The morphological effects upon enzymatic degradation of poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene terephthalate)s (PBST)

In this work, the enzymatic degradation of poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PBST) copolyesters was studied using the lipase from Pseudomonas (Lipase PS^®). The biodegradation behavior was found to strongly depend on the overall impacts of several important factors as the BT comonomer structure and molar content, thermal characteristics, morphology, the enzyme-substrate, and so forth. Further, the biodegraded residual film samples were allowed to be analyzed by means of gel permeation chromatography (GPC), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). On the experimental evidences, an exo-type mechanism of enzymatic chain hydrolysis preferentially occurring in the amorphous region was suggested for the PBST film samples.     

Processing and Properties of Nanofibrous Bacterial Cellulose-Containing Polymer Composites: A Review of Recent Advances for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an extracellular natural polymer produced by many microorganisms and its properties could be tailored via specific fabrication methods and culture conditions. There is a growing interest in BC derived materials due to the main features of BC such as porous fibrous structure, high crystallinity, impressive physico-mechanical properties, and high water content. However, pristine BC lacks some features, limiting its practical use in varied applications. Thus, fabrication of BC composites has been attempted to overcome these constraints. This review article overviews most recent advance in the development of BC composites and their potential in biomedicine including wound dressing, tissue engineering scaffolds, and drug delivery. Special emphasis is placed on the fabrication and applications of BC-containing nanofibrous composites for biomedical usage. It summarizes electrospinning of BC-based nanofibers and their surface modification with an outline on challenges and future perspective.     

Conductivity of carbon black-loaded styrene–butadiene rubber

Styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) charged with 50 phr of HAF carbon black has been found to show a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity close to 0.07/°C at 27°C. Beyond a point (75°C) of minimum conductivity, however, it behaves as a normal noncrystalline semiconductor with a resistivity which decreases with rise of temperature with an activation energy of 0.56 eV. Blending the composition with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) shifts the minimum towards lower temperatures. The descending branch of the conductivity versus reciprocal absolute temperature characteristic is probably associated with thermal expansion of tunnelling paths separating the conducting carbon particles.     

Factors affecting electrical conductivity of carbon black-loaded rubber. II. Effect of concentration and type of carbon black on electrical conductivity of SBR

Effect of the concentration of four types of carbon black, namely, HAF, FEF, ISAF and GPF, on the electrical conductivity of SBR (1502) was studied. The anomalous behavior of conductivity [σ_min in σ(T) curves] becomes more pronounced as we approach a characteristic value of carbon concentration, F₀, at which maximum anomaly occurs; F₀ was found to depend on the type of carbon black. Moreover, the depth of the valley shape of the σ(T) curve increases with the particle size of carbon black used.     

Preparation and characterization of a codeine responsive electrode

Summary The behaviour of codeine reineckate and codeine tetraphenylborate membrane electrodes has been observed with a respectiveNernstian response of 58 and 56 mV/decade for 9.3×10^–5–1.3×10^–3 M codeine sulfate solutions. The workingpH ranges were 5–8 and 4–8, respectively. The selectivity towards sugars, amines, amino acids, cations, and some pharmaceutical compounds was found to be satisfactory. The isothermal temperature coefficient was 0.0014 V/°C. The electrodes were applied successfully for the determination of codeine in some pharmaceutical dosage forms with a relative standard deviation range of 0.16–0.30% and an average recovery of 98.6±0.6%.

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Herstellung und Charakterisierung einer codeinselektiven Elektrode

Zusammenfassung Das Verhalten von Codeinreineckat- und Codeintetraphenylboratmembranelektroden in 9.3×10^–5–1.3×10^–3 M Codeinsulfatlösungen wurde untersucht (Nernstscher Response: 58 bzw. 56 mV/Dekade). Der verwendetepH-Bereich für die beiden Elektroden war 5–8 bzw. 4–8. Ihre Selektivität gegenüber Zuckern, Aminen, Aminosäuren, Kationen und einigen pharmazeutisch aktiven Verbindungen ist zufriedenstellend. Der isotherme Temperaturkoeffizient beträgt 0.0014V/°C. Die Elektroden wurden erfolgreich zur Bestimmung von Codein in einigen pharmazeutischen Präparaten eingesetzt (relative Standardabweichung: 0.16–0.30%).

     

Generic fast gradient liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry techniques for the assessment of the in vitro permeability across the blood-brain barrier in drug discovery

Rapid, generic gradient liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) assays, designed to accelerate sample analyses, have been developed to keep pace with the productivity of advanced synthetic procedures. In this study, LC/MS/MS was combined with an in vitro, cell-based, blood-brain barrier (BBB) model to evaluate the potential of new chemical entities (NCEs) to cross the BBB. This in vitro assay provides the permeability of discovery compounds across a monolayer of a primary culture of bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells in a fraction of the time that is required for in vivo studies (brain/plasma concentrations), using only 2 mg of the compound. The results are consistent with in vivo brain/plasma concentration ratio data.     

Laser-assisted one-step fabrication of homogeneous glass–silver composite

Glass doped with silver ions was fabricated using a dry technique and then irradiated at the scanning speed of 14 mm?s^?1 using a nanosecond pulsed Nd:YVO₄ laser operating at 355?nm. This led to the spatially selective, one-step precipitation of silver particles and fabrication of a homogeneously structured optical composite material: glass?Csilver composite. The optical and structural properties of such composite material can be designed at will, which could have potential impact on light/plasmon wave and sensing technologies, optoelectronics, and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy.     

Redox behavior of juglone in buffered aq.: Ethanol media

The present work reports the redox mechanism of 5-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione (HND), commonly known as juglone, in buffered aqueous media having 50% of ethanol. HND followed different mechanistic routes depending upon the pH of the media and more than one pK_a were evaluated from the changes in the slope of the E_p vs. pH plot. The change of pH from acidic to neutral conditions was found to switch the mechanism from CEC to EE mechanism. Pulse techniques were utilized to determine the number of electrons involved in the oxidation and/or the reduction step and to ensure the nature of the redox process. Based upon the obtained results, an electrode reaction mechanism was proposed. Computational studies of HND supported the experimental results. UV-Visible spectroscopy was also employed for the detailed characterization of the compound in a wide range of pH and for the determination of its pK_a.     

Solvent selection in ultrasonic-assisted emulsification microextraction: Comparison between high- and low-density solvents by means of novel type of extraction vessel

There are numerous published reports about dispersive liquid phase microextraction of the wide range of substances, however, till now no broadly accepted systematic and purpose oriented selection of extraction solvent has been proposed. Most works deal with the optimization of available solvents without adequate pre-consideration of properness. In this study, it is tried to compare the performances of low- and high-density solvents at the same conditions by means of novel type of extraction vessel with head and bottom conical shape. Extraction efficiencies of seven basic pharmaceutical compounds using eighteen common organic solvents were studied in this work. It was much easier to work with high-density solvents and they mostly showed better performances. This work shows that although exact predicting the performance of the solvents is multifaceted case but the pre-consideration of initial selection of solvents with attention to the physiochemical properties of the desired analytes is feasible and promising. Finally, the practicality of the method for extraction from urine and plasma samples was investigated.