Size characterization of drug-loaded polymeric core/shell nanoparticles using asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation

Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF) was used to determine the size distribution of drug-loaded core/shell nanoparticles which have a lipid core of lecithin and a polymeric shell of a Pluronic. AsFlFFF provided separation of the drug-loaded core/shell nanoparticles from smaller coreless polymeric micelles, thus allowing accurate size analysis of the drug-loaded nanoparticles without interference by the coreless micelles. It was found from AsFlFFF that the drug-loaded nanoparticles have broad size distributions ranging from 100 to 600 nm in diameter. It was also found that, after the nanoparticles had been stored for 70 days, they disappeared as a result of self-degradation. Being a separation technique, AsFlFFF seems to be more useful than transmission electron microscopy or dynamic light scattering for size analysis of core/shell nanoparticles, which have broad and bimodal size distributions. Figure Separation by AsFlFFF     

Multihollow structured poly(methyl methacrylate)/silver nanocomposite microspheres prepared by suspension polymerization in the presence of dual dispersion agents

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/silver nanocomposite microspheres with unique multihollow structures were prepared by suspension polymerization in the presence of dual dispersion agents. The addition of a lipophilic emulsifier, polyethylene glycol (30EO) dipolyhydroxystearate (Arlacel P135), not only stabilized water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion, but also converted silver nanoparticles from hydrophilic to lipophilic. When a suspension polymerization dispersion agent, poly(vinyl alcohol), was added to the above W/O emulsion system, a water-in-oil-in-water suspension was formed with silver nanoparticles dispersed in the oil phase. The suspension polymerization was carried out at low temperature with 2,2’-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) as the initiator. When modified silver nanoparticles were added, the rate of polymerization increased slightly. High monomer conversion (about 85%) was obtained in spite of low polymerization temperature of 30 °C. Under controlled conditions, PMMA/silver microspheres with various hollow structures were synthesized. The PMMA/silver microspheres with multihollow structure showed high antibacterial ability.     

Synthesis and characterization of a bis-μ,η-carboxylate-bridged dinuclear manganese(II) complex containing a tetradentate tripodal ligand, N-(benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)iminodiacetic acid

The dinuclear Mn(II) complex, [Mn₂(Hbida)₂(H₂O)₂], was prepared using a tetradentate tripodal ligand, N-(benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)iminodiacetic acid (H₃bida) which has two carboxylate and one benzimidazole groups. The manganese ions are doubly bridged using μ,η¹-bridging monodentate carboxylate oxygen atoms. The Mn–Mn bond distance of 3.446 Å in the complex is comparable to that observed in the active site of the native manganese arginase enzyme (3.30 Å). The geometry of the complex with four carboxylates in two different types of binding modes, non-bridging monodentate and μ,η¹-type bridging monodentate, mimics the active site structure of manganese arginase. The magnetic properties of the complex show a coupling constant of J = −0.471(1) cm⁻¹, which is consistent with weakly coupled antiferromagnetic Mn^II (S = 5/2) centers. The cyclic voltammograms of the Mn(II) complex in DMF show irreversible oxidation occurring around 570 mV (versus Ag/AgCl).     

Particle transport in a He-microchip plasma atomic emission system with an ultrasonic nebulizer for aqueous sample introduction

The transport efficiency of dried particles generated from an ultrasonic nebulizer (USN) was studied to improve the analytical performance of a lab-made, He-microchip plasma system, in which a quartz tube (~ 1 mm i.d.) was positioned inside the central channel of a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) polymer chip. The polymer microchip plasma has the advantages of low cost, small size, easy handling and design, and self-ignition with long stabilization (> 24 h). However, direct introduction of aqueous solution into the microplasma for the detection of metals remains problematic due to plasma instability. In addition, the much smaller size of the system can cause signal suppression due to low transport efficiency. Therefore, knowledge of particle transport efficiency in this microplasma system is required to enhance the sensitivity and stability. The weight of transported particles in the range of 0.02 to 10 mg m^− 3 was measured using a piezobalance with a precision of 0.4–17.8%, depending on the operating conditions. The significant effects of the USN operating conditions and the physical properties of the tubing, namely, length, inner diameter and surface characteristics, on the number of particles transported from the nebulizer to the microplasma were studied. When selected metals, such as Na, Mg and Pb, at a concentration of 5 mg L^− 1 were nebulized, transported particles were obtained with a mass range of 0.5–5 mg m^− 3, depending on atomic weights. For application of the He-rf-microplasma, the atomic emission system was optimized by changing both the radio frequency (rf) power (60–200 W) and cooling temperature of the USN (− 12–9 °C). The limits of detection obtained for K, Na and Cu were 0.26, 0.22, and 0.28 mg L^− 1, respectively. These results confirmed the suitable stability and sensitivity of the He-rf-PDMS microchip plasma for application as an atomization source.     

Shape Oscillation of a drop in ac electrowetting

A sessile drop oscillates when an ac voltage is applied in electrowetting. The oscillation results from the time-varying electrical force concentrated on the three-phase contact line. Little is known about the feature of drop oscillation in electrowetting. In the present work, the drop oscillations are observed systematically, and a theoretical model is developed to analyze the oscillation. It is revealed that resonance occurs at certain frequencies and the oscillation pattern is significantly dependent on the applied ac frequencies. The domain perturbation method is used to derive the shape-mode equations under the assumptions of a weak viscous effect and small drop deformation. The electrical force concentrated on the three-phase contact line is approximated as a delta function, which is decomposed and substituted into each shape-mode equation as a forcing term. The theoretical results for the shape and frequency responses are compared with experimental results, which shows qualitative agreement.     

Recent advances in controlled/living radical polymerization in emulsion and dispersion

Effective ways to conduct controlled/living radical polymerization (CRP) in emulsion systems are necessary for commercial latex production without significant modification of current industrial facilities. Conducting CRP in emulsion media is more complicated and more challenging than its application in homogeneous bulk. These challenges come from the intrinsic kinetics of emulsion polymerization. They include mass transport, slow chain growth mechanism, and exit of short radicals from polymeric particles. This review describes the recent developments of CRP in heterogeneous dispersion, including miniemulsion, microemulsion, dispersion, and especially emulsion. Various approaches for conducting emulsion CRP are detailed, including controlled seeded emulsion polymerization, nanoprecipitation, use of short oligomers as macroinitiators for in situ block copolymerization, and RAFT‐mediated self‐assembly. In addition many remaining challenges of the current methods barring wide spread industrial application of emulsion CRP are also suggested. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6983–7001, 2008     

Preparation, characterization and catalytic activity of Bi−Mo-based catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation ofn-butene to 1,3-butadiene

Multicomponent bismuth molybdates were prepared by a co-precipitation method for use in the oxidative dehydrogenation ofn-butene to 1,3-butadiene. The effect of divalent and trivalent metals on the catalytic performance of multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalysts was investigated. It was found that the metal ratio of Fe/Bi/Mo=3∶1∶12 was favorable for the reaction. The successful formation of Ni _X Co_8?X Fe₃Bi₁Mo₁₂O₅₀ (X=0?8) catalysts was well confirmed by XRD and ICP-AES measurements. The multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalysts showed a better catalytic performance than the pure γ-Bi₂MoO₆ catalyst. Among the Ni _X Co_8?X Fe₃Bi₁Mo₁₂O₅₀ (X=0?8) catalysts, Ni₃Co₅Fe₃Bi₁Mo₁₂O₅₀ showed the highest yield of 1,3-butadiene.     

Rapid determination of floral aroma compounds of lilac blossom by fast gas chromatography combined with surface acoustic wave sensor

A novel analytical method using fast gas chromatography combined with surface acoustic wave sensor (GC/SAW) has been developed for the detection of volatile aroma compounds emanated from lilac blossom (Syringa species: Syringa vulgaris variginata and Syringa dilatata). GC/SAW could detect and quantify various fragrance emitted from lilac blossom, enabling to provide fragrance pattern analysis results. The fragrance pattern analysis could easily characterize the delicate differences in aromas caused by the substantial difference of chemical composition according to different color and shape of petals. Moreover, the method validation of GC/SAW was performed for the purpose of volatile floral actual aroma analysis, achieving a high reproducibility and excellent sensitivity. From the validation results, GC/SAW could serve as an alternative analytical technique for the analysis of volatile floral actual aroma of lilac. In addition, headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) GC-MS was employed to further confirm the identification of fragrances emitted from lilac blossom and compared to GC/SAW.     

Fluoride-catalyzed hydroalkoxylation of hexafluoropropene with 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol

Trifluoroethoxylation of hexafluoropropene with 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) were conducted using an alkali metal fluoride catalyst to produce CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₃. KF exhibited the highest yield and selectivity of CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₃, whereas LiF and NaF were inactive for the trifluoroethoxylation reaction. The same reaction also proceeded well in the presence of RbF or CsF, but yielded large amounts of olefinic and high molecular weight side products, implying that the size of alkali metal cation or the degree of MF dissociation plays an important role in determining the activity and the product composition. FT-IR and NMR experiments revealed that CsF interacts with TFE more strongly than KF through a hydrogen bonding. The experimental and spectroscopic results suggest that the degree of MF dissociation should be in the medium range for the selective production of CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₃ in high yield and selectivity.