Effect of electrolytes on the surface behavior of rhamnolipids R1 and R2

The surface behavior of solutions of the rhamnolipids, R1 and R2, were investigated in the absence and presence of an electrolyte (NaCl) through surface tension measurements and optical microscopy at pH 6.8. The NaCl concentrations studied are 0.05, 0.5 and 1 M. Electrolytes directly affect the carboxylate groups of the rhamnolipids. The solution/air interface has a net negative charge due to the dissociated carboxylate ions at pH 6.8 with strong repulsive electrostatic forces between the rhamnolipid molecules. This negative charge is shielded by the Na⁺ ions in the electrical double layer in the presence of NaCl, causing the formation of a close-packed monolayer, and a decrease in CMC, and surface tension values. The maximum compaction is observed at 0.5 M NaCl concentrations for R1 and R2 monolayers, with the R1 monolayer more compact than R2. The larger spaces left below the hydrophobic tails of R1 with respect to that of R2, due to the missing second rhamnosyl groups are thought to be responsible for the higher compaction. The rigidity of both R1 and R2 monolayers increases with the electrolyte concentration. The rigidity of the R1 monolayer is greater than that of R2 at all NaCl concentrations due to the lower hydrophilic character of R1. The variation of CMC values as a function of NaCl concentration obtained from the surface tension measurements and critical packing parameter (CPP) calculations show that spherical micelles, bilayer and rod like micelles are formed in the rhamnolipid solutions as a function of the NaCl concentration. The results of optical microscopy supported these aggregation states indicating lamellar nematic liquid crystal, cubic lamellar and hexagonal liquid crystal phases in R1 and R2 solutions depending on the NaCl concentration.     

由(S)-和( R )-天冬氨酸合成( R )-和(S)-(2-苄氧乙基)环氧乙烷的改良方法

苄氧乙基环氧乙烷;不对称合成;由(S)-和( R )-天冬氨酸合成( R )-和(S)-(2-苄氧乙基)环氧乙烷的改良方法     

Surface only modification of bacterial cellulose nanofibres with organic acids

Bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibres were modified only on their surface using an esterification reaction with acetic acid, hexanoic acid or dodecanoic acid. This reaction rendered the extremely hydrophilic surfaces of BC nanofibres hydrophobic. The hydrophobicity of BC increased with increasing carbon chain length of the organic acids used for the esterification reaction. Streaming (zeta-) potential measurements showed a slight shift in the isoelectric point and a decrease in ζ_plateau was also observed after the esterification reactions. This was attributed to the loss of acidic functional groups and increase in hydrophobicity due to esterification of BC with organic acids. A method based on hydrogen/deuterium exchange was developed to evaluate the availability of surface hydroxyl groups of neat and modified BC. The thermal degradation temperature of modified BC sheets decreased with increasing carbon chain length of the organic acids used. This is thought to be a direct result of the esterification reaction, which significantly reduces the packing efficiency of the nanofibres because of a reduction in the number of effective hydrogen bonds between them.     

Application of Nylon6/Polypyrrole core–shell nanofibres mat as solid-phase extraction adsorbent for the determination of atrazine in environmental water samples

A novel solid-phase extraction (SPE) system, based on a new sorbent of Nylon6/Polypyrrole (PA6/PPy) core–shell nanofibres mat and a new packing format of SPE disks, is presented in this paper. A series of related parameters that may affect the efficiency, such as the kind of eluent and its volume, the amount of nanofibres mat, ionic strength, pH of the sample, flow rate of the sample and volume of the sample, have been investigated systematically. Under the optimised conditions, the target analyte in 10 mL water samples can be completely extracted by a 3.0 mg PA6/PPy nanofibres mat and easily eluted by 400 µL acetonitrile. Around 20 µL elution was injected directly to HPLC-UV for determination, without further concentration. Besides, the nanofibres mat could be repeatedly used up to six cycles. Satisfactory linearity was achieved in the range of 0.1–40.0 ng/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.9999. The limit of detection (LOD) (3 S/N) was 0.03 ng/mL, which could meet the determination requirements of atrazine as per the European Union legislation, US. Safe Drinking Water Act and the State Environmental Protection Administration of China. The simple, effective and economic method was proposed for the determination of atrazine in environmental water at trace level. The recoveries ranged from 94.73 to 114.92%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 2.5–4.2%, and were obtained from tap water and lake water samples with atrazine at 2.0 ng/mL, suggesting the actual feasibility of the proposed method in environmental water samples.     

Equilibrium structure and dynamics of (2R, 3R)-(+)-bis(decyloxy)succinic acid at the air-water interface

A twin-tailed, twin-chiral fatty acid, (2R,3R)-(+)-bis(decyloxy)succinic acid was synthesized and its two dimensional behavior at the air-water interface was examined. The pH of the subphase had a profound effect on the monolayer formation. On acidic subphase, stable monolayers with increased area per molecule due to hydrogen bonding and bilayers at collapse pressures were observed. Highly compressible films were formed at 40 degrees C, while stable monolayers with increased area were observed at sub-room temperatures. Langmuir monolayers formed on subphases containing 1 mM ZnCl2 and CaCl2 revealed two dimensional metal complex formation with Zn2+ forming a chelate-type complex, while Ca2+ formed an ionic-type complex. Monolayers transferred from the condensed phase onto hydrophilic Si(100) and quartz substrates revealed the formation of bilayers through transfer-induced monolayer buckling. Compression induced crystallites in 2D from monolayers and vesicle-like supramolecular structures from multilayers were the noted LB film characteristics, adopting optical imaging and electron microscopy. The interfacial monolayer structure studied through molecular dynamics simulation revealed the order and packing at a molecular level; monolayers adsorbed at various simulated specific areas of the molecule corroborated the (pi-A) isotherm and the formation of a hexagonal lattice at the air-water interface.     

Comparison of protein immobilisation methods onto oxidised and native carbon nanofibres for optimum biosensor development

The properties of native and oxidised graphene layered carbon nanofibres are compared, and their utilisation in enzyme biosensor systems using different immobilisation methods are evaluated. The efficient oxidation of carbon nanofibres with concentrated H₂SO₄/HNO₃ is confirmed by Raman spectroscopy while the introduction of carboxylic acid groups on the surface of the fibres by titration studies. The oxidised fibres show enhanced oxidation efficiency to hydrogen peroxide, while at the same time they exhibit a more efficient and selective interaction with enzymes. The analytical characteristics of biosensor systems based on the adsorption or covalent immobilisation of the enzyme glucose oxidase on carbon nanofibres are compared. The study reveals that carbon nanofibres are excellent substrates for enzyme immobilisation allowing the development of highly stable biosensor systems. Figure Immobilization of proteins on carbon nanofibres     

Long-term aging characteristics of atmospheric-plasma-treated poly(?-caprolactone) films and fibres

This paper reports the change in the surface properties and aging behaviours of surface-modified poly(?-caprolactone) films and nanofibres after atmospheric plasma treatment with a reactive gas. The morphologies, roughness, chemical bonding states, and surface energies of pristine and atmospheric-plasma-treated nanofibres were investigated. The nanofibres subjected to O₂ atmospheric plasma treatment showed higher surface roughness (∼88%), fibre diameter (∼14%), surface energy (∼19.2 times), and hydrophilicity (O/C atomic ratio, ∼43%) than did the pristine nanofibres. Over a 6-month period, the characteristics of the nanofibres isolated from air were not significantly altered; however, in the case of the nanofibres exposed to air, there was a subsequent increase in the surface roughness (∼82%), fibre diameter (∼7%), surface energy (∼27%), and hydrophilicity (O/C atomic ratio, ∼17.6%). We confirmed that the properties of the atmospheric-plasma-treated poly(?-caprolactone) nanofibres maintained for 6 months without exposure to air did not show any significant change. Consequently, these nanofibres would be well suited for biomedical applications that require long-term sample stability.     

Surfactant-assisted synthesis of polyaniline nanofibres without shaking and stirring: effect of conditions on morphology and conductivity

Polyaniline (PANI) nanofibres were synthesised by the chemical oxidative polymerisation method using ammonium peroxydisulphate (APS) as an oxidant/initiator. In this work, a surfactant-assisted method without shaking and stirring was used for the synthesis of PANI nanofibres. The effect was investigated of various parameters such as monomer/oxidant ratio, polymerisation temperature, and the presence of surfactant (Triton X-100 as a non-ionic surfactant) on the morphology and electrical conductivity of nanofibres. The morphology of PANI nanofibres was characterised by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results demonstrate that the morphology of PANI nanofibres was significantly influenced by the aniline/APS mole ratio, polymerisation temperature and presence of the surfactant during synthesis. The results showed that more regular and consistent nanofibres were obtained using a monomer/oxidant ratio of 4 at ambient temperature of polymerisation. PANI nanofibres with diameters in the range of 10?C100 nm and length up to several ??m were obtained. PANI nanofibres were also characterised using FTIR and UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy. The electrochemical behaviour of PANI nanofibres was studied by cyclic voltammetry. It was found that the electrical conductivity of PANI nanofibres increased with the increasing monomer/oxidant ratio and decreasing polymerisation temperature, respectively.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of (3R, 4S)-N-Boc-Statine

A stereoselective synthesis of (3R, 4S)-N-BOC-Statine was achieved through an aldol condensation of N-BOC-L-Leucinal with a boron enolate of an appropriate chiral auxiliary described by Evans.     

(2R,3R)-1,4-Dimethoxy-1,1,4,4-tetraphenyl-2,3-butanediol: chiral auxiliary and efficient protecting group for boronic acids

(2R,3R)-1,4-Dimethoxy-1,1,4,4-tetraphenyl-2,3-butanediol (1) has been used as an efficient chiral auxiliary in the cyclopropanation of alkenylboronic esters. The stability of the obtained cyclopropylboronic esters allowed the chromatographic separation of the diastereoisomers. Furthermore, it enabled a variety of transformations in the side-chain, including oxidation, reduction, and reactions under acidic, basic, or radical conditions, that finally led to boron containing functionalized bicyclopropanes, e.g., 12 and 18. The absolute configurations of these building blocks were established by X-ray crystallography (compound 10) and by chemical correlation. The Matteson homologation led to a known advanced intermediate of the oligocyclopropane FR-900848.     

17R4/F127混合水溶液的凝胶结构

结合流变学频率扫描和同步辐射小角X射线散射(SAXS), 研究了17R4(PO₁₄-EO₂₄-PO₁₄)含量和温度对17R4/F127(EO₉₉-PO₆₅-EO₉₉)混合水溶液凝胶结构的影响. 结果表明, 溶胶、 软凝胶和硬凝胶分别对应无序结构、 无序与立方相共存结构以及立方相结构. 对于F127水溶液体系, 可以将F127形成的胶束看作硬球, 随着温度的升高, 胶束的硬球半径和胶束中F127链的聚集数随之减小, 这是因为17R4在较低温度下很难形成胶束, 当温度升高时, 17R4链参与胶束的形成, 从而使胶束数目增加, 因此每个胶束中的F127链数也随之减小. 当17R4含量较高时, 胶束外壳中F127部分的PEO链段数随着温度升高而减小, 胶束外壳变得更软, 因此, 当17R4/F127摩尔比为2: 1时, 混合溶液在高温下呈现面心立方(fcc)到体心立方(bcc)的结构转变.     

Effect of thermal annealing on a bilayer polyvinyl alcohol/polyacrylic acid electrospun hydrogel nanofibres loaded with doxorubicin and clarithromycin for a synergism effect against osteosarcoma cells

Polyvinyl alcohol/polyacrylic acid (PVA/PAA) bilayer hydrogel nanofibres were successfully fabricated by electrospinning and physically crosslinked via heat treatment. The effects of the thermal annealing process on the structure, morphology, swelling, thermal properties and hydrophilicity of electrospun nanofibres were investigated. In addition, these membranes were also used to incorporate doxorubicin and clarithromycin for osteosarcoma treatment, one in each layer. These drugs were used because it is hypothesized in this work that a synergism occurs between both drugs. So, these membranes were analyzed towards their dual-drug release and potential cytotoxicity towards the U2OS human osteosarcoma cell line. Moreover, the water contact angle, disintegration, swelling and weight loss studies confirmed the rapid swelling and improved water stability of the annealed PVA/PAA bilayer nanofibres. The annealed bilayer nanofibres exhibited an increase in the average diameter and degree of crystallinity. In addition, the results revealed that a variation occurred in the degree of hydrophilicity of annealed PVA/PAA bilayer nanofibres. The PAA nanofibres surface exhibited higher hydrophilicity than the PVA nanofibres surface. Drug delivery presented to be as fast rate release for clarithromycin and slow-rate release for doxorubicin, which may be advantageous because both drugs exhibited to be synergetic for certain dosages presenting the combination of the drugs higher than 50% of cell inhibition, while these membranes had higher inhibition values (up to 90%), which was attributed to the PAA but also the drugs. These unique properties are of potential interest in drug delivery applications for dual drug delivery where the tunability of surfaces is desirable.     

XRD,TEM and thermal analysis of Fe doped boehmite nanofibres and nanosheets

Iron doped boehmite nanofibres with varying iron content have been prepared at low temperatures using a hydrothermal treatment in the presence of poly(ethylene oxide) surfactant. The resultant nanofibres were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM images showed the resulting nanostructures are predominantly nanofibres when Fe doping is no more than 5%; in contrast nanosheets were formed if Fe doping was above 5%. For the 10% Fe doped boehmite, a mixed morphology of nanofibres and nanosheets were obtained. Nanotubes instead of nanofibres were observed in samples with 20% added iron. The Fe doped boehmite and the subsequent nanofibres/nanotubes were analysed by thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric methods. Boehmite nanofibres decompose at higher temperatures than non-hydrothermally treated boehmite and nano-sheets decompose at lower temperatures than the nanofibres.     

Synthesis, structures, and luminescent properties of phenol-pyridyl boron complexes

Syntheses of the four mixed phenol-pyridine derivatives 1,6-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)pyridyl boron naphthalene (1), 1,6-bis(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)pyridyl boron naphthalene (2), 1,6-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)pyridyl boron 2-methoxylbenzene (3), and 1,6-bis(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)pyridyl boron 2-methoxylbenzene (4) are reported. The structures of the boron compounds 1, 3, and 4 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The molecular packing is characterized by intermolecular pi...pi and hydrogen-bonding interactions. DSC analysis demonstrates that 1 and 2 have good thermal stability with higher glass transition temperatures (Tg) and melting points (Tm) than 3 and 4. Boron complexes 1-4 display bright blue luminescence in solution and the solid state. White and blue electroluminescent (EL) devices were fabricated successfully using these boron compounds.     

A three-dimensional mesophase with rhombohedral structure formed by double-swallow-tailed compounds

In five double-swallow-tailed compounds a weakly birefringent high temperature phase occurs which exhibits a characteristic optical texture. On the basis of X-ray diffraction measurements on well oriented monodomains, the structure of this phase could be described by a rhombohedral lattice of space group R3c or R32/c; the lattice parameters are not far from a cubic lattice. In spite of the three dimensional superstructure with long range character, the lateral packing of the molecules is liquid-like - similar to the well known cubic mesophases.     

A three-dimensional mesophase with rhombohedral structure formed by double-swallow-tailed compounds

In five double-swallow-tailed compounds a weakly birefringent high temperature phase occurs which exhibits a characteristic optical texture. On the basis of X-ray diffraction measurements on well oriented monodomains, the structure of this phase could be described by a rhombohedral lattice of space group R3c or R32/c; the lattice parameters are not far from a cubic lattice. In spite of the three dimensional superstructure with long range character, the lateral packing of the molecules is liquid-like - similar to the well known cubic mesophases.     

Efficient removal of partially hydrolysed polyacrylamide in polymer-flooding produced water using photocatalytic graphitic carbon nitride nanofibres

In this work, graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) photocatalyst-incorporated polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibres (GCN/PAN nanofibres) were successfully prepared using electrospinning technique. The physicochemical properties of the fabricated GCN/PAN nanofibres were analysed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), elemental analyser, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV–vis–NIR spectroscopy. The photocatalytic degradation by GCN/PAN nanofibres exhibited 90.2% photodegradation of partially hydrolysed polyacrylonitrile (HPAM) after 180 min under UV light irradiation in a suspension photocatalytic reactor. The results suggest that the photodegradation of HPAM contaminant by GCN/PAN nanofibres was due to the synergetic effects of HPAM adsorption by the PAN nanofibres and HPAM photodegradation by the GCN. This study provides an insight into the removal of HPAM from polymer-flooding produced water (PFPW) through photocatalytic degradation of liquid-permeable self-supporting nanofibre mats as a potentially promising material to be used in industrial applications.     

水/有机溶剂双相中杏仁醇腈酶促不对称合成(R)-苯乙氰醇

 研究了水／有机溶剂双相中来源于杏仁的（R）－醇腈酶催化苯\r\n甲醛与HCN不对称合成（R）－苯乙氰醇,系统探讨了有机溶剂、水相与\r\n有机溶剂相体积比、水相pH值和反应温度对反应速度、转化率和产物光\r\n学纯度的影响．结果表明,上述因素对醇腈酶促不对称合成（R）－苯\r\n乙氰醇反应均有显著影响．异丙醚为该反应最好的有机溶剂,水相与有\r\n机溶剂相体积比以1／2为宜,适宜的pH值为3．4,最佳反应温度为0～\r\n5℃．在该优化反应条件下,反应转化率和产物的光学纯度均高达99％\r\n以上．     

Coarse‐Grained Simulations of Model Polymer Nanofibres

We describe the development of a coarse‐grained (CG) force field for nylon‐6 (polycaprolactam) and its application to the simulation of the structure and macromolecular dynamics within cylindrical fibres formed by this polymer, having diameters in the 14–28 nm range. Our CG model is based on the MARTINI force field for the non‐bonded interactions and on Boltzmann‐inverted gas‐phase atomistic simulations for intramolecular stretching and bending energies. The simulations are carried out on infinite, isolated nanofibres at temperatures of 300, 400 and 500 K, with different starting configurations. Starting from ordered chain‐extended configurations, we simulate the melting of the polymer in the nanofibres and, after cooling back to room temperature, its re‐crystallization in a chain‐folded lamellar configuration. This agrees with experimental observations on electrospun nylon‐6 nanofibres and demonstrated the suitability of the approach for the simulation of these systems. The effect of nanoscale confinement on the structure and dynamics of the polymer chains is extensively discussed.

     

XRD,TEM and thermal analysis of yttrium doped boehmite nanofibres and nanosheets

Yttrium doped boehmite nanofibres with varying yttrium content have been prepared at low temperatures using a hydrothermal treatment in the presence of poly(ethylene oxide) surfactant (PEO). The resultant nanofibres were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM images showed the resulting nanostructures are predominantly nanofibres when Y-doping is less than 5%; in contrast Y-rich phases were formed when doping was around 10%. The doped boehmite and the subsequent nanofibres/nanotubes were analyzed by thermogravimetric and controlled rate thermal analysis methods. The boehmite nanofibres produced in this research thermally transform at higher temperatures than boehmite crystals and boehmite platelets. Boehmite nanofibres decompose at higher temperatures than non-hydrothermally treated boehmite.