Proliferation and Insulin Secretion Function of Mouse Insulinoma Cells Encapsulated in Alginate/Sol-Gel Synthesized Aminopropyl-Silicate/Alginate Microcapsule

Alginate/aminopropyl-silicate/alginate microcapsules, ca. 15 m in membrane thickness and ca. 500 m in diameter, were prepared via sol-gel process. The aminopropyl-silicate membrane was derived from two silicone alkoxide precursors, tetramethoxysilane and 3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane on Ca-alginate micro gel beads. Pancreatic -cell line (MIN6) cells were encapsulated in the microcapsule. The encapsulated MIN6 cells proliferated and formed spheroidal tissues in vitro. The diameter of the MIN6 spheroids increased to approximately 250 m with an increase in the incubation period until the day 35. Storeptozotocin-induced diabetic mice became normoglycemia after implantation of the MIN6-enclosing microcapsules. The normoglycemic state remained until the retrieval of the implanted microcapsules for 1 month. These results indicate that the potential use of the alginate/aminopropyl-silicate/alginate microcapsule as a vehicle for a genetically engineered cell-enclosing therapeutic material delivery system.     

Effect of divalent cations on the adhesion rate of cellular surfaces with ionizable groups

The adhesion rate of cells under charge regulation onto a rotating disc with constant potential is investigated theoretically in this paper. In particular, the effect of the presence of divalent carions in the suspension medium on adhesion rate of cells is discussed. By using sheep leucocytes as an illustrative example, it is shown that the presence of divalent cations in the suspension medium has the effect of decreasing the adhesion rate of cells. At a fixed level of ionic strength, the adhesion rate decreases with the increase of the concentration of divalent cations in the suspension medium for the various values of Peclet number andAd parameter given in this paper. For a fixed concentration of cations, the adhesion rate increases with the increase of ionic strength. At high ionic strength, the effect of increasing the concentration of cations on decreasing the adhesion rate of cells is not as high as that at low ionic strength. Applying the concept of Donnan potential, it is found that the magnitude of the electrostatic force between an ion-penetrable cell membrane and a solid surface is much smaller than that for the ion-impenetrable cell membrane.Nomenclature a cell radius (cm) - A Hamaker's constant (erg) - Ad A/kT - C dimensionless cell concentration - D cell diffusion coefficient (cm²/s) - e magnitude of electron charge (statcoul) - F dimensionless interaction force between cell and rotating disc pernkT - h minimum separation distance between cell surface and disc surface (cm) - H dimensionless separation distance between cell surface and disc surfaceh/a - [H ⁺] _r hydrogen ion concentration in the suspension medium (mole dm^–3) - [H ⁺] _s hydrogen ion concentration on the cell surface (mole dm^–3) - Boltzmann's constant (erg K^–1) - K _a dissociation equilibrium constant for acid groups on cell surface (mole dm^–3) - K _b dissociation equilibrium constant for base groups on cell surface (mole dm^–3) - n ionic strength in the suspension medium (ions cm^–3 - Pe Peclet number - q valence of cations - Sa the reciprocal of acidic density on the cell surface (cm²/group) - S _b the reciprocal of basic density on the cell surface (cm²/group) - Sh Sherwood number - T absolute temperature (K) - the fraction of cationic electrolyte in the suspension medium, 01 - reciprocal of Debye length, (cm^–1) - fluid kinematic viscosity (cm²/s) - ×a - l distance between two plate surfaces in Derjuguin's model (cm) - dimensionless total interaction energy between cell surface and disc surface - _vdw dimensionless unretarded van der Waals potential between cell surface and disc surface - _DL dimensionless double-layer interaction potential between cell surface and disc surface - dimensionless electrostatic potential between cell surface and disc surface - rotating speed of the disc (rad/s)     

Cellular Uptake of Covalent Poly(allylamine hydrochloride) Microcapsules and Its Influences on Cell Functions

The mechanism of the cellular uptake of polyelectrolyte microcapsules and its influences on the functions and toxicity of human SMCs are explored. The covalently assembled poly(allylamine hydrochloride)/glutaraldehyde microcapsules are easily ingested by SMCs mainly through macropinosis and caveolae‐mediated endocytosis pathways. The capsules mainly disperse in cytoplasm without colocalization in early endosomes and cell nucleus. The results of gene chips reveal substantial and profound alternation of cell phenotypes and functions. Uptake of the microcapsules cause a slight decrease of cell viability, but leads to significant changes in cytoskeleton organization, cell cycle, as well as cell adhesion and migration ability.

     

On the selection of the optimal plasticizer for calix[n]arene-based ion-selective electrodes: Possible correlation between the ion selectivity and the ‘softness’ of the plasticizer

A criterion for the selection of a suitable plasticizer for calix[n]arene-based ion-selective electrodes is discussed. The cation selectivity of plasticized membranes without the ligand was first measured as a reference. The membranes can be roughly classified into two groups. The first group shows cation selectivity in the order Cs⁺+>K⁺>Na⁺>Li⁺. The membranes in the second group are made of phosphorus plasticizers, which show a selectivity in the reverse order. The plasticizers in the first group featured a linear relationship between the dipole moment of the plasticizer (calculated by a PM3 method) and the ratio of cesium selectivity to lithium selectivity. The linear relationship supports the view that the polar membrane which includes a soft plasticizer with a large dipole moment shows selectivity for Cs⁺, whereas the nonpolar membrane including the soft plasticizer with the small dipole moment shows much lower selectivity for Cs⁺. Next, 2-fluorphenyl-2-nitrophenyl ether (FPNPE) which showed the highest Cs⁺ selectivity and tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate (TEHP) which showed the highest Li⁺ selectivity were mixed in an appropriate ratio to make membranes with a different affinity for hard ions. The metal selectivities of several crown-based and calixarene-based ionophores were examined in these membranes. Although a few exceptions exist, the polar soft membrane is favorable when the interfering metal ion is hard, whereas the hard membrane is favorable when the interfering metal ion is soft.     

Comment of the influence of annealing on the distribution of chain defects in drawn polyethylene

The present study suplements preceding investigations [1–5] concerning the distribution of chain-defects between crystalline regions and crystal surface, and extends them to the influence of annealing in case of drawn branched polyethylene (PE). For this purpose available unit cell data for annealed drawn PE with=3%, at various annealing temperatures and times, are examined by assuming the penetration of chain defects at interstitial crystal sites by means of 2gl kink generation. The analysis of results shows that the initial level of 8×10^–2 chain defects expanding the lattice decreases linearly as a function of annealing temperature. After annealing at 100 °C during 3×10³ min this level decreases to values < 10^–3. It is suggested that these space-filling point defects can be converted through chain diffusion in amorphous defects, cooperative defects and/or in defects segregated into the surface layer.     

Effect of the Measurement Temperature on the Dispersive Component of the Surface Free Energy of a Heat Treated SiO2 Xerogel

The surface free energy of a monolithic silica xerogel treated at 1000°C has been measured by inverse gas chromatography in the temperature range 25–150°C using n-alkanes. Values of the dispersive component, _S ^D, vary from 49.07 mJ·m^–2 at 25°C to 17.20 mJ·m^–2 at 150°C. The _S ^D value obtained at 25°C is lower than that found for amorphous and crystalline silicas but higher than that found for glass fibres meaning that the heat treatment at 1000°C changes drastically the structure of the silica xerogel showing a surface similar to a glass. However, the higher value of _S ^D in comparison to glass fibres can be attributed to the mesoporous structure present in the silica xerogel. In the temperature range of 60–90°C there exists an abrupt change of the _S ^D values as well as in the dispersive component of the surface enthalpy, h _S ^D. Such abrupt change can be attributed to an entropic contribution of the surface free energy.     

Preparation of Silica Microspheres Containing Ag Nanoparticles

Two sol-gel fabrication processes were investigated to make silica spheres containing Ag nanoparticles: (1) a modified Stöber method for silica spheres below 1 m size, and (2) a SiO₂-film formation method on spheres of 3–;7 m size. The spheres were designed to incorporate silver nanoparticles of high ⁽³⁾ in a spherical optical cavity structure for the resonance effect. For the incorporation, interaction between [Ag(NH₃)₂]⁺ ion and Si-OH was important. In the Stöber method, the size of the silica spheres was determined by a charge balance of plus and minus ions on the silica surface. In the film formation method, the capture of Ag complex ion on the silica surface depended on whether the surface was covered with OH groups or not. After doping [Ag(NH₃)₂]⁺ into silica particles or SiO₂ films on the spheres, these ions w ere reduced by NaBH₄ to form silver nanoparticles. From plasma absorption at around 420 nm wavelength and TEM photographs of nanometer-sized silver particles, their formation inside the spherical cavity structures was confirmed.     

Expanded clay minerals: a major class of molecular sieves

Clay minerals, such as smectites and vermiculites, can be permanently opened and made porous by exchanging interlayer cations with suitably large globular ions, as first reported in 1955. An account is given of some developments in this area. Initially a range of alkylammonium ions was used as props, and then large inorganic cations such as Co(en) ₃ ³⁺ and polyoxo-cations of aluminium, zirconium and titanium. Very recently substituted silsesquioxanes have been intercalated for the same purpose. By varying the size, charge and shape of the entering ion, as well as the cation exchange capacity of the clay mineral, the molecular sieve character of the expanded clay mineral sorbents can be altered as required. The diversity of sieves thus produced can have free distances between siliceous sheets from 2.6 to 10 Å and a comparable range of lateral free distances between adjacent pairs of interlayer cations.     

One‐Step Synthesis of Natural Silk Sericin‐Based Microcapsules with Bionic Structures

Different techniques are being developed for fabricating microcapsules; it is still a challenge to fabricate them in an efficient and environment‐friendly process. Here, a one‐step green route to synthesize silk protein sericin‐based microcapsules without any assistance of organic solvents is reported. By carefully changing the concentration of calcium ions accompanied with stirring, the morphology of the microcapsules can easily be regulated to form either discoidal, biconcave, cocoon‐like, or tubular structures. The chelation of Ca²⁺ and shearing force from agitation may induce the conformational transformation of sericin, which possibly results in the formation of microcapsules through the self‐assembly of the protein subsequently. The as‐prepared cocoon‐like microcapsules exhibit pH‐dependent stability. A potential application of microcapsules being fabricated from natural water‐soluble silk protein sericin for controlled bioactive molecules loading and release system by a pH‐triggered manner is quite feasible.

     

Free energies of transfer of alkali halides from water to urea-water mixtures at 25°C from EMF measurements

The standard potentials_s E ^o of M/M⁺ (M=Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs) electrodes in aqueous urea solutions containing 12, 20, 30 and 37% by weight of urea have been determined at 25°C from emf measurements on the cell M(Hg)/MCl (m), solvent/AgCl–Ag, from the activities of metals in amalgams by use of a similar type of cell in water, and from the values of_s E ^o of the Ag/AgCl electrode determined earlier. The standard free energies of transfer of MCl, G _t ^o (MCl), from water to the mixed solvents, computed by use of these values and those for the Ag–AgCl electrode, rise sharply from Li⁺ to Na⁺ but fall from Na⁺ to K⁺ and rather sharply from K⁺ to Cs⁺ with a maximum at Na⁺ in all the solvent compositions. This has been attributed to the superimposition of soft-soft interactions on the electrostatic interactions between the ions and the negative charge centers of the possible hydrogen-bonded solvent complexes in the mixed solvents. Comparison of G _t ^o (i) values for individual ions, obtained by a simultaneous extrapolation procedure, with those in aqueous mixtures of methanol,t-butanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide leads to the conclusion that the solvation of these ions in all these solvents is chiefly dictated by the acid-base type of ion-solvent interactions.     

The Analysis of Cell Contents of Some Papaveraceous Plants by Newly Devised Automated Histochemical Chromatography

Abstract

Contents of the colored cells (alkaloidal cells¹) found in Macleaya cordata root and Sanguinaria canadensis rhizome were analysed quantitatively by histochemical chromatography (HC) with the help of newly modified automated micromanipulator.

These were found to have 4 alkaloids viz protopine type protopine(1) and allocryptopine(2) and benzo- [c]phenanthridine type (sanguinarine(3) and cheleryth-rine(4)) in both the plants. Quantitatively the pro-topine alkaloids were 10-40 ng per cell while the benzo-[c]phenanthridines (as chlorides) were only 1-6 ng per cell in M. cordata root. However, in S. canadensis rhizome the relative quantities of the 4 alkaloids (1), (2), (3) and (4) were found to be 10, 13, 137 and 68 ng per cell respectively.     

The relation between the nonlinear dielectric effect and solvent polarity

The relation between solvent polarity expressed through the Dimroth-Reichardt spectroscopic parameter E _T (30) and the nonlinear dielectric effect (NDE) expressed through the parameter /E² is demonstrated where is a change in the electric permittivity of a solvent in an external strong electric field E. Both E _T (20) and /E², determined in quite different ways, are extremely sensitive to the dielectric properties of a solvent which depend on molecular interactions. Linear correlations between /E² and E _T (30) have been found for n-alkanols representing hydrogenbond donor solvents, and for halogenobenzenes which are dipolar, aprotic, weakly-associated solvents.Part of this work was presented at The 22^nd International Conference on Solution Chemistry in Linz, Austria, July 1991.     

Thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics of intermediates of electrode reactions: A comparative investigation of a number of alkylaryl and alkyl halide radicals by the laser photoemission methods

A comparative investigation of thermodynamic and kinetic properties of a number of alkylaryl intermediates (benzyl and benzhydryl radicals) and alkyl halide intermediates (chloromethyl, dichloromethyl, and trifluoromethyl radicals) is performed by methods of laser photoemission. Techniques, aimed at the determination of thermodynamic and kinetic properties of intermediates (standard potentials E ⁰ of redox pairs R/R^-, standard adsorption free energies -G _a(R) ⁰ , values of rate constants W ⁰ at an equilibrium potential, as well as lifetimes (times of death in the bulk) _R of radicals R and _X of products of their reduction R^-) from a comparison of Tafel plots for quasi-reversible reduction of intermediates with calculated ones and standard potentials E ⁰—from Tafel plots for irreversible electroreduction of intermediates, are presented. The transition from irreversible to quasi-reversible reduction in aprotic solvents at EE ⁰ is observed only in the case of benzyl, benzhydryl, and trifluoromethyl radicals, for which this particular collection of thermodynamic and kinetic properties is obtained, and is not observed for the chloromethyl and dichloromethyl radicals. In this case redox characteristics of intermediates (E ⁰, W ⁰) are estimated from absolute values of rates of their electroreduction. Possible reasons for the differences in the probability of a reversible electron transfer are discussed for the systems studied.Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 2, 2005, pp. 157–174.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Krivenko, Kotkin, Kurmaz.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with corrections to the article note and article title and cover date.     

Electronic Structure, Aromaticity, and Physicochemical Characteristics of Carbene, Radical, and Ionic Forms of Compounds of the Imidazole Series, and their Oxo and Thio Analogs

The effects of benzannellation, phenyl substitution at the nitrogen atom, protonation at the carbene carbon, ionization, and the state of the carbene center (² or ²) on the electronic structure, diamagnetic susceptibility, induced -electron ring currents, the ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁴N chemical shifts, and the energies of the lowest electronic transitions of imidazol-2-ylidenes and their oxo and thio analogs were examined in the bound version of -electron perturbation theory. The calculated and experimental data are compared.     

Chemical behaviour of helium muonide just after muon catalyzed fusion

Chemical behaviour of a helium muonide atom /He^o/ can be understood on the analogy of its hydrogen homologues, muonium /Mu/, deuterium /D^o/ and tritium /T^o/. In muon catalyzed fusion /CF/, a small fraction of negative muon in the fusion cycle sticks to helium to give proton-like He⁺ which easily picks up one electron forming He^o. The energy of He⁺ at birth is about 3.5 MeV being in a similar situation to the case of a hot tritium atom produced by /n, p/ or /n, / reaction. The reaction cross section and rate of He^o reactions are estimated.     

From crown ethers to zeolites: Reaction of EtAlCl2 with crown ethers

In contrast to aluminum alkyls, alkyl aluminum halides such as EtAlCl₂ react with crown ethers to form cation-anion pairs which exhibit the liquid clathrate effect. Specifically, [12-C-4·AlCl₂][AlCl₃Et] and [18-C-6·AlCl₂][AlCl₃Et] have been isolated and characterized by X-ray diffraction techniques. The cations show aluminum in an octahedral environment made up of four of the oxygen atoms from the crown and two chlorine atoms. The 12-C-4 derivative crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with cell constants of a=7.497(4), b=22.121(8), c=12.339(5) Å, =94.99(3)^o, and Z=4 for =1.43 g cm^–3. Least-squares refinement based on 1413 observed reflections led to a final conventional R value of 0.093. The 18-C-6 complex belongs to the triclinic space group P1 with a=8.414(4), b=12.193(6), c=12.394(6) Å, =73.14(4), =86.07(4), =81.52(4)^o, and Z=2 for =1.45 g cm^–3. Refinement based on 2605 observed reflections led to R=0.063. The complex aluminum-containing species are related to a class of compounds called aluminoxanes.     

Nickel(II) and copper(II) – l-cysteine,l-methionine,l-tryptophan-nucleotide ternary complexes

Four new ternary complexes of Cu^II with l-methionine and the nucleotides 5AMP (adenosine 5-phosphate), 5GMP (guanosine 5-phosphate) and 5IMP (inosine 5-phosphate), and with l-tryptophan and 5AMP, were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and i.r. spectroscopy. One ternary complex of N^II with l-cysteine and 5IMP was also prepared and characterized. The study of the three ternary compounds of Cu^II, of general formulae Cu-5NMP-l-methionine, indicates coordination of the phosphate group and of N(7) of the purinic ring. l-Methionine is bound by the carboxylic and amino groups. The ternary complex obtained from a mixture of Cu-5AMP and l-tryptophan is a dimer in which the nucleotide bridges the two copper atoms. In the complex of Ni-5IMP and l-cysteine, the nucleotide seems to bind the metal through the N(7) of the heterocyclic ring, and the l-cysteine is coordinated as a bidentate chelate by the carboxyl and thiol groups. E.s.r. spectra of the copper complexes are in good agreement with the low symmetry structure proposed. The one-electron reduction potentials E_c(Fc⁺/Fc) (V) of Cu^II to Cu^I were established for the four copper complexes from cyclic voltammetry studies. The one-electron oxidation potential E_a(Fc⁺/Fc⁺) (V) of Ni^II to Ni^III was also measured for the nickel complex.     

Infrared spectral analysis during the thermal decomposition of pure and irradiated crystalline NH4ClO4

Variable temperature /303–553 K/ IR spectroscopic studies are made during thermal decomposition of pure and -treated ammonium perchlorate /AP/. Decomposition is enhanced by radiation or in the presence of an additive /Gd₂O₃/. Intensity of the stretching /1100 cm^–1/ and bending /625 cm^–1/ frequencies of ClO ₄ ^– decrease on heating the KBr matrix even below 360 K. Above this temperature, a broad band develops over 480–510 cm^–1 in the pure and -treated AP which is attributed to ClO ₃ ^– /₄/.     

Substrate and Positional Selectivity in Electrophilic Substitution Reactions of Pyrrole, Furan, Thiophene, and Selenophene Derivatives

The relative reactivity (substrate selectivity) of five-membered heterocycles on electrophilic substitution (pyrrole >> furan > selenophene > thiophene) and their positional selectivity (furan > selenophene thiophene > pyrrole) are not consistent. The indicated differences in positional selectivity ( : ratios) of the parent heterocycles show up essentially in orientation on electrophilic substitution reactions of their derivatives and the corresponding benzannelated systems. It was shown that the positional selectivity was reduced in a sequence corresponding to the change in relative stability of the onium states of the elements (O⁺ < Se⁺ S⁺ < N⁺) and reflects the predominant role of the heteroatoms in stabilizing the -complexes formed on -substitution, in which the positive charge is distributed between the heteroatom and one -carbon atom (in -isom ers four atoms of the ring participate in delocalization of the charge). This interpretation was confirmed by quantum-chemical calculations carried out by the RHF/6-31G(d), MP2/6-31G(d)//RHF(6)-31G(d), and B3LYP/6-31G(d) ab initio methods.     

Lower Rim Substituted tert-Butyl calix[4]arenes (I). The Structure and Complexing Properties in Ion-Selective PVC Membrane Electrodes

Some di- and tetraamide tert-butylcalix[4]areneswere synthesized and described. Their ionophoric properties were studied in liquid membrane ion-selective electrodes. The correlation between thechemical structure (conformation in solution determined by ¹H NMR) and potentiometric ion-selectivity and complex formation constant havebeen studied. The PVC membrane electrodes based on tetraamides 8–11 show high sodium selectivity, are stable and long lasting. Disubstituted amides 1–7 are selective for larger and more lipophilic ions, as for exampleguanidinium ion. The crystal structure of the diamide 4 was determined by single crystal X-ray analysis. Crystals of 4 are triclinic, spacegroup P-1, with: a = 16,669(8), b = 17.795(10), c = 20.984(8) Å, =91.08(4)°, = 91.60(3)°, = 90.73(4)° and Z = 4. Ionophore 4 posseses a distorted cone conformation and is substituted at the proximal phenol rings.