Cross-polarization Magic-angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Research Articles

Noncontact In Situ Multidiagnostic NMR/Dielectric Spectroscopy.

Introduction of a dielectric material in a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probe head modifies the frequency response of the probe circuit, a phenomenon revealed by detuning of the probe. For NMR spectroscopy, this detuning is corrected for by tuning and matching the probe head prior to the NMR measurement. The magnitude of the probe detuning, "the dielectric shift", provides direct access to the dielectric properties of the sample, enabling NMR spectrometers to simultaneously perform both dielectric and NMR spectroscopy. By measuring sample dielectric permittivity as a function of frequency, dielectric permittivity spectroscopy can be performed using the new methodology. As a proof of concept, this was evaluated on methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-pentanol, and 1-octanol using a commercial cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) NMR probe head. The results accurately match the literature data collected by standard dielectric spectroscopy techniques. Subsequently, the method was also applied to investigate the solvent-surface interactions of water confined in the micropores of an MFI-type, hydrophilic zeolite with a Si/Al ratio of 11.5. In the micropores, water adsorbs to Bro̷nsted acid sites and defect sites, resulting in a drastically decreased dielectric permittivity of the nanoconfined water. Theoretical background for the new methodology is provided using an effective electric circuit model of a CPMAS probe head with a solenoid coil, describing the detuning resulting from the insertion of dielectric samples in the probe head.

Environmentally friendly strength bio-composite preparation by grafting of HEMA onto shrimp chitosan without destroying original microstructure to enrich their physicochemical, thermomechanical, and morphological properties

Shrimp shell is the most significant chitin source among bio-based materials since a huge quantity of crustacean wastes has been expelled out as a waste material from various shrimp processing industries/zones. The carapaces were treated by 2 M HCl for demineralization (DM), 2 N NaOH for deproteinization (DP), and 50 % NaOH for deacetylation (DA) to extract chitosan, without destroying the inherent microstructure of native shells. Then grafting was carried out by 2‑hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (HEMA) by using a redox initiator K2S2O8/FeSO4 to produce environmentally friendly strength bio-composite. Meanwhile, maximum yield was found when the concentration of monomer and initiator were 2.55 × 10−1 mol/L, 8.48 × 10−3 mol/L, at 70°C whereas the value has been recorded around 73.33±0.03 %. Besides the honeycomb microstructure of chitosan could enhance the overall properties of the fabricated biocomposites by using mechanical interlocking mechanism during compounding. The samples were characterized by fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), solid-state 13C cross-polarization magic-angle-spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CPMAS-NMR) and tensile strength (TS) techniques. The microstructure and thermo-mechanical profile exhibited noteworthy changes on the bulk property of the CS-g-HEMA composites. Result suggested that the shrimp waste shell would be an attractive source of strength bio-composites that retains outstanding physicochemical, thermomechanical, morphological properties. Thus the grafted products would be significantly utilized in various engineering, and bulk scale industrial applications as a suitable replacement of fossil based synthetic ones for the sustainable environmental protection.

Long-Term Effects of Straw and Straw-Derived Biochar on Humic Substances and Aggregate-Associated Humic Substances in Brown Earth Soil

Turning maize straw into biochar is useful for improving soil fertility and mitigating climate change. However, the difference between straw and straw-derived biochar on soil aggregate associated humic substances has not been sufficiently studied in brown earth soil. The objective of this study was to investigate how different straw management practices affect soil humic substances and aggregate-associated humic substances in the field. As such, an eight-year study (2013–2020) was conducted on brown earth in Northeast China. Three treatments were applied: 1) CK, in which only chemical fertilizer was applied every year; 2) BC, in which biochar was applied at a rate of 2.625 t ha−1 (the same rate of chemical fertilizer as that in the CK was applied); 3) SR, in which straw was returned at a rate of 7.5 t ha−1 (the same rate of chemical fertilizer as that in the CK was applied). Both biochar and straw improved soil aggregate stability that reflected by the mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD). Compared to the CK treatment, the BC treatment enhanced humic carbon (HMC) both in bulk soil and different aggregate fractions. Biochar decreased the humic acid carbon (HAC) in bulk soil compared to the initial content, but no differences were observed between BC and CK after the eight-year field experiment. All of the aggregate-associated HAC contents were significantly enhanced in response to BC treatment. SR was an effective way to improve soil organic carbon (SOC) and humic substances in bulk soil and aggregate fractions. SR had a relatively small effect on the relative proportions of the C functional groups. Solid-state 13C cross-polarization magic-angle-spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CPMAS-NMR) spectra of bulk soils revealed that biochar increased the proportion of aromatic C. The ratios of alkyl C/O-alkyl C, aromatic C/aliphatic C, and hydrophobic C/hydrophilic C increased in response to the BC treatment compared to the other treatments. Taken together, biochar amendment can enhance soil aggregate stability, aggregate-associated HMC and stability of SOC on the scale of an eight-year field experiment. Biochar could be an effective approach to sequestrate carbon and improve the quality of brown earth soil.

Identification of a Novel Pyruvyltransferase Using 13C Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance To Analyze Rhizobial Exopolysaccharides.

The alphaproteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti secretes two acidic exopolysaccharides (EPSs), succinoglycan (EPSI) and galactoglucan (EPSII), which differentially enable it to adapt to a changing environment. Succinoglycan is essential for invasion of plant hosts and, thus, for the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Galactoglucan is critical for population-based behaviors such as swarming and biofilm formation and can facilitate invasion in the absence of succinoglycan on some host plants. The biosynthesis of galactoglucan is not as completely understood as that of succinoglycan. We devised a pipeline to identify putative pyruvyltransferase and acetyltransferase genes, construct genomic deletions in strains engineered to produce either succinoglycan or galactoglucan, and analyze EPS from mutant bacterial strains. EPS samples were examined by 13C cross-polarization magic-angle spinning (CPMAS) solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). CPMAS NMR is uniquely suited to defining chemical composition in complex samples and enables the detection and quantification of distinct EPS functional groups. Galactoglucan was isolated from mutant strains with deletions in five candidate acyl/acetyltransferase genes (exoZ, exoH, SMb20810, SMb21188, and SMa1016) and a putative pyruvyltransferase (wgaE or SMb21322). Most samples were similar in composition to wild-type EPSII by CPMAS NMR analysis. However, galactoglucan produced from a strain lacking wgaE exhibited a significant reduction in pyruvylation. Pyruvylation was restored through the ectopic expression of plasmid-borne wgaE. Our work has thus identified WgaE as a galactoglucan pyruvyltransferase. This exemplifies how the systematic combination of genetic analyses and solid-state NMR detection is a rapid means to identify genes responsible for modification of rhizobial exopolysaccharides. IMPORTANCE Nitrogen-fixing bacteria are crucial for geochemical cycles and global nitrogen nutrition. Symbioses between legumes and rhizobial bacteria establish root nodules, where bacteria convert dinitrogen to ammonia for plant utilization. Secreted exopolysaccharides (EPSs) produced by Sinorhizobium meliloti (succinoglycan and galactoglucan) play important roles in soil and plant environments. The biosynthesis of galactoglucan is not as well characterized as that of succinoglycan. We employed solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to examine intact EPS from wild-type and mutant S. meliloti strains. NMR analysis of EPS isolated from a wgaE gene mutant revealed a novel pyruvyltransferase that modifies galactoglucan. Few EPS pyruvyltransferases have been characterized. Our work provides insight into the biosynthesis of an important S. meliloti EPS and expands the knowledge of enzymes that modify polysaccharides.

Alizarin Grafting onto Ultrasmall ZnO Nanoparticles: Mode of Binding, Stability, and Colorant Studies.

The demand is rising for colorants that are obtained from natural resources, tolerant to industrial processing methods, and meet color quality demands. Herein, we report how relevant properties such as thermal stability and photostability of the natural colorant alizarin can be improved by grafting it onto ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), allowing application in a warm extrusion process for the fabrication of polyamide fibers. For this study, ZnO NPs (diameter 2.0 ± 0.6 nm) were synthesized and subsequently functionalized with alizarin. The alizarin-coated ZnO NPs (i.e., dyed nanoparticles, DNPs) were characterized. Thermogravimetric analysis and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) studies revealed that alizarin coating accounts for ∼65% (w/w) of the total mass of the DNPs. A subsequent detailed characterization with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CP-MAS) NMR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and quantum chemistry studies using various density functional theory (DFT) functionals and basis sets indicated that binding onto the ZnO NPs occurred predominantly via the catechol moiety of alizarin. Importantly, this grafting increased the thermal stability of alizarin with >100 °C, which allowed the processing of the DNPs into polyamide fibers by warm extrusion at 260 °C. Evaluation of the lightfastness of the DNP-dyed nylon fibers revealed that the changes in color quantified via the distance metric ΔE* of alizarin when embedded in a hybrid material were 2.6-fold better compared to nylon fibers that were directly dyed with alizarin. This reveals that the process of immobilization of a natural dye onto ZnO nanoparticles indeed improves the dye properties significantly and opens the way for a wide range of further studies into surface-immobilized dyes.

Structural Evaluation of the Choline and Geranic Acid/Water Complex by SAXS and NMR Analyses

Recently, choline and geranic acid (CAGE), an ionic liquid (IL), has been recognized to be a superior biocompatible material for oral and transdermal drug delivery systems (DDS). When CAGE is administered, CAGE would be exposed to various types of physiological fluids, such as intestinal and intradermal fluids. However, the effect of physiological fluids on the structure of CAGE remains unclear. In the present study, molecular structures of CAGE with different ratios of water were investigated using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The SAXS pattern of CAGE showed an IL-specific broad peak derived from nanoscale aggregation until 17 vol % water. Meanwhile, narrow peaks were observed in samples with 25-50 vol % water, showing a transition to the lamellar phase. With more than 67 vol % water, CAGE was found to exist as micelles in water. The 1H NMR spectra indicated that protons of H2O, OH in choline (CH), and COOH in geranic acid (GA) were observed as only one peak up to 17 vol % water. This peak shifted to a high magnetic field, and the integral values increased with the water content, speculating that water is localized close to the COOH and OH groups to allow proton exchange. The 13C NMR spectra showed that peaks related to the carboxyl group shifted with adding water. Moreover, only GA peaks were observed in the lamellar phase through 13C cross-polarization magic-angle spinning NMR, suggesting that the main rigid component of the lamellar phase was GA. Taken together, this study suggested that CAGE still maintained its IL structure up to 17 vol % water, then transitioned to the lamellar phase with 25-50 vol % water, and finally changed to the micellar phase with more than 67 vol % water. This information would be useful in the formulation and development of DDS using CAGE.

Carbon compositional analysis of hydrogel contact lenses by solid-state NMR spectroscopy

Contact lenses are worn by over 140 million people each year and tremendous research and development efforts contribute to the identification and selection of hydrogel components and production protocols to yield lenses optimized for chemical and physiological properties, eye health and comfort. The final molecular composition and extent of incorporation of different components in contact lenses is routinely estimated after lens production through the analysis of the soluble components that were not included in the lens, i.e. remaining starting materials. Examination of composition in the actual intact materials is always valued and can reveal details that are missed by only examining the non-incorporated components, for example identifying chemical changes to components in lenses during the production process. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful tool for the direct compositional analysis of insoluble and heterogeneous materials and is also uniquely suited to determining parameters of architecture in contact lenses. We utilized 13C cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) NMR to examine and compare the carbon composition of soft contact lenses. 13C NMR spectra of individual polymer components enabled the determination of the approximate molecular carbon contributions of major lens components. Comparisons of the conventional etafilcon A hydrogel (1 Day Acuvue MOIST) lenses and silicone hydrogel lenses (Acuvue Oasys, Dailies Total 1, Clariti 1 Day, Biofinity, and Pure Vision) revealed major spectral differences, with considerable variation even among different silicone hydrogel lenses. The solid-state NMR approach provides a direct spectral reporting of carbon types in the hydrogel lens itself. This approach represents a valuable complementary analysis to benefit contact lens research and development and could be extended to isotopically labeled hydrogel lenses to map proximities and architecture between hydrogel components.

Elucidating the internal structure and dynamics of [formula omitted]chitin by 2DPASS-MAS-NMR and spin-lattice relaxation measurements

The structure and dynamics of the second most abundant biopolymer α−chitin were studied by high resolution solid state 13C cross-polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CP-MAS-NMR) spectral analysis, 13C relaxation measurements at eight chemically different carbon sites and chemical shift anisotropy measurement by two-dimensional phase-adjusted spinning sidebands (2DPASS) magic angle spinning (MAS) solid state NMR method.13C spin-lattice relaxation time was measured by high resolution Torchia CP method. Spin-lattice relaxation rate (1/T1) of side chain carbon nuclei were remarkably high, because those nuclei possess higher degree of motional freedom. Chemical shift anisotropy parameters of eight chemically different carbon nuclei were determined by 2DPASS-MAS-NMR experiment. Large value of chemical shift anisotropy was observed for carbonyl group carbon (C7) nuclei, because of electrostatic effect, hydrogen bonding and molecular magnetic susceptibility. 13C relaxation mechanism is mainly governed by chemical shift anisotropy interaction, especially at high value of external magnetic field (11.74 T). Thus, the correlation time at different carbon sites were also calculated by using the spin-lattice relaxation times and chemical shift anisotropy values. The correlation time of side chain carbon (C8) was two orders of magnitude less than the carbonyl group carbon. These types of investigations would enlighten the correlation between the structure and dynamics of long polysaccharide chain compound.

Arene guest selectivity and pore flexibility in a metal-organic framework with semi-fluorinated channel walls.

A metal–organic framework (MOF) with one-dimensional channels of approximately hexagonal cross-section [Ag2(O2CCF2CF2CO2)(TMP)] 1 (TMP =2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine) has been synthesized with MeOH filling the channels in its as-synthesized form as [Ag2(O2CCF2CF2CO2)(TMP)]·n(MeOH) 1-MeOH (n = 1.625 by X-ray crystallography). The two types of ligand connect columns of Ag(I) centres in an alternating manner, both around the channels and along their length, leading to an alternating arrangement of hydrocarbon (C–H) and fluorocarbon (C–F) groups lining the channel walls, with the former groups projecting further into the channel than the latter. MeOH solvent in the channels can be exchanged for a variety of arene guests, ranging from xylenes to tetrafluorobenzene, as confirmed by gas chromatography, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and 13C cross-polarization magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy. Alkane and perfluoroalkane guests, however, do not enter the channels. Although exhibiting some stability under a nitrogen atmosphere, sufficient to enable crystal structure determination, the evacuated MOF 1 is unstable for periods of more than minutes under ambient conditions or upon heating, whereupon it undergoes an irreversible solid-state transformation to a non-porous polymorph 2, which comprises Ag2(O2CCF2CF2CO2) coordination layers that are pillared by TMP ligands. This transformation has been followed in situ by powder X-ray diffraction and shown to proceed via a crystalline intermediate.This article is part of the themed issue ‘Coordination polymers and metal–organic frameworks: materials by design’.

Chitin and chitosan from the Norway lobster by-products: Antimicrobial and anti-proliferative activities

Chitin was recovered through enzymatic deproteinization of the Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) processing by-products. The obtained chitin was characterized and converted into chitosan by N-deacetylation, the acid-soluble form of chitin. Chitosan samples were then characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and 13 Cross polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS)-NMR spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity and anti-proliferative capacity of chitosan were evaluated.Antimicrobial activity assays indicated that prepared chitosan exhibited marked inhibitory activity against the bacterial and fungal strains tested. Further, cytotoxic effects of chitosan samples on human colon carcinoma cells HCT116 was evaluated using the MTT assay. Chitosan showed the antiproliferative capacity against the colon-cancer-cell HCT116 in a dose dependent manner with IC50 of 4.6mg/ml. Indeed, HCT116 cell proliferation was significantly inhibited (p<0.05) between 13.5 and 67.5% at 0.5–6mg/mL of chitosan after 24h of cell treatment. The chitosan showed high antitumor activity which seemed to be dependent on its characteristics such as acetylation degree.

Characterization of a Mixture of CO2 Adsorption Products in Hyperbranched Aminosilica Adsorbents by (13)C Solid-State NMR.

Hyperbranched amine polymers (HAS) grown from the mesoporous silica SBA-15 (hereafter "SBA-15-HAS") exhibit large capacities for CO2 adsorption. We have used static in situ and magic-angle spinning (MAS) ex situ (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to examine the adsorption of CO2 by SBA-15-HAS. (13)C NMR distinguishes the signal of gas-phase (13)CO2 from that of the chemisorbed species. HAS polymers possess primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, leading to multiple chemisorption reaction outcomes, including carbamate (RnNCOO(-)), carbamic acid (RnNCOOH), and bicarbonate (HCO3(-)) moieties. Carbamates and bicarbonate fall within a small (13)C chemical shift range (162-166 ppm), and a mixture was observed including carbamic acid and carbamate, the former disappearing upon evacuation of the sample. By examining the (13)C-(14)N dipolar coupling through low-field (B0 = 3 T) (13)C{(1)H} cross-polarization MAS NMR, carbamate is confirmed through splitting of the (13)C resonance. A third species that is either bicarbonate or a second carbamate is evident from bimodal T2 decay times of the ∼163 ppm peak, indicating the presence of two species comprising that single resonance. The mixture of products suggests that (1) the presence of amines and water leads to bicarbonate being present and/or (2) the multiple types of amine sites in HAS permit formation of chemically distinct carbamates.

Chemical Makeup and Hydrophilic Behavior of Graphene Oxide Nanoribbons after Low-Temperature Fluorination.

Here we investigated the fluorination of graphene oxide nanoribbons (GONRs) using H2 and F2 gases at low temperature, below 200 °C, with the purpose of elucidating their structure and predicting a fluorination mechanism. The importance of this study is the understanding of how fluorine functional groups are incorporated in complex structures, such as GONRs, as a function of temperature. The insight provided herein can potentially help engineer application-oriented materials for several research and industrial sectors. Direct (13)C pulse magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) confirmed the presence of epoxy, hydroxyl, ester and ketone carbonyl, tertiary alkyl fluorides, as well as graphitic sp(2)-hybridized carbon. Moreover, (19)F-(13)C cross-polarization MAS NMR with (1)H and (19)F decoupling confirmed the presence of secondary alkyl fluoride (CF2) groups in the fluorinated graphene oxide nanoribbon (FGONR) structures fluorinated above 50 °C. First-principles density functional theory calculations gained insight into the atomic arrangement of the most dominant chemical groups. The fluorinated GONRs present atomic fluorine percentages in the range of 6-35. Interestingly, the FGONRs synthesized up to 100 °C, with 6-19% of atomic fluorine, exhibit colloidal similar stability in aqueous environments when compared to GONRs. This colloidal stability is important because it is not common for materials with up to 19% fluorine to have a high degree of hydrophilicity.

Impact of mechanical and enzymatic pretreatments on softwood pulp fiber wall structure studied with NMR spectroscopy and X-ray scattering

Dissolution of wood pulp can be enhanced by applying certain pretreatments before exposing the fibers to solvents. We have analyzed effect of mechanical and enzymatic pretreatments on softwood fiber wall structure using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic methods, small and wide angle X-ray scattering (SAXS, WAXS). NMR diffusometry was used to estimate the effect of pretreatments on average pore sizes at micrometer size scale and for the connectivity of the porous network. A proton NMR experiment was used to quantify the nonfreezing water content inside the fiber wall, and solid state NMR $$^{13}\hbox {C}$$ cross polarization (CP) magic angle spinning (MAS) spectroscopy was used to observe the effect of pretreatments on crystallinity and lateral fibril dimensions of cellulose fibrils, and in combination with fiber saturation point measurement to calculate the average pore size at nanometer size scale. Both WAXS and CP–MAS NMR experiments confirmed that there were no changes in crystallinity nor in fibril lateral dimensions due to pretreatments. The pretreatments caused an increase in the amount of nonfreezing water, suggesting an opening of the pore system. According to diffusion experiments there are only minor changes in micrometer scale pore network due to pretreatments. SAXS results indicated that enzymatic treatment increased the microfibrillar distance, and there was also an increase in cross relaxation rate of magnetization from water to cellulose protons as observed by NMR. These were interpreted to be due to opening of microfibrillar bundles, leading to an increased accessibility of water.

Changes in surface structure of sodium aluminoborosilicate glasses during aqueous corrosion analyzed by using NMR

Aqueous corrosion tests were performed for aluminoborosilicate glasses with different Na contents at 90°C for 20days. Multi-nuclear solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques were employed to characterize the structures of the pristine and altered glasses. 11Bmagic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra showed the same line shape for the pristine and altered glasses, indicating that B species such as BO3 and BO4 were released into the solution congruently with the same fraction during the static dissolution experiments. The reconstruction of Si on the glass surface as hydrated phases was confirmed by the 29SiMAS and H1→Si29 cross-polarization magic-angle spinning NMR spectra of the altered glasses. 23NaMAS and triple-quantum magic-angle spinning NMR spectra showed that part of the Na released from pristine glasses was incorporated in the hydrated phases, which can be identified by a 23Nachemical shift at δiso=−3.3ppm. The availability of these structural data by employing solid-state NMR techniques can provide a better understanding of the formation of the hydrated phases and the effect of dissolution behavior on the glass composition.

Chitin extraction from shrimp shell using enzymatic treatment. Antitumor, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of chitosan

Chitin was recovered through enzymatic deproteinization of the shrimp processing by-products. Different microbial and fish viscera proteases were tested for their deproteinization efficiency. High levels of protein removal of about 77±3% and 78±2% were recorded using Bacillus mojavensis A21 and Balistes capriscus proteases, respectively, after 3h of hydrolysis at 45°C using an enzyme/substrate ratio of 20U/mg. Therefore, these two crude proteases were used separately for chitin extraction and then chitosan preparation by N-deacetylation.Chitin and chitosan samples were then characterized by 13 Cross polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS)-NMR spectroscopy and compared to samples prepared through chemical deproteinization. All chitins and chitosans showed identical spectra. Chitosans prepared through enzymatic deproteinization have practically the same acetylation degree but higher molecular weights compared to that obtained through chemical process. Antimicobial, antioxidant and antitumoral activitities of chitosan-M obtained by treatment with A21 proteases and chitosan-C obtained by alkaline treatment were investigated. Results showed that both chitosans inhibited the growth of most Gram-negative, Gram-positive bacteria and fungi tested. Furthermore, both chitosans exhibited antioxidant and antitumor activities which was dependent on the molecular weight.

Acceleration of natural-abundance solid-state MAS NMR measurements on bone by paramagnetic relaxation from gadolinium-DTPA

Reducing the data collection time without affecting the signal intensity and spectral resolution is one of the major challenges for the widespread application of multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, especially in experiments conducted on complex heterogeneous biological systems such as bone. In most of these experiments, the NMR data collection time is ultimately governed by the proton spin–lattice relaxation times (T1). For over two decades, gadolinium(III)-DTPA (Gd-DTPA, DTPA=Diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid) has been one of the most widely used contrast-enhancement agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this study, we demonstrate that Gd-DTPA can also be effectively used to enhance the longitudinal relaxation rates of protons in solid-state NMR experiments conducted on bone without significant line-broadening and chemical-shift-perturbation side effects. Using bovine cortical bone samples incubated in different concentrations of Gd-DTPA complex, the 1H T1 values were calculated from data collected by 1H spin-inversion recovery method detected in natural-abundance 13C cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) NMR experiments. Our results reveal that the 1H T1 values can be successfully reduced by a factor of 3.5 using as low as 10mM Gd-DTPA without reducing the spectral resolution and thus enabling faster data acquisition of the 13C CPMAS spectra. These results obtained from 13C-detected CPMAS experiments were further confirmed using 1H-detected ultrafast MAS experiments on Gd-DTPA doped bone samples. This approach considerably improves the signal-to-noise ratio per unit time of NMR experiments applied to bone samples by reducing the experimental time required to acquire the same number of scans.

29Si{1H} CP-MAS NMR comparison and ATR-FTIR spectroscopic analysis of the diatoms Chaetoceros muelleri and Thalassiosira pseudonana grown at different salinities

Diatoms are key indicators of marine environmental health. To further understand how diatoms respond to varying degrees of salinity, either due to climate change or brine waste discharge into marine environments, two different diatom species were studied. Thalassiosira pseudonana and Chaetoceros muelleri were cultured at three different salinities namely, 26 practical salinity units (PSU or parts per thousand), 36 PSU (standard salinity for culturing of seawater species) and 46 PSU. Changes in silica and organic content within the cultured diatoms were analysed using solid-state (29)Si{(1)H} cross-polarization-magic angle spinning (CP-MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopies coupled with analysis of variance. (29)Si CP-MAS NMR showed that qualitatively the Q4:Q3 area ratios of C. muelleri, grown away from standard salinities, increased in response to the formation of more condensed (2 ≡SiOH → ≡Si-O-Si≡ + H2O) and/or an increase in closely associated organic matter to the Q4 component of the diatoms. This was not observed for T. pseudonana. However, both species showed the appearance of a new peak centered at 1575-1580 cm(-1) in the ATR-FTIR spectra, designated as the C═N band of nitrogenous purine-type compounds. Further, the C. muelleri species was shown to produce more extracellular polymeric substances at non-standard salinities. On this basis, results suggest that there is a strong relationship between diatom composition and salinity and that C. muelleri is more sensitive to its environment than T. pseudonana.

1H and 13C Magic-Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of the Chicken Eggshell

The chicken eggshell, a product of biomineralization, contains inorganic and organic substances whose content changes during the incubation process. Bloch-decay (BD) (1)H, (13)C, and cross-polarization (CP) (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of chicken eggshells were acquired under magic-angle spinning (MAS). Variable contact time (13)C CP MAS NMR experiments revealed the signals of carbonyl groups from organic and inorganic compounds. In the (13)C BD NMR spectra, a single peak at 168.1 ppm was detected, whereas in the (1)H BD spectra, the signals from water and the bicarbonate ion were assigned. A simultaneous decrease of the water signal in the (1)H MAS NMR spectra and an increase of the carbonate ion signal in the (13)C CP MAS NMR spectra of eggshells collected during the incubation period indicate the substitution of calcium ions by hydrogen ions in the calcium carbonate crystalline phase during the incubation of an egg.

ChemInform Abstract: Solid State CPMAS 13C and 15N NMR Spectroscopy in Organic Geochemistry and How Spin Dynamics Can Either Aggravate or Improve Spectra Interpretation

AbstractReview: 128 refs.

Molecular-shape selective high-performance liquid chromatography: Stabilization effect of polymer main chain by alternating copolymerization

This work aims to clarify that stabilization or increased rigidity of polymer main chains as an organic stationary phase can lead the selectivity enhancement in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). For this purpose, the alternating copolymer of octadecyl acrylate (ODA) with a cyclic monomer (N-octadecylmaleimide, OMI) as a rigid segment was synthesized and compared with the ODA homopolymer. Both of the polymer-grafted silicas (Sil-poly(ODA-alt-OMI) and Sil-poly(ODA), respectively) were prepared by radical polymerization on 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane-modified silica. The characterizations were carried out by elemental analyses, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT), and solid-state 13C cross-polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CP-MAS-NMR) spectroscopies. Chromatographic behaviors were evaluated by the retention studies of shape-constrained isomers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), isomers of tocopherol and carotenoids. Higher molecular-linearity selectivity toward PAHs was obtained on Sil-poy(ODA-alt-OMI) regardless of temperature changes but at temperature below 40°C, Sil-poly(ODA) showed better planarity selectivity than that of Sil-poy(ODA-alt-OMI). As a result, the higher separation ability toward tocopherols and carotenoids was obtained on Sil-poy(ODA-alt-OMI). These results indicate that the stabilization in the polymer main chain by alternating copolymerization and the stabilization in the side chains by a disordered-to-ordered phase transition were effective to enhance the molecular-shape selectivity.