Five port lattice model for simulation of piezoelectric structures possessing twin, compressional modes of vibration

A method is presented for predicting the performance of multilayered piezoelectric structures which demonstrate two, loosely coupled compressional modes of vibration. A linear systems, lattice approach is developed using a matrix formulation for implementation of the transducer transfer functions in the frequency domain. The technique is computationally efficient, providing good results over a key range of transducer dimensions and is especially useful for the practical evaluation of multilayered, linear or diced array structures.     

Phosphorus-31 solid-state nmr in high-field gradients: prospects for imaging bone using the long echo-train summation technique (LETS)

Stray-field techniques are reported for 31P studies of solids for a variety of compounds including bone, bone meal and calcium hydroxyapatite. Long Hahn echo trains produced by the application of many pulses were used as in the long echo-train summation technique. Double-resonance enhancements of 31P by use of both direct and indirect experiments were attempted on a sample of NH4PF6:31P[19F] double resonance produced, at most, a 26% increase in the initial level of the 31P echo signal.     

The microwave spectrum,structure, and dipole moment of cis-1,2,3-trifluorocyclopropane

The microwave spectrum of cis-1,2,3-triflurocyclopropane has been investigated in the region 8–40 GHz. A fit of the oblate symmetric top spectrum gives a rotational constant of 4064.925 ± 0.022 MHz. A molecular structure was determined using the rotational constants obtained from assignments of the monodeutero species and the carbon-13 species. The molecular parameters are $\text{r}\text{(CH) = 1.095 ± 0.002}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{r}\text{(CC) = 1.507 ± 0.001}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{r}\text{(CF) = 1.354 ± 0.001}\text{A}\text{?}$ and ∠(HCF) = 112.3 ± 0.2°. The dipole moment was determined to be 3.89 ± 0.02 D. The structural parameters are compared to other substituted cyclopropyl ring structures and to molecular orbital predictions as well as to related fluorocarbons. The molecule provides another example of the effect of fluorine substitutions on shortening adjacent bonds. It is also found that nonbonded F?F distances tend to be constant.     

Design, synthesis, and validation of a branched flexible linker for bioactive peptides

A branched flexible linker that incorporates a fluorescent dansyl moiety was synthesized and used to connect two high affinity NDP-alpha-MSH ligands or two low affinity MSH(4) ligands. The linker was incorporated into the conjugate by solid-phase synthesis. In vitro biological evaluations showed that potency of binding to the human melanocortin 4 receptor was not diminished for linker-ligand combinations relative to the corresponding ligand alone.     

Multivalent polymer vesicles via surface functionalization

A new method was developed for the conjugation of multivalent dendritic groups to polymer vesicle surfaces.     

Dendritic surface functionalization of biodegradable polymer assemblies

The functionalization of nanomaterials with dendritic surface moieties was recently demonstrated to be an effective means of displaying biological ligands and potentially modulating the biological properties of these materials. With the aim of extending this surface functionalization approach to biodegradable polymer assemblies, poly(ethylene oxide)‐polycaprolactone (PEO‐PCL) block copolymers with terminal azide or methoxy groups were prepared and were assembled to form micelles or vesicles with varying loadings of surface azides. Dendrons bearing peripheral amines, guanidines, or hydroxyls were prepared and conjugated to the assemblies, and the conjugation yields were measured and compared as a function of azide loading and assembly type (micelle versus vesicle). A small molecule rhodamine derivative was also conjugated, allowing the effect of sterics to be studied. The effects of the surface functionalization on the aggregation state of the assemblies were studied by light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Overall, the results revealed interesting differences between the two systems with respect to both the reaction yields and the stabilities. Furthermore, micelles functionalized with dendrons bearing peripheral guanidines were found to exhibit enhanced cell uptake relative to control micelles, demonstrating that this approach can be used to modulate the biological properties of the materials. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Amphipathic helices from aromatic amino acid oligomers

Synthetic helical foldamers are of significant interest for mimicking the conformations of naturally occurring molecules while at the same time introducing new structures and properties. In particular, oligoamides of aromatic amino acids are attractive targets, as their folding is highly predictable and stable. Here the design and synthesis of new amphipathic helical oligoamides based on quinoline-derived amino acids having either hydrophobic or cationic side chains are described. Their structures were characterized in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and in solution by NMR. Results of these studies suggest that an oligomer as short as a pentamer folds into a stable helical conformation in protic solvents, including MeOH and H(2)O. The introduction of polar proteinogenic side chains to these foldamers, as described here for the first time, promises to provide possibilities for the biological applications of these molecules. In particular, amphipathic helices are versatile targets to explore due to their importance in a variety of biological processes, and the unique structure and properties of the quinoline-derived oligoamides may allow new structure-activity relationships to be developed.     

Lateral phase separation in lipid-coated microbubbles

In the design of lipid-coated microbubble ultrasound contrast agents for molecular imaging and targeted drug delivery, the surface distribution of the shell species is important because it dictates such properties as ligand location, brush coverage, and amount of drug loading. We used a combination of spectroscopy and microscopy techniques to test the prevailing notion that the main phosphatidyl choline (PC) and lipopolymer species are completely miscible within the monolayer shell. NMR spectroscopy showed that the shell composition is roughly equivalent to the bulk lipid ratio. FTIR spectroscopy showed a sharp melting peak corresponding to the main phase-transition temperature of the main PC species, with no observed pretransitions while scanning from room temperature, indicating a single PC-rich ordered phase. Electron and fluorescence microscopy showed a heterogeneous microstructure with dark (ordered) domains and bright (disordered) regions. Domain formation was thermotropic and reversible. Fluorescent labeling of the lipopolymer following shell formation showed that it partitions preferentially into the disordered interdomain regions. The ordered domains, therefore, are composed primarily of PC, and the disordered interdomain regions are enriched in lipopolymer. Phase heterogeneity was observed at all lipopolymer concentrations (0.5 to 20 mol %), and the degree of phase separation increased with lipopolymer content. The composition and temperature dependence of the microstructure indicates that phase separation is driven thermodynamically rather than being a kinetically trapped relic of the shell-formation process. The overall high variation in microstructure, including the existence of anomalous three-phase coexistence, highlights the nonequilibrium (history-dependent) nature of the monolayer shell.     

Functional aqueous assemblies of linear-dendron hybrids

Linear-dendron (LD) hybrids are macromolecules comprising a linear polymer or oligomer conjugated at one or both termini with branched macromolecules called dendrons. Since their introduction approximately 2 decades ago, tremendous progress has been made in their synthesis, the study of their self-assembly, and toward their application in a variety of fields. This highlight is focused on aqueous assemblies of LD hybrids where function is imparted by the dendron, linear component, or both. These functions include the encapsulation and release of drug molecules, enhancement of cell uptake and targeting of specific tissues, and the stabilization of enzymes for catalysis. In addition, many stimuli-responsive LD hybrids that undergo changes in response to light, enzymes, pH, temperature, redox potential, or even multiple stimuli have been developed. LD hybrids can also be used to form networks via cross-linking reactions. Described here are the structure–property relationships underlying the functions of these materials, along with their potential applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 148–172