Sequence-specific fluorometric recognition of HIV-1 ds-DNA with zwitterionic zinc(II)-carboxylate polymers.

Four water-stable zwitterionic zinc-carboxylate polymers are prepared by reacting N-carboxymethyl-(3,5-dicarboxy)-pyridinium bromide (H3CmdcpBr) with zinc(II) nitrate in the presence of NaOH, through adjusting the solvents and ancillary ligands. With H2O as the solvent and the absence of an ancillary ligand, a two-dimensional (2D) polymer network [Zn(Cmdcp)(H2O)]n (1) is formed. In a mixed H2O/DMF solvent and with the presence of chelating ligands 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and 2-(4-pyridyl)benzimidazole (pbz), a one-dimensional (1D) polymer of {[Zn2(Cmdcp)(bipy)2(H2O)5](NO3)2·3H2O}n (2), a mononuclear ionic species of [Zn(phen)(H2O)4][Cmdcp] (3), and a 2D polymer of {[Zn(Cmdcp)(pbz)][pbz]·7H2O}n (4) are accordingly formed. Compounds 1-4 are characterized by IR, elemental analyses and single crystal X-ray crystallography. Compound 2 strongly adsorbs single-stranded DNA (ss-DNA) probe (denoted as P-DNA) labeled with carboxyfluorescein (FAM) and quenches its fluorescence via a photo-induced electron transfer process. If, however, a double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA) of the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1 ds-DNA) is further present, the P-DNA interacts with the major groove in HIV-1 ds-DNA via Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding to form a rigid triplex structure. This results in partial or complete fluorescence recovery depending on the concentration of HIV-1 ds-DNA. The findings are applied in fluorometric sensing of HIV-1 ds-DNA. The calibration plot is linear in the 0-60nM target DNA concentration range, with a 7.4nM detection limit (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3). The assay is highly specific and not interfered by one base pair mutated for complementary target HIV-1 ds-DNA, complementary ss-DNA, single-base pair mutated for complementary ss-DNA, non-specific ss-DNA sequences, and higher-order dimeric G-quadruplexes.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles on the basis of low and high molar mass exopolysaccharides of Bradyrhizobium japonicum 36 and its antimicrobial activity against some pathogens.

Silver nanoparticles (SNPs) were synthesized on the basis of exopolysaccharides (low and high molar mass) of diazotrophic Bradyrhizobium japonicum 36 strain. The synthesis of SNPs was carried out by direct reduction of silver nitrate with ethanol-insoluble (high molar mass, HMW) and ethanol-soluble (low molar mass, LMW) fractions of exopolysaccharides (EPS), produced by diazotrophic strain B. japonicum 36. SNPs were characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). SNPs synthesized on the basis of LMW EPS absorbed radiation in the visible regions of 420 nm, whereas SNPs based on the HMW EPS have a wavelength maximum at 450 nm because of the strong SPR transition. Moreover, the antibacterial and antifungal activities of the SNPs were examined in vitro against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. SNPs synthesized on the basis of LMW EPS were active than those synthesized on the basis of HMW EPS. Besides, UV-visible spectroscopic evaluation confirmed that SNPs synthesized on the basis of LMW EPS were far more stable than those obtained on the basis of HMW EPS.

A zwitterionic 1D/2D polymer co-crystal and its polymorphic sub-components: a highly selective sensing platform for HIV ds-DNA sequences.

Polymorphic compounds {[Cu(dcbb)2(H2O)2]·10H2O}n (2, 1D chain), [Cu(dcbb)2]n (3, 2D layer) and their co-crystal {[Cu(dcbb)2(H2O)][Cu(dcbb)2]2}n (4) have been prepared from the coordination reaction of a 2D polymer [Na(dcbb)(H2O)]n (1, H2dcbbBr = 1-(3,5-dicarboxybenzyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium bromide) with Cu(NO3)2·3H2O at different temperatures in water. Compounds 2-4 have an identical metal-to-ligand stoichiometric ratio of 1 : 2, but absolutely differ in structure. Compound 3 features a 2D layer structure with aromatic rings, positively charged pyridinium and free carboxylates on its surface, promoting electrostatic, π-stacking and/or hydrogen-bonding interactions with the carboxyfluorescein (FAM) labeled probe single-stranded DNA (probe ss-DNA, delineates as P-DNA). The resultant P-DNA@3 system facilitated fluorescence quenching of FAM via a photoinduced electron transfer process. The P-DNA@3 system functions as an efficient fluorescent sensor selective for HIV double-stranded DNA (HIV ds-DNA) due to the formation of a rigid triplex structure with the recovery of FAM fluorescence. The system reported herein also distinguishes complementary HIV ds-DNA from mismatched target DNA sequences with the detection limit of 1.42 nM.

A zinc(II)-based two-dimensional MOF for sensitive and selective sensing of HIV-1 ds-DNA sequences.

Coordination reaction of a known three-dimensional (3D) polymer precursor {Na3[Na9(Cbdcp)6(H2O)18]}n (A, Cbdcp = N-(4-carboxybenzyl)-(3,5-dicarboxyl)pyridinium) with Zn(NO3)2·6H2O in H2O or H2O/DMF at 100 °C and in the presence of aspirin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as modulators, trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (bpe) or 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpea) as ancillary ligands afforded six novel Zn(II)-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), that is, {[Zn(Cbdcp)(H2O)3]·H2O}n (1, 1D zigzag chain), {[Zn(HCbdcp)2]·H2O}n (2, 2D sheet), {[Zn(Cbdcp)(bpe)1/2]·2H2O}n (3, 3D polymer), {[Zn(Cbdcp)(bpe)1/2]·2H2O}n (4, 2D network), {[Zn(Cbdcp)(bpea)1/2]·2H2O}n (5, 3D polymer) and {[Zn(Cbdcp)(bpea)1/2]·2H2O}n (6, 2D network). Among them, compound 2 contains aromatic rings, positively charged pyridinium, Zn(2+) cation centers and carboxylic acid groups lined up on the 2D sheet structure with a certain extended surface exposure. The unique structure of 2 facilitates effective association with carboxyfluorescein (FAM) labeled probe single stranded DNA (probe ss-DNA, delineates as P-DNA) to yield a P-DNA@2 system, and leads to fluorescence quenching of FAM via a photoinduced electron transfer process. The P-DNA@2 system is effective and reliable for the detection of human immunodeficiency virus 1 ds-DNA (HIV ds-DNA) sequences and capable of distinguishing complementary HIV ds-DNA from mismatched target sequences with the detection limit as low as 10 pM (S/N = 3).

Five water-soluble zwitterionic copper(II)-carboxylate polymers: role of dipyridyl coligands in enhancing the DNA-binding, cleaving and anticancer activities.

Five water-soluble zwitterionic copper-carboxylate polymers were prepared from the reaction of N-carboxymethyl-(3,5-dicarboxyl)pyridinium bromide (H3CmdcpBr) with Cu(NO3)2 in the presence of NaOH by modulating the temperature, solvent and ancillary dipyridyl ligands. These complexes include a 1D ladder-shaped polymer {[Cu3(Cmdcp)2(OH)2(H2O)2]·H2O}n () formed in H2O at room temperature, and a 2D network polymer {[Cu(Cmdcp) (H2O)2]·2H2O}n () isolated in H2O at 135 °C. At 100 °C in H2O/DMF, the same reaction in the presence of an additional 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) gave a 2D zwitterionic complex {[Cu(Cmdcp)(bipy)]·3H2O}n () together with a 1D double-stranded polymer {[Cu(Cmdcp)(H2O)2]·H2O}n () as a minor product. The replacement of bipy with phenanthroline (phen) afforded a 1D zigzag polymer chain {[Cu(Cmdcp)(phen)(H2O)]2·9H2O}5 (). All these complexes were characterized by IR, elemental analyses and single crystal X-ray crystallography. Agarose gel electrophoresis (GE) and ethidium bromide (EB) displacement experiments indicated that complex exhibited the highest pBR322 DNA cleaving ability with the catalytic efficiency (kmax/KM) of 14.80 h(-1) mM(-1) and the highest binding affinity toward calf-thymus DNA. The MTT assay indicated that complex showed significant inhibitory activity toward the proliferation of several tumor cells. Its IC50 value was at micromolar level and lower than those of cisplatin and complexes , especially toward resistant lung adenocarcinoma cell A549.

Characteristics, sources, and transport of tetrabromobisphenol A and bisphenol A in soils from a typical e-waste recycling area in South China.

We studied the tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and bisphenol A (BPA) patterns and their sources and transport in different land-use soils from Longtang, South China, a typical electronic waste recycling center. We also studied the reductive debromination of TBBPA in paddy soils. TBBPA and BPA concentrations (on a dry weight basis) were undetected-220 and 0.50-325 ng/g, respectively, and both increased, by similar factors, in the following order: pond sediments < paddy soils = vegetable soils < wasteland < dismantling sites < former open burning sites. BPA concentrations were higher than TBBPA concentrations in all six land-use soils, and they correlated significantly. TBBPA and BPA were transported through the soil profiles, being found at relatively high concentrations in soil 0-40 cm deep, but only at low concentrations in soil 40-80 cm deep. The surface soil concentrations appear to have been strongly affected by crude recycling activities, and former open burning and dismantling sites were the main point sources. The areas surrounding the open burning sites and dismantling sites have been contaminated not only by the dumping of waste residues but also by fly ash deposition, even though the agricultural soils are far from the point pollution sources. Some BPA in the soils is likely to be the reductive debromination product of TBBPA because the long rainy season promotes TBBPA transformation and because BPA can persist for a long time. Incubation experiments confirmed that TBBPA could be transformed into BPA and that BPA could accumulate in waterlogged paddy soils, and this may be why BPA concentrations were higher than TBBPA concentrations in the Longtang area.

Discovery of diethyl 2,5-diaminothiophene-3,4-dicarboxylate derivatives as potent anticancer and antimicrobial agents and screening of anti-diabetic activity: synthesis and in vitro biological evaluation. Part 1.

Series of diethyl 2,5-diaminothiophene-3,4-dicarboxylate (DDTD) derivatives: azomethines of DDTD (2a-l) have been synthesized and screened for their anticancer, antimicrobial and anti-diabetic activities. The novel synthesized compounds were characterized by (1)H, (13)C NMR, MS and FT-IR analyses. All compounds were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against three types of cancer cell line such as T47D and MCF-7 (human breast cancer), Hela (human cervical cancer) and Ishikawa (human endometrial cancer) lines. The results showed that most compounds exhibited significant antiproliferative activity against breast cancer cells. The majority of azomethines DDTD influenced strongly against breast cancer cells T47D and MCF-7, among them compounds 2b (2.3 µM), 2c (12.1 µM), 2e (13.2 µM), 2i (14.9 µM), 2j (16.0 µM), 2k (7.1 µM), 2l (8.6 µM) manifest potent anticancer activity against cancer cell T47D than Doxorubicin (DOX, 15.5 µM). Compound 2j has shown potent activity on all three types of cancer cells concurrently and IC50 values were considerably low in comparison with positive control DOX. In addition, all compounds were tested for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 (Gram positive bacteria), Escherichia coli ATCC 11229 (Gram negative bacteria) and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 (Fungi) strains and 2j which contains in the ring nitrofurfural fragment, showed the highest effect on the three species of microbial pathogens simultaneously. Some compounds induced enzymatic inhibition in a concentration-dependent manner on PTP-1B inhibitor.