Micellar structures of block‐copolymers with ordered cores in dilute solution as studied by polarized and depolarized light scattering

The hierarchical self‐assembly behaviors of a series of amphiphilic liquid crystalline block copolymers (pEG_mAz_n), consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) (pEG) block and liquid crystalline polymer block (pAz) of poly{11‐[4‐(4‐butylphenylazo) phenoxy]‐undecyl methacrylate} containing an azobenzenzene mesogen, in the selective solvent diethyleneglycol, which is good for pEG block, were studied by polarized and depolarized light scattering. It was found that these copolymers can form micellar particles with internal ordered structures of optical anisotropy. Depending on the relative lengths of the blocks, the obtained micellar structures show optical anisotropies with different geometrical anisotropies. The higher composition of pAz‐core blocks leads to the larger aggregate. The lower‐molecular‐weight copolymers tend to form the long and thin strings, which show rather the larger size with larger aggregation number. Even at the similar composition of pAz‐core block, copolymers with different chain lengths can form the core of the different aggregating structures with the different molecular orientations. It was also found that the addition of a small amount of the surfactant, C₁₂E₂₅, makes the string‐like aggregate shorter. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1333–1343, 2007     

Using two-dimensional time resolved light scattering to study the cure reaction induced phase separation process of epoxy-amine-polyethersulfone blend with secondary phase separation

<正>The generalized two-dimensional correlation analysis based on time-resolved light scattering patterns(2D TRLS) has been employed to study the phase separation process of an epoxy-amine-polyethersulfone blend in which the secondary phase separation takes place.The results of the 2D TRLS provided more detailed information that was not readily observed in the 1D TRLS patterns.(i) During the first process of phase separation,the sequential order of coarsening in size of the domains among the larger and smaller ones has been reversed between the diffusion regime and the hydrodynamic regime. (ii) The change of the larger domains in size,due to the hydrodynamic flow in the late stage of the first phase separation process,keeps on taking place earlier than that of the new domains appeared in the secondary phase separation process. (iii) During the secondary phase separation process the size growth of the smaller domains takes place earlier than that of the larger ones,probably due to the assumption that the coarsening mode could decrease the interface tension more quickly.     

Enantiomeric separation of tocainide and its analogues on an optically active crown ether-based stationary phase by liquid chromatography

Tocainide and its 14 analogues were resolved on a chiral stationary phase (CSP) based on (3,3'-diphenyl-1,1'-binaphthyl)-20-crown-6 covalently bonded to silica gel. The resolution was quite good, the separation (alpha) and resolution factors (Rs) being 1.84-15.32 and 1.34-13.78, respectively. Especially, the result for the resolution of tocainide on the CSP turns out to be the best one among others reported so far. The chromatographic resolution behaviors were demonstrated to be dependent on the content and the type of organic and acidic modifiers and the ammonium acetate concentration in aqueous mobile phase.     

The phase behaviour and optical properties of a nematic/chiral dopant liquid crystalline mixture system

The phase behaviour and aggregation states of a binary mixture of a nematic liquid crystal and a chiral dopant have been investigated. The nematic liquid crystal E7 was miscible with the chiral dopant S811 over their entire concentration range. Binary E7/S811 mixtures formed the N* phase for S811 contents under 20%, and the SmA* phase for S811 contents between 40% and 90%. BP and TGBA* frustrated phases were found during cooling, for S811 contents between 25% and 35%. The helical pitches of the binary mixtures decreased with increasing chiral dopant content. From XRD profiles, the orientational ordering of the binary composites was found to increase with increasing chiral dopant content.     

Analysis and purification of O-decanoyl sucrose regio-isomers by reversed phase high pressure liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection

Purification of seven regio-isomers of O-decanoyl sucrose, 2-O-, 3-O-, 4-O-, 6-O-, 3′-O-, 4′-O- and 6′-O-decanoyl sucrose, were performed by LC followed by preparative RP-HPLC with ELSD. Using an optimized gradient of acetonitrile in water 2-O-, 3-O-, 6-O- and 3′-O-decanoyl sucrose were purified in yields (w/w) of 52.5%, 34.7%, 45.0% and 36.9%, respectively. In the purified preparations of the 2-O- and 3′-O-decanoyl sucrose respectively, acyl migration was observed as a result of the drying process. Lyophilization resulted in the highest purities (w/w) of 96% and 100% for the 2-O- and the 3′-O-decanoyl sucrose, respectively.     

Calorimetric and dielectric effects during polymerization of an elastomer‐containing mixture and liquid‐liquid phase separation

Calorimetry and dielectric spectroscopy of an elastomer, amine terminated butadiene acrylonitrile (ATBN), dissolved in a stoichiometric mixture of ethylene diamine and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol‐A, were studied in real time during the polymerization and phase separation of the mixture. In the two polymer compositions containing 8 w/w % ATBN and 20 w/w % ATBN, the total enthalpy released per mole of DGEBA's reaction was the same, indicating indetectably small changes in molecular interactions before and after the phase separation. The dielectric relaxation spectra showed no evidence for phase separation, which indicated a gradual phase separation with time and the extent of polymerization, and relatively small differences in the permittivity and conductivity between the ATBN particles and the network matrix at the time of phase separation. The equilibrium permittivity and dc conductivity showed a nonideal mixing of ATBN. The stretched exponential relaxation parameter remained at 0.36, but the characteristic dielectric relaxation time and the dc conductivity increased on addition of ATBN. An increase in the temperature had a greater effect on the relaxation time than the increase in the extent of polymerization. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 1911–1919, 1999     

微流蒸发光散射检测器与毛细管液相色谱的联用及其在银杏叶提取物分析中的应用

将微流蒸发光散射检测器( μELSD)与毛细管液相色谱(cLC)联用,应用于中药银杏叶提取物及其分散片制剂的分离检测领域。首先对 μELSD仪器参数进行优化。通过调节漂移管温度与载气流量,提高了分析物的响应,并减小了噪声。然后,搭建了cLC-μELSD分离检测平台,其相对常规LC可大大减小实验试剂消耗。流动相A为0.05%(体积分数,下同)三氟乙酸(TFA)水溶液,流动相B为含0.05% TFA的甲醇溶液。最优的洗脱梯度条件为:0~10 min,5%B~25%B;10~25 min,25%B~38%B;25~35 min,38%B;35~40 min,38%B~42%B;40~55 min,42%B~50%B。银杏叶提取物和复杂中药制剂银杏叶提取物分散片都得到了较好的分离,并在其中鉴定到紫外波段几乎无吸收的重要内酯类活性成分白果内酯以及银杏内酯A、B和C。测定了不同厂家银杏叶提取物中萜类内酯洗脱时间的相对标准偏差,结果均不大于2.42%,表明该体系在目标物的分析上具有良好的重现性。实验证明所建立的cLC-ELSD体系在复杂中药体系的分离检测中有良好的应用性。     

Characterization of a nematic mixture by reversed-phase HPLC and UV spectroscopy: an application to phase behaviour studies in liquid crystal-CO2 systems

In the present work a simple but selective reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method (HPLC) was developed for the analysis of the nematic liquid crystal mixture E7 to determine precisely the composition of the liquid crystal mixture used in PDLC film preparation. Ultraviolet absorption spectrophotometry experiments were carried out to determine the HPLC detection wavelength and to characterize the absorptivity constants of E7 constituents. The technique developed is applied in the case of equilibrium solubility studies for E7 in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂). The results indicate unambiguously that scCO₂ can fractionate the mixture towards the E7 components. The four single component peaks of the E7 mixture were distinctively separated by this method, which enabled the determination of the solubility of E7 constituents in the scCO₂.     

A direct method for the separation and quantification of bile acid acyl glycosides by high-performance liquid chromatography with an evaporative light scattering detector

A direct method for the separation and quantification of a series of bile acid acyl glycosides using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to an evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) is described. Complete separation of each of 15 bile acid acyl 24-alpha-glucosides and their 24-beta-anomers and 24-beta-galactosides was achieved by the stepwise gradient elution mode on a C18 column using a mixture of acetonitrile-methanol (8:2, v/v) and 1% aqueous acetic acid as the mobile phase. 24-beta-Galactosides were always eluted faster than the corresponding 24-beta-glucosides, which eluted after the corresponding 24-alpha-anomers. Calibration curves of different 24-beta-galactosides were linear over a range of 0.2-40 nmol of injected amount and the detection limits (S/N > 3) were from 0.08 to 0.1 nmol. The present HPLC-ELSD method may provide an insight into the separation and quantification of the biologically interesting neutral bile acids.     

Major lipid classes separation of buttermilk,and cows,goats and ewes milk by high performance liquid chromatography with an evaporative light scattering detector focused on the phospholipid fraction

An improved HPLC–ELSD method has been developed for the analysis of the lipid classes of buttermilk and milk from different species, focused in the phospholipids fraction without a prior fractionation step and in a single run. The total lipid profile analysis showed the major and minor lipid compounds as cholesterol esters, triacylglycerides, cholesterol, diacylglycerides, free fatty acids, monoacylglycerides, and also the polar compounds as glucosylceramide, lactosylceramide, phosphatidyl-ethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin and lysophosphatidylcholine. The identification and quantification of the different compounds, using calibration curves made with individual standards and the low coefficients of variation obtained in the inter- and intra-assays showed the suitability of the developed method. In this study, we optimized and validated a quantitative HPLC–ELSD method at a concentration level suitable for routine analysis of the major lipid classes in milk and dairy products.     

Analysis of therapeutic proteins and peptides using multiangle light scattering coupled to ultra high performance liquid chromatography

Analysis of the physical properties of biotherapeutic proteins is crucial throughout all the stages of their lifecycle. Herein, we used size‐exclusion ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to multiangle light scattering and refractive index detection systems to determine the molar mass, mass‐average molar mass, molar‐mass dispersity and hydrodynamic radius of two monoclonal antibodies (rituximab and trastuzumab), a fusion protein (etanercept), and a synthetic copolymer (glatiramer acetate) employed as models. A customized instrument configuration was set to diminish band‐broadening effects and enhance sensitivity throughout detectors. The customized configuration showed a performance improvement with respect to the high‐performance liquid chromatography standard configuration, as observed by a 3 h column conditioning and a higher resolution analysis in 20 min. Analysis of the two monoclonal antibodies showed averaged values of 148.0 kDa for mass‐average molar mass and 5.4 nm for hydrodynamic radius, whereas for etanercept these values were 124.2 kDa and 6.9 nm, respectively. Molar‐mass dispersity was 1.000 on average for these proteins. Regarding glatiramer acetate, a molar mass range from 3 to 45 kDa and a molar‐mass dispersity of 1.304 were consistent with its intrinsic peptide diversity, and its mass‐average molar mass was 10.4 kDa. Overall, this method demonstrated an accurate determination of molar mass, overcoming the difficulties of size‐exclusion chromatography.     

Optimising reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separation of an acidic mixture on a monolithic stationary phase with the aid of response surface methodology and experimental design

An optimization strategy for the separation of an acidic mixture by employing a monolithic stationary phase is presented, with the aid of experimental design and response surface methodology (RSM). An orthogonal array design (OAD) OA(16) (2(15)) was used to choose the significant parameters for the optimization. The significant factors were optimized by using a central composite design (CCD) and the quadratic models between the dependent and the independent parameters were built. The mathematical models were tested on a number of simulated data set and had a coefficient of R(2) > 0.97 (n = 16). On applying the optimization strategy, the factor effects were visualized as three-dimensional (3D) response surfaces and contour plots. The optimal condition was achieved in less than 40 min by using the monolithic packing with the mobile phase of methanol/20 mM phosphate buffer pH 2.7 (25.5/74.5, v/v). The method showed good agreement between the experimental data and predictive value throughout the studied parameter space and were suitable for optimization studies on the monolithic stationary phase for acidic compounds.     

Rapid and sensitive determination of carbohydrates in foods using high temperature liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection

In the present work, an evaporative light scattering detector was used as a high-temperature liquid chromatography detector for the determination of carbohydrates. The compounds studied were glucose, fructose, galactose, sucrose, maltose, and lactose. The effect of column temperature on the retention times and detectability of these compounds was investigated. Column heating temperatures ranged from 25 to 175°C. The optimum temperature in terms of peak resolution and detectability with pure water as mobile phase and a liquid flow rate of 1 mL/min was 150°C as it allowed the separation of glucose and the three disaccharides here considered in less than 3 min. These conditions were employed for lactose determination in milk samples. Limits of quantification were between 2 and 4.7 mg/L. On the other hand, a temperature gradient was developed for the simultaneous determination of glucose, fructose, and sucrose in orange juices, due to coelution of monosaccharides at temperatures higher than 70°C, being limits of quantifications between 8.5 and 12 mg/L. The proposed hyphenation was successfully applied to different types of milk and different varieties of oranges and mandarins. Recoveries for spiked samples were close to 100% for all the studied analytes.     

Orientational and interaction induced dynamics in the isotropic phase of a liquid crystal: polarization resolved ultrafast optical Kerr effect spectroscopy

The ultrafast dynamics of the isotropic phase of a liquid crystal 4'-pentyl-4-p-biphenylcarbonitrile (5CB) have been investigated using polarization resolved optical Kerr effect spectroscopy. Measurements were made as a function of both temperature and dilution in nonpolar solvents. To separate single molecule and interaction induced components to the relaxation of the induced birefringence, measurements of both the anisotropic and isotropic response were made. The isotropic response was found to be dominated by a damped low-frequency mode of intramolecular origin. There is a minor additional component assigned to an interaction induced contribution. There is at most an extremely weak isotropic signal beyond 1 ps, showing that the picosecond time scale dynamics of 5CB are dominated by orientational relaxation. The isotropic response is independent of temperature in the range studied (0.2-50 K above the nematic to isotropic phase-transition temperature). The anisotropic response exhibits relaxation dynamics on time scales spanning subpicosecond to several hundred picoseconds and beyond. The fastest components are dominated by a librational response, but there are smaller contributions from three low-frequency intramolecular modes, and a contribution from interaction induced effects. The low-frequency spectral density extracted from these data are independent of temperature in the range studied, 0.2-30 K above the phase-transition temperature, but shift to lower frequency on dilution in alkane solvents. In neat 5CB the picosecond time scale orientational dynamics are dominated by temperature-independent reorientation within the pseudonematic domains, while in solution these are disrupted, and the orientational response becomes faster and temperature dependent.     

Micro liquid chromatography coupled with evaporative light scattering detector at ambient and high temperature: optimization of the nebulization cell geometry

The recent developments in liquid chromatography (LC) are mainly dedicated to both system miniaturization (micro-, capillary-, and nano-LC) and analysis time decrease (fast-, and ultra-fast-LC). For the latter, several strategies can be used, and high temperature liquid chromatography (HTLC) seems very promising and easy to implement, especially in miniaturized system. In LC, the evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) is considered an attractive alternative to conventional detector such as UV-vis due to its versatility and quasi-universality. Therefore, the compatibility of ELSD with micro-LC and micro-HTLC was investigated for several pharmaceutical compounds of interest. The nebulization process appeared to be the most critical parameter for performing the coupling and maintaining an efficient separation. Therefore, appropriate modifications in the nebulization cell geometry were brought to make ELSD fully compatible with micro-LC. The impact of optimized nebulization cell on chromatographic performance was evaluated in terms of efficiency and sensitivity. Finally, highly efficient, sensitive and fast separations of pharmaceutical drugs were performed with both techniques and the customized nebulization cell design.     

高效液相色谱-蒸发光散射检测法测定藜芦中的介藜芦碱和藜芦胺

建立了高效液相色谱-蒸发光散射检测(HPLC-ELSD)测定藜芦中介藜芦碱、藜芦胺含量的方法,并对4种藜芦属药材样品进行了测定。采用的色谱柱为Kromasil C18柱(250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm),以乙腈和0.1%三氟乙酸水溶液为流动相进行梯度洗脱,洗脱程序为:0～5 min, 20%乙腈; 5～30 min, 20%乙腈～40%乙腈, 30～40 min, 40%乙腈～20%乙腈; 40～45 min, 20%乙腈;流速为0.8 mL/min;柱温为35 ℃;采用ELSD检测,漂移管温度为98 ℃,载气流速2.2 L/min 。介藜芦碱和藜芦胺的线性范围分别为42.05～980 mg/L和43.77～1020 mg/L;平均回收率分别为99.2%和101.4%,相对标准偏差分别为1.7%和2.1% (n=6);信噪比为3时,测得介藜芦碱和藜芦胺最低检测限分别为18.37 mg/kg和21.50 mg/kg。该方法快速简便、灵敏度和分离度好,适用于藜芦药材中活性生物碱的测定。     

Unlocking of interlocked heteropolymer gel by light: photoinduced volume phase transition in an ionic liquid from a metastable state to an equilibrium phase

An azobenzene-containing heteropolymer gel in an ionic liquid exhibits thermally reversible volume phase transition when the azobenzene moiety mainly exists in the cis-state, whereas the transition becomes irreversible when it is in the trans-state and an interlocked collapsed state is stabilized; however, the unlocking of the metastable state occurs by UV light irradiation.     

A humic acid stationary phase for the high performance liquid chromatography separation of buckminsterfullerenes: theoretical and practical aspects

The influence of the mobile phase composition and column temperature on the chromatographic separation of five buckminsterfullerenes (C60, C70, C76, C78, C84) on a stationary phase based on silica gel with chemically bonded humic acid (Bonded humic acid column (BHAC)) was studied. The retention behavior of the fullerenes was measured under isocratic conditions with different mobile phase compositions, ranging from 0.05-0.70 (v/v) of toluene in cyclohexane. The column temperature was analysed in the range 35-75 °C. The retention factors of the five fullerenes do not depend linearly on the toluene fraction but follow a quadratic relationship. The best chromatographic conditions for baseline separation of the five fullerenes were selected. The retention of the fullerenes on the HA stationary phase was strongly affected by temperature. Positive values of thermodynamic parameters (changes of enthalpy and entropy) were due to the abnormal solubility behaviour of fullerenes in toluene in the temperature range 35-75 °C. The information obtained in this work makes this BHAC very simple to prepare and low cost, useful for fullerene research applications.