Biomedical subjects

David J Henry

Publications and source records attributed to David J Henry.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Classical molecular dynamics study of [60]fullerene interactions with silica and polyester surfaces.

This study examines the interaction of neutral and charged fullerenes with model silica and polyester surfaces. Molecular dynamics simulations at 298 K indicate that van der Waals forces are sufficiently strong in most cases to cause physisorption of the neutral fullerene particle onto the surfaces. The fullerenes are unable to penetrate the rigid silica surface but are generally able to at least partially infiltrate the flexible polymer surface by opening surface cavities. The introduction of charge to the fullerene generally leads to an increase in both the separation distance and Work of Separation with silica. However, the charged fullerenes generally exhibit significantly closer and stronger interactions with polyester films, with a distinct tendency to absorb into the "bulk" of the polymer. The separation distance and Work of Separation of C60 with each of the surfaces also depend greatly on the sign, magnitude, and localization of the charge on the particle. Cross-linking of the polyester can improve resistance to the neutral fullerene. Functionalization of the polyester surface (F and OH substituents) has been shown to prevent the C60 from approaching as close to the polyester surface. Fluorination leads to improved resistance to positively charged fullerenes, compared to the unmodified polyester. However, hydroxylation generally enables greater adhesion of charged fullerenes to the surface due to H-bonding and electrostatic attraction.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Adhesion between graphite and modified polyester surfaces: a theoretical study.

This study examines the adhesion of graphite to functionalized polyester surfaces using a range of qualitative and quantitative measures of theoretical adhesion. Modifications to the polyester surfaces include the addition of hydroxyl, carboxyl, or fluorine substituents with coverages of 0.4 and 0.9 groups per nm(2). In each case, the introduction of substituents to the surface of the polyester was calculated to lead to reduced adhesion to graphite. Effects of surface relaxation on adhesion are studied by employing different simulation protocols. The theoretical results suggest one mechanism to reduce adhesion to carbonaceous solids is to increase atomic roughness using strongly hydrophilic or alternatively strongly hydrophobic substituents.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Inhibition of peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase by exploitation of factors affecting the stability and ease of formation of glycyl radicals.

Peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase catalyzes the biosynthesis of peptide hormones through radical cleavage of the C-terminal glycine residues of the corresponding prohormones. We have correlated ab initio calculations of radical stabilization energies and studies of free radical brominations with the extent of catalysis displayed by peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase, to identify classes of inhibitors of the enzyme. In particular we find that, in closely related systems, the substitution of glycolate for glycine reduces the calculated radical stabilization energy by 34.7 kJ mol(-1), decreases the rate of bromination with N-bromosuccinimide at reflux in carbon tetrachloride by a factor of at least 2000, and stops catalysis by the monooxygenase, while maintaining binding to the enzyme.

Bromosuccinimide↗

PubMed2004

Comparison of the kinetics and thermodynamics for methyl radical addition to C=C, C=O, and C=S double bonds.

The barriers, enthalpies, and rate constants for the addition of methyl radical to the double bonds of a selection of alkene, carbonyl, and thiocarbonyl species (CH(2)=Z, CH(3)CH=Z, and (CH(3))(2)C=Z, where Z = CH(2), O, or S) and for the reverse beta-scission reactions have been investigated using high-level ab inito calculations. The results are rationalized with the aid of the curve-crossing model. The addition reactions proceed via early transition structures in all cases. The barriers for addition of methyl radical to C=C bonds are largely determined by the reaction exothermicities. Addition to the unsubstituted carbon center of C=C double bonds is favored over addition to the substituted carbon center, both kinetically (lower barriers) and thermodynamically (greater exothermicities). The barriers for addition to C=O bonds are influenced by both the reaction exothermicity and the singlet-triplet gap of the substrate. Addition to the carbon center is favored over addition to the oxygen, also both thermodynamically and kinetically. For the thiocarbonyl systems, addition to the carbon center is thermodynamically favored over addition to sulfur. However, in this case, the reaction is contrathermodynamic, addition to the sulfur center having a lower barrier due to spin density considerations. Entropic differences among corresponding addition and beta-scission reactions are relatively minor, and the differences in reaction rates are thus dominated by differences in the respective reaction barriers.

Journal Article↗