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Poly(ether-ester urethane)s (PUs) multiblock co-polymers were synthesized from telechelic hydroxylated poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) via a melting polymerization (MP) process using 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as a non-toxic coupling agent for the first time. The PHBHHx segments and PEG segments in the multiblock co-polymers behaved as a hard, hydrophobic and a soft, hydrophilic part, respectively. Their chemical structures and molecular characteristics were studied by gel-permeation chromatography (GPC), (1)H-NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The PU produced via the MP method showed a higher molecular weight than those resulting from the solvent polymerization (SP) reported previously. Thermal properties showed enhanced thermal stability with semi-crystalline morphology via incorporation of PEG. The segments compositions evaluated from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) two-step thermal decomposition profiles suggested that MP enhanced the reactivity of PEG compared with the SP process. It was in good agreement with those calculated from (1)H-NMR, as well as the precursor feed ratio, respectively. Water contact angle measurements revealed that surface hydrophilicity of the PUs was enhanced by incorporating the PEG segment into PHBHHx polymer backbone. The mechanical properties assessment of the PUs recorded an improved and adjustable ductility and toughness than pure PHBHHx while preserving the tensile strength. Samples synthesized via MP were resistant to hydrolytic and lipase degradation, yet the multiblock co-polymers incorporating the highest amount of PEG degraded at the highest rate. SEM studies revealed that the surface of the PU films became increasingly porous as the degradation proceeded. Implantation of PU in mouse abdominal cavity indicated that tissue regeneration and tissue compatibility of PU film was better than that of PHBHHx-only film.

In the current study, we describe an improved system to study the two-electron delivery reaction pathway of cytochrome P450, family 2, subfamily B, polypeptide 6 (CYP2B6) in vitro. In particular, a biocompatible film containing colloidal gold nanoparticles and chitosan was used to encapsulate CYP2B6 on an electrode. The electrocatalytic behaviors of CYP2B6 toward common drugs in the absence of NADHP-cytochrome P450 reductase as electron donor were studied. In an anaerobic solution, direct and reversible electron transfer between the electroactive heme center of CYP2B6 and the electrode was observed with a formal potential of -0.454 +/- 0.006 V at pH 7.4. In an air-saturated solution, an increase in the bioelectrocatalytic reduction current was observed after drug addition. The bioelectrocatalytic products were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Both results confirmed that C-hydroxylation and heteroatom release were the main pathways for CYP2B6-mediated drug oxidation, similar to what occurred in vivo. The use of immobilized proteins in nanoparticle-containing films in drug biosensing was also demonstrated.

A novel bienzyme-channeling sensor was constructed by entrapping glucose oxidase (GOD) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the mesopores of well-ordered hexagonal mesoporous silica structures (SBA-15). The SBA-15 mesoporous materials accelerated the electron transfer between the entrapped HRP and electrode. Both HRP and GOD retained their catalytic activities in the bienzyme-entrapped SBA-15 film. In presence of glucose the enzymatic reaction of GOD-glucose-dissolved oxygen system generated hydrogen peroxide in the bienzyme-entrapped mesopores, which was immediately reduced at -0.40 V by an electrocatalytic reaction with the HRP entrapped in the same mesopore to lead to a sensitive and fast amperometric response. Thus the bienzyme channeling could be used for the detection of glucose with excellent performance without the addition of any mediator. Optimization of the experimental parameters was performed with regard to pH, operating potential and temperature. The detection limit was down to 2.7 x 10(-7)M with a very wide linear range from 3.0 x 10(-6) to 3.4 x 10(-2)M. The constructed bienzyme channeling provided a strategy for amperometric detection of oxidase substrates by co-entrapping the corresponding oxidase and HRP in the mesoporous materials.

Charge transport in molecular systems and biosystems can be different from that in inorganic, rigid semiconductors. The electron-nuclear motion couplings play an important role in the former case. We have developed a theoretical scheme to employ the Marcus electron transfer theory coupled with a direct diabatic dimer model and the Brownian diffusion assumption to predict the carrier mobility for molecular materials. For triphenylamine, a typical molecular transport material, the design strategies regarding the formation a cyclic or a linear dimer are evaluated from theoretical calculations for the carrier mobility. We made a comparison between the mobility and the electrical polarizability. It is found that in the case of triphenylamine dimer, these two quantities have different trends. The fact that the macrocycle possesses higher mobility but lower polarizability than the linear chain is due to the difference in the reorganization energy. The theoretical predicted temperature dependences are analysed within the hopping mechanism. The calculated room-temperature mobilities are in reasonable agreement with experimental values.

N,N'-Bis(n-octyl)-2,3,6,7-tetrabromonaphthalene diimide (TBNDI) was synthesized by a new imidization reaction and characterized by HRMS, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, elemental analyses, FT-IR, UV-vis, and single-crystal X-ray analysis. The TBNDIs are the key precursors for the synthesis of core-tetrasubstituted-naphthalene diimides.

Aluminium(III) complexes are essential for understanding the toxicity, bioavailability and transport mechanisms of aluminium in environmental and biological systems. Since elucidation of the exact structures of these weakly coordinated systems is very difficult, the structures of Al(III) complexes in glutamate dehydrogenase reactions system were investigated recently from the following four aspects: (1) Constitutional studies: The keto-enol tautomerism of the complexes between aluminium(III) ion and alpha-ketoglutarate ligands in acidic aqueous solutions was studied. It is clearly demonstrated that Al(III) can promote the keto-enol tautomerization of alpha-ketoglutarate. (2) Configurational studies: Compared with L-Glu, the complex stability of D-Glu-Al is stronger, especially for the tridentate species. The result was further supported by computational results in the molecular mechanics model with the UFF forcefield. It is implied that Al(III) complexation may favor the racemization from L- to D-amino acids. (3) Conformational studies: At biologically relevant pH and concentrations of Al(III) and NADH, Al(III) was found to increase the percentage of folded forms of NADH, which results in reducing the activity of the coenzyme NADH in the hollow-dehydrogenase reactions system. However, the conformations of NAD(+) and Al-NAD(+) are dependent upon the solvents and other ligands in the complexes. (4) Biological effects: The effects of Al(III) on the activity of the glutamate dehydrogenase-catalyzed reactions were studied by monitoring the differential-pulse polarography reduction current of NAD(+). At the physiologically relevant pH values (pH 6.5 and 7.5), the activity of the GDH enzyme was strongly dependent on the concentration of the Al(III) in the assayed mixture solutions.

In this study, we investigate the direct electron-transfer reactivity of immobilized hemoglobin (Hb) on a polyurethane elastomer (PUE) film for biosensor designs. The PUE film synthesized by an additional polymerization possesses good biocompatibility, uniformity, and conformability and is ready for protein immobilization. Electrochemical and spectroscopic measurements show that the presence of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) increased the protein-PUE interaction, varied polymer morphology, improved the permeability and the conductivity of the PUE film, and thus facilitated the direct electron transfer between the immobilized Hb and the conductivity surface through the conducting tunnels of MWNTs. The immobilized Hb maintains its bioactivities and displays an excellent electrochemical behavior with a formal potential of -(334 +/- 7) mV. The addition of NaNO2 leads to an increase of the electrocatalytic reduction current of nitrite at -0.7 V. This allows us to develop a nitrite sensor with a linear response range from 0.08 to 3.6 mM. The proposed method opens a way to develop biosensors by using nanostructured materials mixed with low electrical conductivity matrixes.

A cyclic ethylene linked triphenylamine dimer formed highly crystalline thin film via vapor deposition. Meanwhile, the corresponding linear molecule only resulted in amorphous films under the same condition. The performance as FET semiconductor also improved significantly when the molecular structure derived from linear to cyclic type. The cyclic molecule displayed mobilities in excess of 10-2 cm2 V-1 s-1 and high on/off ratios up to 107.

New selective chemodosimeters for Hg(II) ion based on 1,3-dithiole-2-thione derivatives containing an anthracene unit are described.

The complex-formation equilibria between aluminum(III) ion and L-(+)-ascorbic acid (AA) in 0.1 M KCl ionic medium at 25 degrees C and 0.15 M NaCl ionic medium at 37 degrees C were studied by glass electrode pH-metric measurements. The obtained experimental results were explained by the formation of the following complexation species: a weak mononuclear 1:1 species AlL(2+) together with two trinuclear mixed-hydroxo species Al(3)H(-5)L(4) and Al(3)H(-5)L(3+) in acidic aqueous solutions. Meanwhile, the formation of the complexes and structures of Al with AA were proved by multinuclear (1H, 13C, 27Al) NMR spectra in the pH range 2.0-5.0. It is supposed that Al directly coordinates with AA at O-3 moiety; also, Al can coordinate with the O-1 and O-2 moieties of ascorbate ion through the weakly binding and the intramolecular hydrogen bonding in acidic aqueous solutions.

The interactions of dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) with Al(III) in near neutral aqueous solutions were studied by means of multinuclear (31P, 27Al, 1H and 13C)-NMR and fluorescence spectra techniques. The results suggested that Al(III) interacts with NADH by occupying the binding sites of pyrophosphate oxygen atoms and locks the adenine moiety of coenzyme in an anti folded conformation Meanwhile, the weak attractive interactions ('association') may occur between Al(III) and the hydroxyl groups of ribose rings through the intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Furthermore, at biologically relevant pH and concentrations of Al(III) and NADH (pH 6.5, C(Al)=10(-6)-10(-5) M), Al(III) could increase the amount of folded forms of NADH, which will result in reducing the coenzyme NADH activity in hollow-dehydrogenases reaction systems. However, in the presence of possible competing organic acids such as citrate, oxalate and tartate, could detoxify these Al(III) toxic effect.

Complexation and conformational studies of coenzyme NAD+ with aluminum were conducted in acidic aqueous solutions (pH 2-5) by means of potentiometry as well as multinuclear (1H, 13C, 31P, 27Al) and two-dimensional (1H, 1H-NOESY) NMR spectroscopy. These led to the following results: (1) Al could coordinate with NAD+ through the following binding sites: N7' of adenine and pyrophosphate free oxygen (O(A)1, O(N)1,O(A)2) to form various mononuclear 1:1 (AlLH23+, AlLH2+) and 2:1 (AlL2-) species, and dinuclear 2:2 (Al2L22+) species. (2) The conformations of NAD+ and Al-NAD+ depended on the solvents and different species in the complexes. The results suggest the occurrence of an Al-linked complexation, which causes structural changes at the primary recognition sites and secondary conformational alterations for coenzymes. This finding will help us to understand role of Al in biological enzyme reaction systems.

It has recently been reported that aluminum plays a very important role in reducing the activity of Krebs-cycle enzymes and glutamate dehydrogenase in rat brain homogenate. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the aluminum binding ability with the pivotal substrate alpha-ketoglutarate in biological systems. The interactions of aluminum with alpha-ketoglutarate were studied with pH-potentiometry, cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis, 1H, 27Al-NMR and Raman spectra multi-analytical techniques in acidic aqueous solution to measure the stoichiometries and stability constants of the complexes and its keto-enol tautomerism. The alpha-ketoglutarate was found to bind Al in a bidentate manner at the carboxylate and carbonyl moieties. The mononuclear 1:1 (AlLH(-1), AIL+, AlHL2+) and 2:1 (AlL2-, AlL2H(-2)3-) species, and dinuclear 2:1 (Al2L4+) species were found in acidic aqueous solution. Meanwhile, Al can promote alpha-KG tautomerize to its enolic-structure compounds in solutions. These findings may help to further understand the influence of Al on GDH enzyme reactions in biological systems.

Complex formation studies of L-glutamate with aluminum(III) ion were conducted in acidic aqueous solutions (pH 2.0 - 5.5) by means of pH-metric titration and multinuclear (1H, 13C and 27Al) NMR techniques. The following results were obtained: (1) Al could weakly coordinate with Glu to form various mononuclear 1:1 (AlLH2+, AlL+, AlLH(-1)) species and dinuclear 2:1 (Al2L4+) species in acidic aqueous solutions, which somewhat agreed with previous findings. (2) The multi-NMR spectra of Al-Glu and Al-Asp strongly suggest that, besides negatively charged carboxylate donors (-COO(-), -COO(-)), the amino group of Glu can participate in the binding of Al in the AlL+ and AlLH(-1) species in the case of its deprotonation, which rather agreed with the case of Al-Asp. (3) These tridentate five-+seven-membered joint chelate (-COO(-), -NH2, -COO(-)) complexes exhibit an enhanced stability, which can help to better understand the biological studies that Al-Glu could cross the erythrocyte membrane and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and be deposited selectively in various brain regions, particularly in the cortex. It will also help to intrinsically understand the Al's role in the biological transamination system, which is a very important process in all living things.

Dopamine (3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine, DA) is applied as an electroactive chelant for indirect determination of aluminum (Al) in biological fluids. It is observed that the decrease of the differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) anodic peak current of DA is linear with the increase of Al concentration. Under optimum experimental conditions (pH 8.6, 2.0 x 10(-4) M DA, and 0.03 M NH4Ac-NH3 x H2O buffer solution), two linear ranges, 5.0 x 10(-8) - 4.0 x 10(-7) M and 4.0 x 10(-7) - 7.2 x 10(-6) M Al(III), are obtained. The detection limit of Al is 1.9 x 10(-8) M and the relative standard deviation for 4 x 10(-6) M Al(III) is 3.1% (N = 8). Many biologically active foreign species have been selected for interference. Excellent recoveries and accuracy have been obtained in the measurements of Al in biological samples such as synthetic renal dialysate, Ringer's solution, human whole blood, cerebrospinal fluid of demented patient, and urine of diabetic patient. The methodological principle that Al complexes with DA on the electroactive position result in the depression of electrochemical activities of DA has been verified by comparing both the electrochemical behaviors and the spectroscopic responses like UV-vis and Raman of DA in the presence and in the absence of Al.