium channel selectivity filter affects channel gating

The pore of sodium channels contains a selectivity filter made of 4 amino acids, D/E/K/A. In voltage sensitive sodium channel (Nav) channels from jellyfish to human the fourth amino acid is Ala. This Ala, when mutated to Asp, promotes slow inactivation. In some Nav channels of pufferfishes, the Ala is replaced with Gly. We studied the biophysical properties of an Ala-to-Gly substitution (A1529G) in rat Nav1.4 channel expressed in Xenopus oocytes alone or with a beta 1 subunit. The Ala-to-Gly substitution does not affect monovalent cation selectivity and positively shifts the voltage-dependent inactivation curve, although co-expression with a beta 1 subunit eliminates the difference between A1529G and WT. There is almost no difference in channel fast inactivation, but the beta 1 subunit accelerates WT current inactivation significantly more than it does the A1529G channels. The Ala-to-Gly substitution mainly influences the rate of recovery from slow inactivation. Again, the beta 1 subunit is less effective on speeding recovery of A1529G than the WT. We searched Nav channels in numerous databases and noted at least four other independent Ala-to-Gly substitutions in Nav channels in teleost fishes. Thus, the Ala-to-Gly substitution occurs more frequently than previously realized, possibly under selection for alterations of channel gating.

Osteoprotective effect of propranolol in ovariectomized rats: a comparison with zoledronic acid and alfacalcidol

Currently beta-adrenergic receptor blockers are considered to be potential drugs under investigation for preventive or therapeutic effect in osteoporosis. However, there is no published data showing the comparative study of beta-blockers with well accepted agents for the treatment of osteoporosis. To address this question, we compared the effects of propranolol with well accepted treatments like zoledronic acid and alfacalcidol in an animal model of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Five days after ovariectomy, 36 ovariectomized (OVX) rats were divided into 6 equal groups, randomized to treatments zoledronic acid (100 mu g/kg, intravenous single dose); alfacalcidol (0.5 mu g/kg, oral gauge daily); propranolol (0.1 mg/kg, subcutaneously 5 days per week) for 12 weeks. Untreated OVX and sham OVX were used as controls. At the end of treatment serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase were assayed. Femurs were removed and tested for bone density, bone porosity, bone mechanical properties and trabecular micro-architecture. Propranolol showed a significant decrease in alkaline phosphatase levels and bone porosity in comparison to OVX control. Moreover, propranolol significantly improved bone density, bone mechanical properties and inhibited the deterioration of trabecular microarchitecture when compared with OVX control. The osteoprotective effect of propranolol was comparable with zoledronic acid and alfacalcidol. Based on this comparative study, the results strongly suggest that propranolol can be a candidate therapeutic drug for the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis.