Effects of fatty acids, fatty amines and propylene glycol on rat stratum corneum lipids and proteins in vitro measured by fourier transform infrared/attenuated total reflection (FT-IR/ATR) spectroscopy.

Fourier transform infrared/attenuated total reflection (FT-IR/ATR) spectroscopy was used to examine the effect of fatty acids, fatty amines and propylene glycol (PG) on the molecular mobility of rat stratum corneum lipids and keratinized proteins, using a hydrophobic solute, indomethacin, and a polar solute, 5- and 6-carboxyfluorescein (CF). Treatment of the skin with either oleic acid or oleylamine resulted in significant CH2 C-H asymmetric stretching band shifts and broadening. The extent of spectral alteration varied with the chemical structure of the penetrant. The penetrants increased the lipophilic indomethacin flux and shortened the lag times through the skin in vitro. The plot of frequency changes vs. indomethacin flux or lag time demonstrated a linear relationship, thus indicating that spectral alteration in CH2 C-H stretching regions of stratum corneum lipids may provide a reliable index for characterizing penetrants. The data also showed that the hydrophilic group which attached to the CH2 group in the penetrant molecules did not play a part in the membrane permeability enhancing action. Oleic acid and oleylamine appeared to induce a conformational alteration of the keratinized proteins from alpha-helix to beta sheet. Such alteration was also observed with PG treatment. Accumulation of CF was significantly increased by the PG pretreatment of the skin, thus suggesting that PG-induced protein conformational changes could be related to the enhancement of CF accumulation.     

Three-component photopolymers based on thermal crosslinking and acidolytic de-crosslinking of vinyl ether groups. 2. effects of acid components on photopolymer characteristics

The three-component photopolymers consisting of poly(p-hydroxystyrene) (PHS) or poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) (PSA) as the binder polymer, 2,2-bis(4-(2-(vinyloxy)ethoxy)phenyl)propane (BPA-DEVE) or 1,1,1-tris(4-(2-(vinyloxy)ethoxy)phenyl)ethane (THPETEVE) as the crosslinking agent, and a photoacid generator were investigated with regard to their lithographic characteristics and thermal crosslinking reactivity because of the acidity of the acid component. The thermal crosslinking rate can be represented as the pseudo first-order reaction. The PSA copolymer with an acrylic acid unit has the higher crosslinking rate and sensitivity, and the lower activation energy. Under low baking temperatures at which crosslinking does not take place, dual-mode resist behavior is observed.     

Saponins from leaves of Acanthopanax hypoleucus Makino.

From the leaves of Acanthopanax hypoleucus Makino (Araliaceae), five triterpenoidal saponins, having oleanolic acid and hederagenin as sapogenins, were isolated. On the basis of chemical and spectral data, the structures of two new saponins, named hypoleucosides A (1), and B (5) were elucidated as follows: 1; 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl 11 alpha-methoxy-oleanolic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, 5; 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1---- 4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester.     

Sodium borosilicate glasses prepared by the sol-gel process

A sodium borosilicate gel of composition 80SiO₂·15B₂O₃·5Na₂O (wt%) was prepared from tetraethyl orthosilicate, trimethyl borate, sodium methylate, H₂O, and HCl as the catalyst. Variation of specific surface area and porosity as a function of heating temperature indicated that closed pores were opened at temperatures lower than 400°C and collapsed above 450°C. From TG and DTA curves, about 19% Si and B atoms are evaluated to have −OH bonds. X-ray diffraction patterns indicated crystallization of low-cristobalite out of the gel when it was heated at 700°C for 5 h, showing a difference from a melt-quenched glass of the same composition.     

Study of radical generated from coumarin dye-sensitized photo-initiator systems in high-speed photopolymer coating layers using laser flash photolysis

Radical generation from photoinitiation systems containing carbonylbiscoumarin dye with a radical-generating reagent, 3,3′-carbonylbis[7-(diethylamino)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one] (KCD-DA), with 2,2′-bis(2-chloro-phenyl)-4,4′5,5′-tetraphenyl-1, 1′-bi-1H-imidazole (BI) in a poly(methyl methacrylate) film has been investigated by laser flash photolysis using a total reflection cell. Imidazolyl radical (Im·) was predominantly generated from carbonylbiscoumarin triplet-sensi-­tized decomposition of BI, the quantum yield, Φ^o_Im· of Im· at an infinite concentration of BI was measured, Φ^o_Im· = 1.3. The high quantum yield, Φ^o_Im·, implies an efficient KCD-DA triplet-sensitized photoinitiation system containing BI. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Accumulation of Arsenic by Rhaphydophyceae Chattonella antiqua (Hada) Ono

Rhaphydophyceae Chattonella antiqua (Hada) Ono was grown in seawater containing an arsenic concentration up to 50 mg dm⁻³, and survived even at 200 mg dm⁻³. The arsenic content increased with an increase of the surrounding arsenic, iron and manganese concentrations. However, arsenic accumulation was unaffected by phosphorus concentration. Also, arsenic content in C. antiqua decreased at a selenium concentration of up 20 mg dm⁻³, and was reduced by the addition of antimony. In the living cells, about 52% of the arsenic which accumulated in each cell was found in the intracellular fraction, 27% in the lipid fraction, and 21% in the cell wall fraction.     

Hydrogels with Crystalline or Liquid Crystalline Structure

The formation of ordered structure in hydrogels derived from copolymers of hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomers with crystalline or liquid‐crystalline moieties is reviewed. The role of water in the formation of ordered structure and its influence on the thermal and mechanical properties of hydrogels are clarified. For example, by inducing a certain amount of water, an amorphous to crystalline transition occurs in gels of acrylic acid/alkyl acrylate copolymers. On the other hand, water induces a liquid‐crystalline (SmA) to liquid‐crystalline (SmI) transition in copolymers consisting of acrylic acid and 11‐(4′‐cyanobiphenyloxy)undecyl acrylate. These specific features regarding the formation of ordered structures in hydrogels might shed some light on the formation of ordered structure in biological tissues.     

Effect of hydrogen bonds on gelation by introduction of carboxyl groups in the free‐radical crosslinking copolymerization of butyl methacrylate with 1,6‐hexanediol dimethacrylate

The preliminary study of the effect of physical crosslinking on the gelation in monovinyl/divinyl copolymerizations is described. Thus, mono(2‐methacryloyloxyethyl) succinate was added to the crosslinking copolymerization of butyl methacrylate with 1,6‐hexanediol dimethacrylate and the gelation was explored in terms of the effect of hydrogen bonds formed between carboxyl groups introduced into the primary polymer chain.     

Self-assemblies of enzymatically degradable amphiphilic oligopeptides as nonviral gene carrier

Novel biodegradable oligopeptide-type gene carriers composed of cationic residues (KRRRKRKRRRKRKRRC) and oligo leucine segments were developed. The amphiphilic carrier was found to form micelle-like assemblies in aqueous solutions, when the oligo leucine is 12 amino acids length (Pep-L12). NMR, CMC, and GPC analysis revealed their hydrophobic/cationic core/shell morphology. Hydrophobic interaction between leucines is thought to be the major driving force behind formations of assemblies. The transient expression of luciferase introduced to COS-1 cells using Pep-L12 below the CMC is as low as that by the control cationic peptides without leucine residue (Pep-L0), while improved transgene expression was observed in the case of Pep-L12 above CMC. The self-assembly raised the apparent molecular weight and gene transfection ability without loosening their low cytotoxicity. These results indicate that the amphiphilic oligopeptides are very promising materials as highly efficient and less toxic gene carriers.