Sensitivity of drainage and imbibition to pore structures as revealed by computer simulation of displacement process

This work concerns the effects of the properties of porous media on two phase fluid displacement at slow rates. These properties include the size frequency distributions, shape and connectivity of pores and throats, the size correlation of directly connected throats and pores and the spatial arrangement of pores and throats in porous media. Computer simulations using 3-dimensional networks of pores and throats were used to determine the effects of these properties on the form of primary and secondary drainage curves, imbibition curves and scanning loops of a capillary pressure diagram.The application of the results is in deriving information about the structure of a porous medium from capillary pressure curves and understanding how predictions about the form of relative permeability curves can be made from capillary pressure curves.The concepts of finite and infinite throat and pore controlled domains are applied during the filling and emptying of a network. These concepts are then combined with considerations of the accessibility of network sites to non-wetting phase or wetting phase sources and sinks to provide information about the amounts and distribution of continuous and discontinuous wetting phase (wp) and non-wetting phase (nwp) at any stage of a displacement. The distribution of fluids Is strictly controlled by the domains. It is shown that recognition of the types, abundance and distribution of domains provides a fundamental basis for understanding boundary effects, differences in tortuosity in porous systems containing two immiscible phases, breakthrough pressures, and saturations, differences in nwp withdrawal efficiency between uncorrelated and correlated pore-throat size models, differences in hysteresis between drainage and imbibition and differences in the shapes of capillary pressure and relative permeability curves for various types of porous structures.     

丙烯酸酯及苯乙烯微乳体系的相行为及微乳聚合

甲基丙烯酸甲酯;十二烷基磺酸钠;十二烷基磺酸钠;丙烯酸酯及苯乙烯微乳体系的相行为及微乳聚合     

Influences of Solvent on Properties of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Porous Films Prepared by a Sol-Gel Method from the System Containing PEG

Ethanol, n-butanol, mixed ethanol/terpineol and ethanol/1-decanol were used as the solvents to prepare porous TiO₂ films by the sol-gel method from the system containing tetrabutylorthotitanate as starting material and PEG as a template. The comparison of effects of the four solvents on the porous structure, film thickness, crystallization behavior from amorphous to anatase and optical properties of the resultant TiO₂ porous films are discussed. The maximum thickness of the film prepared by one-run dip-coating reaches over 1.17 μm when 1-decanol is used as the solvent. The mechanism for formation of the porous structure is interpreted based on the phase separation and self-assembly of PEG in the sol systems.     

Highly Stable Amorphous Calcium Phosphate Porous Nanospheres: Microwave‐Assisted Rapid Synthesis Using ATP as Phosphorus Source and Stabilizer,and Their Application in Anticancer Drug Delivery

Highly stable amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) porous nanospheres with a relatively uniform size and an average pore diameter of about 10 nm have been synthesized by using a microwave‐assisted hydrothermal method with adenosine 5′‐triphosphate disodium salt (ATP) as the phosphorus source and stabilizer. The as‐prepared ACP porous nanospheres have a high stability in the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution for more than 150 h without phase transformation to hydroxyapatite, and the morphology and size were essentially not changed. The important role of ATP and effects of experimental conditions on the formation of ACP porous nanospheres were also investigated. The ACP porous nanospheres were characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This method is facile, rapid, surfactant‐free and environmentally friendly. The as‐prepared ACP porous nanospheres are efficient for anticancer drug (docetaxel) loading and release. The ACP porous nanosphere drug‐delivery system with docetaxel shows a high ability to damage tumor cells, thus, is promising for the application in anticancer treatment.     

聚合物分子量对热致相分离法制备聚乙烯微孔滤膜的影响

选取不同分子量的聚乙烯/二苯醚作为聚合物稀释剂体系,通过浊点及结晶温度绘制了体系的热力学相图;并在不同淬冷温度下,通过热致相分离法制备了聚乙烯微孔滤膜。讨论了聚合物分子量及淬冷温度对成膜孔结构的影响。结果表明:聚合物的分子量不仅影响微孔滤膜断面的孔径,还影响其形态和结构。     

Kinetic plot method as a tool to design coupled column systems producing 100,000 theoretical plates in the shortest possible time

The present paper reports on the possibility to use the kinetic plot method (KPM) to select and design the best possible system to achieve a given number (100,000) of theoretical plates for a pharmaceutical test mixture, using the information obtained from a series of single column performance measurements of sub-2microm and supra-2microm porous shell particles conducted at three different temperatures and using mixtures of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid in water as the mobile phase. Because the KPM involves an extrapolation to different column lengths, the quality of the design was subsequently verified by coupling several columns to achieve the optimal total column length and run the actual analysis at the calculated optimal flow rate. The prediction error was generally better than 10%, with a slightly better prediction for t(0) and N than for the retention time t(R). The sub-2microm and the porous shell particle coupled column systems achieve the 100,000 plates about equally fast, despite the fact that the former were used at 1000bar and the latter only at 600bar. The high temperature operation (80 degrees C) yielded the fastest separation in both cases, allowing to reach 100,000 plates for a component eluting at k'=2.5 in only about 15min.     

Preparation of uniform-sized pH-sensitive quaternized chitosan microsphere by combining membrane emulsification technique and thermal-gelation method

In this study, uniform-sized pH-sensitive quaternized chitosan microsphere was prepared by combining Shirasu porous glass (SPG) membrane emulsification technique and a novel thermal-gelation method. In this preparation process, the mixture of quaternized chitosan solution and alpha-beta-glycerophosphate (alpha-beta-GP) was used as water phase and dispersed in oil phase to form uniform W/O emulsion by SPG membrane emulsification technique. The droplets solidified into microspheres at 37 degrees C by thermal-gelation method. The whole process was simple and mild. The influence of process conditions on the property of prepared microspheres was investigated and the optimized preparation condition was obtained. As a result, the coefficient of variation (C.V.) of obtained microspheres diameters was below 15%. The obtained microsphere had porous structure and showed apparent pH-sensitivity. It dissolved rapidly in acid solution (pH 5) and kept stable in neutral solution (pH 7.4). The pH-sensitivity of microspheres also affected its drug release behavior. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model drug was encapsulated in microspheres, and it was released rapidly in acid solution and slowly in neutral medium. The novel quaternized chitosan microspheres with pH-sensitivity can be used as drug delivery system in the biomedical field, such as tumor-targeted drug carrier.     

Hydrodynamic Permeability of the Membrane as a System of Rigid Particles Covered with Porous Layer (Cell Model)

Problem of uniform flow of viscous, incompressible liquid around a rigid particle covered with porous layer and located inside the spherical cell was solved at small Reynolds numbers. In order to describe the motion of liquid within porous layer, the Brinkman equations were used. Based on the Happel and Brenner cell method, the hydrodynamic permeability of the membrane consisting of the system of porous particles with rigid impermeable cores was calculated.     

Synthesis and properties of σ-π conjugated porous polymers obtained with Mizoroki–Heck reaction of tetra vinyl cyclic siloxane with dibromo fluorene

σ-π Conjugated porous polymers were synthesized by the Mizoroki–Heck reaction of cyclic siloxane with vinyl groups, 1,3,5,7-tetravinyltetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TVMCTS), and 2,7-dibromo-9,9-dialkylfluorene (RFl) compounds, using a Pd catalyst in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at 100°C. The reactions of TVMCTS in combination with 2,7-dibromo-9,9-dihexylfluorene (HFl), 2,7-dibromo-9,9-dioctylfluorene (OFl), and 2,7-dibromo-9,9-ethylhexylfluorene (EHFl) yielded porous polymers whose morphologies were induced by phase separation during the network formation. The reactions in combination with binary RFl systems, TVMCTS-HFl/OFl, and HFl/EHFl systems, also yielded porous polymers. Scanning electron microscope images showed porous structures, which were composed by connected globules and/or isolated-deformed holes. The long and branching structure of the alkyl side chains in RFl decreased Young's modulus of porous polymers in compression test. The porous polymers showed emission derived from σ-π conjugated fluorene units on photo excitation. An increase in monomer concentration in the reaction induced red shifts of the emission bands of the porous polymer due to π-stacking of the fluorene units. The porous polymers showed relatively high fluorescence quantum yields of about 0.2–0.3. Quantum yield of the porous polymers with HFl decreased with increasing monomer concentration in the reaction systems.     

The encapsulation of an amphiphile into polystyrene microspheres of narrow size distribution

ABSTRACT: Encapsulation of compounds into nano- or microsized organic particles of narrow size distribution is of increasing importance in fields of advanced imaging and diagnostic techniques and drug delivery systems. The main technology currently used for encapsulation of molecules within uniform template particles while retaining their size distribution is based on particle swelling methodology, involving penetration of emulsion droplets into the particles. The swelling method, however, is efficient for encapsulation only of hydrophobic compounds within hydrophobic template particles. In order to be encapsulated, the molecules must favor the hydrophobic phase of an organic/aqueous biphasic system, which is not easily achieved for molecules of amphiphilic character.The following work overcomes this difficulty by presenting a new method for encapsulation of amphiphilic molecules within uniform hydrophobic particles. We use hydrogen bonding of acid and base, combined with a pseudo salting out effect, for the entrapment of the amphiphile in the organic phase of a biphasic system. Following the entrapment in the organic phase, we demonstrated, using fluorescein and (antibiotic) tetracycline as model molecules, that the swelling method usually used only for hydrophobes can be expanded and applied to amphiphilic molecules.     

Shear-driven pumping and Fourier transform detection for on chip circular chromatography applications

A circular, shear-driven pumping system combined with Fourier Transform detection has been developed for the application of chip based cyclic chromatography. Using this system, it is possible to perform an injection of a sample plug into a circular micro-channel and then drive the sample through the channel, using shear flow induced by a rotation stage. High pumping rates at uniform speeds are attainable with this system with very little heat production. Typical pumping rates of up to 1.423 mm s(-1) +/- 2 microm s(-1) were used in experiments although much higher rates >14 mm s(-1) are also possible with this system. Fluorescence detection was used to detect a sample plug of Coumarin dyes, flowing around the channel. A coating of porous polymethacrylate was used to immobilise RP-HPLC beads onto the glass surface and was applied to the glass micro-channel by selective photopolymerisation. This coating acted as a stationary phase and differences in retention time were observed for an injection of Coumarin dyes for different methanol-water, mobile phase ratios. Full sample retention occurred for 30 : 70 (v/v) methanol-water whereas no retention occurred for 92 : 8 (v/v) methanol-water which can be expected for such a reverse phase, open tubular system. Fourier transform detection applied to the fully retained and non-retained cases showed frequency domain data from a single detection point corresponding to that which may be expected from shear flow theory.     

新型聚合物多孔涂层毛细管开管柱的制备及电色谱研究

以甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯(GMA)和乙二醇二甲基丙烯酸酯(EDMA)为前驱体制备了新型聚合物多孔涂层毛细管开管(PLOT)柱固定相。通过优化聚合反应时间、致孔剂比例及交联剂比例获得了色谱性能良好的PLOT柱,扫描电镜结果显示毛细管柱内的多孔涂层厚度适中且均匀。在毛细管电色谱模式下,PLOT柱以反相色谱分离机理有效分离了中性、酸性和碱性小分子。人血清白蛋白(HSA)共价结合的蛋白亲和PLOT柱对5对手性对映体实现了较好的分离,且其分离度远高于HSA修饰的单层聚合物毛细管开管柱。PLOT柱分离烷基苯的日内、日间和柱间的相对标准偏差分别小于1.7%、4.8%和7.8%。     

Highly porous core-shell polymeric fiber network

Core-shell nanofibers are of great interest in the field of tissue engineering and cell biology. We fabricated porous core-shell fiber networks using an electrospinning system with a water-immersed collector. We hypothesized that the phase separation and solvent evaporation process would enable the control of the pore formation on the core-shell fiber networks. To synthesize porous core-shell fiber networks, we used polycaprolactone (PCL) and gelatin. Quantitative analysis showed that the sizes of gelatin-PCL core-shell nanofibers increased with PCL concentrations. We also observed that the shapes of the pores created on the PCL fiber networks were elongated, whereas the gelatin-PCL core-shell fiber networks had circular pores. The surface areas of porous nanofibers were larger than those of the nonporous nanofibers due to the highly volatile solvent and phase separation process. The porous core-shell fiber network was also used as a matrix to culture various cell types, such as embryonic stem cells, breast cancer cells, and fibroblast cells. Therefore, this porous core-shell polymeric fiber network could be a potentially powerful tool for tissue engineering and biological applications.     

Increasing robustness and sensitivity of protein microarrays through microagitation and automation

Assay systems that employ protein microarrays for the analysis of complex samples are powerful tools to generate a high amount of data from a limiting amount of sample. Due to miniaturization, these systems are susceptible to fluctuations during signal generation and the use of uniform conditions for sample incubation and during the assay procedure is required to get reproducible results. Diffusion limits may prevent constant conditions on all parts of the array and can lead to the decease of the sensitivity of the array. Therefore, we set-up an automated assay system integrating a novel microagitation device using surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology. Multiplexed assays for the detection of autoantibodies from human serum and sandwich immunoassay for the detection of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) were used to evaluate the system. Diffusion-rate limited solid phase reactions were enhanced by microagitation using the SAW technology resulting in up to three-fold higher signals.     

System Maps for Retention of Small Neutral Compounds on a Superficially Porous Ethyl-Bridged,Octadecylsiloxane-Bonded Silica Stationary Phase in Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography

The system constants of the solvation parameter model are used to prepare system maps for the retention of small neutral compounds on an ethyl-bridged, ocatadecylsiloxane-bonded superficially porous silica stationary phase (Kinetex EVO C18) for aqueous mobile phases containing 10–70% (v/v) methanol or acetonitrile. Electrostatic interactions (cation-exchange) are important for the retention of weak bases with acetonitrile–water but not methanol–water mobile phase compositions. Compared with a superficially porous octadecylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase (Kinetex C18) with a similar morphology but different topology statistically significant differences in selectivity at the 95% confidence level are observed for neutral compounds that vary by size and hydrogen-bond basicity with other intermolecular interactions roughly similar. These selectivity differences are dampened with acetonitrile–water mobile phases, but are significant for methanol–water mobile phase compositions containing <30% (v/v) methanol. A comparison of a totally porous ethyl-bridged, octadecylsiloxane-bonded silica stationary phase (XBridge C18) with Kinetex EVO C18 indicated that they are effectively selectivity equivalent.     

Evaluation of reversed phase columns designed for polar compounds and porous graphitic carbon in "trapping" and separating neurotransmitters

Quantification of neurotransmitters as biologically active analytes in neurological samples is of high interest for studying their effect on multiple targets. This work is part of a strategy involving two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D LC) system with mass spectrometry (MS) detection. The concept of the on-line LC system is the coupling of reversed phase liquid chromatography (RPLC, the second separation dimension) to ion-exchange chromatography (IEC, the first dimension). Our objective in this study is to find the appropriate second dimension column, ensuring that samples of neurotransmitters are refocused and separated on it. Silica-based columns designed specifically to retain polar compounds were tested in LC conditions and compared with results obtained with a porous graphitic carbon (PGC, Hypercarb) column. These polar embedded, polar endcapped, and high-density alkyl chain columns successfully separated analytes in question using mobile phase systems with high percentage of water, or even pure water. Only Hypercarb column provided efficient retention of the most polar neurotransmitters and could be used for trapping and preconcentrating the compounds without rapid breakthrough.     

Silica with Bimodal Pores for Solid Catalysts Prepared from Water Glass

The comparison of bimodal pore structures between silica gels prepared from silicon alkoxide and from water glass was performed based on the results of phase separation tendency, mesopore formation, and atomic scale observation using ²⁹Si NMR. Macropore structure could be controlled for both the raw material systems by inducing phase separation. Although the gelation in the water glass system is much faster than that in the silicon alkoxide system, there is little difference in the atomic scale structure, mesopore evolution during processing, and phase separation tendency. The results suggest that the obtained bimodal porous silica from water glass is essentially the same as that from silicon alkoxide. Because of the low cost of water glass, water-glass-derived bimodal porous silica is applicable to industrial use.     

Cardiolipin, a key component to mimic the E. coli bacterial membrane in model systems revealed by dynamic light scattering and steady-state fluorescence anisotropy

The phase transition temperatures of several lipidic systems were determined using two different techniques: dynamic light scattering (DLS) and steady-state fluorescence anisotropy, using two fluorescent probes that report different membrane regions (TMA-DPH and DPH). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used as a complementary technique to characterize different lipid model systems under study. The systems were chosen due to the increased interest in bacterial membrane studies due to the problem of antibiotic drug resistance. The simpler models studied comprised of mixtures of POPE and POPG lipids, which form a commonly used model system for Escherichia coli membranes. Given the important role of cardiolipin (CL) in natural membranes, a ternary model system, POPE/POPG/CL, was then considered. The results obtained in these mimetic systems were compared with those obtained for the natural systems E. coli polar and total lipid extract. DLS and fluorescence anisotropy are not commonly used to study lipid phase transitions, but it was shown that they can give useful information about the thermotropic behaviors of model systems for bacterial membranes. These two techniques provided very similar results, validating their use as methods to measure phase transitions in lipid model systems. The temperature transitions obtained from these two very different techniques and the AFM results clearly show that cardiolipin is a fundamental component to mimic bacteria membranes. The results suggest that the less commonly used ternary system is a considerably better mimic for natural E. coli membranes than binary lipid mixture.     

扩散致相转化法制备结晶性聚合物多孔膜

介绍了扩散致相转化法制备结晶性聚合物多孔膜的研究现状。其三元等温成膜体系的相图包含液-液分相和固-液分相两种相分离方式,是理解成膜过程的重要工具,总结了成膜机理和膜的结构形貌：单纯S-L相分离生成粒子状对称膜结构;单纯L-L相分离生成蜂窝状非对称膜结构;两种相分离方式竞争发生将生成多样的混合膜结构。铸膜液浓度、非溶剂种类、铸膜溶剂组成、凝胶浴组成、制膜温度是影响膜结构形貌的主要因素。     

离子液体中电沉积制备钴纳米线阵列

Porous anodic alumina (PAA) was used as a template to prepare Co nanowires array from 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid by direct current method. The surface morphology of porous anodic alumina template was observed by field emission-scanning tunneling microscopy (FE-SEM) before and after the electrodeposition of Co nanowires. The electrodeposition of Co nanowires was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). TEM results indicate that the Co nanowire surface is coarse and porous when aqueous solution was used as electrolyte， and the Co nanowire deposited from the ionic liquid is uniform and smooth. XRD results show that the electrodeposition of Co is a mixture of crystal and microcrystal phase.