Calcium phosphate mineralization controlled by carboxymethyl cellulose-g-polymethacrylic acid

Carboxymethyl cellulose-grafted polymethacrylic acid (CMC-g-PMAA) was synthesized by graft copolymerization process onto carboxymethyl cellulose backbone using methacrylic acid as a monomer and ammonium persulfate as a free radical initiator. CMC-g-PMAA was employed as dispersed template for controlling calcium phosphate mineralization from aqueous solutions at different copolymer contents and pHs. Hybrids with different morphologies and particles diameter were investigated by adjusting of preparation conditions. Synthesized hybrids were characterized by FT-IR, SEM, XRD, and particle size analyzer. Such functionalized hybrids with complex morphologies can be manipulated as a novel reinforcing fillers, ceramic precursors, or biomedical implants.     

Micro‐intumescent flame retardant polyamide 6 based on cyclic phosphate grafting phenol formaldehyde

In this paper, thermoplastic phenol formaldehyde (PF) grafted cyclic neopentyl phosphate (PFCP) was synthesized by using PF and 2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐propanediol phosphoryl chloride. It was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1H and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Compared to PF, PFCP shows improved thermal and thermoxidative stability and allows itself to be used in polyamide 6 (PA6). A micro‐intumescent flame retardant system was constructed by using cyclic neopentyl phosphate as acid source, PF as charring agent and PA6 whose decomposition products work as blowing agent. The results showed that PA6/PFCP composite is classified the UL‐94 V‐0 rating and get a LOI value of 35.5% at 25% loading of PFCP. SEM results showed that the outside of char residues is continuous and dense, but the inside is micro‐intumescent and porous. XPS analysis of char revealed that most of phosphorus remained in the char layer. All the results suggest that the mode of flame retardant's action for PA6/PFCP composites is shifted from melting away to charring protection with the content of PFCP increasing. The coherent char generated by the decomposition of PFCP contributes most to flame retardancy of PA6. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterizing biodegradation of PLA and PLA-g-AA/starch films using a phosphate-solubilizing bacillus species

The use of PLA and PLA-g-AA/starch as materials for the controlled release of encapsulated PSB was evaluated. The results showed that the bacterium degraded both the PLA and the PLA-g-AA/starch composite films, resulting in cell release. Severe disruption of the film structure occurred after incubation for 60-90 d. The PLA-g-AA/starch (20 wt.-%) films were more biodegradable than those made of PLA and also suffered a more pronounced decrease in molecular weight and intrinsic viscosity. Although blending of starch appeared to enhance the biodegradability of the PLA films, the pattern of degradation was quite similar for both types of films. The rate of cell release depends on the biodegradability of the film.     

Novel bone substitute composed of oligomeric proanthocyanidins-crosslinked gelatin and tricalcium phosphate

A biodegradable GTP composite composed of OPCs crosslinked gelatin with tricalcium phosphate was prepared as a novel bone substitute. The effects of the degree of crosslinking on the swelling ratio, in vitro degradation rate, and morphology of the GTP composite are discussed. Adding OPCs to GP and GTP composites markedly reduced the degradation rate, indicating that OPCs are good crosslinking reagents for gelatin. Cytotoxic tests demonstrated that OPCs, gelatin and tricalcium phosphate released from GTP composite promoted the proliferation of MG-63 cells. Results of this study suggest that the nontoxic GTP composite is suitable for use as a large defect bone substitute.     

Synthesis of β-tricalcium phosphate using sol-gel self-propagating combustion method

β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) is a key component of natural bone like hydroxyapatite. Pure and uniformly nanosized β-tricalcium phosphate powders were synthesized using a sol-gel self-propagating combustion method by using citric acid as a reductant and using fuel and nitrate as the oxidant. The thermal decomposition of nitrate-citrate xero-gel was studied by thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) and the process mechanism of self-propagating combustion were discussed. The resulting powders calcined at 1023, 1173 and 1273 K were characterized by Ca/P ratio analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the asprepared powders were pure β-tricalcium phosphate having regular porous surface very similar to coral.     

Ester hydrolysis by a cyclodextrin dimer catalyst with a metallophenanthroline linking group

A novel beta-cyclodextrin dimer, 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dimethyl-bridged-bis(6-monoammonio-beta-cyclodextrin) (phenBisCD, L), was synthesized. Its zinc complex (ZnL) has been prepared, characterized, and applied as a new catalyst for diester hydrolysis. The formation constant (logK(ML)=9.56+/-0.01) of the complex and deprotonation constant (pK(a)=8.18+/-0.04) of the coordinated water molecule were determined by a potentiometric pH titration at (298+/-0.1) K. Hydrolytic kinetics of carboxylic acid esters were performed with bis(4-nitrophenyl) carbonate (BNPC) and 4-nitrophenyl acetate (NA) as substrates. The obtained hydrolysis rate constants showed that ZnL has a very high rate of catalysis for BNPC hydrolysis, giving a 3.89x10(4)-fold rate enhancement over uncatalyzed hydrolysis at pH 7.01, relative to only a 42-fold rate enhancement for NA hydrolysis. Moreover, the hydrolysis second-order rate constants of both BNPC and NA greatly increases with pH. Hydrolytic kinetics of a phosphate diester catalyzed by ZnL was also investigated by using bis(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNPP) as the substrate. The pH dependence of the BNPP cleavage in aqueous buffer shows a sigmoidal curve with an inflection point around pH 8.11, which was nearly identical to the pK(a) value from the potentiometric titration. The k(cat) of BNPP hydrolysis promoted by ZnL was found to be 9.9x10(-4) M(-1) s(-1), which is comparatively higher than most other reported Zn(II)-based systems. The possible intermediate for the hydrolysis of BNPP, BNPC, and NA catalyzed by ZnL is proposed on the basis of kinetic and thermodynamic analysis.     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Reduced Molybdenum（V） Phosphate,（H3dien）2（H2dien）2[NaMo12O24（OH）6-（H2PO4）（HPO4）5（PO4）2]·nH2O （n = 10.92）

A new reduced molybdenum（V） phosphate （H3dien）2（H2dien）2[NaMo12O24 （OH）6 （HEPO4）（HPO4）5（PO4）2]·nH2O （n= 10.92, dien = diethylenetriamine） has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by elemental analyses, IR and X-ray diffraction. C16H96.84MO12N12NaO72.92P8 （Mr = 3046.73） crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P21/c with a = 13.3575（18）, b = 21.907（3）, c = 15.654（2）A, β= 110.22（2）°, V= 4298.4（10） A^3 Dc = 2.354 g/cm^3, Z = 2,μ（MoKcr） = 1.966 mm^-1, F（000） = 2990.4, the final R = 0.0357 and wR = 0.1086 for 8739 observed reflections with I 〉 2σ（I）. It consists of sandwich-shaped cluster anions [Na{Mo6P4}2]^10- held together into a three-dimensional supramolecular framework through intermolecular hydrogen-bonding contacts. A probe reaction of the oxidation of acetaldehyde with H2O2 showed that this compound has high catalytic activity in the reaction.     

Effect of sodium phosphate salts on the thermodynamic properties of aqueous solutions of poly(ethylene oxide) 6000 at different temperatures

Precise density, sound velocity, water activity, and phase diagram measurements have been carried out on polyethylene oxide (PEO) in aqueous solutions of sodium di-hydrogen phosphate, di-sodium hydrogen phosphate, and tri-sodium phosphate over a range of temperatures at atmospheric pressure. The experimental density and sound velocity data are used to calculate the apparent specific volume and isentropic compressibility as a function of temperature and concentration. It was found that both of the apparent specific volume and isentropic compressibility of PEO in aqueous solutions increase by increasing temperature and charge on the anion of electrolytes. The results show that the slope of constant water activity lines increased with increasing the temperature and charge on the anion of electrolytes and the vapour pressure depression for an aqueous (PEO + sodium phosphate) system is more than the sum of those for the corresponding binary solutions. Furthermore, the effect of temperature and type of anion of salt on the salting-out effect of polyethylene oxide by sodium phosphate salts has been studied.