Polyethylene Glycol-polystyrene Research Articles

The average magnetic anisotropy of polystyrene in polymersomes self-assembled from poly(ethylene glycol)-b-polystyrene.

Using the diamagnetic anisotropy of polymers for the characterization of polymers and polymer aggregates is a relatively new approach in the field of soft-matter and polymer research. So far, a good and thorough quantitative description of these diamagnetic properties has been lacking. Using a simple equation that links the magnetic properties of an average polymer repeating unit to those of the polymer vesicle of any shape, we measured, using magnetic birefringence, the average diamagnetic anisotropy of a polystyrene (PS) repeating unit, ΔχPS, inside a poly(ethylene glycol)-polystyrene (PEG-PS) polymersome membrane as a function of the PS-length and as a function of the preparation method. All obtained values of ΔχPS have a negative sign which results in polymers tending to align perpendicular to an applied magnetic field. Combined, the same order of magnitude of ΔχPS (10-12 m3 mol-1) for all polymersome shapes proves that the individual polymers are organized similarly regardless of the PS length and polymersome shape. Furthermore, the value found is only a fraction (∼1%) of what it can maximally be due to the random coiling of the polymers. We, therefore, predict that further ordering of the polymers within the membrane could lead to similar responses at much lower magnetic fields, possibly obtainable with permanent magnets, which would be highly advantageous for practical applications.

Consolidating Molecular Logic with New Solid-Bound YES and PASS 1 Gates and Their Combinations.

Proton-driven YES and PASS 1 molecular logic tags based on anthracene and 4-aminonaphthalimide fluorophores, emitting blue and green, respectively, are employed on amino-terminated polyethylene glycol-polystyrene and aminopropyl silica particles. The (YES+PASS 1) logic combination is also a distinguishable tag in both colours. The scope of such tags is delineated.

Synthesis of polyethylene glycol-polystyrene core-shell structure particles in a plasma-fluidized bed reactor

Particles with core-shell structure with polystyrene (PS) core and polyethylene glycol (PEG) grafted on the surface were synthesized in a plasma-fluidized bed reactor. The virgin, plasma-treated, and grafted powders were characterized by the DPPH method, UV-vis spectrophotometer, NMR, FT-IR and SEM. The plasma-treated PS powders have well formed peroxide on the surface. By PEG grafting polymerization, PEG is well grafted and dispersed on the surface of the plasma-treated PS powders. The PEG-g-PS powder exhibits the core shell structure in the cross-sectional SEM image, and it can be claimed that well dispersed PEG grafting polymerization on PS surface can be achieved in the plasma fluidized bed reactor.

ChemInform Abstract: Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Substitution in Aqueous Media Using Amphiphilic Resin-Supported MOP Ligands.

Abstract A series of amphiphilic resin-supported MOP ligands PEP-MOP were prepared on a polyethylene glycol-polystyrene graft copolymer. Palladium complexes of PEP-MOP were found to be effective as catalysts for the asymmetric substitution of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with 3-methyl-2,4-pentanedione in aqueous K2CO3 to give 1,3-diphenyl-4-acetyl-4-methyl-1-hexen-5-one of up to 81% ee.

Variegin, a Novel Fast and Tight Binding Thrombin Inhibitor from the Tropical Bont Tick

Tick saliva contains potent antihemostatic molecules that help ticks obtain their enormous blood meal during prolonged feeding. We isolated thrombin inhibitors present in the salivary gland extract from partially fed female Amblyomma variegatum, the tropical bont tick, and characterized the most potent, variegin, one of the smallest (32 residues) thrombin inhibitors found in nature. Full-length variegin and two truncated variants were chemically synthesized. Despite its small size and flexible structure, variegin binds thrombin with strong affinity (K(i) approximately 10.4 pM) and high specificity. Results using the truncated variants indicated that the seven residues at the N terminus affected the binding kinetics; when removed, the binding characteristics changed from fast to slow. Further, the thrombin active site binding moiety of variegin is in the region of residues 8-14, and the exosite-I binding moiety is within residues 15-32. Our results show that variegin is structurally and functionally similar to the rationally designed thrombin inhibitor, hirulog. However, compared with hirulog, variegin is a more potent inhibitor, and its inhibitory activity is largely retained after cleavage by thrombin.

4-(9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl)phenylhydrazine (FmPH): a new chromophoric reagent for quantitative monitoring of solid-phase aldehydes(1-3).

A direct method for quantifying solid-phase aldehydes has been developed, using a new reagent, 4-(9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl)phenylhydrazine (FmPH). The FmPH reagent was synthesized in three steps (24% overall yield) from commercially available p-hydrazinobenzoic acid. Resin-bound aldehydes reacted quantitatively with FmPH, in the presence of trimethylorthoformate (TMOF) as a dehydrating agent, to form a highly conjugated, immobilized FmPH-hydrazone. Next, mild treatment of the hydrazone with an excess of piperidine-N,N-dimethylformamide (1:1) released the piperidine-dibenzofulvene adduct chromophore (epsilon(301nm) = 7800 M(-1) cm(-1)) from the support. FmPH quantitation of aldehydes proved to be a straightforward, sensitive, and reproducible technique for monitoring resin-bound aldehydes [albeit insufficiently reactive to allow reliable quantification of ketones]. The FmPH aldehyde assay is applicable to a range of solid supports, as demonstrated specifically for poly(ethylene glycol)-polystyrene (PEG-PS), aminomethylpolystyrene (AMP), and cross-linked ethoxylate acrylate resin (CLEAR).

On-resin native chemical ligation for cyclic peptide synthesis.

A novel cysteine derivative, N(alpha)-trityl-S-(9H-xanthen-9-yl)-l-cysteine [Trt-Cys(Xan)-OH] has been introduced for peptide synthesis, specifically for application to a new strategy for the preparation of cyclic peptides. The following steps were carried out to synthesize the cyclic model peptide cyclo(Cys-Thr-Abu-Gly-Gly-Ala-Arg-Pro-Asp-Phe): (i). side-chain anchoring of Fmoc-Asp-OAl via its free beta-carboxyl as a p-alkoxybenzyl ester to a solid support; (ii). stepwise chain elongation of the peptide by standard Fmoc/tBu solid-phase chemistry; (iii). removal of the N-terminal Fmoc group; (iv). coupling of Trt-Cys(Xan)-OH; (v). selective Pd(0)-promoted cleavage of the C-terminal allyl ester; (vi). coupling of the C-terminal residue, i.e., H-Phe-SBzl, preactivated as a thioester; (vii). selective removal of the N(alpha)-Trt and S-Xan protecting groups under very mild acid conditions; (viii). on-resin cyclization by native chemical ligation in an aqueous milieu; and (ix). final acidolytic cleavage of the cyclic peptide from the resin. The strategy was evaluated for three supports: poly[N,N-dimethacrylamide-co-poly(ethylene glycol)] (PEGA), cross-linked ethoxylate acrylate resin (CLEAR), and poly(ethylene glycol)-polystyrene (PEG-PS) graft resin supports. For PEGA and CLEAR, the desired cyclic product was obtained in 76-86% overall yield with initial purities of approximately 70%, whereas for PEG-PS (which does not swell nearly as well in water), results were inferior. Solid-phase native chemical ligation/cyclization methodology appears to have advantages of convenience and specificity, which make it promising for further generalization.

Facile preparation of disulfide-bridged peptides using the polymer-supported oxidant CLEAR-OX.

Formation of disulfide bonds in synthetic peptides is one of the more challenging transformations to achieve in peptide chemistry, in view of the possible formation of oligomeric by-products and other side reactions, as well as occasional solubility problems in aqueous oxidizing media. It was shown previously that 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB identical with Ellman's reagent), when attached to polyethylene glycol-polystyrene (PEG-PS), controlled-pore glass (CPG), or modified Sephadex supports, was an effective oxidizing agent that promoted disulfide formation under mild conditions. More recently, this work was extended to Cross-Linked Ethoxylate Acrylate Resin (CLEAR) supports, because of their compatibility with both organic and aqueous solvent mixtures. The resultant new tool, termed CLEAR-OX, was used to conveniently produce several model cyclic disulfides with improved purities and yields, when compared with solution oxidations. A particularly striking example was the gram-scale oxidation of a urotensin II antagonist peptide containing a hindered penicillamine unit.

Colorimetric monitoring of solid-phase aldehydes using 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine.

A simple and rapid method to achieve colorimetric monitoring of resin-bound aldehydes, based on ambient temperature reaction with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) in the presence of dilute acid, has been developed as an adjunct to solid-phase organic synthesis and combinatorial chemistry. By this test, the presence of aldehydes is indicated by a red to dark-orange appearance, within a minute. Alternatively, resins that are free of aldehydes or in which aldehyde functions have reacted completely retain their original color. The DNPH test was demonstrated for poly(ethylene glycol)-polystyrene (PEG-PS), aminomethyl polystyrene (AMP), cross-linked ethoxylate acrylate resin (CLEAR), and acryloylated O,O'-bis(2-aminopropyl)poly(ethylene glycol) (PEGA) supports and gave results visible to the naked eye at levels as low as 18 micromol of aldehyde per gram of resin.

Rapid solid phase synthesis and biodistribution of 18F-labelled linear peptides.

A rapid method for radiolabelling short peptides with 18F ( t(1/2)=109.7 min) for use in positron emission tomography (PET) was developed. Linear peptides (13mers) were synthesised using solid phase peptide synthesis and 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) chemistry. The peptides were assembled on a solid-phase polyethylene glycol-polystyrene support using the "hyper acid labile" linker xanthen-2-oxyvaleric acid and were labelled in situ with 4-[19F]- or 4-[18F]fluorobenzoic acid. Optimum coupling of 4-[19F]fluorobenzoic acid to the peptidyl resin was achieved within 2 min using N-[(dimethylamino)-1 H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-b]pyridin-1-ylmethylene]- Nmethylmethanaminium hexafluorophosphate N-oxide (HATU/DIPEA), and optimum cleavage was achieved within 7 min using trifluoroacetic acid/phenol/water/Triisopropylsilane at 37 degrees C. The linear peptides were rapidly labelled with 4-[18F]fluorobenzoic acid with an overall radiochemical yield of 80%-90% (decay corrected), a radiochemical purity of >95% without HPLC purification and an overall synthesis time of 20 min. This novel method was used to label peptides containing the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) motif, the binding site of many integrins. In vitro studies showed that the fluorobenzoyl prosthetic group had no deleterious effect on the ability of these peptides to inhibit the binding of human cells via integrins. Biodistribution studies in tumour-bearing mice showed that although the linear peptides were rapidly removed from the circulation by the liver and kidneys, there was a transient and non-RGD-dependent accumulation in the tumour of both the test and the control peptides. The use of more selective peptides with a longer half-life in the circulation combined with this rapid labelling technique will significantly enhance the application of peptides in PET.

A solid-phase synthetic strategy for the preparation of peptide-based affinity labels: synthesis of dynorphin A analogs.

Solid-phase synthetic methodology was developed for the preparation of peptide-based affinity labels. The initial peptides synthesized were dynorphin A (Dyn A) analogs [Phe(p-X)4,D-Pro10]Dyn A(1-11)NH2 containing isothiocyanate (X=-N=C=S) and bromoacetamide (X=-NHCOCH2Br) groups. The peptides were assembled on solid supports using Fmoc-protected amino acids, and the side chain amine to be functionalized, Phe(p-NH2), was protected by the Alloc (allyloxycarbonyl) group. Following removal of the Alloc group by palladium(O), the reactive isothiocyanate and bromoacetamide functionalities were successfully introduced while the peptides were still attached to the resin. Synthesis of these peptides was carried out on polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene glycol-polystyrene (PEG-PS) resins containing the PAL [peptide amide linker, 5-(4-Fmoc-aminomethyl-3,5-dimethoxyphenoxy)valeric acid] linker. Both the rate of Alloc deprotection and the purity of the crude affinity-labeled peptides obtained were found to be dependent on the resin used for peptide assembly.

The reduction of aromatic nitro groups on solid supports using sodium hydrosulfite (Na 2S 2O 4)

An improved method for reducing aromatic nitro compounds on solid-phase supports using sodium hydrosulfite is presented. Conditions have been optimized to enable the use of this reagent for reductions on both polyethyleneglycol-polystyrene (PEG) resins and traditional polystyrene (PS) resins.

Solvation and Solvent Relaxation in Swellable Copolymers as Studied by Time-Resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy

The fluorescent probe dimethylaminonaphthylsulfonamide is covalently bound to the ends of the pol(ethylene glycol) chains of the swellable block copolymers poly(ethylene glycol)–polystyrene (PEG-PS) and poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(ethylene imine) (PEG-PEI) to investigate the molecular mobility inside the polymers, swollen by different liquids. Steady-state and time-resolved studies of the Stokes shift between absorption and fluorescence spectra reveal that the probe is solvated by both the polymer matrix and the liquid phase. The extent of solvation by the liquid and the mobility of the microenvironment of the probe depend on both the swelling volume of the polymer and the solubility of the probe in this liquid. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence depolarisation measurements show that the polymer matrix forms a very rigid solvent cage, which almost completely immobilizes the probe. Upon solvation of the probe by the liquid, the mobility of the probe increases. In PEG-PEI swollen by polar solvents, the mobilities of the probe itself and of its microenvironment, although not reaching the values observed in homogeneous solution, are significantly higher than in PEG-PS, due to the hydrophilic nature of the polymeric backbone in PEG-PEI.

Allylic substitution in water catalyzed by amphiphilic resin-supported palladium-phosphine complexes

New amphiphilic resin-supported triarylphosphines PEP ( 1) were designed and prepared on polyethylene glycol-polystyrene graft copolymer (PEG-PS). Palladium complexes of 1, Pd(PEP) 2 ( 4) and Pd(PEP) ( 5), catalyzed allylic alkylation of 3-acetoxy-1,3-diphenyl-1-propene ( 6) and cinnamyl acetate ( 7) with various nucleophiles including 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, amino acids, sodium azide, and sodium sulfinate, to give quantitative yields of corresponding allylic substituted products in water.

Towards nucleopeptides containing any trifunctional amino acid

Nucleopeptides incorporating, besides the linking residue, other trifunctional amino acids such as lysine, arginine, tryptophan, serine, threonine and tyrosine have been obtained following stepwise solid-phase assembly. The best alternatives for the protection of the side chains of these trifunctional amino acids are discussed. The use of different solid supports (polystyrene- co-1%-divinylbenzene, controlled pore glass and polyethylene glycol-polystyrene) and nucleopeptide-resin linkers has also been evaluated.

Enhancing solid phase synthesis by a noncovalent protection strategy-efficient coupling of rhodamine to resin-bound peptide nucleic acids

Resins for solid-phase synthesis can affect coupling efficiencies by interacting with reactants. We have observed that polyethylene glycol-polystyrene (PEG-PS) solid support absorbs added activated fluorophores, preventing efficient labeling of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs). We now report that addition of an inexpensive unactivated fluorophore blocks the resin and allows efficient labeling. This protection strategy may have general benefits for peptide and combinatorial synthesis.

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution in aqueous media using amphiphilic resin-supported MOP ligands

A series of amphiphilic resin-supported MOP ligands PEP-MOP were prepared on a polyethylene glycol-polystyrene graft copolymer. Palladium complexes of PEP-MOP were found to be effective as catalysts for the asymmetric substitution of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with 3-methyl-2,4-pentanedione in aqueous K 2CO 3 to give 1,3-diphenyl-4-acetyl-4-methyl-1-hexen-5-one of up to 81% ee.

"High-load" polyethylene glycol-polystyrene (PEG-PS) graft supports for solid-phase synthesis.

The choice of a polymeric support is a key factor for the success of solid-phase methods for syntheses of organic compounds and biomolecules such as peptides and oligonucleotides. Classical Merrifield solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), performed on low cross-linked hydrophobic polystyrene (PS) beads, sometimes suffers from sequence-dependent coupling difficulties. The concept of incorporating polyethylene glycol (PEG) into supports for solid-phase synthesis represents a successful approach to alleviating such problems. Previous reports from our laboratories have shown the advantages of "low-load" PEG-PS (0.15-0.25 mmol/g) for SPPS. Herein, we demonstrate that the beneficial aspects of the PEG-PS concept can be extended with resins that have higher loadings (0.3-0.5 mmol/g).

New amphiphilic palladium-phosphine complexes bound to solid supports: Preparation and use for catalytic allylic substitution in aqueous media

New amphiphilic palladium-phosphine complexes were designed and prepared on polyethylene glycol-polystyrene graft copolymer (PEG-PS) resin. The solid-supported palladium complexes showed high catalytic activity in allylic substitution reactions of allyl acetates with various nucleophiles in aqueous media.

Optimization of the synthesis of peptide combinatorial libraries using a one-pot method.

Conditions for the synthesis of synthetic peptide combinatorial libraries (SPCLs) from mixtures of amino acids were explored. In a one-pot synthesis, the effect of the starting concentrations of amino acids on the resulting library composition was studied, and the optimum balance of amino acids was determined. Protein sequencing, MALDI-TOF, and amino acid analysis were used for the evaluation of the libraries, and their relative merits-are discussed. The effects of continuous-flow automated synthesis instrumentation in conjunction with polyethylene glycol-polystyrene (PEG-PS) graft supports and various cleavage cocktails on the successful synthesis of SPCLs were examined.