Determination of percolation threshold electroactivity and phase behavior study on conducting blends of thermotropic polyesters and polyaniline

The new thermotropic polyester/polyaniline (PIn/PAni) blends have been prepared by solution blend of synthesized liquid crystalline poly[4,4′‐bis (ω‐alkoxy) biphenylisophthalate]s having four and six methylene units in spacer (PI4 and PI6) with PAni doped with camphorsolfonic acid (CSA). The percolation threshold electroactivity of prepared blend films has been determined by cyclic voltammetry. The effect of the PAni concentration, solvent nature and polyester structure on the electroactivity of the blends has been investigated. The extremely low percolation threshold of prepared PIn/PAni‐CSA blends from dimethylformamide (DMF) and m‐cresol solution was 3% weight of PAni‐CSA. The amount of conducting polymer necessary to retard the formation of the liquid crystalline (LC) phase is up to 45% by weight. Phase behavior studies by differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing microscopy show that blends with 45% of conducting polymer are both liquid crystal and conductive. The morphology of the blends has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Lead‐Selective Membrane Electrode Based Upon a Phosphorylated Hexahomotrioxacalix[3]Arene

Solvent extraction of a mixture of Pb^II, Mn^II, Fe^III, Co^II, Ni^II and Cd^II in aqueous perchlorate medium by a phosphorylated hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arene (calix‐3) in dichloromethane shows a significant selectivity towards lead ions. The ligand can also be incorporated into a membrane to provide a new lead ion‐selective electrode (Pb^II‐ISE). A plasticized PVC membrane containing 30% PVC, 53.5% ortho‐nitrophenyloctylether (NPOE), 4.5% sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) and 12% ionophore was directly coated on a graphite rod. This sensor gave a good Nernstian response of 29.7 ± 0.7 mV decade^?1 over a concentration range of 1 × 10^?8 – 1 × 10^?4 M of lead ions, independent of pH in the range 3‐7, with a detection limit of 0.4 × 10^?8 M. The dynamic response time of the electrode to achieve a steady potential was very fast and found to be less than 7 s. The selectivity relative to Ag⁺, NH₄⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Fe³⁺, La³⁺, Sm³⁺, Dy³⁺, Er³⁺, Y³⁺ and Th⁴⁺ was examined. The electrode exhibits adequate stability with good reproducibility (with a slope of 29.6 ± 1.5 mV for 8 weeks). The characteristics of the sensor are compared with those of a tetraphosphorylated calix[4]arene (calix‐4) based Pb^II‐ISE, reported recently. The electrode was successfully used as an indicator electrode for a potentiometric titration of a lead solution using a standard solution of EDTA. The applicability of the sensor for lead ion measurements in various synthetic samples was also investigated.     

Thermotropic polyesters. 1: Synthesis, characterization and thermal transition of poly[4,4-bis(ω-alkoxy)biphenyl isophthalate]

A new homologous series of thermotropic polyesters has been synthesized by polycondensation reaction between isophthaloyl chloride and mesogenic diols 4,4^′-bis(ω-hydroxyalkoxy)biphenyl in which the spacer length is varied from 3 to 6 methylene units. The thermal behavior of the polymers has been characterized using polarized light microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The odd members exhibit a smectic C (S_C) phase in a narrow temperature interval, while the even members form a smectic A (S_A) phase in a broader temperature range. All of the obtained compounds were characterized by conventional spectroscopic methods.     

Preparation of new supramolecular liquid-crystalline polyesters containing 3-chloro-4-(alkoxy)benzoic acids

Supramolecular liquid-crystalline polyester complexes based on intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the carboxylic group and the pyridyl moieties was prepared by using non-liquid-crystalline H-donors, [3-chloro-4-(butyloxy)benzoic acid (2a), 3-chloro-4-(octyloxy)benzoic acid (2b), 3-chloro-4-(dodecyloxy)benzoic acid (2c) and 3-chloro-4-(tetradecyloxy)benzoic acid (2d)] and H-acceptor-polyester containing pyridyl units. Intermolecular hydrogen bond formation was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The liquid-crystalline behavior of the complex formed was established by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM). The polyester complexes containing 2c and 2d donor components exhibit liquid crystalline mesophase and behave as side-chain liquid-crystalline polymers. Compared with unsubstituted parent acid, the presence of chloro group as a lateral substituent has a little negative effect on the induction of liquid crystallinity on the polyester complexes systems. The results show that the more stability of the obtained H-bonded complexes in comparison with analogues without 3-Cl substituents is due to the increased acidity of benzoic acid moiety.     

In vitro selection and characterization of deoxyribonucleic acid aptamers for digoxin

The low therapeutic index of digoxin necessitates careful monitoring of its serum levels. Most of digoxin immunoassays suffer from interferences with digoxin-like immunoreactive substances. Since aptamers have been shown to be highly specific for their targets, the aim of this study was to develop DNA aptamers for this widely used cardiac glycoside. Digoxin was coated onto the surface of streptavidin magnetic beads. DNA aptamers against digoxin were designed using Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment method (SELEX) by 11 iterative rounds of incubation of digoxin-coated streptavidin magnetic beads with synthetic DNA library, DNA elution, electrophoresis and PCR amplification. The PCR product was cloned and sequenced. Binding affinity was determined using digoxin–BSA conjugate, coated onto ELISA plate. Inhibitory effect of anti-digoxin aptamer was conducted using isolated guinea-pig atrium. Three aptamers (D1, D2 and D3) were identified. Binding studies of fluorescein-labeled truncated (without primer binding region) D1 and D2 and full length D1 anti-digoxin aptamers were performed and their corresponding dissociation constants values were 8.2 × 10⁻⁹, 44.0 × 10⁻⁹ and 17.8 × 10⁻⁹ M, respectively. This is comparable to what other workers have obtained for interaction of monoclonal antibodies raised against digoxin. There was little difference in binding affinity between full length and truncated anti-digoxin D1 aptamer. D1 anti-digoxin aptamer also inhibited the effects of digoxin on the isolated guinea-pig atrium. D1 anti-digoxin aptamer distinguished between digoxin and ouabain in both tissue study and binding experiments. Our finding indicated that D1 anti-digoxin aptamer can selectively bind to digoxin. Further studies might show its suitability for use in digoxin assays and as a therapeutic agent in life-threatening digoxin toxicity.     

Thermotropic polyesters. 2: Synthesis, characterization and thermal transitions of copolyesters containing 4,4′-bis (ω-alkyloxy) biphenyl isophthalate units

Thermotropic copolyesters containing an isophthalate unit and mesogenic 4, 4′-bis (ω-hydroxyalkyloxy) biphenyls (n = 3, 4, 6) with different numbers of methylene units have been synthesized by melt polymerization. The number-average molar mass (M_n) was estimated from end group analysis by ¹H NMR. The copolymer compositions were also obtained from ¹H NMR. The thermal behavior of the copolymers containing even-even (n = 4, 6) and odd-even (n = 3, 4) pairings has been investigated and is also compared with that of the analogous homopolymers. The copolymers exhibit reduced melting point and extending liquid crystalline range identified using polarizing microscopy and DSC. All of the obtained compounds were characterized by conventional spectroscopic methods.     

Effects of graphene quantum dot (GQD) on photoluminescence,mechanical, thermal and shape memory properties of thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposites

A group of shape memory polyurethane‐based nanocomposites containing graphene quantum dot nanoparticles (GQDs) were prepared via in‐situ polymerization method. GQD nanoparticles were synthesized by a facile and rapid microwave‐assisted method and characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction pattern, field emission scanning microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and fluorescence analysis. Chemical structure and hydrogen bonding index (HBI_[C=O]) of the nanocomposites were analyzed via FTIR spectra. The results show that the incorporation of GQDs in PU matrix reduces HBI_(C=O) of nanocomposites. Crystalline structure and thermal properties of the nanocomposites were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. As results indicate, nucleation effect of GQDs raises crystallinity content of the samples. Mechanical examinations indicate that incorporation of GQDs improves Young's modulus of the nanocomposites, while their elongation at break values are reduced. In addition, shape memory analyses reveal that the presence of GQDs in PU matrix increases the shape fixity ratios in nanocomposites.     

Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of levodopa and carbidopa in pharmaceutical formulations and water samples by using mean centering of ratio spectra and H-point standard addition methods

Two spectrophotometric methods are described for the simultaneous determination of binary mixtures of carbidopa and levodopa in pharmaceutical formulations, without prior separation steps, using the mean centering of ratio spectra and H-point standard addition methods (HPSAM). The methods are based on the difference in the absorption spectra for the products of the reaction of carbidopa and levodopa with 4-aminobenzoic acid in the presence of periodate ion at pH 4.0. The methods allow rapid and accurate determination of carbidopa and levodopa. The results showed that the methods were capable to simultaneous determination of 0.30-10.00 microg ml(-1) and 0.50-10.00 microg ml(-1) each of carbidopa and levodopa. The proposed methods were successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of carbidopa and levodopa in pharmaceutical samples.     

Conductometric study of complexation reaction between 15-crown-5 and Cr3+, Mn2+ and Zn2+ metal cations in pure and binary mixed organic solvents

The stability constants (K_f) for the complexation reactions of Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ metal cations with macrocyclic ligand, 15-crown-5 (15C5), in acetonitrile (AN), ethanol (EtOH) and also in their binary solutions (AN–EtOH) were determined at different temperatures, using conductometric method. 15C5 forms 1:1 complexes with Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ cations in solutions. A non-linear behaviour was observed for changes of logK_f of the metal ion complexes versus the composition of the mixed solvent. The order of stability of the metal–ion complexes in pure AN and in a binary solution of AN–EtOH (mol% AN?=?52) at 25?°C was found to be: (15C5Zn)²⁺?>?(15C5·Mn)²⁺?>?(15C5·Cr)³⁺, but in the case of pure EtOH at the same temperature, it changes to: (15C5·Zn)²⁺?>?(15C5·Cr)³⁺?>?(15C5·Mn)²⁺. The results also show that the stability sequence of the complexes in the other binary solutions of AN–EtOH (mol% AN?=?26 and mol% AN?=?76) varies in order: (15C5·Cr)³⁺?~?(15C5·Zn)²⁺?>?(15C5·Mn)²⁺. The values of the standard thermodynamic quantities (ΔH_C°, ΔS_C°) for formation of (15C15-Cr³⁺), (15C5-Mn²⁺) and (15C5-Zn²⁺) complexes were obtained from the temperature dependence of the stability constants and the results show that the thermodynamics of complexation reactions is affected by nature and composition of the solvent systems and in most solution systems, the complexes are enthalpy stabilized but entropy destabilized.     

A conductometric study of complexation reaction between dibenzo-24-crown-8 with yttrium cation in some binary mixed non-aqueous solvents

The complexation reaction of macrocyclic ligand, dibenzo-24-crown-8 (DB24C8) with Y⁺³ cation was studied in some binary mixtures of methanol (MeOH), ethanol (EtOH), acetonitrile (AN) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) with dimethylformamide (DMF) at different temperatures using the conductometric method. The conductance data show that in all solvent systems, the stoichiometry of the complex formed between DB24C8 and Y⁺³ cation is 1:1 (ML). The stability order of (DB24C8.Y)⁺³ complex in pure non-aqueous solvents was found to be: AN > EtOH > MeOH > DMF. A non-linear behaviour was observed for changes of log K_f of (DB24C8.Y)⁺³ complex versus the composition of the binary mixed solvents, which was explained in terms of solvent–solvent interactions and also the heteroselective solvation of the species involved in the complexation reaction. The obtained results show that the stability of (DB24C8.Y)⁺³ complex is sensitive to the mixed solvents composition. The values of thermodynamic parameters (?H°_c and ?S°_c) for formation of (DB24C8.Y)⁺³ complex were obtained from temperature dependence of the stability constant using the van’t Hoff plots. The results show that in most cases, the (DB24C8.Y)⁺³ complex is enthalpy destabilized but entropy stabilized and the values and also the sign of thermodynamic parameters are influenced by the nature and composition of the mixed solvents.