Abstract: Seminaphthofluorophore-selenium probes are disclosed. The probes include a seminaphthofluorophore scaffold substituted with at least one diselenide moiety having a formula —Y—C(Q)O—(CH2)m—Se—Se—(CH2)n—ORf, where Rf is hydrogen or C1-C3 alkyl, Q is O or S, Y is O or N(Rg) where Rg is H or alkyl, and m and n independently are integers. The probes may be used to detect presence of a thioredoxin reductase.

Abstract: Molecular probes for detecting and imaging pancreatic cancer are disclosed. The probes are modified benzoxanthene fluorophores, which are selectively taken up by pancreatic cancer cells, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells. Embodiments of the disclosed probes are useful for pancreatic cancer detection, therapeutic monitoring, and/or image-guided surgery.

Abstract: Molecular probes for detecting and imaging pancreatic cancer are disclosed. The probes are modified benzoxanthene fluorophores, which are selectively taken up by pancreatic cancer cells, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells. Embodiments of the disclosed probes are useful for pancreatic cancer detection, therapeutic monitoring, and/or image-guided surgery.

Abstract: Embodiments of templated polymeric materials capable of binding lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) are disclosed. Methods of making and using the templated polymeric materials also are disclosed. The disclosed templated polymeric materials are molecularly imprinted polymers that bind LPAs and facilitate the production of lysophosphatidic acid-enriched samples, for instance through extraction of lysophosphatidic acids from biological samples, such as plasma or serum samples.

Abstract: Embodiments of templated polymeric materials capable of binding lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) are disclosed. Methods of making and using the templated polymeric materials also are disclosed. The disclosed templated polymeric materials are molecularly imprinted polymers that bind LPAs and facilitate the production of lysophosphatidic acid-enriched samples, for instance through extraction of lysophosphatidic acids from biological samples, such as plasma or serum samples.

Abstract: Probes for selectively detecting compounds comprising a thiol group and an amino group (“thiols”) are disclosed. Exemplary thiols include cysteine, homocysteine, and glutathione. Embodiments of the disclosed probes produce a detectable change in absorbance spectrum and/or emission spectrum when reacted with one or more thiols in solution. Methods and kits for performing the detection also are disclosed. The probes have a general formula where each bond depicted as “” is a single or double bond; R1, R3-R6 and R8 independently are hydrogen, hydroxyl, thiol, lower alkyl, carboxyalkyl, amino, alkoxy, or halogen; R2 is an ?,?-unsaturated aliphatic ester; R7 is oxygen, sulfur, hydrogen, hydroxyl, thiol, lower alkyl, carboxyalkyl, amino, alkoxy, or halogen, or R7 and R8 together form a cycloalkyl or aryl ring; X1 is CH2, S, NH, O, Se, Si(CH3)2, Ge(CH3)2, Sn(CH3)2, or C(CH3)2; and X2 is CH, CH2, N, NH, or CR9 where R9 is aryl.

Abstract: Compounds and methods thereof for reducing cardiac arrhythmia are described. In particular, compounds generated by adding chemical groups that enhance the electron donor properties of RyR inhibitors may increase inhibitor potency and thus allow for new more potent anti-arrhythmic drugs. One advantage of the compounds and methods described is a potential for drugs with enhanced electron donor properties that may be used at lower concentrations and exhibit less non-specific effects.

Abstract: Colorimetric and fluorometric methods are disclosed for the rapid, accurate, selective, and inexpensive detection of homocysteine, or of homocysteine and cysteine, or of cysteine. The methods may be employed with materials that are readily available commercially. The novel methods are selective for homocysteine, for cysteine, or for total homocysteine and cysteine, and do not cross-react substantially with chemically-related species such as glutathione. The homocysteine-selective method does not have substantial cross-reactivity to the very closely related species cysteine. The cysteine-selective method does not have substantial cross-reactivity to the very closely related species homocysteine. The methods may be used, for example, in a direct assay of human blood plasma for homocysteine levels.

Abstract: Probes for selectively detecting compounds comprising a thiol group and an amino group (“thiols”) are disclosed. Exemplary thiols include cysteine, homocysteine, and glutathione. Embodiments of the disclosed probes produce a detectable change in absorbance spectrum and/or emission spectrum when reacted with one or more thiols in solution. Methods and kits for performing the detection also are disclosed. The probes have a general formula where each bond depicted as “” is a single or double bond; R1, R3-R6 and R8 independently are hydrogen, hydroxyl, thiol, lower alkyl, carboxyalkyl, amino, alkoxy, or halogen; R2 is an ?,?-unsaturated aliphatic ester; R7 is oxygen, sulfur, hydrogen, hydroxyl, thiol, lower alkyl, carboxyalkyl, amino, alkoxy, or halogen, or R7 and R8 together form a cycloalkyl or aryl ring; X1 is CH2, S, NH, O, Se, Si(CH3)2, Ge(CH3)2, Sn(CH3)2, or C(CH3)2; and X2 is CH, CH2, N, NH, or CR9 where R9 is aryl.

Abstract: Xanthene compounds are disclosed having fluorescence at multiple wavelengths. Also disclosed are methods for their synthesis and use. Some of the compounds fluoresce at three wavelengths, emitting white light. Uses include the imaging of biological tissues, illumination, and display technologies. Many of the compounds have large Stokes shifts, and are resistant to photobleaching. The fluorescence may be readily distinguished from that of endogenous fluorophores, and from that of most existing, commercially-available fluorescent probes. The compounds are well suited for use in “multiplexing” techniques. They exhibit clear isosbestic and isoemissive points, and have broad absorption and emission ranges.

Abstract: A group of water-soluble salophene-lanthanide complexes and other salophene-metal complexes are useful for purposes including: (i) detecting neutral carbohydrates at physiologically-relevant pH, (ii) the selective detection of gangliosides, and (iii) the selective detection of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in the presence of phosphatidic acid. The selective detection of LPA is useful in diagnosing ovarian and other cancers.

Abstract: Xanthene compounds are disclosed having fluorescence at multiple wavelengths. Also disclosed are methods for their synthesis and use. Some of the compounds fluoresce at three wavelengths, emitting white light. Uses include the imaging of biological tissues, illumination, and display technologies. Many of the compounds have large Stokes shifts, and are resistant to photobleaching. The fluorescence may be readily distinguished from that of endogenous fluorophores, and from that of most existing, commercially-available fluorescent probes. The compounds are well suited for use in “multiplexing” techniques. They exhibit clear isosbestic and isoemissive points, and have broad absorption and emission ranges.

Abstract: Colorimetric and fluorometric methods are disclosed for the rapid, accurate, selective, and inexpensive detection of homocysteine, or of homocysteine and cysteine, or of cysteine. The methods may be employed with materials that are readily available commercially. The novel methods are selective for homocysteine, for cysteine, or for total homocysteine and cysteine, and do not cross-react substantially with chemically-related species such as glutathione. The homocysteine-selective method does not have substantial cross-reactivity to the very closely related species cysteine. The cysteine-selective method does not have substantial cross-reactivity to the very closely related species homocysteine. The methods may be used, for example, in a direct assay of human blood plasma for homocysteine levels.

Abstract: An efficient synthesis for the selective and efficient 1′-N derivatization of biotin is reported. The derivatized biotin acts as a stable analog of the carboxyphosphate intermediate in naturally-occurring biotin-mediated CO2 transfer. The synthesis may readily be scaled up to perform large-scale, selective acylations of biotin. The stable analog of the intermediate can inhibit the activity of the biotin carboxylase enzymes such as acetyl CoA carboxylase, and HIV protease. The functionalization at the 1′-N of biotin results in the attachment of an electrophilic “handle” amenable to reaction with a wide variety of nucleophiles to generate a new family of biotin analogs.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the simple, rapid, and selective colorimetric detection of carbohydrates, including fructose, glucose, sialic acid, and oligosaccharides. There is no need for any prior hydrolysis or other chemical modification or of the analytes. Resorcinarenes, xanthene dyes, and related compounds, formally produced by the reaction of 2 equivalents of resorcinol and a suitable electrophilic condensation partner, are used as chromophores or fluorophores for the detection of sugars and other carbohydrates.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the simple, rapid, and selective colorimetric detection of carbohydrates, including fructose, glucose, sialic acid, and oligosaccharides. There is no need for any prior hydrolysis or other chemical modification or of the analytes. Resorcinarenes, xanthene dyes, and related compounds, formally produced by the reaction of 2 equivalents of resorcinol and a suitable electrophilic condensation partner, are used as chromophores or fluorophores for the detection of sugars and other carbohydrates.

Abstract: An efficient synthesis for the selective and efficient 1′-N derivatization of biotin is reported. The derivatized biotin acts as a stable analog of the carboxyphosphate intermediate in naturally-occurring biotin-mediated CO2 transfer. The synthesis may readily be scaled up to perform large-scale, selective acylations of biotin. The stable analog of the intermediate can inhibit the activity of the biotin carboxylase enzymes such as acetyl CoA carboxylase, and HIV protease. The functionalization at the 1′-N of biotin results in the attachment of an electrophilic “handle” amenable to reaction with a wide variety of nucleophiles to generate a new family of biotin analogs.

Abstract: An efficient synthesis for the selective and efficient 1′-N derivatization of biotin is reported. The derivatized biotin acts as a stable analog of the carboxyphosphate intermediate in naturally-occurring biotin-mediated CO2 transfer. The synthesis may readily be scaled up to perform large-scale, selective acylations of biotin. The stable analog of the intermediate can inhibit the activity of the biotin carboxylase enzymes such as acetyl CoA carboxylase, and HIV protease. The functionalization at the 1′-N of biotin results in the attachment of an electrophilic “handle” amenable to reaction with a wide variety of nucleophiles to generate a new family of biotin analogs.