Structural Insights into New Bi(III) Coordination Polymers with Pyridine-2,3-Dicarboxylic Acid: Photoluminescence Properties and Anti-Helicobacter pylori Activity

Two novel coordination polymers, [Bi₂(2,3pydc)₂(2,3pydcH)₂(H₂O)]_n (1) and {(Et₃NH)₂[Bi(2,3pydc)(2,3pydcH)Cl₂]}_n (2) were prepared using as a prolinker pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid (2,3pydcH₂). The obtained complexes were fully characterized by elemental analysis, TG/DTG, FT-IR, solid-state photoluminescence, DFT calculations and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The obtained complexes crystallized in the triclinic P-1 space group (1) and comprise dimeric units with two crystallographically different Bi(III) centers (polyhedra: distorted pentagonal bipyramid and bicapped trigonal prism) and monoclinic P2₁/c space group (2) with a distorted monocapped pentagonal bipyramid of Bi(III) center. The various coordination modes of bridging carboxylate ligands are responsible for the formation of 1D chains with 4,5C10 (1) and 2C1 (2) topology. The photoluminescence quantum yield for polymer 2 is 8.36%, which makes it a good candidate for more specific studies towards Bi-based fluorescent materials. Moreover, it was detected that polymer 1 is more than twice as active against H. pylori as polymer 2. It can be concluded that there is an existing relationship between the structure and the antibacterial activity because the presence of chloride and triethylammonium ions in the structure of complex 2 reduces the antibacterial activity.     

Synthesis and Properties of Stannole-Containing Polymers by Reaction of Bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanacyclopentadiene-Containing Polymers and Tin(IV) Chloride

Polymers having bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanacyclopentadiene units in the main chain were prepared by the polymerization of a low-valent bis(cyclopentadienyl)-titanium(II) complex, generated in situ from bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride (Cp₂TiCl₂) and n-butyllithium (2 equiv), with internal diynes such as 1,4-bis(1-hexynyl)-benzene and 4,4′-bis(1-hexynyl)biphenyl. The bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanacyclopentadiene-containing polymers were subjected to the reaction with tin(IV) chloride, followed by the treatment with methyllithium to give 1,1-dimethylstannole-containing organometallic polymers in moderate yields. The stannole containing polymers are soluble in organic solvents, whose number-average molecular weight was estimated to be 2,700–2,800 by GPC. Optical and electrochemical properties of the resulting stannole-containing polymers were studied by their UV-vis spectra and cyclic voltammetric analyses, from which they were supposed to have low LUMO energy levels.     

Understanding the Selectivity Mechanism of the Human Asialoglycoprotein Receptor (ASGP-R) toward Gal- and Man-type Ligands for Predicting Interactions with Exogenous Sugars

A practical approach for addressing the computer simulation of protein-carbohydrate interactions is described here. An articulated computational protocol was set up and validated by checking its ability to predict experimental data, available in the literature, and concerning the selectivity shown by the Carbohydrate Recognition Domain (CRD) of the human asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R) toward Gal-type ligands. Some required features responsible for the interactions were identified. Subsequently the same protocol was applied to monomer sugar molecules that constitute the building blocks for alginates and ulvans. Such sugar polymers may supply a low-cost source of rare sugars with a potential impact on several industrial applications, from pharmaceutical to fine chemical industry. An example of their applicative exploitation could be given by their use in developing biomaterial with adhesion properties toward hepatocytes, through interaction with the ASGP-R. Such a receptor has been already proposed as a target for exogenous molecules, specifically in the case of hepatocytes, for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The DOCK5.2 program was used to search optimal locations of the above ligands of interest into CRD binding site and to roughly estimate interaction energies. Finally, the binding ΔG of theoretical protein-ligand complexes was estimated by using the DelPhi program in which the solvation free energy is accounted for with a continuum solvent model, by solving the Poisson-Boltzmann equation. The structure analysis of the obtained complexes and their ΔG values suggest that one of the sugar monomers of interest shows the desired characteristics.     

分子印迹技术手性分离氨基酸衍生物(Ⅰ)—分子印迹聚合物的制备、色谱评价及物理化学表征

利用分子印迹技术制备了对L 特丁氧羰基色氨酸或D 特丁氧羰基色氨酸印迹的丙烯酰胺分子印迹聚合物。色谱评价结果表明,印迹分子L Boc Trp的离解常数(3 287mmol/L)要小于非印迹分子D Boc Trp的离解常数(4 379mmol/L),说明分子印迹聚合物对印迹分子具有特异亲和作用。采用扫描电镜和红外光谱等物理化学表征技术从结构上对这种特异性作了进一步的分析。结果表明,分子印迹聚合物是一种具有多层次孔结构的聚合物,为溶质的扩散提供了良好的通道;在聚合物表面存在可与印迹分子相互作用的官能团。     

Probing Nucleic Acid Interactions and Pre-mRNA Splicing by F?rster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) Microscopy

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy is a powerful technique routinely used to monitor interactions between biomolecules. Here, we focus on the techniques that are used for investigating the structure and interactions of nucleic acids (NAs). We present a brief overview of the most commonly used FRET microscopy techniques, their advantages and drawbacks. We list experimental approaches recently used for either in vitro or in vivo studies. Next, we summarize how FRET contributed to the understanding of pre-mRNA splicing and spliceosome assembly.     

Synthesis,Biological Activity and Molecular Docking Studies of Novel Nicotinic Acid Derivatives

In our research, we used nicotinic acid as a starting compound, which was subjected to a series of condensation reactions with appropriate aldehydes. As a result of these reactions, we were able to obtain a series of twelve acylhydrazones, two of which showed promising activity against Gram-positive bacteria (MIC = 1.95–15.62 µg/mL), especially against Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228 (MIC = 1.95 µg/mL). Moreover, the activity of compound 13 against the Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 strain, i.e., the MRSA strain, was MIC = 7.81 µg/mL. Then, we subjected the entire series of acylhydrazones to a cyclization reaction in the acetic anhydride, thanks to which we were able to obtain twelve new 3-acetyl-2,5-disubstituted-1,3,4-oxadiazoline derivatives. Obtained 1,3,4-oxadiazolines were also tested for antimicrobial activity. The results showed high activity of compound 25 with a 5-nitrofuran substituent, which was active against all tested strains. The most promising activity of this compound was found against Gram-positive bacteria, in particular against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 (MIC = 7.81 µg/mL) and ATCC 43300 MRSA strains (MIC = 15.62 µg/mL). Importantly, the best performing compounds did not show cytotoxicity against normal cell lines. It seems practical to use some of these compounds or their derivatives in the future in the prevention and treatment of infections caused by some pathogenic or opportunistic microorganisms.     

Self-Assembly of Polymers through Dynamic Coordination Chemistry and Hydrogen Bonding: Polymers from Mercury(II) Halides and Bis(amidopyridine) Ligands

The synthesis of hybrid organic–inorganic polymers by combination of mercury(II) halides with the ligand 1,5-bis(isonicotinamido)naphthalene, C₁₀H₆(NHCO-4-C₅H₄N)₂, 1. The compounds of formula [HgX₂(1)] form either linear (X = Cl, Br) or zig-zag (X = I) polymers and contain tetrahedral mercury(II) centers with bridging ligands 1. The polymers are further assembled by hydrogen bonding between amide groups. When X = Cl or Br, two-dimensional sheet structures are formed whereas, when X = I, a three-dimensional network is formed. A new polymeric form of [HgCl₂(Me₂SO)] is also described. Dedicated to Ian Manners for his pioneering research on organometallic polymers     

Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(o-anisidine) Doped with Polymeric Acids

ABSTRACT

Conducting poly(o-anisidine) doped with polymeric acids [viz, poly(styrene sulphonic acid) (PSSA), poly(vinyl sulphonic acid) (PVSA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)] was synthesized by in-situ chemical polymerization method using ammonium persulphate as an oxidizing agent. This is a single-step polymerization process for the direct synthesis of emeraldine salt phase of the polymer. The polymers were characterized by using UV-Vis., FT-IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and conductivity measurements. Formation of mixed phases of polymer together with conducting emeraldine salt phase are confirmed by spectroscopic techniques. Thermal analysis shows that PAA doped poly(o-anisidine) undergoes three stage decomposition pattern similar to unsubstituted polyaniline. While, in PSSA and PVSA, doped sample splitting up of the second weight loss stage is observed leading to a four-step decomposition pattern. Room temperature conductivity measurements show less conductivity in poly(o-anisidine) than in polyaniline, due to the cumulative steric as well as electronic effects of the bulky methoxy substituent present at ortho position on the benzene ring. Increase in conductivity with increase in temperature is observed by high temperature conductivity measurements, showing “thermally activated behavior.”     

Blends Containing Amphiphilic Polymers VI. Compatibilization of N-alkylitaconamic acid-co-Styrene Copolymers with Poly(hydroxypropyl methacrylate) and Poly(4-vinylphenol)

Blends containing copolymers of N-alkylitaconamic acid (NAIA) with styrene (NAIA-co-S) of two copolymer compositions, that is, 80% and 50% styrene, with poly(hydoxypropyl methacrylate (PHPM) and poly(vinyl phenol) (PVPh) were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The phase diagrams of Tg against blend composition show one single Tg value, which are intermediate to those of the pure components. This is interpreted as miscibility over the whole range of compositions in both systems. The Calorimetric Analysis using Gordon Taylor, Couchman, and Kwei treatments allows one to conclude that interactions between the components is favorable to the miscibility. FT-IR spectra show important displacements in the wavenumber corresponding to the carbonyl groups of the itaconamic acid moiety. This behavior is atributed to strong interaction by hydrogen bonds formation, taking into account that PHPM and PVPh are interacting polymers. FTIR analysis of the blends suggests that the driving force for miscibility is hydrogen bonds formation. The variation of the absorptions of the carbonyl groups of PNAIA and the hydroxyl groups of P4VPh allows to attribute the miscibility to weak acid-base like interactions.     

Novel Nontoxic 5,9-Disubstituted SN38 Derivatives: Characterization of Their Pharmacological Properties and Interactions with DNA Oligomers

Novel nontoxic derivatives of SN38 with favorable antineoplastic properties were characterized in water solution using NMR. The phenomena observed by NMR were linked to basic pharmacological properties, such as solubility, bioavailability, chemical and stereochemical stability, and binding to natural DNA oligomers through the terminal G-C base pair, which is commonly considered a biological target of Topo I inhibitors. Compound 1, with bulky substituents at both C5(R) and C20(S) on the same side of a camptothecin core, manifests self-association, whereas diastereomers 2, with bulky C5(S) and C20(S) substituents are mostly monomeric in solution. The stereogenic center at C5 is stable in water solution at pH 5–6. The compound with an (N-azetidinyl)methyl substituent at C9 can undergo the retro Mannich reaction after a prolonged time in water solution. Both diastereomers exhibit different abilities in terms of binding to DNA oligomers: compound 1 is strongly bound, whereas the binding of compound 2 is rather weak. Molecular modeling produced results consistent with NMR experiments. These complementary data allow linking of the observed phenomena in NMR experiments to basic preliminary information on the pharmacodynamic character of compounds and are essential for planning further development research.     

Novel N-Substituted 3-Aryl-4-(diethoxyphosphoryl)azetidin-2-ones as Antibiotic Enhancers and Antiviral Agents in Search for a Successful Treatment of Complex Infections

A novel series of N-substituted cis- and trans-3-aryl-4-(diethoxyphosphoryl)azetidin-2-ones were synthesized by the Kinugasa reaction of N-methyl- or N-benzyl-(diethyoxyphosphoryl)nitrone and selected aryl alkynes. Stereochemistry of diastereoisomeric adducts was established based on vicinal H3–H4 coupling constants in azetidin-2-one ring. All the obtained azetidin-2-ones were evaluated for the antiviral activity against a broad range of DNA and RNA viruses. Azetidin-2-one trans-11f showed moderate inhibitory activity against human coronavirus (229E) with EC₅₀ = 45 µM. The other isomer cis-11f was active against influenza A virus H1N1 subtype (EC₅₀ = 12 µM by visual CPE score; EC₅₀ = 8.3 µM by TMS score; MCC > 100 µM, CC₅₀ = 39.9 µM). Several azetidin-2-ones 10 and 11 were tested for their cytostatic activity toward nine cancerous cell lines and several of them appeared slightly active for Capan-1, Hap1 and HCT-116 cells values of IC₅₀ in the range 14.5–97.9 µM. Compound trans-11f was identified as adjuvant of oxacillin with significant ability to enhance the efficacy of this antibiotic toward the highly resistant S. aureus strain HEMSA 5. Docking and molecular dynamics simulations showed that enantiomer (3R,4S)-11f can be responsible for the promising activity due to the potency in displacing oxacillin at β-lactamase, thus protecting the antibiotic from undesirable biotransformation.     

Advances and Challenges in the Synthesis of Poly(p-phenylene vinylene)-Based Polymers

We provide an overview of the current progress in the synthesis of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) polymers. The described synthetic approaches can be divided into four main categories: polymerization of quinodimethane intermediates, metathesis polymerization, nucleophilic polycondensation, and palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling. While such variety is remarkable and very high-molecular-weight PPV can be prepared by some methods, the synthetic chemistry of PPV still limits the structural variety and purity of arylene vinylene polymers. In particular, palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, the method of choice in the contemporary conjugated polymer chemistry, often shows limited success in PPV series. On the other hand, the possibility of using metathesis polymerization creates new opportunities not available for other classes of conjugated polymers.     

Therapeutic Potential of Cell Penetrating Peptides (CPPs) and Cationic Polymers for Chronic Hepatitis B

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major health problem worldwide. Because current anti-HBV treatments are only virostatic, there is an urgent need for development of alternative antiviral approaches. In this context, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) and cationic polymers, such as chitosan (CS), appear of particular interest as nonviral vectors due to their capacity to facilitate cellular delivery of bioactive cargoes including peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) or DNA vaccines. We have investigated the ability of a PNA conjugated to different CPPs to inhibit the replication of duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV), a reference model for human HBV infection. The in vivo administration of PNA-CPP conjugates to neonatal ducklings showed that they reached the liver and inhibited DHBV replication. Interestingly, our results indicated also that a modified CPP (CatLip) alone, in the absence of its PNA cargo, was able to drastically inhibit late stages of DHBV replication. In the mouse model, conjugation of HBV DNA vaccine to modified CS (Man-CS-Phe) improved cellular and humoral responses to plasmid-encoded antigen. Moreover, other systems for gene delivery were investigated including CPP-modified CS and cationic nanoparticles. The results showed that these nonviral vectors considerably increased plasmid DNA uptake and expression. Collectively promising results obtained in preclinical studies suggest the usefulness of these safe delivery systems for the development of novel therapeutics against chronic hepatitis B.     

Synthesis and characterization of temperature‐responsive poly(vinyl alcohol)‐based copolymers

A poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/sodium acrylate (AANa) copolymer was synthesized to improve the water solubility of PVA at the ambient temperature. Furthermore, a series of temperature‐responsive acetalyzed poly(vinyl alcohol) (APVA)‐co‐AANa samples of various chain lengths, degrees of acetalysis (DAs), and comonomer contents were prepared via an acid‐catalysis process. Fourier transform infrared and ¹H‐NMR techniques were used to analyze the compositions of the copolymers. The measurement of the turbidity change for APVA‐co‐AANa aqueous solutions at different temperatures revealed that the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the copolymers could be tailored through the control of the molecular weight of the starting PVA‐co‐AANa, DA, and comonomer ratios. Lower LCSTs were observed for APVA‐co‐AANa with a longer chain length, a higher DA, and fewer acrylic acid segments. In addition, the LCSTs of the APVA‐co‐AANa aqueous solutions appeared to be salt‐sensitive. The LCSTs decreased as the concentration of NaCl increased. Moreover, atomic force microscopy images of APVA‐co‐AANa around the LCST also proved the temperature sensitivity. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Hydrothermal Preparation, Crystal Structures, Spectroscopic and Thermal Analyses of Cadmium(II) and Cobalt(II) Coordination Polymers With Pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic Acid

Two novel 1D coordination polymers, [M(μ-2,3-pydc)(H₂O)₃]_n (M = Cd for 1 and Co for 2) (2,3-pydcH₂ = pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid) have been hydrothermally synthesized. Both complexes were characterized by elemental analysis and by IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Their molecular and crystal structures were determined by X-ray crystal structure analysis and their thermal stability by TGA-DTA methods. Compound 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic Pca2 space group, while compound 2 crystallizes in the triclinic P−1 space group. Polymeric chains of 1 and 2 are composed of M(II) ions bridged by pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylate ions (2,3-pydc) in N,O,O′ fashion. Distorted octahedral coordination geometry around the metal ions is completed by three water molecules. A wide range of hydrogen bonding (of the O–H···O type) is also present in the crystal structures. These interactions lead to formation of a 3D structure for 1 and 2D network for 2.     

Molecular Rearrangement of Pyrazino[2,3-c]quinolin-5(6H)-ones during Their Reaction with Isocyanic Acid

New tetrahydropyrazino[2,3-c]quinolin-5(6H)-ones were prepared from 3-chloroquinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones and ethylene diamine. In their reaction with HNCO, an unprecedented molecular rearrangement produced new types of hydantoin derivatives. All prepared compounds were characterized on the basis of their ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N NMR and ESI mass spectra and some were authenticated by X-ray analysis of single crystalline material. A proposed mechanism for rearrangement is discussed in this essay. The CDK and ABL inhibition activity as well as in vitro cytotoxicity of the prepared compounds was also tested.     

Preparation and properties of high molecular weight poly(1-germa-) or poly(1-sila-cis-pent-3-enes)

High molecular weight poly(1,1-dimethyl-1-germa-cis-pent-3-ene), poly(1,1-diphenyl-1-germa-cis-pent-3-ene), poly(1,1-dimethyl-1-sila-cis-pent-3-ene), and poly(1-methyl-1-phenyl-1-sila-cis-pent-3-ene) have been prepared. The thermal stability of these polymers is found to increase with their molecular weight.     

Engineering of Poly Lactic Acids (PLAs) for melt processing: Material structure and thermal properties

Bottles and other packaging account for approximately 70% of the global market of biopolymers, which include both biodegradable and durable materials. Durable materials account for the vast majority of the market, especially the bottles. Degradable polymers are instead refrained by the often‐insufficient mechanical and thermal properties, which limit their usage to single‐use packaging items at ambient temperature and in dry conditions. In this respect, the present work deals with the development and manufacturing of innovative and custom‐built Poly Lactic Acids (PLAs) for injection and compression molding, which are designed to be compostable, suitable for food contact and characterized by a good compromise of mechanical properties and thermal stability. A commercial grade PLA was, therefore, compounded in a twin‐screw co‐rotating extruder by the addition of maleated and glycidyl methacrylate PLAs as chain extenders and micro‐lamellar talc as mineral filler and nucleation promoter. Compatibilization between PLA, chain extenders and mineral filler was, therefore, investigated. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) were performed to evaluate the material structure and thermal response of the pellets after reactive compounding extrusion. The experimental findings show that material structure and, especially, crystallization of the PLA can be controlled by fine‐tuning the compound formulation as well as by setting of the operational parameters. In addition, achievement of the appropriate crystallization degree in the polymer is found to lead to composite materials, which can boast very good thermal stability. Accordingly, the custom‐built PLA formulations feature the potential to expand significantly the fields of application of non‐durable polymers, thus posing a valid alternative to both durable biopolymers and conventional plastics in injection and compression molding process. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44504.