Effect of postgrafted alkyl chains on the wettability of hydrophilic poly(amidoamine)-grafted nano-sized silica

In order to control the surface wettability of hyperbranched hydrophilic poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM)-grafted nano-sized silica, hydrophilic alkyl chain (C _n H_2n+1) with different chain lengths (n = 4, 8, 15) were postgrafted onto PAMAM-grafted silica by the reaction of terminal amino groups of PAMAM grafted on the silica surface with alkyl acid chlorides (C _n H_2n+1-COCl). The postgrafting of C _n H_2n+1-COCl increased with increasing PAMAM grafting and alkyl chain length of C _n H_2n+1-COCl. However, the terminal amino groups of PAMAM-grafted silica used for the postgrafting of C _n H_2n+1-COCl decreased with increasing chain length. This may be due to the steric hindrance between terminal amino groups of PAMAM-grafted silica and C _n H_2n+1-COCl: the steric hindrance is considered to increase with increasing chain length of C _n H_2n+1-COCl. The surface wettability was estimated by contact angle measurement for water and methanol wettability. As a result, it was found that contact angle and methanol wettability increased with increasing alkyl chain length of postgrafted C _n H_2n+1-COCl. The hyperbranched PAMAM-grafted silica readily dispersed in water and methanol because of the hydrophilic nature of grafted PAMAM, but it lost dispersibility in water and methanol due to postgrafting of hydrophobic chains.     

In-situ elastomer composite based on fluorocarbon elastomer/liquid crystalline polymer blend

Blends of fluorocarbon elastomer (FKM) and liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) have been prepared by melt mixing technique. Processing studies indicated the decrease in the viscosity and the state of cure with the addition of 10 wt% LCP, and then increased at a higher rate with the addition of more LCP to the blend. The tensile strength values decreased at lower level of LCP. However, the modulus and tear strength values increased with higher increment of LCP content. From the X-ray diffraction measurements it has been observed that the crystalline structure of the FKM is greatly affected by the addition of LCP. The degradation temperatures from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) suggested improved thermal stability of the fluorocarbon-LCP blends. From the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), it has been found that the glass transition temperature (T _g) of the blends increased with increase in LCP content. For the compositions of 10 wt% and 20 wt% LCP blends, enhancement in storage modulus is found above the glass transition of FKM. Under dynamic conditions the increase of LCP content restricts the matrix flow and hence cracks developed at the interface of the LCP fibrils and matrix.     

Preparation of nano-sized silica with solar energy conversion and storage function by immobilization of norbornadiene moieties to hyperbranched poly(amido amine)-grafted nano-sized silica

The immobilization of norbornadiene (NBD) moieties onto nano-sized silica surface by the direct condensation of the surface terminal amino groups of hyperbranched poly(amido amine) (PAMAM)-grafted silica with 3-phenyl-2,5-norbornadiene-2-carboxylic acid is examined. It is found that the immobilization of NBD moieties onto the silica successfully proceeds in the presence of N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) as a condensing agent. The immobilized NBD moieties onto the silica surface increases with increasing amount of amino groups of hyperbranched PAMAM-grafted silica, but the percentage of amino groups used for the immobilization of NBD moieties is decreased. The immobilized NBD moieties on the silica surface are readily isomerized to quadricyclane (QD) by photo-irradiation in n-hexane. Stored thermal energy by QD-immobilized silica is released as thermal energy by heating. The stored thermal energy of QD-immobilized silica increases with progress of the photo-irradiation time and became constant, about 30 J/g-silica, after 2 h.     

Modified titanium surface with gelatin nano gold composite increases osteoblast cell biocompatibility

This study examined the gelatin nano gold (GnG) composite for surface modification of titanium in addition to insure biocompatibility on dental implants or biomaterials. The GnG composite was constructed by gelatin and hydrogen tetrachloroaurate in presence of reducing agent, sodium borohydrate (NabH₄). The GnG composite was confirmed by UV-VIS spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A dipping method was used to modify the titanium surface by GnG composite. Surface was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The MC-3T3 E1 cell viability was assessed by trypan blue and the expression of proteins to biocompatibility were analyzed by Western blotting. The GnG composite showed well dispersed character, the strong absorption at 530 nm, roughness, regular crystal and clear C, Na, Cl, P, and Au signals onto titanium. Further, this composite allowed MC-3T3 E1 growth and viability compared to gelatin and pure titanium. It induced ERK activation and the expression of cell adherent molecules, FAK and SPARC, and growth factor, VEGF. However, GnG decreased the level of SAPK/JNK. This shows that GnG composite coated titanium surfaces have a good biocompatibility for osteoblast growth and attachment than in intact by simple and versatile dipping method. Furthermore, it offers good communication between cell and implant surfaces by regulating cell signaling and adherent molecules, which are useful to enhance the biocompatibility of titanium surfaces.