Optically controllable variable fiber optical attenuator integrated in conventional optical fiber

New type of optically controllable variable fiber optical attenuator based on thermo-optical effect in liquid cladding of optical fiber is described. The thermo-optical effect in liquid cladding optical fiber causes refractive index contrast changes in core–cladding interface, what enables to change the propagating optical signal power with temperature. The temperature change is achieved by fiber based heating element using laser radiation. Attenuation up to −12 dB was achieved in static dependence and dynamic response confirmed rise time up to 24 ms.     

Investigation of intermodal interference of LP01 and LP11 modes in the liquid-core optical fiber for temperature measurements

The intermodal interference of the LP₀₁ and LP₁₁ modes and determination of the equalization wavelength in the liquid-core optical fiber is presented. Theoretically was described the weakly guiding optical fiber with the constant core radius, where equalization wavelength is a function of the refractive indices of core and cladding. The dependence of equalization wavelength on refractive indices is employed for measurement of temperature. Temperature sensitivity using intermodal interference of modes LP₀₁ and LP₁₁ was documented in the liquid-core optical fiber consisted of fused silica as cladding and medicinal oil as a core. In the investigated temperature range the intermodal interference allows the temperature measurement with resolution of about 0.02 °C.     

Polymeric Micelles for Multidrug Delivery and Combination Therapy

The use of conventional therapy based on a single therapeutic agent is not optimal to treat human diseases. The concept called “combination therapy”, based on simultaneous administration of multiple therapeutics is recognized as a more efficient solution. Interestingly, this concept has been in use since ancient times in traditional herbal remedies with drug combinations, despite mechanisms of these therapeutics not fully comprehended by scientists. This idea has been recently re‐enacted in modern scenarios with the introduction of polymeric micelles loaded with several drugs as multidrug nanocarriers. This Concept article presents current research and developments on the application of polymeric micelles for multidrug delivery and combination therapy. The principles of micelle formation, their structure, and the developments and concept of multidrug delivery are introduced, followed by discussion on recent advances of multidrug delivery concepts directed towards targeted drug delivery and cancer, gene, and RNA therapies. The advantages of various polymeric micelles designed for different applications, and new developments combined with diagnostics and imaging are elucidated. A compilation work from our group based on multidrug‐loaded micelles as carriers in drug‐releasing implants for local delivery systems based on titania nanotubes is summarized. Finally, an overview of recent developments and prospective outlook for future trends in this field is given.     

Formation Mechanism of a Silane‐PVA/PVAc Complex Film on a Glass Fiber Surface

Mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced composite materials are affected by fiber sizing. A complex film formation, based on a silane film and PVA/PVAc (polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl acetate) microspheres on a glass fiber surface is determined at 1) the nanoscale by using atomic force microscopy (AFM), and 2) the macroscale by using the zeta potential. Silane groups strongly bind through the Si? O? Si bond to the glass surface, which provides the attachment mechanism as a coupling agent. The silane groups form islands, a homogeneous film, as well as empty sites. The average roughness of the silanized surface is 6.5 nm, whereas it is only 0.6 nm for the non‐silanized surface. The silane film vertically penetrates in a honeycomb fashion from the glass surface through the deposited PVA/PVAc microspheres to form a hexagonal close pack structure. The silane film not only penetrates, but also deforms the PVA/PVAc microspheres from the spherical shape in a dispersion to a ellipsoidal shape on the surface with average dimensions of 300/600 nm. The surface area value S_a represents an area of PVA/PVAc microspheres that are not affected by the silane penetration. The areas are found to be 0.2, 0.08, and 0.03 μm² if the ellipsoid sizes are 320/570, 300/610, and 270/620 nm for silane concentrations of 0, 3.8, and 7.2 μg mL^?1, respectively. The silane film also moves PVA/PVAc microspheres in the process of complex film formation, from the low silane concentration areas to the complex film area providing enough silane groups to stabilize the structure. The values for the residual silane honeycomb structure heights (H_a) are 6.5, 7, and 12 nm for silane concentrations of 3.8, 7.2, and 14.3 μg mL^?1, respectively. The pH‐dependent zeta‐potential results suggest a specific role of the silane groups with effects on the glass fiber surface and also on the PVA/PVAc microspheres. The non‐silanized glass fiber surface and the silane film have similar zeta potentials ranging from ?64 to ?12 mV at pH’s of 10.5 and 3, respectively. The zeta potentials for the PVA/PVAc microspheres on the glass fiber surface and within the silane film significantly decrease and range from ?25 to ?5 mV. The shapes of the pH‐dependent zeta potentials are different in the cases of silane groups over a pH range from 7 to 4. A triple‐layer model is used to fit the non‐silanized glass surface and the silane film. The value of the surface‐site density for Γ_Xglass and Γ_Xsilane, in which X denotes the Al? O? Si group, differs by a factor of 10^?4, which suggests an effective coupling of the silane film. A soft‐layer model is used to fit the silane‐PVA/PVAc complex film, which is approximated as four layers. Such a simplification and compensation of the microsphere shape gives an approximation of the relevant widths of the layers as the follows: 1) the layer of the silane groups makes up 10 % of the total length (27 nm), 2) the layer of the first PVA shell contributes 30 % to the total length (81 nm), 3) the layer of the PVAc core contributes 30 % to the total length (81 nm), and finally 4) the layer of the second PVA shell provides 30 % of the total length (81 nm). The coverage simulation resulted in a value of 0.4, which corresponds with the assumption of low‐order coverage, and is supported by the AFM scans. Correlating the results of the AFM scans, and the zeta potentials sheds some light on the formation mechanism of the silane‐PVA/PVAc complex film.     

Capillary driven molten metal flow over topographically complex substrates

A theoretical model of a capillary driven flow of liquid metal through topography features of rough surfaces has been verified by a study of molten solder (Sn-Pb) spreading over Cu(6)Sn(5)/Cu(3)Sn/Cu intermetallic (IMC) substrates. Flow through microgrooves over a rough IMC substrate is considered as spreading through an isotropic porous medium featuring a network of open microgrooves having predefined free-flow area cross sections. The relative margin of deviation between theoretically predicted and empirically determined locus of points of triple line locations is within the range of 5-15%. This margin supports the validity of the developed, analytically formulated square root power law model for a whole spreading domain in terms of (i) geometry of topographical features of the rough surface (i.e., effective intrinsic permeability, porosity/tortuosity, and microchannel cross section geometry), (ii) wetting/spreading features (equilibrium contact angle and filling factor), and (iii) molten metal/substrate properties (viscosity and surface tension). Experimental data involving triple line kinetics represent the data set of locations of the triple line versus time obtained by in situ monitoring of the spreading of molten metal systems over IMC substrates by using the controlled atmosphere hot stage microscopy.     

Kinetics of hypericin association with low-density lipoproteins

Steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence spectroscopy have been used for the study of the incorporation kinetics of hypericin (Hyp) into low‐density lipoproteins (LDL). Biphasic kinetics of Hyp association with LDL was observed when solutions of Hyp and LDL were mixed at various concentration ratios. The rapid phase of Hyp incorporation is completed within seconds, while the slow phase lasts several minutes. The relative contributions of the individual phases show that a higher amount of Hyp molecules (65%) are incorporated into LDL in the second phase. The kinetics of the incorporation of Hyp into LDL particles preloaded with Hyp (Hyp/LDL = 25:1) was also investigated. The decreased intensity of Hyp fluorescence is a sign of the formation of Hyp aggregates after penetration of additional Hyp molecules into Hyp/LDL = 25:1 complex. The time dependence of Hyp fluorescence was measured after mixing the complex Hyp/LDL = 200:1 with appropriate amounts of free LDL molecules. For each final Hyp/LDL ratio, an increase in the intensity and lifetime of Hyp fluorescence was observed, suggesting a monomerization of Hyp aggregates. The half‐time of Hyp transfer from Hyp/LDL complex to LDL particles is similar to the half‐time of the slow phase of Hyp incorporation into free LDL particles.     

Fullerenes,Nanotubes, and Graphite as Matrices for Collision Mechanism in Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry: Determination of Cyclodextrin

A technique for improving the sensitivity of high mass molecular analysis is described. Three carbon species, fullerenes, single walled carbon nanotubes, and highly ordered pyrolytic graphite are introduced as matrices for the secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis of cyclodextrin (C₄₂H₇₀O₃₅, 1134 u). The fullerene and nanotubes are deposited as single deposition, and 10, 20, or 30 deposition films and cyclodextrin is deposited on top. The cyclodextrin parent-like ions and two fragments were analyzed. A 30 deposition fullerene film enhanced the intensity of cationized cyclodextrin with Na by a factor of 37. While the C₆H₁₁O₅ fragment, corresponding to one glucopyranose unit, increased by a factor of 16. Although fragmentation on fullerene is not suppressed, the intensity is twice as low as the parent-like ion. Deprotonated cyclodextrin increases by 100× and its C₈H₇O fragment by 10×. While the fullerene matrix enhances secondary ion emission, the nanotubes matrix film generates a basically constant yield. Graphite gives rise to lower intensity peaks than either fullerene or nanotubes. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy provide images of the fullerene and nanotubes deposition films revealing flat and web structured surfaces, respectively. A “colliding ball” model is presented to provide a plausible physical mechanism of parent-like ion enhancement using the fullerene matrix.     

(1)H-Detected IPAP DEPT-INADEQUATE and IPAP RINEPT-INADEQUATE for the measurement of long-range carbon-carbon coupling constants

The sensitivity of cryoprobes, which are rapidly becoming available, have brought about the possibility of measurement of (13)C, (13)C coupling constants at the natural abundance of (13)C using tens rather than hundreds of milligrams of compounds. This relatively recent development lays the foundation for a more routine use of the (13)C, (13)C long-range coupling constants in the conformational analysis of molecules. We have designed novel (1)H-detected INADEQUATE experiments optimized for long-range (13)C, (13)C correlations and the measurement of long-range coupling constants. These experiments incorporate refocusing of (1)J(CH) coupling constants prior to the formation of DQ coherences and (1)H-decoupling during the long carbon-carbon evolution intervals. Such modifications significantly enhance their performance over (1)H-detected INADEQUATE experiments currently in use for mapping the one-bond (13)C, (13)C correlations. (1)H or (13)C polarization is used a starting point in long-range correlation (1)H-detected IPAP DEPT-INADEQUATE or RINEPT-INADEQUATE experiments. These correlation experiments were modified yielding in-phase (IP) or antiphase (AP) (13)C, (13)C doublets in F(1). Procedures were developed for their editing yielding accurate values of small (13)C, (13)C coupling constants. The methods are illustrated using mono- and disaccharide samples and compared with related (13)C-detected experiments by means of the measurement of interglycosidic (13)C, (13)C coupling constants of a disaccharide.     

Role of adsorption in liquid chromatography of macromolecules and potential of liquid chromatography in assessing adsorption of macromolecules onto solid surfaces

Many liquid chromatographic (LC) separations of macromolecules are influenced or directly based on adsorption of solutes on column packing. In the case of well known size exclusion chromatography (SEC), adsorption effects are usually unwanted and therefore suppressed. Still they appear in many SEC systems and may badly affect precision of results obtained. In other LC methods applicable to high polymers, adsorption is deliberately combined with exclusion. The aim is to discriminate complex polymer systems which exhibit more than one single distribution of their molecular characteristics. The main goals of such combinations include either a controlled increase or a full suppression of separation selectivity according to one molecular characteristics. Most important so far known exclusion-adsorption compensation methods allowing to suppress dependence of LC retention volumes on polymer molar mass are reviewed. The discussion is accomplished with a presentation of newly developed full adsorption - desorption (FAD) method which can be combined with various LC procedures. A very useful combination represents the on-line FAD/SEC procedure which enables also to study adsorption and desorption phenomena in the systems solid surface - solvent - macromolecules.     

Enthalpic Partition-Assisted Size Exclusion Chromatography: 1. Principle of Method

A novel high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method viz. “enthalpic partition assisted size exclusion chromatography” deliberately combines entropic and enthalpic partition mechanisms. It enables separation of homopolymers according to their molar mass with increased selectivity, as well as discrimination of polymer species differing in their nature/composition. Enthalpic partition of macromolecules takes place between the mobile phase and the stationary “liquid” of a different chemical nature, which is immobilized within pores of an appropriate carrier (a bonded phase). The extent of enthalpic partition depends on the accessibility of bonded phase for macromolecules and on the difference of polymer solubility in the mobile phase and in the solvated bonded phase. The enthalpic partition in favor of column packing arises from better solubility of polymer solutes in the solvated stationary phase compared to the mobile phase. Macromolecules are “pushed” into the solvated stationary phase and their retention volumes (V_R) increase. In the area of high molar masses, the extent of enthalpic partition as rule raises with the increasing size of macromolecules. However, under properly chosen experimental conditions the enthalpic partition may rapidly diminish with the sample molar mass (M), likely due to the solubility changes and/or due to partial exclusion of macromolecules from the pores. As result, the corresponding retention volumes sharply drop within a narrow range of M with the increasing size of macromolecules. This results in the log M vs. V_R dependences, which resemble in their form that for size exclusion chromatography but are much more flat indicating highly selective separations of homopolymers according to their molar masses. In this way, enthalpic partition “assists” entropic partition (size exclusion). Polymer species, which do not undergo enthalpic partition, elute from the HPLC column in the conventional size exclusion mode and can be discriminated from the partitioning species. Enthalpic partition assisted size exclusion chromatography can be utilized in separation and characterization of various homopolymers, and polymer blends.