Tunable synthesis of heteroleptic zirconium-based porous coordination cages.

Zirconium-based porous coordination cages have been widely studied and have shown to be potentially useful for many applications as a result of their tunability and stability, likely as a result of their status as a molecular equivalent to the small 8 Å tetrahedral pores of UiO-66 (Zr(μ-O)(μ-OH)(COH)). Functional groups attached to these molecular materials endow them with a range of tunable properties. While so-called multivariate MOFs containing multiple types of functional groups on different bridging ligands within a structure are common, incorporating multiple functional moieties in permanently microporous molecular materials has proved challenging.

Syntheses of optically active monapterin, 7,8-dihydromonapterin, and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydromonapterin from l-xylose.

We describe the syntheses of monapterin, dihydromonapterin and tetrahydromonapterin in optically active forms. The syntheses involved the condensation of l-xylose with phenylhydrazine, providing a hydrazone derivative. The reaction of the resulting hydrazone with triamino-pyrimidinone followed by oxidation of the resulting pteridinone with molecular oxygen furnished pterin containing a hydroxylated side chain.

Toward once-monthly insulin therapy synergy in two pharmacokinetic protractors: Fc-conjugation and fatty acid acylation.

Pharmacokinetic properties and duration of therapeutic action of a pharmaceutical agent can be significantly extended through the combination of two distinct strategies aimed at increasing plasma half-life: fatty acid acylation and Fc-conjugation. Using insulin as a case study, we demonstrate that a doubly protracted insulin analog produces a substantial prolongation of pharmacodynamic effect to lower blood glucose in STZ-treated mice when compared to the Fc-only counterparts. This enhancement is further corroborated by direct pharmacokinetic measurements in rat and dog models, demonstrating the potential for once-monthly insulin therapy.

Mapping complex profiles of light intensity with interferometric lithography.

Solving Maxwell's equations numerically to map electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of nanostructured metal surfaces can be a daunting task when studying non-periodic, extended patterns. However, for many nanophotonic applications such as sensing or photovoltaics it is often important to have an accurate description of the actual, experimental spatial field distributions near device surfaces. In this article, we show that the complex light intensity patterns formed by closely-spaced multiple apertures in a metal film can be faithfully mapped with sub-wavelength resolution, from near-field to far-field, in the form of a 3D solid replica of isointensity surfaces.

Identification of endogenous acyl amino acids based on a targeted lipidomics approach.

Using a partially purified bovine brain extract, our lab identified three novel endogenous acyl amino acids in mammalian tissues. The presence of numerous amino acids in the body and their ability to form amides with several saturated and unsaturated fatty acids indicated the potential existence of a large number of heretofore unidentified acyl amino acids. Reports of several additional acyl amino acids that activate G-protein coupled receptors (e.