Electron Beam Immobilization of Novel Antimicrobial, Short Peptide Motifs Leads to Membrane Surfaces with Promising Antibacterial Properties.

In this study, the efficacy of electron beam irradiation versus chemical coupling for yielding polyethersulfone (PES) membranes with antibacterial properties was investigated. For the surface coating, a recently discovered lead compound, IL-KKA, comprising a short peptide sequence functionalized with imidazolium groups, was used. For better integration within the membrane, several novel variants of IL-KKA were generated. Membrane immobilization was achieved using different doses of electron beam irradiation and NHS/EDC chemical coupling. Physicochemical characterization of the coated membranes was performed by water contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Our results show that electron beam irradiation is as effective and gentle as chemical coupling using the NHS/EDC method. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the obtained membranes exhibit promising antibacterial activity against B. subtilis. In summary, the technique presented herein might be promising as a template for developing future anti-biofilm devices.

Determination of inter-ionic and intra-ionic interactions in a monofluorinated imidazolium ionic liquid by a combination of X-ray crystallography and NOE NMR spectroscopy.

We report the very first application of a Transient 1D 1 H{19 F} NOE NMR experiment in neat ionic liquids. In comparison with classical 2D HOESY NMR spectroscopy, a substantial reduction in measurement time is gained with comparable quality and information content of the spectra. In combination with classical X-ray crystallography, we have applied this technique for the determination of inter-ionic distances (i.e. probabilities of presence) utilizing an ionic liquid containing a monofluorinated imidazolium cation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Influence of Hofmeister Ions on the Structure of Proline-Based Peptide Models: A Combined Experimental and Molecular Modeling Study.

The influence of three sodium salts, covering a wide range of the Hofmeister series, on the conformation of three proline-based peptide models in aqueous solution is examined using a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. The anions preferentially interact with the cis conformers of the peptide models, which is rationalized by the respective electrostatic potential surfaces. These preferred interactions have a strong impact on the thermodynamics of the cis/trans equilibria, leading to a higher population of the cis conformers. In distinct cases, these equilibria are nearly independent of temperature, showing that the salts are also able to stabilize the conformers over wide temperature ranges.

Ionic Liquids Beyond Simple Solvents: Glimpses at the State of the Art in Organic Chemistry.

Within the last 25 years ionic liquids have written a tremendous success story, which is documented in a nearly uncountable amount of original research papers, reviews, and numerous applications in research and industry. These days, ionic liquids can be considered as a mature class of compounds for many different applications. Frequently, they are used as neoteric solvents for chemical tansformations, and the number of reviews on this field of research is huge. In this focused review, though, we are trying to evaluate the state of the art of ionic liquid chemistry beyond using them simply as solvents for chemical transformations. It is not meant to be a comprehensive overview on the topic; the choice of emphasis and examples rather refects the authors' personal view on the field. We are especially highlighting fields in which we believe the most fundamental developments within the next five years will take place: biomass processing, (chiral) ionic liquids from natural sources, biotransformations, and organic synthesis.

Application of room-temperature aprotic and protic ionic liquids for oxidative folding of cysteine-rich peptides.

The oxidation of the conotoxin µ-SIIIA in different ionic liquids was investigated, and the results were compared with those obtained in [C2 mim][OAc]. Conversion of the reduced precursor into the oxidized product was observed in the protic ILs methyl- and ethylammonium formate (MAF and EAf, respectively), whereas choline dihydrogenphosphate and Ammoeng 110 failed to yield folded peptide. However, the quality and yield of the peptide obtained in MAF and EAF were lower than in the case of the product from [C2 mim][OAc]. Reaction conditions (temperature, water content) also had an impact on peptide conversion. A closer look at the activities of µ-SIIIA versions derived from an up-scaled synthesis in [C2 mim][OAc] revealed a significant loss of the effect on ion channel NaV 1.4 relative to the buffer-oxidized peptide, whereas digestion of either µ-SIIIA product by trypsin was unaffected. This was attributed to adherence of ions from the IL to the peptide, because the disulfide connectivity is basically the same for the differentially oxidized µ-SIIIA versions.

PHIP NMR spectroscopy in ionic liquids: influence of salts on the intensity of polarization signals.

Parahydrogen-induced dynamic nuclear polarization NMR spectroscopy (PHIP) in ionic liquids leads to weak or no polarization signals, depending on the type of experiment. We demonstrate that the intensity of polarization is directly correlated to the concentration of the ionic liquids. High ion concentration is connected to fast T1 relaxation, resulting in annihilation of the polarization signals.

On the nature of interactions between ionic liquids and small amino-acid-based biomolecules.

During the last decade, ionic liquids (ILs) have revealed promising properties and applications in many research fields, including biotechnology and biological sciences. The focus of this contribution is to give a critical review of the phenomena observed and current knowledge of the interactions occurring on a molecular basis. As opposed to the huge advances made in understanding the properties of proteins in ILs, complementary investigations dealing with interactions between ILs and peptides or oligopeptides are underrepresented and are mostly only of phenomenological nature. However, the field has received more attention in the last few years. This Review features a meta-analysis of the available data and findings and should, therefore, provide a basis for a scientifically profound understanding of the nature and mechanisms of interactions between ILs and structured or nonstructured peptides. Fundamental aspects of the interactions between different peptides/oligopeptides and ILs are complemented by sections on the experimental (spectroscopy, structural biology) and theoretical (computational chemistry) possibilities to explain the phenomena reported so far in the literature. In effect, this should lead to the development of novel applications and support the understanding of IL-solute interactions in general.

Heteronuclear NOE spectroscopy of ionic liquids.

(19)F,(1)H HOESY experiments with three ionic liquids ([bmim]BF(4), [bmim]PF(6) and [emim]BF(4)) were run in two different solvents and neat. The results give preferred probabilities of presence and enable us to systematically study interactions between the cations and the anions in the ionic liquid phase by NMR spectroscopy. The influence of different solvents and of the presence or absence of air (i.e. oxygen) is discussed. This enabled us to substantially speed up the NMR experiments and to develop a more precise method for the investigation of liquid-phase structures in ionic liquids.

How hydrogen bonds influence the mobility of imidazolium-based ionic liquids. A combined theoretical and experimental study of 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide.

The virtual laboratory allows for computer experiments that are not accessible via real experiments. In this work, three previously obtained charge sets were employed to study the influence of hydrogen bonding on imidazolium-based ionic liquids in molecular dynamics simulations. One set provides diffusion coefficients in agreement with the experiment and is therefore a good model for real-world systems. Comparison with the other sets indicates hydrogen bonding to influence structure and dynamics differently. Furthermore, in one case the total charge was increased and in another decreased by 0.1 e. Both the most acidic proton as well as the corresponding carbon atom were artificially set to zero, sequentially and simultaneously. In the final setup a negative charge was placed on the proton in order to introduce a barrier for the anion to contact the cation via this most acidic hydrogen atom. The following observations were made: changing the hydrogen bonding ability strongly influences the structure while the dynamic properties, such as diffusion and viscosity, are only weakly changed. However, the introduction of larger alterations (stronger hydrogen bonding and antihydrogen bonding) also strongly influences the diffusion coefficients. The dynamics of the hydrogen bond, ion pairing, and the ion cage are all affected by the level of hydrogen bonding. A change in total charges predominantly influences transport properties rather than structure. For ion cage dynamics with respect to transport porperties, we find a good correlation and a weak or no correlation for the ion pair or the hydrogen bond dynamics, respectively. Nevertheless, the hydrogen bond does influence ion cage dynamics. Therefore, we confirm that ionic liquids rather consist of loosely interacting counterions than of discrete ion pairs. Hydrogen bonding affects the properties only in a secondary or indirect manner.

NMR spectroscopy in ionic liquds.

Today, NMR spectroscopy is the most important analytical tool for synthetically working chemists. This review describes the development of NMR spectroscopic methods for use in ionic liquid media and the state-of-the art in terms of routine analytics as well as modern advanced techniques.

Task-specific ionic liquids.

In recent years, ionic liquids have attracted the attention of many chemists as a result of their unique properties as solvents for chemical transformations. The focus of this Minireview is on applications of so-called "task-specific" ionic liquids, whereby the role of the ionic liquid goes beyond that of a solvent. Such ionic liquids find application in a wide range of areas, including catalysis, synthesis, gas absorption, and analysis.

Determination of defect states in semiconductor nanocrystals by cyclic voltammetry.

Colloidal, monodisperse CdSe nanocrystals were homogeneously dispersed in an ionic liquid and investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry. Almost all known defect states in semiconductor nanocrystal were quantitatively measured with this nonoptical method (including nonradiative defect states). Variation of the illumination and temperature resulted in excitation of defect-trapped electrons into the conducting band. Thus, we succeeded for the first time to correlate defect states in nanocrystals with those in the corresponding bulk crystals.

Intermediate Product-Catalyst Complexes in the Homogeneous Hydrogenation of Styrene Derivatives with Parahydrogen and Cationic RhI Catalysts.

The catalyst-bound intermediate 1 is detected in the homogeneous hydrogenation of styrene derivatives in the presence of cationic RhI catalysts 2. The detachment from the catalyst of the ethylbenzene 3 formed turns out to be slow and possibly rate-determining in some cases.