Order-disorder transition in eicosylated polyethyleneimine comblike polymers

Order-disorder transition (ODT) behavior in eicosylated polyethyleneimine (PEI20C) comblike polymer obtained by grafting n-eicosyl group on polyethyleneimine backbone was systematically investigated by the combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as well as solid-state high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. DSC investigations showed two obvious transitions, assigned to the transitions (1) from orthorhombic to hexagonal and (2) from hexagonal to amorphous phase, respectively. These transitions are induced by the variations of alkyl side chain conformation and packing structure with temperature changing, which consequently lead to the destruction of original phase equilibrium. The ODT behavior can also be confirmed by spectroscopic methods like WAXD, FTIR and NMR. The ordered structure and the transition behavior of the alkyl side chains confined by the PEI backbone are obviously different from those of pristine normal alkanes. The transition mechanism of ODT and the origin of the phase transition behavior in PEI20C comblike polymer were discussed in detail in this paper.

Spectroscopic studies on charge transfer from Ce3+, to Yb3+ in KMgF3 : Ce, Yb nanocrystals

Nanocrystals of KMgF3 single-doped and codoped with Ce3+ or/and Yb3+ were synthesized separately by the microemulsion method. The X-ray diffraction(XRD) patterns were indexed to show that the KMgF, crystal system was unchanged. The fluorescent spectra of KMgF3:Ce, Yb polycrystal powders were studied and compared with those of the Ce, Yb doped KMgF3 crystals produced using the high-temperature solid phase method. The diffuse reflection spectra and infrared. emission of KMgF3:Ce, Yb were investigated. From the results, the authors could confirm that there were charge transfer processes from Ce3+ to Yb3+ in both KMgF3: Ce,Yb nanocrystals and polycrystal powders.

Evaluation of different culture conditions for high-level soluble expression of human cyclin A(2) with pET vector in BL21 (DE3) and spectroscopic characterization of its inclusion body structure

In this paper, we evaluated various parameters of culture condition affecting high-level soluble expression of human cyclin A, in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3), and demonstrated that the highest protein yield was obtained using TB(no glycerol) + 0.5% glucose medium at 25 degrees C. By single immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography, we got highly purified human cyclin A(2) with a yield ranged from 20 to 30 mg/L. By amyloid-diagnostic dye ThT binding and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, we observed a significant decrease in alpha-helix content and an increase in beta-sheet structure in cyclin A(2) inclusion body in comparison to its native protein, and confirmed the resemblance of the internal organization of cyclin A(2) inclusion body and amyloid fibrils.

UV-vis spectrophotometric titrations and vibrational spectroscopic characterization of meso-(p-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrins

Sequentially spectrophotometric titrations by sodium hydroxide of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin derivatives bearing one, two, three, or four p-hydroxyl groups result in new types of spectra. The strong new bands appear in the visible region with splitting or broadening of the Soret band and its significant loss of oscillator strength. To understand the molecular origin of these phenomena, the Resonance Raman (RR) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) experiments are carried out. The results demonstrate that the charges of the deprotonated para-hydroxy substituted meso-tetraphenylporphyrins are localized on the substituents, not delocalized into the pi system of the porphyrin macrocycles and that the ground states of the macrocycles remain essentially unperturbed. Both the related behavior of diprotonated tetrakis(p-(dimethylamino)phenyl) porphyrin and protonated Schiff base porphyrins show that the new bands considered as hyperporphyrin spectra are due to pi(phenoxide anion) --> pi*(porphyrin) transitions, where pi is an orbital on the phenoxide anion substitutent and pi* is a LUMO on the porphyrin.

Scanned probe oxidation on an octadecyl-terminated silicon (111) surface with an atomic force microscope: kinetic investigations in line patterning

Scanned probe oxidation (SPO) nanolithography has been performed with an atomic force microscope (AFM) on an octadecyl-terminated silicon (111) surface to create protuberant oxide line patterns under ambient conditions in contact mode. The kinetic investigations of this SPO process indicate that the oxide line height increases linearly with applied voltage and decreases logarithmically with writing, speed. The oxide line width also tends to vary with the same law. The ambient humidity and the AFM tip state can remarkably influence this process, too. As compared with traditional octadecylsilated SiO2/Si substrate, such a substrate can guarantee the SPO with an obviously lowered voltage and a greatly increased writing speed. This study demonstrates that such alkylated silicon is a promising silicon-based substrate material for SPO nanolithography.

Spectroscopic investigation of the function of aqueous 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate/glutaraldehyde solution as a dentin desensitizer

Fourier-transform (FT)-Raman and -infrared (IR) spectroscopy were employed to investigate the function of the aqueous 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate/glutaraldehyde solution (Gluma) as a desensitizer. 2-Hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA), glutaraldehyde (GA), and the mixture of HEMA/GA (i.e. Gluma) were used to interact with dentin, collagen, hydroxyapatite (HAP), and bovine serum albumin (BSA) individually. All the interactions were monitored by an FT-Raman spectrometer. FT-IR spectroscopy was also used in this study. The results show that HEMA could be absorbed by dentin and collagen; GA could cross-link collagen and BSA; and when BSA was added to Gluma, polymerization of HEMA occurred. The results suggest that Gluma acts as a desensitizer whereby, first, GA reacts with part of the serum albumin in dentinal fluid, which induces a precipitation of serum albumin, then, second, a reaction of GA with serum albumin induces polymerization of HEMA. The function of Gluma as a desensitizer to block dentinal tubules occurs via these two reactions.

Investigation on acute biochemical effects of Ce(NO3)(3) on liver and kidney tissues by MAS H-1 NMR spectroscopic-based metabonontic approach

High resolution magic angle spinning (MAS)-H-1 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic-based metabonomic approach was applied to the investigation on the acute biochemical effects of Ce(No-3)(3). Male Wistar rats were administrated with various doses of Ce (NO3)(3)(2, 10, and 50 mg(.)kg(-1) body weight), and MAS H-1 NMR spectra of intact liver and kidney tissues were analyzed using principal component analysis to extract toxicity information. The biochemical effects of Ce (NO3)(3) were characterized by the increase of triglycerides and lactate and the decrease of glycogen in rat liver tissue, together with an elevation of the triglyceride level and a depletion of glycerophosphocholine and betaine in kidney tissues. The target lesions of Ce (NO3)(3) on liver and kidney were found by MAS NMR-based metabonomic method. This study demonstrates that the combination of MAS H-1 NMR and pattern recognition analysis can be an effective method for studies of biochemical effects of rare earths.

Electrochemical and spectroscopic study on the interaction of cytochrome c with anionic lipid vesicles

The structure and the electron-transfer of cytochrome c binding on the anionic lipid vesicles were analyzed by electrochemical and various spectroscopic methods. It was found that upon binding to anionic lipid membrane, the formal potential of. cytochrome c shifted 30 mV negatively indicating an eager redox interaction than that in its native state. This is due to the local alteration of the coordination and the heme crevice. The structural Perturbation in which a molten globule-like state is formed during binding to anionic lipid vesicles is more important. This study may help to understand the mechanism of the electron-transfer reactions of cytochrome c at the mitochondrial membrane.

Oxamido-bridged heterobinuclear copper(II)-nickel(II) complex and homotrinuclear nickel(II) complex with 2D supramolecular structure: synthesis, crystal structure, magnetic and spectroscopic properties

The oxamido-bridged heterobinuclear copper(II)-nickel(II) complex, [Cu(oxbe)Ni(phen)(2)]ClO4.3H(2)O (1) and homotrinuclear nickel(11) complex {[Ni(oxbe)](2)Ni(H2O)(2)}.2.5DMF (2) have been synthesized and characterized by means of elemental analysis, IR, EPR. and electronic spectra and magnetic susceptibility, where H(3)oxbe is dissymmetrical ligand N-benzoato-N'-(2-aminoethyl)ox-amido, phen = 1.10-phenanthroline, DMF = dimethylformamide. Complex I has an extended oxamido-bridged structure consisting of planar copper(II) and octahedral nickel(II) ions. The chi(M) and mu(eff) versus T plots of 1 is typical of an antiferromagnetically coupled Cu(II)-Ni(II,) pair with a spin-doublet ground state, and magnetic analysis leads to J = -57.1 cm(-1). The molecular structure of 2 is centrosymmetrical, with one octahedral nickel atom lying at an inversion center and two terminal Ni(II) atoms in approximately square planar environment. Through the hydrogen bonds and pi- pi stacking interactions, a 2D supramolecular structure is formed.

Theoretical investigations of La2C2 cluster

Possible structures of La2C2 were studied and proposed by use of density functional theory. All proposed isomers are planar. The results indicate that the structure with the lowest symmetry (C-1) is the most stable. Linear isomers are not favored.

The optical spectroscopic properties of rare earth-activated barium orthophosphate in VUV-Vis range

The optical properties of rare earth ions-activated barium orthophosphate phosphors, Ba-3(PO4)(2):RE (RE = Ce3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Eu2+, and Tb3+), were investigated in vacuum ultraviolet (VLTV)-Vis range. A band-band transition Of PO43- in Ba-3(PO4)(2) is observed in the region of 150-170 nm. The partial reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+ was observed and confirmed by luminescent spectra under the VUV-UV excitation. It is proposed that the electronegative defects that formed by aliovalent substitution of Eu3+ on the Ba2+ site in the host are responsible for the reduction process.

Preparation of divalent rare earth ions in air by aliovalent substitution and spectroscopic properties of Ln(2+)

When alkaline earth ions in borates, phosphates or borophosphates [SrB4O7, SrB6O10, BaB8O13, MBPO5 (M=Ca,Sr)] are substituted partially and aliovalently by trivalent rare earth ions such as Sm3+, Eu3+, these rare earth ions can be reduced to divalent state by the produced negative charge vacancy V-M". The matrices must have appropriate structure containing a rigid three-dimensional network of tetragonal AO(4) groups (A=B,P). These groups can surround and isolate the produced divalent RE2+ ions from the reaction with oxygen. Therefore, this reduction reaction can be carried out even in air at high temperature. The produced divalent rare earth ions can be detected by luminescence and XANES methods and their spectroscopic properties are discussed.

Surface-enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopic study of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c and its mutant

The structural stability and redox properties of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c and its mutant, F82H, were studied by surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) spectroscopy. Phenylalanine, which exists at the position-82 in yeast iso-1-cytochrome c, is replaced by histidine in the mutant. The SERRS spectra of the proteins on the bare silver electrodes indicate that the mutant possesses a more stable global structure with regard to the adsorption-induced conformational alteration. The redox potential of the mutant negatively shifts by about 400 mV, relative to that of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c. This is ascribed to axial ligand switching and higher solvent accessibility of the heme iron in the mutant during the redox reactions.

Resonance Raman spectroscopic study of cytochrome c mutants

The spectroscopic characteristics of cytochrome c(WT) and its mutants(Y67F and N521) in the low frequency region were studied by Resonance Raman technique. The results show that the replacement of phenylalanine for Tyr 67 in WT had a very slight effect on the hydrogen-bonding and conformation of the amino acid residues around propionic acid side chains of heme group. However, large effects on the hydrogen-bonding of internal water with its surrounding amino acid residues and hydrophobility of the home cavity were observed as Asn 52 was substituted with isoleucine, which resulted in conformational regulations of home group and surrounding amino acid residues.