Hydrophilic modification of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) by in situ polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer

The hydrophilicity of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) was first improved by in situ polymerization of polar monomer in PVDF solution. Methyl methacrylate was adopted as the reaction monomer, and the polymerization occurred in a solution of PVDF in N,N-dimethylformamide. PVDF/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blend was obtained after in situ polymerization. The relative hydrophilicity of the in situ blend was characterized by contact angle measurement. At the same time, the hydrophilicity of the PVDF/PMMA blends prepared by solution blending was compared with that of the in situ blend. The contact angle measurements indicated that in situ polymerization has a stronger modifying effect on the hydrophilicity of PVDF than solution blending.     

Laser microprobe mass analysis (LAMMA) of pyridine adsorbed on some clay minerals from Turkey

Using laser microproble mass analysis (LAMMA), it is possible to characterize the inorganic composition of clays and to study adsorption phenomena. Natural sepiolite, (Na-sepiolite), montmorillonite and saponite samples from Anatolia (Turkey) have been investigated. All the clays gave different fingerprint mass spectra which allowed a quick estimation of the relative amounts of exchangeable cations as well as the trace contaminants and the homogeneity of their distribution. The adsorption behaviour of these clays for pyridine was also studied and it appeared that pyridine molecules penetrated the inner layers, as well as being adsorbed on the external surface.     

聚乙二醇-b-聚乳酸的合成及其电纺形成超细纤维研究

为了提高聚乳酸的亲水性,以辛酸亚锡为催化剂、聚乙二醇单甲醚(mPEG)为大分子引发剂进行丙交酯(LLA)开环聚合,合成聚乙二醇-b-聚乳酸两嵌段共聚物(PELA).以红外光谱1、H核磁共振谱、接触角测试、差热扫描量热分析等方法对PELA的结构及性能进行表征.结果表明,通过调控mPEG与LLA的投料比可以控制PELA的相对分子质量,而随着mPEG组分含量或链长增加,共聚物亲水性增强,但其Tg、Tcc、Tm有所降低.由普通电纺制备PELA超细纤维,并分别由乳液电纺和同轴电纺得到以水溶性聚氧化乙烯(PEO)为芯、PELA为壳的芯/壳结构复合超细纤维(E-PEO/PELA和C-PEO/PELA).扫描电镜和透射电镜结果表明,PELA、E-PEO/PELA和C-PEO/PELA超细纤维形貌良好.随着PELA中mPEG含量的增加,电纺PELA纤维膜的吸水率增强,而由乳液电纺和同轴电纺制备的PEO/PELA芯/壳结构超细纤维膜,亲水性均好于PELA超细纤维膜.     

Photochemically prepared polysulfone/poly(ethylene glycol) amphiphilic networks and their biomolecule adsorption properties

Polysulfone/poly(ethylene glycol) amphiphilic networks were prepared via in situ photo-induced free radical crosslinking polymerization. First, the hydrophobic polysulfone diacrylate (PSU-DA) oligomer was synthesized by condensation polymerization and subsequent esterification processes. Then, the obtained oligomer was co-crosslinked with the hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA) or poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEG-MA) at different feed ratios. In the case of PEG-MA, the resulting network possessed dangling pendant hydrophilic chains on the crosslinked surface. The structure and the morphology of the membranes were characterized by attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The enhancement of surface hydrophilicity was investigated by water contact angle measurements. The biomolecule adsorption properties of these networks were also studied. The biomolecules easily adsorbed on the surface of the hydrophobic polysulfone networks whereas dangling hydrophilic chains on the surface prevented the adsorption of the biomolecules.     

UV-induced Self-initiated Graft Polymerization of Acrylamide onto Poly(ether ether ketone)

Photo-grafting of hydrophilic monomer was used to enhance the hydrophilicity of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) with the aim of extending its applications to biological fields. PEEK sheets were surface modified by grafting of acrylamide(AAm) with ultraviolet(UV) irradiation in the presence or absence of benzophenone(BP). The effects of BP, irradiation time and monomer concentration on the surface wettability of PEEK were investigated. Characterization of modified PEEK using scanning electron microscopy(SEM), energy-disperse spectrometer(EDS) and water contact angle measurements shows that AAm was successfully grafted on PEEK surface both in presence and absence of BP. With the increase in irradiation time and monomer concentration, contact angles decrease to as low as 30°, demonstrating a significant improvement of surface hydrophilicity. In agreement with the decrease in contact angle, under identical conditions, the nitrogen concentration increases, suggesting the increase in grafting degree of the grafting polymerization. This investigation demonstrates a self-initiation of PEEK due to its BP-like structure in the backbone of the polymer. Though the graft polymerization proceeds more readily in the presence of BP, the self-initiated graft polymerization is clearly observed.     

MMA/MPC共聚物膜的制备及其抗凝血性能研究

采用自由基共聚制得了甲基丙烯酸甲酯与2-甲基丙烯酰氧基乙基磷酰胆碱(MPC)的共聚物, 在模板中将溶剂蒸发得到了共聚物膜. 用差示扫描量热仪(DSC)、凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)、元素分析仪(EA)、氢核磁共振(¹H NMR)及扫描电子显微镜(SEM)对共聚物及其膜的结构与形态进行了表征, 并测定了膜的溶胀度与表面的亲水性, 结合对牛血清蛋白(BSA)吸附研究结果表明: 共聚物膜的溶胀度随着MPC含量的增加而逐渐上升, 并且随着温度的升高而逐渐增大; 由动态接触角(DCA)结果可知共聚物膜表面的链段可随着环境的变化而发生重排, MPC链段向膜表面的迁移提高了膜表面的亲水性, 降低了对蛋白质的吸附. 并通过体外血小板粘附试验对膜材料的抗凝血性能进行了评价. 结果表明, 当共聚物膜中w(MPC)＝0.25时, 膜表面吸附的血小板数量明显减少, 共聚物膜表现出良好的抗凝血性能.     

氨基官能化聚乳酸电纺纤维的制备、 表征和应用

通过聚乳酸(PLA)和氨基丙基三乙氧基硅烷(KH550)混合进行静电纺丝制备氨基官能化聚乳酸纳米纤维. 采用滴定法测定了纤维表面氨基含量, 证明当KH550的添加量为3%~13%(质量分数)时, 有19%~26%的氨基出现在纤维的表面. 利用场发射扫描电子显微镜、 差示扫描量热(DSC)仪、 接触角测试仪和电子拉伸机对纤维形貌、 PLA的玻璃化转变温度和熔点以及纤维膜的亲水性和力学性能进行了表征. 结果表明, KH550的加入可以在电纺纤维表面引入氨基, 同时使纤维直径变细, 使PLA的玻璃化转变温度上升, 熔点下降, 电纺纤维膜的亲水性略有增加, 力学性能有所下降. 通过吸附将金纳米粒子负载到氨基官能化聚乳酸电纺纤维膜上, 得到负载型催化剂, 对硼氢化钠还原对硝基苯酚的反应具有良好的催化活性和重复使用性.     

Ultraviolet light-induced hydrophilicity effect on TiO2(110)(1 x 1). Dominant role of the photooxidation of adsorbed hydrocarbons causing wetting by water droplets

The UV photoproduction of a hydrophilic TiO(2)(110)(1x1) surface has been investigated in a pressurized ultrahigh vacuum apparatus under controlled conditions of hydrocarbon concentration in oxygen gas at 1 atm pressure. Water droplet contact angles have been measured continuously as the droplet is exposed to UV irradiation, yielding the first observations of a sudden wetting process during irradiation. Using hexane as a model hydrocarbon, it is found that when low partial pressures of hexane are present, the sudden onset of surface wetting occurs during UV irradiation after an induction period under photooxidation conditions. The induction period to reach the critical condition for sudden wetting increases when the partial pressure (and equilibrium surface coverage) of hexane is increased. These results indicate that the removal of adsorbed hydrocarbons by photooxidation is the critical factor leading to the UV-induced hydrophilicity phenomenon on TiO(2). The phenomenon does not occur in the absence of O(2) gas. A concept concerned with kinetic screening of the TiO(2)-H(2)O interface from O(2) by water droplets is presented to explain the observation of sudden wetting in our experiments, compared to gradual wetting which is observed following UV irradiation in all other experiments reported in the literature. Complementary infrared spectroscopy measurements of the effect of UV irradiation in an O(2) atmosphere on adsorbed Ti-OH groups and on adsorbed H(2)O on the surface of a high-area TiO(2) powder show that no spectroscopic changes occur. This indicates that UV-induced changes in the -OH coverage or the nature of -OH bonding to TiO(2), as suggested by others, cannot be used to explain the photoinduced hydrophilicity effect.     

Poly(dimethylsiloxane)-coated sensor devices for the formation of supported lipid bilayers and the subsequent study of membrane interactions

The development of smooth hydrophilic surfaces that act as substrates for supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) is important for membrane studies in biology and biotechnology. In this article, it is shown that thin films of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) formed on a sensor surface can be used as a substrate for the deposition of reproducible and homogeneous zwitterionic SLBs by the direct fusion of vesicles. Poly(dimethylsiloxane) solution (1% w/v) was spin coated on Love acoustic wave and surface plasmon resonance devices to form a thin PDMS layer. Acoustic, fluorescence, and contact angle measurements were used for the optimization of the PDMS film properties as a function of plasma etching time; parameters of interest involve the thickness and hydrophilicity of the film and the ability to induce the formation of homogeneous SLBs without adsorbed vesicles. The application of PDMS-coated sensor devices to the study membrane of interactions was demonstrated during the acoustic and fluorescence detection of the binding of melittin and defensin Crp4 peptides to model supported lipid bilayers.     

Enzymatic and chemical hydrolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fabrics

Alkaline and enzymatic hydrolyzes of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fabrics (PET) were mechanistically compared based on released degradation products (HPLC‐UV‐RI) and changes in surface properties [hydrophilicity, cationic dyeing, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)]. Enzymatic hydrolysis led to an increase in the amount of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups on the surface resulting in an enhanced water absorption and dyeability. Enzymes partially adsorbed to PET fabrics during hydrolysis were completely removed by subsequent extraction according to XPS analysis. In contrast to the enzyme treatment, alkaline hydrolysis did not lead to an increase of hydroxyl and acid groups according to XPS while both treatments caused a substantial increase in hydrophilicity and were more effective on amorphous fibers. Alkaline hydrolysis led to a greater increase in the K/S value after cationic dyeing due to enlarged surface area. Consequently, ESEM‐images demonstrated that alkaline treatment drastically affected the surface morphology of the polymer resulting in crater‐like structures of the fibers, whereas after enzymatic treatment the morphology of the fibers remained unchanged. To reach similar benefits in hydrophilicity, drastically higher amounts of degradation products were released during alkaline hydrolysis as also indicated by >6% weight loss compared to <1% after enzyme treatment. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6435–6443, 2008     

以单分散交联聚甲基丙烯酸环氧丙酯树脂为基质的亲水性排阻色谱固定相的合成及其在生物大分子分离中的应用

以单分散交联聚甲基丙烯酸环氧丙酯树脂为基质,将该树脂经化学改性后得到亲水性良好的新型尺寸排阻色谱固定相,其表面羟基含量高达6．1mmol／g。详细评价了该改性后树脂对蛋白的质量回收率、亲水性、耐压性能及化学稳定性。用三羟甲基胺基甲烷(Tris)缓冲溶液(pH=7)为流动相,对蛋白质混合样的分离遵循体积排阻色谱分离机理。     

Surface Heparinization of Poly(ether ether ketone)

Photo-grafting of hydrophilic monomer and space arms was used to enhance the hydrophilicity of poly(ether ether ketone)(PEEK) with the aim of extending its application to biological fields. PEEK films were surface modified by UV grafting of acrylic acid(AA) to introduce ―COOH on PEEK surface. Adipic amine was used as a space arm to introduce heparin on PEEK surface based on the condensation reaction between ―NH₂ and ―COOH. The modified PEEK(PEEK-COOH, PEEK-NH₂ and PEEK-Hep) was characterized by energy-disperse spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and water contact angle measurements, which show that heparin was grafted on PEEK surface. The contact angles of modified PEEK films were lower than those of original films, demonstrating a significant improvement of surface hydrophilicity.     

Hydrogels of poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and hydroxyethyl methacrylate—glycerol monomethacry-late copolymers

Hydrophilic three-dimensional polymer networks (hydrogels) were prepared from hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and the copolymer HEMA and glycerol monomethacrylate (GMMA). The equilibrium water content of the hydrogels in water was investigated as a function of the initial dilution of the polymerization mixture, the type of solvent, and the hydrophilicity of the polymer. The initial dilution was found to have a decisive effect on the swelling or deswelling of hydrogels after the completion of the gel formation. With relatively less hydrophilic hydrogels, there is a critical initial dilution to produce the gel which does not swell or deswell in water after the gel formation. This “isovolumic” initial dilution shifts toward a higher dilution as the hydrophilicity of the hydrogels increases; however, when hydrophilicity of the polymer rises above a certain point, gels always swell in water. Permeability of oxygen through hydrogels was also studied.     

Chemical bonding in TiSb(2) and VSb(2): a quantum chemical and experimental study

The chemical bonding in the isostructural intermetallic compounds TiSb2 and VSb2, crystallizing in the CuAl2 type, was investigated by means of quantum chemical calculations, particularly the electron localization function (ELF), as well as by Raman spectroscopy, Hall effect and conductivity measurements on oriented single crystals, and high-pressure X-ray powder diffraction. The homogeneity ranges of the compounds were determined by powder X-ray diffraction, WDXS, and DSC measurements. TiSb2 exhibits no significant homogeneity range, while VSb2 shows a small homogeneity range of approximately 0.3 at. %. According to the ELF calculations, the Sb atoms form dumbbells via a two-center two-electron bond, while the T atoms (T = Ti, V) build up chains along the crystallographic c-axis. Both building units are connected by covalent T-Sb-T three-center bonds, thus forming a three-dimensional network. The strength of the bonds involving Sb was determined by fitting a force constant model to the vibrational mode frequencies observed by polarized Raman measurements on oriented single crystals. The resulting bond order of the Sb2 dumbbells is 1, while the strength of the three-center bonds resembles a bond order of 1.5. The weak pressure dependence of the c/a ratio confirms the slightly different bonding picture in TiSb2 compared to that in CuAl2. Electrical transport measurements show the presence of free charge carriers, as well as a metal-like temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity.     

Hydrolytic degradation behavior of poly(rac-lactide)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(rac-lactide) dimethacrylate derived networks designed for biomedical applications

For polymer-based degradable implants, mechanical performance and degradation behavior need to be precisely controlled. Based on a rational design, this work comprehensively describes the properties of photo-crosslinked polymer networks prepared from poly(rac-lactide)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(rac-lactide) dimethacrylate precursors during degradation. By varying the length of poly(rac-lactide) blocks connected to a central 4 kDa polyether block, microphase separated networks with adjustable crosslinking density, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity ratio, thermal, and mechanical properties are obtained. The materials are characterized by a low water uptake, controlled mass loss, and slowly decreasing wet-state E moduli in the kPa range.     

Coadsorption properties of CO(2) and H(2)O on TiO(2) rutile (110): A dispersion-corrected DFT study

Adsorption and reactions of CO(2) in the presence of H(2)O and OH species on the TiO(2) rutile (110)-(1×1) surface were investigated using dispersion-corrected density functional theory and scanning tunneling microscopy. The coadsorbed H(2)O (OH) species slightly increase the CO(2) adsorption energies, primarily through formation of hydrogen bonds, and create new binding configurations that are not present on the anhydrous surface. Proton transfer reactions to CO(2) with formation of bicarbonate and carbonic acid species were investigated and found to have barriers in the range 6.1-12.8 kcal∕mol, with reactions involving participation of two or more water molecules or OH groups having lower barriers than reactions involving a single adsorbed water molecule or OH group. The reactions to form the most stable adsorbed formate and bicarbonate species are exothermic relative to the unreacted adsorbed CO(2) and H(2)O (OH) species, with formation of the bicarbonate species being favored. These results are consistent with single crystal measurements which have identified formation of bicarbonate-type species following coadsorption of CO(2) and water on rutile (110).     

UV photooxidation and photopatterning of alkanethiolate self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on GaAs (001)

We have investigated the photooxidation of alkanethiolate self-assembled monoalyers (SAMs) adsorbed on GaAs (001) using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. Both -CH3- and -COOH-terminated SAMs undergo photoreaction to form sulfonated species upon exposure to UV light from a 500 W Hg arc lamp (lambda = 280-440 nm) in the presence of oxygen. In contrast to SAMs adsorbed on metals, the photooxidation of octadecanethiol adsorbed on GaAs can be fit to two first-order reactions: a fast initial reaction followed by a second slower reaction ( approximately 6 times slower). For SAMs with shorter alkyl chain lengths, the photooxidation process is can be fit to a single first-order reaction. Using the optimal photooxidation time, we also demonstrate that SAMs can be successfully UV photopatterned on GaAs substrates producing sharp, well-defined patterns.     

Dynamic modification of poly(methyl methacrylate) chips using poly(vinyl alcohol) for glycosaminoglycan disaccharide isomer separation

We describe a microchip electrophoresis (MCE) method for the assay of unsaturated disaccharides of chondroitin sulfates, dermatan sulfates, and hyaluronic acid (HA). Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) could be irreversibly adsorbed onto poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) substrates and this approach was applicable for dynamic coating. The characteristics of the PMMA surface with PVA coating were evaluated in terms of the wettability, EOF, and adsorption of 2-aminoacridone (AMAC)-labeled disaccharide. The water contact angle decreased from 73 degrees on a pristine PMMA surface to 37.5 degrees on a PVA-coated surface, indicating that the PVA coating increased hydrophilicity. EOF was reduced approximately twofold and was relatively stable. Scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy images showed that adsorption of AMAC-labeled disaccharides was dramatically suppressed. Using the PVA coating, baseline separation of two pairs of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) disaccharide isomers, DeltaDi-diS(B)/DeltaDi-diS(D) and DeltaDi-0S/DeltaDi-HA, was achieved in Tris-borate buffer within 130 s by MCE.     

Cu(II) Sorption Mechanism on Montmorillonite: An Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Study

The mass of gamma-globulin fouling an Anodisc alumina membrane with a nominal pore diameter of 0.1 μm has been measured at several concentrations and pHs. This fouling resulted from filtering through the membrane in a continuous recirculation device. The low-concentration fouling can be attributed mainly to adsorption. The complete concentration dependence of fouling mass has been obtained and fitted to a Freundlich heterogeneous isotherm, from which the pH dependence of active fouling sites and energies has been also obtained. Adsorption is studied as a function of the electrostatic forces between the solute and the membrane. A sharp maximum in the adsorbed mass for zero electrostatic force is observed. At high concentrations, accumulation plays a relevant role at alkaline pH, as confirmed by flux decay experiments, retention measurements, and AFM (atomic force microscopy) pictures. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Homogeneous blend membrane made from poly(ether sulphone) and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and its application to water electrolysis

A homogeneous blend membrane has been successfully prepared from poly(ether sulphone) (PES) and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), which have been usually thought to be immiscible to each other. The PES–PVP membrane possesses combined advantages of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic components; specifically, both good mechanical strength and excellent hydrophilicity have been achieved simultaneously. The success of achieving such special properties can be ascribed to the appropriate choice of solvent for membrane casting, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) in this case, and the post-treatment of the membrane in alkaline ethanol solution for obtaining hydrophilicity. Membranes with different blending ratios were characterized with tensile test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electrochemical measurements. The membrane was found to function well as a diaphragm in water electrolysis. In comparison with the traditional asbestos diaphragm, an energy saving of ca. 10% can be reached upon employing PES–PVP membranes in water electrolysis.