Self‐Assembled Monolayers of Carbohydrate Derivatives on Gold Surfaces

Self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) presenting carbohydrates (glycans) have been widely prepared on gold surfaces to mimic the carbohydrate surfaces that are involved in molecular recognition phenomena in living cells. The binding affinity of carbohydrate immbolized on SAM surfaces to various carbohydrate‐binding proteins (such as lectins) can be studied by optical, electrochemical, piezoelectrical and thermal sensing techniques. The lectins present on the surface of pathogens (e.g., bacteria or viruses) can be used as targets for capturing onto carbohydrates immobilized on SAM surfaces. The immobilized carbohydrates can also be used for detecting different types of disease biomarkers present in bodily fluids. Synergistic properties of carbohydrate SAMs and gold nanoparticles can be used for vaccine preparation and drug delivery. By studying different types of glycans, their properties, and the behavior toward recognition of specific pathogens and biomarkers, we can develop not only new therapeutics but also enhance the diagnostic strategies of various diseases. In this chapter, we discuss carbohydrate‐terminated SAMs and their common preparation strategies. Next, we focus on roles of different components of SAMs, characterization techniques, and applications

In vivo imaging of epileptic activity using 2-NBDG, a fluorescent deoxyglucose analog

Accurately locating epileptic foci has great importance in advancing the treatment of epilepsy. In this study, epileptic seizures were first induced by intracortical injection of 4-aminopyridine in rats. A fluorescent deoxyglucose substitute, 2-(N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino)-2-deoxyglucose (2-NBDG), was then continuously injected via the tail vein. Brain glucose metabolism was subsequently monitored by fluorescence imaging of 2-NBDG. The initial uptake rate of 2-NBDG at the injection site of 4-aminopyridine significantly exceeded that of the control injection site, which indicated local hypermetabolism induced by seizures. Our results show that 2-NBDG can be used for localizing epileptic foci

Noninvasive photoacoustic computed tomography of mouse brain metabolism in vivo

We have demonstrated the feasibility of imaging mouse brain metabolism using photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT), a fast, noninvasive and functional imaging modality with optical contrast and acoustic resolution. Brain responses to forepaw stimulations were imaged transdermally and transcranially. 2-NBDG, which diffuses well across the blood–brain-barrier, provided exogenous contrast for photoacoustic imaging of glucose response. Concurrently, hemoglobin provided endogenous contrast for photoacoustic imaging of hemodynamic response. Glucose and hemodynamic responses were quantitatively decoupled by using two-wavelength measurements. We found that glucose uptake and blood perfusion around the somatosensory region of the contralateral hemisphere were both increased by stimulations, indicating elevated neuron activity. While the glucose response area was more homogenous and confined within the somatosensory region, the hemodynamic response area had a clear vascular pattern and spread wider than the somatosensory region. Our results demonstrate that 2-NBDG-enhanced PACT is a promising tool for noninvasive studies of brain metabolism

Structure and Applications of Gold in Nanoporous Form

Nanoporous gold (np-Au) has many interesting and useful properties that make it a material of interest for use in many technological applications. Its biocompatible nature and ability to serve as a support for self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiols and their derivative make it a suitable support for the immobilization of carbohydrates, enzymes, proteins, and DNA. Its chemically inert, physically robust and conductive high-surface area makes it useful for the design of electrochemistry-based chemical/bio-sensors and reactors. Furthermore, it is also used as solid support for organic molecular synthesis and biomolecules separation. Its enhanced optical property has application in design of plasmonics-based sensitive biosensors. In fact, np-Au is one of the few materials that can be used as a transducer for both optical and electrochemical biosensing. Due to the presence of low-coordination surface sites, np-Au shows remarkable catalytic activity for oxidation of molecules like carbon monoxide and methanol. Owing to the importance of np-Au, in this chapter we will highlight different strategies of fabrication of np-Au and its emerging applications based on its unique properties

In vivo imaging of epileptic activity using 2-NBDG, a fluorescent deoxyglucose analog

Accurately locating epileptic foci has great importance in advancing the treatment of epilepsy. In this study, epileptic seizures were first induced by intracortical injection of 4-aminopyridine in rats. A fluorescent deoxyglucose substitute, 2-(N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino)-2-deoxyglucose (2-NBDG), was then continuously injected via the tail vein. Brain glucose metabolism was subsequently monitored by fluorescence imaging of 2-NBDG. The initial uptake rate of 2-NBDG at the injection site of 4-aminopyridine significantly exceeded that of the control injection site, which indicated local hypermetabolism induced by seizures. Our results show that 2-NBDG can be used for localizing epileptic foci

Noninvasive photoacoustic computed tomography of mouse brain metabolism in vivo

We have demonstrated the feasibility of imaging mouse brain metabolism using photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT), a fast, noninvasive and functional imaging modality with optical contrast and acoustic resolution. Brain responses to forepaw stimulations were imaged transdermally and transcranially. 2-NBDG, which diffuses well across the blood–brain-barrier, provided exogenous contrast for photoacoustic imaging of glucose response. Concurrently, hemoglobin provided endogenous contrast for photoacoustic imaging of hemodynamic response. Glucose and hemodynamic responses were quantitatively decoupled by using two-wavelength measurements. We found that glucose uptake and blood perfusion around the somatosensory region of the contralateral hemisphere were both increased by stimulations, indicating elevated neuron activity. While the glucose response area was more homogenous and confined within the somatosensory region, the hemodynamic response area had a clear vascular pattern and spread wider than the somatosensory region. Our results demonstrate that 2-NBDG-enhanced PACT is a promising tool for noninvasive studies of brain metabolism

Noninvasive photoacoustic computed tomography of mouse brain metabolism in vivo

To control the overall action of the body, brain consumes a large amount of energy in proportion to its volume. In humans and many other species, the brain gets most of its energy from oxygen-dependent metabolism of glucose. An abnormal metabolic rate of glucose and/or oxygen usually reflects a diseased status of brain, such as cancer or Alzheimer’s disease. We have demonstrated the feasibility of imaging mouse brain metabolism using photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT), a fast, noninvasive and functional imaging modality with optical contrast and acoustic resolution. Brain responses to forepaw stimulations were imaged transdermally and transcranially. 2-NBDG, which diffuses well across the blood-brain-barrier, provided exogenous contrast for photoacoustic imaging of glucose response. Concurrently, hemoglobin provided endogenous contrast for photoacoustic imaging of hemodynamic response. Glucose and hemodynamic responses were quantitatively unmixed by using two-wavelength measurements. We found that glucose uptake and blood perfusion around the somatosensory region of the contralateral hemisphere were both increased by stimulations, indicating elevated neuron activity. The glucose response amplitude was about half that of the hemodynamic response. While the glucose response area was more homogenous and confined within the somatosensory region, the hemodynamic response area showed a clear vascular pattern and spread about twice as wide as that of the glucose response. The PACT of mouse brain metabolism was validated by high-resolution open-scalp OR-PAM and fluorescence imaging. Our results demonstrate that 2-NBDG-enhanced PACT is a promising tool for noninvasive studies of brain metabolism

Experimental and theoretical study of the structures and enthalpies of formation of the synthetic reagents l,3-thiazolidine-2-thione and l,3-oxazolidine-2-thione

This paper reports an experimental and a theoretical study of the structures and standard (po = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation of the synthetic reagents 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione [CAS 96-53-7] and 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione [CAS 5840-81-3]. The enthalpies of combustion and sublimation were measured by rotary bomb combustion calorimetry, and the Knudsen effusion technique and gas-phase enthalpies of formation values at T = 298.15 K of (97.1 ± 4.0) and −(74.4 ± 4.6) kJ·mol−1 for 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione and 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione, respectively, were determined. G3-calculated enthalpies of formation are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. In the solid state, 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione exists in two polymorphic forms (monoclinic and triclinic) and 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione exits in the triclinic form. The isostructural nature of these compounds and comparison of their molecular and crystal structures have been analyzed. The experimental X-ray powder diffractograms have been compared with the calculated patterns from their structures for identification of the polymorphic samples used in this study. A comparison of our results with literature thermochemical and structural data for related compounds is also reported.M.T. would like to thank MEC/SEUI, FPU AP2002-0603, Spain, for financial support. A.V.D. thanks the National Science Foundation (CHE-0547566) and the American Heart Association (0855743G) for financial support of this research. The support of the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia under Projects CTQ2007-60895/BQU and CTQ2006-10178/BQU is gratefully acknowledged

Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Structures and Enthalpies of Formation of the Synthetic Reagents 1,3-Thiazolidine-2-thione and 1,3-Oxazolidine-2-thione

This paper reports an experimental and a theoretical study of the structures and standard (p o ) 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation of the synthetic reagents 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione and 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione . The enthalpies of combustion and sublimation were measured by rotary bomb combustion calorimetry, and the Knudsen effusion technique and gas-phase enthalpies of formation values at T ) 298.15 K of (97.1 ( 4.0) and -(74.4 ( 4.6) kJ · mol -1 for 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione and 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione, respectively, were determined. G3-calculated enthalpies of formation are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. In the solid state, 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione exists in two polymorphic forms (monoclinic and triclinic) and 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione exits in the triclinic form. The isostructural nature of these compounds and comparison of their molecular and crystal structures have been analyzed. The experimental X-ray powder diffractograms have been compared with the calculated patterns from their structures for identification of the polymorphic samples used in this study. A comparison of our results with literature thermochemical and structural data for related compounds is also reported