Gilles Casano

Highly Efficient, Water‐Soluble Polarizing Agents for Dynamic Nuclear Polarization at High Frequency

Well polarized: Two new polarizing agents PyPol and AMUPol soluble in glycerol/water mixtures are used for dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) NMR spectroscopy. The enhancement factors (e) are about 3.5 to 4 times larger than for the established agent TOTAPOL at 263 and 395 GHz. For AMUPol, the temperature dependence of e allows DNP experiments to be performed at temperatures significantly higher than for typical high-field DNP NMR experiments.

Large Molecular Weight Nitroxide Biradicals Providing Efficient Dynamic Nuclear Polarization at Temperatures up to 200 K

A series of seven functionalized nitroxide biradicals (the bTbK biradical and six derivatives) are investigated as exogenous polarization sources for dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) solid-state NMR at 9.4 T and with ca. 100 K sample temperatures. The impact of electron relaxation times on the DNP enhancement (ε) is examined, and we observe that longer inversion recovery and phase memory relaxation times provide larger ε. All radicals are tested in both bulk 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane solutions and in mesoporous materials, and the difference in ε between the two cases is discussed. The impact of the sample temperature and magic angle spinning frequency on ε is investigated for several radicals each characterized by a range of electron relaxation times. In particular, TEKPol, a bulky derivative of bTbK with a molecular weight of 905 g·mol(-1), is presented. Its high-saturation factor makes it a very efficient polarizing agent for DNP, yielding unprecedented proton enhancements of over 200 in both bulk and materials samples at 9.4 T and 100 K. TEKPol also yields encouraging enhancements of 33 at 180 K and 12 at 200 K, suggesting that with the continued improvement of radicals large ε may be obtained at higher temperatures.

A Slowly Relaxing Rigid Biradical for Efficient Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Surface-Enhanced NMR Spectroscopy: Expeditious Characterization of Functional Group Manipulation in Hybrid Materials

A new nitroxide-based biradical having a long electron spin-lattice relaxation time (T(1e)) has been developed as an exogenous polarization source for DNP solid-state NMR experiments. The performance of this new biradical is demonstrated on hybrid silica-based mesostructured materials impregnated with 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane radical containing solutions, as well as in frozen bulk solutions, yielding DNP enhancement factors (ε) of over 100 at a magnetic field of 9.4 T and sample temperatures of ~100 K. The effects of radical concentration on the DNP enhancement factors and on the overall sensitivity enhancements (Σ(†)) are reported. The relatively high DNP efficiency of the biradical is attributed to an increased T(1e), which enables more effective saturation of the electron resonance. This new biradical is shown to outperform the polarizing agents used so far in DNP surface-enhanced NMR spectroscopy of materials, yielding a 113-fold increase in overall sensitivity for silicon-29 CPMAS spectra as compared to conventional NMR experiments at room temperature. This results in a reduction in experimental times by a factor >12,700, making the acquisition of (13)C and (15)N one- and two-dimensional NMR spectra at natural isotopic abundance rapid (hours). It has been used here to monitor a series of chemical reactions carried out on the surface functionalities of a hybrid organic-silica material.

A Well-Defined Pd Hybrid Material for the Z-Selective Semihydrogenation of Alkynes Characterized at the Molecular Level by DNP SENS.

Direct evidence of the conformation of a Pd-N heterocyclic carbene (NHC) moiety imbedded in a hybrid material and of the Pd-NHC bond were obtained by dynamic nuclear polarization surface-enhanced NMR spectroscopy (DNP SENS) at natural abundance in short experimental times (hours). Overall, this silica-based hybrid material containing well-defined Pd-NHC sites in a uniform environment displays high activity and selectivity in the semihydrogenation of alkynes into Z-alkenes (see figure).

EPR spin trapping evaluation of ROS production in human fibroblasts exposed to cerium oxide nanoparticles: Evidence for NADPH oxidase and mitochondrial stimulation

To better understand the antioxidant (enzyme mimetic, free radical scavenger) versus oxidant and cytotoxic properties of the industrially used cerium oxide nanoparticles (nano-CeO(2)), we investigated their effects on reactive oxygen species formation and changes in the antioxidant pool of human dermal and murine 3T3 fibroblasts at doses relevant to chronic inhalation or contact with skin. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping with the nitrone DEPMPO showed that pretreatment of the cells with the nanoparticles dose-dependently triggered the release in the culture medium of superoxide dismutase- and catalase-inhibitable DEPMPO/hydroxyl radical adducts (DEPMPO-OH) and ascorbyl radical, a marker of ascorbate depletion. This DEPMPO-OH formation occurred 2 to 24 h following removal of the particles from the medium and paralleled with an increase of cell lipid peroxidation. These effects of internalized nano-CeO(2) on spin adduct formation were then investigated at the cellular level by using specific NADPH oxidase inhibitors, transfection techniques and a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant. When micromolar doses of nano-CeO(2) were used, weak DEPMPO-OH levels but no loss of cell viability were observed, suggesting that cell signaling mechanisms through protein synthesis and membrane NADPH oxidase activation occurred. Incubation of the cells with higher millimolar doses provoked a 25-60-fold higher DEPMPO-OH formation together with a decrease in cell viability, early apoptosis induction and antioxidant depletion. These cytotoxic effects could be due to activation of both the mitochondrial source and Nox2 and Nox4 dependent NADPH oxidase complex. Regarding possible mechanisms of nano-CeO(2)-induced free radical formation in cells, in vitro EPR and spectrophotometric studies suggest that, contrary to Fe(2+) ions, the Ce(3+) redox state at the surface of the particles is probably not an efficient catalyst of hydroxyl radical formation by a Fenton-like reaction in vivo.

Solid-State Dynamic Nuclear Polarization at 9.4 and 18.8 T from 100 K to Room Temperature

Efficient dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) in solids, which enables very high sensitivity NMR experiments, is currently limited to temperatures of around 100 K and below. Here we show how by choosing an adequate solvent, 1H cross effect DNP enhancements of over 80 can be obtained at 240 K. To achieve this we use the biradical TEKPol dissolved in a glassy phase of ortho-terphenyl (OTP). We study the solvent DNP enhancement of both TEKPol and BDPA in OTP in the range from 100 to 300 K at 9.4 and 18.8 T. Surprisingly, we find that the DNP enhancement decreases only relatively slowly for temperatures below the glass transition of OTP (Tg = 243 K), and 1H enhancements around 15–20 at ambient temperature can be observed. We use this to monitor molecular dynamic transitions in the pharmaceutically relevant solids Ambroxol and Ibuprofen.

Anti-HIV and antiplasmodial activity of original flavonoid derivatives

In our search for potent anti-HIV and antiplasmodial agents, novel series of flavonoid derivatives and their chalcone intermediates were synthesized and evaluated for inhibition of HIV multiplication and antiproliferative activity on Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Chalcones exhibited a more selective antiplasmodial activity than flavonoids. Methoxyflavone 7e was the only one compound active in both P. falciparum and HIV-1 whereas aminomethoxyflavones showed activity against HIV-2. Para substitution on the B ring seemed to increase HIV-2 potency.

Spin exchange monitoring of the strong positive homotropic allosteric binding of a tetraradical by a synthetic receptor in water.

The flexible tetranitroxide 4T has been prepared and was shown to exhibit a nine line EPR spectrum in water, characteristic of significant through space spin exchange (J(ij)) between four electron spins interacting with four nitrogen nuclei (J(ij) ≫ a(N)). Addition of CB[8] to 4T decreases dramatically all the Jij couplings, and the nine line spectrum is replaced by the characteristic three line spectrum of a mononitroxide. The supramolecular association between 4T and CB[8] involves a highly cooperative asymmetric complexation by two CB[8] (K1 = 4027 M(-1); K2 = 202,800 M(-1); α = 201) leading to a rigid complex with remote nitroxide moieties. The remarkable enhancement for the affinity of the second CB[8] corresponds to an allosteric interaction energy of ≈13 kJ mol(-1), which is comparable to that of the binding of oxygen by hemoglobin. These results are confirmed by competition and reduction experiments, DFT and molecular dynamics calculations, mass spectrometry, and liquid state NMR of the corresponding reduced complex bearing hydroxylamine moieties. This study shows that suitably designed molecules can generate allosteric complexation with CB[8]. The molecule must (i) carry several recognizable groups for CB[8] and (ii) be folded so that the first binding event reorganizes the molecule (unfold) for a better subsequent recognition. The presence of accessible protonable amines and H-bond donors to fit with the second point are also further stabilizing groups of CB[8] complexation. In these conditions, the spin exchange coupling between four radicals has been efficiently and finely tuned and the resulting allosteric complexation induced a dramatic stabilization enhancement of the included paramagnetic moieties in highly reducing conditions through the formation of the supramolecular 4T@CB[8]2 complex.

Hydrophobic radicals embedded in neutral surfactants for dynamic nuclear polarization of aqueous environments at 9.4 Tesla

We show how large DNP enhancements of NMR signals can be obtained from several hydrophobic radicals that are solubilised in aqueous environments by a variety of biologically compatible neutral amphiphiles. In particular we show that the bi-radical TEKPOL can be incorporated into micelles formed by the surfactant polysorbate 80 (Tween-80), where we obtain large DNP enhancements (∼60) at 9.4 T and ∼100 K.

Synthesis and Biological Characterization of New Aminophosphonates for Mitochondrial pH Determination by 31P NMR Spectroscopy

A series of mitochondria targeted α-aminophosphonates combining a diethoxyphosphoryl group and an alkyl chain-connected triphenylphosphonium bromide tail were designed and synthesized, and their pH-sensitive (31)P NMR properties and biological activities in vitro and in vivo were evaluated. The results showed a number of these mito-aminophosphonates exhibiting pKa values fitting the mitochondrial pH range, short relaxation, and chemical shift parameters compatible with sensitive (31)P NMR detection, and low cytotoxicity on green algae and murine fibroblasts cell cultures. Of these, two selected compounds demonstrated to distribute at NMR detectable levels within the cytosolic and mitochondrial sites following their perfusion to isolated rat livers, with no detrimental effects on cell energetics and aerobic respiration. This study provided a new molecular scaffold for further development of in situ spectroscopic real-time monitoring of mitochondrion/cytosol pH gradients.