Spontaneous macrocyclization through multiple dynamic cyclic aminal formation.

The use of aminals in dynamic covalent chemistry is slightly underexplored, probably due to their inherent instability. Here we report the spontaneous [2+2] macrocyclization of tetrakis(aminals). Their unexpected stability and structural modularity, the dynamic nature of the connections and their water tolerance make them appealing systems for future applications as stimulus-responsive materials.

Naphthalimide Dyes with Orthogonal Functional Groups for "Click" Chemistry: Attachment to Solid Supports and Applications in Drug Allergy Diagnosis.

The preparation and characterization of new functional materials for sensing have an important role in clinical diagnosis. Monitoring the surface functionalization of functional material is crucial because the final sensing properties are affected by how the (bio)molecules are immobilized on the surface of solid supports. Here, a new approach for the preparation of functional materials for biomedical diagnosis was developed.

Enhancing the kinetics of hydrazone exchange processes: an experimental and computational study.

The capacity of hydrazone bonds to readily undergo component exchange processes sees their extensive utilization in dynamic combinatorial chemistry. The kinetics of hydrazone exchange are optimal at pH ∼4.5, which limits the use of hydrazone-based dynamic combinatorial libraries, particularly for biological targets which are only stable at near-neutral pH values.

Marine antifouling performance of polymer coatings incorporating zwitterions.

Zwitterionic materials display antifouling promise, but their potential in marine anti-biofouling is still largely unexplored. This study evaluates the effectiveness of incorporating small quantities (0-20% on a molar basis) of zwitterions as sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) or carboxybetaine methacrylate (CBMA) into lauryl methacrylate-based coatings whose relatively hydrophobic nature encourages adhesion of the diatom Navicula incerta, a common microfouling organism responsible for the formation of 'slime'. This approach allows potential enhancements in antifouling afforded by zwitterion incorporation to be easily quantified.

Tuneable plasmonic gold dendrimer nanochains for sensitive disease detection.

We report the development of a tuneable plasmonic nanochain immunoassay with increased sensitivity over traditional monodisperse nanoparticle lateral flow tests. Our approach takes advantage of the unique self-assembling properties of polyamidoamine dendrimers with gold nanoparticles in aqueous media to create one-dimensional nanochains, with a distinct red to blue colour change, attributable to a longitudinal plasmon resonance, which can be readily detected by eye and a digital camera. We optimise and characterise nanochain formation and stability using UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering.

Probing the Surfaces of Biomacromolecules with Polymer-Scaffolded Dynamic Combinatorial Libraries.

Methods to analyze and compare biomacromolecular surfaces are still in their relative infancy on account of the challenges involved in comparing surfaces computationally. We describe a systems chemistry approach that utilizes polymer-scaffolded dynamic combinatorial libraries to experimentally probe biomacromolecular surfaces in aqueous solution which provides feedback as to the nature of the surfaces, allowing the comparison of three globular proteins and a nucleic acid.

Recognition of multiepitope dendrimeric antigens by human immunoglobulin E.

In vitro drug allergy tests have limited sensitivity, partly due to a poor understanding of the immunological recognition of in vitro drug-protein conjugates. We have designed and synthesized multivalent mono- and bi-epitope dendrimeric antigen (DeAn) conjugates and studied their chemical and tridimensional structures. We describe differences in the spatial distribution and conformation of these conjugated epitopes for the first time: a partially hidden benzylpenicilloyl and a more exposed amoxicilloyl.

The C-terminus of H-Ras as a target for the covalent binding of reactive compounds modulating Ras-dependent pathways.

Ras proteins are crucial players in differentiation and oncogenesis and constitute important drug targets. The localization and activity of Ras proteins are highly dependent on posttranslational modifications at their C-termini. In addition to an isoprenylated cysteine, H-Ras, but not other Ras proteins, possesses two cysteine residues (C181 and C184) in the C-terminal hypervariable domain that act as palmitoylation sites in cells.

A perspective of nanotechnology in hypersensitivity reactions including drug allergy.

Purpose Of Review: We provide an overview of the application of the concepts of nanoscience and nanotechnology as a novel scientific approach to the area of nanomedicine related to the domain of the immune system. Particular emphasis will be paid to studies on drug allergy reactions.

Recent Findings: Several well defined chemical structures arranged in the dimension of the nanoscale are currently being studied for biomedical purposes.