Adsorption of a carboxylic acid-functionalized aminoxyl radical onto SiO2.

Silicon wafers both without and with silicon(IV) oxide surface coverage were covered with benzene solutions of stable organic radical 3-(N-tert-butyl-N-aminoxyl)benzoic acid (mNBA). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy supported the presence of the radical on both surface-cleaned (oxide-reduced) and oxide-covered surfaces. Optical waveguide spectroscopy showed that the radical retained its structure while adsorbed to the surface of the wafers, without noticeable decomposition. AFM and MFM imaging showed that the radical formed blocky particles with a change in rms roughness from 0.3 nm premodification to 1.7 nm postmodification on the surface-cleaned silicon. Similar experiments using oxide-coated silicon showed that the radical adsorbed to form much smoother layers, with a small change in rms roughness from 0.2 to 0.3 nm. Contact angle measurements of water on the premodified and postmodified samples showed a large, hydrophobic change in the silicon oxide surface but only a modest change in the surface-cleaned silicon surface. Samples of mNBA adsorbed onto silica gel showed strong electron-spin resonance signals from the aminoxyl spin, even years after production. The results demonstrate the prospects for treating and coating oxide-covered silicon wafers and silicon oxide-coated particles with a paramagnetically active organic substrate, without major chemical modification of the pretreatment surface; the resulting organic spin sites can be stable for years.

Elevation of jugular venous superoxide anion radical is associated with early inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial injury in forebrain ischemia-reperfusion rats.

A novel electrochemical sensor was used in this study to determine the correlations between jugular venous O(2)(-) and HMGB1, malondialdehyde (MDA), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in rats with forebrain ischemia/reperfusion (FBI/R). Twenty-one male rats were divided into a Sham group, a hemorrhagic shock/reperfusion (HS/R) group, and a forebrain ischemia/reperfusion (FBI/R) group. The O(2)(-) sensor in the jugular vein detected the current derived from O(2)(-) generation (abbreviated as "O(2)(-) current"), which was integrated as the partial value of quantified electricity during ischemia (Q(I)) and after reperfusion (Q(R)). The plasma O(2)(-) current showed a gradual increase during forebrain ischemia in the HS/R and the FBI/R groups. The current showed a marked increase immediately after reperfusion and continued for more than 60 min in the FBI/R group. In the HS/R group, the current was gradually attenuated to the baseline level. Brain and plasma HMGB1 increased significantly in the FBI/R group compared with those in the Sham and the HS/R groups, and both brain and plasma HMGB1 correlated significantly with the sum of Q(I) and Q(R) (total Q). Brain and plasma MDA and plasma soluble ICAM-1 also correlated significantly with total Q. Here, we report the correlation between O(2)(-) and HMGB1, MDA, and sICAM-1 in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, using a novel electrochemical sensor. These data indicated that excessive production of O(2)(-) after ischemia-reperfusion was associated with early inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial activation in the brain and plasma, which might enhance the ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Molecular recognition in a heteromolecular radical pair system with complementary multipoint hydrogen-bonding.

Stable radicals 2-(6-uradinyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole-1-oxyl (Ur6IN) and 4-(p-tert-butylaminoxylphenyl)-2,6-di(propylamido)pyridine (DAPPN) form heterospin radical pair complexes due to complementary multi-point hydrogen-bonds.

2-(4,5,6,7-Tetrafluorobenzimidazol-2-yl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1- H-imidazole-3-oxide-1-oxyl, a hydrogen-bonded organic quasi-1D ferromagnet.

The title radical (F4BImNN) is a stable nitronylnitroxide that forms hydrogen-bonded NH... ON chains in the solid state. The chains assemble the F4BImNN molecules to form stacked contacts between the radical groups, in a geometry that is expected to exhibit ferromagnetic (FM) exchange based on spin polarization (SP) models. The experimental magnetic susceptibility of F4BImNN confirms the expectation, showing 1-D Heisenberg chain FM exchange behavior over 1.8-300 K with an intrachain exchange constant of Jchain/k = +22 K. At lower temperatures, ac magnetic susceptibility and variable field heat capacity measurements show that F4BImNN acts as a quasi-1-D ferromagnet. The dominant ferromagnetic exchange interaction is attributable to overlap between spin orbitals of molecules within the hydrogen-bonded chains, consistent with the SP model expectations. The chains appear to be antiferromagnetically exchange coupled, giving cusps in the ac susceptibility and zero field heat capacity at lower temperatures. The results indicate that the sample orders magnetically at about 0.7 K. The magnetic heat capacity ordering cusp shifts to lower temperatures as external magnetic field increases, consistent with forming a bulk antiferromagnetic phase below a Néel temperature of TN(0) = 0.72 K, with a critical field of Hc approximately 1800 Oe. The interchain exchange is estimated to be zJ/k congruent with (-)0.1 K.

[Fabrication of sensor for reactive oxygen species using gold electrodes modified with electropolymerized porphyrins and application for detection of stress of plants].

Reactive Oxygen Spiecies (ROS) such as superoxide anion radical (.O(2)(-)) act as signals for the activation of stress-response and defense pathways. However, excess ROS generated by perturbing .O(2)(-) homeostasis stimulated many environmental stress, including intense light, drought, temperature stress, herbicides, induce high radical toxicity. Consequently, quantitative analysis of .O(2)(-) is a subject of intense research, since most of ROS are derived from .O(2)(-). Iron meso-tetrakis(3-thienyl)porphyrin complexes were electropolymerized onto a Au wire electrode. The modified Au electrode were applied to .O(2)(-) sensor to detect catalytic oxidation current of .O(2)(-) which was generated as an intermediate during the oxidation of xanthine by catalystic XOD. It was revealed that the sensor was quantitative to measure .O(2)(-). The modified Au electrode were applied to measure oxidation current of .O(2)(-) in mung beans under environmental stress condition. Plants were grown in atmosphere, 25 degrees C and in black darkness. The other plants were exposed to oxygen excess. The oxidation current of .O(2)(-) were increased plants were grown by high-oxygen environment compared to plants were grown at atmosphere. This experiment was indicated that environmental stress such as hyperoxia induced excess .O(2)(-) and Au wire sensor using iron porphyrin complexes is capable of .O(2)(-) detection in plants under environmental stresses.

[Antioxidant and anticancer properties of metalloporphyrins embedded in liposomes].

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in many disease such as inflammation, arteriosclerosis, cancer. Therefore, a water-soluble cationic metalloporphyrins with SOD activity are studied widely as antioxidant drugs. Further, liposomes are applied to drug delivery system (DDS) as drug carriers and investigated for example disposition and stability. We designed PEG modified liposomes for avoiding reticuloendothelial system (RES) and embedded cationic metalloporphyrins for DDS, evaluated antioxidant and anticancer property. Preservation of these particle size measured DLS in an in vitro system, in order to simulate in vivo conditions of flow. Result of this measurement, we found Pluronic F-68/ liposomes have a long circulation property, and avoid fusion with plasma protein. SOD activity was determined by the stopped-flow analysis and cytochrome c assay, which allowed the evaluation of k(cat) and IC(50) for the reaction with a superoxide anion radical (.O(2)(-)). Anti cancer property was measured by cell viability test. We found that F-68/ liposomes were the most effective catalyst as antioxidant and anticancer. These results revealed that porphyrin-embedded PEG-liposomes had the property of long circulation in blood and that this compound was effective as a SOD model compound with a drug carrier capacity.

[Synthesis of cationic manganese porphyrin bearing alkylsulfonio groups and evaluation of their antioxidant activities].

A water-soluble cationic 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis(2-dimethylsulfoniophenyl)-porphinatomanganese(III) ion (MnT2M(2)SuP) and a 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis(4-dimethylsulfoniophenyl)porphinatomanganese(III) ion (MnT4M(2)SuP) were synthesized as superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimics which were introduced into PEG-liposome composed of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and Pluronic F-68 to examine the effect of the liposome on the capacity for use as drug delivery system (DDS) to maintain and perpetuate blood circulation. Fluorescence spectra in pseudo blood circulation experiments indicated that MnT4M(2)SuP continued to be bundled in PEG-liposome, while fluorescence from cross-section of cell observed by confocal laser scanning microscope indicated that PEG-liposome was ingested into a cell. SOD activity was determined by stopped-flow analysis, which allowed the determination of k(cat) values for the reaction of the metalloporphyrins with superoxide anion radical (.O(2)(-)). Solution of PEG-liposome loaded with MnT2M(2)SuP or MnT4M(2)SuP were the most effective catalyst as a SOD mimic to decompose .O(2)(-) at second-order rate constants of 3.5-4.5 x 10(7) M(-1)s(-1).

Synthesis and oxidation of triarylamine derivatives bearing hydrogen-bonding groups.

Hydrogen-bonding triarylamines, 4-(N,N-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)amino)benzoic acid (TPA1), 5-(N,N-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)amino)isophthalic acid (TPA2), and N-(4-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)phenyl)-N,N-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)amine (BImTPA), were synthesized as radical cation precursors. TPA1 and TPA2 are readily p-doped by AgSbF(6) to give highly persistent radical cations. Poor solid-state spin yields of the radical cation from BImTPA may be due to spin delocalization.

Dendron-combined poly(4-diphenyl- aminium-1,2-phenylenevinylene): an isolated multiplet molecule.

[structure: see text] Poly[4-(N,N-bis(4-3,5-bis(3,5-bis(benzyloxy)benzyloxy)benzyloxyphenyl)amino)-1,2-phenylenevinylene] was prepared by the palladium-catalyzed polycondensation of the dendron-coupled bromostyrene and oxidized to yield the corresponding poly(aminium cationic radical): The dendron-combined polyradical molecule displayed both a substantial chemical stability and a multiplet state without any intermolecular interaction.

Dexamethasone induces human spinal ligament derived cells toward osteogenic differentiation.

Ossification of spinal ligament is characterized by heterotopic bone formation in the spinal ligaments that are normally composed of fibrous tissues. The pathogenesis of ossification of spinal ligament has been suggested to be associated with osteogenic differentiation of the spinal ligament cells. In order to address this hypothesis, cells derived from human spinal ligament were investigated for their osteogenic potential by the treatment of dexamethasone in vitro. Yellow ligaments were obtained from patients with spinal disorders except ossification of spinal ligament during surgery, and the adhering tissues were removed completely. Most of the ligament cells treated with vehicle exhibited a fibroblast-like spindle shape, while the dexamethasone-treated cells acquired a polygonal morphology. Growth of the ligament cells was suppressed by dexamethasone at a high concentration. Some of the vehicle treated-cells were alkaline phosphatase-positive, and dexamethasone increased the alkaline phosphatase-positive cells and alkaline phosphatase activity in the cells. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that mRNAs expression of pro-alpha1(I) collagen and alkaline phosphatase were promoted by dexamethasone. Analysis by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that expression of osteocalcin mRNA was detected in the dexamethasone-treated cells but not in the vehicle-treated cells, and dexamethasone-induced osteocalcin mRNA expression was promoted by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3). Finally, mineralization of extracellular matrix in the cells was induced by the presence of dexamethasone and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3). These results suggest for the first time that dexamethasone has a possible involvement in the osteoblastic differentiation of human spinal ligament cells.

Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on the repair of large osteochondral defects of articular cartilage in rabbits: dose-response effects and long-term outcomes.

Articular cartilage possesses a limited capacity for self-renewal. The regenerated tissue often resembles fibrocartilage-like tissue rather than hyaline cartilage, and degeneration of the articular surface eventually occurs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the healing of full-thickness articular cartilage defects. bFGF (0, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500, or 1000 ng) was mixed with collagen gel and implanted into full-thickness articular cartilage defects drilled into rabbit knees. The repaired tissue was examined grossly and histologically, and was evaluated with the use of a grading scale at 4, 12, 24, and 50 weeks. At 4 weeks, treatment with 100 ng of bFGF had greatly stimulated cartilage repair both grossly and histologically in comparison with untreated defects (those filled with plain collagen gel). The average total scores on the histological grading scale were significantly better for the defects treated with bFGF than for the untreated defects. These improvements were evident as long as 50 weeks postoperatively, although slight deterioration was noted in the repaired cartilage. Immunohistochemical staining for type II collagen showed that this cartilage-specific collagen was diffusely distributed in the repaired tissue at 50 weeks. These findings suggest that bFGF may be a practical and important candidate for use in cartilage repair.

A high-spin and durable polyradical: poly(4-diphenylaminium-1,2-phenylenevinylene).

A purely organic, high-spin, and durable polyradical molecule was synthesized: It is based on the non-Kekulé- and non-disjoint design of a pi-conjugated poly(1,2-phenylenevinylene) backbone pendantly 4-substituted with multiple robust arylaminium radicals. 4-N,N-Bis(4-methoxy- and -tert-butylphenyl)amino-2-bromostyrene 5 were synthesized and polymerized with a palladium-phosphine catalyst to afford the head-to-tail-linked polyradical precursors (1). Oxidation of 1 with the nitrosonium ion solubilized with a crown ether gave the aminium polyradicals (1(+)()) which were durable (half-life > 1 month) at room temperature in air. A high-spin ground state with an average S = (4.5)/2 for 1a(+) was proved even at room temperature by magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, ESR, and NMR measurements.