Poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(ethylene imine) block copolymers as templates and catalysts for the in situ formation of monodisperse silica nanospheres

Block copolymers based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) are efficient catalysts/templates for the formation of uniform silica nanoparticles. Addition of tetraethylorthosilicate to a solution of PEO–PEI or PEI–PEO–PEI block copolymers results in the formation of silica particles with a diameter of ca. 30 nm and narrow size distribution. The particles precipitated with the diblock copolymers can be redispersed in water after isolation as individual nanoparticles. Evidently, block copolymers based on PEO and PEI serve as excellent templates for the biomimetic and “soft” synthesis of silica nanoparticles.

Analysis of complex polymers by multidetector field-flow fractionation

Field-flow fractionation (FFF) is a powerful alternative to column-based polymer fractionation methods such as size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) or interaction chromatography (IC). The most common polymer fractionation method, SEC, has its limitations when polymers with very high molar masses or complex structures must be analysed. Another limitation of all column-based methods is that the samples must be filtered before analysis and shear degradation of large macromolecules may be caused by the stationary phase and/or the column frits. Finally, the separation of very polar polymers may be a challenge because such polymers interact very strongly with the stationary phase, causing irreversible adsorption or other negative effects. This article reviews the latest developments in field-flow fractionation of complex polymers. It is demonstrated that some of the limitations of column-based chromatography can be overcome by FFF. When appropriate, results from column-based fractionations are compared with those from FFF fractionations to highlight the specific merits and challenges of each method. In addition to the fractionations themselves, various detector setups are discussed to show that different polymer distributions require different experimental procedures. Examples are given of the analysis of molar mass distribution, chemical composition, and microstructure. Advanced detector combinations are discussed, most prominently the very recently developed coupling to ¹H NMR. Finally, analysis of polymer nanocomposites by asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AF4)–FTIR is presented.

Charges of soluble amphiphiles and particles: random and diblock copolymerizations of MAA/AAm,MAA/St,and MAA/4VP in ethanol

Random and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerizations of methacrylic acid (MAA)/acrylamide (AAm), MAA/styrene (St), and MAA/4-vinyl pyridine (4VP) were carried out in ethanol. (CPDB)-terminated PMAA (PMAA-CPDB) and 2,2′-azobis(2,4-diemthylvaleronitrile) (V-65) was used as the macromolecular chain transfer agent (CTA) and initiator, respectively. Electric conductivity of copolymerization systems was traced throughout the polymerizations, and charges of soluble copolymer and particles were detected. As a result, a considerable increase of conductivity was observed in all of the RAFT polymerization systems, whereas the variation of conductivity in the random copolymerization systems was insignificant. The high conductivity of RAFT polymerization was dominantly contributed by the soluble diblock copolymers in the serum, rather than their particles, except for P(MAA-b-4VP) where only the particles was obtained due to the zwitterionic interactions of PMAA segments and 4VP. In the direct current (DC) field, the behavior of these soluble diblock copolymers, P(MAA-b-AAM) and P(MAA-b-St), indicated that they were positively charged, whereas the particles of (PMAA-b-AAm) and P(MAA-b-4VP) were surprisingly negatively charged, though the composition of MAA was dominant. Soluble random copolymers of P(MAA-co-St) and P(MAA-co-4VP) represented the charge neutrality. These results indicated that the positive charges were contributed by the solvophobic block in the soluble diblock copolymers. Therefore, the diblock copolymers were the macrodipoles boosting the conductivity of solution. Meanwhile, it indicated that the electrostatic interactions of dipoles were possibly the main driving force of their self-assembly. Generally, compared with RAFT polymerization, the particles were hard to be prepared in the random copolymerization. It implies that the electrostatic interactions of diblock copolymers also played an important role in the particle formation.

Characterization of oat proteins and aggregates using asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation

The soluble proteins and protein aggregates in Belinda oats were characterized using asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) coupled with online UV–vis spectroscopy and multiangle light-scattering detection (MALS). Fractions from the AF4 separation were collected and further characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The AF4 fractogram of the oat extracts revealed three peaks which were determined to be monomeric forms of soluble proteins, globulin aggregates, and β-glucan, respectively. The early eluting monomeric proteins ranged in molar mass (MM) between 5 and 90 kg/mol and in hydrodynamic diameter (D _h) from 1.6 to 13 nm. The MM at peak maximum of the globulin aggregate peak was found to be ～300 kg/mol and the D _h was measured to be ～20 nm. SDS-PAGE of the collected fraction across this peak revealed two bands with MM of 37 and 27 kg/mol which correspond to the α and β subunits of globulin indicating the elution of globulin aggregates. A third peak at long retention time was determined to be β-glucan through treatment of the oat extract with β-glucanase and by injection of β-glucan standards. The amount of soluble protein was measured to be 83.1?±?2.3 wt.%, and the amount of albumin proteins was measured to be 17.6?±?5.7 wt.% of the total protein in the oats. The results for Belinda oat extracts show that the AF4-MALS/UV platform is capable of characterizing the physicochemical properties such as MM and hydrodynamic size distribution of proteins and protein aggregates within a complicated food matrix environment and without the need to generate protein isolates.

Characterization of hyperbranched glycopolymers produced in vitro using enzymes

Asymmetrical flow field flow fractionation (AF4) has proven to be a very powerful and quantitative method for the determination of the macromolecular structure of high molar mass branched biopolymers, when coupled with multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS). This work describes a detailed investigation of the macromolecular structure of native glycogens and hyperbranched α-glucans (HBPs), with average molar mass ranging from 2?×?10⁶ to 4.3?×?10⁷ g mol^?1, which are not well fractionated by means of classical size-exclusion chromatography. HBPs were enzymatically produced from sucrose by the tandem action of an amylosucrase and a branching enzyme mimicking in vitro the elongation and branching steps involved in glycogen biosynthesis. Size and molar mass distributions were studied by AF4, coupled with online quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS) and transmission electron microscopy. AF4-MALLS-QELS has shown a remarkable agreement between hydrodynamic radii obtained by online QELS and by AF4 theory in normal mode with constant cross flow. Molar mass, size, and dispersity were shown to significantly increase with initial sucrose concentration, and to decrease when the branching enzyme activity increases. Several populations with different size range were observed: the amount of small size molecules decreasing with increasing sucrose concentration. The spherical and dense global conformation thus highlighted was partly similar to native glycogens. A more detailed study of HBPs synthesized from low and high initial sucrose concentrations was performed using complementary enzymatic hydrolysis of external chains and chromatography. It emphasized a more homogeneous branching pattern than native glycogens with a denser core and shorter external chains.

Improved chemical composition separation of ethylene–propylene random copolymers by high-temperature solvent gradient interaction chromatography

High-temperature solvent gradient interaction chromatography (HT-SGIC) is a fast and efficient fractionation technique for the chemical composition analysis of olefin copolymers. The separation of ethylene–propylene random copolymers (EPRs) was achieved on a graphitic stationary phase, Hypercarb, at 160 °C by using linear solvent gradient elution from 1-decanol to 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB). In the present work, the solvent gradient profile was modified to improve the chromatographic separation of EPRs. With the aim to obtain a better resolution in separation, a slow increase in the volume fraction of TCB was applied. This allowed for a relatively large retention region for linear polyethylene (PE) chains on the column; thereby, a broader elution volume zone between the start of the gradient and the PE elution was achieved. The efficiency of this new gradient profile was demonstrated by analysing two fully amorphous EPR samples. Clear differences in the chemical composition of these EPR samples with similar ethylene contents have been proven by using this modified solvent gradient. The comprehensive chemical composition and microstructure analysis of the SGIC-separated fractions by FTIR revealed that ethylene/propylene (EP) copolymer chains were eluted according to their ethylene/propylene contents and E or P sequence lengths, even though they are distributed in a random manner. These results showed that the solvent composition is an important factor to affect the interactive adsorption or desorption behaviour of EP chains on Hypercarb. In this way, for the first time, the determination of the complex composition and chain structure of EPR samples was achieved within short analysis time, which is not possible till now using other fractionation techniques reported.

PEGylated gold nanorod separation based on aspect ratio: characterization by asymmetric-flow field flow fractionation with UV-Vis detection

The development of highly efficient asymmetric-flow field flow fractionation (A4F) methodology for biocompatible PEGylated gold nanorods (GNR) without the need for surfactants in the mobile phase is presented. We report on the potential of A4F for rapid separation by evaluating the efficiency of functionalized surface coverage in terms of fractionation, retention time (t _R ) shifts, and population analysis. By optimizing the fractionation conditions, we observed that the mechanism of separation for PEGylated GNRs by A4F is the same as that for CTAB stabilized GNRs (i.e., according to their AR) which confirms that the elution mechanism is not dependent on the surface charge of the analytes and/or the membrane. In addition, we demonstrated that A4F can distinguish different surface coverage populations of PEGylated GNRs. The data established that a change in M_w of the functional group and/or surface orientation can be detected and fractionated by A4F. The findings in this study provide the foundation for a complete separation and physicochemical analysis of GNRs and their surface coatings, which can provide accurate and reproducible characterization critical to advancing biomedical research.

Heterotelechelic homopolymers mimicking high χ – ultralow N block copolymers with sub-2 nm domain size

Three fluorinated, hydrophobic initiators have been utilised for the synthesis of low molecular mass fluoro-poly(acrylic acid) heterotelechelic homopolymers to mimic high chi (χ)–low N diblock copolymers with ultrafine domains of sub-2 nm length scale. Polymers were obtained by a simple photoinduced copper(ii)-mediated reversible-deactivation radical polymerisation (Cu-RDRP) affording low molecular mass (<3 kDa) and low dispersity (Đ = 1.04–1.21) homopolymers. Heating/cooling ramps were performed on bulk samples (ca. 250 μm thick) to obtain thermodynamically stable nanomorpologies of lamellar (LAM) or hexagonally packed cylinders (HEX), as deduced by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Construction of the experimental phase diagram alongside a detailed theoretical model demonstrated typical rod–coil block copolymer phase behaviour for these fluoro-poly(acrylic acid) homopolymers, where the fluorinated initiator-derived segment acts as a rod and the poly(acrylic acid) as a coil. This work reveals that these telechelic homopolymers mimic high χ-ultralow N diblock copolymers and enables reproducible targeting of nanomorphologies with incredibly small, tunable domain size.

Three fluorinated, hydrophobic initiators have been used for the synthesis of low molecular mass fluoro-poly(acrylic acid) heterotelechelic homopolymers to mimic high chi (χ)–low N diblock copolymers with ultrafine domains of sub-2 nm length scale.     

The coupling of rapidly synergistic cloud point extraction with thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Rapidly synergistic cloud point extraction (RS-CPE) was coupled with thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (TS-FF-AAS) to result in new CPE patterns and accelerated (1?min) protocols. It is demonstrated, for the case of copper (II) ion, that TS-FF-AAS improves the sampling efficiency and the sensitivity of FAAS determinations. Problems of nebulization associated with previous methods based on the coupling of FAAS and RS-CPE are overcome. TS-FF-AAS also improves sensitivity and gives a limit of detection for copper of 0.20?μg?L^-1, which is better by a factor of 32. Compared to direct FAAS, the factor is 114.

Novel μ-membrane module for online determination of the free fatty acid content in the dispersed phase of oil-in-water emulsions

Monitoring the dispersed phase of an oil-in-water (O–W) emulsion by means of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a challenging task, restricted to the continuous phase that is in contact with the FTIR probe. Nonetheless, real-time measurement and kinetic analysis by FTIR, including analysis of the dispersed, often non-polar phase containing substrates and/or products, is desirable. Enzymatic hydrolysis of sunflower oil was performed in an O–W emulsion. After separation of the oil phase by use of a newly developed μ-membrane module, infrared spectra were collected using an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) cell. Different chemometric models were calibrated using the partial least squares (PLS) algorithm. Online application of a chemometric model based on the FTIR spectra enabled real-time monitoring of free fatty acid concentrations in the oil phase.

Dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in human breast milk collected in the area of Taranto (Southern Italy): first case study

We report on the content of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in 15 breast milk samples of nursing women living in the city of Taranto (Southern, Italy) or nearby. Breast milk samples were collected over the 2008–2009 period and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) upon accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) using acetone/n-hexane mixture 1:1 (v/v). The method was validated demonstrating good performing features. Profiles of PCDD/PCDF congeners in breast milk samples exhibited a prevalence of PCDFs compared to PCDDs. Toxic equivalents (TEQs in picogram per gram fat) of four breast milk were far above the legal limit for human consumption of 3.0 pg/g; their estimated daily and weekly dietary intake were almost 5–20 and 10–40 times higher, respectively, than the tolerable intake values established by the World Health Organization.

Integrated biological–chemical approach for the isolation and selection of polyaromatic mutagens in surface waters

Many environmental mutagens, including polyaromatic compounds are present in surface waters, often in complex mixtures and at low concentrations. The present study provides and applies a novel, integrated approach to isolate polyaromatic mutagens in river water using a sample from the River Elbe. The sample was taken downstream of industrial discharges using blue rayon (BR) as a passive sampler that selectively adsorbs polyaromatic compounds and was subjected to effect-directed fractionation in order to characterise the compounds causing the detected effect(s). The procedure relies on three complementary fractionation steps, the Ames fluctuation assay with strains TA98, YG1024 and YG1041 with and without S9 activation and analytical screening. Several mutagenic fractions were isolated by combining mutagenicity testing with fractionation. The enhanced mutagenicity in the nitroreductase and/or O-acetyltransferase overexpressing strains YG1024 and YG1041 strains suggested amino- and/or nitro-compounds causing mutagenicity in several fractions. Analytical screening of mutagenic fractions with LC-HRMS/MS provided a list of molecular formulas typically containing one to ten nitrogen and at least two oxygen atoms supporting the presence of amino and nitro-compounds in the mutagenic fractions.

Direct electrochemistry of cytochrome P450 in a biocompatible film composed of an epoxy polymer and acetylene black

We report on a composite matrix composed of epoxy copolymers P (GMA-co-MPC) and acetylene black that can be used to entrap cytochrome P450. The composite provides a biocompatible microenviroment and can substantially accelerate the electron transfer between the cytochrome P450 and the electrode. The electrochemical response is characterized by a pair of well-defined redox peaks for the heme Fe(II/III) redox couples were observed at ?483?mV (vs. SCE). The immobilized cytochrome P450 exhibits excellent electrocatalytical activity to diethylstilbestrol (DES). The amperometric response varied linearly with the concentration of DES in the 0.2 to 2.8?μM concentration range. The biosensor displays a detection limit 5.9?×?10^-8?mol?L^-1 and thus represents a promising candidate for studying the electrochemistry of cytochrome P450s and its sensing applications.

Direct formation of mesoporous upconverting core-shell nanoparticles for bioimaging of living cells

We have developed a one-step method for the synthesis of mesoporous upconverting nanoparticles (MUCNs) of the type NaYF₄:Yb,Er@mSiO₂ in ammoniacal ethanol/water solution. The mesoporous silica is directly encapsulating the hydrophobic upconversion nanoparticles (UCNs) due to the presence of the template CTAB. Intense green emission (between 520 and 560 nm) and weaker red emission (between 630 and 670 nm) is observed upon 980-nm laser excitation. The MUCNs display low cytotoxicity (as revealed by an MTT test) and were successfully applied to label and image human nasopharyngeal epidermal carcinoma (KB) cells.

Combination of TREF, high-temperature HPLC, FTIR and HPer DSC for the comprehensive analysis of complex polypropylene copolymers

A novel, powerful analytical technique, preparative temperature rising elution fractionation (prep TREF)/high-temperature (HT)-HPLC/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)/high-performance differential scanning calorimetry (HPer DSC)), has been introduced to study the correlation between the polymer chain microstructure and the thermal behaviour of various components in a complex impact polypropylene copolymer (IPC). For the comprehensive analysis of this complex material, in a first step, prep TREF is used to produce less complex but still heterogeneous fractions. These chemically heterogeneous fractions are completely separated by using a highly selective chromatographic separation method—high-temperature solvent gradient HPLC. The detailed structural and thermal analysis of the HPLC fractions was conducted by offline coupling of HT-HPLC with FTIR spectroscopy and a novel DSC method—HPer DSC. Three chemically different components were identified in the mid-elution temperature TREF fractions. For the first component, identified as isotactic polypropylene homopolymer by FTIR, the macromolecular chain length is found to be an important factor affecting the melting and crystallisation behaviour. The second component relates to ethylene–propylene copolymer molecules with varying ethylene monomer distributions and propylene tacticity distributions. For the polyethylene component (last eluting component in all semi-crystalline TREF fractions), it was found that branching produced defects in the long crystallisable ethylene sequences that affected the thermal properties. The different species exhibit distinctively different melting and crystallisation behaviour, as documented by HPer DSC. Using this novel approach of hyphenated techniques, the chain structure and melting and crystallisation behaviour of different components in a complex copolymer were investigated systematically.

Influence of secondary preparative parameters and aging effects on PLGA particle size distribution: a sedimentation field flow fractionation investigation

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) particles in the 200–400-nm size range were formulated through nanoprecipitation and solvent evaporation methods. Different concentrations of the polymer and stabilizer (Pluronic® F 68) were tested in order to identify the best conditions for making poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) particles of suitable size, stable in time, and to be used as carriers for brain-targeting drugs. The particles with the best characteristics for delivery system design were those formulated by nanoprecipitation with an organic/water phase ratio of 2:30, a polymer concentration of 25 mg/mL, and a surfactant concentration of 0.83 mg/mL; their surface charge was reasonably negative (approximately -27 mV) and the average size of the almost monodisperse population was roughly 250 nm. Particle characterization was obtained through ζ-potential measurements, scanning electron microscope observations, and particle size distribution determinations; the latter achieved by both photon-correlation spectroscopy and sedimentation field flow fractionation. Sedimentation field flow fractionation, which is considered more reliable than photon-correlation spectroscopy in describing the possible particle size distribution modifications, was used to investigate the effects of 3 months of storage at 4 °C had on the lyophilized particles.

A duplex–triplex nucleic acid nanomachine that probes pH changes inside living cells during apoptosis

A duplex–triplex switchable DNA nanomachine was fabricated and has been applied for the demonstration of intracellular acidification and apoptosis of Ramos cells, with graphene oxide (GO) not only as transporter but also as fluorescence quencher. The machine constructed with triplex-forming oligonucleotide exhibited duplex–triplex transition at different pH conditions. By virtue of the remarkable difference in affinity of GO with single-stranded DNA and triplex DNA, and the super fluorescence quenching efficiency of GO, the nanomachine functions as a pH sensor based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Moreover, taking advantage of the excellent transporter property of GO, the duplex–triplex/GO nanomachine was used to sense pH changes inside Ramos cells during apoptosis. Fluorescence images showed different results between living and apoptotic cells, illustrating the potential of DNA scaffolds responsive to more complex pH triggers in living systems.

Chromatography-bioluminescence coupling reveals surprising bioactivity of inthomycin A

By employing a novel technique for the direct coupling of a bacterial bioassay with chromatography, we discovered a gyrA promotor active compound in myxobacterial extracts and elucidated the structure directly without any isolation step. As a result, we identified inthomycin A as the bioactive substance. Our method is based on a whole-cell bioluminescent reporter gene assay coupled with thin-layer chromatography for primary hit detection and with liquid chromatography (LC)/mass spectrometry or LC/NMR for dereplication and structure elucidation. Previously, inthomycin A has been isolated from Streptomycetes and was associated with the inhibition of cellulose biosynthesis and herbicidal activity. Thus, our findings support the basic principle that completely different microbial phyla are able to synthesize the same natural product. Moreover, our results indicate that inthomycin A affects bacterial DNA supercoiling, which reveals an unexpected bioactivity for this compound. These results can possibly promote further investigation of the biosynthesis as well as the biological activity of inthomycins and related natural products.

Preparative solution crystallization fractionation: a simple and rapid fractionation method for the chemical composition separation of complex ethylene-propylene copolymers

The molecular structure elucidation of complex ethylene-propylene copolymers (EPCs) has benefited tremendously from the ability to combine preparative temperature rising elution fractionation (prep TREF) with various conventional analytical techniques. Recently reported, prep TREF-high-temperature solvent gradient interaction chromatography (HT-SGIC) (Cheruthazhekatt et. al, Macromolecules 45:2025–2034, 2012) is one of the most effective and highly useful coupled methods that allow for the exact measurement of the chemical composition distribution (CCD) present in various components of EPCs. The major drawback of prep TREF involving slow crystallization and elution steps is the long time per experiment. Here, we present a new and by far the simplest and fastest preparative fractionation method for complex polyolefins—preparative solution crystallization fractionation (prep SCF). The scope of the present study was to achieve a fast fractionation of complex bulk samples into an amorphous, semicrystalline and highly crystalline fraction, in sufficient amounts for the subsequent detailed compositional analysis. The effects of two different solvents, xylene and trichlorobenzene (TCB), and their influence on the solution crystallization of chemically different components of EPC were systematically investigated by combining prep SCF with crystallization analysis fractionation (CRYSTAF), FTIR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and HT-SGIC analyses. Significant differences in the chemical composition of similar SCF fractions obtained from xylene and TCB were observed indicating the strong influence of the solvent on solution crystallization. Prep SCF-HT-SGIC results showed that, under similar experimental conditions, TCB as the fractionation solvent provides superior separation of complex semicrystalline ethylene-propylene (EP) components. Very interestingly, for the first time, separation of soluble fractions (30 °C) of iPP, EPC and PE homopolymer components in complex EPC was achieved by prep SCF in TCB. On the other hand, SCF fractionation in xylene provides a soluble fraction that is perfectly amorphous as has been shown by DSC and CRYSTAF. Based on these results, the present SCF approach and an updated method of the combination of prep SCF-HT-SGIC hold significant promise for the fractionation and characterization of similar complex EPCs in a simple way within a short analysis time, by using significantly smaller amounts of solvent compared to the previously reported, rather time-consuming, prep TREF-HT-SGIC combination. No similarly selective solution crystallization fractionations in preparative scale have been reported before.