Zwitterionic Amino Acids Research Articles

Amino Acid Functionalization of Doped Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: Effects of Dopants and Side Chains as Well as Zwitterionic Stabilizations.

Functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is necessitated in a number of conditions such as drug delivery, and here amino acid functionalization of SWCNTs is conducted within the framework of density functional theory. Functionalization efficiencies of Gly are largely determined by dopants, as a combined effect of atomic radius, electronic configuration, and distortion to SWCNTs. Different functionalization sites in Gly have divergent interaction strengths with M/SWCNTs that decline as Ob > N > Oa, and this trend seems almost independent of the identity of metallic dopants. B/SWCNT behaves distinctly and prefers to the N site. Dopants affect principally interaction strengths, while amino acids regulate significantly both functionalization configurations and interaction energies. Then focus is given to stabilization of zwitterionic amino acids due to enhanced interactions with the widely used zwitterionic drugs. All metallic dopants render zwitterionic Gly to be the most stable, and side chains in amino acids rather than dopants in M/SWCNTs cause more pronounced effects to zwitterionic stabilizations. Charge transfers between amino acids and M/SWCNTs are closely associated with zwitterionic stabilization effects, and different charge transfer mechanisms between M/SWCNTs and metal ions are interpreted. Thus, this work provides a comprehensive understanding of amino acid functionalization of M/SWCNTs.

Intracellular responsive dual delivery by endosomolytic polyplexes carrying DNA anchored porous silicon nanoparticles

Bioresponsive cytosolic nanobased multidelivery has been emerging as an enormously challenging novel concept due to the intrinsic protective barriers of the cells and hardly controllable performances of nanomaterials. Here, we present a new paradigm to advance nano-in-nano integration technology amenable to create multifunctional nanovehicles showing considerable promise to overcome restrictions of intracellular delivery, solve impediments of endosomal localization and aid effectual tracking of nanoparticles. A redox responsive intercalator chemistry comprised of cystine and 9-aminoacridine is designed as a cross-linker to cap carboxylated porous silicon nanoparticles with DNA. These intelligent nanocarriers are then encapsulated within novel one-pot electrostatically complexed nano-networks made of a zwitterionic amino acid (cysteine), an anionic bioadhesive polymer (poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid)) and a cationic endosomolytic polymer (polyethyleneimine). This combined nanocomposite is successfully tested for the co-delivery of hydrophobic (sorafenib) or hydrophilic (calcein) molecules loaded within the porous core, and an imaging agent covalently integrated into the polyplex shell by click chemistry. High loading capacity, low cyto- and hemo-toxicity, glutathione responsive on-command drug release, and superior cytosolic delivery are shown as achievable key features of the proposed formulation. Overall, formulating drug molecules, DNA and imaging agents, without any interference, in a physico-chemically optimized carrier may open a path towards broad applicability of these cost-effective multivalent nanocomposites for treating different diseases.

Mode specific THz spectra of solvated amino acids using the AMOEBA polarizable force field.

We have used the AMOEBA model to simulate the THz spectra of two zwitterionic amino acids in aqueous solution, which is compared to the results on these same systems using ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. Overall we find that the polarizable force field shows promising agreement with AIMD data for both glycine and valine in water. This includes the THz spectral assignments and the mode-specific spectral decomposition into intramolecular solute motions as well as distinct solute-water cross-correlation modes some of which cannot be captured by non-polarizable force fields that rely on fixed partial charges. This bodes well for future studies for simulating and decomposing the THz spectra for larger solutes such as proteins or polymers for which AIMD studies are presently intractable. Furthermore, we believe that the current study on rather simple aqueous solutions offers a way to systematically investigate the importance of charge transfer, nuclear quantum effects, and the validity of computationally practical density functionals, all of which are needed to fully quantitatively capture complex dynamical motions in the condensed phase.

In Situ Fabrication of Highly Luminescent Bifunctional Amino Acid Crosslinked 2D/3D NH3C4H9COO(CH3NH3PbBr3)n Perovskite Films

The perovskite quantum dots are usually synthesized by solution chemistry and then fabricated into film for device application with some extra process. Here it is reported for the first time to in situ formation of a crosslinked 2D/3D NH3C4H9COO(CH3NH3) nPbnBr3n perovskite planar films with controllable quantum confine via bifunctional amino acid crosslinkage, which is comparable to the solution chemistry synthesized CH3NH3PbBr3 quantum dots. These atomic layer controllable perovskite films are facilely fabricated and tuned by addition of bi‐functional 5‐aminovaleric acid (Ava) of NH2C4H9COOH into regular (CH3NH3)PbBr3 (MAPbBr3) perovskite precursor solutions. Both the NH3+ and the COO− groups of the zwitterionic amino acid are proposed to crosslink the atomic layer MAPbBr3 units via PbCOO bond and ion bond between NH3+ and [PbX6] unit. The characterizations by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Raman, and photoluminescence spectroscopy confirm a successful fabrication of ultrasmooth and stable film with tunable optical properties. The bifunctional crosslinked 2D/3D Ava(MAPbBr3)n perovskite films with controllable quantum confine would serve as distinct and promising materials for optical and optoelectronic applications.

Silicone hydrogels grafted with natural amino acids for ophthalmological application

In this report, protein repelling silicone hydrogels with improved hydrophilicity were prepared by photo-polymerization of silicone-containing monomer and glycidyl methacrylate followed by grafting zwitterionic amino acids. The grafted silicone hydrogels possessed excellent hydrophilic surfaces due to the enrichment of amino acids, which was confirmed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, contact angle, and equilibrium water content measurements. Remarkable resistance to bovine serum albumin and lysozyme fouling was observed for the silicone hydrogels immobilized with neutrally charged amino acids because of the formation of zwitterionic surfaces with pairs of protonated secondary ammonium cations and deprotonated carboxyl anions. Meanwhile, the silicone hydrogels grafted with positively or negatively charged amino acids were able to repulse same charged protein with reduced deposition and attract oppositely charged protein with increased adsorption. Preliminary cytotoxicity test indicated that the zwitterionic silicone hydrogels were non-cytotoxic. Similarly, three types of natural amino acids, including serine, aspartic acid and histidine, modified silicone hydrogel contact lenses exhibited excellent hydrophilicity and non-damage to the rabbit’s eyes, but only serine modified zwitterionic contact lens showed superior protein fouling resistance compared with the current commercial hydrogel contact lens, which may have great potential application in ophthalmology.

Surface functionalization superparamagnetic nanoparticles conjugated with thermoresponsive poly(epsilon-lysine) dendrons tethered with carboxybetaine for the mild hyperthermia-controlled delivery of VEGF

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the growth factor responsible for the triggering of angiogenesis, the process of blood vessel formation supporting the long-term viability of any repaired or regenerated tissue. As the growth factor is effective only when concentration gradients are generated, new shuttles need to be developed that ensure both the control of gradients at the site of tissue repair and the release of VEGF at physiological levels. Magnetic hyperthermia is the production of heat induced by magnetic materials through their exposure to an external oscillating magnetic field. In this paper, magnetic nanoparticles capable of generating controllable hyperthermia were functionalised with hyperbranched poly(epsilon-lysine) peptides integrating in their core parallel thermoresponsive elastin-like peptide sequences and presenting an uppermost branching generation tethered by the zwitterionic amino acid carboxybetaine. The results show that these functionalised magnetic nanoparticles avidly bind VEGF and release it only upon generation of mild-hyperthermic pulses generated by oscillating magnetic filed. The VEGF release occurred in a temperature range at which the elastin-like peptides collapse. It is proposed that, through the application of an external magnetic field, these magnetic carriers could generated gradients of VEGF in vivo and allow its tuned delivery in a number of clinical applications. Statement of SignificanceThe present paper for the first time reveals the possibility to control the delivery of VEGF through mild hyperthermia stimuli generated by a oscillating magnetic field. To this purpose, magnetic nanoparticles of high size homogeneity and coated with a thin coating of poly(acrylic acid) were functionalised with a novel class of poly(epsilon lysine) dendrimers integrating in their structure a thermoresponsive amino acid sequence mimicking elastin and exposing at high density a zwitterionic modified amino acid, the carboxybetaine, known to be able to bind macromolecules. Physicochemical and biochemical characterisation elegantly show the link between the thermal properties of the nanoparticles and of the dendrimer change of conformation and how this enable the release of VEGF at temperature values compatible with the growth factor stability.

Determination of glycine, alanine, and leucine at different solution ph with the aid of donnan potential sensors based on hybrid membranes

The cross sensitive sensors whose analytical signal is the Donnan potential (PD-sensors) were developed for the determination of the amino acids glycine, alanine, and leucine in acidic and alkaline solutions. Hybrid materials based on perfluorinated sulfo cation-exchange membranes Nafion and MF-4SC with incorporated zirconium dioxide and silicon dioxide nanoparticles, including those with modified surfaces containing proton-acceptor groups, were used in the PD-sensors. The sensitivity of the PD-sensors to hydronium ions, which interfere with the determination of amino acids at pH 7 and the smallest sensitivity to the cations K+ were observed in hybrid membranes, which combined an increased rate of anion transfer and a low moisture capacity. The use of the PD-sensors based on hybrid membranes makes it possible to determine the cations, anions, and zwitterions of amino acids over a wide range of pH with a sufficiently high accuracy.

Stabilization of zwitterionic versus canonical proline by water molecules.

At physiological conditions, a majority of biomolecules (e.g., amino acids, peptides and proteins) exist predominantly in the zwitterionic form that usually decides the biological functions. However, zwitterionic amino acids are not geometrically stable in gas phase and this seriously hampers the understanding of their structures, properties and biological functions. To this end, one of the recent research focuses is to demonstrate the stabilization effects of zwitterionic amino acids. Relative stabilities of canonical conformers are dependent on water contents, while zwitterionic stability improves monotonously and pronouncedly with increase of water contents. We find that one water molecule can render zwitterionic proline geometrically stable, and stabilities of different zwitterionic amino acids increase as glycine <proline <arginine. In addition, we have determined the numbers of water molecules required for zwitterionic proline to be energetically preferential and conformationally predominant, respectively as four and five. Five water molecules are enough to fill up the first shell of proline functional sites (carboxylic and amido), which is in line with the results of glycine. At any water content, zwitterionic formation will not be hindered kinetically because of rather low activation barriers, and the distribution of zwitterionic amino acids will be largely dependent on their thermodynamic stabilities.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40064-015-1661-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A molecular receptor for zwitterionic phenylalanine.

The combination of a 1,3-ketoenol system and two pyridine molecules attached as sulfonamide and carboxamide to a benzofuran skeleton allows the preparation of a novel chiral receptor for zwitterionic phenylalanine association. Interestingly, no crown-ether, urea or guanidinium are necessary to carry out the extraction of amino acids from the aqueous solution, which constitutes a breakthrough in comparison with other receptors for zwitterionic amino acid extraction.

Copper-catalyzed N-(hetero)arylation of amino acids in water

A transition metal-catalyzed, environmentally benign, rapid and cost-effective method for the N-(hetero)arylation of zwitterionic amino acids in water is reported.

ChemInform Abstract: Room Temperature N‐Arylation of Amino Acids and Peptides Using Copper(I) and β‐Diketone.

AbstractA high yielding, general method for the N‐arylation of zwitterionic amino acids, amino acid esters, and peptides is described.

Macrocyclic Gd(3+) complexes with pendant crown ethers designed for binding zwitterionic neurotransmitters.

A series of Gd(3+) complexes exhibiting a relaxometric response to zwitterionic amino acid neurotransmitters was synthesized. The design concept involves ditopic interactions 1) between a positively charged and coordinatively unsaturated Gd(3+) chelate and the carboxylate group of the neurotransmitters and 2) between an azacrown ether appended to the chelate and the amino group of the neurotransmitters. The chelates differ in the nature and length of the linker connecting the cyclen-type macrocycle that binds the Ln(3+) ion and the crown ether. The complexes are monohydrated, but they exhibit high proton relaxivities (up to 7.7 mM(-1) s(-1) at 60 MHz, 310 K) due to slow molecular tumbling. The formation of ternary complexes with neurotransmitters was monitored by (1) H relaxometric titrations of the Gd(3+) complexes and by luminescence measurements on the Eu(3+) and Tb(3+) analogues at pH 7.4. The remarkable relaxivity decrease (≈80 %) observed on neurotransmitter binding is related to the decrease in the hydration number, as evidenced by luminescence lifetime measurements on the Eu(3+) complexes. These complexes show affinity for amino acid neurotransmitters in the millimolar range, which can be suited to imaging concentrations of synaptically released neurotransmitters. They display good selectivity over non-amino acid neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, serotonin, and noradrenaline) and hydrogenphosphate, but selectivity over hydrogencarbonate was not achieved.

Conformational and vibrational analyses of meta-tyrosine: An experimental and theoretical study

M-tyrosine is one kind of positional isomer of tyrosine which is widely applied in agrichemical, medicinal chemistry, and food science. However, the structural and vibrational features of m-tyrosine have not been reported or systematically investigated. In this work, potential energy surface (PES) calculations were used for searching and determining the stable zwitterionic conformers of m-tyrosine, and the Raman spectra of m-tyrosine and deuterated m-tyrosine were measured and interpreted based on theoretical computation. For the spectral simulation, several DFT-based quantum chemistry (QC) methods were employed, and the M06-2X functional with SMD solvent model was found to be best in reproducing the Raman spectra and geometrical property. As such, this study has not only presented a detailed study of m-tyrosine’s vibrational property which is lack in the literature, but also may shed some light on the optimal choice of QC methods for calculation of conformations and vibrational properties of zwitterionic amino acids.

Incidental Polymorphism, Non-Isomorphic and Isomorphic Substitution in Calcium-Valine Coordination Polymers

Five coordination polymers with the stoichiometry CaX2(valine)2(H2O)2 (X = Cl, Br) were obtained from the corresponding calcium halides and either racemic and enantiopure valine. In all cases the zwitterionic amino acid is exclusively O coordinated and the halides act as counteranions for the resulting one-dimensional cationic chains. The enantiopure chloride shows dimorphism; both forms differ in connectivity from the bromide. In contrast to this structural variability for L-valine, the derivatives of the racemic amino acid are isomorphous.

Far infrared spectra of solid state l-serine, l-threonine, l-cysteine, and l-methionine in different protonation states

In this study, experimental far infrared measurements of l-serine, l-threonine, l-cysteine, and l-methionine are presented showing the spectra for the 1.0–13.0 pH range. In parallel, solid state DFT calculations were performed on the amino acid zwitterions in the crystalline form. We focused on the lowest frequency far infrared normal modes, which required the most precision and convergence of the calculations. Analysis of the computational results, which included the potential energy distribution of the vibrational modes, permitted a detailed and almost complete assignment of the experimental spectrum. In addition to characteristic signals of the two main acid-base couples, CO2H/CO2− and NH3+/NH2, specific side chain contributions for these amino acids, including CCO and CCS vibrational modes were analyzed. This study is in line with the growing application of FIR measurements to biomolecules.

Brønsted versus Lewis Acid Type Anion Recognition by Arylboronic Acids.

Interactions between arylboronic acids and a series of anions as tetrabutylammonium salts in DMSO and MeCN were studied by (1)H and (11)B NMR as well as spectrophotometrically. Boronic acids act as Brønsted acid type receptors through hydrogen bonding with B(OH)2 hydroxyl groups toward Cl(-), Br(-), HSO4(-), and AcO(-), but they act as Lewis acid type receptors toward F(-) and H2PO4(-), which form tetrahedral adducts with the B(III) center of boronic acids, although there is also evidence for some contribution of hydrogen bonding with these anions. The Hammett plot for the binding constants of AcO(-) with 3- and 4-substituted phenylboronic acids in DMSO is nonlinear, with a small negative slope for electron-donating and weakly electron-accepting substituents and a large positive slope for strongly electron-accepting substituents. 3-Nitrophenylboronic acid recognizes zwitterions of amino acids in DMSO, and its UV absorption maximum undergoes a significant red shift in the presence of acetate anions, providing a means for sensing anions optically. Arylboronic acids as Brønsted acid type receptors show relatively low sensitivity to solvent polarity and are equally or even more efficient than widely employed proton donors such as ureas or dicarboxamides.

One- and two-dimensional polymers from proline and calcium bromide.

Reactions of calcium bromide with enantiopure and racemic proline in aqueous solution lead to two solids in which the zwitterionic amino acid acts as a bridging ligand between neighbouring cations. Depending on the chirality of the amino acid, topologically very different products are obtained. With racemic proline, bromide acts as a simple uncoordinated counter-anion for the cationic heterochiral chains in catena-poly[[aquacalcium(II)]-μ-aqua-μ3-DL-proline-μ2-DL-proline], {[Ca(C5H9NO2)2(H2O)2]Br2}n. In agreement with chemical intuition, only carboxylate and aqua O atoms coordinate the alkaline earth cation in a low-symmetry arrangement. In contrast, L-proline affords the two-dimensional network poly[dibromidobis(μ2-L-proline)calcium(II)], [CaBr2(C5H9NO2)2]n, with an unexpected CaBr2 unit in a more regular coordination sphere.

Anomalously augmented charge transport capabilities of biomimetically transformed collagen intercalated nanographene-based biocolloids.

Collagen microfibrils biomimetically intercalate graphitic structures in aqueous media to form graphene nanoplatelet-collagen complexes (G-Cl). Synthesized G-Cl-based stable, aqueous bionanocolloids exhibit anomalously augmented charge transportation capabilities oversimple collagen or graphene based colloids. The concentration tunable electrical transport properties of synthesized aqueous G-Cl bionanocolloids has been experimentally observed, theoretically analyzed, and mathematically modeled. A comprehensive approach to mathematically predict the electrical transport properties of simple graphene and collagen based colloids has been presented. A theoretical formulation to explain the augmented transport characteristics of the G-Cl bionanocolloids based on the physicochemical interactions among the two entities, as revealed from extensive characterizations of the G-Cl biocomplex, has also been proposed. Physical interactions between the zwitterionic amino acid molecules within the collagen triple helix with the polar water molecules and the delocalized π electrons of graphene and subsequent formation of partially charged entities has been found to be the crux mechanism behind the augmented transport phenomena. The analysis has been observed to accurately predict the degree of enhancement in transport of the concentration tunable composite colloids over the base colloids. The electrically active G-Cl bionanocolloids with concentration tunability promises find dual utility in novel gel bioelectrophoresis-based protein separation techniques and advanced surface charge modulated drug delivery using biocolloids.

Charge-switchable gold nanoparticles for enhanced enzymatic thermostability.

This study illustrates a facile strategy for efficient immobilization of enzymes on a metal nanoparticle surface. The strategy proposed here enables the enzymatic activity to be retained while increasing the enzyme thermostability. It is demonstrated that the use of a zwitterionic amino acid tyrosine as a reducing and capping agent to synthesise gold nanoparticles allows efficient immobilization of phytase enzyme through charge-switchable electrostatic interactions. The detailed kinetic and thermodynamic studies reveal that the proposed enzyme immobilization strategy improves the overall quality of phytase by reducing the activation energy required for substrate hydrolysis and broadening the temperature window in which immobilized enzyme is able to operate. The outcomes of this study indicate that the underlying zwitterionic nature of 20 natural amino acids along with significant variability in their isoelectric points and hydropathy indices as well the ability of some of the amino acids to reduce metal ions is likely to offer significant opportunities for tailoring nano-bio interfaces in a rational manner for a range of biological applications.

Room temperature N-arylation of amino acids and peptides using copper(I) and β-diketone.

A mild and efficient method for the N-arylation of zwitterionic amino acids, amino acid esters and peptides is described. The procedure provides the first room temperature synthesis of N-arylated amino acids and peptides using CuI as a catalyst, diketone as a ligand, and aryl iodides as coupling partners. The method is equally applicable for using relatively inexpensive aryl bromides as coupling partners at 80 °C. Using this procedure, electronically and sterically diverse aryl halides, containing reactive functional groups were efficiently coupled in good to excellent yields.