15 research outputs found
Isomer-Specific Accumulation of Perfluorooctanesulfonate from (<i>N</i>‑Ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamido)ethanol-based Phosphate Diester in Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes)
While
(<i>N</i>-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamido)ethanol
(FOSE) -based phosphate diester (diSPAP) has been proposed as a candidate
precursor of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), its potential biotransformation
to PFOS has not been verified. Metabolism of diSPAP was investigated
in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) after exposure in water for 10 days, followed by 10 days of depuration.
Branched isomers of diSPAP (B-diSPAP) were preferentially enriched
in medaka exposed to diSPAP, with the proportion of branched isomers
(BF) ranging from 0.56 to 0.80, which was significantly greater than
that in the water to which the medaka were exposed (0.36) (<i>p</i> < 0.001). This enrichment was due primarily to preferential
uptake of B-diSPAP. PFOS together with perfluorooctanesulfonamide
(PFOSA), <i>N</i>-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamide (NEtFOSA),
2-(perfluorooctanesulfonamido)acetic acid (FOSAA), NEtFOSAA, FOSE,
and NEtFOSE were detected in medaka exposed to diSPAP, which indicated
the potential for biotransformation of diSPAP to PFOS via multiple
intermediates. Due to preferential metabolism of branched isomers,
FOSAA and PFOSA exhibited greater BF values (>0.5) than those of
NEtFOSA,
NEtFOSAA, and NEtFOSE (<0.2). Such preferential metabolism of branched
isomers along the primary pathway of metabolism and preferential accumulation
of B-diSPAP led to enrichment of branched PFOS (B-PFOS) in medaka.
Enrichment of B-PFOS was greater for 3-, 4-, and 5-perfluoromethyl
PFOS (P<sub>3</sub>MPFOS, P<sub>4</sub>MPFOS, and P<sub>5</sub>MPFOS),
for which values of BF were 0.58 ± 0.07, 0.62 ± 0.06, and
0.61 ± 0.05 (day 6), respectively; these values are 5.8-, 7.8-,
and 6.4-fold greater than those of technical PFOS. This work provides
evidence on the isomer-specific accumulation of PFOS from diSPAP and
will be helpful to track indirect sources of PFOS in the future
Facile Synthesis of Clickable, Water-Soluble, and Degradable Polyphosphoesters
“Click” chemistry is a library of efficient
and reliable
reactions, which have been used to functionalize various classes of
bio- and synthetic macromolecular systems for the incorporation of
designed properties and functions. In this report, azide–alkyne
Huisgen cycloaddition and thiol-yne reactions, two classical “click”
chemistries, were employed to functionalize biodegradable, clickable
polyphosphoester homopolymers, and their water-soluble copolymers.
A stable alkyne-functionalized phospholane monomer was synthesized,
its organocatalyzed polymerization kinetics were evaluated, and the
resulting (co)polymers were utilized to develop this facile method
that provides the synthesis of clickable, water-soluble, and degradable
polyphosphoesters, which can be adapted for various applications
<i>p</i>,<i>p</i>′‑DDE Induces Gonadal Intersex in Japanese Medaka (<i>Oryzias latipes</i>) at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations: Comparison with <i>o</i>,<i>p</i>′‑DDT
Previous
studies have reported high body burdens of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
(DDT) and its metabolites in wild fishes worldwide. This study evaluated
the adverse effects of 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (<i>p</i>-chlorophenyl)-ethylene
(<i>p</i>,<i>p</i>′-DDE) and <i>o</i>,<i>p</i>′<i>-</i>DDT on gonadal development
and reproduction by exposing transgenic Japanese medaka (<i>Oryzias
latipes</i>) from hatch for 100 days. While both <i>p</i>,<i>p</i>′-DDE and <i>o</i>,<i>p</i>′-DDT induced intersex in male medaka, the lowest observable
effective concentration (LOEC) of <i>o</i>,<i>p</i>′-DDT was 57.7 ng/g ww, about 5-fold lower than that (272
ng/g ww) of <i>p</i>,<i>p</i>′-DDE. Since
LOECs of both chemicals were comparable to the body concentrations
in wild fish, DDT contamination would likely contribute to the occurrence
of intersex observed in wild fish. Exposure to <i>o</i>,<i>p</i>′-DDT resulted in much higher expression of vitellogenin
in liver of males than <i>p</i>,<i>p</i>′-DDE,
accordant with the higher potency of <i>o</i>,<i>p</i>′-DDT than <i>p</i>,<i>p</i>′-DDE
to induce intersex. This phenomenon could be partly explained by the
significantly elevated levels of 17β-estradiol in plasma of
males exposed to <i>o</i>,<i>p</i>′-DDT,
in addition to its estrogenic activity via the estrogen receptor.
Significantly lower fertilization (<i>p</i> = 0.006) and
hatchability (<i>p</i> = 0.019) were observed in the 13
intersex males. This study for the first time demonstrated the induction
of intersex and reproductive effects of <i>p</i>,<i>p</i>′-DDE and <i>o</i>,<i>p</i>′-DDT
at environmentally relevant concentrations
Adverse Effects of Triclosan and Binary Mixtures with 17β-Estradiol on Testicular Development and Reproduction in Japanese Medaka (<i>Oryzias latipes</i>) at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations
Considering triclosan (TCS) is ubiquitous
in surface water and
wild fish at relatively high concentrations, its adverse effects on
gonadal development and reproduction were evaluated. After exposure
for 100 days after hatching, the lowest observable effective concentration
(LOEC) of TCS to significantly induce gonadal intersex in male Japanese
medaka (<i>Oryzias latipes</i>) was 117.9 ng/L. Courtship
frequency and hatching rates in male medaka were significantly inhibited,
and the LOECs of TCS to impact courtship frequency and hatching rates
were 117.9 and 17.2 ng/L, respectively. Male medaka were also exposed
to binary mixtures of 2.2 ng/L 17β-estradiol (βE2) with
2.3 ng/L TCS and 2.4 ng/L βE2 with 117.9 ng/L TCS, and a more
severe intersex induction and depressed mating behavior compared to
those seen after exposure to only βE2 or TCS were observed.
The adverse effects of TCS and binary mixtures with βE2 on testicular
development and reproduction in fish at environmentally relevant concentrations
are demonstrated here for the first time
Synthesis and Direct Visualization of Dumbbell-Shaped Molecular Brushes
Dumbbell-shaped triblock molecular brushes were synthesized
by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of poly(lactide)
macromonomers with terminal norbornene groups (NB-PLA) in a sequential
addition manner. By changing the macromonomer size and the feed ratio
of Grubbs’ catalyst to macromonomer, the dimensions of the
“ball” and “bar” of the dumbbell-shaped
molecular brushes were controlled. The growth and production of well-defined
structures were verified by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and
the final dumbbell-shaped architectures were visualized by atomic
force microscopy (AFM). This synthetic methodology represents a rapid
and convenient route to unique macromolecular topologies
Robust Magnetic/Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles Designed for Crude Oil Entrapment and Recovery in Aqueous Environments
Well-defined, magnetic shell cross-linked knedel-like nanoparticles (MSCKs) with hydrodynamic diameters <i>ca.</i> 70 nm were constructed through the co-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers of PAA<sub>20</sub>-<i>b</i>-PS<sub>280</sub> and oleic acid-stabilized magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles using tetrahydrofuran, <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylformamide, and water, ultimately transitioning to a fully aqueous system. These hybrid nanomaterials were designed for application as sequestering agents for hydrocarbons present in crude oil, based upon their combination of amphiphilic organic domains, for aqueous solution dispersibility and capture of hydrophobic guest molecules, with inorganic core particles for magnetic responsivity. The employment of these MSCKs in a contaminated aqueous environment resulted in the successful removal of the hydrophobic contaminants at a ratio of 10 mg of oil per 1 mg of MSCK. Once loaded, the crude oil-sorbed nanoparticles were easily isolated <i>via</i> the introduction of an external magnetic field. The recovery and reusability of these MSCKs were also investigated. These results suggest that deployment of hybrid nanocomposites, such as these, could aid in environmental remediation efforts, including at oil spill sites, in particular, following the bulk recovery phase
Equol Induces Gonadal Intersex in Japanese Medaka (<i>Oryzias latipes</i>) at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations: Comparison with 17β-Estradiol
Equol
is present in the aquatic environment via livestock waste
and runoff discharge; however, it remains unclear whether it can induce
gonadal intersex in fish at environmentally relevant concentrations.
This study evaluated adverse effects of equol on gonadal development
by exposing transgenic Japanese medaka (<i>Oryzias latipes</i>) from hatching for 100 days. Equol induced intersex incidence in
male medaka in a dose-dependent manner, and the benchmark dose corresponding
to 10% intersex incidence (BMD<sub>10</sub>) was 11.5 ng/L (95% confidence
interval (CI): 5.8 ng/L, 19.8 ng/L), which was comparable to the required
dose of 17β-estradiol (E2β) (9.0 ng/L, 95% CI: 6.6 ng/L,
11.0 ng/L). Equol exposure resulted in reduced plasma 11-ketotestosterone
(11-KT) concentrations in male medaka at 1.3 ng/L, while reduced plasma
11-KT concentrations were observed at a relatively high concentration
(6.4 ng/L) of E2β. Such antiandrogenic property could partly
explain the comparable potency of equol with that of E2β to
induce intersex at relatively low concentrations, although the binding
affinity of equol to medaka estrogen receptor α (EC<sub>50</sub> 939.4 nM) was 230-fold lower than that (4.07 nM) of E2β. This
study for the first time demonstrated that equol could induce intersex
in medaka fish at environmentally relevant concentrations
Polyphosphoramidates That Undergo Acid-Triggered Backbone Degradation
The
direct and facile synthesis of polyphosphoramidates (PPAs)
with acid-labile phosphoramidate backbone linkages are reported, together
with demonstration of their hydrolytic degradability, evaluated under
acidic conditions. The introduction of acid-labile linkages along
the polymer backbone led to rapid degradation of the polymer backbone
dependent upon the environmental stimuli. An oxazaphospholidine monomer
bearing a phosphoramidate linkage was designed and synthesized to
afford the PPAs via organobase-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization
in a controlled manner. The hydrolytic degradation of the PPAs was
studied, revealing breakdown of the polymer backbone through cleavage
of the phosphoramidate linkages under acidic conditions
Poly(d‑glucose carbonate) Block Copolymers: A Platform for Natural Product-Based Nanomaterials with Solvothermatic Characteristics
A natural product-based polymer platform,
having the characteristics
of being derived from renewable materials and capable of breaking
down, ultimately, into natural byproducts, has been prepared through
the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of a glucose-based bicyclic
carbonate monomer. ROP was carried out via chain extension of a polyphosphoester
(PPE) macroinitiator in the presence of 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene
(TBD) organocatalyst to afford the PPE-<i>b</i>-poly(d-glucose carbonate) (PDGC) block copolymer. This new copolymer
represents a functional architecture that can be rapidly transformed
through thiol-yne reactions along the PPE segment into a diverse variety
of amphiphilic polymers, which interestingly display stimuli-sensitive
phase behavior in the form of a lower critical solution temperature
(LCST). Below the LCST, they undergo self-assembly to form spherical
core–shell nanostructures that display a poorly defined core–shell
morphology. It is expected that hydrophobic patches are exposed within
the micellar corona, reminiscent of the surface complexity of proteins,
making these materials of interest for triggered and reversible assembly
disassembly processes
Rapid and Versatile Construction of Diverse and Functional Nanostructures Derived from a Polyphosphoester-Based Biomimetic Block Copolymer System
A rapid and efficient approach for the preparation and
modification
of a versatile class of functional polymer nanoparticles has been
developed, for which the entire engineering process from small molecules
to polymers to nanoparticles bypasses typical slow and inefficient
procedures and rather employs a series of steps that capture fully
the “click” chemistry concepts that have greatly facilitated
the preparation of complex polymer materials over the past decade.
The construction of various nanoparticles with functional complexity
from a versatile platform is a challenging aim to provide materials
for fundamental studies and also optimization toward a diverse range
of applications. In this paper, we demonstrate the rapid and facile
preparation of a family of nanoparticles with different surface charges
and functionalities based on a biodegradable polyphosphoester block
copolymer system. From a retrosynthetic point of view, the nonionic,
anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic micelles with hydrodynamic diameters
between 13 and 21 nm and great size uniformity were quickly formed
by suspending, independently, four amphiphilic diblock polyphosphoesters
into water, which were functionalized from the same parental hydrophobic-functional
AB diblock polyphosphoester by click-type thiol–yne reactions.
The well-defined (PDI < 1.2) hydrophobic-functional AB diblock
polyphosphoester was synthesized by an ultrafast (<5 min) organocatalyzed
ring-opening polymerization in a two-step, one-pot manner with the
quantitative conversions of two kinds of cyclic phospholane monomers.
The whole programmable process starting from small molecules to nanoparticles
could be completed within 6 h, as the most rapid approach for the
anionic and nonionic nanoparticles, although the cationic and zwitterionic
nanoparticles required ca. 2 days due to purification by dialysis.
The micelles showed high biocompatibility, with even the cationic
micelles exhibiting a 6-fold lower cytotoxicity toward RAW 264.7 mouse
macrophage cells, as compared to the commercial transfection agent
Lipofectamine