Split Enzyme-Based Biosensors for Structural Characterization of Soluble and Insoluble β-Glucans

β-Glucan is widely distributed in various plants and microorganisms and is composed of β-1,3-linked d-glucose units. It may have a branched short or long side chain of glucose units with β-1,6- or β-1,4-linkage. Numerous studies have investigated different β-glucans and revealed their bioactivities. To understand the structure-function relationship of β-glucan, we constructed a split-luciferase complementation assay for the structural analysis of long-chain β-1,6-branched β-1,3-glucan. The N- and C-terminal fragments of luciferase from deep-sea shrimp were fused to insect-derived β-1,3-glucan recognition protein and fungal endo-β-1,6-glucanase (Neg1)-derived β-1,6-glucan recognition protein, respectively. In this approach, two β-glucan recognition proteins bound to β-glucan molecules come into close proximity, resulting in the assembly of the full-length reporter enzyme and induction of transient luciferase activity, indicative of the structure of β-glucan. To test the applicability of this assay, β-glucan and two β-glucan recognition proteins were mixed, resulting in an increase in the luminescence intensity in a β-1,3-glucan with a long polymer of β-1,6-glucan in a dose-dependent manner. This simple test also allows the monitoring of real-time changes in the side chain structure and serves as a convenient method to distinguish between β-1,3-glucan and long-chain β-1,6-branched β-1,3-glucan in various soluble and insoluble β-glucans.     

4-Methyl-2,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)pent-1-ene,a Major Active Metabolite of Bisphenol A,Triggers Pancreatic β-Cell Death via a JNK/AMPKα Activation-Regulated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Apoptotic Pathway

4-methyl-2,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)pent-1-ene (MBP), a major active metabolite of bisphenol A (BPA), is generated in the mammalian liver. Some studies have suggested that MBP exerts greater toxicity than BPA. However, the mechanism underlying MBP-induced pancreatic β-cell cytotoxicity remains largely unclear. This study demonstrated the cytotoxicity of MBP in pancreatic β-cells and elucidated the cellular mechanism involved in MBP-induced β-cell death. Our results showed that MBP exposure significantly reduced cell viability, caused insulin secretion dysfunction, and induced apoptotic events including increased caspase-3 activity and the expression of active forms of caspase-3/-7/-9 and PARP protein. In addition, MBP triggered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, as indicated by the upregulation of GRP 78, CHOP, and cleaved caspase-12 proteins. Pretreatment with 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA; a pharmacological inhibitor of ER stress) markedly reversed MBP-induced ER stress and apoptosis-related signals. Furthermore, exposure to MBP significantly induced the protein phosphorylation of JNK and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)α. Pretreatment of β-cells with pharmacological inhibitors for JNK (SP600125) and AMPK (compound C), respectively, effectively abrogated the MBP-induced apoptosis-related signals. Both JNK and AMPK inhibitors also suppressed the MBP-induced activation of JNK and AMPKα and of each other. In conclusion, these findings suggest that MBP exposure exerts cytotoxicity on β-cells via the interdependent activation of JNK and AMPKα, which regulates the downstream apoptotic signaling pathway.     

2,4-Dichlorophenol molecularly imprinted two-dimensional photonic crystal hydrogels

A novel molecularly imprinted two-dimensional (2-D) photonic crystal hydrogels (MIPH) for sensitive and label-free recognition of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) was prepared. The 2-D photonic crystal template was fabricated by using air-water interface self-assembly method. And then the template was embedded with molecularly imprinted polymer, which was synthesized with 2,4-DCP as imprinted molecules, dimethyl sulfoxide as solvent, acrylic acid and acrylamide as functional monomers, N,N-methylene bis acrylamide as cross-linker, azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. The imprinted molecules were removed by 0.01 M ammonia solution. The results indicated that the 2,4-DCP molecularly imprinted 2-D photonic crystal hydrogels has good response and recognition ability to 2,4-DCP. When the molar ratio of cross-linking density of MIPH is 2.3% and the molar ratio of imprinting molecule is 5.0%, the change of Debye ring diameter is the largest. The diameter of Debye ring increased by 7.1 mm when the concentration of 2,4-DCP changed from 0 to 1 × 10⁻⁶ M, and the particle spacing of MIPH reduced 38 nm. In addition, the diameter of the Debye ring hardly changed in the solution of analogues of 2,4-DCP such as, phenol, 2-chlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and so on, indicating that the MIPH has highly sensitivity and specificity.     

Dendrimer as nanocarrier for drug delivery

Dendrimers are novel three dimensional, hyperbranched globular nanopolymeric architectures. Attractive features like nanoscopic size, narrow polydispersity index, excellent control over molecular structure, availability of multiple functional groups at the periphery and cavities in the interior distinguish them amongst the available polymers. Applications of dendrimers in a large variety of fields have been explored. Drug delivery scientists are especially enthusiastic about possible utility of dendrimers as drug delivery tool. Terminal functionalities provide a platform for conjugation of the drug and targeting moieties. In addition, these peripheral functional groups can be employed to tailor-make the properties of dendrimers, enhancing their versatility. The present review highlights the contribution of dendrimers in the field of nanotechnology with intent to aid the researchers in exploring dendrimers in the field of drug delivery.     

UV–944对聚酰胺6抗紫外光老化和热氧稳定性的影响

在己内酰胺开环水解过程中,加入一定量的聚{[6-[(1,1,3,3-四甲基丁基)氨基]]-1,3,5-三嗪-2,4-[(2,2,6,6-四甲基-哌啶基)亚氨基]-1,6-己二撑[(2,2,6,6-四甲基-4-哌啶基)亚氨基]}(UV–944),合成改性聚酰胺6。研究了UV–944对聚酰胺6光稳定性、热氧稳定性和末端氨基含量的影响。结果表明,UV–944的加入能明显提高聚酰胺6的耐紫外光老化及热氧稳定性,在空气氛围下的起始分解温度提高28℃左右;在185℃老化0.5 h后,改性聚酰胺6的相对黏度下降极低(UV–944质量分数为0.05%时,相对黏度仅下降了3.1%),热氧稳定性明显得到改善。同时,聚酰胺6的末端氨基含量增加,加入UV–944质量分数分别为0.05%,0.2%时,聚酰胺6的末端氨基含量比纯聚酰胺6提高5.1,18.7 mmol/kg,对染色性能明显有所改善。而UV–944对聚酰胺6的热稳定性、熔融温度与结晶温度影响不大。     

高效液相色谱法同时测定工业废水中的2,4-二叔丁基酚和2,6-二叔丁基酚

采用高效液相色谱法同时测定工业废水中的2,4-二叔丁基酚和2,6-二叔丁基酚的含量。色谱条件为ZORBAX -XDB-C8色谱柱（4.6 mm×150 mm,5μm）,流动相为水：甲醇：异丙醇（25＋60＋15）混合液,流量为1.0 mL·min-1,进样量20μL,调节检测波长为270 nm。在该方法下2,4-二叔丁基酚和2,6-二叔丁基酚的线性范围为0.005~0.5 mg·mL-1（相关系数分别为0.9999, n=5;0.9999, n=5）。加标回收率分别在98.3%~101.8%和98.5%~101.0%之间,相对标准偏差（n=8）分别为1.35%和1.07%。所用的方法准确简便、重复性好,可作为2,4-二叔丁基酚和2,6-二叔丁基酚含量测定的有效方法。     

抗氧剂1520的合成

以邻甲酚、正辛硫醇、多聚甲醛为原料,哌啶为催化剂,DMF为溶剂,在氮气保护下合成了抗氧化剂1520 (2, 4-二(正辛基硫亚甲基)-6-甲基苯酚)。考察了投料比、催化剂的用量、反应温度和时间对反应收率的影响。结果表明,当邻甲酚、正辛硫醇、多聚甲醛的摩尔比为1: 2: 4,哌啶用量为邻甲酚用量的9.8%,110 ℃回流反应8 h时,2, 4-二(正辛基硫亚甲基)-6-甲基苯酚的收率达到94.5%。利用IR和1HNMR等分析手段对产物进行表征。     

氯尼达明的合成工艺改进

以苯肼及2,4-二氯甲苯为起始原料,苯肼经乙酰化,然后与水合氯醛、盐酸羟胺及硫酸钠反应生成N-乙酰氨基肟基乙酰苯胺,再经Beckmann重排,缩环,水解生成1H-吲唑-3-羧酸;2,4-二氯甲苯与NBS,在AIBN的催化下生成2,4-二氯溴苄,然后与1H-吲唑-3-羧酸反应生成氯尼达明。通过单因素实验和正交实验考察了N-乙酰氨基肟基乙酰苯胺的合成工艺,确定了最佳工艺条件:物料配比n(N-乙酰苯肼)∶n(水合氯醛)∶n(硫酸钠)=1∶1.3∶8.5,反应温度为90℃,反应时间为13 min,在该条件下,产物收率达86.9%,氯尼达明的总收率为31.2%。产物结构经红外、核磁和质谱进行了表征确定。     

Molecular Imprinted Polymer of Methacrylic Acid Functionalised β-Cyclodextrin for Selective Removal of 2,4-Dichlorophenol

This work describes methacrylic acid functionalized β-cyclodextrin (MAA-βCD) as a novel functional monomer in the preparation of molecular imprinted polymer (MIP MAA-βCD) for the selective removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). The polymer was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) techniques. The influence of parameters such as solution pH, contact time, temperature and initial concentrations towards removal of 2,4-DCP using MIP MAA-βCD have been evaluated. The imprinted material shows fast kinetics and the optimum pH for removal of 2,4-DCP is pH 7. Compared with the corresponding non-imprinted polymer (NIP MAA-βCD), the MIP MAA-βCD exhibited higher adsorption capacity and outstanding selectivity towards 2,4-DCP. Freundlich isotherm best fitted the adsorption equilibrium data of MIP MAA-βCD and the kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model. The calculated thermodynamic parameters showed that adsorption of 2,4-DCP was spontaneous and exothermic under the examined conditions.