Bone-tissue-engineering material poly(propylene fumarate): correlation between molecular weight, chain dimensions, and physical properties

Poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) is an important biodegradable and cross-linkable polymer designed for bone-tissue-engineering applications. For the first time we report the extensive characterization of this biomaterial including molecular weight dependences of physical properties such as glass transition temperature Tg, thermal degradation temperature Td, density rho, melt viscosity eta0, hydrodynamic radius RH, and intrinsic viscosity [eta]. The temperature dependence of eta0 changes progressively with molecular weight, whereas it can be unified when the temperature is normalized to Tg. The plateau modulus and entanglement molecular weight Me have been obtained from the rheological master curves. A variety of chain microstructure parameters such as the Mark-Houwink-Sakurada constants K and alpha, characteristic ratio Cinfinity, unperturbed chain dimension r0(2)/M, packing lengthp, Kuhn length b, and tube diameter a have been deduced. Further correlation between the microstructure and macroscopic physical properties has been discussed in light of recent progress in polymer dynamics to supply a better understanding about this unsaturated polyester to advance its biomedical uses. The molecular weight dependence of Tg for six polymer species including PPF has been summarized to support that Me is irrelevant for the finite length effect on the glass transition, whereas surprisingly these polymers can be divided into two groups when their normalized Tg is plotted simply against Mw to indicate the deciding roles of inherent chain properties such as chain fragility, intermolecular cooperativity, and chain end mobility.

Reactivity of dimethyl fumarate and methylhydrogen fumarate towards glutathione and N-acetyl-L-cysteine--preparation of S-substituted thiosuccinic acid esters

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is used successfully to treat psoriasis. In spite of its proven clinical efficacy, the mode of metabolism and the pharmacodynamics of DMF are still not completely understood. Some previous studies have indicated that orally applied DMF for a considerable part is quickly hydrolysed to methylhydrogen fumarate (MHF) at basic pH conditions as present in the upper intestine, especially in the presence of biological fluids containing esterases. On the other hand it was shown that DMF due to its high lipophilicity rapidly penetrates into cells and may thus at least in part be absorbed after po application without being hydrolysed. On the other hand, no detectable amounts of DMF were hitherto found in plasma samples after po administration. In order to shed light on possible further routes of presystemic metabolism of DMF, studies on the reactivity towards glutathione (GSH) were carried out. GSH is present in millimolar concentrations in almost all cells. DMF due to its nature as an alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester can react spontaneously with thiols via a Michael-type addition. It could be shown that DMF reacts at high rates under near-physiological conditions. Studies on the reaction kinetics at pH 7.4 show that GSH addition proceeds rapidly to yield a 1:1 mixture of both diastereomeric 2-(S-glutathionyl)-succinic acid dimethyl esters. MHF under identical conditions was shown to react with GSH as well leading to a mixture of four products (2 diastereomeric pairs). However, MHF reacted at a much lower rate. The structures of all thiol conjugates were confirmed unambiguously by extensive NMR measurements. GSH conjugates and the corresponding mercapturic acids on grounds of the high spontaneous reactivity observed may be expected to be major metabolites of unhydrolysed DMF which makes its way into enterocytes. On the other hand, MHF, due to its slow reaction with GSH, may have higher chances than DMF to react with more essential thiol groups in macromolecules.

The Iron-Sulfur Clusters in Escherichia coli Succinate Dehydrogenase Direct Electron Flow

Succinate dehydrogenase is an indispensable enzyme involved in the Krebs cycle as well as energy coupling in the mitochondria and certain prokaryotes. During catalysis, succinate oxidation is coupled to ubiquinone reduction by an electron transfer relay comprising a flavin adenine dinucleotide cofactor, three iron-sulfur clusters, and possibly a heme b556. At the heart of the electron transport chain is a [4Fe-4S] cluster with a low midpoint potential that acts as an energy barrier against electron transfer. Hydrophobic residues around the [4Fe-4S] cluster were mutated to determine their effects on the midpoint potential of the cluster as well as electron transfer rates. SdhB-I150E and SdhB-I150H mutants lowered the midpoint potential of this cluster; surprisingly, the His variant had a lower midpoint potential than the Glu mutant. Mutation of SdhB-Leu-220 to Ser did not alter the redox behavior of the cluster but instead lowered the midpoint potential of the [3Fe-4S] cluster. To correlate the midpoint potential changes in these mutants to enzyme function, we monitored aerobic growth in succinate minimal medium, anaerobic growth in glycerol-fumarate minimal medium, non-physiological and physiological enzyme activities, and heme reduction. It was discovered that a decrease in midpoint potential of either the [4Fe-4S] cluster or the [3Fe-4S] cluster is accompanied by a decrease in the rate of enzyme turnover. We hypothesize that this occurs because the midpoint potentials of the [Fe-S] clusters in the native enzyme are poised such that direction of electron transfer from succinate to ubiquinone is favored.

Fumarate is an essential intermediary metabolite produced by the procyclic Trypanosoma brucei

The procyclic stage of Trypanosoma brucei, a parasitic protist responsible for sleeping sickness in humans, converts most of the consumed glucose into excreted succinate, by succinic fermentation. Succinate is produced by the glycosomal and mitochondrial NADH-dependent fumarate reductases, which are not essential for parasite viability. To further explore the role of the succinic fermentation pathways, we studied the trypanosome fumarases, the enzymes providing fumarate to fumarate reductases. The T. brucei genome contains two class I fumarase genes encoding cytosolic (FHc) and mitochondrial (FHm) enzymes, which account for total cellular fumarase activity as shown by RNA interference. The growth arrest of a double RNA interference mutant cell line showing no fumarase activity indicates that fumarases are essential for the parasite. Interestingly, addition of fumarate to the medium rescues the growth phenotype, indicating that fumarate is an essential intermediary metabolite of the insect stage trypanosomes. We propose that trypanosomes use fumarate as an essential electron acceptor, as exemplified by the fumarate dependence previously reported for an enzyme of the essential de novo pyrimidine synthesis (Takashima, E., Inaoka, D. K., Osanai, A., Nara, T., Odaka, M., Aoki, T., Inaka, K., Harada, S., and Kita, K. (2002) Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 122, 189-200).

Recoupling of chemical-shift anisotropy powder patterns in MAS NMR

A comparison of three different implementations of the chemical-shift recoupling experiment of Tycko et al. [R. Tycko, G. Dabbagh, P.A. Mirau, Determination of chemical-shift-anisotropy lineshapes in a two-dimensional magic-angle-spinning NMR experiment, J. Magn. Reson. 85 (1989) 265-274] is presented. The methods seek to reduce the effects of artefacts resulting from pulse imperfections and residual C-H dipolar coupling in organic solids. An optimised and constant time implementation are shown to give well-defined and artefact free powder pattern lineshapes in the indirectly observed dimension for both sp2 and sp3 carbon sites. Experimental setup is no more demanding than for the original experiment, and can be implemented using standard commercial hardware.

The effects of a novel phosphodiesterase 7A and -4 dual inhibitor, YM-393059, on T-cell-related cytokine production in vitro and in vivo

YM-393059, (+/-)-N-(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-yl)-4-[2-(4-methoxy-3-methylphenyl)-5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indol-1-yl]benzenesulfonamide difumarate, is a novel phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor that inhibited the PDE7A isoenzyme with a high potency (IC50=14 nM) and PDE4 with a moderate potency (IC50=630 nM). In a cell-based assay, YM-393059 was found to inhibit anti-CD3 antibody, Staphylococcal enterotoxin B, and phytohaemagglutinin-induced interleukin (IL)-2 production in mouse splenocytes with IC50 values ranging from 0.48 to 1.1 microM. It also inhibited anti-CD3 antibody-induced interferon (IFN)-gamma and IL-4 production in splenocytes with IC50 values of 1.8 and 2.8 microM, respectively. YM-393059's inhibition of anti-CD3 antibody-stimulated cytokine (IL-2, IFN-gamma, and IL-4) production was 20- to 31-fold weaker than that of YM976, a selective PDE4 inhibitor. However, orally administered YM-393059 and YM976 inhibited anti-CD3 antibody-induced IL-2 production equipotently in mice. In addition, YM-393059 inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in vivo more potently than IL-2 (ED50 values of 2.1 mg/kg and 74 mg/kg). In contrast to YM976, YM-393059 did not shorten the duration of alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist-induced sleep in mice, which is a model for the assessment of the typical side effects caused by PDE4 inhibitors, nausea and emesis. YM-393059 is a novel and attractive compound for the treatment of a wide variety of T-cell-mediated diseases.

Applications of the CSA-amplified PASS experiment

The recently reported CSA-amplified PASS experiment correlates the spinning sidebands at the true spinning frequency omega(r) with the spinning sidebands that would be obtained at the effective spinning frequency omega(r)/N, where N is termed the scaling factor. The experiment is useful for the measurement of small chemical shift anisotropies, for which slow magic-angle spinning frequencies, required to measure several spinning sidebands, can be unstable. We have experimentally evaluated the reliability of this experiment for this application. In particular we have demonstrated that large scaling factors of the order of N=27 may be used, whilst still obtaining accurate chemical shift sideband intensities at the effective spinning frequency from the F(1) projection. Moreover, the sideband intensities are accurately obtained even in the presence of significant pulse imperfections. A second application of the CSA-amplified PASS experiment is the measurement of the chemical shift anisotropy of sites that experience homonuclear dipolar coupling, as may be found in uniformly labelled biological molecules, or for nuclei with a high natural abundance. The effects of homonuclear dipolar coupling on CSA-amplified PASS spectra has been investigated by numerical simulations and are demonstrated using uniformly (13)C enriched l-histidine monohydrochloride monohydrate.

Determinants of the dual cofactor specificity and substrate cooperativity of the human mitochondrial NAD(P)+-dependent malic enzyme: functional roles of glutamine 362

The human mitochondrial NAD(P)+-dependent malic enzyme (m-NAD-ME) is a malic enzyme isoform with dual cofactor specificity and substrate binding cooperativity. Previous kinetic studies have suggested that Lys362 in the pigeon cytosolic NADP+-dependent malic enzyme has remarkable effects on the binding of NADP+ to the enzyme and on the catalytic power of the enzyme (Kuo, C. C., Tsai, L. C., Chin, T. Y., Chang, G.-G., and Chou, W. Y. (2000) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 270, 821-825). In this study, we investigate the important role of Gln362 in the transformation of cofactor specificity from NAD+ to NADP+ in human m-NAD-ME. Our kinetic data clearly indicate that the Q362K mutant shifted its cofactor preference from NAD+ to NADP+. The Km(NADP) and kcat(NADP) values for this mutant were reduced by 4-6-fold and increased by 5-10-fold, respectively, compared with those for the wild-type enzyme. Furthermore, up to a 2-fold reduction in Km(NADP)/Km(NAD) and elevation of kcat(NADP)/kcat(NAD) were observed for the Q362K enzyme. Mutation of Gln362 to Ala or Asn did not shift its cofactor preference. The Km(NADP)/Km(NAD) and kcat(NADP)/kcat(NAD) values for Q362A and Q362N were comparable with those for the wild-type enzyme. The DeltaG values for Q362A and Q362N with either NAD+ or NADP+ were positive, indicating that substitution of Gln with Ala or Asn at position 362 brings about unfavorable cofactor binding at the active site and thus significantly reduces the catalytic efficiency. Our data also indicate that the cooperative binding of malate became insignificant in human m-NAD-ME upon mutation of Gln362 to Lys because the sigmoidal phenomenon appearing in the wild-type enzyme was much less obvious that that in Q362K. Therefore, mutation of Gln362 to Lys in human m-NAD-ME alters its kinetic properties of cofactor preference, malate binding cooperativity, and allosteric regulation by fumarate. However, the other Gln362 mutants, Q362A and Q362N, have conserved malate binding cooperativity and NAD+ specificity. In this study, we provide clear evidence that the single mutation of Gln362 to Lys in human m-NAD-ME changes it to an NADP+-dependent enzyme, which is characteristic because it is non-allosteric, non-cooperative, and NADP+-specific.

Subcutaneous delivery of insulin loaded poly(fumaric-co-sebacic anhydride) microspheres to type 1 diabetic rats

The method of phase inversion nanoencapsulation (PIN) and microencapsulation was used to produce biodegradable poly(fumaric-co-sebacic anhydride) (p(FASA)) microspheres that contain insulin. Microspheres were characterized by SEM and a laser light scattering technique to determine particle size distribution. Insulin stability was determined by RP and SEC HPLC. Release rate studies were conducted and microspheres were administered subcutaneously (SQ) to type 1 diabetic rats to determine the bioactivity of insulin at three different dosages. Pharmacokinetic parameters for SQ experiments were measured using the trapezoidal rule by plotting average plasma insulin level (PIL) vs. time and determining peak concentration (CP), the time of peak concentration (TP), duration of PIL curve (D), and relative bioavailability (RB). When our insulin containing formulation was analyzed by HPLC, there was no evidence of high molecular weight transformation (HMWT) or deamidated products. In addition, we effectively altered the onset, peak, and duration of insulin action after SQ injection.

Synthesis of Small Tripeptide Molecules through a Catalysis Sequence Comprising Metathesis and Aminohydroxylation

Tripeptidic structures were synthesized by using a combination of two independent consecutive catalytic procedures. Cross-metathesis of N-acroyl amino acid esters yields fumaric amide compounds with exclusive E double-bond geometry. This represents an unprecedented example of complete double-bond selectivity in this kind of reaction. A subsequent asymmetric aminohydroxylation of the chiral fumaric amides was carried out without the need of any further ligand and gave high yields and no side products. This reaction transforms the central fumaric amide unit into a hydroxy aspartic acid moiety and relies on the inherent stereochemistry of the starting fumaric diamides. An additional feature of our sequence is the ease of generating stereochemical diversification within the aminohydroxylation reaction. As a consequence, rapid conformational and configurational diversification can be achieved from the overall two-step catalytic sequence. The versatility of this approach is demonstrated by starting from two different N-acroyl amino esters, which led to the synthesis of eight structurally and stereochemically different tripeptides that could all be identified individually. As such, the present two-step catalytic approach should serve to efficiently synthesize large families of tripeptidic molecular probes.

Formal Total Synthesis of the Potent Renin Inhibitor Aliskiren: Application of a SmI2-Promoted Acyl-like Radical Coupling

A formal total synthesis of the potent renin inhibitor aliskiren is disclosed exploiting an alternative coupling strategy recently developed by this laboratory for the preparation of the hydroxyethylene isostere-based class of protease inhibitors. The thioester derivative of the amino acid representing the C5-C9 fragment of the aliskiren carbon skeleton underwent a carbon chain extension via a SmI2-promoted radical addition to n-butyl acrylate. Introduction of the C3-isopropyl group with the correct relative configuration was accomplished via stereoselective reduction of the obtained ketone with concomitant lactonization, followed by an aldol reaction with acetone. Further functional group and protecting group manipulation culminated in a formal total synthesis of aliskiren in 10 steps from the corresponding fully protected non-natural amino acid.

Acidity constants in methanol/water mixtures of polycarboxylic acids used in drug salt preparations

The acidic dissociation constants in a number of methanol/water mixtures of mono and polycarboxylic acids commonly used in the preparation of drug salts were determined. These solvent mixtures are usually used to determine the pKa of drugs of low aqueous solubility. However, when these drugs are prepared in salt form, the acid-base equilibria of both the basic drug and the counter-anion are involved in the potentiometric titration curves. In these instances, the inclusion of the pKa of acids as constant values in the curve fitting provides easy computation of the drug pKa without the need of any previous step to get the free base. As an application example, the aqueous pKa values of the quetiapine formulated as hemifumarate (Seroquel) were estimated by extrapolation from the experimental pKa in several methanol/water mixtures, which were then calculated according to the suitable constants of fumaric acid. The estimated aqueous pKa values of quetiapine are compared with those directly obtained in aqueous solution by potentiometry and by capillary electrophoresis.

Antinociceptive pharmacology of N-[[4-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenyl]methyl]-2-[2-[[(4-methoxy-2,6-dimethylphenyl) sulfonyl]methylamino]ethoxy]-N-methylacetamide, fumarate (LF22-0542), a novel nonpeptidic bradykinin B1 receptor antagonist

The antinociceptive pharmacology of N-[[4-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenyl]methyl]-2-[2-[[(4-methoxy-2,6-dimethylphenyl) sulfonyl]methylamino]ethoxy]-N-methylacetamide fumarate (LF22-0542), a novel nonpeptidic B1 antagonist, was characterized. LF22-0542 showed high affinity for human and mouse B1 receptors with virtually no affinity for the human B2 receptor; a selectivity index of at least 4000 times was obtained when LF22-0542 was profiled throughout binding or cell biology assays on 64 other G-protein-coupled receptor, 10 ion channels, and seven enzymes. LF22-0542 was a competitive B1 receptor antagonist and elicited significant antinociceptive actions in the mouse acetic acid-induced writhing assay, as well as in the second phases of formalin-induced nociception in mice and in both the first and second phases of the formalin response in rats. LF22-0542 was active after s.c. but not p.o. administration. In B1 receptor knockout (KO) mice, acetic acid and formalin responses were significantly reduced and LF22-0542 had no additional effects in these animals. LF22-0542 alleviated thermal hypersensitivity in both acute (carrageenan) and persistent inflammatory (complete Freund's adjuvant) pain models in rats. LF22-0542 produced a full reversal of experimental neuropathic thermal hypersensitivity but was inactive in reversing nerve injury-induced tactile hypersensitivity in rats. In agreement with this observation, B1 KO mice subjected to peripheral nerve injury did not show thermal hypersensitivity but developed nerve injury-induced tactile hypersensitivity normally. The data demonstrate the antihyperalgesic actions of a selective systemically administered B1 receptor antagonist and suggest the utility of this class of agents for the treatment of inflammatory pain states and for some aspects of neuropathic pain.

Packed column supercritical fluid chromatography of sodium stearyl fumarate aqueous suspension

A method for the determination of sodium stearyl fumarate aqueous suspension is described. This straightforward method is based on homogenisation of the sample, dilution of a known aliquot with methanol to a suitable clear solution and mixing with an internal standard; (S)-naproxen. Separation and quantification is performed by packed column supercritical fluid chromatography on a commercial tartaric acid network polymeric column (tertbutylbenzoyl) with UV-detection at 214 nm. The precision of the presented method upon repeated analysis of a 20 mg/ml suspension is 0.5% (n = 8), and the yield is near 100%. Less than 5 min is required for the chromatographic separation with a resolution of about 3 to the internal standard. With some modification of the chromatographic conditions water samples can also be analysed.

Fumarate reductase: structural and mechanistic insights from the catalytic reduction of 2-methylfumarate

The soluble fumarate reductase (FR) from Shewanella frigidimarina can catalyse the reduction of 2-methylfumarate with a k(cat) of 9.0 s(-1) and a K(M) of 32 microM. This produces the chiral molecule 2-methylsuccinate. Here, we present the structure of FR to a resolution of 1.5 A with 2-methylfumarate bound at the active site. The mode of binding of 2-methylfumarate allows us to predict the stereochemistry of the product as (S)-2-methylsuccinate. To test this prediction we have analysed the product stereochemistry by circular dichroism spectroscopy and confirmed the production of (S)-2-methylsuccinate.

Microenvironmental pH and microviscosity inside pH-controlled matrix tablets: an EPR imaging study

Incorporation of pH modifiers is a commonly used strategy to enhance the dissolution rate of weakly basic drugs from sustained release solid dosage forms. Electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) was applied to spatially monitor pH(M) and the rotational correlation time (tau(R)), a parameter which is closely related to the surrounding microviscosity inside HPMC (hydroxypropylmethylcellulose) matrix tablets. Fumaric, citric, and succinic acid were employed as pH modifiers. 4-(methylamino)-2-ethyl-5,5-dimethyl-4-pyridine-2-yl-2,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole-1-oxyl (MEP) was used as spin label. Fumaric and citric acid reduced the pH(M) to equal extents in the initial phase. With the progress of hydration, the more soluble citric acid diffused out from the tablet resulting in an increase in pH(M), originating at the outer layers. In contrast, fumaric acid maintained a constantly reduced pH(M) inside the entire tablet. Due to its lower acidic strength, succinic acid did not reduce the pH(M) as effectively as the other pH modifiers used. The more water-soluble acids stimulated the water penetration into the matrix system, thereby rapidly decreasing tau(R). Once the matrix tablets were hydrated, the included pH modifiers influenced tau(R) insignificantly. EPRI, a novel approach for monitoring pH(M) and tau(R) non-invasively and spatially resolved, was used successfully for the optimization of an pH-controlled formulation.

Synthesis and characterizations of biodegradable and crosslinkable poly(-caprolactone fumarate), poly(ethylene glycol fumarate), and their amphiphilic copolymer

A series of self-crosslinkable and biodegradable polymers, poly(caprolactone fumarate) (PCLF), poly(ethylene glycol fumarate) (PEGF), and their copolymer PEGF-co-PCLF, has been developed for tissue engineering applications using a novel synthesis method. The current method employs potassium carbonate (K2CO3), other than the previously reported triethylamine, as the proton scavenger. The new synthetic route is more convenient and less time-consuming to carry out, and the synthesized polymers have a much lighter color, which renders them more suitable for self-crosslinking via photo-initiation. This group of polymers are essentially copolymers of fumaryl chloride, which contains double bonds for in situ crosslinking, with poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) or/and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) that has a flexible chain to facilitate self-crosslinking. Both PCLF and PEGF, and their amphiphilic copolymer PEGF-co-PCLF could be self-crosslinked or photocrosslinked to produce scaffolds without the use of a crosslinking agent. Our results suggest that these polymers are potentially useful as injectable, self-crosslinkable, and photo-crosslinkable materials for diverse tissue engineering applications.

A 3D porous lanthanide–fumarate framework with water hexamer occupied cavities, exhibiting a reversible dehydration and rehydration procedure

[Sm2(fumarate)3(H2O)4] x 3 H2O, a new porous pillared layer framework with 0D cavities for the accommodation of chair-like hexameric water clusters, possesses three kinds of fumarate ligand with their two COO ends adopting different coordination modes and shows reversible de- and re-hydration behavior.

Determination of electron donors by comparing reaction rates for in situ bioremediation of nitrate-contaminated groundwater

Groundwater contaminated by nitrates occurs frequently. In this research, fumarate, acetate, formate, lactate, propionate, ethanol, and methane were evaluated as a potential electron donor and carbon source by comparing the denitrification rate for the in situ bioremediation of nitrate contaminated groundwater. The denitrification rate for each substance was the quickest in the order of: fumarate > hydrogen > formate/Lactate > ethanol > propionate > methanol > acetate. Microcosm studies were performed with fumarates and acetates. When fumarates were used as a substrate, nitrates were removed completely at a rate of 0.66 mmol/day, while the conversion rate from nitrate to nitrogen gas and other by-products was 87%. For the microcosm test, 42 mg of fumarates were needed to remove 30 mg of NO(3)--N/L. When using acetate as a sole carbon source, 31% of nitrates were removed during the initial adjustment period. Among the removed fractions, however, 83% of the nitrates were removed by the cell growth. Overall, the nitrate removal rate was 0.37 mmol/day when acetate was used as a sole carbon source. The acetate showed longer lag time before denitrification occurred, which implied that fumarate would have been a better carbon source compared to acetate as more amounts were utilized for nitrate removal than cell growth.

Chemistry of Ru(&6-1,3,5-cyclooctatriene)(η2-dimethyl fumarate)2

The chemistry of a novel zerovalent Ru complex, Ru(eta6-cot)(eta2-dmfm)2 (1) (cot=1,3,5-cyclooctatriene; dmfm=dimethyl fumarate), is reviewed with a focus on its reactivity toward phosphines, amines, and H2O, as well as arenes and p-quinones. A variety of novel zerovalent Ru complexes were synthesized from Ru(eta6-cot)(eta2-dmfm)2 (1), and it was shown that the complexes preferably bear both electron-donating and -accepting ligands simultaneously to exhibit thermodynamic stability. The first isolable zerovalent Ru aqua complexes were successfully prepared, and in these complexes, the generation of a chiral center on the O atom of the coordinated H2O was disclosed. In addition, the characteristic catalytic activity of 1 in organic synthesis was considered by reviewing recently developed novel reactions: (i) dimerization of 2,5-norbornadiene to pentacyclo[6.6.0.0(2,6).0(3,13).0(10,14)]tetradeca-4,11-diene (PCTD), (ii) intramolecular hydroamination of aminoalkynes to cyclic imines, (iii) formal [4+2] cycloaddition of alkynes with dmfm to trans-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylates, and (iv) co-dimerization of dihydrofurans with alpha,beta-unsaturated esters to 2-alkylidenetetrahydrofurans. The products obtained here are expected to be used as novel functional organic monomers.

Synthesis and characterization of novel injectable, biodegradable and in situ crosslinkable poly(hexamethylene-carbonate-fumarate), poly(hexamethylene carbonate) diacrylate and poly(ethylene glycol fumarate-co-hexamethylene carbonate-fumarate) scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

A series of novel self-crosslinkable and biodegradable polymers; poly(hexamethylene carbonate-fumarate), poly(hexamethylene carbonate) diacrylate and their amphiphilic copolymers with polyethylene glycol, poly(ethylene glycol fumarate-co-hexamethylene carbonate-fumarate) (PEGF-co-PHMCF) were developed for tissue engineering using novel synthesis approach. These novel polymers were fully characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, rheometry and shrinkage strain measurement. The cytocompatibility of macromers and their networks were evaluated by [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] MTT assay. The synthetic macromers were light colored with self-crosslinking ability via both photocrosslinking and chemical crosslinking. These polymers can be used as precursors to prepare polymer networks and scaffolds with controlled hydrophilicity, biodegradability and mechanical characteristics for application in cell delivery, tissue engineering and controlled release of biologically active agents.

Creating carbon–carbon bonds with samarium diiodide for the synthesis of modified amino acids and peptides

In this perspective, an overview of our experiences on the application of samarium diiodide in organic synthesis for the preparation of amino acid and peptide analogues is presented. Three different carbon-carbon bond forming reactions are discussed, including side chain introductions, gamma-amino acid synthesis and acyl-like radical additions for the construction of C-C mimics of the peptidic bonds.

Functional bone engineering using ex vivo gene therapy and topology-optimized, biodegradable polymer composite scaffolds

Bone tissue engineering could provide an alternative to conventional treatments for fracture nonunion, spinal fusion, joint replacement, and pathological loss of bone. However, this approach will require a biocompatible matrix to allow progenitor cell delivery and support tissue invasion. The construct must also support physiological loads as it degrades to allow the regenerated tissue to bear an increasing load. To meet these complex requirements, we have employed topology-optimized design and solid free-form fabrication to manufacture biodegradable poly(propylene fumarate)/beta-tricalcium phosphate composites. These scaffolds were seeded with primary human fibroblasts transduced with an adenovirus expressing bone morphogenetic protein-7 and implanted subcutaneously in mice. Specimens were evaluated by microcomputed tomography, compressive testing, and histological staining. New bone was localized on the scaffold surface and closely followed its designed contours. Furthermore, the total stiffness of the constructs was retained for up to 12 weeks after implantation, as scaffold degradation and tissue invasion took place.

Heteronuclear decoupling interference during symmetry-based homonuclear recoupling in solid-state NMR

We examine the influence of continuous-wave heteronuclear decoupling on symmetry-based double-quantum homonuclear dipolar recoupling, using experimental measurements, numerical simulations, and average Hamiltonian theory. There are two distinct regimes in which the heteronuclear interference effects are minimized. The first regime utilizes a moderate homonuclear recoupling field and a strong heteronuclear decoupling field; the second regime utilizes a strong homonuclear recoupling field and a weak or absent heteronuclear decoupling field. The second regime is experimentally accessible at moderate or high magic-angle-spinning frequencies and is particularly relevant for many realistic applications of solid-state NMR recoupling experiments to organic or biological materials.

In-situ preparation of poly(propylene fumarate)—hydroxyapatite composite

In-situ precipitation of hydroxyapatite (HAp) in the presence of poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) is investigated. Amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) precipitates in the presence of the polymer and remains in the amorphous form for a relatively long time, e.g. even after 24 h of coexistence with the mother solution. Our observations suggest that PPF interacts with the surface of the ACP particles and prevents them from transformation to crystalline hydroxyapatite. The PPF polymer seems to be more efficient in hindering the ACP to HAp transformation at higher pH conditions. From spectroscopic observations we hypothesize that the C=O bond of the PPF molecules interact with the calcium ion of the ACP particles. In case of low molecular weight PPF this interaction may lead to the incorporation of the polymer within the growing ACP particles.