The amount of immobilized polymer in PMMA SiO2 nanocomposites determined from calorimetric data

For semicrystalline polymers there is an ongoing debate at what temperature the immobilized or rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) devitrifies (relaxes). The question if the polymer crystals are melting first and simultaneously the RAF devitrifies or the RAF devitrifies first and later on the crystals melt cannot be answered easily on the example of semicrystalline polymers. This is because the crystals, which are the reason for the immobilization of the polymer, often disappear (melt) in the same temperature range as the RAF. For polymer nanocomposites the situation is simpler. Silica nanoparticles do not melt or undergo other phase transitions altering the polymer-nanoparticle interaction in the temperature range where the polymer is thermally stable (does not degrade). The existence of an immobilized fraction in PMMA SiO₂ nanocomposites was shown on the basis of heat capacity measurements at the glass transition of the polymer. The results were verified by enthalpy relaxation experiments below the glass transition. The immobilized layer is about 2 nm thick at low filler content if agglomeration is not dominant. The thickness of the layer is similar to that found in semicrystalline polymers and independent from the shape of the nanoparticles. Nanocomposites therefore offer a unique opportunity to study the devitrification of the immobilized fraction (RAF) without interference of melting of crystals as in semicrystalline polymers. It was found that the interaction between the SiO₂ nanoparticles and the PMMA is so strong that no devitrification occurs before degradation of the polymer. No gradual increase of heat capacity or a broadening of the glass transition was found. The cooperatively rearranging regions (CRR) are either immobilized or mobile. No intermediate states are found. The results obtained for the polymer nanocomposites support the view that the reason for the restricted mobility must disappear before the RAF can devitrify. For semicrystalline polymers this means that rigid crystals must melt before the RAF can relax.     

Immobilization of ultra-thin layer of monoclonal antibody on glass surface

When preparing an affinity column and a biosensor, it is desirable to immobilize a unimolecular layer of pure protein on a matrix. In this work, we tried to immobilize a monoclonal antibody on a surface of a glass test-tube as a model, to confirm the stability of this ultra-thin layer by an enzyme immunoassay, and to estimate the thickness of the layer on a slide glass by Fourier transform infrared reflection spectrometry. A new test-tube was washed and dried. The tube was filled with 5% 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The 3-aminopropylsilylated surface was treated with glutaraldehyde and 5.6.10(-2) mg/ml solution of a normal mouse monoclonal antibody. The Schiff base between glutaraldehyde and the antibody was further reduced with 7.9.10(-3)% NaBH4. The tube was washed with 0.05% Tween 20 to block non-specific binding. The antibody immobilized on the surface was measured by an enzyme immunoassay based on a reaction of anti-mouse immunoglobulin G labelled with alkaline phosphatase, with which p-nitrophenol was produced from p-nitrophenylphosphate as a substrate. Meanwhile, various amounts of the antibody were immobilized on slide glasses in the same manner. The antibody on each surface was measured by Fourier transform infrared reflection spectrometry. The antibody immobilized under the final conditions was detectable by the enzyme immunoassay, and stable at 4 degrees C for ten days. The antibody on the slide glass was a unimolecular layer, as judged from the Fourier transform infrared spectra referred to -CONH- band semiquantitatively. Thus, we found the optimal conditions for immobilizing an ultra-thin layer of the monoclonal antibody on the glass surface.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Immobilizing a Fluorescent Dye Offers Potential to Investigate the Glass/Resin Interface

Silane coupling agents are commonly applied to glass fibers to promote fiber/resin adhesion and enhance durability in composite parts. In this study, a coupling agent multilayer on glass was doped with trace levels of the dimethylaminonitrostilbene (DMANS) fluorophore. The fluorophore was immobilized on the glass surface by tethering the molecule to a triethoxy silane coupling agent, creating the DMANS/silane coupling agent molecule (DMSCA). DMSCA was then diluted with commonly used coupling agents and grafted to a glass microscope coverslip to create a model composite interface. A 53-nm blue shift in fluorescence from the immobilized DMSCA can be followed during cure of an epoxy resin overlayer, giving this technique potential to monitor the properties of the fiber/resin interface during composite processing. Contact angle measurements on these coupling agent layers were similar in the presence or absence of the DMSCA molecule, suggesting that trace levels of the fluorescent probe did not affect the structure of the layer. The immobilized DMSCA molecule behaved similarly to the DMANS precursor in solution. Both showed longer wavelength fluorescence in more polar environments. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Patterning biomolecules with a water-soluble release and protection interlayer

We report on a general lithography method for high-resolution biomolecule patterning with a bilayer resist system. Biomolecules are first immobilized on the surface of a substrate and covered by a release-and-protection interlayer of water-soluble polymer. Patterns can then be obtained by lithography with a spin-coated resist layer in a conventional way and transferred onto the substrate by reactive ion etching. Afterward, the resist layer is removed by dissolution in water. To demonstrate a high-resolution patterning, soft UV nanoimprint lithography has been used to produce high-density dot arrays of poly-(L-lysine) molecules on a glass substrate. Both fluorescence images and cell proliferation behaviors on such a patterned substrate have shown evidence of improved stability of biomolecule immobilization comparing to that obtained by microcontact printing techniques.     

An Improved Urea Specific Enzyme Electrode

Abstract

The enzyme urease was immobilized in a layer of acrylamide polymer on the surface of a Beckman cationic electrode sensitive to ammonium ion. The substrate urea diffuses to the enzyme electrode and reacts with the immobilized enzyme to produce ammonium ion at the surface of the glass electrode. By placing a thin film of cellophane around the enzyme gel layer to prevent leaching of urease into the surrounding solution, an electrode could be used continuously for over 21 days at 25[ddot]C with no loss of activity.     

Controllable immobilization of polyacrylamide onto glass slide: synthesis and characterization

A novel route was introduced to synthesize dense polyacrylamide (PAM) onto the glass slide surface. To investigate the surface chemistry of the PAM on the glass slides, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was utilized to obtain detailed chemical state information on the PAM layer constituents. The XPS peak data were consistent with the presented model of the PAM on the glass slide surface. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscope data indicated the presence of PAM on the glass slides, which consist of nodules. The results showed that PAM was successfully immobilized onto glass slides with a two-tier structure under aqueous condition and a monolayer structure under anhydrous condition. Compared with those under aqueous condition, the controllability of the molecular layer on glass slides and the reproducibility under anhydrous condition were much better, which makes anhydrous condition an advisable condition for the study of the reaction mechanisms of glass slides modified by PAM.     

Silica-supported biomimetic membranes

The hybridization of lipid membranes with inorganic silica-based framework results in mechanically stable biomembrane mimics. This account describes three types of silica-based biomimetic membranes. As the first example, a Langmuir monolayer of dialkylalkoxysilane was polymerized and immobilized onto a porous glass plate. Permeability through the monolayer-immobilized glass was regulated by phase transition of the immobilized monolayer. In the second example, spherical vesicles covalently attached to a silica cover layer (Cerasome) were prepared. The Cerasome was stable enough to be assembled into layer-by-layer films without destruction of its vesicular structure. This material could be an example of the multicellular assembly. Mesoporous silica films densely filling peptide assemblies (Proteosilica) are introduced as the third example. The Proteosilica was synthesized as a transparent film through template sol-gel reaction using amphiphilic peptides.     

Kinetic spectrophotometric determination of tetraphenylporphinecobalt(II) based on photochromism of immobilized norbornadiene

The cobalt(II) complex is detected spectrophotometrically by its catalysis of a photochromic isomerism of norbornadiene (NBD). NBD is immobilized on porous glass beads, and is isomerized to quadricyclane (QC) by UV irradiation. The beads are then immersed in a solution containing tetraphenylporphinecobalt(II) [TPPCo(II)], and the QC is converted back to NBD by a catalytic reaction with TPPCo(II). The rate constant, measured spectrophotometrically, is proportional to the concentration of TPPCo(II). The detection limit of TPPCo(II) is 60 μM for a reaction period of 1 h. This spectrophotometric detection can be applied repetitively without any supply of the chemical reagent, as NBD immobilized on the porous glass beads can be re-isomerized to QC by UV irradiation.     

Immobilization of trypsin on silica-coated fiberglass core in microchip for highly efficient proteolysis

In this report, trypsin was immobilized on silica-coated fiberglass core in microchip to form a core-changeable bioreactor for highly efficient proteolysis. To prepare the fiber core, a layer of organic-inorganic hybrid silica coating was prepared on the surface of a piece of glass fiber by a sol-gel method with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) as precursors. Subsequently, trypsin was immobilized on the coating with the aid of glutaraldehyde. Prior to use, the enzyme-immobilized fiber was inserted into the channel of a microchip to form an in-channel fiber bioreactor. The novel bioreactor can be regenerated by changing its fiber core. The scanning electron microscopy images of the cross-section of a trypsin-immobilized fiber indicated that a layer of ∼1 μm thick film formed on the glass substrate. The feasibility and performance of the unique bioreactor were demonstrated by the tryptic digestion of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and cytochrome c (Cyt-c) and the digestion time was significantly reduced to less than 10 s. The digests were identified by MALDI-TOF MS with sequence coverages of 45% (BSA) and 77% (Cyt-c) that were comparable to those obtained by 12-h conventional in-solution tryptic digestion. The fiber-based microchip bioreactor provides a promising platform for the high-throughput protein identification.     

Immobilization of peroxidase on SiO2 surfaces with the help of a dendronized polymer and the avidin-biotin system

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is immobilized in three easy steps on SiO(2) surfaces with the help of a polycationic second generation dendronized polymer (denpol) and the biotin-avidin system. This stepwise immobilization process is monitored and quantitatively analyzed with the transmission interferometric adsorption sensor. Partially biotinylated denpol is first adsorbed onto SiO(2) , followed by addition of avidin and then of biotinylated HRP. Denpols in their molecular structure combine properties of polymers as well as dendrimers which are found to be of clear advantage for this type of non-covalent enzyme immobilization. With respect to the reproducibility of the adsorption process and with respect to the stability of the adsorbed polymer layer, the denpol is superior to α-poly-D-lysine which is used as a reference polymer. Furthermore, HRP immobilized with the denpol on commercial glass slides remains considerably more active upon storage as compared to HRP immobilized with the help of α-poly-D-lysine with a similar number of repeating units. The ease of the denpol-mediated HRP immobilization and the high stability of the immobilized enzyme are promising for bioanalytical applications.     

Antireflection coatings produced on silicate glass from silicon dioxide sols with addition of poly(propylene glycols) at gel annealing temperature of 200°C

Thin transparent nanoporous silicon dioxide films with low refractive index (1.26–1.30) were formed on a glass substrate by deposition of a formulation that is based on silicon dioxide sol with addition of poly(propylene glycols) at a low gel annealing temperature of 200°C. The maximum optical transmission of glass with these antireflection coatings is 97.5–98.7%.     

聚ε-己内酯的微米硅球固定化猪胰脂肪酶促合成

本文采用微米硅球固定化猪胰脂肪酶为催化剂合成聚ε-己内酯, 以期获得具有较高分子量、 良好生物相容性和使用安全性的生物可降解医用高分子材料.     

Comparison of dynamically coated SE-54, SP-2250 and carbowax 20M wall-coated open tubular (WCOT) glass capillary columns,prepared after surface pretreatment with Superox™-4 or with BaCO3

A new surface pretreatment for the preparation of wall-coated open tubular (WCOT) glass capillary columns has been evaluated. This technique involves the application of a non-extractable layer of Superox?-4, a 4,000,000 MW polyethylene glycol, to the glass surface as a pretreatment and deactivation agent. Unlike other polyethylene glycols, Superox-4 is stable at high temperatures (> 300°C) in the absence of oxygen, coats smoothly onto a bare glass surface and resists droplet formation. WCOT columns (SE-54, Carbowax 20M, and SP-2250) prepared using this technique are compared to columns prepared using a modified Grob [2,3] BaCO₃ procedure. The Superox-4 pretreated columns were equal or superior in quality to the BaCO₃ pretreated columns, based on the appearance of an activity standard and the effective theoretical plates (N_eff) per meter. Chromatograms showing practical application of the WCOT columns prepared using both methods is given.     

Biomolecular materials based on sol-gel encapsulated proteins

The proteins copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), cytochrome c, myoglobin, hemoglobin, and bacterio-rhodopsin are encapsulated in stable, optically transparent, porous, silica glass matrices prepared by the sol-gel method such that the biomolecules retain their characteristic reactivities and spectroscopic properties. The resulting glasses allow transport of small molecules into and out of the glasses at reasonable rates but retain the protein molecules within their pores. The transparency of the glasses enables the chemical reactions of the immobilized proteins to be monitored by means of changes in their visible absorption spectra. Silica glasses containing the immobilized proteins have similar reactivities and spectroscopic properties to those found for the proteins in solution. The enzymes glucose oxidase and peroxidase were also encapsulated in transparent silica glass matrices. Upon exposure to glucose solutions, a colored glass is formed that can be used as the active element in a solid state optically based glucose sensor.     

Formation of hydroxyapatite-layer on glass plate and its removal-regeneration properties for aqueous cadmium

A glass plate was coated with calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHAp) by a dip-coating method and employed for the removal of aqueous cadmium. Sol obtained from alcoholic solution of (NH(4))(2)HPO(4) and Ca(NO(3))(2) x 4H(2)O was employed for the precursor of the CaHAp layer. The preparation of CaHAp from the sol needed a rather low calcination temperature of 573 K and the resulting solid mainly contained CaHAp. It was shown that the glass plate coated with CaHAp with the sol could be employed for the removal of aqueous cadmium. Furthermore, it was found that cadmium immobilized on the coated plate could be regenerated into weak acidic solution. A dissolution-precipitation mechanism was suggested for the removal-regeneration of aqueous cadmium.     

Gas chromatographic determination of 1,4-dioxane at low parts-per-million levels in glycols

1,4-Dioxane is a flammable liquid and tends to form explosive peroxides. Its formation in glycols (low parts-per-million levels), which are used as dehumidifying agents in refineries, may take place by condensation. 1,4-Dioxane thus formed gets distilled over with benzene in the refinery process. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and determine the levels of 1,4-dioxane in glycols as well as benzene. Gas chromatography (GC) is probably the best technique for this purpose. GC analysis may be carried out using a flame ionization detector. Results show that 1,4-dioxane can be comfortably determined down to 2 ppm in glycols and benzene.     

Gas chromatographic separation of ethanolamines and ethylene glycols without preliminary derivatization

Summary An effective and rapid GC separation of ethanolamines, even in the presence of ethylene glycols, using short glass capillary columns is developed. No preliminary derivatisation of the sample is necessary. The separation is completed in 6 minutes.     

3'-immobilized probes with 2'-caps: synthesis of oligonucleotides with 2'-N-methyl-2'-(anthraquinone carboxamido)uridine residues

[reaction: see text] A synthesis for oligodeoxynucleotides with a 3'-terminal 2'-N-methyl-2'-acylamido-2'-deoxyuridine residue was developed. Unlike their unmethylated counterparts, these oligodeoxynucleotides can be stably immobilized on aldehyde-displaying glass surfaces to provide DNA microarrays. An anthraquinone carboxamido group as a 2'-substituent doubled the capture efficiency of an immobilized tetradecamer.     

Rheology of PVC plastisol--VI: criteria for yielding and fracture of an immobilized layer

PVC plastisol exhibits pseudo-plastic flow in steady shear; that is, viscosity decreases with the increasing shear rate. At higher shear rates viscosity reaches a minimum and then increases, i.e., dilatant behavior. Previously, pseudo-plastic behavior was explained by a mechanism in which the suspended particles partition into an immobilized layer and a mobile phase. The development of the immobilized layer with the increase in shear rate was shown to quantitatively account for pseudo-plastic behavior. In higher shear rates dilatation of the immobilized layer was shown to be the cause of dilatacy. At even higher shear rates the immobilized layer fractures. In this paper the viscosity minimum was interpreted as the yielding of the immobilized layer. Subsequently, data in the literature were analyzed to find criteria for the yielding and fracture of the immobilized layer. Yielding was found to obey Coulomb's criterion, from which the coefficient of friction and the cohesive strength of the immobilized layer were evaluated. These properties were controlled by the nature of particle assembly in the immobilized layer and the plasticizer type had only a minor effect. The value of the coefficient of friction was on the lower side and within the range of values found in the literature for other materials. There were two modes of fracture of the immobilized layer, one with low strength, low strain to break, and the other with high strength, high strain to break. The former is analogous to the brittle fracture of solids and the latter ductile failure. The strength of brittle fracture was somewhat higher than cohesive strength, which was evaluated from yielding data. This is akin to Griffith's criterion for brittle fracture of a solid. Ductile failure occurred when the shear stress exceeded normal stress.     

Immobilization of trypsin in the layer-by-layer coating of graphene oxide and chitosan on in-channel glass fiber for microfluidic proteolysis

In this report, trypsin was immobilized in the layer-by-layer (LBL) coating of graphene oxide (GO) and chitosan on a piece of glass fiber to fabricate microchip bioreactor for efficient proteolysis. LBL deposition driven by electrostatic forces easily took place on the surface of the glass fiber, providing mild environmental conditions so that the denaturation and autolysis of the immobilized trypsin was minimized. Prior to use, a piece of the prepared trypsin-immobilized glass fiber was inserted into the channel of a microchip to form a core-changeable bioreactor. The novel GO-based bioreactor can be regenerated by changing its fiber core. The feasibility and performance of the unique bioreactor were demonstrated by the tryptic digestion of bovine serum albumin, myoglobin, cytochrome c, and hemoglobin and the digestion time was significantly reduced to less than 10 s. The obtained digests were identified by MALDI-TOF MS. The digestion performance of the core-changeable GO-based microchip bioreactor was comparable to that of 12-h in-solution tryptic digestion. The novel microchip bioreactor is simple and efficient, offering great promise for high-throughput protein identification.