Preparation of hollow polymer particles with a single hole in the shell by SaPSeP

The influence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the shell formation of hollow polymer particles prepared by the SaPSeP method, which was proposed by the authors for the preparation of micrometer-sized hollow polymer particles, was investigated. A single hole was observed in the shell of the hollow particles prepared by seeded polymerization of micrometer-sized, monodisperse divinylbenzene/p-xylene droplets in aqueous medium in the presence of SDS at concentrations above 43.3 mM, which were prepared by the dynamic swelling method. The fraction of the hollow particles having a single hole in the shell and the area of the hole increased with the SDS concentration.     

The bystander effect is a novel mechanism of UVA-induced melanogenesis

We successfully identified the bystander effect in B16 murine melanoma cells exposed to UVA irradiation. The effect was identified based on melanogenesis following the medium transfer of the B16 cells, which had been cultured for 24 h after being exposed to UVA irradiation, to nonirradiated cells (bystander cells). Our confirmation study of the functional mechanism of bystander cells confirmed the reduced levels of mitochondrial membrane potential 1-4 h after the medium transfer. In addition, we observed increased levels of intracellular oxidation after 9-12 h, and the generation of melanin radicals, including long-lived radicals, 24 h after medium transfer. Further analysis of bystander factors revealed that the administration of EGTA treatment at the time of medium transfer led to an inhibition of melanogenesis and to neutralization of the mitochondrial membrane potential level, as well as to the restoration of intracellular oxidation levels to those of controls. The results demonstrated that the UVA irradiation bystander effect in B16 cells, as indicated by melanogenesis, was induced by the increase in intracellular oxidation due to the mitochondrial activity of calcium ions, which were among the bystander factors involved in the increase.     

Surface charge density and light-scattering of the Plectonema boryanum spheroplasts

The electrokinetic properties of spheroplasts from the cyanobacterium Plectonema boryanum were examined by particle microelectrophoresis technique. The electrophoretic mobility (EPM) of the particles was determined after incubation with CaCl2 in dependence of iron content in culture media as follows: an iron sufficient medium ('control' variant), an iron-deficient medium ('Fe-starved' variant) and an excess of iron supply medium ('20 x Fe' variant). Strong increase in EPM was observed with micromolar concentrations of divalent cations at '20 x Fe' spheroplasts. This pattern of calcium efficiency was not accompanied with the cation influences on the aggregate ability of particles. The EPM of 'control' spheroplasts strongly decreased with addition of calcium cations. The 'Fe-starved' spheroplasts were characterized with a slight reduction in EPM and a mild change in light-scattering properties of the particles. The data is the direct demonstration of the interaction between calcium cations and spheroplast surface, which could be proposed to play a role in the environmental cycling of iron.     

Growth of kidney epithelial cells in hormone-supplemented, serum-free medium.

Madin Darby canine kidney cells can grow in synthetic medium supplemented with 5 factors--insulin, transferrin, prostaglandin E1, hydrocortisone and triiodothyronine--as a serum substitute. These 5 factors permit growth for one month in the absence of serum, and a growth rate equivalent to that observed in serum-supplemented medium. Dibutyryl cAMP substitutes for prostaglandin E1 in the medium, suggesting that increased growth of Maden Darby canine kidney cells results from increased intracellular cAMP. Potential applications of the serum-free medium are discussed. The medium permits the selective growth of primary epithelial cell cultures in teh absence of fibroblast overgrowth, and a defined analysis of the mechanisms by which hormones regulate hemicyst formation.     

Methyl methacrylate particles with amino groups on the surface: Colloid stability and sorption of biologically active substances

The present article investigates the influence of dispersion medium on the aggregate stability of cross-linked poly-(methyl methacrylate) particles on the surface layer of which aliphatic amino groups are localized. It is shown that particle size depends on the ionic strength of dispersion medium. The research determines the optimal content of cross-linked agent, ethylene glycol dimetharylate that results in the formation of cationic particles being stable in saline. Particle modification is performed by bovine serum albumin and luminophore fluorescein 5(6)-isothiocyanate. Protein sorption is observed not to influence luminescent properties of the particles. It is also determined that due to the aggregate stability of particles obtained from 5?wt% of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate in saline, the monodispersity and the absence of inversion of zeta potential in wide pH range is retained, such particles may be considered as perspective carriers of biologically active substances.     

The sol-gel transition in gelatin viewed by diffusing colloidal probes

This paper reports a dynamic light scattering investigation of the sol-gel transition of gelatin solutions in the presence of latex spheres, which act as local probes for the viscoelasticity of the medium. The experimental procedure allows us to define a local gel time related to the size of the probes. In the sol state and in the gelling solutions, below the gel point, the dependence of the apparent diffusion coefficients of the spheres on correlation times, shows the existence of a fast local diffusion coefficient and of a slow long-term diffusion coefficient, related to viscosity. The behaviour of the fast diffusion coefficient during the course of gelation was quite unexpected, as it remained constant until the moment when the network was formed, when it suddenly started to increase. We propose a model for the diffusion of spherical particles in a viscoelastic medium (Voigt model) by using the Langevin equation. The experimental results are compared to the model. This investigation shows evidence for the coupling between the cooperative movements of the gel network and the local diffusion of the spheres. It illustrates the diffusion of particles through a disordered medium which leads to non-brownian, hypodiffusive regimes.     

Kinetics of heterogeneous free-radical polymerization of vinylidene chloride

Poly(vinylidene chloride) precipitates as a crystalline phase during the polymerization reaction. Under the conditions studied, this phase is made up of complex particles with a lamellar substructure. The detailed morphology is very sensitive to reaction medium. The morphology developed by particles formed during polymerization of vinylidene chloride in dioxane suggests a mechanism of polymerization followed by crystallization. The morphology observed in mass polymerization suggests that both processes occurs simultaneously. Kinetic data, however, suggest a solid-phase reaction mechanism for both cases. The results are analyzed by comparison with a model that takes into account the solid-phase morphology. The theoretical analysis is consistent with experimental results if it is assumed that polymerization occurs on the edges of the lamellar crystals.     

Dynamic distribution of growth rates within the ensembles of colloidal II-VI and III-V semiconductor nanocrystals as a factor governing their photoluminescence efficiency

The distribution of properties within ensembles of colloidally grown II-VI and III-V semiconductor nanocrystals was studied. A drastic difference in the photoluminescence efficiencies of size-selected fractions was observed for both organometallically prepared CdSe and InAs colloids and for CdTe nanocrystals synthesized in aqueous medium, indicating a general character of the phenomenon observed. The difference in the photoluminescence efficiencies is attributed to different averaged surface disorder of the nanocrystals originating from the Ostwald ripening growth mechanism when larger particles in the ensemble grow at the expense of dissolving smaller particles. At any stage of growth, only a fraction of particles within the ensemble of growing colloidal nanocrystals has the most perfect surface and, thus, shows the most efficient photoluminescence. This is explained by a theoretical model describing the evolution of an ensemble of nanocrystals in a colloidal solution. In an ensemble of growing nanocrystals, the fraction of particles with the highest photoluminescence corresponds to the particle size having nearly zero average growth rate. The small average growth rate leads to the lowest possible degree of surface disorder at any given reaction conditions.     

Effect of Rheological Properties of the Dispersion Medium on Separation of Suspensions in Hydrocyclones with Various Working Space Configurations

The model of separation of suspensions with a non-Newtonian dispersion medium in a cylindroconical hydrocyclone, which takes into account the effect of the Coriolis force on solid particles, was constructed and applied to analysis of the rheological properties of the dispersion medium on separation of suspensions in hydrocyclones with various working space configurations.     

Aggregation and charging of colloidal silica particles: effect of particle size

We studied systematically aqueous suspensions of amorphous well-characterized silica particles by potentiometric titration, electrophoretic mobility, and time-resolved light scattering. Their charging behavior and aggregation rate constants were measured as a function of pH and ionic strength in KCl electrolytes for three types of particles of approximately 30, 50, and 80 nm in diameter. The charging behavior was consistent with the basic Stern model; the silica particles carry a negative charge, and its magnitude gradually increases with increasing pH and ionic strength. On the other hand, their early-stage aggregation (or coagulation) behavior is complex. The aggregation of the largest particles shows features resembling predictions of the Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek (DLVO) theory. On one hand, the rate constant decreases sharply with increasing pH at low ionic strengths and attains fast aggregation conditions at high ionic strengths. On the other hand, we observe a characteristic slowing down of the aggregation at low pH and high ionic strengths. This feature becomes very pronounced for the medium and the small particles, leading to a complete stabilization at low pH for the latter. Stabilization is also observed at higher pH for the medium and the small particles. From these aggregation measurements we infer the existence of an additional repulsive force. Its origin is tentatively explained by postulating hairy layers of consisting of poly(silicilic acid) chains on the particle surface.     

Preparation of Micron‐Sized Monodisperse Poly(ionic liquid) Particles

Micron‐sized monodisperse poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) particles, poly([2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide), were prepared by dispersion polymerization at 70 °C in methanol with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) as a stabilizer. The obtained particle size could be controlled by addition of ethanol to the methanol medium while maintaining narrow monodispersity. The PIL particles exhibit unique properties; they can be observed by scanning electron microscopy without platinum coating, which is generally used to avoid an electron charge. Moreover, the solubility of the PIL particles can be easily changed by changing the counter anion, similar to the process for ionic liquids.     

Synthesis of monodisperse anionic submicron polystyrene particles by stabilizer-free dispersion polymerization in alcoholic media

In this work, monodisperse polystyrene (PS) particles were synthesized in ethanol/water medium using sodium salt of styrene sulfonic acid and 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) as ionic comonomer and nonionic initiator, respectively. The polymerization was carried out at low agitation speed, and no stabilizer (or surfactant) was added to the polymerization medium. This polymerization system (stabilizer-free dispersion polymerization) was initiated as a homogeneous solution of monomer, comonomer, medium, and initiator. With the production of free radicals, polymerization developed into a heterogeneous system. The effect of various polymerization conditions on the size and size distribution of the obtained particles was evaluated. The experimental results showed that with an increase in ethanol content, the size of the particles increased while no significant change was observed in particle size distribution. Furthermore, with increasing ionic comonomer content, the size of the particles decreased and their size distribution became broader. Moreover, it was observed that addition of an electrolyte to the polymerization medium also increased the particles’ size and broadened their size distribution. It is noteworthy to point out that the coagulation occurred in higher amounts of electrolyte. Finally, it is concluded that the polar component of Hansen solubility parameter of the polymerization medium affects the particle size and particle size distribution greatly.     

Model of aggregation of colloidal fine particles in the presence of supersized polymer

A simple model of the process of stabilization and destabilization of fine colloidal suspensions induced by supersized linear polymers has been tested by the direct simulation method. In the model, a single polymer molecule may bind a number of colloidal particles and thus form an aggregate. It is assumed that a simultaneous attachment of a few fine particles to one macromolecule does not necessarily destabilize the suspension. The destabilization of the system (occurring if aggregate sedimentation dominates its diffusion ability) takes place only when the number of the attached particles per macromolecule exceeds the critical value which depends on the polymer coil dimension in the dispersion medium. The model permits interpretation of several experimental observations of the behavior of colloidal sols upon introduction of very high molecularweight polymers. The simulation results have been compared with the experimental data on the effect of polyacrylamide on the stability of AgI sol.     

Morphology of micron-sized polystyrene particles crosslinked with urethane acrylate

The morphology of micron-sized polystyrene particles crosslinked with a urethane acrylate crosslinker was studied with different concentrations of urethane acrylate and medium solvency by means of simple dispersion polymerization. The urethane acrylate employed as a crosslinker showed an excellent effect on maintaining the monodispersity of the polystyrene particles at a moderate crosslinker concentration (to about 5 wt%) in terms of the monomer-swellable surface of primary particles. By enhancing the medium solvency, the amount of urethane acrylate incorporated was increased, while the monodispersity of the final particles was maintained. It was believed that the increase in solvency on adding xylene to ethanol solution helped the diffusion of the styrene monomers into the primary particles. At high concentration of urethane acrylate, however, nonspherical particles, ellipsoidal or egg-like singlets and asymmetric doublets, were observed. The increased crosslinking density seemed to repel the styrene monomers during particle growth. Received: 30 June 1998 Accepted in revised form: 9 September 1998     

Preparation of nonspherical particles via dual-seeded dispersion polymerization in the presence of saturated hydrocarbon droplets

In this study, the effect of various polymerization conditions on the shape of the particles produced by dual-seeded dispersion polymerization of a second monomer with polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) seed particles in the presence of saturated hydrocarbon droplets in a polar media was discussed. It was observed that with changing the affinity between the hydrocarbon and PS seed particles, second monomer type, polarity, and alcohol type of the medium nonspherical particles with a variety of shapes can be produced. Furthermore, we suggested that the presence of PMMA seed particles in the medium affects the distribution of the second polymer domains on the surface of the PS seed particles in addition to the absorbed amount of the hydrocarbon by PS particles and second polymer domains and the distribution of the hydrocarbon between them. Moreover, the experimental results showed that almond shell-like PS particles can be prepared under certain conditions.     

Theoretical and experimental analysis of negative dielectrophoresis-induced particle trajectories

Many biomedical analysis applications require trapping and manipulating single cells and cell clusters within microfluidic devices. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a label-free technique that can achieve flexible cell trapping, without physical barriers, using electric field gradients created in the device by an electrode microarray. Little is known about how fluid flow forces created by the electrodes, such as thermally driven convection and electroosmosis, affect DEP-based cell capture under high conductance media conditions that simulate physiologically relevant fluids such as blood or plasma. Here, we compare theoretical trajectories of particles under the influence of negative DEP (nDEP) with observed trajectories of real particles in a high conductance buffer. We used 10-µm diameter polystyrene beads as model cells and tracked their trajectories in the DEP microfluidic chip. The theoretical nDEP trajectories were in close agreement with the observed particle behavior. This agreement indicates that the movement of the particles was highly dominated by the DEP force and that contributions from thermal- and electroosmotic-driven flows were negligible under these experimental conditions. The analysis protocol developed here offers a strategy that can be applied to future studies with different applied voltages, frequencies, conductivities, and polarization properties of the targeted particles and surrounding medium. These findings motivate further DEP device development to manipulate particle trajectories for trapping applications.     

An overview of the bipartition model for charged particle transport

This paper systematically summarizes the progress to date and developments of the bipartition model, including its basic ideas and concepts, main mathematical formulae and numerical methods, and its relevant applications. The model has been extended from a transport theory for electrons in the medium energy range to a unified and accurate transport theory of charged particles, covering ion transport, atomic cascade collisions, particle emission from a surface including sputtering and the penetration of electrons in the radiation therapy energy range. The thirty figures in total give an extensive comparison between the results given by using the bipartition model and the data taken from other theories and experimental measurements, which shows that the bipartition model is an accurate, powerful and unified transport theory of charged particles. Some research being done using the bipartition model is mentioned briefly at the end of this paper.     

Sedimentation of concentrated spherical particles with a charge-regulated surface

The sedimentation of a concentrated colloidal dispersion is examined for the case of an arbitrary double-layer thickness. Here, a general mixed-type condition on particle surface is assumed, and the classic models, which assume constant surface properties, can be recovered as the special cases of the present analysis. In particular, the behavior of biological cells, which carry dissociable functional groups on their surfaces, and particles, which are capable of exchanging ions with the surrounding medium, can be simulated by the present model. The mixed-type boundary condition leads to several interesting results in both sedimentation velocity and sedimentation potential as double-layer thickness and the concentration of particles vary.     

A Non‐Enzymatic Carbohydrate Sensor Based on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Modified with Adsorbed Active Gold Particles

The voltammetric behavior of a glassy carbon electrode modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and Au particles was studied in alkaline medium towards the electrooxidation of some carbohydrates used as model compounds. The influence of carbohydrate concentration and scan rate on peak potentials, peak currents, etc., observed at the modified electrode was evaluated and critically discussed. The Au particles dispersed into multiwalled carbon nanotubes structures showed favorable electrocatalytic and analytical properties towards the electrooxidation of xylose and glucose molecules. Atomic force microscopy performed on the resulting modified electrode showed a well‐efficient 3D distribution of Au active particles having sharp‐edged and elongated grains along bundles of the MWCNTs. The three‐dimensional MWCNT‐Au composite structure of the catalyst act as a promoter to enhance the diffusive character of recorded currents and probably also increases the rate of the heterogeneous electron transfer of the electrooxidation process considered.     

Hydrodynamic permeability of biporous membrane

This paper concerns the hydrodynamic permeability of biporous medium built up by porous cylindrical particles located in another porous medium by using cell model technique. It is continuation of the previous work of authors where biporous membrane was built up by porous spherical particles embedded in accompanying porous medium. Four known boundary conditions, namely, Happel’s, Kuwabara’s, Kvashnin’s and Cunningham/Mehta-Morse’s, are considered on the outer surface of the cell. The variation of hydrodynamic permeability of biporous medium (membrane) with viscosity ratio, Brinkman constants, and solid fraction are presented and discussed graphically. Comparison of the resulting hydrodynamic permeability is undertaken. Some previous results for dimensionless hydrodynamic permeability have been verified.