Investigation of Au SAMs Photoclick Derivatization by PM-IRRAS.

In this work, we present a clean one-step process for modifying headgroups of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold using photo-enabled click chemistry. A thiolated, cyclopropenone-caged strained alkyne precursor was first functionalized onto a flat gold substrate through self-assembly. Exposure of the cyclopropenone SAM to UVA light initiated the efficient photochemical decarbonylation of the cyclopropenone moiety, revealing the strained alkyne capable of undergoing the interfacial strain-promoted alkyne-azide cycloaddition (SPAAC). Irradiated SAMs were derivatized with a series of model azides with varied hydrophobicity to demonstrate the generality of this chemical system for the modification and fine-tuning of the surface chemistry on gold substrates. SAMs were characterized at each step with polarization-modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) to confirm the successful functionalization and reactivity. Furthermore, to showcase the compatibility of this approach with biochemical applications, cyclopropenone SAMs were irradiated and modified with azide-bearing cell adhesion peptides to promote human fibroblast cell adhesion, and then imaged by live-cell fluorescence microscopy. Thus, the "photoclick" methodology reported here represents an improved, versatile, catalyst-free protocol that allows for a high degree of control over the modification of material surfaces, with applicability in materials science as well as biochemistry.

Dual-Bioorthogonal Molecular Tool: "Click-to-Release" and "Double-Click" Reactivity on Small Molecules and Material Surfaces.

The development of reactive moieties that enable molecular control of bond-forming and bond-breaking reactions within complex media is highly important in materials and biomaterials research as it provides opportunities to carefully manipulate small molecules and material surfaces in a reliable manner. Despite recent advances in the realization of new ligation strategies and "click-and-release" systems, there has been little development of multifunctional moieties that feature a broad range of chemical capabilities. To address this challenge, we designed a molecular tool that can utilize four well-defined bioorthogonal chemistries interchangeably for the attachment, replacement, and release of molecules within a system: the Staudinger-Bertozzi ligation (SBL), perfluoroaryl azide Staudinger reaction (PFAA-SR), strain-promoted alkyne-azide cycloaddition (SPAAC), and strain-promoted alkyne-nitrone cycloaddition (SPANC). We demonstrate "click-to-release" and "double-click" reactivity on small molecules and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as a model material substrate. As a proof of concept for material derivatization, we employed 5 nm AuNPs-functionalized with a Rhodamine B derivative and biotin through the double-click strategy-and showed their potential as a pretargeted delivery nanocarrier. This multifunctional molecular tool enables the design and production of molecular and material systems with unique, modular, and tunable dynamic properties that can be altered under mild and bioorthogonal conditions.

Sustained AWT1 expression by Dupuytren's disease myofibroblasts promotes a proinflammatory milieu.

Palmar fibromatosis, also known as Dupuytren's disease (DD), is a common and heritable fibrosis of the hand. It is characterized by the formation of myofibroblastic nodules that can progress to palmar-digital contractures and permanent loss of dexterity. The presence of inflammatory cell infiltrate within these nodules has been interpreted to suggest a pathogenesis mediated by a proinflammatory microenvironment. However, the molecular mechanisms driving the formation of pro-fibrotic microenvironments in this and other fibroses remain unclear. To gain insights into this process, we have assessed the contributions of an alternatively spliced, multi-functional transcription factor, Wilms Tumor 1 (WT1), previously shown to be upregulated in primary myofibroblasts derived from DD tissues. Proinflammatory cytokine stimuli of DD myofibroblasts enhanced the expression of several distinct WT1 variants, the most sustained being a 5' truncated version of WT1, alternative WT1 (AWT1). Constitutive adenoviral expression of AWT1 in myofibroblasts derived from phenotypically non-fibrotic palmar fascia significantly induced the expression and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, including some with potential as novel therapeutic targets. In summary, these data implicate roles for sustained AWT1 expression in DD as a transcriptional driver of a proinflammatory fascial milieu.