Solid-phase Approach Research Articles

Development of solid-supported methodology for the preparation of peptidoglycan fragments containing (2S,6R)-diaminopimelic acid

Herein, we describe the development of an efficient solid-supported methodology for the stereoselective synthesis of two peptides containing (2S,6R)-diaminopimelic acid, (S)-Ala-γ-(R)-Glu-(2S,6R)-A2pm-(R)-Ala 1 and γ-(R)-Glu-(2S,6R)-A2pm 2. The platform consists of a Wang resin anchored by an amino acid chain including allylglycine. By olefin cross metathesis with vinylglycine, unsaturated protected (2S,6R)-A2pm was fixed on solid support. Peptides were achieved by cleavage of cross metathesis products from resin, followed by reduction of double bonds along removing of protecting groups. Furthermore, this efficient solid phase approach will lead to peptide and muropeptide libraries.

Solid-phase synthesis of molecularly imprinted nanoparticles.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic materials, generally based on acrylic or methacrylic monomers, that are polymerized in the presence of a specific target molecule called the 'template' and capable of rebinding selectively to this target molecule. They have the potential to be low-cost and robust alternatives to biomolecules such as antibodies and receptors. When prepared by traditional synthetic methods (i.e., with free template in solution), their usefulness has been limited by high binding site heterogeneity, the presence of residual template and the fact that the production methods are complex and difficult to standardize. To overcome some of these limitations, we developed a method for the synthesis of MIP nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) using an innovative solid-phase approach, which relies on the covalent immobilization of the template molecules onto the surface of a solid support (glass beads). The obtained nanoMIPs are virtually free of template and demonstrate high affinity for the target molecule (e.g., melamine and trypsin in our published work). Because of an affinity separation step performed on the solid phase after polymerization, poor binders and unproductive polymer are removed, so the final product has more uniform binding characteristics. The overall protocol, starting from the immobilization of the template onto the solid phase and including the purification and characterization of the nanoparticles, takes up to 1 week.

Lithium Phosphorus Oxynitride Coated Concentration Gradient Li[Ni0.73Co0.12Mn0.15]O2 Cathode Material with Enhanced Electrochemical Properties

A facile high-temperature solid phase approach is employed to coat lithium phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON) layer on the concentration gradient Li[Ni0.73Co0.12Mn0.15]O2 material with Ni-rich core and Ni-poor surface. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrate that LiPON forms an even coating with ∼4nm of thickness on the surface without destroying the bulk structure of Li[Ni0.73Co0.12Mn0.15]O2 material. The LiPON-coated concentration gradient Li[Ni0.73Co0.12Mn0.15]O2 material exhibits a capacity retention of 87.3% at 25°C after 1000 cycles and 89.9% at 55°C after 250 cycles, which is 36.1% and 17.2% higher than that of pristine Li[Ni0.73Co0.12Mn0.15]O2 material, respectively, under the same operating conditions. This significantly improved cycling performance is ascribed to the noncrystalline LiPON layer on the surface, which provides a reliable interface protection. The LiPON coating is an effective approach to enhancing the electrochemical performance of electrode materials for lithium ion batteries.

Does size matter? Study of performance of pseudo-ELISAs based on molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles prepared for analytes of different sizes.

The aim of this work is to evaluate whether the size of the analyte used as template for the synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) can affect their performance in pseudo-enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (pseudo-ELISAs). Successful demonstration of a nanoMIPs-based pseudo-ELISA for vancomycin (1449.3 g mol(-1)) was demonstrated earlier. In the present investigation, the following analytes were selected: horseradish peroxidase (HRP, 44 kDa), cytochrome C (Cyt C, 12 kDa) biotin (244.31 g mol(-1)) and melamine (126.12 g mol(-1)). NanoMIPs with a similar composition for all analytes were synthesised by persulfate-initiated polymerisation in water. In addition, core-shell nanoMIPs coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and imprinted for melamine were produced in organics and tested. The polymerisation of the nanoparticles was done using a solid-phase approach with the correspondent template immobilised on glass beads. The performance of the nanoMIPs used as replacement for antibodies in direct pseudo-ELISA (for the enzymes) and competitive pseudo-ELISA for the smaller analytes was investigated. For the competitive mode we rely on competition for the binding to the nanoparticles between free analyte and corresponding analyte-HRP conjugate. The results revealed that the best performances were obtained for nanoMIPs synthesised in aqueous media for the larger analytes. In addition, this approach was successful for biotin but completely failed for the smallest template melamine. This problem was solved using nanoMIP prepared by UV polymerisation in an organic media with a PEG shell. This study demonstrates that the preparation of nanoMIP by solid-phase approach can produce material with high affinity and potential to replace antibodies in ELISA tests for both large and small analytes. This makes this technology versatile and applicable to practically any target analyte and diagnostic field.

Direct chemical synthesis of well dispersed L10-FePt nanoparticles with tunable size and coercivity

We report a simple, green, one-step solid-phase approach to synthesize well-dispersed single-crystal L10-FePt nanoparticles with coercivity of more than 20 kOe.

Structurally Diverse Polyamines: Solid-Phase Synthesis and Interaction with DNA.

A versatile solid-phase approach based on peptide chemistry was used to construct four classes of structurally diverse polyamines with modified backbones: linear, partially constrained, branched, and cyclic. Their effects on DNA duplex stability and structure were examined. The polyamines showed distinct activities, thus highlighting the importance of polyamine backbone structure. Interestingly, the rank order of polyamine ability for DNA compaction was different to that for their effects on circular dichroism and melting temperature, thus indicating that these polyamines have distinct effects on secondary and higher-order structures of DNA.

Highly Efficient Solid-Phase Labeling of Saccharides within Boronic Acid Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles.

Labeling is critical for the detection, quantitation, and structural identification of saccharides. However, conventional liquid-phase labeling suffers from apparent disadvantages, such as time-consuming, the presence of excessive labeling reagent, and high applicable saccharide concentration. A solid-phase approach is presented for highly efficient labeling of saccharides, using boronic acid functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) as a selective extraction sorbent and nanoscale reactor. The solid-phase labeling approach exhibited several significant advantages, including: much faster reaction speed (taking only 2 min), high product purity, and much lower applicable saccharide concentration (four orders of magnitude lower than that of liquid-phase labeling). Thus, this labeling approach opens up new avenues to the facile and efficient labeling of saccharides.

Close-contact melting in a horizontal cylindrical enclosure with longitudinal plate fins: Demonstration, modeling and application to thermal storage

The present study deals with melting in a horizontal double-pipe concentric storage unit with a longitudinally finned inner tube. This geometry, applicable for thermal energy storage, has been extensively studied in the past. However, close-contact melting (CCM), which may significantly increase the melting rate, has not been explored for this sort of systems.In the present experiments, a laboratory-scale three-fin unit is transparent and thus the processes inside it are observed and recorded. Close-contact melting is achieved by supplying heat to the outer shell of the unit: the solid phase is detached from the shell and moves in the liquid phase. In the upper part of the unit, the solid phase translates vertically and melts on the inclined fin surfaces. In the lower parts of the unit, the solid phase approaches the vertical fin by rotation, while its outward surface slides on the shell. It is shown that close-contact melting shortens the melting time by a factor of 2.5 in that specific laboratory-scale device.A novel theoretical model includes gravity-induced rotational motion of the solid, primary melting on a vertical fin with non-uniform temperature distribution, secondary melting at the shell, and frictional resistance at the latter. The model is validated using the experimental results, and then used for a parametric investigation and dimensional analysis. It is revealed that the melt fraction depends on the Fourier and Stefan numbers combined as FoSte3/4, whereas the Nusselt number depends also on an additional group, Ste1/4. Further generalization is achieved when different angles between the fins are considered.The present paper presents a further proof of the special role that close-contact melting (CCM) can play in thermal energy storage units and finned systems in general. It is demonstrated that the fins, when properly designed and oriented, induce CCM in their vicinity, leading to a very significant increase in the melting rate.

(18)F-trifluoroborate derivatives of [des-arg(10)]kallidin for imaging bradykinin b1 receptor expression with positron emission tomography.

Bradykinin B1 receptor (B1R) is involved in pain and inflammation pathways and is upregulated in inflamed tissues and cancer. Due to its minimal expression in healthy tissues, B1R is an attractive target for the development of therapeutic agents to treat inflammation, chronic pain, and cancer. The goal of this study is to synthesize and compare two (18)F-labeled peptides derived from potent B1R antagonists B9858 and B9958 for imaging B1R expression with positron emission tomography (PET). Azidoacetyl-B9858 2 and azidoacetyl-B9958 3 were synthesized by a solid-phase approach and subsequently clicked to ammoniomethyl-trifluoroborate (AmBF3)-conjugated alkyne 1 to obtain AmBF3-B9858 and AmBF3-B9958, respectively. AmBF3-B9858 and AmBF3-B9958 bound B1R with high affinity, with Ki values at 0.09 ± 0.08 and 0.46 ± 0.03 nM, respectively, as measured by in vitro competition binding assays. (18)F labeling was performed via an (18)F-(19)F isotope exchange reaction. The radiofluorinated tracers were obtained within a synthesis time of 30 min and with 23-32% non-decay-corrected radiochemical yield, >99% radiochemical purity, and 43-87 GBq/μmol specific activity at the end of the synthesis. PET imaging and biodistribution studies were carried out in mice bearing both B1R-positive (B1R(+)) HEK293T::hB1R and B1R-negative (B1R(-)) HEK293T tumors. Both tracers cleared rapidly from most organs/tissues, mainly through the renal pathway. High uptake in B1R(+) tumors ((18)F-AmBF3-B9858: 3.94 ± 1.24% ID/g, tumor-to-muscle ratio 21.3 ± 4.33; (18)F-AmBF3-B9958: 4.20 ± 0.98% ID/g, tumor-to-muscle ratio 48.6 ± 10.7) was observed at 1 h postinjection. These results indicate that (18)F-AmBF3-B9858 and (18)F-AmBF3-B9958 are promising agents for the in vivo imaging of B1R expression with PET.

Solid-phase synthesis provides a modular, lysine-based platform for fluorescent discrimination of nitroxyl and biological thiols.

We describe a modular, synthetically facile solid-phase approach aimed at separating the fluorescent reporter and binding unit of small-molecule metal-based sensors. The first representatives contain a lysine backbone functionalized with a tetramethylrhodamine fluorophore, and they operate by modulating the oxidation state of a copper ion ligated to an [N4] (cyclam) or an [N2O] (quinoline-phenolate) moiety. We demonstrate the selectivity of their Cu(ii) complexes for sensing nitroxyl (HNO) and thiols (RSH), respectively, and investigate the mechanism responsible for the observed reactivity in each case. The two lysine conjugates are cell permeable in the active, Cu(ii)-bound forms and retain their analyte selectivity intracellularly, even in the presence of interfering species such as nitric oxide, nitrosothiols, and hydrogen sulfide. Moreover, we apply the new probes to discriminate between distinct levels of intracellular HNO and RSH generated upon stimulation of live HeLa cells with ascorbate and hydrogen sulfide, respectively. The successful implementation of the lysine-based sensors to gain insight into biosynthetic pathways validates the method as a versatile tool for producing libraries of analogues with minimal synthetic effort.

Solid phase synthesis of a novel folate-conjugated 5-aminolevulinic acid methyl ester based photosensitizer for selective photodynamic therapy

The development of a novel tumor-targeting photosensitizer delivery system, with potential ability to selectively transport the photosensitizer prodrug 5-aminolevulinic acid methyl ester (MAL) into the tumor site has been herein described. Conjugation of MAL to folic acid (FA) via an unnatural β-peptide linker has been carried out almost entirely by an efficient solid phase approach. This molecular system has been devised for possible applications in selective photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) and therapy (PDT).

ChemInform Abstract: Solid‐Phase Peptide Synthesis: An Overview Focused on the Preparation of Biologically Relevant Peptides

AbstractReview: [74 refs.

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanohemispheres via solution-phase thermal decomposition and its comparison with the solid-phase approach

ZnO nanohemispheres are successfully synthesized via thermal decomposition approach using [bis(2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehydato)zinc(II)] complex, as precursor. The final ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Furthermore, the same solid phase thermal treatment is preformed and the morphology is compared with the obtained ZnO nanohemispheres.

A solid-phase PEGylation strategy for protein therapeutics using a potent FGF21 analog

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is an endocrine-acting hormone that has the potential to treat metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. Development of FGF21 into a therapeutic has been hindered due to its low intrinsic bio-stability, propensity towards aggregation and its susceptibility to in vivo proteolytic degradation. In order to address these shortcomings, we’ve developed recombinant human FGF21 variants by strategically introducing cysteine residues via site-directed mutagenesis, and have also developed a solid-phase nickel affinity PEGylation strategy, whereby engineered, surface-exposed cysteine residues of immobilized proteins were used as a platform to efficiently and site-selectively conjugate with PEG-maleimide. The engineered PEGylated FGF21 conjugates retained its biological functions, as well as demonstrated an increase in half-life by over 211.3 min. By demonstrating the biological activity of the FGF21 analog as a prototype, we have also provided a “generalized” solid-phase approach to effectively increase serum half-life of protein therapeutics.

Structure–Activity Relationship Studies toward the Discovery of Selective Apelin Receptor Agonists

Apelin is the endogenous ligand for the previously orphaned G protein-coupled receptor APJ. Apelin and its receptor are widely distributed in the brain, heart, and vasculature, and are emerging as an important regulator of body fluid homeostasis and cardiovascular functions. To further progress in the pharmacology and the physiological role of the apelin receptor, the development of small, bioavailable agonists and antagonists of the apelin receptor, is crucial. In this context, E339-3D6 (1) was described as the first nonpeptidic apelin receptor agonist. We show here that 1 is actually a mixture of polymethylated species, and we describe an alternative and versatile solid-phase approach that allows access to highly pure 27, the major component of 1. This approach was also applied to prepare a series of derivatives in order to identify the crucial structural determinants required for the ligand to maintain its affinity for the apelin receptor as well as its capacity to promote apelin receptor signaling and internalization. The study of the structure-activity relationships led to the identification of ligands 19, 21, and 38, which display an increased affinity compared to that of 27. The latter and 19 behave as full agonists with regard to cAMP production and apelin receptor internalization, whereas 21 is a biased agonist toward cAMP production. Interestingly, the three ligands display a much higher stability in mouse plasma (T1/2 > 10 h) than the endogenous apelin-17 peptide 2 (T1/2 < 4 min).

An Efficient and Modular Route to Sequence‐Defined Polymers Appended to DNA

Inspired by biological polymers, sequence-controlled synthetic polymers are highly promising materials that integrate the robustness of synthetic systems with the information-derived activity of biological counterparts. Polymer-biopolymer conjugates are often targeted to achieve this union; however, their synthesis remains challenging. We report a stepwise solid-phase approach for the generation of completely monodisperse and sequence-defined DNA-polymer conjugates using readily available reagents. These polymeric modifications to DNA display self-assembly and encapsulation behavior-as evidenced by HPLC, dynamic light scattering, and fluorescence studies-which is highly dependent on sequence order. The method is general and has the potential to make DNA-polymer conjugates and sequence-defined polymers widely available.

Influence of surface-imprinted nanoparticles on trypsin activity.

Here, the modulation of enzyme activity is presented by protein-imprinted nanoparticles produced using a solid-phase approach. Using trypsin as target, binding of the nanoparticles to the enzyme results in its inhibition or in stabilization, depending on the orientation of the immobilized enzyme used during imprinting.

Polyoxometalate Clusters Integrated into Peptide Chains and as Inorganic Amino Acids: Solution‐ and Solid‐Phase Approaches

AbstractGeneral synthetic methods for the grafting of peptide chains onto polyoxometalate clusters by the use of general activated precursors have been developed. Using a solution‐phase approach, pre‐synthesized peptides can be grafted to a metal oxide cluster to produce hybrids of unprecedented scale (up to 30 residues). An adapted solid‐phase method allows the incorporation of these clusters, which may be regarded as novel hybrid unnatural amino acids, during the peptide synthesis itself. These methods may open the way for the automated synthesis of peptides and perhaps even proteins that contain “inorganic” amino acids.

Introducing MINA – The Molecularly Imprinted Nanoparticle Assay

A new ELISA- (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay)-like assay is demonstrated in which no elements of biological origin are used for molecular recognition or signaling. Composite imprinted nanoparticles that contain a catalytic core and which are synthesized by using a solid-phase approach can simultaneously act as recognition/signaling elements, and be used with minimal modifications to standard assay protocols. This assay provides a new route towards replacement of unstable biomolecules in immunoassays.

Solid-phase peptide synthesis: an overview focused on the preparation of biologically relevant peptides

Tailor-made design preparation of complex peptide sequence including posttranslational modifications, fluorescent labels, unnatural amino acids are of exceptional value for biological studies of several important diseases. The possibility to obtain these molecules in sufficient amounts in relative short time is thanks to the solid-phase approach.