Glucosamine to gold nanoparticles binding studied using Raman spectroscopy.

The binding of glucosamine to gold in water solutions of glucosamine hydrochloride mixed with clean colloidal gold nanoparticles obtained by laser ablation in liquid was studied using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and UV-VIS spectroscopy. The purpose of this study was to establish whether the binding of charged aminogroup to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is taking place, and if it does, how can it be identified by means of SERS. The average size of dried gold nanoparticles was (20 ± 4) nm determined by averaging the sizes observed in transmission electron microscopy micrographs, which is smaller than the average size of gold nanoparticles in water solution as determined by DLS: (52 ± 2) nm. Upon adding the glucosamine solutions to gold colloid, average hydrodynamic diameter of ions was slightly larger for 0.1 mM glucosamine solution (55 ± 2 nm), while it increased to (105 ± 22) nm in the case of 1 mM solution, and was (398 ± 54) nm when 10 mM glucosamine solution was added. Most prominent Raman bands observed both for 0.1 mM and 1 mM glucosamine solutions were located at 1165 cm-1, 1532 and 1586 cm-1 and assigned to C-N coupled with C-C stretching, and C-NH3+ deformation angles bending. In SERS spectrum of 1 mM GlcN+ solution, two strong bands at 999 and 1075 cm-1 were found and attributed to C-Oring stretching coupled with C-NH3+ bending (999 cm-1) and to dominantly C-O stretching vibration. The differences in SERS spectra are attributed to different number of glucosamine molecules that attach to gold nanoparticles and their orientation with respect to the metal particle surface, partly due to presence of beta anomers protonated at anomeric oxygen position. The assignment of glucosamine bands was further corroborated by comparison with vibrational spectra of alpha and beta glucose and of polycrystalline powder of glucosamine hydrochloride. For all three substances comprehensive calculation of vibrational density of states was conducted using density functional theory. Benchmark bands for polycrystalline glucose anomers distinction are 846 and 915 cm-1 for alpha glucose, and 902 cm-1 for beta glucose. However, the bands observed in SERS spectra of 0.1 mM glucosamine solution at 831, 899, and 946 cm-1 or in 1 mM solution at 934 cm-1 cannot be easily identified as belonging either to alpha or beta glucosamine anomer, due to complexity of atomic motions involved. The identification of vibrational bands associated with -CNH3+ group will aid SERS studies on amino acids, especially in cases when several atomic groups could possibly bind to AuNPs.

Hydroxymethylaniline Photocages for Carboxylic Acids and Alcohols.

ortho-, meta- and para-Hydroxymethylaniline methyl ethers 3-5-OMe and acetyl derivatives 3-5-OAc were investigated as potential photocages for alcohols and carboxylic acids, respectively. The measurements of photohydrolysis efficiency showed that the decaging from ortho- and meta-derivatives takes place efficiently in aqueous solution, but not for the para-derivatives. Contrary to previous reports, we show that the meta-derivatives are better photocages for alcohols, whereas ortho-derivatives are better protective groups for carboxylic acids. The observed differences were fully disclosed by mechanistic studies involving fluorescence measurements and laser flash photolysis (LFP). Photoheterolysis for the para-derivatives does not take place, whereas both meta- and ortho-derivatives undergo heterolysis and afford the corresponding carbocations 3-C and 4-C. The ortho-carbocation 4-o-C was detected by LFP in aqueous solution (λmax = 410 nm, τ ≈ 90 µs). Moreover, spectroscopic measurements for the meta-acetyl derivative 3-m-OAC indicated the formation of cation in the excited state. The application of an ortho-aniline derivative as a protective group was demonstrated by synthesizing several derivatives of carboxylic acids. In all cases, the photochemical deprotection was accomplished in high yields (>80%). This mechanistic study fully rationalized the photochemistry of aniline photocages which is important for the design of new photocages and has potential for synthetic, biological, and medicinal applications.