Strategies of positron emission tomography (PET) tracer development for imaging of tau and α-synuclein in neurodegenerative disorders.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by the presence of extracellular amyloid plaques consisting of β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) composed of hyperphosphorylated tau (pTau) protein in the brain. Genetic and animal studies strongly indicate that Aβ, tau and neuroinflammation play important roles in the pathogenesis of AD. Several staging models showed that NFTs correlated well with the disease progression.

Recent developments of small molecule γ-secretase modulators for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of progressive neurodegenerative disorder, marked by memory loss and a decline in cognitive function. The major hallmarks of AD are the presence of intracellular neurofibrillary tau tangles (NFTs) composed of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins and extracellular plaques composed of amyloid beta peptides (Aβ). The amyloid (Aβ) cascade hypothesis proposes that the AD pathogenesis is initiated by the accumulation of Aβ peptides in the parenchyma of the brain.

Cooperative Self-Assembly of Helical Exciton-Coupled Biosurfactant-Functionalized Porphyrin Chromophores.

Biobased, self-organizing molecules are of considerable interest as functional materials due to their structural versatility, sophisticated nanoarchitectures, and sustainable biosynthesis. Here, we study the self-assembly of a systematic series of bioconjugate sophorolipid-functionalized zinc porphyrin complexes with potential applications in optoelectronic devices. Our results provide insight into the molecular features that control the polymerization pathway, in particular the influence of carbohydrate chirality and noncovalent hydrogen-bonding on biosurfactant-driven self-organization of sophisticated light-absorbing supramolecular polymers.

Effect of Poly(sophorolipid) Functionalization on Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Osteogenesis and Immunomodulation.

Sophorolipids are a class of glycolipids that can be polymerized via ring-opening metathesis polymerization giving rise to bioresorbable biomaterials. The surface chemistry of the resulting poly(sophorolipids) (pLSLs) can be modified using a combination of enzymatic and "click" chemistries to insert bioactive groups that influence cellular behavior. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are being actively investigated for engineered bone grafts for fracture repair due to their osteogenic potential, and more recently, due to their immunomodulatory capacity.

Grown Ultrathin Bacterial Cellulose Mats for Optical Applications.

A facile and effective method is described for the biosynthesis of ultrathin bacterial cellulose (BC) mats, which are green, inexpensive, lightweight, and flexible. Physical properties studied include thickness, morphology, reflectance, transmittance, and crystallinity index. BC mat thickness was varied by controlling the depth of the culture broth so that films with predictable thickness, between 113 and 1114 nm, were produced.

Biosurfactant-functionalized porphyrin chromophore that forms J-aggregates.

Structurally complex biosynthesized building blocks whose structures can be systematically varied are of great interest for the synthesis of manipulable self-organizing supramolecular systems. Sophorolipids (SLs) are an important class of glycolipid biosurfactants that consists of a sophorose (glucose disaccharide) polar head group that allows structural diversification by full or selective acetylation at the 6'- and 6''-positions. Porphyrins are a group of naturally-occurring heterocyclic macromolecular organic compounds that have efficient charge transfer properties.

A scalable, nonenzymatic synthesis of highly stereopure difunctional C4 secondary methyl linchpin synthons.

In response to the continuing widespread use of heterodifunctional C4 secondary methyl building blocks in asymmetric synthesis, we have developed a mole-scale, two-step synthesis of a 1:1 mixture of the diastereomers of 3-bromo-2-methyl-1-propyl camphorsulfonate (casylate). One isomer (2S) has been crystallized to >99:1 dr in ∼25% yield. Equilibration of the mother liquor (enriched in 2R) to a 1:1 mixture and recrystallization significantly raises the overall yield of 2S.