Fluorescence-detecting cationic surfactants using luminescent CdTe quantum dots as probes

A novel fluorescence quenching method for the determination of cationic surfactants (CS), specifically cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), has been developed using water-soluble luminescent CdTe quantum dots (QDs) modified with thioglycolic acid (TGA). The possible interference from heavy and transition metals (HTM) has been efficiently eliminated through simple sample treatment with mercapto cotton made in-house. Under optimum conditions, the extent of fluorescence quenching of CdTe QDs is linearly proportional to the concentration of CS from 2.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 7.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 5.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹. The relative standard deviation for 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ CTAB is 2.5% (n = 6). The proposed method exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity and furthermore avoided the use of toxic organic solvents and tedious solvent extraction procedures. It has been applied to the determination of trace CS in natural river water and commodity samples with satisfactory results. Potential interference from heavy and transition metals is eliminated during photoluminescence detection of CS through simple sample pre-treatment with mercapto cotton     

Synthesis and molecular structure of the cationic samarium phenoxide complex [(ArO)2Sm(DME)2][BPh4] · THF and its catalytic activity for the polymerization of ε-caprolactone

The first cationic samarium phenoxide complex, [(ArO)₂Sm(DME)₂][BPh₄] · THF (ArO = 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-metyl-phenoxide) (1), has been synthesized by one-electron oxidation reaction of (ArO)₂Sm(THF)₃ with AgBPh₄ in high yield and structurally characterized. The complex 1 can be used as a single-component catalyst for the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) with high activity. The activity of the complex 1 is much higher than that of the parent neutral complex (ArO)₃Sm(THF)₂, and is comparable to that of the divalent complex (ArO)₂Sm(THF)₃. A coordination-insertion polymerization mechanism was supposed according to the end-group analysis.     

水溶液中的分子内扭转电荷转移──阴阳离子胶束中对二甲基氨基苯甲酸分子内扭转电荷转移的比较研究

在阳离子表面活性剂CTMAB水溶液中,对二甲氨基苯甲酸(DMABOA)的分子内扭转电荷转移(TICT)荧光带随着胶束的形成而显着蓝移,同时伴随着TICT荧光带与正常荧光带强度比I_a/I_b和总荧光强度I_f的增大;而阴离子表面活性剂SLS胶束的形成并未引起TICT荧光带位置和I_a/I_b的变化,仅使I_f提高(较在CTMAB胶束中的小).实验发现在胶束疏水核中的TICT行为与纯有机溶剂中不同,DMABOA与CTMAB胶束的疏水相互作用和静电作用是协同的。     

(CH3)3SiCl/TiCl4 INITIATING SYSTEM FOR CATIONIC POLYMERIZATION OF 1,3-PENTADIENE

Cationic polymerizations of 1,3-pentadiene (PD) initiated by trimethylsilyl chloride (TMSCl) incombination with TiCl_4 were carried out in n-hexane at 30℃. The yield of polymer was greatly increased bythe addition of TMSCl, indicating that the TMSCl/TiCl_4 combination is an efficient initiating system for PDcationic polymerization. However, the introduction of TMSCl gave rise to a drop in the molecular weight ofthe polymer. Kinetic results demonstrated that the polymerization initiated by TMSCl/TiCl_4 is 4.5 times fasterthan that induced by TiCl_4 alone. Various ethers were used to mediate the TMSCl/TiCl_4 initiating system.Adding diphenyl ether could increase both the yield and molecular weight of the polymer. Structural evidenceillustrates that the polymerization is indeed initiated by TiCl_4 in combination with HCl resulting fromhydrolysis by adventitious water.     

Solubilization of oil in a mixed cationic liquid crystal

The mixing fraction of didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) in dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide + DDAB to produce a lamellar liquid crystal (L _α) abruptly decreases upon addition of a small amount of m-xylene, whereas the mixing fraction becomes constant at high m-xylene content. Similar results were obtained in saturated hydrocarbon systems. It is considered that oil molecules in the surfactant palisade layer increases the effective cross-sectional area per surfactant head group, a_s, whereas a_s is constant if the oil molecules are solubilized in the core of the liquid crystal. The volume fraction of penetrating oil in the total solubilized oil is defined as a penetration parameter, Pe, which is calculated from small-angle X-ray scattering data. Pe is high in the m-xylene system, whereas it is low in the n-decane system. Even in the same oil system, Pe decreases dramatically with increasing solubilization. Hence, most of the oil added penetrates into a palisade layer at an early stage of oil addition. This causes a change in the mixing fraction of surfactant in the L _α phase. Thereafter the oil is solubilized in the core of the bilayer with further addition of oil. Received: 20 April 1998 Accepted: 16 July 1998     

Hydrophilic magnetic polymer latexes. 1. Adsorption of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles onto various cationic latexes

With a view to preparing monosized hydrophilic functional magnetic latex particles based on a two-step strategy using anionic iron oxide and cationic polymer latexes, the adsorption step was systematically investigated for a better control of the subsequent encapsulation step. The iron oxide nanoparticles were first obtained according to the classical precipitation method of ferric and ferrous chloride salt using a concentrated sodium hydroxide solution, whereas the polystyrene (PS), P(S/N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM)) core–shell and PNIPAM latexes were produced via emulsion and precipitation polymerizations, respectively. The polymer and inorganic colloids were then characterised. The adsorption of iron oxide nanoparticles onto the three types of polymer latexes via electrostatic interaction was studied as a function of iron oxide particle concentration, charge density and the cross-linking density of the hydrophilic layer. The maximum amounts of magnetic nanoparticles adsorbed onto the various latexes were found to increase in the following order: PS < P(S/NIPAM) < P(NIPAM). This significant difference is discussed by taking into account the charge distribution in the hydrogel layer and diffusion phenomena inside the cross-linked hydrophilic shell. Received: 28 December 1998 Accepted in revised form: 15 April 1999     

The interaction between sodium dodecylsulfate and the cationic-nonionic random copolymer (3-(2-methylpropionamide)propyl) trimethylammonium chloride–acrylamide of two different charge densities studied using dynamic light scattering and rheometry

The effects of complex formation between sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and the positively charged (3-(2-methylpropionamide)propyl)trimethyl-ammonium chloride-acrylamide (MAPTAC-AM) copolymer have been studied in dilute and semidilute aqueous solution in the presence of 10 mM NaCl. Two different charge densities of the copolymer have been used in the study: 0.31 and 0.66, corresponding to the proportion of MAPTAC units. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and rheometry (static low-shear and capillary viscometry) have been performed on the systems at different charge ratios, i.e., SDS/MAPTAC molar ratios, r. Regarding the phase behavior, the maximum binding ratio prior to precipitation differs between the copolymers. A 1.0% w/v solution of SDS/31% MAPTAC-AM is soluble at r = 0.4 , while an SDS/66% MAPTAC-AM solution of 1.0% w/v shows phase separation at this ratio. With excess surfactant, the complex in the former system is resolubilized at r=2.0, whereas the latter system is still phase-separated at r=5.0. DLS results show that, for both copolymers, the hydrodynamic radius, R _h, of the single-chain copolymer-surfactant complex decreases as a function of r, but then increases slightly prior to phase separation. The corresponding hydrodynamic virial coefficient, k _D, changes in the same manner as R _h. The light-scattering data also show that the formation of larger structures is promoted as the polymer concentration is increased from 0.2 to 1.0% w/v. This is shown by the increase in the relative aggregate-to-single coil peak areas in the relaxation time distributions. Both systems have this common trend. The results from rheological measurements support the results from DLS. A reduction in intrinsic viscosity, [η], is observed on increasing r up to phase separation. The major part of the static low-shear measurements showed Newtonian behavior for both systems at different copolymer concentrations (27.6–138 mM), and at different r. These systems, partially ionic polymer/oppositely charged surfactant, present very interesting rheological behavior at relatively high polymer concentrations and at low r values. Their behavior is similar to those of hydrophobically modified polyelectrolytes. Received: 17 June 1998 Accepted: 12 August 1998     

[Co(CO2)n]+团簇的红外解离光谱实验和理论研究

本文利用红外光解离光谱研究了一价钴阳离子与二氧化碳之间的相互作用. 通过密度泛函理论计算得到[Co(CO₂)_n]⁺团簇的几何结构,并且模拟了它们的振动光谱与实验数值进行比较. 研究结果表明,在[Co(CO₂)_n]⁺(n=2∽6)团簇中,钴阳离子通过电四极矩静电作用以端点结合的方式与二氧化碳中的氧原子结合在一起. 团簇的红外光谱都集中在二氧化碳反对称伸缩的波数附近,并且随着团簇尺寸的变化出现蓝移,最后把[Co(CO₂)_n]⁺的红外光解离光谱与稀有气体贴附的[Co(CO₂)_n]⁺-Ar的红外光解离光谱进行了比较.     

Intracellular triggered release of DNA-quaternary ammonium polyplex by ultrasound

2-Methacryloyloxy ethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (TMA) is a potent polymeric plasma DNA (pDNA) carrier. The present study shows that TMA/pDNA polyplexes could be internalized into cells efficiently, but could not mediate gene transfection on its own. The transfection process of TMA/pDNA polyplexes is turned on only when ultrasound (US) was applied 4–8 h after incubating TMA/pDNA polyplexes with target cells (with a gene expression 1000 times that of the immediate US group). US is a widely used physical method for gene delivery; its transfection efficiency can be significantly enhanced when combined with cationic polymer vectors. Traditionally, US is given simultaneously with genetic materials, carriers and microbubbles to exert maximal efficacy. The unique on-off phenomenon of TMA/pDNA polyplexes, controlled by US exposure, was found to relate to the endosomal escape effect of US since the polyplexes colocalized well with the lysosome marker if no US was given or was given at inappropriate times. The proposed delivery system using US and TMA carriers has potential in many pharmaceutical applications requiring precise temporal and spatial release control.     

以阴离子表面活性剂/阳离子聚铵复合胶束为模板合成有序介孔二氧化硅

基于静电作用, 阴离子表面活性剂可与阳离子聚铵组装形成复合胶束. 借助阳离子聚铵,复合胶束可以作为模板与硅源协同组装, 形成高度有序的介孔二氧化硅. 本文通过调变不同种类阴离子表面活性剂、合成体系pH值、合成温度及阳离子聚铵和硅源用量等因素, 合成了具有不同介观结构和形貌的介孔二氧化硅. 实验证实阴离子表面活性剂/阳离子聚铵复合胶束模板法是合成介孔二氧化硅的一种通用方法.