NIR optical carbon dioxide gas sensor based on simple azaBODIPY pH indicators.

Two simple boron-dipyrromethene-type fluorophore (azaBODIPYs) dyes are synthesized and tested for the determination of CO2 gas by an inner filter process. The indicators are noncovalently entrapped in suitable polymers according to their polarity, featuring absorption maxima at 620 nm and fluorescent emission maxima in the range 675-720 nm. Molar absorptivity and fluorescence quantum yield data were determined for these two synthesized azaBODIPYs. These indicators have high molar absorption coefficients of 7.1 × 104 and 2.1 × 104 M-1 cm-1 and quantum yields of 21 and 9%. The pKa values of the indicators are determined from absorbance and fluorescence measurements with values of 7.9 and 8.5, depending on the positioning of the substitution pattern of the electron-donating functionalities. The two azaBODIPYs present excellent photostability, making them suitable for long duration measurements. These azaBODIPY dyes act as fluorescent pH indicators in a polymeric sensing membrane along with microcrystalline powder of chromium-doped gadolinium aluminium borate as the luminophore, a transfer phase agent (tetraoctyl or tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide) and a plasticizer or surfactant to improve membrane permeability to gaseous CO2. The response time ranges from 42 to 60 s and recovery time from 103 to 120 s, with a detection limit of 0.04 and 0.57% CO2. The store time of the sensing membranes is longer than 570 days in the best case, and it does not need to be kept in any special atmosphere other than darkness.

Self-adjuvanting C18 lipid vinil sulfone-PP2A vaccine: study of the induced immunomodulation against Trichuris muris infection.

Despite the importance of the adjuvant in the immunization process, very few adjuvants merge with the antigens in vaccines. A synthetic self-adjuvant oleic-vinyl sulfone (OVS) linked to the catalytic region of recombinant serine/threonine phosphatase 2A from the nematode Angiostrongylus costaricensis (rPP2A) was used for intranasal immunization in mice previously infected with Trichuris muris The animal intranasal immunization with rPP2A-OVS showed a reduction of 99.01% in the number of the nematode eggs and 97.90% in adult. The immunohistochemical analysis of the intestinal sections showed that in immunized animals with lipopeptide the mucus was significantly higher than in the other experimental groups. Also, these animals presented significantly different chemokine, CCL20 and CCL11, levels. However, although the number and size of Tuft cells did not vary between groups, the intensity of fluorescence per cell was significant in the group immunized with the rPP2A-OVS. The results of the present study suggest that mice immunized with the lipopeptide are capable of activating a combined Th17/Th9 response. This strategy of immunization may be of great applicability not only in immunotherapy and immunoprophylaxis to control diseases caused by nematodes but also in pathologies necessitating action at the level of the Th9 response in the intestinal mucosa.

Electrochemiluminescent disposable cholesterol biosensor based on avidin-biotin assembling with the electroformed luminescent conducting polymer poly(luminol-biotinylated pyrrole).

An electrochemiluminescent cholesterol disposable biosensor has been prepared by the formation of assembled layers on gold screen-printed cells. The detection layer is based on the electro-formation of new luminol copolymers with different synthesized biotinylated pyrroles prepared by click-chemistry, offering a new transduction layer with new electroluminescent properties on biosensors. The electrochemiluminescence (ECL) luminol copolymers are electroformed by cyclic voltammetry (five cycles) at pH 7.0 uses a10(-3)M biotinylated pyrrole-luminol ratio of 1:10 in PBS buffer. With respect to the recognition layer, cholesterol oxidase was biotinylated by incubation with biotin vinyl sulfone, and immobilized on the copolymer by avidin-biotin interaction. The analytical signal of the biosensor is the ECL enzymatic initial rate working in chronoamperometric mode at 0.5V excitation potential with 10s between pulses at pH 9.5. The disposable device offers a cholesterol linear range from 1.5×10(-5)M to 8.0×10(-4)M with a limit of detection of 1.47×10(-5)M and accuracy of 7.9% for 9.0×10(-5)M and 14.1% for 2.0×10(-4)M, (n=5). Satisfactory results were obtained for cholesterol determination in serum samples compared to a reference procedure.

Preorganized macromolecular gene delivery systems: amphiphilic beta-cyclodextrin "click clusters".

Gene delivery systems based on the beta-cyclodextrin scaffold have been synthesized by combining the copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne coupling ("click chemistry") and an efficient acylation method of the secondary hydroxyls; molecular flexibility, charge density and hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance are critical parameters that can be fine-tuned by the click approach.

Double-armed crown ethers for calcium optical sensors.

This paper presents the characterization of optical sensing membranes for calcium based on ionophore-chromoionophore chemistry. Six different ionophores, 18-membered crown ether derivatives, were studied, coming from 18-crown-6 ether and 4,13-diaza-18-crown-6 ether to a series of double-armed crown ethers with different type of terminal groups. The study of optical membranes containing the same transducer and plasticizer allow drawing some conclusions on the influence of lipophilicity and size of the terminal group of the side chain on calcium selectivity. We have calculated the exchange constant K(ILp)exch for each equilibrium with alkaline and alkaline-earth ions and the selectivity coefficient k(Osel)I,J for each ion against calcium as a way for a full characterization of sensing membranes. In all cases the ion:ionophore stability constants for calcium were the highest and the ionophore V containing an (N-adamantylcarbamoyl) acetyl moiety originated the most selective membrane for calcium. Analytical parameters for calcium determination using prepared membranes were calculated.

Disposable receptor-based optical sensor for nitrate.

A new optical absorption-based disposable sensor for nitrate is described. The nitrate-sensitive element is a bicyclic cyclophane receptor next to a suitable pH-sensitive lipophilic dye immobilized in a plasticized polymeric membrane. The rigid amide-based receptor with C3 symmetry controls the anion selectivity pattern of the optical element. The optical selectivity coefficients obtained for nitrate over a variety of naturally occurring anions in natural waters meet the requirements for the determination of nitrate in waters. The disposable sensor responds to nitrate rapidly-the typical response time is 5 min-and reversibly over a wide dynamic range (26 microM-63 mM) with sensor-to-sensor reproducibility (relative standard deviation, RSD, 3.68%, as log aNO3-, at the medium level of the range and RSD 1.39% for repeated measurements with the same sensor). The performance of the optical disposable sensor was tested for the analysis of nitrate in different types of natural waters (river, well, spring), validating results against a reference procedure. The proposed method is quick, inexpensive, selective, and sensitive and uses only conventional instrumentation.

Production, crystallization and X-ray characterization of chemically glycosylated hen egg-white lysozyme.

The crystallization of glycoproteins is one of the challenges to be confronted by the crystallographic community in the frame of what is known as glycobiology. The state of the art for the crystallization of glycoproteins is not promising and removal of the carbohydrate chains is generally suggested since they are flexible and a source of heterogeneity. In this paper, the feasibility of introducing glucose into the model protein hen egg-white lysozyme via a post-purification glycosylation reaction that may turn any protein into a model glycoprotein whose carbohydrate fraction can be manipulated is demonstrated.

Calcium selective test strip for water and milk.

We have developed a selective and reversible test strip based on an ion-exchange mechanism to determine calcium. The optical test strip contains a polymeric film of plasticised PVC that contains all of the reagents necessary to produce a response to calcium, among them the new ionophore, 4,13-bis[(N-adamantylcarbamoyl)propionyl]-1,7,10,16-tetraoxa-4,13-diazacyclooctadecane. The measurement of the absorbance at 655 nm in a standard photometer makes it possible to determine calcium activities. The composition of the membrane and reaction conditions have been adjusted to obtain adequate selectivity. The test strip responded linearly to calcium between 0.050 and 135 mM in activities. The reproducibility intermembrane at a medium level of the range was 6.2%, as RSD, of log a(Mg(2+)), and 3.4% as RSD intramembrane. The procedure was applied to the determination of calcium ion in different types of waters (tap, well, spring and mineral) and milks (whole, skimmed, skimmed with calcium added, special types) validating the results against a reference procedure.

Structure of concanavalin A at pH 8: bound solvent and crystal contacts.

Concanavalin A has been crystallized in the presence of the ligand (6-S-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-6-thio)-cyclomaltoheptaose. The crystals are isomorphous to those reported for ConA complexed with peptides at low resolution (3.00-2.75 angstroms). The structure was solved at 1.9 angstroms, with free R and R values of 0.201 and 0.184, respectively. As expected, no molecules of the ligand were bound to the protein. Soaking in the cryobuffer left its fingerprint as 25 molecules of glycerol in the bound solvent, most of them at specific positions. The fact that a glycerol molecule is located in the sugar-binding pocket of each of the four subunits in the asymmetric unit and another is located in two of the peptide-binding sites suggests a recognition phenomenon rather than a displacement of water molecules by glycerol. Crystal contact analysis shows that a relation exists between the residues that form hydrogen bonds to other asymmetric units and the space group: contact Asp58-Ser62 is a universal feature of ConA crystals, while Ser66-His121, Asn69-Asn118 and Tyr100-His205 contacts are general features of the C222(1) crystal form.

Binding affinity properties of dendritic glycosides based on a beta-cyclodextrin core toward guest molecules and concanavalin A.

The inclusion behavior and concanavalin A binding properties of hepta-antennated and newly synthesized tetradeca-antennated C-6-branched mannopyranosyl and glucopyrannosyl cyclomaltoheptaose (beta-cyclodextrin) derivatives have been evaluated by isothermal titration microcalorimetry and enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA), respectively. The synthesis of three first-order dendrimers based on a beta-cyclodextrin core containing 14 1-thio-beta-D-glucose, 1-thio-beta-mannose, and 1-thio-beta-rhamnose residues was performed following a convergent approach and involving (1) preparation of a thiolated bis-branched glycoside building block and (2) attachment of the building block onto heptakis(6-deoxy-6-iodo)-beta-cyclodextrin. Calorimetric titrations performed at 25 degrees C in buffered aqueous solution (pH 7.4) gave the affinity constants and the thermodynamic parameters for the inclusion complex formation of these beta-cyclodextrin derivatives with guests sodium 8-anilino-1-naphthalensulfonate (ANS) and 2-naphthalenesulfonate. The host capability of the persubstituted beta-cyclodextrins decreased with respect to the native beta-CD when sodium 2-naphthalenesulfonate was used as a guest and improved when ANS was used as a guest molecule. Heptavalent mannoclusters based on beta-CD cores enhance the lectin binding affinity due to the cluster effect; however, the increase of the valency from 7 to 14 ligands did not contribute to the improvement of the concanavalin A binding affinity. In addition, the synthesized hyperbranched mannoCDs lost completely the capability as a host molecules.

Synthesis of persialylated beta-cyclodextrins.

The synthesis of homogeneous hepta-antennated C-6 branched sialosyl cyclomaltoheptose derivatives (persialylated beta-cyclodextrins) has been performed in good to excellent yields, and the compounds have been fully characterized. The thioacetate N-acetylneuraminic acid derivative 6 was selectively de-S-acetylated and coupled by nucleophilic displacement in a one-pot reaction to the heptakis(chloroacetamido) beta-CDs 2 and 5, yielding multivalent sialosides 8 and 9, respectively. The thiourea-linked sialyl-CD 10 was obtained by reaction of the 4-isothiocyanatophenyl N-acetylneuraminic acid derivative 7 with the per-tert-butoxycarbonylamino beta-CD derivative 2 after suitable deprotection of the amino function.

1,3-dipolar cycloadditions as a tool for the preparation of multivalent structures.

The construction of multivalent structures such as sugar heterodimers, glycoclusters, calix sugars, multicalixarenes, and glycocyclodextrins is designed by using 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition as a versatile and efficient tool which allows the creation of heterocyclic bridges between the different units that are coupled.

Regioselective Monoalkylation of Calixarenes. Synthesis of Homodimer Calixarenes.

The selective monoalkylation at the smaller (lower) rim of the p-tert-butylcalix[4]- and -[6]arenes using bis(butyltin)oxide and different alkylating agents is described. The procedure is remarkable for the mild conditions used allowing an efficiently access to monoalkylated calixarene derivatives in moderate to good yields. Monoalkynylcalix[4]arene and monoalkynylcalix[6]arene have been synthetically exploited for the synthesis of bis-calix[n]arenes (n = 4, 6) with a diyne bridge by oxidative coupling of alkynes. In addition, intermolecular methathesis of the obtained monoalkenyl-calix[4]arene allowed the preparation of bis-calix[4]arene that are single bridged at the smaller (lower) rim with a 2-butenyl moiety.

Synthesis of "sugar-rods" with phytohemagglutinin cross-linking properties by using the palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira reaction

A palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira reaction has been applied for the syntheses of divalent "sugar-rods" which exhibited excellent lectin cross-linking properties. The procedure, which involves a tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between an alkyne and a halogen-bearing sp2-carbon in DMF at 60 degrees C, is very efficient and the dimeric or heterobifunctional "sugar-rods" (8-13, 15-17) were isolated in 65-100% yields. Dimers 8a and 15a were both shown to form insoluble cross-linked lattices when mixed with the tetrameric plant lectin from Canavalia ensiformis (Concavalin A, Con A). Moreover, the relative inhibitory properties of the synthetic dimannosides were determined by means of the hemagglutination of rabbit erythrocytes, whereby dimer 15a was shown to be 20-fold more potent than monomeric methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside.

Selective pivaloylation and diphenylacetylation of cyclomalto-oligosaccharides.

Regioselective acylation of cyclomalto-oligosaccharides was achieved using pivaloyl and diphenylacetyl chlorides. The reaction of cyclomaltohexaose (1) with pivaloyl chloride gave the hexakis(2,6-di-O-pivaloyl) derivative 19 in 66% yield. Similar reaction with cyclomalto-heptaose (2) led to the octakis(2I,6I,6II,6III,6IV,6V,6VI ,6VII-O-pivaloyl) 26 and the 17 heptakis(6-O-pivaloyl) derivatives in 34 and 26% yields, respectively. The octakis(6-O-pivaloyl) derivative 18 was the only compound isolated (72%) in the reaction of pivaloyl chloride with cyclomalto-octaose (3). Diphenylacetylation of 1-3 gave the symmetrical (20-22) and the non-symmetrical (27-29) per(6-O-diphenylacetyl) esters as major and minor products, respectively.

Synthesis of L-gulose, L-galactose, and their acetylated aldehydo forms from 6-S-phenyl-6-thio-D-hexoses.

Methyl 6-S-phenyl-6-thio-a-D-glucopyranoside, prepared in high yield from methyl a-D-glucopyranoside by the action of diphenyl disulfide and tributylphosphine in pyridine, was converted into 6-S-phenyl-6-thio-D-glucitol pentaacetate (7) by sequential hydrolysis, borohydride reduction, and acetylation. Oxidation of 7 with 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid gave the corresponding S-epimeric sulfoxides, which underwent Pummerer rearrangement to 1-epimeric L-gulose S-phenyl monothiohemiacetal hexaacetates. Boron trifluoride-catalyzed reaction of the latter with thiophenol gave the analogous diphenyl dithioacetal, whereas base-catalyzed methanolysis led to free L-gulose. Treatment of 7 with N-chlorosuccinimide afforded 1-epimeric 1-chloro-1-S-phenyl-1-thio-L-gulitol pentaacetates, which were hydrolyzed to provide aldehydo-L-gulose pentaacetate. The same reaction sequences were performed with 6-S-phenyl-6-thio-D-galactose, synthesized in two steps from 1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-a-D-galactopyranose, furnishing ultimately L-galactose, its diphenyl dithioacetal pentaacetate, and aldehydo-L-galactose pentaacetate. Similar reaction sequences for the chain-terminal interchange of oxidation state in other omega-S-phenyl-omega-thioaldoses may prove useful for the preparation of less-common sugar derivatives.