The Potential of O‐MMT as a Reinforcing Filler for Uncured and Dynamically Cured PVC/XNBR Composites

Organic montmorillonite modified with quaternary ammonium (O‐MMT) was compounded with uncured and dynamically cured poly(vinyl chloride)/carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber (PVC/XNBR) composites, using a Brabender Plasticorder at 130°C and 50 rpm rotor speed. The reinforcing efficiency of the O‐MMT was investigated in the uncured PVC/XNBR composite and the dynamically cured PVC/XNBR counterpart. Mixing and dynamic curing of the composites were monitored by typical torque‐time curves derived from a Brabender internal mixer. The torque‐time curves revealed that the dynamic curing process was successful and the incorporation of O‐MMT has no adverse effect on the processibility of the composites. It has been found that the introduction of crosslinks within the rubbery phase in the presence of the O‐MMT has further improved the tensile properties. DMA studies revealed that dynamically cured composite with O‐MMT showed higher storage modulus than the composite without O‐MMT. Furthermore, a one‐step tensile modulus vs. temperature curve and a related one peak tensile loss modulus vs. temperature curve were obtained, consequently, both are characteristics of a miscible polymers system. Further evidence on the composite miscibility was purchased by thermal scans from DSC, which showed a single glass transition temperature of PVC/XNBR composites. This claim was further supported by ATR‐IR spectra which revealed that hydrogen bonding is extensively involved in PVC/XNBR composites. This evidence unveiled the exact nature of the specific interactions responsible for miscibility and hence, enhanced mechanical properties. Furthermore, we proved in our studies the reinforcing role played by layered clay due to better dispersion, as well as improved interactions.     

Studies on Melamine Modified Polyesteramide as Anticorrosive Coatings from Linseed Oil: A Sustainable Resource

Melamine modified polyester amide (MPEA) was synthesized by the reaction of linseed oil fatty amide. The resin was further cured at room temperature by polystyrene co‐maleic anhydride (SMA) in different phr (30–80) to obtain MPEA coatings. The probable structure of MPEA was confirmed by FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopic techniques. The physico‐chemical characterization of these resins viz. iodine value, saponification value, refractive index, inherent viscosity were carried out by standard methods. MPEA (40 wt%) solution in ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) was applied on a mild steel strip of standard sizes to study their physico‐mechanical and chemical resistance properties. It was found that coatings of MPEA with 60 parts per hundred of the resin (phr) of SMA showed the best performance in physico‐mechanical and alkali resistance properties. Thermal stability and curing behavior were studied by Thermo Gravimetric Analyses (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), respectively.     

Viscometric Estimation of Unperturbed Chain Dimensions of Polymers

A new expression is proposed to determine the unperturbed dimensions of coil-like polymers viscometrically by use of the Flory and Kratky expression. The unperturbed dimensions so estimated are compared with the results obtained by using different expressions available in the literature. The results are comparable even for stiff chain polymers. The data obtained under theta conditions also fit this expression very well. The effect of molecular weight, its distribution, and that of the solvent has also been studied. It is concluded that the unperturbed dimensions are independent of molecular weight and solvent but depend on the heterogeneity of the system.     

Lipases,liposomes and lipid-prodrugs

Colloidal and interfacial phenomena lie at the core of drug formulation, drug delivery, as well as drug binding and action at diseased sites, e.g., in cancer therapy. We review a class of liposome-based drug-delivery systems whose design and functional properties are intimately controlled by the stability of sub-micron structures, lipid-bilayer interfaces, and interfacially activated enzymes that can be exploited to target and deliver drugs. Moreover these drugs can themselves be special lipid molecules in the form of lipid prodrugs that both form the liposomal carrier as well as the substrate for endogenously upregulated lipases that turn the prodrugs into potent drugs precisely at the diseased site.     

Improvement of Nanoprecipitation Technique for Preparation of Gelatin Nanoparticles and Potential Macromolecular Drug Loading

An optimum nanoprecipitation technique for gelatin nanoparticles is established, based on aqueous gelatin solution and ethanolic solution containing stabilizer. Crosslinking with glutaraldehyde results in stable gelatine nanoparticles. Several factors such as the surfactant concentration, type of surfactant, type of nonsolvent and gelatin concentration are evaluated. Gelatin nanoparticles with 200–300 nm can be produced using 20–30 mg mL^?1 of gelatin and a minimum of 7% w/v stabilizer (Poloxamer 407 or 188). Furthermore, methanol and ethanol are good nonsolvents, whereas other nonsolvents such as acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and acetonitrile, result in phase separation and visible precipitates. The entrapment efficiency of fluorescein‐isothiocyanate (FITC)‐dextran as model drug was determined to 50% with no substantial effect on particle size. 80% of the drug is only released after enzymatic digestion.

     

“On-water” organic synthesis: <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-proline catalyzed synthesis of pyrimidine-2,4-dione-, benzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>]- and dihydropyrano[2,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>]chromene derivatives in aqueous media

In this work, functionalized pyrimidine-2,4-dione-, benzo[g]-, and dihydropyrano[2,3-g]chromene derivatives have been synthesized via a Michael addition of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone or 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone to the Knoevenagel condensation product of an aldehyde with Meldrum’s acid, dimedone or barbituric acid in the presence of a catalytic amount of l-proline under refluxing conditions in water in good to excellent yields.     

Non-covalently lactose imprinted polymers and recognition of saccharides in aqueous solutions

The aim of this work was to prepare lactose imprinted polymer and study of its selectivity for the recognition of different mono- and disaccharides. A series of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) against lactose were synthesized and their binding properties were compared with a Blank non-imprinted polymer. Methacrylamide (MAAM) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate were used as functional monomer and cross-linker, respectively. Dimethylsulfoxide was also applied as polymerization solvent. Different lactose:MAAM ratios were applied and optimized MIP was selected in a conventional batch adsorption study. The dissociation constant and maximum binding sites of polymer were determined using the Scatchard analysis. The selectivity of MIP for different mono- and disaccharides was also evaluated. The results indicated that the shape of cavity and orientation of functional monomers in binding sites and the spatial arrangement of hydroxyl groups in saccharide structure were responsible for the selectivity of lactose imprinted polymer.     

Evaluation of Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity of Newly Synthesized 4‐Thiazolidinones

The antifungal and antioxidant activities of thirty newly synthesized 4‐thiazolidinone (TZON) derivatives were assessed against some fungal species including Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. The introduction of different arylidene moieties at 5‐positions of the thiazolidinone ring successfully enhanced its biological activity. The structure–activity relationships revealed that 4‐thiazolidinone derivatives harboring dicarboxyethyl (at the 2‐ethenyl) and p‐nitrophenylhydrazyl arm (at the 5‐arylidine positions of the thiazolidinone ring) display considerable antifungal and antioxidant properties.     

Homogeneous Liquid–Liquid Microextraction Via Flotation Assistance (HLLME-FA) Method for the Pretreatment of Organochlorine Pesticides in Aqueous Samples and Determination by GC–MS

This work proposes a new, rapid and simple homogeneous liquid–liquid microextraction via flotation assistance technique for the analysis of six organochlorine pesticides in water samples. A special extraction cell was used to facilitate collection of the low-density solvent extract. No centrifugation was required in this procedure. Determination was carried using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The water sample solution was then added into the extraction cell containing appropriate mixture of extract and homogeneous solvents. In the first step, a homogeneous solution and then with the continuation of water sample injection, a cloudy solution was formed. Using air flotation, the organic solution was collected at the conical part of the designed cell. The optimized levels of effective parameters were found based on response surface methodology approach. Applying the optimized conditions to the system understudy, the limits of detection of all target analytes were obtained in the range of 1.4–7 ng mL^?1, while the precisions were found to be in the range of 11.08–14.87 (RSD, n = 3). The linearity of the method lay in the range of 10–150 ng mL^?1 with the coefficients of correlation (r ² ) ranging from 0.998 to 0.999.     

Synthesis of a New Heteropolytopic Cryptand Through Schiff Base Condensation in the Presence of Ba(II) Ion

A new Schiff base cryptand (L) has been prepared via [2 + 2] condensation of 1,3,5-tris(2-formylphenoxymethyl)benzene (1) with 1,3,5-tris(aminomethyl)benzene trishydrochloride (2) in the presence of Ba(II) ion. The analytical data show that the Ba(II) cation is not retained by the product. Thus it seems that the role of the Ba(II) ion is to organize the transition state preceding the formation of the cryptand.