Bioapplications of poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers in nanomedicine

Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers are a novel class of spherical, well-designed branching polymers with interior cavities and abundant terminal groups on the surface which can form stable complexes with drugs, plasmid DNA, oligonucleotides, and antibodies. Amine‐terminated PAMAM dendrimers are able to solubilize different families of hydrophobic drugs, but the cationic charges on dendrimer surface may disturb the cell membrane. Therefore, surface modification by PEGylation, acetylation, glycosylation, and amino acid functionalization is a convenient strategy to neutralize the peripheral amine groups and improve dendrimer biocompatibility. Anticancer agents can be either encapsulated in or conjugated to dendrimer and be delivered to the tumor via enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect of the nanoparticle and/or with the help of a targeting moiety such as antibody, peptides, vitamins, and hormones. Biodegradability, non-toxicity, non-immunogenicity, and multifunctionality of PAMAM dendrimer are the key factors which facilitate steady increase of its application in drug delivery, gene transfection, tumor therapy, and diagnostics applications with precision and selectivity. This review deals with the major topics of PAMAM dendrimers including structure, synthesis, toxicity, surface modification, and also possible new applications of these spherical polymers in biomedical fields as dendrimer-based nanomedicine.     

Performance of amperometric alcohol electrodes prepared by plasma polymerization technique

A single-layer alcohol electrode was prepared by plasma polymerization technique. Ethylenediamine was used to incorporate amino groups on tract-etched polycarbonate membranes in glow discharge reactor. In order to determine the plasma polymerization parameters (discharged power, monomer flow rate, exposure time) on membrane permeability, hydrogen peroxide was used as tracer. The single-layer alcohol electrode that was produced by 0.6% (w/v) of alcohol oxidase (AOx) solution on the polycarbonate membrane, which was modified at 30 W, 20 ml/min monomer flow rate and 15 min exposure time, was selected for optimum performance. Sensitivity, linearity and response time of that particular layer were 5.6 nA/mM, 2 mM and 50 s, respectively. The performance of the amperometric alcohol electrode was tested on commercial alcoholic beverages.     

A new class of hybrid materials via salt inclusion: novel copper(II) arsenates Na(5)ACu(4)(AsO(4))(4)Cl(2) (A = Rb,Cs) composed of alternating covalent and ionic lattices

Two novel copper(II) arsenates Na5ACu4(AsO4)4Cl2 (A = Rb, Cs) were synthesized by conventional solid-state methods using reactive molten salt media. These compounds are isostructural and crystallize in an orthorhombic lattice (Fmmm, No. 69; Z = 8). The cell constants are a = 14.632(3) A, b = 18.872(2) A, c = 14.445(3) A, V = 3989(1) A3, for A = Rb; a = 14.638(3) A, b = 18.990(4) A, c = 14.418(3) A, V = 4008(1) A3, for A = Cs. Single-crystal structure studies reveal a new composite framework consisting of alternating covalent and ionic lattices. The covalent lattice contains highly oriented oligomeric mu-oxo [Cu4O12]16- tetrameric units with a cyclo-S8-like Cu4O4 magnetic core that resembles the building block of layered cuprates. The ionic slab consists of a novel framework of mixed alkali metal chloride lattice and rarely seen Na6O8 clusters. Similar to organic-inorganic hybrid materials, the title compounds present a new class of host-guest chemistry via salt inclusion reactions.     

In situ electrochemical solid-phase extraction of anions and cations using polypyrrole and overoxidized sulfonated polypyrrole

A new method for the extraction of both anions and cations is proposed using electro-synthesized polypyrrole (PPy) and overoxidized sulfonated polypyrrole film (OSPPy). In situ anion (chloride, nitrate, sulfate) and cation (calcium, magnesium) uptake and release were examined under controlled potential conditions for prospective applications in electrochemically controlled solid-phase extraction (EC-SPE). The PPy film was used as an anode (anion-exchanger) and OSPPy film was used as a cathode (cation-exchanger) material and reverse order of the electrodes were investigated in EC-SPE. This new cell arrangement containing two ion exchanger polymer electrodes was developed to provide in situ removal of both anions and cations from aqueous solution. Simple preparation of the film coatings on a platinum plate was possible using a constant potential method. Applied positive and negative potentials facilitated the in situ extraction and desorption of ions, respectively. Both anions and cations were desorbed into sample aliquot and were determined by ion chromatography (IC). The method was validated using a standard reference material and tested for the determination of the ions in real water samples.     

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in differentiation of postobstructive consolidation from central lung carcinoma

Purpose

To prospectively evaluate diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for differentiation of postobstructive consolidation from centrally located lung carcinomas by using apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs).

Materials and Methods

An institutional review board approved this study; informed consent was obtained from patients. Forty-nine consecutive patients (3 women, 46 men; mean age, 63.6 years; age range, 42–85 years) with lung carcinoma underwent DW MR imaging. Forty patients had central and nine patients had peripheral lung carcinomas. ADC of each lung carcinoma was calculated from DW MR images obtained with two different b values (0, 1000 s/mm²).In the final study group including 27 patients with central lung carcinoma accompanying distal lung consolidation (mean age, 67.2 years; 3 women, 24 men), ADCs of lung carcinomas were statistically compared among cytologic/histologic types and accompanying postobstructive consolidations. Unpaired t test was used for measurable variables with normal distribution, and Kruskal–Wallis variance analysis and Mann–Whitney U tests were used for the measurable variables without normal distribution.

Results

There was no significant difference between mean ADC values of all types of carcinomas (P=.302) and also between mean ADC values of central (1.91 ± 0.7×10⁻³ mm²/s) and peripheral carcinomas (1.58 ± 0. 6×10⁻³ mm²/s) (P=.224). The mean ADC value for the masses of central lung carcinoma with postobstructive consolidations was 1.83 ± 0.75×10⁻³ mm²/s, and for consolidation was 2.50 ± 0.76×10⁻³ mm²/s. ADC of central carcinoma masses was significantly lower than that of postobstructive consolidations (P=.003).

Conclusions

ADC values of central lung carcinoma masses appear to be lower than accompanying postobstructive consolidations. ADC values could be considered useful as a differentiating parameter among central lung carcinomas and accompanying postobstructive consolidations.     

Ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of fatty acid derived monomers

The ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of fatty acid functionalized norbornenes was explored in the presence of dichloro[1,3‐bis(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)‐2‐imidazolidinylidene](benzylidene)bis(3‐bromopyridine)ruthenium(II) ( C3 ) at room temperature. The investigated monomers were derived from fatty acids with different chain lengths (C₆, C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂, C₁₄, C₁₆, and C₁₈) and can therefore contribute to the development of more sustainable, bio‐based polymeric materials. The polymerizations initiated by C3 proceeded in a living fashion with good initiation efficiency, and thus the synthesis of well‐defined polymers with narrow polydispersities was accomplished. All prepared polymers were fully characterized (GPC, DSC, TGA, NMR) and the results of these investigations are discussed within this contribution. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Optically implemented broadband blueshift switch in the terahertz regime

We experimentally demonstrate, for the first time, an optically implemented blueshift tunable metamaterial in the terahertz (THz) regime. The design implies two potential resonance states, and the photoconductive semiconductor (silicon) settled in the critical region plays the role of intermediary for switching the resonator from mode 1 to mode 2. The observed tuning range of the fabricated device is as high as 26% (from 0.76 THz to 0.96 THz) through optical control to silicon. The realization of broadband blueshift tunable metamaterial offers opportunities for achieving switchable metamaterials with simultaneous redshift and blueshift tunability and cascade tunable devices. Our experimental approach is compatible with semiconductor technologies and can be used for other applications in the THz regime.     

Contemporary Photoligation Chemistry: The Visible Light Challenge

Catalyst-free and bond-forming light-induced reactions have seen an unprecedented renaissance in the realm of soft matter materials science due to their efficiency, spatio-temporal controllability and, sometimes, photoreversible nature. However, many of these reactions rely on the application of high energy UV light that can cause photo-degradation and is inapplicable in biological environments. If up-conversion systems or two-photon processes are to be avoided, strategies for red-shifting catalyst-free ligation technology are critically required. This Concept article introduces the reader to recent methods that lead to efficient, catalyst-free visible-light-induced ligation chemistry based on polyaromatic substituted photoreactive compounds—pyrene and anthracene—and, furthermore, emphasizes the broad and facile applicability of these molecules in polymeric material design. Concomitantly, we highlight that a careful action plot analysis of photochemical reactivity can provide deep insights into reactivity patterns, far beyond those suggested by the absorption spectrum. Indeed, we suggest that an action plot analysis is necessary for the evaluation of any photochemical system and its response to structural chemical changes.     

Copper-deposited aluminum anode for aluminum-air battery

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - For Al-air batteries, it is important to develop efficient and economical anodes. In this study, the effect of aluminum anodes treated with copper by...