A Water-Soluble Wavy Coordination Polymer of Cu(II) as a Turn-On Luminescent Probe for Histidine and Histidine-Rich Proteins/Peptides

Histidine plays an essential role in most biological systems. Changes in the homeostasis of histidine and histidine-rich proteins are connected to several diseases. Herein, we report a water-soluble Cu(II) coordination polymer, labeled CuCP, for the fluorimetric detection of histidine and histidine-rich proteins and peptides. Single-crystal structure determination of CuCP revealed a two-dimensional wavy network structure in which a carboxylate group connects the individual Cu(II) dimer unit in a syn-anti conformation. The weakly luminescent and water-soluble CuCP shows turn-on blue emission in the presence of histidine and histidine-rich peptides and proteins. The polymer can also stain histidine-rich proteins via gel electrophoresis. The limits of quantifications for histidine, glycine-histidine, serine-histidine, human serum albumin (HSA), bovine serum albumin, pepsin, trypsin, and lysozyme were found to be 300, 160, 600, 300, 600, 800, 120, and 290 nM, respectively. Utilizing the fluorescence turn-on property of CuCP, we measured HSA quantitatively in the urine samples. We also validated the present urinary HSA measurement assay with existing analytical techniques. Job's plot, 1H NMR, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), fluorescence, and UV-vis studies confirmed the ligand displacement from CuCP in the presence of histidine.

Label-Free Detection of Unbound Bilirubin and Nitrophenol Explosives in Water by a Mechanosynthesized Dual Functional Zinc Complex: Recognition of Picric Acid in Various Common Organic Media

High levels of unconjugated bilirubin (UB) in serum lead to asymptomatic and neonatal jaundice and brain dysfunctions. Herein, we have reported the detection of UB at as low as 1 μM in an aqueous alkaline medium using a Zn(II) complex. The specificity of the complex has been validated by the HPLC in the concentration window 6-90 μM, which is rare. The sensory response of the probe at physiological pH against nitro explosives developed it as an instant-acting fluorosensor for picric acid (PA) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP). Spectroscopic titration provided a binding constant of 4×105  M-1 with PA. The naked eye detection was found to be 15 μM. The solid-state photoluminescent nature of the complex enabled it for PA sensing in the solid phase. Interestingly, the probe remained fluorescent in various volatile and non-volatile organic solvents. As a result, it can also detect PA and 2,4-DNP in a wide range of common organic media. NMR studies revealed the coordination of PA, 2,4-DNP, and UB to the Zn(II) center of the probe, which is responsible for the observed quenching of the probe with the analytes.

Fabrication of a paper-based facile and low-cost microfluidic device and digital imaging technique for point-of-need monitoring of hypochlorite

Lab-on-a-paper-based devices are promising alternatives to the existing arduous techniques for point-of-need monitoring. The present work reports an instant and facile method to produce a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD). The fabricated μPAD has been used to detect hypochlorite (OCl-) by incorporating newly synthesized chromo-fluorogenic ratiometric probes 1 and 2 into the sample reception zone. The probes showed high selectivity and fast response (<10 s) toward OCl- with an excellent linear relationship in the concentration range of 0-100 μM. The concentration-dependent fluorometric change driven by the reaction of 1@μPAD with OCl- has been monitored using gel-doc imaging systems, which is unprecedented. Digitizing the intensity of the colour solution with different mathematical models of colour has developed a straightforward method for monitoring OCl- without any interference from its competitors. 1@μPAD can detect OCl- at ∼10 times lower than the WHO recommended limit. The detection limit of 1@μPAD via a digital camera-based fluorescence technique was found to be better over digital camera-based cuvette assays. Therefore, 1@μPAD has been successfully utilized to monitor OCl- in actual environmental water samples with portability, ease of use, and sensitivity. The analytical RSD was found to be ≤3% based on fluorimetric detection using 1@μPAD. The chemodosimetric reaction between OCl- and the probe was evidenced by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, 1H NMR, and ESI-MS. The rapid response time, biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, 100% aqueous solubility, ratiometric feature, and exclusive OCl- selectivity over other competitive ROS/RNS successfully lead to the application of the probes for bioimaging of exogenous as well as endogenous OCl- in normal cells (HEK293) and cancerous cells (HeLa).

Copper(II)-Incorporated Porphyrin-Based Porous Organic Polymer for a Nonenzymatic Electrochemical Glucose Sensor

To date, the fabrication of multifunctional nanoplatforms based on a porous organic polymer for electrochemical sensing of biorelevant molecules has received considerable attention in the search for a more active, robust, and sensitive electrocatalyst. Here, in this report, we have developed a new porous organic polymer based on porphyrin (TEG-POR) from a polycondensation reaction between a triethylene glycol-linked dialdehyde and pyrrole. The Cu(II) complex of the polymer Cu-TEG-POR shows high sensitivity and a low detection limit for glucose electro-oxidation in an alkaline medium. The characterization of the as-synthesized polymer was done by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and ¹³C CP-MAS solid-state NMR. The N₂ adsorption/desorption isotherm was carried out at 77 K to analyze the porous property. TEG-POR and Cu-TEG-POR both show excellent thermal stability. The Cu-TEG-POR-modified GC electrode shows a low detection limit (LOD) value of 0.9 μM and a wide linear range (0.001-1.3 mM) with a sensitivity of 415.8 μA mM^-1 cm^-2 toward electrochemical glucose sensing. The interference of the modified electrode from ascorbic acid, dopamine, NaCl, uric acid, fructose, sucrose, and cysteine was insignificant. Cu-TEG-POR exhibits acceptable recovery for blood glucose detection (97.25-104%), suggesting its scope in the future for selective and sensitive nonenzymatic glucose detection in human blood.

Affinity Studies of Hemicyanine Derived Water Soluble Colorimetric Probes with Reactive Oxygen/Nitrogen/Sulfur Species

Peroxynitrite (ONOO^- ) is an essential endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in mitochondria under various pathological and physiological conditions. An increase in its level in mitochondria is related to numerous diseases. Herein, we report a series of hemicyanine-derived water-soluble colorimetric probes (1-4) and the reactivity of which was studied with various reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur species. Probes 1-4 are formed by conjugating 1,2,3,3-tetramethyl-3H-indolium iodide and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde or its derivatives through an alkene linkage formed by the Knoevenagel reaction. Oxidative cleavage of the electron-rich double bond of the conjugated hemicyanine dye revealed a discerning affinity of probe 3 towards peroxynitrite among all reactive oxygen species. The rapid change in color of 3 provides a sensitive and selective method for detecting peroxynitrite with a low detection limit of 180 nM. Notably, the water solubility of the probe displays excellent performance for the selective detection of peroxynitrite among ROS and reactive nitrogen (RNS)/sulfur species (RSS). UV-vis, ¹ H NMR, and ¹³ C NMR spectroscopic data and results from theoretical calculations provide further information on the interaction of peroxynitrite with probe 3.

Coumarin-Ensembled Vanadium(V) Compounds and Their Affinity Studies Toward Biological Thiols Probed by Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Fluorescence spectroscopic studies of a pair of new oxido-vanadium(V) compounds with biological thiols, such as homocysteine (Hcy), cysteine (Cys), and glutathione (GSH), have been investigated in this article. Despite notable progress in vanadium-thiol chemistry, no attention has been paid to exploring vanadium-based optical probes to study their interaction with biothiols. For this purpose, two oxido-vanadium(V) compounds, 1 and 2, have been prepared involving a tridentate ONO donor-based luminescent coumarin-derived ligand. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, NMR (¹ H, ¹³ C, and ⁵¹ V) spectroscopy, XPS, and DFT calculations have been used to establish their identities. The vanadium center in these compounds has a distorted octahedral environment. In compound 2, a methanol molecule is coordinated to the vanadium(V) center in the trans position of the terminal oxido moiety. The latter exerts a strong trans-labilizing influence on the coordinating methanol. Both 1 and 2 are weakly fluorescent. Photophysical investigations of the vanadium complexes in aqueous media at physiological pH (7.4) in the presence of various biothiols and amino acids showed significant fluorescence enhancement (83-fold) of the vanadium complexes, specifically with Hcy. The specific affinity of the complexes for Hcy remained unchanged even in the presence of other biothiols and amino acids. Kinetic investigation reveals pseudo-first order behavior of the compound with Hcy. Mechanistic studies have manifested that Hcy-induced reduction triggers the decomplexation of the vanadium compound, followed by hydrolysis and subsequent cyclization. Time-correlated single photon counting suggested that the radiative rate constant (k_r ) of 1 and 2 in the presence of Hcy serves as the prime factor for the fluorescence enhancement of the medium. Compound 1 has been tested efficiently for Hcy measurement in blood plasma rendering it suitable for practical applications.

Advances in the Development of Water-Soluble Fluorogenic Probes for Bioimaging of Hypochlorite/Hypochlorous Acid in Cells and Organisms

This mini-review summarizes the development of intracellular fluorogenic probes for biological investigations of hypochlorous acid/hypochlorite (HOCl/OCl^-) in living cells and tissues. Monitoring the formation or effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) inside living systems is critical in determining their roles in human physiology. HOCl/OCl^- is considered as an important member of the nonradical ROS family for its decisive microbicidal action in the innate immune system. Even though HOCl/OCl^- plays a defensive role in human health, abnormal or overexpression may have detrimental effects on the host physiology leading to many diseases, including neurodegeneration and cancer. In recent years, progress in the development of fluorescent imaging probes for observing HOCl/OCl^- levels in live cells and tissues has been made. Despite considerable advancement, challenges still exist in areas like working solvent/media, pH, response time, buffer selection, emission region, and others. In addition, this account aims to discuss the design strategies and sensing mechanisms of the representative fluorogenic probes for bioimaging of HOCl/OCl^-, endogenously and exogenously. Herein, we also have tried to provide the future direction to develop HOCl/OCl^- specific probes for disease diagnosis with particular attention to the requirement of the recognition group, solvent, and buffer media, which will be beneficial for those working in the domain of biomedical research.

A unique water soluble probe for measuring the cardiac marker homocysteine and its clinical validation

A series of copper(II) compounds 1-4 were synthesized and developed as fluorogenic probes to measure the cardiac marker homocysteine (Hcy) without any interference from other bioanalytes prevalent in human blood plasma including, cysteine and glutathione. UV-vis and EPR studies have provided confirmatory evidence for reduction-induced-emission-enhancement of the probe, which is responsible for the observed "off-to-on" behaviour towards Hcy. Water solubility, remarkable fluorescence enhancement (55-111 fold), and low detection ability (nearly 2.5 μM) make the probe suitable for clinical testing of cardiac samples. Investigation of 1 against a few reductive interferents testifies its specificity for Hcy. Results from clinical examination of cardiac samples by 1 when combined with the outcome of the reliability testing involving a clinically approved commercial immunoassay kit, validates the prospect of the molecular probe for direct measurement of Hcy in human plasma, which is unprecedented.

Enantiopure chiroptical probes for circular dichroism and absorbance based detection of nerve gas simulants

A series of oxovanadium(V) compounds 1-4 were prepared and explored as stereodynamic chiroptical probes to detect a simulant of sarin known as diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP) without any interference from the competing analytes. Simultaneous CD cum UV/vis based bimodal instant recognition of DCP using optically active probes is unprecedented. Upon fabricating the vanadium compound with a polymer has yielded a chiroptical membrane, which showed a change in its dichroic as well as colorimetric signals on interaction with DCP vapour at 1 ppm. EPR and UV/vis studies revealed an irreversible change of the CD-active V(V) to the CD-silent ternary V(V) species in presence of DCP via a transient V(IV) species. Nucleophilic attack of the alkoxo oxygen of 1-4 to the electrophilic P atom of DCP resulted in the formation of ternary V(V) compounds as confirmed by ⁵¹V/³¹P NMR.

Mechanistic Insight of Sensing Hydrogen Phosphate in Aqueous Medium by Using Lanthanide(III)-Based Luminescent Probes

The development of synthetic lanthanide luminescent probes for selective sensing or binding anions in aqueous medium requires an understanding of how these anions interact with synthetic lanthanide probes. Synthetic lanthanide probes designed to differentiate anions in aqueous medium could underpin exciting new sensing tools for biomedical research and drug discovery. In this direction, we present three mononuclear lanthanide-based complexes, EuLCl₃ (1), SmLCl₃ (2), and TbLCl₃ (3), incorporating a hexadentate aminomethylpiperidine-based nitrogen-rich heterocyclic ligand L for sensing anion and establishing mechanistic insight on their binding activities in aqueous medium. All these complexes are meticulously studied for their preferential selectivities towards different anions such as HPO₄²⁻, SO₄²⁻, CH₃COO⁻, I⁻, Br⁻, Cl⁻, F⁻, NO₃⁻, CO₃²⁻/HCO₃⁻, and HSO₄⁻ at pH 7.4 in aqueous HEPES (2-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazin-1-yl]ethanesulfonic acid) buffer. Among the anions scanned, HPO₄²⁻ showed an excellent luminescence change with all three complexes. Job’s plot and ESI-MS support the 1:2 association between the receptors and HPO₄²⁻. Systematic spectrophotometric titrations of 1–3 against HPO₄²⁻ demonstrates that the emission intensities of 1 and 2 were enhanced slightly upon the addition of HPO₄²⁻ in the range 0.01–1 equiv and 0.01–2 equiv., respectively. Among the three complexes, complex 3 showed a steady quenching of luminescence throughout the titration of hydrogen phosphate. The lower and higher detection limits of HPO₄²⁻ by complexes 1 and 2 were determined as 0.1–4 mM and 0.4–3.2 mM, respectively, while complex 3 covered 0.2–100 μM. This concludes that all complexes demonstrated a high degree of sensitivity and selectivity towards HPO₄²⁻.

Concurrent detection and treatment of cyanide-contaminated water using mechanosynthesized receptors

The development of receptors that can detect as well as treat cyanide ions in aqueous samples is indispensable for environmental protection. Herein, we present the bulk solvent-free and instant green synthesis of a series of turn-on fluorimetric probes that can specifically detect the deadly poison cyanide among various anions and metal ions in water. Selective recognition of cyanide by the mechanosynthesized compounds is even observable by the naked eyes, which remained unaffected in the presence of various challenging species. NMR spectroscopic investigation supports the chemodosimetric sensing of cyanide by the receptors. A remarkable 55-83 fold fluorescence enhancement by the probes enabled us to reach a limit of detection (LOD) in the range of 8-26 ppb, well below the permissible limit of cyanide in drinking water. Being minuscule soluble in water, cyanide treatment studies with the ionophores showed greater than 99% reduction in the free cyanide concentration after three consecutive cycles of operation. Furthermore, the compounds can be used as sensitive probes for the estimation of cyanide in human blood serum in physiological conditions. Overall, the results presented in this article will certainly find great use in the area of cyanide pollution with regard to simultaneous sensing and treatment of free cyanide, which is heretofore unprecedented.

Estimation of bisulfate in edible plant foods, dog urine, and drugs: picomolar level detection and bio-imaging in living organisms

In order to explore the properties of any species in solution, the actual, i.e. equilibrium concentration of the free species should be taken into account. Researchers have not paid attention to the deprotonation equilibrium between HSO4- and SO42- while probing bisulfate ion. In this study, we have addressed this concern and developed two zwitterions, CG (coumarin-integrated glycine) and CA (coumarin-integrated alanine), for the selective detection of HSO4- at a picomolar level (50 to 325 pM) with very high binding affinity (∼108 M-1) in pure water at physiological pH. The principle of HSO4- recognition was established via UV-vis and fluorescence techniques. DFT calculations suggested that the H-bonding interactions between the probes and HSO4- are the driving force for this unforeseen selectivity. The membrane penetration ability and nontoxicity of CG/CA enable them to function as staining agents in living brine shrimps and bacteria. The use of these probes for the estimation of HSO4- in various day-to-day edible foods and drugs along with urine samples is unprecedented. The significance and novelty of this study lies in the application and development of assays for estimating bisulfate in several real-world samples that are predominantly aqueous in nature, which are the first of their kind.

Characterization of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid by Klebsiella sp. NP-C49 from the coral environment in Gulf of Kutch, India

Coral-associated microbes from Marine National Park (MNP), Gulf of Kutch (GoK), Gujarat, India, were screened for siderophore production. Maximum siderophore-producing isolate NP-C49 and its compound were identified and characterized. The isolate was identified as Klebsiella sp. through 16S rRNA genes sequencing (GenBank accession nos. KY412519 and MTCC 25160). Antibiotic susceptibility profile against 20 commercial antibiotics showed its more sensitivity compared to human pathogenic strain, i.e., Klebsiella pneumonia. The compound was identified as phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) using the multinuclear ID (¹H and ¹³C) and 2D (¹H-¹H COSY and ¹H-¹³C HETCOR) NMR along with high-resolution mass spectrometry. No significant difference in the bacterial growth in the presence of PCA, FeCl₃ and Fe(OH)₃ indicated involvement of factors other than PCA in bacterial growth. The study first reports the identification and characterization of PCA from Klebsiella sp. both from terrestrial and marine sources.

Fabrication of a Cu(II)-Selective Electrode in the Polyvinyl Chloride Matrix Utilizing Mechanochemically Synthesized Rhodamine 6g as an Ionophore

A Cu(II)-selective electrode has been fabricated by utilizing a mechanochemically synthesized copper-specific ionophore "L" embedded in a poly(vinyl chloride) membrane. 2-Nitrophenyloctylether and sodium tetraphenylborate have been used as a plasticizer and as a solvent mediator, respectively, and found to be enhancing the sensitivity of the fabricated ion-selective electrode (ISE). A range of membranes (S1-S7) with varying compositions were casted and investigated in ISE. Results revealed an excellent Nernstian response of 29.38 ± 0.55 mV/dec for the ISE S6. The fabricated ISE operates well in the pH window 4.0-7.5, and the limit of detection was found to be 5 μM (0.3 ppm). Quick response time (15 s), long shelf-life, and selectivity (on the order of 10^-4 and 10^-5) over a number of interfering cations enabled S6 promising for real off laboratory sample analysis and can be employed to detect copper ion in various industrial as well as biological and environmental samples. To demonstrate the practical application of these ISE, the Cu concentration in the digested printed circuit board has been estimated using the standard calibration plot. The fabricated ISE has been regenerated through extracting copper by chelating with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.

Instant Detection of Hydrogen Cyanide Gas and Cyanide Salts in Solid Matrices and Water by using CuII and NiII Complexes of Intramolecularly Hydrogen Bonded Zwitterions

A series of intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded zwitterionic compartmental ligands HL1-HL4, containing a pendent diamine arm that is monoprotonated and an aldehyde functionality at two different ortho-positions of a 4-halophenoxide, is reported herein. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD) provides persuasive evidence for the identification of this class of proton-transferred zwitterions at room temperature. The solid-state photoluminescent nature of these zwitterions remains intact in aqueous and organic solutions. Grinding of HL1 and HL2 with Cu²⁺ /Ni²⁺ salts develop turn-on probes 1-4. Compounds 1 and 4 are dinuclear Cu^II and Ni^II species, respectively. Compound 2 is a tetranuclear Cu^II complex. Interestingly, compound 3 is a mononuclear Ni^II species in which both nitrogen atoms in the pendant diamine arm are protonated and, therefore, not coordinated to the Ni^II center. All these probes (1-4) display an instant response to the poison gas hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and cyanide salts present in both solid matrices and aqueous (100 % water) solution. Selective and rapid sensing of HCN gas and cyanide salts in solid/soil/water phases, without any interference, by the mechanosynthesized complexes 1-4 can be perceived easily by the naked eye under a hand-held UV lamp.

Siderophore coated magnetic iron nanoparticles: Rational designing of water soluble nanobiosensor for visualizing Al3+ in live organism

This article aims to establish the judicious use of iron-binding chemistry of microbial chelators in order to functionalize the surface of iron nanoparticles to develop non-toxic nanobiosensor. Anchoring a simple siderophore 2,3-dihydroxybenzoylglycine (H₃L), which bears catechol and carboxyl functionalities in tandem, on to the surface of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles has developed a unique nanobiosensor HL-FeNPs which showed highly selective and sensitive detection of Al³⁺ in 100% water at physiological pH. The biosensor HL-FeNPs, with 20nM limit of detection, behaves reversibly and instantly. In-vivo bio-imaging in live brine shrimp Artemia confirmed that HL-FeNPs could be used as fluorescent biomarker for Al³⁺ in live whole organisms. Magnetic nature of the nanosensor enabled HL-FeNPs to remove excess Al³⁺ by using external magnet. To our knowledge, the possibility of microbial chelator in the practical development of Al³⁺ selective nanobiosensor is unprecedented.

Naked eye instant reversible sensing of Cu(2+) and its in situ imaging in live brine shrimp Artemia

A Cu(2+)-specific colorimetric reversible fluorescent receptor was designed and synthesized which showed a naked eye observable colour change from colourless to pink on addition of an aqueous buffer (pH 7.4) solution of 30 ppb Cu(2+). Short response time (≤5 s) and low detection limit (nearly 3 ppb) make suitable as a reliable "dip-in" open eye sensor for Cu(2+). Bio-imaging application in live brine shrimp Artemia enabled to detect Cu(2+) at as low as 10 ppb exposure.

Xanthurenic acid: a natural ionophore with high selectivity and sensitivity for potassium ions in an aqueous solution

Synopsis: A well-known tryptophan metabolite, xanthurenic acid, a natural non-fluorescent intermediate siderophore, showed a very selective turn-on response to K⁺ over other competing metal ions and the detection limit of this natural ionophore was found to be 53 nM at physiological pH.

Reporting a new siderophore based Ca2+ selective chemosensor that works as a staining agent in the live organism Artemia

A new acyclic chemosensor bearing a siderophore linked to a rhodamine 6G fluorophore showed highly selective detection of Ca²⁺ ions in 100% aqueous solution at pH 7.4. The probe showed bio-imaging applicability in the live animal Artemia.

Effect of Ancillary Ligand on Electronic Structure as Probed by 51V Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy for Vanadium-o-Dioxolene Complexes

A series of vanadium(V) complexes with o-dioxolene (catecholato) ligands and an ancillary ligand, (N-(salicylideneaminato)ethylenediamine) (hensal), were investigated using ⁵¹V solid-state magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy (⁵¹V MAS NMR) to assess the local environment of the vanadium(V). The solid-state ⁵¹V NMR parameters of vanadium(V) complexes with a related potentially tetradentate ancillary ligand (N-salicylidene-N'-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine) (h₂shed) were previously shown to be associated with the size of the HOMO-LUMO gap in the complex, and as such provide insights on the interaction between metal ion and ligand (P. B. Chatterjee, et al., Inorg. Chem 50 (2011) 9794). Our results show that the modification of the ancillary ligand does not impact the observed trend between complexes ranging from catechols with electron rich to electron poor substituents. However, the ancillary ligand does impact the size of the HOMO-LUMO separation in the parent complex and thus the solid-state vanadium NMR chemical shift of the unsubstituted vanadium complex. For these complexes significant changes observed in the isotropic shifts and more modest changes detected in the C_Q reflect the electronic changes in the complex as the catechol is varied. However, no obvious trend was observed in the chemical shift anisotropies (δ_σ and η_σ) with the variation in the catechol. The electronic changes in the coordination environment of the vanadium can be described using solid-state ⁵¹V NMR spectroscopy.

Solid-to-solid oxidation of a vanadium(IV) to a vanadium(V) compound: chemisty of a sulfur-containing siderophore

Visible light facilitates a solid-to-solid photochemical aerobic oxidation of a hunter-green microcrystalline oxidovanadium(IV) compound (1) to form a black powder of cis-dioxidovanadium(V) (2) at ambient temperature. The siderophore ligand pyridine-2,6-bis(thiocarboxylic acid), H(2)L, is secreted by a microorganism from the Pseudomonas genus. This irreversible transformation of a metal monooxo to a metal dioxo complex in the solid state in the absence of solvent is unprecedented. It serves as a proof-of-concept reaction for green chemistry occurring in solid matrixes.

Insulin receptors and downstream substrates associate with membrane microdomains after treatment with insulin or chromium(III) picolinate

We have examined the association of insulin receptors (IR) and downstream signaling molecules with membrane microdomains in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells following treatment with insulin or tris(2-pyridinecarbxylato)chromium(III) (Cr(pic)(3)). Single-particle tracking demonstrated that individual IR on these cells exhibited reduced lateral diffusion and increased confinement within 100 nm-scale membrane compartments after treatment with either 200 nM insulin or 10 μM Cr(pic)(3). These treatments also increased the association of native IR, phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1 and phosphorylated AKT with detergent-resistant membrane microdomains of characteristically high buoyancy. Confocal fluorescence microscopic imaging of Di-4-ANEPPDHQ labeled RBL-2H3 cells also showed that plasma membrane lipid order decreased following treatment with Cr(pic)(3) but was not altered by insulin treatment. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy demonstrated that Cr(pic)(3) did not affect IR cell-surface density or compete with insulin for available binding sites. Finally, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that Cr(pic)(3) likely associates with the lipid interface in reverse-micelle model membranes. Taken together, these results suggest that activation of IR signaling in a cellular model system by both insulin and Cr(pic)(3) involves retention of IR in specialized nanometer-scale membrane microdomains but that the insulin-like effects of Cr(pic)(3) are due to changes in membrane lipid order rather than to direct interactions with IR.

Characterization of noninnocent metal complexes using solid-state NMR spectroscopy: o-dioxolene vanadium complexes

(51)V solid-state NMR (SSNMR) studies of a series of noninnocent vanadium(V) catechol complexes have been conducted to evaluate the possibility that (51)V NMR observables, quadrupolar and chemical shift anisotropies, and electronic structures of such compounds can be used to characterize these compounds. The vanadium(V) catechol complexes described in these studies have relatively small quadrupolar coupling constants, which cover a surprisingly small range from 3.4 to 4.2 MHz. On the other hand, isotropic (51)V NMR chemical shifts cover a wide range from -200 to 400 ppm in solution and from -219 to 530 ppm in the solid state. A linear correlation of (51)V NMR isotropic solution and solid-state chemical shifts of complexes containing noninnocent ligands is observed. These experimental results provide the information needed for the application of (51)V SSNMR spectroscopy in characterizing the electronic properties of a wide variety of vanadium-containing systems and, in particular, those containing noninnocent ligands and that have chemical shifts outside the populated range of -300 to -700 ppm. The studies presented in this report demonstrate that the small quadrupolar couplings covering a narrow range of values reflect the symmetric electronic charge distribution, which is also similar across these complexes. These quadrupolar interaction parameters alone are not sufficient to capture the rich electronic structure of these complexes. In contrast, the chemical shift anisotropy tensor elements accessible from (51)V SSNMR experiments are a highly sensitive probe of subtle differences in electronic distribution and orbital occupancy in these compounds. Quantum chemical (density functional theory) calculations of NMR parameters for [VO(hshed)(Cat)] yield a (51)V chemical shift anisotropy tensor in reasonable agreement with the experimental results, but surprisingly the calculated quadrupolar coupling constant is significantly greater than the experimental value. The studies demonstrate that substitution of the catechol ligand with electron-donating groups results in an increase in the HOMO-LUMO gap and can be directly followed by an upfield shift for the vanadium catechol complex. In contrast, substitution of the catechol ligand with electron-withdrawing groups results in a decrease in the HOMO-LUMO gap and can directly be followed by a downfield shift for the complex. The vanadium catechol complexes were used in this work because (51)V is a half-integer quadrupolar nucleus whose NMR observables are highly sensitive to the local environment. However, the results are general and could be extended to other redox-active complexes that exhibit coordination chemistry similar to that of the vanadium catechol complexes.

Effect of micellar and reverse micellar interface on solute location: 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate in CTAB micelles and CTAB and AOT reverse micelles

The interface-solute interactions, including solute location, surfactant charge, and geometry of solute interactions were studied in CTAB micelles and reverse micelles and were found to be similar as measured using (1)H NMR spectroscopy and a pH-sensitive probe. (1)H NMR spectra were recorded in the presence and absence of 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate probe at CTAB concentrations above and below the critical micelle concentration showing interaction between dipic-probe and the micellar self-assembled structure. Downfield chemical shifts are observed for the CTAB surfactant signals upon aggregation and micelle formation. The effect of micelle formation on CTAB chemical shifts was quantitated, and simple ion pairing was ruled out. No significant change in CTAB surfactant signals are observed in the presence of monoanionic probe, whereas significant shifts are observed in the presence of the dianionic probe. The (1)H NMR spectra of the dipic-probe are diagnostic of the protonation state and isomeric form of the dipic-probe. The (1)H NMR chemical shifts in micelles are sensitive to the location of the dipic-probe, and the downfield chemical shift suggests location of part of the molecule in the Stern layer near the charged interface. Other parts of the probe show an upfield chemical shifts consistent with a deeper penetration of the dipic-probe into the surfactant layer. Probe location was confirmed using the 2D ROESY. Spectra recorded of the dipic-probe at various pH values demonstrate that both CTAB micellar and CTAB/pentanol/cyclohexane reverse micellar interfaces are different than those reported in aqueous solution and in AOT/isooctane reverse micelles (Crans et al. J. Org. Chem. 2008, 73, 9633-9640) and suggest interface penetration by dipic(2-). Together these observations and comparisons provide guidelines for future interpretation of chemical shift changes in both micelles and reverse micelles and point to headgroup charge as being a key factor determining the direction of chemical shift change and the depth of solute penetration.