Reversible CO2 Capture and On-Demand Release by an Acidity-Matched Organic Photoswitch.

Separation of carbon dioxide (CO2) from point sources or directly from the atmosphere can contribute crucially to climate change mitigation plans in the coming decades. A fundamental practical limitation for the current strategies is the considerable energy cost required to regenerate the sorbent and release the captured CO2 for storage or utilization. A directly photochemically driven system that demonstrates efficient passive capture and on-demand CO2 release triggered by sunlight as the sole external stimulus would provide an attractive alternative. However, little is known about the thermodynamic requirements for such a process or mechanisms for modulating the stability of CO2-derived dissolved species by using photoinduced metastable states. Here, we show that an organic photoswitchable molecule of precisely tuned effective acidity can repeatedly capture and release a near-stoichiometric quantity of CO2 according to dark-light cycles. The CO2-derived species rests as a solvent-separated ion pair, and key aspects of its excited-state dynamics that regulate the photorelease efficiency are characterized by transient absorption spectroscopy. The thermodynamic and kinetic concepts established herein will serve as guiding principles for the development of viable solar-powered negative emission technologies.

ImmunoPET Imaging Identifies the Optimal Timepoint for Combination Therapy in Xenograft Models of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

(1) Purpose: The glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma B (gpNMB) is a type 1 transmembrane protein that is overexpressed in numerous cancers, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Its overexpression is associated with lower overall survival of patients with TNBC. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as dasatinib can upregulate gpNMB expression, which has the potential to enhance therapeutic targeting with anti-gpNMB antibody drug conjugates such as glembatumumab vedotin (CDX-011). Our primary aim is to quantify the degree and identify the timeframe of gpNMB upregulation in xenograft models of TNBC after treatment with the Src tyrosine kinase inhibitor, dasatinib, by longitudinal positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with the 89Zr-labeled anti-gpNMB antibody ([89Zr]Zr-DFO-CR011). The goal is to identify the timepoint at which to administer CDX-011 after treatment with dasatinib to enhance therapeutic efficacy using noninvasive imaging. (2) Methods: First, TNBC cell lines that either express gpNMB (MDA-MB-468) or do not express gpNMB (MDA-MB-231) were treated with 2 µM of dasatinib in vitro for 48 h, followed by Western blot analysis of cell lysates to determine differences in gpNMB expression. MDA-MB-468 xenografted mice were also treated with 10 mg/kg of dasatinib every other day for 21 days. Subgroups of mice were euthanized at 0-, 7-, 14-, and 21-days post treatment, and tumors were harvested for Western blot analysis of tumor cell lysates for gpNMB expression. In a different cohort of MDA-MB-468 xenograft models, longitudinal PET imaging with [89Zr]Zr-DFO-CR011 was performed before treatment at 0 (baseline) and at 14 and 28 days after treatment with (1) dasatinib alone (2) CDX-011 (10 mg/kg) alone, or (3) sequential treatment of dasatinib for 14 days then CDX-011 to determine changes in gpNMB expression in vivo relative to baseline. As a gpNMB-negative control, MDA-MB-231 xenograft models were imaged 21 days after treatment with dasatinib, combination of CDX-011 and dasatinib, and vehicle control. (3) Results: Western blot analysis of MDA-MB-468 cell and tumor lysates showed that dasatinib increased expression of gpNMB in vitro and in vivo at 14 days post treatment initiation. In PET imaging studies of different cohorts of MDA-MB-468 xenografted mice, [89Zr]Zr-DFO-CR011 uptake in tumors (SUVmean = 3.2 ± 0.3) was greatest at 14 days after treatment initiation with dasatinib (SUVmean = 4.9 ± 0.6) or combination of dasatinib and CDX-011 (SUVmean= 4.6 ± 0.2) compared with that at baseline (SUVmean = 3.2 ± 0.3). The highest tumor regression after treatment was observed in the combination-treated group with a percent change in tumor volume relative to baseline (%CTV) of -54 ± 13 compared with the vehicle control-treated group (%CTV = +102 ± 27), CDX-011 group (%CTV = -25 ± 9.8), and dasatinib group (%CTV = -23 ± 11). In contrast, the PET imaging of MDA-MB-231 xenografted mice indicated no significant difference in the tumor uptake of [89Zr]Zr-DFO-CR011 between treated (dasatinib alone or in combination with CDX-011) and vehicle-control groups. (4) Conclusions: Dasatinib upregulated gpNMB expression in gpNMB-positive MDA-MB-468 xenografted tumors at 14 days post treatment initiation, which can be quantified by PET imaging with [89Zr]Zr-DFO-CR011. Furthermore, combination therapy with dasatinib and CDX-011 appears to be a promising therapeutic strategy for TNBC and warrants further investigation.

A 4H+/4e- Electron-Coupled-Proton Buffer Based on a Mononuclear Cu Complex.

In this research article, we describe a 4H+/4e- electron-coupled-proton buffer (ECPB) based on Cu and a redox-active ligand. The protonated/reduced ECPB (complex 1: [Cu(8H+/14e-)]1+), consisting of CuI with 2 equiv of the ligand (catLH4: 1,1'-(4,5-dimethoxy-1,2-phenylene)bis(3-(tert-butyl)urea)), reacted with H+/e- acceptors such as O2 to generate the deprotonated/oxidized ECPB. The resulting compound, (complex 5: [Cu(4H+/10e-)]1+), was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), and density functional theory, and it is electronically described as a cuprous bis(benzoquinonediimine) species. The stoichiometric 4H+/4e- reduction of 5 was carried out with H+/e- donors to generate 1 (CuI and 2 equiv of catLH4) and the corresponding oxidation products. The 1/5 ECPB system catalyzed the 4H+/4e- reduction of O2 to H2O and the dehydrogenation of organic substrates in a decoupled (oxidations and reductions are separated in time and space) and a coupled fashion (oxidations and reductions coincide in time and space). Mechanistic analysis revealed that upon reductive protonation of 5 and oxidative deprotonation of 1, fast disproportionation reactions regenerate complexes 5 and 1 in a stoichiometric fashion to maintain the ECPB equilibrium.

Determining Binding Affinity (KD) of Radiolabeled Antibodies to Immobilized Antigens.

Determining binding affinity (KD) is an important aspect of the characterization of radiolabeled antibodies (rAb). Typically, binding affinity is represented by the equilibrium dissociation constant, KD, and can be calculated as the concentration of antibody at which half the antibody binding sites are occupied at equilibrium. This method can be generalized to any radiolabeled antibody or other protein and peptide scaffolds. In contrast to cell-based methods, the choice of immobilized antigens is particularly useful for validating binding affinities after long-term storage of antibodies, distinguishing binding affinities of fragment antigen-binding region (Fab) arms in bispecific antibody constructs, and determining if there is variability in antigen expression between different cell lines. This method involves immobilizing a fixed amount of antigen to specified wells on a breakable 96-well plate. Then, nonspecific binding was blocked in all wells with bovine serum albumin (BSA). Subsequently, the rAb was added in a concentration gradient to all wells. A range of concentrations was chosen to allow the rAb to reach saturation, i.e., a concentration of antibody at which all antigens are continuously bound by the rAb. In designated wells without immobilized antigen, nonspecific binding of the rAb can be determined. By subtracting nonspecific binding from total binding in the wells with immobilized antigen, specific binding of the rAb to the antigen can be determined. The KD of the rAb was calculated from the resulting saturation binding curve. As an example, binding affinity was determined using radiolabeled amivantamab, a bispecific antibody for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and cytoplasmic mesenchymal-epithelial transition (cMET) proteins.

De Novo Design of a Self-Assembled Artificial Copper Peptide that Activates and Reduces Peroxide.

Copper-containing metalloenzymes constitute a major class of proteins which catalyze a myriad of reactions in nature. Inspired by the structural and functional characteristics of this unique class of metalloenzymes, we report the conception, design, characterization, and functional studies of a de novo artificial copper peptide (ArCuP) within a trimeric self-assembled polypeptide scaffold that activates and reduces peroxide. Using a first principles approach, the ArCuP was designed to coordinate one Cu via three His residues introduced at an a site of the peptide scaffold. X-ray crystallographic, UV-vis and EPR data demonstrate that Cu binds via the Nε atoms of His forming a T2Cu environment. When reacted with hydrogen peroxide, the putative copper-hydroperoxo species is formed where a reductive priming step accelerates the rate of its formation and reduction. Mass spectrometry was used to identify specific residues undergoing oxidative modification, which showed His oxidation only in the reduced state. The redox behavior of the ArCuP was elucidated by protein film voltammetry. Detailed characterization of the electrocatalytic behavior of the ArCuP led us to determine the catalytic parameters (KM, kcat), which established the peroxidase activity of the ArCuP. Combined spectroscopic and electrochemical data showed a pH-dependence on the reactivity, which was optimum at pH 7.5.

Structure, Spectroscopy, and Reactivity of a Mononuclear Copper Hydroxide Complex in Three Molecular Oxidation States.

Structural, spectroscopic, and reactivity studies are presented for an electron transfer series of copper hydroxide complexes supported by a tridentate redox-active ligand. Single crystal X-ray crystallography shows that the mononuclear [CuOH]1+ core is stabilized via intramolecular H-bonds between the H-donors of the ligand and the hydroxide anion when the ligand is in its trianionic form. This complex undergoes two reversible oxidation processes that produce two metastable "high-valent" CuOH species, which can be generated by addition of stoichiometric amounts of 1e- oxidants. These CuOH species are characterized by an array of spectroscopic techniques including UV-vis absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and X-ray absorption spectroscopies (XAS), which together indicate that all redox couples are ligand-localized. The reactivity of the complexes in their higher oxidation states toward substrates with modest O-H bond dissociation energies (e.g., 4-substitued-2,6-di-tert-butylphenols) indicates that these complexes act as 2H+/2e- oxidants, differing from the 1H+/1e- reactivity of well-studied [CuOH]2+ systems.

Copper-Promoted Functionalization of Organic Molecules: from Biologically Relevant Cu/O2 Model Systems to Organometallic Transformations.

Copper is one of the most abundant and less toxic transition metals. Nature takes advantage of the bioavailability and rich redox chemistry of Cu to carry out oxygenase and oxidase organic transformations using O2 (or H2O2) as oxidant. Inspired by the reactivity of these Cu-dependent metalloenzymes, chemists have developed synthetic protocols to functionalize organic molecules under enviormentally benign conditions. Copper also promotes other transformations usually catalyzed by 4d and 5d transition metals (Pd, Pt, Rh, etc.) such as nitrene insertions or C-C and C-heteroatom coupling reactions. In this review, we summarized the most relevant research in which copper promotes or catalyzes the functionalization of organic molecules, including biological catalysis, bioinspired model systems, and organometallic reactivity. The reaction mechanisms by which these processes take place are discussed in detail.

Tunable intramolecular multicenter H-bonding interactions in first-row metal complexes bearing bidentate redox-active ligands.

In this research article, we report the synthesis and structural characterization of a family of first-row metal complexes bearing redox-active ligands with tunable H-bonding donors. We observed that these coordination complexes can adopt three different geometries and that they are stabilized by intramolecular multicenter H-bonding interactions, which are systematically modified by changing the metal ion (Co, Ni, Cu, Zn), the ligand scaffold (variations in the diamine and ureanyl substituents used) and the solvent of crystallization.

Catalytic Aerobic Oxidation of Alcohols by Copper Complexes Bearing Redox-Active Ligands with Tunable H-Bonding Groups.

In this research article, we describe the structure, spectroscopy, and reactivity of a family of copper complexes bearing bidentate redox-active ligands that contain H-bonding donor groups. Single-crystal X-ray crystallography shows that these tetracoordinate complexes are stabilized by intramolecular H-bonding interactions between the two ligand scaffolds. Interestingly, the Cu complexes undergo multiple reversible oxidation-reduction processes associated with the metal ion (CuI, CuII, CuIII) and/or the o-phenyldiamido ligand (L2-, L•-, L). Moreover, some of the CuII complexes catalyze the aerobic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes (or ketones) at room temperature. Our extensive mechanistic analysis suggests that the dehydrogenation of alcohols occurs via an unusual reaction pathway for galactose oxidase model systems, in which O2 reduction occurs concurrently with substrate oxidation.