Photobinding of ketoprofen in vitro and ex vivo

Ketoprofen (KP), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug of the 2-aryl propionic class, has been shown to produce photoallergic side effects as well as cutaneous photosensitizing properties that induce other phototoxic effects. In the present study we investigated photobinding of ketoprofen to both human serum albumin (HSA), a model protein, and to ex vivo pig skin and its photodegradation. Results demonstrate that photoadduct formation and photodegradation progressively increased with irradiation time where they reach a maximum. Maximum photobinding to the viable layer of the epidermis was about 7-8% of the initial radiolabelled KP added, in the region of 15-30 min UV irradiation. These results were comparable to in vitro results that were seen with photobinding of KP to HSA; in this case, the quantity of covalently bound material was approximately 10% of the initial, after a maximum of 18 min irradiation. It was found by HPLC analysis that the KP decrease is accompanied by an increase of the corresponding photoproduct, decarboxylated ketoprofen (DKP). The yield of DKP reaches a maximum at around 15 min. DKP appears to play an important role in vitro and ex vivo, being the major photoproduct and responsible for the photobinding process. Using micro-autoradiographical techniques we investigated the penetration and distribution of ketoprofen in ex vivo pig skin in greater detail. It was apparent that percutaneous absorption was taking place and that most of the ketoprofen was predominately localised in fibroblasts in the papillary dermis. No other specific localisation within the skin architecture was identified. Although there were differences in the quantities of bound ketoprofen within the different layers of the skin, these levels did not appear to correlate with irradiation time.     

On the effects of doping calamitic and discotic nematics with materials of the opposite aspect ratio

In this paper the inter-mixing of calamitic and discotic materials is discussed. The systems are found to be immiscible near the middle of the phase diagram, as was predicted theoretically. However, a degree of miscibility is seen at each end of the phase diagram, allowing some interesting effects to be explored. A negative permittivity anisotropy is induced in a discotic material by dissolution of a polar calamitic dopant. The relaxation behaviour of the dopant in the material is studied and found to be similar to that in the pure calamitic, as far as can be determined in this experiment. The elastic constants of a calamitic mixture are enhanced by addition of a discotic dopant. This is believed to be due to the packing of the discotic molecules in such a way as to hinder director distortions, and may be useful for changing the values of calamitic elastic constants.     

The impact of the natural sciences on archaeology

This article reviews some of the applications of physics to the solution of archaeological problems. The use of magnetic, resistivity and electromagnetic surveying techniques for the location of buried features is described. Various methods of age determination are outlined while the problems associated with radiocarbon dating of organic material and thermoluminescent dating of pottery are discussed in detail. The techniques, including petrological examination, chemical analysis and isotopic analysis, employed in the physical examination of archaeological artefacts are described. Examples of the application of these techniques in establishing the source of the raw materials used in pottery, metal and stone implements and in elucidating the techniques of manufacture of pottery and metal objects are also given.     

On the observation of flow-induced order in the isotropic phase of a nematic discogen

The phenomenon of flow-induced order observed in the isotropic phase of nematic discotic materials is studied and the orientation of the induced director explained by the existence of the molecules in short columns. The occurrence of this order in both the isotropic and nematic phases explains the low transition enthalpy, agreeing with the inferences made in the literature.     

Nematic Thiophenes for STN-LCDS and Flexoelectric LCDS

Abstract

We report anew class of liquid crystals incorporating a 2,5-disubstituted thiophene ring and one or two conjugated trans-carbon-carbon double bonds in the terminal chain for use as components of nematic mixtures for TN-LCDs and STN-LCDs. The combination of these molecular elements contribute towards generating a high birefringence, a high nematic clearing point as well as a low viscosity for these materials. Several of these compounds exhibit a melting point below room temperature. This is the first time a room temperature nematic phase has been reported for phenyl thiophene derivatives. The new thiophene compounds can be used to induce a high birefringence in nematic mixtures for LCDs with short response times.