Immunoactivity of polymer microspheres with their hydrophilic/hydrophobic heterogeneous surface sensitized with an antibody

Styrene/2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate polymer microspheres consisting of various polymer compositions were produced by emulsifier-free seeded emulsion polymerization technique. Using these microspheres, which should have hydrophilic/hydrophobic heterogeneous surface, the effects of surface hydrophilicity on the main, fundamental requirements for an immunomicrosphere — high colloidal stability, sensitive immunologic agglutinability and insensitive non-specific agglutinability — were studied in detail. There was a region of the surface hydrophilicity that satisfied the three requirements simultaneously.Part CII of the series Studies on Suspension and Emulsion.     

Formation of monodisperse poly(1-methacryloxybenzotriazole) particles by radiation-induced dispersion polymerization

Radiation-induced dispersion polymerization of 1-methacryloxybenzotriazole (MABt) in ethyl propionate starts as homogeneous mixture and the resulting polymer precipitates as spherical particles. Formation, size, and shape of polymer particles are strongly dependent on the initial monomer concentration. Three regions can be distinguished: formation of deformed particles at concentrations of 15 w/v-% MABt; formation of spherical particles at concentrations from 18 to 35 w/v-% MABt; no precipitation of polymer at concentrations of 40 w/v-% MABt. The spherical particles at 20 w/v-% MABt had a diameter of 0.54 ± 0.31 m for 3 kGy irradiation and 2.93±0.68 m for 30 kGy. The number distribution of the microspheres shows that the spherical particles with small sizes formed at low irradiation dose (low conversion) disappears with increasing irradiation dose because of multi-coating by newly produced polymer.     

M Spectra of the Rare Earth Elements Measured with an Ultra-Thin Window Si(Li) Detector

The oxides of the rare earth elements 57Z71 were excited by electrons with an energy between 3 and 15keV. X-rays were detected by an energy dispersive Si(Li) spectrometer, with an ultra-thin polymer entrance window. Due to the limited resolution of this type of spectrometer, the M spectra of the rare earths appear to consist of only four peaks: M, M,, M, and M₂N₄. The net height of these peaks relative to that of M, was used as a measure of the relative intensity. For 3keV electrons, a continuous decrease of the relative intensity of M with increasing Z was observed, ranging from approximately 90% for 57 La to less than 10% for 71 Lu. This behaviour is in agreement with a model involving a gradual filling up of the levels N6 and N7 with increasing Z. The relative intensity of M is lower than that of M by about a factor of 5, whereas M₂N₄ is approximately half as intense as M.     

Kinetics of oxidation of isopropanol by IO4? catalyzed by metal ions

The kinetics of oxidation of isopropanol (IPA) by IO ₄ ^– in the presence of Os(VIII), Ru(III) and mixture of Os(VIII) and Ru(III) has been studied. The catalytic effect was found to be in the order Os(VIII)

IO ₄ ^– Os(VIII), Ru(III) Os(VIII) Ru(III), . : Os(VIII)     

Quantitative estimation of calcite in limestones by differential thermal analysis

A quantitative method is presented for the estimation of calcite in limestones by differential thermal analysis, using calcium hydroxide as an internal standard. The effects of variations due to particle size and impurities such as quartz, iron oxide, organic material, dolomite, magnesite, gypsum and phosphates are discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde eine quantitative Methode zur Ermittlung von Kalzit im Kalkstein durch Differentialthermoanalyse unter Anwendung von Kalziumhydroxyd als inneren Standard vorgestellt. Der Einfluß von durch unterschiedliche Teilchengröße und Verunreinigungen, wie Quarz, Eisenoxyd, organische Stoffe, Dolomit, Magnesit, Gips und Phosphat hervorgerufenen Veränderungen wurde erörtert.

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Résumé On propose une méthode de dosage par ATD de la calcite dans les roches calcaires en utilisant l'hydroxyde de calcium comme étalon interne. On discute l'influence de la taille des particles et de la nature des impuretés: quartz, oxyde de fer, corps organiques, gypse, dolomite, magnésite et phosphates.

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Change of water structure by solvents and polymers Part 4: Albumin-water solutions with acetylsalicylic,hydrochloric and ascorbic acid,lysine- and ammonium chloride and with dextrane and sorbit

Viscosity measurements were made in the temperature range of 10 °–40 °C. The equation= _o exp(B/(T-T _o )) was used with the parameterT ₀ as structure indicator, which is called the limiting temperature. For instance, hydrocarbons, as liquids with quasifree molecules, haveT ₀=O; water as a highly structured liquid hasT ₀= 140–150 K.The polymer investigated was ovalbumin in aqueous solution in a concentration comparable to that of blood. Acetylsalicylic acid produces a protein conformation which breaks the water structure in solution at a pH of within the in vivo region.The question of whether only the acidity determines the water structure breaking properties of the protein is investigated by acidifying albumin-water solutions with hydrochloric acid, lysine chloride and ascorbic acid. All these acids exhibit similar effects. A stronger influence is observed for ammonium chloride. Its interaction with ovalbumin produces a strong structure-breaking effect. The most powerful water structure breaker in albumin-water solutions is dextrane. In a concentration of 10 % it changes the polymer conformation so that the water structure is broken to such an extent that the solution behaves as an almost quasifree liquid withT ₀=O.     

Macromolecular conformations at the water-air interface: Interactions between alpha and beta conformations of polypeptides

Bidimensional miscibility between alpha and beta conformations of polypeptides was investigated at the water-air interface in the 15°–30°C temperature range. The polypeptides were poly--methyl-L-glutamate (PGMG), poly--benzyl-L-glutamate (PGBG) and poly--benzyl-L-aspartate (PBBA). The polypeptide conformations, alpha or beta, were checked by IR spectroscopy using the MIR technique.The spreading isotherms for mixed monolayers alpha-PGMG/alpha-PGBG and beta-PGMG/beta-PBBA showed bidimensional miscibility both for alpha-alpha and beta-beta mixtures.For the alpha-alpha system, attractive interactions among the polypeptide alphahelices were found (G_mix<0) and the driving factor appeared to be the entropic one (packing). Compressibility moduli and surface potential measurements showed a fluidification effect of alpha-PGBG on mixed monolayers. In the case of beta-beta mixed monolayers, ideal behaviour was observed and no fluidification effect detected.Scanning electron micrographs made on collapsed monolayers showed hexagonal structures for alpha-alpha mixtures and no well-defined or characterized features for the beta-beta system.     

Thermal decompositions of silver carboxylates

The thermal decompositions of the even silver dicarboxylates from silver oxalate to silver sebacate were studied. In vacuum, the dicarboxylates decomposed to give metallic silver, CO₂ and organic diradicals as primary products, and polymers as secondary products. The higher silver dicarboxylates were much more stable to thermal treatment than silver oxalate, probably due to the initiation of decomposition of all carboxylates except silver oxalate by the rupture of a Ag-O and not a C-C bond.

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Zusammenfassung Die thermische Zersetzung der geradzahligen Silberdicarboxylate Silberoxalat bis-sebacinat wurde untersucht. Unter Vakuum zersetzen sich die Dicarboxylate zu metallischem Silber, CO₂ und organischen Diradikalen als Primärprodukt und Polymeren als Sekundärprodukt. Die höheren Silberdicarboxylate sind wesentlich stabiler als das Oxalat, wahrscheinlich weil bei ihnen die Zersetzung von der Spaltung einer Ag-O-Bindung und nicht einer C-C-Bindung wie beim Oxalat ihren Anfang nimmt.

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Shear-induced deformation of polystyrene coils in dilute solution from small angle neutron scattering 2. Variation of shear gradient,molecular mass and solvent viscosity

The technique of small angle neutron scattering (SANS) has been used to study the conformation of polystyrene chains in dilute solution under a constant shear gradient. The experiments reveal a distinct anisotropy of the molecular dimensions with regard to the directions parallel and perpendicular to the flow direction on the 2D-multidetector. The deformation ratio of the single polymer chain (R ²/R _iso ² )–1 as a function of the reduced shear gradient=([] · · M _w G)/RT shows a transition from the ideal ²-behaviour for dynamic infinitely flexible coils found at small gradients, to a behaviour with smaller increase at larger. These results are qualitatively consistent with the theory of Cerf for a polymer with finite internal viscosity in a shear gradient. At low(<1), a better agreement with the model of a free-draining coil (Rouse behaviour) than with the Zimm model is observed.     

Production of anomalously shaped carboxylated polymer particles by seeded emulsion polymerization

Anomalous polymer particles with a partial protuberance like octopus ocellatus were produced under alkaline conditions by seeded emulsion copolymerization for styrene and butyl acrylate, with styrene-butyl acrylate-methacrylic acid terpolymer emulsion as seed. The mechanism of production of the polymer particles was studied. By transmission electron microscopic observation of the particles at each conversion, it was observed that the anomalous polymer particles were produced by partial growth of each of the individual seed particles throughout polymerization. Ionization of the carboxyl groups and low viscosity in the growing particles during the process of polymerization were important factors for partial growth.Part CIII of the series Studies on Suspension and Emulsion.     

Conformational changes in the human serum albumin-indomethacin binding

The effect of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, the indomethacin, on the conformation of human serum albumin is investigated by evaluating-helix,-structure and random coil structure contents from optical rotatory dispersion spectra. The observed structural changes may be attributed to the-helix-to--structure conversion, because the content of random coil is not largely changed. The increase in-structure is due to a loss in the degrees of freedom in albumin.     

The acceleration of decomposition of potassium persulfate in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and polymer particles as a model of emulsion polymerization system

The decomposition rates of potassium persulfate (KPS) in aqueous solutions containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the presence of polystyrene or poly(methyl methacrylate) particles as models of emulsion polymerization systems were measured by isotachophoresis. Free SDS molecules dispersed in the monomolecular state had an ability to accelerate the KPS decomposition, but SDS molecules adsorbed onto the polymer particles did not accelerate it.Part CXX of the series of Studies on Suspension and Emulsion     

Complex polarizability as used to analyze dielectric relaxation measurements

The effect of representing dielectric properties in terms of the complex polarizability ^c = – i is examined. Loss curves ( and tan ) are shifted towards higher frequencies, revealing the existence of new relaxations and allowing the clarifications of ones already known. We have calculated the shift ratios (at maximum or tan )/ (at maximum or tan ) from the more conventional empirical equations representing the dielectric behavior. Some examples are given.     

Capillary rise of liquids in rectangular tubings

The capillary rise of liquids was investigated in square capillary tubings of different dimensions (e. g. 300 m · 300 m to 1000 m · 1000 m) in the temperature range 25° to 35°C.The data were fitted to an equation:=1/2 · ·g · (S · (C ·H/2 +C ·S)) where is the surface tension of the liquid,S is the side length of the square tubing,H is the capillary rise,C (= 1.089) is a capillary constant.     

Study of the polymer latex coalescence by dielectric measurements at microwave frequency—feasibility of the method

The measurement of the complex dielectric constant ( ^*=–j) in the dipolar absorption domain of the free water molecule (microwave region) permits us to follow quasi-specifically and precisely the water circulation during the coalescence process of a latex. Weight losses and dielectric constants variations have been simultaneously recorded upon latex drying, in a resonant cavity at 5 and 9 GHz and under controlled atmosphere and temperature. Two different latexes were studied (polybutylacrylate (PBuA) and polystyrene (PS)) from which the glass transition temperature effect was investigated. It is found that the harder the polymer particles, the more clearly evidenced the flocculation and packing points are. This method appears to be quite reliable for discriminating the various steps in the film formation process of latexes.     

Phase separation in colloidal dispersions with nonadsorbing polymer

The influence of the volume restriction effect on phase separation in colloidal dispersions consisting of a nonadsorbing polymer has been studied using statistical mechanical cell models and perturbation theories in combination with Monte Carlo experiments. The attractive interparticle potential proposed by Asakura and Oosawa is used to represent the effect of polymer depletion between the particles. The equilibrium properties are determined using the cell model for the solid-like phase (with Monte Carlo simulations for the structure of the solid phase) and a perturbation theory for the liquid-like phase. Both aqueous and nonaqueous dispersions are considered, and the phase separation behavior predicted is compared with available experimental and theoretical results.     

Dielectric properties of cleaned and monodisperse polystyrene latexes in microwaves

The dielectric behavior (, ) of three well-cleaned monodisperse polystyrene latexes having the same particle size and the same number of chemically-bound surface groups has been studied at a fixed microwave frequency (9.4 GHz), as a function of temperature and surface group (SO ₄ ^– , COO^–, OH).A large dielectric relaxation was observed in the sulfate-stabilized latex, which has the most polar surface end-group. The anomalous behavior in the thermal dependence of the hydroxyl and carboxyl-stabilized latexes (the OH latex being more pronounced than the COO^– latex) may originate from differences in the experimental conditions used for the preparation of such polymer colloids, or due to the presence of ionic species.On the basis of various dielectric models, the apparent volume fractions of the latexes were calculated. The amount of bound water around the latex particle was quantitatively correlated to the polarity of surface end-group (SO ₄ ^– > COO^– > OH). The differences between the calculated and actual values were not only a reflection of the thickness of vicinal water, but could also be indicative of the presence of oligomeric species in the suspension's medium (serum) of the latex. The permittivities of hydrated particle and of bound water were obtained with a non-linear iterative procedure.     

Preparation of micron-size monodisperse polymer microspheres having cationic groups

Micron-size monodisperse crosslinked polymer microspheres having chloromethyl groups were prepared by seeded copolymerization of styrene, divinylbenzene, and chloromethylstyrene in the presence of 2.1- monodisperse polystyrene seed particles produced by dispersion polymerization. The modification reaction of chloromethyl groups on the surfaces with polyamines such as triethylenetetramine and ethylenediamine was carried out. From the measurements of potential and the amount of chloride ion released, the introduction of a large number of cationic groups at the surfaces was confirmed.Part CXXXI of the series Studies on suspension and Emulsion.     

Frequencies, anharmonicities, and dissociation energies of OH groups in H-mordenite

Harmonic frequencies, anharmonicities and dissociation energies of surface hydroxy groups in H-mordenite have been determined. The application of the Lippincott-Schroeder potential function for similar problems is proposed.

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Meaningful activation energies for complex systems II

The validity of the Friedman method is assessed for systems of overlapping reactions. By means of mathematical analysis and numerical examples it is shown that, in the case of competitive reactions, the method gives the true value of the instantaneous mean activation energy. However, some error may be incurred if this method is applied to systems of independent reactions. The relative accuracy of the Friedman and Ozawa-Flynn-Wall methods is discussed in respect of complex systems of reactions.

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Zusammenfassung Die Gültigkeit der Friedman-Methode wird für Systeme von überlappenden Reaktionen einer Betrachtung unterzogen. Durch mathematische Analyse und numerische Beispiele wird gezeigt, daß im Falle kompetitiver Reaktionen die Methode den richtigen Wert der jeweiligen mittleren Aktivierungsenergie ergibt. Fehler können jedoch auftreten, wenn diese Methode auf Systeme voneinander unabhängiger Reaktionen angewandt wird. Die relative Genauigkeit der Methoden von Friedman und Ozawa-Flynn-Wall wird mit Hinsicht auf komplexe Reaktionssysteme diskutiert.

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The author wishes to thank the British Gas Corporation for permission to publish this work.