Encapsulation of β-Sitosterol in Polyurethane by Sol–Gel Electrospinning

Pristine β-sitosterol or in combination with other phytosterols is utilized in an array of enriched commercial foods. Considering the presence of β-sitosterol in different functional foods and its potential role in prevention and cure of neurodegenerative diseases, the aims of our investigation were to encapsulate β-sitosterol in nanofibers and to estimate influence of β-sitosterol on proliferation of fibroblasts. Electrospun nanofibers have widely been used as scaffolds to mimic natural extracellular matrix. Herein, our group for the first time establishes an innovative scaffold based on β-sitosterol and polyurethane using electrospinning. β-Sitosterol promotes epithelialization and possesses anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, whereas polyurethane, besides possessing biomedical uses, also enhances epithelial growth. We optimized the concentration (5%) of β-sitosterol in polyurethane to obtain homogenous solution, which can be spun without difficulty for the synthesis of β-sitosterol amalgamated scaffold. The resulted twisted nanofibers have been characterized via scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The viability of cells on twisted scaffold was examined using NIH 3T3 fibroblasts as model cell line. Incorporation of β-sitosterol in polyurethane changed the structure and size of nanofibers, and the twisted scaffolds were non-cytotoxic. Thus, the twisted nanoribbons, which contain anti-inflammatory β-sitosterol, can be utilized as a promising future material, which will help to ease inflammation and also aid in wound healing. In conclusion, the outcome of the preliminary research evidently points out the potential of twisted scaffold in biomedical applications.     

Enhancement of the Activity and Enantioselectivity of Lipase by Sol–Gel Encapsulation Immobilization onto β-cyclodextrin-Based Polymer

Candida rugosa lipase was encapsulated within a chemically inert sol–gel support prepared by polycondensation with tetraethoxysilane and octyltriethoxysilane in the presence of β-cyclodextrin-based polymer. The catalytic activity of the encapsulated lipases was evaluated both in the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylpalmitate and the enantioselective hydrolysis of racemic Naproxen methyl ester. It has been observed that the percent activity yield of the encapsulated lipase was 65 U/g, which is 7.5 times higher than that of the covalently immobilized lipase. The β-cyclodextrin-based encapsulated lipases had higher conversion and enantioselectivity compared with covalently immobilized lipase. The study confirms an excellent enantioselectivity (E >300) for the encapsulated lipase with an enantiomeric excess value of 98% for S-naproxen.     

Calix[4]arene-Based New Neutral Sensors for Fluoride

The development of new receptors which can recognize neutral and charged species has attracted considerable interest in the recent past.[1] Anions such as fluoride, chloride, phosphate and carboxylate play crucial roles in a range of biological phenomena and are implicated in many disease states.[2] Investigations on molecular and/or ionic recognition by calixarenes and their derivatives as synthetic receptors have attracted increasing attention in supramolecular chemistry because of their modifiable structure.[3] However, calix[4]arenes-based neutral receptors containing thiourea and amide groups are still rare. In this paper, we report fluoride selective optical chemosensors 4 and 5, based on calix[4]arene thiourea and amide derivatives, which only show a remarkable absorption change in the presence of fluoride ions, while have no any change upon addition of other anions (Cl- Br-, I-, AcO- and H2PO4-). The association constants are 947 and 2883 mol·L-1, respectively. The synthesis of calix[4]arene derivatives 4 and 5 is outlined in the following Scheme 1.     

Effect of Sol–Gel Encapsulation on Lipase Structure and Function: A Small Angle Neutron Scattering Study

The application of small angle neutron scattering (SANS) to the characterisation of sol–gel hosts containing biomolecules offers the opportunity to explore the relationship between gel structure and catalyst. A model system involving the immobilisation of Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) was investigated.Gels were produced by fluoride-catalysed hydrolysis of fixed ratios of tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS) and methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS). Phase separation between the enzyme and the evolving sol–gel matrix was minimised by incorporating glycerol into the sol–gel precursor solution. The potential stabilising effect of the NaF catalyst upon the enzyme was also investigated. Scattering studies were conducted on both immobilised lipase, and lipase in free solution. Scattering studies on free enzyme provided evidence of multiple populations of enzyme aggregates and showed that choice of solvent affected the degree of aggregation. Both NaF and glycerol affected neutron scattering, indicating changes in lipase conformation. Increasing glycerol concentration increased the degree of aggregation and produced differences in solvent packing on the surface of protein molecules. Initial evidence from SANS data indicated that the presence of the enzyme during gel formation conferred structural changes on the gel matrix. Modelling the effect of sol–gel encapsulation on lipase requires comparison of data from free enzyme to the immobilised form. Removal of the enzyme from the sol–gel structure, post gelation, is necessary to better characterise the modified matrix. This methodological problem will be the subject of future investigations.     

Synthesis of Calix[4]arene Derivatives with NLO Properties

The new chromophore compounds with NLO properties were prepared by Knoevenagel condensation from forrnyl or diformyl calix[4/arene and isophorone derivatives in the presence of piperidine and acetic acid, respectively. In these chromophore calix[4]arenes, the ring locked trienes were employed as the conjugation bridge and electron acceptor in D-π-A units. The NMR spectra demonstrated that they existed in a cone conformation and consequently non-conjugated D-π-A units could be oriented at nearly the same direction.     

Preparation of Silica-Gel Film with pH Indicators by the Sol–Gel Method

Gel films with various pH indicators were prepared by the sol–gel method without catalysts. The obtained gel films showed good response for various pH solutions as optical pH sensors and no leaching of the indicators was observed. The feature of absorption spectra of the indicators in the gel films was almost the same as that in the aqueous solutions. pKa of the indicators in the gel films was shifted with the increase of the TMOS content in the starting solutions. These results suggest that the pH indicators in the gel films were trapped in similar environment as in the solutions.     

Preparation of Amorphous Silica-Alumina Using the Sol–Gel Method and its Reactivity for a Matrix in Catalytic Cracking

Amorphous silica-aluminas were prepared by the sol–gel method using organic templates such as carboxylic acid and the gel skeletal reinforcement method. Their reactivities as a matrix for the catalytic cracking were investigated. Malic acid (MA) was used as a catalyst for the sol–gel method, an organic template and a reagent for the dispersion of Al. When the ratio of MA/TEOS (tetraethoxysilane) increased from 0.22 to 1.22, surface area, pore volume and pore diameter increased and the mesopore was formed at 1.22. Their average BET pore diameters for 0.22 and 1.22 of MA/TEOS were 2.0 to 5.1 nm, respectively. Although conversions of n-dodecane were around 20% or less with single amorphous silica-aluminas, both single beta-zeolite and the mixed catalysts of zeolite and amorphous silica-aluminas showed much higher activity. Further, the mixed catalyst using silica-alumina with mesopore (MAT(MA122-5)) exhibited the higher ratio of multi-branched paraffin to single branched paraffin in the gasoline franction of products (C5–C11) than the mixed catalysts using silica-alumina with only micropore and silica with mesopore or single zeolite. In the gel skeletal reinforcement method, tetraethoxy orthosilicate (TEOS) was used as not only a precursor of silica but also an agent which reinforces the skeleton of silica-gel to prepare an aerogel and extremely large mesopores were formed for resultant silicas and silica-aluminas. When silica aerogel was reinforced by TEOS solution, the pore diameter and pore volume reached 30 nm and 3.1 cm³/g, respectively, in the N₂ adsorption measurement by the BJH method, indicating that most of pores for this silica consisted of mesopores. In catalytic clacking reaction of n-dodecane, the mixed catalyst prepared by beta-zeolite and silica-alumina with large mesopore exhibited not only the comparable activity to that for single zeolite but also the unique selectivity where large amounts of branched products were formed. When the catalyst beds of silica-alumina and zeolite were separated, the reference silica-alumina (ref.SA) → zeolite system exhibited the higher activity and the product selectivity close to those for MAT(ref.SA). It is likely that the primary cracking of n-dodecane on silica-alumina would occur to produce the primary cracked product which effectively reacted with zeolite and inhibited the coke formation by overcracking.     

Preparation of ZnFe2O4 Nanofibers by Sol‐Gel Related Electrospinning Method

Zinc ferrite gel fibers were prepared from the sol precursor by the electrospinning method, and the ZnFe₂O₄ polycrystalline nanofibers were obtained upon calcination of the gel fibers. The obtained ZnFe₂O₄ nanofibers composed of 20–30 nm nanocrystals were about one hundred to several hundred nanometers in diameter. The materials have been characterized by means of SEM, TEM, XRD, TGA, and IR techniques.     

Studies on Properties of p—Nitrophenylazo Calix[4]arene Derivatives

The p-nitrophenylazo calix[4] arene derivatives la-ld with nonlinear optical(NLO)properties were prepared by the diazo-coupling reaction of calix[4]arene with p-nitrophenyl diazonium.The diazotization reaction of p-nltroaniline was caried out with isoamyl nitrite as a source of nitrous acid in EtONa/EtOH under refluxing conditon.X-Ray crystallographic analysis and ^1H NMR sptectra reveal that they exist as cone conformation in crystal state or in soution.HRS measurements at 1064 nm in THF indicate that p-nitrophenylazo calix[4]arenes have higher hyperpolarizability βz values than the corresponding reference compound 4-(4-nitrophenylazo)-2,6-dimethyl-phenol,without red shift of the charge transfer band.The tetrakis p-nitropheylazo calix[4]arene(2)with longer alkyl chains can form monolayer aht the air/water interface.     

Alkylations of Resorcarenes and Calix[4]pyrroles in Phase Transfer Catalytic Systems

Calixlnlarenesarecyclicoligomersmadeupofphenolsandformaldehyde.Thisversatileclassofcompoundshasbeenextensivelystudiedinthelastdecademainlyinordertoobtainnewcomplexingagentsbyappropriatefuntionalizationoftheparentmoleculel.ResorcarenesZandcall-c[4]pyrroles'aretwosubgroupmembersofthefamilyofcalixarensandalsoattractedincreasinginterests.Aspartofaprogrammeaimedatthesynthesisofneweasy-to-makecalixarenemolecules,wedecidedtoinvestigatethealkylationofsomecalixarensinPhaseTransferCatalysis(PTC)condi…     

Nano CaCO3:An Unique Condensation Agent for the Preparation of Monosubstituted Calix[4] arene by Ring-opening Reaction

Nano CaCO3 was used as a condensation agent in the ring-opening reaction of p-tert-butylcalix[4] arene with epichlorohydrin to afford 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl1-26,27,28-trihydroxy-25-(1′-chloro-2′-hydroxy-3′-propyl)calix(4] arene regioselectively in 52% yield,The yield was less than 2% by using normal CaCO3 instead of nano one under the same conditions.     

Synthesis of Calix[4]pyrroles: A Class of New Molecular Receptor

RecentlySesslerandco-workersdiscoveredthatthemeso-octaalkylporphyrinogensshowedinterestinganionandneutralsubstratebindingpropertiesandmightserveasaclassofneweasy-to-makemolecularreceptorintheareaofsupramolecularchemistry'.However,themeso-octaalkylpor...     

Synthesis and Complexation Properties of Novel Biscalixarene Composed of Calix[4]arene and Thiacalix[4]arene Subunits

Biscalixarenes, as examples of higher order molecular architectures than normal calixarene derivatives, were studied extensively in the recent years due to they possess two calixarene cavities which have the potential for complexing with two guests in two…     

Solubility, Acid–Base and Complexation Properties of Calix[4]resorcinarene in Aqueous Solutions of Nonionic Surfactants

Solubility and acid–base properties of calix[4]resorcinarene (H₈L) in aqueous solutions of nonionic surfactants Triton X-100, Triton X-405, and Brij-35, as well as isopropanol were studied by pH-potentiometry. The dependence of the amount of a nonionic surfactant necessary to dissolve H₈L on the length of ethylene oxide chain was found. The dissociation constants of macrocycle for the first four steps are low sensitive to the medium nature (micellar or water–alcohol solutions). Complexation ability of the [H_{8 – n} L] ^n– anions with respect to tetramethyl- and tetraethylammonium, N-methylpyridinium, and [Co(En)₂(C₂O₄)]⁺ cations was studied by pH-potentiometry. A noticeable increase in the selectivity of guest–host binding was found on going from aqueous or water–alcohol to micellar solutions.     

Selective Electrochemical Recognition of o-Phenylenediol by a Novel Calix[4]arene Derivative

A new type of calixarene-modified electrode has been prepared by directly coating the surface of a glassy carbon electrode with tetrahydrofuran solution containing 25,26,27,28-tetra-（3-amidino thiopropoxy）-5,11,17,23-tetratert-butylcalix[4]arene, and applied to the investigation of electrochemical behavior of phenylenediols. The results showed that the modified electrode could selectively recognize o-phenylenediol, making the over-potential of o-phenylenediol dropped and peak current increased greatly. The anodic peak current is proportional to the concentration of o-phenylenediol in the range of 1.0×10^-5-1.0×10^-4 mol·L^-1 with the detection limit （SIN=3） of 1.0×10^-7 mol·L^-1. The recognizing mechanism, including electrochemical process and binging sites, was also discussed using voltammetry.     

Synthesis of Coumarin-functionalized Calix[4]arene and Selective Recognition for L-Tryptophan

We report a novel calixarene derivative using 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin as the pre-organized unit and apply it to investigate selectively discriminate L-tryptophan from other amino acids in DMF-acetonitrile. 5, 11, 17, 23-Tetra-tert-butyl-25,27-bis-…     

Synthesis and Chiral Recognition of a New Type of Chiral Calix[4]-arene Derivatives

Two new chiral calix[4] arenes bearing chiral pendants,which were from by-product of the antibiotic industry,were synthesized and characterized by ^1H NMR.MS-FAB and elemental analysis,Studies of ^1H NMR of the two calix[4] arene derivatives indicate that they exist in cone conformation in solution.Results of chiral recognition of the two chiral ligands 2a and 2b towards the tartaric acid derivative 3 show that ligand 2a exhibited good chiral recognition abilities compared to ligand 2b.     

Molecularly Imprinted Polymer with Calix[4]arene Derivative for the Recognition of Acetanilide

Two molecularly imprinted polymers binding to analgesic acetanilide were prepared using either dual functional monomers of calix[4]arene derivative and acrylamide or single monomer acrylamide, respectively. The polymers were ground, sieved and investigated by equilibrium binding experiment to evaluate their recognition properties for the template and other substrates. Scatchard analysis showed that homogeneous recognition sites were formed in the imprinted polymer matrix. Our results demonstrated that the polymer using two functional monomers exhibited better selectivity for the template. This study may open new frontiers for the development and application of imprinted polymers, such as drug separation and purification.     

Preparation and Characterizations of ZnTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Powders by Sol–Gel Process

ZnTiO₃ powders were prepared by a sol–gel method. The gelation conditions and the gelation mechanism were investigated. The crystallization behavior and characteristics of the ZnTiO₃ were also investigated in detail. The experimental results show that homogenous and translucent gels can be prepared when the gelation conditions are appropriate and the gelation temperature remains constant. The gel structure can be described as a network of Ti and O, in which zinc ions are well distributed. The ZnTiO₃ phase can be detected by XRD in the powders calcined above 700 °C. The formation of ZnTiO₃ is a slow reaction process, which leads to the development of large ZnTiO₃ particles, with dimensions after calcination at 900 °C for 2 h in the range of 30–50 m.     

Monitoring the Discontinuous Dodecamer–Icosamer Transition of a Calix[4]arene-Derived Surfactant by Time-Resolved Small-Angle X-ray Scattering

Calix[4]arene-derived surfactants form monodisperse micelles with a well-defined aggregation number (N_agg) of 4, 6, 8, 12, or 20, corresponding to the Platonic solids. This feature is in strong contrast to conventional micelles. In this study, a transition from a dodecamer (N_agg=12) to an icosamer (N_agg=20) was induced by a rapid increase in the NaCl concentration (C_NaCl) using a stopped-flow device and directly observed by time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering. The N_agg remained unchanged during the first 60 s after the increase in C_NaCl , and then abruptly increased to 20. This feature resembles phase transitions in supersaturated or supercooled states, or highly cooperative phenomena. We surmise that this finding may be due to the fact that only a few N_agg values are thermodynamically allowed when N_agg is sufficiently small. This is the first observation of such an induction time in micellar aggregation.