Synthesis of poly(cystine bisamide)‐PEG block copolymers grafted with 1‐(3‐aminopropyl)imidazole and their phase transition behaviors

New biodegradable and pH‐sensitive block copolymers were prepared by grafting 1‐(3‐aminopropyl) imidazole onto a backbone polymer formed via condensation polymerization between l ‐cystine and EDTA‐dianhydride. The copolymer with a graft ratio of 79% exhibited a good buffering capacity and pH sensitivity. These are attributed to protonation–deprotonation of the imidazole ring at around pH 7. The copolymers with less imidazole content did not show any apparent responses to changes in pH. The particle size of the copolymer aggregate formed under basic conditions was around 200 nm and increased with decreasing pH. The critical aggregation values at pH 6.0 and 8.0, derived from the changes of intensity ratios (I₁/I₃) in the emission spectrums of pyrene, were approximately 0.17 and 0.05 mg/ml, respectively. The surface charge of the aggregates increased with the decreasing pH as a result of the increase in protonation of imidazole and the tertiary amine in the polymer chain. The microviscosity of hydrophobic domains was estimated using 1,6‐diphenyl‐1,3,5‐hexatriene. The decrease of the anisotropy value under acidic conditions reflects a disruption of hydrophobic interaction. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reaction of trans-[Co(en)2(SO3)(H2O)]+ with imidazole and containing ligands

trans-[Co(en)₂(SO₃)(H₂O)]⁺ reacts with imidazole (ImH) and imidazole containing ligands (L) to form trans-[Co(en)₂(SO₃)L]⁺ in the pH range 6.0–9.0. The complex seems to react both in the hydroxy and in the aquo form. The rate constant for the reaction of imidazole with the aquo form is 6.0±0.7 and 4±1M^?1s^?1 for the reaction with the hydroxy form at 25°C. The apparent equilibrium constant for formation of the imidazole complex at pH 7 is consistent with the value of 3 x 10² measured previously. Appreciable amounts of complex form only in the pH 6–9 range. Above pH 9 NMR spectra show that even the immediate products are different. In aged solutions at all pHs other products form.     

In Vitro Investigation on Interaction of Ranitidine Hydrochloride in the Presence of Cross-Linked Carboxymethyl Cellulose Sodium.

Summary: The adsorbance of ranitidine hydrochloride – drug selective H₂ histamine receptor inhibitor used In the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcer was investigated in the presence of croscarmellose, a cross- linked polymer of polysaccharide character used as a swelling additive in oral pharmaceutical formulations – capsules, tablets and granules. The evaluation of adsorbance capability was carried out by means of a statistical method in in vitro conditions, taking into account environmental pH, concentration of the investigated drug as well as the properties of the polymer. Obtained results prove that the analyzed active agent is adsorbed on polymer at all the investigated pH ranges and the capability of polymer binding depends on environmental pH. The highest binding capability was revealed in samples with pH of 7.6, (adsorbance capacity k = 0.6958) while the lowest binding capability was observed at pH 1.5 (adsorbance capacity k = 0.0005) in the presence of croscarmellose sodium. Level of adsorption depends on the analyzed drug concentration and adsorption on polymer in increasing concentration and pH environment.     

A method for studying swelling kinetics based on measurement of electrical conductivity

A novel method was applied to the study of swelling kinetics of pH-responsive hydrogels. This technique is based on the pH-dependent electrical conductivity of these materials, which is measured by coating planar interdigitated electrode arrays with thin hydrogel membranes. To demonstrate the utility of the method, the swelling kinetics of a well-characterized pH-responsive hydrogel were studied. Cross–linked copolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with up to 20 mol% dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMA) were studied as a function of copolymer composition in phosphate or triethanolamine buffer at buffer concentrations from 1 to 100 mM. The experiments consisted of measuring the change in electrical resistance of a hydrogel-coated electrode array following a small pH change in the external buffer medium. The characteristic response time to reach a new equilibrium following a pH change was proportional to the concentration of DMA within the polymer and was inversely proportional to the buffer concentration. The characteristic response times for devices tested in phosphate buffer were a function of the magnitude of the pH step, increasing from 2.6 to 5.6 min as the step size increased from 0.2 to 0.57 pH units. However, the response times for devices tested in triethanolamine were independent of step size. The observed dependences upon the values of the dissociation constant (pK_a) of the buffering ion, the apparent pK_a of DMA, and the pH of the external bath agreed with buffer-mediated diffusion–reaction theory, and as such this conductimetric method represents a powerful tool for the study of swelling kinetics of responsive hydrogels.     

The relationship between the thermal expansions and structures of ABO4 oxides

The linear thermal expansion coefficients of ABO₄ compounds are determined and the expansion tendency is analyzed from the chemical bond viewpoint. All chemical bonds contributions are involved. The contributions from different chemical bonds are compared with each other and the origin of the expansion behavior of ABO₄ oxides is revealed that the A-O bonds expansions dominate the compound expansion. The calculated expansion coefficients agree satisfactorily with the experimental data. By analyzing the expansion regularity the range of the expansion coefficients can be qualified. The thermal expansion coefficients of some ABO₄ compounds having not been measured are predicted and discussed.     

Non-invasive analysis of swelling in polymer dispersions by means of time-domain(TD)-NMR

In this contribution, we discuss the potential of low-field time-domain(TD)-NMR to study the swelling of (aqueous) polymer dispersions by a volatile solvent. Due to the sensitivity of transverse relaxation times (T₂) to swelling-induced changes in the molecular dynamics of the polymer component, the effects of swelling can be measured without spectral resolution. The measurement is performed on polymer dispersions in native state with solids contents around 50% in a non-invasive way without separating the polymeric phase and the water phase from each other. Using acetone in two polyurethane (PU) dispersions with different hard phase contents, we explore the sensitivity of the method and present a data evaluation strategy based on multicomponent fitting and proton balancing. Furthermore, we report exchange continualization as a further effect that needs to be taken into account for correct interpretation of the data.     

Coordination of RuCl3(NO)(H2O)2 by imidazole,histidine and iminodiacetate ligands: a study of complexation of 'Caged NO' by simple bio-cellular donors

The 'caged NO' reagent, RuCl₃NO(H₂O)₂, has been studied by n.m.r. and i.r. methods with imidazole, histidine, histamine, and N-methyliminodiacetate as complexing ligands. These ligands are representative of cellular donors that would be encountered as RuCl₃NO(H₂O)₂ migrates through biological cells. [RuCl₃NO(imH)(H₂O)], [RuCl₃(NO)(imH)₂] and [RuCl₂(NO)(imH)₃]⁺ complexes (imH = imidazole) have been detected by ¹H-n.m.r. and i.r. and electrospray mass spectrometry (e.s.i.–m.s.) methods. Based upon the effect of cis ligand addition on the (NO) frequency causing a decrease in frequency, the 1:1 and 1:2 complexes have the imidazole donors in the plane cis to the NO⁺ moiety, whereas the 1:3 species has the third imidazole trans to the NO⁺. The trans imidazole donor causes 'trans-strengthening' of the N–O bond of the {RuNO}⁶ chromophore. ¹H-n.m.r. shows that the monodentate imidazole donor(s) is (are) in rapid exchange with free imidazole in solution for each of the n = 1–3 species. Histidine and histamine make kinetically more stable 1:1 complexes with the major isomer having an axially-coordinated histidine imidazole donor, but in-plane donation for histamine. The carboxylate of coordinated histidine remains pendant according to i.r. and ¹³C-n.m.r. data. From syntheses carried out at pH ca. 5, the amino donor is H-bonded to an in-plane H₂O in the major species (ca. 75%) and coordinated with displacement of the in-plane H₂O in the lesser isomer (25%). By contrast, the histamine ligand binds with an in-plane bound imidazole and a pendant protonated amino group (94%). The remaining 6% has an in-plane chelated histamine, analogous to the bis imidazole species and the known fac, cis-[RuCl₃NO(en)] complex. N-Methyliminodiacetate is observed to form one main [RuCl(NO)(mida)(H₂O)] complex (85%) with two chelated glycinato donor groups with RuCl₃NO(H₂O)₂, one glycinato group chelated 'in-plane' with the central amine donor and one axial coordinated glycinato donor. A second [RuCl(NO)(mida)(H₂O)] complex (the remaining 15%) has the amine donor trans to NO⁺ and chelated glycinato groups which coordinate in the RuClO₂(OH₂) plane, either cis or trans to each other, in a 60:40 split (ca. 9% and 6%). The presence of one Cl^– and one H₂O in the [RuCl(NO)(mida)(H₂O)] complexes was established by e.s.i.–m.s. These results show that RuCl₃NO(H₂O)₂ is likely to be freely mobile within a cellular environment, forming stable complexes via bidentate chelation with 'two-point' nitrogen donors (en, his, etc).     

Synthesis of surface molecularly imprinted polymer and the selective solid phase extraction of imidazole from its structural analogs

A surface molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized by using imidazole as the template and modified silica particles as the support material. The static adsorption, solid phase extraction (SPE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) experiments were performed to investigate the adsorption properties and selective recognition characteristics of the polymer for imidazole and its structural analogs. It was shown that the maximum binding capacities of imidazole on the MIP and the non-imprinted polymer (NIP) were 312 and 169 μmol g⁻¹, respectively. The adsorption was fast and the adsorption equilibrium was achieved in 30 min. The binding process could be described by pseudo-second order kinetics. Compared with the corresponding non-imprinted polymer, the molecularly imprinted polymer exhibited much higher adsorption performance and selectivity for imidazole. The selective separation of imidazole from a mixture of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C₆mim][Br]) and 2,4-dichlorophenol could be achieved on the MIP-SPE column. The recoveries of imidazole and [C₆mim][Br] were 97.6-102.7% and 12.2-17.3%, respectively, but 2,4-dichlorophenol could not be retained on the column. The surface molecularly imprinted polymer presented here may find useful application as a solid phase absorbent to separate trace imidazole in environmental water samples. This may also form the basis for our research program on the preparation and application of alkyl-imidazolium imprinted polymers.     

Determination of the parameters controlling swelling of chemically cross-linked pH-sensitive poly(N-vinylimidazole) hydrogels

The number of variables controlling the behavior of ionic gels is large and very often some of them are unknown. The aim of this work is to interpret quantitatively the swelling behavior of pH sensitive gels, with the minimum number of simplifying assumptions. With this purpose, the equilibrium degree of swelling (S) and protonation (alpha) of chemically cross-linked poly(N-vinylimidazole) (PVI) immersed in aqueous salt solutions were measured as a function of the ionic strength (mu), in the whole range of pH. In acid solutions with pH in the range 0 to 4, imidazole moieties become protonated, and PVI behaves as a polyelectrolyte gel: S decreases upon increasing mu both for NaCl and for CaCl(2), with HCl as protonating acid. In aqueous solutions with larger pH, between 4 and 12, the hydrogel is practically neutral, and S increases as mu rises, showing a salting-in effect. From the quantitative analysis of these results, the following facts emerged. Protonation induces chain stiffness (as measured by the non-Gaussian factor) and worsening of the solvent quality of the aqueous media (as measured by the polymer-solvent interaction parameter). For alpha below 33%, swelling seems to be governed by the excess of mobile counterions inside the gel with respect to the bath, with a minor but still significantly negative contribution of the osmotic swelling pressure due to polymer-solvent mixing. Above 33% protonation, it is necessary to consider Manning counterion condensation to get parameters with physical meaning. The crossover between polyelectrolyte and salting-in effects corresponds to alpha and mu values with the same ionic and mixing contributions to the osmotic swelling pressure. The formation of ionic nonpermanent cross-links, with H(2)SO(4) as the protonating acid, was discarded.     

Metal α, ω dicarboxylate complexes. 4. Effect of N-donor substitutions on the polymeric network in cobalt(II) hexanedioate complexes: synthesis and single crystal X-ray investigations

Three cobalt (II)hexanedioate complexes [Co(H₂O)₄(H₂L)]n 1 (H₂L=hexanedioic acid), Co(imidazole)₄ (H₂L)]n 2 and [Co(pyridine)₂ (H₂O)₄][H₂L] 3 are synthesized and structurally characterized to study the effect of N-donor substituents coordinated to the metal center on the polymeric network. Complex 1 is an extended linear polymer; Co(H₂O)₄ units are linked by the monodendate carboxylate from either end of the extended deprotonated hexanedioic acid. There are intra- and interchain H-bonding interactions between the coordinated water molecules and the end carboxylate O atoms, the uncoordinated O atom creates two dimensional hydrogen bonding pattern. Complex 2 also is a linear polymer; Co(imidazole)₄ units are linked by monodentate dibasic acid at the either end but with S shaped conformation of the hexanedioic acid, not as fully extended as in 1. The effect of bulkier N-donor substitution is seen in the distortion of the octahedral coordination polyhedron of Co(II). The noncordinated carboxylate oxygen makes one intra and one interchain H-bonding interaction with the imidazole N–H group making a two-dimensional H-bonded network as in 1. In 3 with the two strong N-donor pyridines coordinated to the metal center, the hexanedioate is out of the coordination sphere and acts as a counter ion. The Co(pyridine)₂(H₂O)₄ units are linked by H-bonding in both the dimensions by extensively folded adipate dianion forming a sheet structure parallel to ab plane. According to our knowledge this is the first example showing a strong H-bonding network in which a tetraaquaCo(II) center forms an eight-membered ring with bidendate H-bonding interactions. None of the coordination polymeric structures form any channels in their molecular packing, even to include a small entity as a water molecule.     

Kinetic study on reactions between polymer chain-ends. Coupling reactions of living polystyrene with chloro-ended polystyrene

The reaction of living polystyrene with chloro-ended polystrene was studied to examine “the kinetic excluded volume effect” on the intermolecular reaction between reactive chain-ends of two monodisperse polymers. The reaction of living polystyrene with 1-chloropentane was also studied as a model reaction (small molecule-polymer reaction). The second-order rate constants, k₂, for the polymer polymer reaction in benzene (with a small amount of tetrahydrofuran to break the association of living-ends) is independent of the degree of polymerization, DP, for the range of DP studied (up to 400). The ratios of the rate constants for the polymer-polymer and the polymer-small molecule reactions, k₂/k₂⁰, are the same in benzene and in cyclohexane (good and poor solvent for polystyrene respectively), showing that the effect of the coil expansion is not large enough to be detected. These results confirm the Flory basic concept that the reactivity of a functional group attached to an inert polymer is not affected by the presence of the polymer chain in activation-controlled reactions.     

Properties of Ozone-Oxidized Tapioca Starch and Its Use in Coating of Fried Peanuts

Oxidation of tapioca via ozone oxidation was carried out under different conditions in comparison with H₂O₂. The impact of ozonation on physicochemical properties of tapioca was studied and fried peanuts coated with different tapioca were characterized. Different ozone oxidation times (10, 20, and 30 min) and various pH values (5, 7, and 9) were used for tapioca modification. Tapioca oxidized by ozone for 20 min at pH 7 had higher swelling power (SP), water holding capacity (WHC), oil holding capacity (OHC), and viscosity than the native counterpart (P < 0.05). This coincided with the higher carbonyl and carboxyl contents (P < 0.05). The highest frying expansion (FE) with the lowest hardness was attained for fried peanut coated with tapioca oxidized under the aforementioned condition. Therefore, oxidation of tapioca using ozone under optimal conditions could be a potential means to improve frying expansion as well as the crispiness of the fried coated peanuts.     

Insulin release behavior of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) hydrogel based on modified melamine crosslinkers

Novel hydrogels based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PNIPAAm/PNVP), were synthesized by solution radical polymerization using water as solvent and different weight percentage of crosslinkers ranging from 0.5 to 4%. The monomer mol ratios of NIPAAm/VP (0.9/0.1, 0.5/0.5, and 0.1/0.9) were used in all cases. N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) and the new synthesized N,N,N-triacrylamido melamine (MAAm) were used as crosslinkers. The swelling parameters such as the swelling ratio Q, equilibrium water content (EWC), volume fraction of polymer φ_p and volume fraction at crosslinking φ_r were calculated from swelling measurements at different temperatures. The lower critical solution temperatures (LCST) of the prepared hydrogels were measured using DSC technique. The data of LCST indicated that the NIPAAm/VP crosslinked with MAAm or MBA showed reversible swelling and shrinking with temperature changes. The temperature dependence of swelling ratio and response kinetics upon heating or cooling was also investigated to understand the smart properties, i.e., temperature sensitive properties of these smart hydrogels. The in vitro release experiments were carried out at 22 and 37°C, respectively, to investigate the effect of temperature-sensitive property of these PNIPAAm/PNVP hydrogels crosslinked with MAAm and MBA crosslinkers on insulin release profiles.     

Coenzyme B12 model studies: An HSAB approach to the equilibria and kinetics of axial ligation of alkyl(aquo)-cobaloximes by imidazole and cyanide

Kinetics and equilibria of the axial ligation of alkyl(aquo)cobaloximes by imidazole and cyanide have been measured spectrophotometrically in aqueous solutions of ionic strength 1.0 M at 25°C as a function of pH. Comparison of K_IMD and K_CN- of CH₃, C₂H₅ and BrCH₂cobaloximes indicates that their stability is in the order BrCH₂>CH₃>C₂H₂. As the electron-withdrawing capacity of the alkyl grouptrans to water increases, the electron density of the cobalt(III) decreases and thus it becomes a stronger Lewis acid and binds more strongly to imidazole and cyanide. The association and dissociation rate constants are better correlated to the relative softness of the ligand showing that cyanide binds 30 times faster than imidazole. These complexes are isolated and are characterized by IR and¹H NMR spectra.     

Acid Dissociation Constants of the Benzimidazole Unit in the Polybenzimidazole Chain: Configuration Effects

The acid dissociation constant of three benzimidazoles, namely 2,2′-bibenzo[d]imidazole, 2,5′-bibenzo[d]imidazole, and 5,5′-bibenzo[d]imidazole, have been investigated by means of density functional theory calculations in gas phase and in aqueous solution. The theoretical approach was validated by the comparing of predicted and experimentally determined pK_a values in imidazole, benzimidazole, and 2-phenylbenzimidazole. From the studied compounds, 2,2′-bibenzo[d]imidazole was found to be the most acidic, which made it a valuable candidate as a material for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.     

PPO-based acid–base polymer blend membranes for direct methanol fuel cells

New acid–base polymer blend membranes for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) have been designed using a very accessible commercial polymer, poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO). The preparation begins with the sulfonation and bromination of PPO to sulfonated PPO (SPPO) and bromomethylated PPO (BrPPO), respectively. Blend membranes are formed by mixing n-propylamine(PrNH₂)-neutralized SPPO and PrNH₂-aminated BrPPO solutions in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), and casting the mixed solution on glass petri dishes followed by acidification with aqueous hydrochloric acid. The compatibility between the acid and base components of the blend is assured by using acidic and basic polymers deriving from the same parent polymer (PPO). Ionic crosslinking is established between the sulfonic groups of SPPO and the amine groups of aminated BrPPO. The ionic crosslinking strengthens the membrane dimensional stability by reducing water uptake and membrane swelling up to temperatures as high as 80 °C. The membranes fabricated as such display good resistance to methanol crossover amidst some, but acceptable loss of proton conductivity. The characteristic factor (i.e. the ratio of proton conductivity to methanol permeability) increases noticeably with the BrPPO content, with the sample containing 30 wt.% BrPPO showing a 16-fold improvement over Nafion 117. The mechanical properties and oxidative stability of the blend membranes also satisfy the requirements for fuel cell assembly and operation.     

Measurement of diffusion and partition coefficients of ferrocyanide in protein-immobilized membranes

True diffusion (D_m) and partition (α) coefficients for the transport of potassium ferrocyanide through diaphorase (Dp)- and bovine serum albumin (BSA)-glutaraldehyde (GA) membranes with different cross-linking degrees of 1-8% GA concentrations immobilized on gold electrodes are investigated by using potential-step method and rotating-disk-electrode method. The thickness of dry and hydrated immobilized membranes is accurately measured by the focus-difference method with a reflection microscope. The thickness of hydrated Dp-GA and BSA-GA membranes are about 1.4 and 2.4 times that of dry membranes, respectively. In addition, the actual area of electrode surface is calculated by the charge amount of chemisorbed oxygen on gold electrode. Owing to the increase of swelling degree and net negative charge of the immobilized membranes, the values of D_m and α for both of Dp-GA and BSA-GA membranes enlarge and decrease with increase of GA concentration, respectively. Furthermore, BSA-GA membranes possess greater D_m and α than those of Dp-GA membranes due to the thinner thickness and the greater swelling degree of BSA-GA membranes.     

Thermal degradation of [poly(N-vinylimidazole)-polyacrylic acid] interpolymer complexes

Interpolymer complexes of a slightly basic polymer, poly(N-vinylimidazole) (PVIm) with a strongly acidic polymer, poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) have been prepared by mixing aqueous solutions of the respective components. Spectroscopy and thermal methods were used to reveal interaction between VIm and AA moieties. FT-IR analysis showed that the nitrogen atoms at 3rd position of imidazole ring are involved in strong H-bonding with acid groups of PAA leading to a uniform and fully miscible complex structure. As the quantity of PAA increases the thermal stability of complex increases based on TG results. In the DSC analyses, the single T_g for all IPC samples showed that IPCs have good or definite miscibility over the whole range of composition as a result of H-bond formation between acrylic acid and imidazole units.     

Controlling the charge of pH-responsive redox hydrogels by means of redox-silent biocatalytic processes. A biocatalytic off/on switch

Coupling of redox-silent biocatalytic processes for analyte detection with enzyme-catalyzed redox reactions for signal generation is proposed by the modulation of electrostatic interactions between a pH-responsive polymer and a redox enzyme to control the off–on transition for electrochemical signal generation. Glassy carbon electrodes are modified with a poly(vinyl)imidazole Os(bipyridine)₂Cl redox hydrogel film entrapping urease and PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenase, while glucose is present in the solution. The off–on transition is based on the detection of urea as model analyte which is hydrolyzed to ammonia by urease within the hydrogel film concomitantly increasing the local pH value thus invoking deprotonation of the imidazole groups at the polymer backbone. The decrease of positive charges at the polymer decreases electrostatic repulsion between the polymer and the positively charged PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenase. Hence, electron transfer rates between polymer-bound Os complexes and PQQ inside the enzyme are enhanced activating electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose. This process generates the electrochemical signal for urea detection.     

Preparation and characterization of biodegradable gelatin-PAAm-based IPN hydrogels for controlled release of maleic acid to improve the solubility of phosphate fertilizers

In this study, interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel systems including maleic acid (MA) were constituted to improve the solubility of phosphate fertilizers. A series of full and semi-IPN hydrogels were prepared from various gelatin/polyacrylamide mixtures by using two different cross-linkers. The effects of polymer composition on the morphological structures and swelling behaviors of the hydrogels were investigated. The swelling values of all hydrogels were found to be in between 435% and 830%. MA release from load0ed hydrogels was followed and it was determined that MA-loaded hydrogels efficiently decreased pH and improved the solubility of Ca₃(PO₄)₂ in releasing medium.