Lamellar Liquid Crystals of Brij 97 Aqueous Solutions Containing Different Additives

Lamellar liquid crystals of Brij 97 aqueous solutions were investigated by means of rheological techniques and SAXS at 25 °C, in the presence of various additives including isopropyl myristate, oleic acid, ionic liquid bmim-PF₆ and bmim-BF₄. The lamellar phases show high elasticity as indicated by their mechanical and discrete relaxation spectra, which is expected to be an advantage when they are used as drug delivery vehicles. It is noted that in comparison with other systems, the lamellar phase formed in the Brij 97/water/IPM system has the lowest storage and loss moduli, implying that it has a weak network strength and less stable internal structure. The Brij 97/water/oleic acid system is the most shear resistance, whereas the Brij 97/water/bmim-PF₆ system exhibits fluid-like viscoelastic properties to some extent. These differences are analyzed through SAXS data for the different location of the additive in the lamellar phase.     

Solubility of Omeprazole Sulfide in Different Solvents at the Range of 280.35–319.65 K

Solubility data were measured for omeprazole sulfide in ethanol, 95 mass-% ethanol, ethyl acetate, isopropanol, methanol, acetone, n-butanol and n-propanol in the temperature range from 280.35 to 319.65 K by employing the gravimetric method. The solubilities increase with temperature and they are in good agreement with the calculated solubility of the modified Apelblat equation and the λh equation. The experimental solubility and correlation equation in this work can be used as essential data and model in the purification process of omeprazole sulfide. The thermodynamic properties of the solution process, including the Gibbs energy, enthalpy, and entropy were calculated using the van’t Hoff equation.     

Volumetric Properties of Aqueous Solutions of L-Glutamic Acid and Magnesium-L-Glutamate

Densities of aqueous solutions of L-glutamic acid and magnesium-L-glutamate were determined from T=288.15 to 333.15 K at 5 K temperature intervals. The measured densities were used to evaluate the apparent molar volumes, V _2,φ (m,T), the cubic expansion coefficients, α(m,T), and the changes of isobaric heat capacities with respect to pressure, (∂ C _p /∂ p) _T,m . They were qualitatively correlated with changes in the structure of water that occur when L-glutamic acid or magnesium-L-glutamate are present.     

Measurement and Correlation of the Solubility of N-Acetylglycine in Different Solvents at Temperatures from 278.15 to 319.15 K

The solubility of N-acetylglycine was measured in methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol and ethyl formate in the temperature range between 278.15 and 319.15 K under atmospheric pressure by a gravimetric method. The solubility of N-acetylglycine in those selected solvents increases with increasing temperature. The solubility data were correlated with the van’t Hoff equation, the modified Apelblat equation and the λh equation to obtain the corresponding model parameters. The experimental results could be useful for optimizing the industrial process of purification of N-acetylglycine.     

Ion-Ion and Ion-Solvent Interactions of Tetraalkyl Ammonium Bromide in Mixed DMF-Water Systems at Different Temperatures

Density (ρ), viscosity (η) and ultrasonic velocity (U) of tetraethylammonium bromide (TEAB) and tetrapropylammonium bromide (TPAB) in 10, 20 and 30% of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and water mixtures have been measured as a function of electrolyte concentration at 303, 308 and 313 K. The experimental values of ρ,η and U are used to calculate free volume (V _f), internal pressure (π _i), solvation number (S _n) and viscosity B-coefficient. These parameters are used to discuss the ion-solvent and ion-ion interactions and structure making tendency of the electrolyte.     

Measurement of Magnesium Stability Constants of Biologically Relevant Ligands by Simultaneous Use of pH and Ion-Selective Electrodes

Simultaneous measurements with magnesium ion-selective and pH glass electrodes have been used for determination of the stability constants of magnesium ions with various biologically relevant ligands by alkalimetric titration under physiological conditions (37^○C, I=0.15 mol⋅dm⁻³). New systems were investigated: magnesium with pyroglutamate, pyridoxine and HEPES, along with citrate, lactate, glycinate, aspartate and glutamate. For comparison, calcium stability constants with the same ligands were determined similarly, using calcium ion-selective and pH glass electrodes. Ligand protonation constants, necessary for the calculation of the metal complex formation constants, were also determined.     

Volumetric Study of Aqueous Solutions of Polyethylene Glycol as a Function of the Polymer Molar Mass in the Temperature Range 283.15 to 313.15 K and 0.1 MPa

Density measurements were made for binary aqueous solutions of polyethylene glycol at seven temperatures: 283.15, 288.15, 293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15, and 313.15 K. Polyethylene glycol samples with nominal average molar masses of 3000 g⋅mol⁻¹ (PEG 3000), 6000 g⋅mol⁻¹ (PEG 6000), 10000 g⋅mol⁻¹ (PEG 10000) and 20000 g⋅mol⁻¹ (PEG 20000) were used. These results were used to determine the specific volumes of solutions with solute-to-solvent mass ratios (mass of the solute/mass of the solvent) in the range 0.0546 to 1.4932 for PEG 3000, from 0.0553 to 1.4986 for PEG 6000, from 0.0552 to 1.2241 for PEG 10000, and from 0.0530 to 1.2264 for PEG 20000. The differences between the specific volume of a solution and the specific volume of the pure solvent, at a given temperature, were represented by a virial-type equation in terms of solute concentration. The first-order coefficient of the expansion is the partial specific volume of the solute at infinite dilution. The higher-order coefficients are related to the contribution of pairs, triplets, and higher-order solute aggregates, according to the Constant-Pressure Solution Theory. The functional dependence of the virial coefficients upon temperature is discussed in terms of solute-solute and solute-solvent interactions. The effect of the PEG molar mass on the partial specific volume of solute at infinite dilution, as well as the contributions of pairs of solute molecules to the solution volume, are also investigated. The apparent specific volume, apparent specific expansibility, apparent specific expansibility at infinite dilution and virial coefficients of the apparent specific expansibility are also presented.     

Temperature Dependence of Physical Properties of Imidazolium Based Ionic Liquids: Internal Pressure and Molar Refraction

Density, speed of sound and refractive index of the imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs), 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium chloride [C₈mim][Cl], 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methyl sulfate [C₄mim][C₁OSO₃], and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium octyl sulfate [C₄mim][C₈OSO₃], have been measured in the temperature range from 283.15 to 343.15 K. Experimental density and speed of sound have been used to calculate the internal pressure p _i of the ILs. The p _i values were found to be higher than those of water and molecular organic liquids, but lower than those of classical molten salts. We also calculated molar refraction R _M from the measured refractive index n _D in the temperature range from 288.15 to 343.15 K. Refractive indices of ILs were also higher than those of normal organic liquids, but comparable to long-chain hydrocarbon organic solvents. The structure-property correlation of the ILs has been discussed and the results have been compared to our earlier studies (Kumar in J. Solution Chem. 37:203–214, 2008).     

Adsorption properties of BEA zeolites and their aluminum phosphate extrudates for purification of isomaltose

The disaccharide isomaltose is produced via an enzymatic reaction and is adsorbed to BEA zeolite. This reaction integrated adsorption can be achieved as fluidized bed as well as fixed bed. We investigated isotherms, adsorption enthalpies and sorption kinetics of BEA zeolite and extrudates with a novel aluminum phosphate sintermatrix. These extrudates contain 50% (w/w) of BEA 150 zeolites (Si/Al = 75) as primary crystals. BET-surface for extrudates is 245 m²⋅g⁻¹ and 487 m²⋅g⁻¹ for zeolite. Extrudates show a monomodal macropore structure with a maximum at 90 nm. All isotherms show a type I shape. For lower equilibrium concentrations, which occur during the enzymatic reaction, Henry’s law is applied and compared to a Langmuir model. Adsorption equilibrium constant K _i,L calculated from Langmuir for extrudates at 4 °C is 64.7 mL⋅g⁻¹ and more than twice as high as obtained from Henry’s law with K _i is 26.8 mL⋅g⁻¹. Adsorption on extrudates at 4 °C is much stronger than on zeolite crystals where the Henry coefficient K _i is 17.1 mL⋅g⁻¹. Adsorption enthalpy Δh _Ad calculated from van’t Hoff plot with the Henry equation is −44.3 kJ⋅mol⁻¹ for extrudates and −29.6 kJ⋅mol⁻¹ for zeolite crystals. Finally, the kinetics for ad- and desorption were calculated from the initial slope. The diffusion rate for ad- and desorption on extrudates were in the same range while adsorption on zeolites is three orders of magnitudes faster than desorption.     

Synthesis Characterization and Viscosity Studies of Homopolymer of Methyl Methacrylate and Copolymer of Methyl Methacrylate and Styrene

A homopolymer of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and its copolymer with styrene at different compositions were synthesized and characterized. Viscosity measurements of the synthesized homopolymer and the copolymers in toluene solutions were performed at 313 K. Different equations were used to calculate the intrinsic viscosity, viscometric constants values, and molecular weight of the synthesized polymers. The values of intrinsic viscosity and viscosity average molecular weight obtained by the two methods (single point determination and graphical extrapolation) were compared in order to verify the validity of the single point determination for the polymers. Viscometric properties derived included the specific viscosity (it determines the contribution of the solute to the viscosity of the solution), the reduced viscosity (that provides a measure of the polymer capacity for increasing the solution viscosity), and the intrinsic viscosity.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Poly-Ortho-Methylaniline With Different Degrees of Oxidation

Poly-ortho-methylanilines (POT) in three states fully oxidized, fully reduced and oxidized in varying degrees were synthesized by the reaction of common POT (C-POT) having nearly equal amounts of benzenediamine and quinonediimine units with iodine or phenylhydrazine, and the resulting polymers were characterized by IR,~(13)C-NMR, SEM and elemental analysis. The results showed that the quinonediimine unit in C-POT could be reduced by phenylhydrazine to the benzenediamine unit,forming the polymer with low OD (oxidation degree) or in a fully reduced state and that iodine-oxidation resulted in the increase of quinonediimine unit and decrease of benzenediamine unit. The solubility and flexibility of the formed polymers depend strongly on the amount of quinonediimine unit in it. It is necessary to reduce the content of quinonediimine structure unit in order to improve the solubility of aniline-class polymers.     

Inhibition of Human Immunodeficiency Type 1 Virus (HIV-1) Life Cycle by Different Egg White Lysozymes

Lysozyme is a relatively small enzyme with different biological activities, which is found in tears, saliva, egg white, and human milk. In the study, the anti-HIV-1 activity of lysozymes purified from quail, Meleagris, and hen egg white has been determined. For this end, a time-of-drug-addition assay was performed to identify the target of anti-HIV-1 agents and for determination of probable anti HIV-1 mechanism of the studied lysozyme, the binding affinity of the lysozymes to the human CD4 receptor was studied by molecular docking method. To define structural differences between studied lysozymes, structural motifs of them were predicted by MEME tool. Quail, hen, and Meleagris lysozymes showed potent anti-HIV-1 activity with EC₅₀ of 7.5, 10, and 55 nM, respectively. The time-of-drug-addition study demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of all purified lysozymes is before HIV-1 infection. The frequency and intensity of CD4 expression in PBMCs decreased in the presence of all mentioned lysozymes. Also, the expression level of C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) and chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) on CD4+ T cells was not changed in cells treated with these lysozymes. The results of in silico study confirmed that the binding energy of quail lysozyme with CD4 was more than that of other studied lysozymes. The results revealed that these lysozymes restrict HIV-1 attachment to host cell CD4.     

Dynamics of monolayer films formed on a substrate of square symmetry

The paper discusses the ground state properties and dynamics of monolayer films formed by atomic adsorbates on a square lattice, being the (100) plane of a face centered cubic crystal. The vibrations of films ordered into the commensurate c(2×2) as well as into the recently discovered ordered phase exhibiting a distorted Archimedean tiling of the type (3².4.3.4) are considered. The dispersion relations and the densities of states are determined and discussed.     

Studies of Partial Molar Volumes of Alkylamines in Non-electrolyte Solvents. IV. Alkyl Amines in Cyclic Ethers at 303.15 K

Apparent molar volumes V _φ,B of n-propylamine, n-butylamine, di-n-propylamine, di-n-butylamine, triethylamine, tri-n-propylamine, and tri-n-butylamine in 1,4-dioxane and in oxolane (tetrahydrofuran) have been determined at 303.15 K using a high-precision Anton Paar vibrating-tube densimeter (model DMA 60/602). The limiting partial molar volumes and limiting excess partial molar volumes are analyzed and interpreted in terms of solute-solvent interactions and structural effects of the molecules. Analyses were made of the contributions of specific interactions to the partial molar volumes of these primary, secondary and tertiary amines in 1,4-dioxane and oxolane using the Terasawa model, scaled particle theory (SPT) and hard-sphere theory (HST). The ERAS model has also been applied to estimate the apparent molar volumes and excess apparent molar volumes of alkylamine solutions in 1,4-dioxane and oxolane.     

The Enthalpies of Solution of L-cysteine, L-serine and L-asparagine in Aqueous Solutions of Some Alcohols at 298.15 K

Heats of solution, Δ_sol H _m , of L-cysteine, L-serine and L-asparagine amino acids have been measured at different concentrations of aqueous ethanol, propanol and 2-propanol at 298.15 K using solvation calorimetry. These data are compared with the results reported earlier for L-alanine in ethanol. The enthalpic coefficients, h _xy , of the solute-organic cosolvent pair interaction in water have been obtained from the McMillan-Mayer approach and the data have been interpreted in terms of various interactions and changes in solvent structure.     

Different Biotinylation Strategies for Competitive Immunoassay of Estradiol

Study on biotinylation strategies for competitive immunoassay of estradiol (E2) was carried out. Two types of competitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with Biotin-Avidin amplification system were established and optimized.The E2-Biotin conjugate was used as a tracer in one assay, and biotinylated antibody was used as a tracer in the other. In both of EIAs, horseradish peroxidase-labelled Avidin (Avidin-HRP) was used with a spectrometric determination of enzyme activity. The precision, sensitivity and specificity were measured and compared. The results showed that although both were satisfactory in specificity, the EIA with hapten-Biotin showed to be superior to the EIA with biotinylated antibody in sensitivity and precision. The limit of detection of serum E2 was 8 and 50 pg/mL with E2-Biotin and biotinylated antibody as tracer, respectively.     

Influence of Europium speciation on its accumulation in Brassica napus and over-expressing BnTR1 lines

This study aimed at influence of europium speciation on its accumulation in Brassica napus (CK) and over-expressing BnTR1 lines (OE), and the kinetics of Eu uptake were investigated. These results indicated that the uptake in the roots of OE was higher than that of CK at high concentrations of europium and even the enrichment in the roots of OE was as high as 20,000 mg/kg at 328.9 μΜ Eu, this suggested that OE might have better resistance to uranium than CK. The time kinetics in plants showed that there had the similar trend between CK and OE. The formation of Eu³⁺at pH 5 in deionized water was beneficial to plants enrichment Eu and carbonate could reduce the adsorption of Eu in two group and phosphate almost completely impress the adsorption of Eu in two group, but citric acid could enhance europium root-to-shoot translocation in two group. These results would help understanding the mechanism of Eu uptake in Brassica napus (CK) and over-expressing BnTR1 lines (OE), therefore properly developing efficient europium/americium phytoremediation.     

Identification of Different Cobalt Nucleation on Glassy Carbon

The nucleation mechanisms of cobalt from sulfate solutions were studied by utilizing the electrochemical technique, chronoamperometry. It was found that the recorded current-time transients introduced from 1.0mol/L CoSO4 solution were complexes with unusual shapes. All characteristic features were identified as separate process. The instantaneous or progressive nucleation with 2D or 3D growth exists during the cobalt deposition, depending on the applied potentials.     

Effect of Ionic Strength and Temperature on the Protonation of Oxidized Glutathione

The protonation constants for oxidized glutathione, H _i−1L^(4−i+1)−, K _i ^H=[H _i L⁽⁴⁻ⁱ⁾⁻]/[H _i−1L^(4−i+1)−][H⁺] i=1,2,…,6 have been measured at 5, 25 and 45 °C as a function of the ionic strength (0.1 to 5.4 mol⋅[kg(H₂O)]⁻¹) in NaCl solutions. The effect of ionic strength on the measured protonation constants has been used to determine the thermodynamic values (K _i ^H0) and the enthalpy (ΔH _i ) for the dissociation reaction using the SIT model and Pitzer equations. The SIT (ε) and Pitzer parameters (β ⁽⁰⁾, β ⁽¹⁾ and C) for the dissociation products (L⁴⁻, HL³⁻, H₂L²⁻, H₃L⁻, H₄L, H₅L⁺, H₆L²⁺) have been determined as a function of temperature. These results can be used to examine the effect of ionic strength and temperature on glutathione in aqueous solutions with NaCl as the major component (body fluids, seawater and brines).