Supramolecular hydrogel formation based on inclusion complexation between poly(ethylene glycol)-modified chitosan and alpha-cyclodextrin

Supramolecular hydrogels have been prepared on the basis of polymer inclusion complex (PIC) formation between poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-modified chitosans and alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD). A series of PEG-modified chitosans were synthesized by coupling reactions between chitosan and monocarboxylated PEG using water-soluble carbodiimide (EDC) as coupling agent. With simple mixing, the resultant supramolecular assembly of the polymers and alpha-CD molecules led to hydrogel formation in aqueous media. The supramolecular structure of the PIC hydrogels was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction, and (13)C cross-polarized/magic-angle spinning (CP/MAS) NMR characterization. The PEG side-chains on the chitosan backbones were found to form inclusion complexes (ICs) with alpha-CD molecules, resulting in the formation of channel-type crystalline micro-domains. The IC domains play an important role in holding together hydrated chitosan chains as physical junctions. The gelation property was affected by several factors including the PEG content in the polymers, the solution concentration, the mixing ratio of host and guest molecules, temperature, pH, etc. All the hydrogels in acidic conditions exhibited thermo-reversible gel-sol transitions under appropriate conditions of mixing ratio and PEG content in the mixing process. The transitions were induced by supramolecular association and dissociation. These supramolecular hydrogels were found to have phase-separated structures that consist of hydrophobic crystalline PIC domains, which were formed by the host-guest interaction between alpha-CD and PEG, and hydrated chitosan matrices below the pK(a).The formation of inclusion complexes between alpha-cyclodextrin and PEG-modified chitosan leads to the formation of hydrogels that can undergo thermo-reversible supramolecular dissociation.     

An Efficient Method for the Preparation of Nitriles via the Dehydration of Aldoximes with Phthalic Anhydride

A new and highly efficient method for the conversion of aldoximes to nitriles was established. By fusing with phthalic anhydride, aldoximes were efficiently and smoothly converted into nitriles, in high yields (over 85%) and in a short time (within 5 minutes). The mixture of phthalic anhydride, a cyclic anhydride, and aldoximes in fusing state set up an ideal transition state for a selective [3.3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement of the acylated aldoximes to nitriles.     

Uncatalyzed partial oxidation of p-xylene in sub- and supercritical water

In sub- and supercritical water, partial oxidation of p-xylene was performed in a batch reactor without a catalyst at 240-500^oC, 220-300 bar. The loaded amount of hydrogen peroxide was set to 0-100% of the theoretically required oxygen amount. Conversion of p-xylene was reached over 99% within 15-20 min. In sub- and supercritical water, we propose two parallel pathways and major products that consist of p-tolualdehyde, p-toluic acid, terephthalic acid, toluene and benzaldehyde. Yields of major products in subcritical conditions were higher than in a supercritical conditions.     

Probe-induced native oxide decomposition and localized oxidation on 6H-SiC (0001) surface: an atomic force microscopy investigation

We report, for the first time, the native oxide decomposition/etching and direct local oxide growth on 6H-SiC (0001) surface induced by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Surface native oxide was decomposed and assembled into protruded lines when the negatively biased AFM tip was scanned over surface areas. The mechanism of decomposition was found to be governed by the Fowler-Nordheim emission current enhanced by the negatively biased AFM tip. Direct oxide growth on the SiC surface was achieved when the AFM tip was immobilized and longer bias duration applied. In particular, the aspect ratio of oxide grown on SiC was found to be several times higher than that on the Si surface. The improved aspect ratio on SiC was attributed to the anisotropic OH(-) diffusion involved in vertical and lateral oxidation along the polar and nonpolar directions such as [0001] and [110] axis in SiC crystal. The electron transport in the above AFM grown oxide on SiC was further investigated by I-V characteristics. The dielectrical strength of AFM oxide against degradation and breakdown under electrical stressing was evaluated.     

Determination of the inelastic mean-free-path and mean inner potential for AlAs and GaAs using off-axis electron holography and convergent beam electron diffraction.

The mean-free-paths for inelastic scattering of high-energy electrons (200 keV) for AlAs and GaAs have been determined based on a comparison of thicknesses as measured by electron holography and convergent-beam electron diffraction. The measured values are 77 +/- 4 nm and 67 +/- 4 nm for AlAs and GaAs, respectively. Using these values, the mean inner potentials of AlAs and GaAs were then determined, from a total of 15 separate experimental measurements, to be 12.1 +/- 0.7 V and 14.0 +/- 0.6 V, respectively. These latter measurements show good agreement with recent theoretical calculations within experimental error.     

Smectic Bimetallomesogens: Synthesis and Mesomorphic Properties in Oxygen-Bridged Dicopper and Divanadyl Complexes

The synthesis and mesomorphic properties of a homologous series of N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-4-alkoxylsalicylaldimine, N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-4-(4′-alkoxybenzoxy)salicylaldimine, and their dicopper(II) and di-oxovanadium(VI) complexes are reported. Copper complexes exhibited monotropic smectic A phases; however, vanadyl complexes showed no mesomorphism. A systematic comparison revealed that the meso-genie behaviors of these bimetallic complexes are induced by the weak intermolecular force and determined mainly by the central metal. The effects on the structural variations near the metal central cores and side chain density are also discussed.     

Glucose sensor based on glucose oxidase immobilized by zirconium phosphate.

Amperometric glucose sensors were fabricated using glucose oxidase (GOx) entrapped in zirconium hydrogenphosphate (ZrP), and their performance was evaluated. Reportedly, alpha-ZrP is one of the candidates that are expected to improve the stability of enzymes immobilized on solid surfaces. We intercalated GOxs into ZrP (GOx/ZrP), cast the GOx/ZrP suspension in polyvinylalcohol on a platinum electrode, and dried it in a vacuum oven. The morphological layered structure was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The enzymatic activities, which were determined by open-circuit potentiometric technique, reached the highest when GOxs were immobilized in ZrP at ca. pH 5. In vitro tests showed good linear responses in the 0-25 mM range and the sensitivity of 0.14 nA mM(-1) at 0.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The sensors, as made, were stable for more than 3 days within a limited deterioration.     

Mn(HPO3): A new manganese (II) phosphite with a condensed structure

A new manganese (II) phosphite with the formula Mn(HPO₃) has been synthesised under mild hydrothermal conditions and autogenous pressure. Large pink coloured single crystals were obtained, allowing the resolution of the structure by x-ray diffraction. Mn(HPO₃) crystallises in the P2₁/c monoclinic space group with a=8.036(3) Å, b=8.240(3) Å, c=10.410(3) Å, β=124.73(3)° and Z=8. The structure consists of a three-dimensional, compact framework of edge sharing MnO₆ octahedra linked to phosphite groups via oxygens. The presence of the phosphite anion has been confirmed by IR spectroscopy. Mn(HPO₃) presents a high thermal stability limit of 580 °C, before rapid transformation to Mn₂P₂O₇ occurs. Photoluminescence and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy studies show the presence of high spin Mn(II) in significantly distorted octahedral coordination with Dq and Racah parameters of Dq=820, B=910 and C=3135 cm⁻¹. The ESR spectra, performed at different temperatures, are isotropic with a g-value of 2.00(1). Magnetic measurements indicate global antiferromagnetic interactions with a ferromagnetic transition at 15 K, attributed to a canting of the antiferromagneticaly aligned spins.     

Design of passive mixers utilizing microfluidic self-circulation in the mixing chamber

This paper proposes the design of a passive micromixer that utilizes the self-circulation of the fluid in the mixing chamber for applications in the Micro Total Analysis Systems (microTAS). The micromixer with a total volume of about 20 microL and consisting of an inlet port, a circular mixing chamber and an outlet port was designed. The device was actuated by a pneumatic pump to induce self-circulation of the fluid. The self-circulation phenomenon in the micromixer was predicted by the computational simulation of the microfluidic dynamics. Flow visualization with fluorescence tracer was used to verify the numerical simulations and indicated that the simulated and the experimental results were in good agreement. Besides, an index for quantifying the mixing performance was employed to compare different situations and to demonstrate the advantages of the self-circulation mixer. The mixing efficiencies in the mixer under different Reynolds numbers (Re) were evaluated numerically. The numerical results revealed that the mixing efficiency of the mixer with self-circulation was 1.7 to 2 times higher than that of the straight channel without a mixing chamber at Re= 150. When Re was as low as 50, the mixing efficiency of the mixer with self-circulation in the mixing chamber was improved approximately 30% higher than that in the straight channel. The results indicated that the self-circulation in the mixer could enhance the mixing even at low Re. The features of simple mixing method and fabrication process make this micromixer ideally suitable for microTAS applications.