Formation of organic nanoparticles by solvent evaporation within porous polymeric materials

A simple and generic method is developed to form organic nanoparticles in porous materials by solvent evaporation. The composites can be readily dissolved in water to produce aqueous organic nanoparticle dispersions.     

花球形和叶片形Y2O3的模板合成和浸润性质

采用模板法制备了花球形和叶片形Y2O3材料。X射线衍射表明这种材料为立方晶系Y2O3。采用扫描电镜对其表面形貌进行了表征,证实其叶片具有微米级的长度和纳米级的厚度。表面浸润性研究表明花球形材料具有超亲水性质,叶片形材料具有超疏水性质。     

Preparation of fluorescent polystyrene microspheres by gradual solvent evaporation method

Highly cross-linked polystyrene beads of 9.2 μm were synthesized by seed polymerization with styrene as monomer and divinylbenzene as cross linker. Other sized monodisperse PS microspheres were also prepared by varying seed particle diameter and proportion of swelling agents. Furthermore, the polystyrene beads were stained by gradual solvent evaporation method using dyes such as rhodamine 101 and acridine orange. Gradual solvent evaporation method facilitates a high concentration of fluorescent dyes on beads. This is the key to obtain fluorescent beads with high intensity. The results showed that the fabricated fluorescent microspheres could be excited to various wavelengths (such as yellow, green, red and scarlet). Our synthesized microspheres offer high fluorescence emission efficiency compared to commercial fluorescent microspheres in the mean time have other properties in common.     

The important role of solvent vapor in an organic solid state reaction

Some organic reactions in the solid state proceeded very efficiently and selectively in the presence of a small amount of solvent vapor.     

Concurrent solvent evaporation for on-line coupled HPLC-HRGC

A technique is proposed which allows introduction of very large volumes of liquid (10 ml were tested) into capillary columns equipped with short (1–2 m long) retention gaps. It is based on concurrent solvent evaporation, i.e. evaporation of the solvent during introduction of the sample. The technique presupposes high carrier gas flow rates (at least during sample introduction) and column temperatures near the solvent boiling point. The major limitation of the method is the occurrence of peak broadening for solutes eluted up to 30°, in some cases up to 100°, above the injection temperature. This is due to the absence of solvent trapping and a reduced efficiency of phase soaking. Therefore, use of volatile solvents is often advantageous. Application of the concurrent solvent evaporation technique allows introduction of liquids which do not wet the retention gap surface. However, the method is still not very attractive for analysis of aqueous or water-containing solutions (reversed phase HPLC).     

Size control of self-assembled nanoparticles by an emulsion/solvent evaporation method

A novel and simple method for size control of self-assembled nanoparticles is suggested in this paper. Polymeric nanoparticles were prepared from amphiphilic chitosan derivatives fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated glycol chitosans (FGCs). The attachment of hydrophobic FITC onto hydrophilic glycol chitosan induced the amphiphilic conjugate to form self-assembled nanoparticles in aqueous media, depending on degree of substitution. The size of self-assembled nanoparticles was controlled by a novel emulsion/solvent evaporation method. Adding a small amount of an immiscible solvent with water (chloroform) to FGC nanoparticle suspensions in aqueous media followed by ultrasonification and solvent evaporation led to partial dissociation and subsequent reformation of nanoparticles. The evaporation of chloroform facilitated the hydrophobic association, which resulted in more dense and hardened hydrophobic cores. The size of nanoparticles was closely related with the FGC concentration in the emulsion. The mean diameters of self-assembled nanoparticles were 150–500 nm at the FGC concentrations of 0.3–2.5 mg/ml. Higher FGC concentration resulted in larger particles. The polydispersity factors (μ ₂/Γ ²) of the reformed nanoparticles were fairly low (0.001–0.094), indicating narrow size distribution. The FGC nanoparticles were stable in phosphate-buffered saline at 37°C up to 20 days. Lactose was a good excipient for maintaining the structural integrity of nanoparticles during freeze-drying. Without lactose, the freeze-dried nanoparticles were not homogeneously redispersed in aqueous media. However, the freeze-dried nanoparticles with lactose were spontaneously redispersed in aqueous milieu with their own sizes.     

Pattern formation of antifreeze glycoproteins via solvent evaporation

Surface patterning of antifreeze glycoprotein fraction 8 (AFGP 8) via a solvent evaporation method is reported here. In this process, lines of AFGP 8 particles and gridlike patterns were formed as as result of the receding of the droplet contact line and the accumulation of the solute during evaporation. The solution concentration strongly affects the protein line spacing. The average height of the protein was measured to be 8.1 +/- 2.5 A, which may be attributed to the height of a single molecule.     

Enzyme catalytic promiscuity: asymmetric aldol addition reaction catalyzed by a novel thermophilic esterase in organic solvent

The asymmetric aldol addition of 2-butanone and 4-nitrobenzaldehyde catalyzed by a novel thermophilic esterase (APE1547) from the archaeon Aeropyrum pernix K1 was successfully conducted in organic solvents. APE1547 exhibited a good enzyme activity and enantioselectivity in the reaction. The effects of organic solvent, temperature, water content, and substrate concentration were investigated. The reaction provided optically active secondary alcohol with satisfying enantioselectivity (71.2 %ee) and enzyme activity (38.1 µmol/g/h) under the optimum conditions. A high yield (68.7%) could be obtained when the reaction time was approximately 120 h.     

Optically transparent conductive network formation induced by solvent evaporation from tin-oxide-nanoparticle suspensions

This investigation describes an optically transparent antistatic film composed of antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer matrix, with remarkably improved electrical and optical properties. The film is fabricated on the basis of a synergistic interaction between self-assembling nanoparticles and self-organizing matrix materials. The antistatic property of the film is obtained at ATO concentrations above a threshold value. A scaling analysis of the data yields an extremely low critical concentration (0.0020 volume fraction), which is considerably lower than the value predicted by percolation theory. Microscopic observations of the film have revealed a characteristic microstructure: "single-stranded" chainlike (linear form or fibrous) aggregates consisting of ATO nanoparticles and large ATO-depleted areas. The experiment results suggest that the high optical transparency and the low critical concentration are derived from the characteristic microstructures of the film.     

Enrichment and trapping of volatile trace components by means of chromatographic solvent evaporation

Summary A study was carried out to evaluate an enrichment procedure for volatile trace components from a solvent or a gas employing a simultaneous chromatography and evaporation process of the solvent from a capillary tube. Quantitative concentration can be achieved for compounds that chromatograph at a slower speed through the solvent film than the speed of evaporation of the solvent. The influence of various parameters such as evaporation temperature, solvent-solute polarity etc. are discussed. Polarity influences proved to be particularly important for the behaviour of the trace components, and this is demonstrated with examples. Selected enrichments can be obtained by employing different solvents. A further development of the technique is expected to lead to significant advances in trace analyses.     

Microencapsulation of capsaicin by solvent evaporation method and thermal stability study of microcapsules

With polylactic acid (PLA) as shell and capsaicin as core substances, microcapsules were prepared based on solvent evaporation method. The orthogonal test was used to analyze the effects of the process conditions such as polyvinyl alcohol and PLA concentrations, stirring rate, and oil/water ratio on the particle size of the microencapsulated capsaicin (MC) agents. The chemical composition, morphology and size distribution of the microcapsules prepared by the most satisfactory conditions were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, laser light scattering, and scanning electron microscopy. The MC agents had a mean diameter of 3–5 μm. The thermal properties of the MC agents were measured by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis, it was demonstrated that the thermal stability of the MC agents was changed or even improved by the encapsulated PLA over the surface, when compared with similar parameters of the uncovered capsaicin. The in vitro release profile suggested that the microcapsules could be a suitable material for controlled release of capsaicin.     

A detailed view of PLGA-mPEG microsphere formation by double emulsion solvent evaporation method

PLGA, m PEG diblock copolymer was synthesized by bulk ring-opening polymerization method. The double emulsion solvent evaporation method was used to prepare bovine serum albumin(BSA)-loaded microspheres. Optical microscopy was used to observe the whole microsphere fabrication process. It is confirmed that the proportion of inner aqueous phase is one of the most critical factors that determines the morphology of microspheres. Double emulsion droplets which have appropriate amount of inner aqueous phase can form closed and dense microspheres, while, too much inner aqueous phase will cause a collapse of the double emulsion droplets, resulting in a loss of drug. The proportion of inner aqueous phase was varied to prepare microspheres of different morphology. The results show that with increasing the amount of inner aqueous phase, a higher percent of broken microspheres and lower encapsulation efficiency appeared, and also, a more severe initial burst release and faster release rate.     

Efficient syntheses of bis(m-phenylene)-26-crown-8-based cryptand/paraquat derivative [2]rotaxanes by immediate solvent evaporation method

A novel bis(m-phenylene)-26-crown-8-based cryptand has been synthesized. It has been used to prepare two 1:1 complexes with two paraquat derivatives with high association constants (6.5×10⁵ and 4.0×10⁵ M⁻¹) in acetone. In the solid state the cryptand forms a 2:1 threaded structure with paraquat and an interesting supramolecular poly[2]pseudorotaxane threaded structure with a dihydroxyethyl-substituted paraquat derivative, respectively. It has been further used to prepare cryptand/paraquat derivative [2]rotaxanes efficiently by the immediate solvent evaporation method using easily available 3,5-dimethylphenyl groups as the stoppers.     

Rate acceleration of anionic oxy-cope rearrangements induced by an additional unsaturation

[reaction: see text] In sharp contrast to their isopropyl counterparts, a variety of (Z)-isopropenyl tertiary bicyclo[2.2.2]octenols undergo facile anionic oxy-Cope rearrangements allowing the stereoselective incorporation of an isopropenyl group into polycyclic skeletons such as the tricyclic system of vinigrol, bicyclo[5.3.1]undecane, and cis-decalin frameworks. This rate acceleration is probably due to the stabilization of the transition state by the additional unsaturation on the terminal position.     

Microstructures by solvent drop evaporation on polymer surfaces: dependence on molar mass

When a solvent drop evaporates from a polymer surface, it leaves behind a characteristic structure, typically a crater. We deposited toluene drops with a microsyringe onto planar polystyrene (PS) surfaces and analyzed the surface topography after drying. For low molar mass PS (Mw = 20.9-24.3 kDa) dotlike protrusions with a ridge at the periphery formed on the polymer surface. With increasing molar mass the central region decreased in height. At Mw = 29.6-643 kDa a craterlike structure with a depression in the center and a ridge was observed. At even higher molar mass, irregular structures without rotational symmetry occurred. We explain the observed dependence on the molar mass with a different degree of entanglement, leading to different dissolution rates and different diffusion constants.     

Formation of polyketone particle structure by hexafluoroisopropanol solvent evaporation and effects of plasticizer addition

Few solvents are capable of dissolving polyketones (PKs). 1,1,1,3,3,3‐Hexafluoro‐2‐propanol (hexafluoroisopropanol, HFIP) is a better solvent than trifluoroethanol and m‐cresol. When HFIP was evaporated from a PK/HFIP solution, a porous cast‐film with a microparticle structure was formed because the isotactic PKs adopted a helical conformation, and convection during evaporation of the high polarity and low‐boiling‐point HFIP caused aggregation and rolling of the polymer molecules. The addition of plasticizer suppressed particle formation, improving the surface structure and mechanical properties of the film. In particular, the dielectric properties of the film improved significantly. This will enable PKs, which are rigid insulating materials, to be used as dielectric materials, broadening their range of applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 887–892     

Electromagnetic acceleration of the Belousov-Zhabotinski reaction

Acceleration of the Belousov-Zhabotinski (BZ) reaction, in stirred homogeneous solutions, by low frequency electromagnetic (EM) fields has provided new insights into EM interaction mechanisms. The acceleration varies inversely with the basal reaction rate, indicating that the applied magnetic field and the intrinsic chemical driving forces affect the same electron transfer reaction. The amplitude and frequency dependence of the EM field interactions are also consistent with interaction during electron transfer. A mechanism based on interaction with moving electrons offers a way of explaining the ability of EM fields to stimulate gene expression, in particular the stress response, since electrons have been shown to move in DNA.     

Concentration of volatile organic compounds from solvents by sustained chromatographic evaporation

A system for quantitative concentration of volatile organic trace compounds present in organic solvents is described. Evaporation of the solvent is carried out inside a glass capillary tube by the action of a carrier gas, and large volumes can be reduced by a repeated sample injection and a cyclic flow reversal. Best recovery is obtained when a barrier of pure solvent is maintained ahead of the sample during concentration. Four rotary valves are employed for sample and solvent injection and direction of the gas flow. In principle, indefinite sample volumes can be handled, the limit being set by system contaminants. The process was evaluated both off-line and on-line to a gas chromatograph. Concentration of compounds like methylcyclopentane, hexane, and cyclohexane present in pentane in the low nanogram range and subsequent on-line transfer to a gas chromatograph could be performed with a quantitative recovery. The technique was applied to analysis of trace volatiles in drinking water. Detection limits were estimated to be approximately 0.02 ng/L for normal hydrocarbons (FID detection) when concentration of a pentane extract from a one litre water sample was carried out.