Synthesis and characterization of poly(dimethylsiloxane‐urethane) elastomers: Effect of hard segments of polyurethane on morphological and mechanical properties

A series of poly(dimethylsiloxane‐urethane) elastomers based on hexamethylenediisocyanate, toluenediisocyanate, or 4,4′‐methylenediphenyldiisocyanate hard segment and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) soft segment were synthesized. In this study, a new type of soft‐segmented PDMS crosslinker was synthesized by hydrosilylation reaction of 2‐allyloxyethanol with polyhydromethylsiloxane, using Karstedt's catalyst. The synthesized soft‐segmented crosslinker was characterized by FT‐IR, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic techniques. The mechanical and thermal properties of elastomers were characterized using tensile testing, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamical mechanical analysis measurements. The molecular structure of poly(dimethylsiloxane‐urethane) membranes was characterized by ATR‐FTIR spectroscopic techniques. Infrared spectra indicated the formation of urethane/urea aggregates and hydrogen bonding between the hard and soft domains. Better mechanical and thermal properties of the elastomers were observed. The restriction of chain mobility has been shown by the formation of hydrogen bonding in the soft and hard segment domains, resulting in the increase in the glass‐transition temperature of soft segments. DSC analysis indicates the phase separation of the hard and soft domains. The storage modulus (E′) of the elastomers was increasing with increase in the number of urethane connections between the hard and soft segments. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2980–2989, 2006     

A Validated Chiral LC Method for the Determination of Enantiomeric Purity of Pemetrexed Disodium on an Amylose-Based Chiral Stationary Phase

A simple and new isocratic normal phase chiral HPLC method has been developed for the determination of enantiomeric purity of pemetrexed disodium (l-enantiomer) in bulk drugs with a short run time of about 20 min. Chromatographic separation of l and d-enantiomers of pemetrexed disodium was achieved on an amylose based chiral stationary phase using a mobile phase consists of hexane, ethanol and trifluoro acetic acid. The resolution between the enantiomers was found to be more than 2.0. The system precision and method precision were found to be within 5% RSD for the distomer (d-enantiomer) at its specification level (i.e. not more than 1.0% w/w). The limit of detection and limit of quantification of distomer were 1.6 and 5 μg mL⁻¹, respectively for 10 μL injection volume. The percentage recovery of distomer was ranged from 90.6 to 105.7 in bulk drug samples. The test solution was found to be stable in the diluent for 48 h. The method was found to be specific for the enantiomers of pemetrexed disodium and can be conveniently used for the quantification of undesired d-enantiomer present in the bulk drug samples of pemetrexed disodium.     

Validated Chiral LC Method for the Enantiomeric Separation of β-Amino-β-(3-Methoxyphenyl) Propionic Acid

A chiral liquid chromatographic method for enantiomeric resolution of β-amino-β-(3-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid was developed and validated. The “hybrid” π-electron donor–acceptor based stationary phase (R,R) Whelk-01 was found to be enantiomerically selective for (R) and (S) enantiomers of β-amino-β-(3-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid with a resolution greater than 2.0. The effects of isopropyl alcohol and ethanol on enantioselectivity and resolution of enantiomers were evaluated. Calibration curves were linear over the range of 0.10–1.00, with a regression coefficient (r) of 0.999. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 300 and 1,000 ng mL⁻¹ respectively for 10 μL injection volume. The percentage RSD of the peak area of six replicate injections of (S) enantiomer at LOQ concentration was 2.8. The percentage recovery of (S) enantiomer from (R) enantiomer samples ranged from 92 to 102. The test solution was observed to be stable up to 24 h after the preparation. The developed normal phase chiral LC method can be used for the enantiomeric purity evaluation of R-β-amino-β-(3-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid.     

Preparation of thin stable erbium target sandwiched between carbon layers

Targets of isotopically enriched ¹⁷⁰Er (erbium) were prepared on 45 μg/cm² carbon backing using the method of vacuum evaporation. Another layer of carbon with thickness 23 μg/cm² was deposited on it as a protective cap with the help of an electron gun. Carbon backing, Er and the capping carbon layer were deposited using resistive heating and electron gun deposition without disturbing the vacuum. The thickness of ¹⁷⁰Er was measured by X-ray fluorescence analysis as well as with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and it was found to be 150 μg/cm². Successful preparation of sandwiched targets was very sensitive to substrate temperature, deposition rate, duration of in situ annealing, cooling rate etc.     

Approaches for Mitigating Microbial Biofilm-Related Drug Resistance: A Focus on Micro- and Nanotechnologies

Biofilms play an essential role in chronic and healthcare-associated infections and are more resistant to antimicrobials compared to their planktonic counterparts due to their (1) physiological state, (2) cell density, (3) quorum sensing abilities, (4) presence of extracellular matrix, (5) upregulation of drug efflux pumps, (6) point mutation and overexpression of resistance genes, and (7) presence of persister cells. The genes involved and their implications in antimicrobial resistance are well defined for bacterial biofilms but are understudied in fungal biofilms. Potential therapeutics for biofilm mitigation that have been reported include (1) antimicrobial photodynamic therapy, (2) antimicrobial lock therapy, (3) antimicrobial peptides, (4) electrical methods, and (5) antimicrobial coatings. These approaches exhibit promising characteristics for addressing the impending crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Recently, advances in the micro- and nanotechnology field have propelled the development of novel biomaterials and approaches to combat biofilms either independently, in combination or as antimicrobial delivery systems. In this review, we will summarize the general principles of clinically important microbial biofilm formation with a focus on fungal biofilms. We will delve into the details of some novel micro- and nanotechnology approaches that have been developed to combat biofilms and the possibility of utilizing them in a clinical setting.     

An Ethenoadenine FAD Analog Accelerates UV Dimer Repair by DNA Photolyase

Reduced anionic flavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH^?) is the critical cofactor in DNA photolyase (PL) for the repair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) in UV‐damaged DNA. The initial step involves photoinduced electron transfer from *FADH^? to the CPD. The adenine (Ade) moiety is nearly stacked with the flavin ring, an unusual conformation compared to other FAD‐dependent proteins. The role of this proximity has not been unequivocally elucidated. Some studies suggest that Ade is a radical intermediate, but others conclude that Ade modulates the electron transfer rate constant (k_ET) through superexchange. No study has succeeded in removing or modifying this Ade to test these hypotheses. Here, FAD analogs containing either an ethano‐ or etheno‐bridged Ade between the AN1 and AN6 atoms (e‐FAD and ε‐FAD, respectively) were used to reconstitute apo‐PL, giving e‐PL and ε‐PL respectively. The reconstitution yield of e‐PL was very poor, suggesting that the hydrophobicity of the ethano group prevented its uptake, while ε‐PL showed 50% reconstitution yield. The substrate binding constants for ε‐PL and rPL were identical. ε‐PL showed a 15% higher steady‐state repair yield compared to FAD‐reconstituted photolyase (rPL). The acceleration of repair in ε‐PL is discussed in terms of an ε‐Ade radical intermediate vs superexchange mechanism.     

Studies on Cu(II) ternary complexes involving an aminopenicillin drug and imidazole containing ligands

Equilibrium studies on the ternary complex systems involving ampicillin (amp) as ligand (A) and imidazole containing ligands viz., imidazole (Him), benzimidazole (Hbim), histamine (Hist) and histidine (His) as ligands (B) at 37 °C and I = 0.15 mol dm^?3 (NaClO₄) show the presence of CuABH, CuAB and CuAB₂. The proton in the CuABH species is attached to ligand A. In the ternary complexes the ligand, amp(A) binds the metal ion via amino nitrogen and carbonyl oxygen atom. The CuAB (B = Hist/His)/CuAB₂ (B = Him/Hbim) species have also been isolated and the analytical data confirmed its formation. Non-electrolytic behavior and monomeric type of chelates have been assessed from their low conductance and magnetic susceptibility values. The electronic and vibrational spectral results were interpreted to find the mode of binding of ligands to metal and geometry of the complexes. This is also supported by the g tensor values calculated from ESR spectra. The thermal behaviour of complexes were studied by TGA/DTA. The redox behavior of the complexes has been studied by cyclic voltammetry. The antimicrobial activity and CT DNA cleavage study of the complexes show higher activity for ternary complexes.     

Direct observation of broken time-reversal symmetry on the surface of a magnetically doped topological insulator

We study interference patterns of a magnetically doped topological insulator Bi(2-x)Fe(x)Te(3+d) by using Fourier transform scanning tunneling spectroscopy and observe several new scattering channels. A comparison with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy allows us to unambiguously ascertain the momentum-space origin of distinct dispersing channels along high-symmetry directions and identify those originating from time-reversal symmetry breaking. Our analysis also reveals that the surface state survives far above the energy where angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy finds the onset of continuum bulk bands.