Layer-by-layer assembly of nacre-like nanostructured composites with antimicrobial properties

In a recent report, we have presented the layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of a biomimetic nanostructured composite from Na(+)-montmorillonite clay nanosheets and poly(diallylmethylammonium chloride) (Tang, Z.; Kotov, N.; Magonov, S.; Ozturk, B. Nat. Mater. 2003, 2, 413). The structure, deformation mechanism, and mechanical properties of the material are very similar to those of natural nacre and lamellar bones. This fact prompts further investigation of these composites as potential bone implants. LBL assembly affords preparation of multifunctional composites, and here we demonstrate that not only mechanical strength, but also antibacterial activity, can be introduced in these implantable materials by alternating clay layers with starch-stabilized silver nanoparticles. The resulting composite showed excellent structural stability with no detectable levels of silver lost over a 1 month period. Evaluation of the antibacterial properties showed almost complete growth inhibition of E. coli over an 18 h period. The amount of silver eluted from the LBL composite over a 1 month period was determined to be only 0.5-3.0 microg/L. This concentration of silver did not prevent the growth of the mammalian tissue cultures. The LBL composite has shown biocompatibility with the human osteoblast cell line.     

Analysis of the NF1 gene by temperature gradient gel electrophoresis reveals a high incidence of mutations in exon 4b

A total of 196 unrelated patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) was screened for mutations in exons 4a-c of the NF1 gene by temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified genomic DNA fragments using intron-based primers. DNA samples with abnormal TGGE band patterns were subjected to sequence analysis. Sequence alterations were identified in ten patients (5.1%): 496delGT (1), 499delTGTT (4), T528A = D176E (2), T539A = L180X (1), 540insA (1), C574T = R192X (1). Thus, a total of six different mutations was identified in exon 4b but none in exons 4a and 4c. Only the missense mutation D176E, which we assume to be a nonpathogenic polymorphism, and the 4-base pair (bp) deletion 499delTGTT have been described before. The reason for the high incidence of mutations in exon 4b is obviously a tetranucleotide tandem repeat comprising nucleotides 495-502 (TGTTTGTT) that may give rise to slipped mispairing and subsequent deletion of one repeat unit during replication. Additionally, the recurrent 4 bp deletion was found as a second hit in a malignant schwannoma of a further NF1 patient, suggesting that microlesions may be as frequent among somatic as among germline mutations. This is the first report of a systematic study of NF1 exons 4a-c in a large group of NF1 patients.     

Nanoparticles: scaffolds for molecular recognition

Monolayer and mixed-monolayer protected clusters (MPCs and MMPCs) have great potential to combine molecular functionality with the intrinsic properties of nanometer-sized scaffolds. This synergy can be used to create complex functional devices, including redox-active, electronic, or magnetic storage devices, solution-based sensors, and highly efficient catalysts. This review outlines some of the recent developments in nanoscale receptors based on synthetic and nonbiological recognition elements. In these nanoparticle systems, molecular recognition is achieved by covalent attachment of receptors on the nanoparticles coupled with noncovalent interactions to target substrates. Synthetic host-guest systems, hydrogen bonding, change in redox states, pi-pi stacking, rotaxane formation, and ion recognition are the main topics covered in this review.     

Neighbouring-group Influence on the Ring Opening of Some 2-Alkyl-1,1,2-tribromocyclopropanes under Phase-transfer Conditions

Several 2-alkyl-1,1,2-tribromocyclopropanes were treated with sodium hydroxide and ethanol under phase-transfer conditions. Ring opening gave mixtures of the corresponding acetylenic diethyl ketals and acetals. When the steric bulk of the alkyl substituent was increased acetal formation dominated, and in the case of 1,1,2-tribromo-2-(tert-butyl)cyclopropane, the acetal was formed as the only product.     

Inclusion complex formation of β-cyclodextrin and Naproxen: a study on exothermic complex formation by differential scanning calorimetry

Inclusion complex formation between β-cyclodextrin and Naproxen was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as a function of the β-cyclodextrin-to-Naproxen molar ratio, ranging from 0:5:1 to 5:1. When these mixtures are heated above the melting temperature of Naproxen, an exothermic peak is observed at a temperature slightly higher than the melting peak of Naproxen. This peak, which has not been previously reported, has been interpreted as an exothermic energy of inclusion complex formation. The magnitude of this complex formation peak was found to be dependent upon the composition of the β-cyclodextrin and Naproxen mixture and increased in magnitude to a maximum value at a β-cyclodextrin:Naproxen molar ratio of 2:1. In addition, Naproxen recrystallization and re-melting peaks seen in the cooling and re-heating scans, respectively, decreased in magnitude with increasing molar ratio and totally disappeared for the mixture with 5:1 of β-cyclodextrin to Naproxen ratio indicative of complete inclusion of Naproxen in the cyclodextrin cavities. Complete inclusion was further reflected by the disappearance of key Naproxen peaks in Fourier transform infrared spectra of samples recovered from DSC experiments. The large excess of β-cyclodextrin needed to fully complex the Naproxen was found to be due to slow kinetics. Increasing the hold time after the initial melting led to inclusion efficiencies up to 95 % even for the 2:1 mixture. These experiments suggest that ratios of β-cyclodextrin:Naproxen 2:1 or greater facilitate the process by increasing the presence of cyclodextrin molecules in the close proximity of the drug molecules and lead to high inclusion efficiencies.     

The flow due to a porous sphere embedded in a pure straining motion

Résumé Dans le présent travail on étudie les mouvements stationnaires lents d'un fluide visqueux en présence d'une sphère poreuse. Les mouvements considérés sont l'écoulement en présence d'une sphère poreuse dans une translation uniforme, dans une rotation uniforme, et dans un mouvement de déformation pure. On donne aussi une expression pour la viscosité de suspension des sphères poreuses. Elle montre que la viscosité de suspension des sphères poreuses est plus petite que celle des sphères rigides.     

Generalized couette flow of a dipolar fluid between two parallel plates

Résumé Dans ce travail, on présente une solution du problème de l'écoulement d'un fluide dipolaire entre deux plaques parallèles, dont l'une est en mouvement et l'autre fixe, en présence d'un gradient de pression. On trouve qu'il n'y a pas d'effet dipolaire sur l'écoulement si le gradient de pression n'est pas appliqué, et que pour un fluide dipolaire avec =0, étant le rapport entre l'espace des deux plaques et la constante dipolaire du fluide, le profil de vitesse n'est pas affecté par le gradient de pression.     

Grafted conjugated polymers: synthesis and characterization of a polyester side chain substituted poly(paraphenyleneethynylene)

The synthesis of a poly(paraphenyleneethynylene) with macromolecular side chains and its irreversible thermo-chromic behaviour are reported herein.     

A review on design criteria for vortex tubes

In this study, the past investigations of the design criteria of vortex tubes were overviewed and the detailed information was presented on the design of them. Vortex tubes were classified and the type of them was described. All criteria on the design of vortex tubes were given in detail using experimental and theoretical results from the past until now. Finally, the criteria on the design of them are summarized.     

A cracked beam or plate transversely loaded by a stamp

In this paper the problem of an infinite elastic beam or a plate containing a crack is considered. The medium is loaded transversely through a stamp which may be rigid or elastic. The problem is a coupled crack-contact problem which cannot be solved by treating the crack and contact problems separately and by using a superposition technique. First the Green's functions for the general case are obtained. Then the integral equations for a cracked infinite strip loaded by a frictionless stamp are obtained. With the question of fracture in mind, the primary interest in the paper has been in calculating the stress intensity factors. The results are given for a rigid flat stamp with sharp edges and for an elastic curved stamp. The effect of friction at the supports on the stress intensity factors is also studied and a numerical example is given.