Characterization of silk fibroin based films loaded with rutin–β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes

In this study, cyclodextrin inclusion complexes with rutin were prepared via co-precipitation method. Stability constant and solubility energy of beta-cyclodextrin complex were calculated as 262 M^?1 and 1,737 kJ mol^?1, respectively. Aqueous solubility of rutin was increased with inclusion complex of beta-cyclodextrin. The effect of temperature on both aqueous solubility of free rutin, and its inclusion complex was also studied. Characterization of cyclodextrin complexes were conducted with UV–Vis spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Characterization results supported formation of inclusion complexes. Dissolution profiles of rutin, physical mixture and inclusion complex of rutin were observed at 37 °C. Dissolution results proved the effect of cyclodextrin addition on solubility rate of rutin. After loading rutin and its complexes into silk fibroin based films, release tests were performed at 37 °C in neutral pH conditions for 24 h. Most of the rutin were released from silk fibroin films within the first 5 h and the rest of it was released slowly (sustained release). Electron microscope analyses showed that films had homogenous and dense morphologies. These results revealed that silk fibroin is useful for preparing bioactive films loaded with natural compounds and for modifying their release behaviour at physiological conditions.     

Biosensing approach for glutathione detection using glutathione reductase and sulfhydryl oxidase bienzymatic system

Chitosan membrane with glutathione reductase and sulfhydryl oxidase (SOX) was subsequently integrated onto the surface of spectrographic graphite rods for obtaining a glutathione biosensor. The working principle was based on the monitoring of O₂ consumption that correlates the concentration of glutathione during the enzymatic reaction. A linear relationship between sensor response and concentration was obtained between 0.5 and 2.0 mM for oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and 0.2–1.0 mM for reduced glutathione (GSH) in the presence of 2 μM nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) under the optimum working conditions. Also, reduced/oxidized glutathione were separated by HPLC and utility of bienzymatic system was investigated as an electrochemical detector for the analysis of these compounds. All data were given as a comparison of two systems: biosensor and diode array detector (DAD).     

Site-selective modification of proteins for the synthesis of structurally defined multivalent scaffolds

A combination of classical site-directed mutagenesis, genetic code engineering and bioorthogonal reactions delivered a chemically modified barstar protein with one or four carbohydrates installed at specific residues. These protein conjugates were employed in multivalent binding studies, which support the use of proteins as structurally defined scaffolds for the presentation of multivalent ligands.     

Characterization and modification of waste magnesium chip utilized as an Mg-rich intermetallic composite

In this study,the characterization and modification of waste magnesium chips（WMCs）,which were produced by plastic molding in a gold manufacturing factory and are used as Mg-rich intermetallic composites in storing hydrogen,were discussed in detail.WMCs were analyzed using X-ray diffraction（XRD）,X-ray fluorescence（XRF） spectroscopy,differential scanning calorimetry（DSC）,scanning electron microscopy（SEM）,and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller（BET） analysis to characterize the materials’ structural properties.Mechanical milling,organic treatment,and inorganic salt addition were carried out to modify the WMCs’ surface to prepare Mg-rich intermetallic composites for storing hydrogen.The modified samples were analyzed using high-pressure volumetric analyses to calculate their hydrogen storage capacity.The authors conclude that modified WMC was promising as an Mg-rich intermetallic composite that was suitable for use in hydrogen storage with a 4.59 wt%capacity at 320 C under a hydrogen pressure of 60 bar.     

Electron spectroscopic investigations of CdS and CdTe electrochemically coated on glass

The electrodeposition of CdS and CdTe is investigated to improve the stoichiometric properties of CdS/CdTe layers on ITO-glass substrates for solar cell applications. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is utilized for the characterization of the CdS and CdTe layers. The influence of the electrodeposition potential, the pH and the thiosulfate concentration on the stoichiometry of CdS and CdTe layers are discussed.     

Synergetic Effect of Sodium Borohydride Addition in Ammonia Borane Hydrolysis Reaction Mechanism and Kinetics

Synergetic effect of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) addition to ammonia borane (NH3BH3) hydrolysis reaction had been studied and iron-borate (FeB) was used to catalyze the reaction. Hydrogen generation performance of the hydrolysis reactions was compared for three different operating conditions: (1) in the presence of NaBH₄ with FeB catalyst, (2) with FeB without NaBH₄ addition and (3) in the presence of NaBH₄ without FeB. It was found that addition of NaBH₄ to the NH₃BH₃ hydrolysis reaction catalyzed by FeB resulted in the synergetic effect (synergetic factor (SF) > 0) and improved the hydrogen generation performance. Kinetic analysis showed that NaBH4 addition decreases the activation energy (E_a) from 52.11 ± 0.85 to 27.19 ± 0.44 kJ/mol. Simulation of hydrolysis kinetics curves indicated that addition of NaBH₄ (the mole fraction of NaBH₄ added to NH₃BH₃ is (1)) changed the three-dimensional diffusion mechanism to the one-dimensional one and brought on better hydrolysis properties in terms of higher hydrogen generation rate and lower induction time.     

Effective Hamiltonian for non-minimally coupled scalar fields

In the post Newtonian limit, a non-relativistic Hamiltonian is derived for scalar fields with quartic self-interaction and non-minimal coupling to the curvature scalar of the background spacetime. These effects are found to contribute to the non-relativistic Hamiltonian by adding nonlinearities and by modifying the gravitational Darwin term. As we discuss briefly in the text, the impact of these novel structures can be sizable in dense media like neutron star core, and can have observable signatures in phase transitions, for example.     

Nucleation, growth and properties of Co nanostructures electrodeposited on n-Si(1 1 1)

In the present work, cobalt thin films deposited directly on n-Si(1 1 1) surfaces by electrodeposition in Watts bath have been investigated. The electrochemical deposition and properties of deposits were studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA), ex situ atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and alternating gradient field magnetometer (AGFM) techniques. The nucleation and growth kinetics at the initial stages of Co studied by current transients indicate a 3D island growth (Volmer-Weber); it is characterized by an instantaneous nucleation mechanism followed by diffusion limited growth. According to this model, the estimated nucleus density and diffusion coefficient are on the order of magnitude of 10⁶ cm⁻² and 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹, respectively. AFM characterization of the deposits shows a granular structure of the electrodeposited layers. XRD measurements indicate a small grain size with the presence of a mixture of hcp and fcc Co structures. The hysteresis loops with a magnetic field in the parallel and perpendicular direction and showed that the easy magnetization axis of Co thin film is in the film plane.     

Changes in the mechanical properties of tooth-colored direct restorative materials in relation to time

The objective of this study was to determine the flexural strength, flexural modulus, Vickers hardness of a packable composite (Surefil), and an ormocer (Definite) in comparison with a microhybrid composite (Z-100), a microfil composite (Silux Plus) and a polyacid-modified composite resin (Dyract). Flexural strength and flexural modulus were determined using a three-point bending device. Microhardness was measured with a Vickers indentor. The specimens of each material were prepared according to manufacturer's instructions. The specimens were stored in artificial saliva at pH 6, all at 37°C. The groups were tested at the beginning of the test, at 3 months and at 6 months. Flexural strength values of Surefil and Definite showed a progressive increase. The highest MPa values were determined for Surefil (134.4 MPa) and the lowest MPa values were obtained for Dyract (59.6 MPa). The highest flexural modulus values were revealed for Surefil (10.000 GPa). Z-100, Silux Plus and Definite showed a tendency to decline in relation to time for their flexural modulus. GPa values of Silux Plus were stable at 3 and 6 months. Vickers hardness numbers showed that Surefil was the hardest and Dyract was the weakest material. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.