Novel Flavonoid Photoswitchable "Turn-On" Fluorescent Chemosensors: Synthesis of Bromo Flavonols for Nanomolar Aluminum Ion Detection and Cellular Imaging, among Other Applications.

Aluminum (Al), a non-essential element in living systems, can potentially cause chronic toxicity. Therefore, it is crucial to have a specific and sensitive method for detecting Al3+ in order to assess its risk to life. In this study, we designed and synthesized a novel fluorescent probe (IV) based on bromoflavonol. Upon binding to Al3+, probe IV exhibits a blue shift in emission and enhanced fluorescence, making it suitable for Al3+ detection. Our UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectra demonstrate that probe IV has high selectivity and sensitivity towards Al3+ while being immune to interference from other metal ions. Through fluorescence titration, we determined that the detection limit (LOD) of probe IV for Al3+ is 1.8 × 10-8 mol/L. Job's curve and 1 H NMR titration further confirmed a 1:1 binding stoichiometry between probe IV and Al3+. Additionally, using DFT (Density Functional Theory), we calculated the energy gap difference between IV and IV + Al3+ and found that the complex formed by probe IV and Al3+ is more stable than IV alone. We successfully detected Al3+ in tap water and river water from the middle regions of the Han River, achieving recoveries of over 96% using this probe. This demonstrates its potential for quantitative detection of Al3+ in environmental water samples. Moreover, we successfully used the probe for imaging Al3+ in MG63 cells, suggesting its potential application in biological imaging.

A novel thermometer-type hydrogel senor for glutathione detection.

A thermometer-type visual sensor for glutathione (GSH) sensing was developed with stimulus-responsive fluorescent hydrogel which was obtained by using 5, 6-bicarboxylic fluorescein crossli`nked partly ammoniated polyacrylamide. Various experimental parameters such as the particle size of hydrogel, buffer solution and swelling time were optimized. It is accessible to measure the volume change of hydrogel with the sensor by reading the graduation on a pipette like thermometer with naked eye. The concentration of the GSH depended on the volume in a certain range as the signal. Satisfactory agreements between the sensor and HPLC results for atuomolan tablet assays indicated the capability of the thermometer-type sensors for the analysis of real samples. These findings proved the utility of stimulus-responsive, intelligent hydrogel and the suitability of thermometer-style visual sensor design for quantitative assays.

Mechanistic and conformational studies on the interaction of sulfamethazine with human immunoglobulin G by molecular modeling and multi-spectroscopic approach in vitro.

Binding interaction of sulfamethazine (SMZ) with human immunoglobulin G (HIgG) has been explored under physiological conditions. The interaction mechanism was firstly predicted through molecular modeling which showed that several hydrogen bonds participated in stabilizing the SMZ-HIgG complex. Fluorescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) light absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy were used to analyze the binding site, binding constants and effects of SMZ on HIgG stability and secondary structure. The binding parameters and thermodynamic parameters at different temperatures for the reaction have been calculated according to the Scatchard, Sips and Van 't Hoff equations, respectively. Experimental results showed that the quenching mechanism was a static quenching and there was one independent class of binding site on HIgG for SMZ during their interaction. The thermodynamic parameters of the reaction, namely standard enthalpy ΔH(0) and entropy ΔS(0), had been calculated to be -19.12 kJ · mol(-1) and 20.22 J · mol(-1) · K(-1), respectively, which meant that the electrostatic interaction was the predominant intermolecular force in stabilizing the SMZ - HIgG complex. Moreover, the conformational changes of HIgG in the presence of SMZ were confirmed by three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and CD spectroscopy.

[Study on oil-soluble components obtained from the fruit of Evoldia rutaecarpa].

OBJECTIVE: To extract and isolate the biologic-active components of the oil-soluble components obtained from the fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa. METHODS: Various chromatographic techniques were used to isolate and purifie the biologic-active components, the IR and NMR spectra were used to identify the structure of this compound from Evodia rutaecarpa, and the content and the chemical structure was calibrated with a standard mixture was by TLC. RESULTS: A crystal compound was isolated from the Evodia rutaecarpa of Rutaceae, and was elucidated as oleanolic acid. CONCLUSION: The main chemical constituents of oil-soluble components obtained from the fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa are terpenoid compounds, the content of oleanolic acid is 1.8%.

Prediction of methane yield at optimum pH for anaerobic digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste.

A concept of methane yield at optimum pH was advanced and subsequently a mathematical model that simulates the optimal pH of a batch process for anaerobic digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW) was developed and validated. The model was developed on the basis of the microbial growth kinetics and was divided into three processes: hydrolysis of substrates by hydrolytic bacteria, consumption of soluble substrate by acidogenic bacteria, and finally consumption of acetate and methane generated by methanogenic bacteria. Material balance and liquid phase equilibrium chemistry were used in this study. A series of experiments were conducted to validate the model. The model simulation results agreed reasonably with experimental data in different temperatures and total solid (TS) concentrations under uncontrolled pH. A computer circulation program was used to predict the optimal pH in different conditions. Experiments in different temperatures and TS were run under optimal pH which predicted by the model. The model was succeeded in increasing the methane production and the cumulative methane production had an average increment about 35% in optimal pH of different temperatures and TS.

[Kinetic of pH control in anaerobic digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste in a batch reactor].

Using a material and ionization balance analysis of anaerobic digestion process, a kinetic model of pH control in a batch anaerobic digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste was established on the basis of substrate decay and microbial growth kinetics, and a corresponding computer soft ware was created. The optimal pH in different anaerobic digestion can be predicted by this model. Consequently the maximal methane production can be obtained in anaerobic system by controlling the pH in optimal value. Comparative experiments were conducted to validate the model. The experiments demonstrated that the methane production of anaerobic system under optimal pH was steadier than the same condition under uncontrolled pH, and the cumulative methane production had an average increment about 20%.