Comprehensive study on the formation of polyelectrolyte complexes from (quaternized) poly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] and poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropane sodium sulfonate)

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) have been prepared from well‐defined (quaternized) poly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) and high molecular weight poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropane sodium sulfonate) (PAMPSNa) after a thorough study of their viscometric properties. The effect of pH and quaternization degree of PDMAEMA on PECs stoichiometry has been examined. PEC‐based materials have been characterized in terms of thermal stability, equilibrium swelling degree, and free/bound water composition. The stoichiometry and swellability of the physically crosslinked hydrogels obtained from fully quaternized PDMAEMA/PAMPSNa complexes do not depend on pH. In contrast, PECs made of non quaternized PDMAEMA and PAMPSNa are highly affected by pH, and could reversibly disintegrate at pH ≥ 9. Partially quaternized PDMAEMA/PAMPSNa PECs exhibit intermediate properties and form stable loose structures in the whole investigated pH range. Finally, stable dispersions of PECs nanoparticles have been successfully produced from dilute solutions of the complementary polyelectrolytes. The nanoparticle average diameter as determined by dynamic light scattering proved to depend on the molar fraction of DMAEMA‐based subunits and on the initial polyelectrolyte concentration. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5468–5479, 2006     

1,1′,1′′-(2,4,6-Trihydroxybenzene-1,3,5-triyl)triethanone tautomerism revisited

It has recently been suggested that 1,1′,1′′-(2,4,6-trihydroxybenzene-1,3,5-triyl)triethanone may be tautomeric. Using ¹³C NMR chemical shifts and deuterium isotope effects on ¹³C chemical shifts, it is demonstrated that this is not the case. This compound occurs as a strongly hydrogen bonded benzene structure with hydrogen bonds between OH groups and the acetyl groups in both non-polar and hydrogen donating solvents. Quantum-chemical calculations using MP2 and M06-2X methods show substantial preference for the phenol structure in both the gas phase, and in cyclohexane and methanol. In addition, conventional UV–vis spectroscopy data suggest not tautomeric, but aggregation behaviour of the molecule in methanol and acetonitrile.     

Preparation, characterization and biological activity of Schiff base compounds derived from 8-hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxaldehyde and Jeffamines ED

Polyethers with 8-hydroxyquinolin-2-yl end groups (HOQCHN-POE-NCHQOH) were prepared by reaction between polyethers having amino end groups (Jeffamines ED^®) and 8-hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxaldehyde. The HOQCHN-POE-NCHQOH polymers were characterized by size-exclusion chromatography, UV, IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The complexation between HOQCHN-POE-NCHQOH and Fe³⁺ was studied by UV, IR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The UV-irradiation of the complexes caused photodegradation of the polyether chains. It was shown that HOQCHN-POE-NCHQOH had high efficacy on remedying iron-deficient maize plants and exhibited very low-antibacterial activity towards non-pathogenic soil bacteria (B. subtilis).     

Metal deposition onto thiol-covered gold: Platinum on a 4-mercaptopyridine SAM

In this study we describe details of a new technique that allows to deposit metal on top of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM). Monoatomic high platinum islands were formed on a 4-mercaptopyridine SAM on Au(1 1 1) by first immersing the SAM-covered gold electrode in an aqueous solution of K₂PtCl₄ without potential control to allow Pt(II) ions to form a complex with the pyridine nitrogen. The complexed Pt(II) ions were then reduced electrochemically to Pt(0) after transferring the electrode to a Pt(II) ion-free solution. Upon reduction, monoatomic high Pt islands were observed in STM, the total coverage depending on the time for complexation. Ex situ angle-resolved XPS studies reveal that the Pt islands indeed reside on top of the SAM.     

Functionalized electrospun mats from styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers for immobilization of acetylcholinesterase

A series of electrospun mats of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers has been functionalized by modification with two types of spacers - a polymer with a flexible hydrophilic polyether chain (Jeffamine® ED) and a rigid low-molecular-weight spacer (р-phenylenediamine). The successful modification of the microfibrous mats with these bifunctional compounds has been proved by ATR-FTIR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. In a further step, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been covalently immobilized onto the modified mats using glutaraldehyde as a binding agent. The amount of bound protein and the specific activity of the immobilized AChE have been determined. The highest activity has been displayed by AChE covalently bound to Jeffamine-modified microfibrous mats. Moreover, the immobilized AChE is characterized by enhanced thermal and storage stability as compared to the free enzyme.     

Electrospun Mats from Styrene/Maleic Anhydride Copolymers: Modification with Amines and Assessment of Antimicrobial Activity

New antimicrobial microfibrous electrospun mats from styrene/maleic anhydride copolymers were prepared. Two approaches were applied: (i) grafting of poly(propylene glycol) monoamine (Jeffamine® M‐600) on the mats followed by formation of complex with iodine; (ii) modification of the mats with amines of 8‐hydroxyquinoline or biguanide type with antimicrobial activity. Microbiological screening against S. aureus, E. coli and C. albicans revealed that both the formation of complex with iodine and the covalent attachment of 5‐amino‐8‐hydroxyquinoline or of chlorhexidine impart high antimicrobial activity to the mats. In addition, S. aureus bacteria did not adhere to modified mats.

     

Quantum gauge fields and flat connections in 2-dimensional BF theory

The 2-dimensional BF theory is both a gauge theory and a topological Poisson σ-model corresponding to a linear Poisson bracket. In [3], Torossian discovered a connection which governs correlation functions of the BF theory with sources for the B-field. This connection is flat, and it is a close relative of the KZ connection in the WZW model. In this Letter, we show that flatness of the Torossian connection follows from (properly regularized) quantum equations of motion of the BF theory.     

Optical processing of interferograms using adaptive filters

Silver halide light-developing layers are used as adaptive filters for interferogram processing.