Systematic study of muon transfer to sulphur dioxide

In a systematic study of the transfer process to sulphur dioxide, in seven different H₂ + SO₂ gas mixtures, the time spectra of the muonic sulphur X-rays yield muon transfer rates to the SO₂ molecule, deduced from the lifetimes of the p atoms, which agree all well with each other. The muonic oxygen time spectra show an additional structure as if p atoms of another kind were present. Reduced transfer rates_O are reproducible if one uses the model of ephemeral p atoms. The intensity ratios between the different kinds of p atoms are also discussed in the framework of this model and the one of black and white p atoms.     

Quality control of201TlCl solution obtained at IPEN-CNEN/SP

The radiopharmaceutical²⁰¹TlCl(thallium-201 chloride) is used in nuclear medicine for myocardial visualization. The solution of²⁰¹TlCl was prepared using²⁰¹Tl obtained by irradiating a natural mercury target with protons from the CV-28 cyclotron installed at IPEN-CNEN/SP. This solution was subjected to different quality control processes required for its use in medicine. Some of these controls concerned the determination of the radionuclidic impurities:²⁰⁰Tl,²⁰²Tl and²⁰³Hg; the chemical identification of²⁰¹Tl⁺; the hydrazine concentration, mercury contamination and the presence of phosphate. Furthermore. the biological distribution in Wistar rats and tests for sterility, pyrogenicity and toxicity were carried out. It was verified that the solution obtained was in the form of thallous chloride. This radiopharmaceutical gave good heart images in animals but due to the high levels of²⁰⁰Tl and²⁰²Tl its use in humans is not possible unless enriched²⁰²Hg is used as target in the irradiation.     

Shape-tunable polymer nodules grown from liposomes via ring-opening metathesis polymerization

A new inisurf (acting as surfactant and initiator) molecule for ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) was synthesized and used in aqueous solution in order to control the size and shape of polymer nodules grown from liposomes. Nodules were observed to grow in size with conversion of monomer, and depending on the monomer used, they adopted either a spherical or comet-like shape. Here, we investigate polymer production from a liposome surface. We use a hydrophobic derivative of the Grubbs catalyst positioned at the liposome surface to allow for ROMP of monomers dissolved in the aqueous outer phase. We obtain nodules of polymer that can grow up to tens of micrometers, unveiling new efficient possibilities of polymerization from a membrane in an aqueous solution.