Lipid-membrane-incorporated arylboronate esters as agents for boron neutron capture therapy

Arylboronate esters bearing methyl groups in both of their ortho positions were stably incorporated into lipid membranes at high concentrations without undergoing hydrolysis to the corresponding boronic acids. This method could be used in combination with previous methods to increase the maximum ratio of boron atoms in liposomal boron carriers.This work was supported by a JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (Grant No. JP16H04133) and a Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research (Grant No. JP16K13982)

Formation of β‐(1,3‐1,6)‐D‐glucan‐complexed [70]fullerene and its photodynamic activity towards macrophages

[70]Fullerene was dissolved in water by the complexation with β‐1,3‐glucan using a mechanochemical high‐speed vibration milling apparatus. The photodynamic activity of β‐1,3 glucan‐complexed C70 was highly dependent on the expression level of dectin‐1 on the cell surfaces of macrophages. The photodynamic activity increased as a result of a synergistic effect between β‐1,3‐glucan‐complexed 1’‐acetoxychavicol acetate and the C70 complex.This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant‐in‐Aid for Scientific Research (B) (Grant No. JP16H04133), Grant‐in‐Aid for Scientific Research (C) (Grant No. 26350528) and Grant‐in‐Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research (Grant No. JP16K13982)

様々な物質とペプチドの複合体におけるナノ・バイオへの応用展開の検討

研究目的：近年、機能性中分子として注目されているペプチド （小タンパク質 を、さらに高機能化、多機能化させることを指向して、生体分子、無機化合物、有機小分子、高分子などと複合させた新規機能性複合体の創製を目的とする。また、これら複合体を用いたナノ分野やバイオ分野への応用展開の検討も行う 。研究概要：これまで分子単体では達成できなかったような高機能・多機能性の材料開発を目指し、無機化合物、有機小分子、高分子とペプチドを複合させた新規機能性複合体を創製する。その創製に際しては、近年、機能性中分子として注目されているペプチドを基に、ある機能を有するペプチドに、糖、核酸、酵素などの生体分子、有機合成小分子、合成高分子、無機化合物などをそれらと結合するペプチドリガンドを介して あるいは共有結合などで 複合させることで、従来以上 に 高機能化、多機能化 させた分子・複合体の創製 をねらう。さらに、本研究で作製できた複合体を用 いて、多段階触媒能を有する材料や、エレクトロニクス材料、特定疾病分子などを高度に検出できる素子、治療に役立つ薬剤などの開発につなげ、ナノ分野、バイオ分野への工学的な応用展開を検討する

Hydrostatic Pressure-Regulated Cellular Calcium Responses

Hydrostatic pressure control has attracted much attention and presents a still challenging objective from mechanobiological viewpoints. Herein, we reveal the calcium entry processes in HeLa cells by means of hydrostatic pressure spectroscopy. The steady-state fluorescence spectral data comprehensively elucidated the factors controlling the outcomes of the hydrostatic pressure-stimulated calcium entry behavior. The present work leads to a new perspective on ion regulations in living cells and an attractive alternative to conventional mechanostimuli

Molecular design of super hydrogelators: understanding the gelation process of azobenzene-based sugar derivatives in water

As an attempt to rationally design aqueous organogelators, a bolaamphiphilic azobenzene derivative (1) bearing two sugar groups was synthesized. Compound 1 formed a gel in water even at concentrations as low as 0.05 wt % (0.65 mM). Spectroscopic studies and electron-micrographic observations have clarified the gel structure and the origin of the gelation ability for water