Comparison of photoactivatable crosslinkers for in-gel immunoassays.

While fluorescence readout is a key detection modality for hydrogel-based immunoassays, background fluorescence due to autofluorescence or non-specific antibody interactions impairs the lower limit of detection of fluorescence immunoassays. Chemical modifications to the hydrogel structure impact autofluorescence and non-specific interactions. Benzophenone is a common photoactivatable molecule, and benzophenone methacrylamide (BPMA) has been used for cross-linking protein in polyacrylamide (PA) hydrogels.

DNA-Controlled Encapsulation of Small Molecules in Protein Nanoparticles.

A nanoparticle can hold multiple types of therapeutic and imaging agents for disease treatment and diagnosis. However, controlling the storage of molecules in nanoparticles is challenging, because nonspecific intermolecular interactions are used for encapsulation. Here, we used specific DNA interactions to store molecules in nanoparticles.

Development and Evaluation of a Fluorescent Antibody-Drug Conjugate for Molecular Imaging and Targeted Therapy of Pancreatic Cancer.

Antibodies are widely available and cost-effective research tools in life science, and antibody conjugates are now extensively used for targeted therapy, immunohistochemical staining, or in vivo diagnostic imaging of cancer. Significant advances in site-specific antibody labeling technologies have enabled the production of highly characterized and homogenous conjugates for biomedical purposes, and some recent studies have utilized site-specific labeling to synthesize bifunctional antibody conjugates with both imaging and drug delivery properties. While these advances are important for the clinical safety and efficacy of such biologics, these techniques can also be difficult, expensive, and time-consuming.

Preparation of Aryl-Susbstituted 2-Oxyindoles by Superelectrophilic Chemistry.

A series of pyridyl-substituted 3-hydroxy-2-oxyindoles have been prepared and reacted with arenes in superacid promoted Friedel-Crafts reactions. The product aryl-substituted 2-oxyindoles are formed in generally good yields. With substituted arenes such as toluene, bromobenzene, or ethyl salicylate, the Friedel-Crafts reactions occur with excellent regioselectivity.

Friedel-Crafts-type reactions with ureas and thioureas.

Despite the relatively low reactivities of urea and thiourea functional groups towards nucleophilic attack, we have found conditions in which they are useful substrates in Friedel-Crafts reactions. The Brønsted superacid, triflic acid, promotes these reactions and a mechanism is proposed involving dicationic, superelectrophilic intermediates.

Friedel-Crafts acylation with amides.

Friedel-Crafts acylation has been known since the 1870s, and it is an important organic synthetic reaction leading to aromatic ketone products. Friedel-Crafts acylation is usually performed with carboxylic acid chlorides or anhydrides, while amides are generally not useful substrates in these reactions. Despite being the least reactive carboxylic acid derivative, we have found a series of amides capable of providing aromatic ketones in good yields (55-96%, 17 examples).

Fluoro-substituted ketones from nitriles using acidic and basic reaction conditions.

Fluoro-substituted aliphatic nitriles are shown to undergo the Houben-Hoesch reactions with arenes in CF(3)SO(3)H to give fluoro-substituted ketones in good yields. The fluorine substituents appear to enhance the reactivities of the nitriles (and the nitrilium ion intermediates) compared to similar aliphatic nitriles. Fluoro-substituted ketones are also shown to be accessible through the reactions of organometallic reagents and fluoro-substituted nitriles.

Superelectrophilic chemistry of amino-nitriles and related substrates.

The superacid-promoted Houben-Hoesch reactions of amino-nitriles and related compounds have been studied. The nitriles form dicationic electrophiles and react with benzene in fair to good yields (12-95%). The intermediate iminium ions may also be reduced to the benzylic amines by NaBH(4) or H(2).

Superacid-promoted additions involving vinyl-substituted pyrimidines, quinoxalines, and quinazolines: mechanisms correlated to charge distributions.

The superacid-promoted reactions of vinyl-substituted N-heterocycles have been studied. Diprotonated pyrimidines, quinoxalines, and quinazolines exhibit an unusual regioelectronic effect that controls the type of addition reaction observed. Depending on the ring position of the vinyl substituent, either conjugate addition or Markovnikov addition occurs.