Preparative size-exclusion chromatography for purification and characterization of colloidal quantum dots bound by chromophore-labeled polymers and low-molecular-weight chromophores

We explore the use of preparative size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to purify quantum dots (QDs) after surface modification. In one example, in which Bio-Beads (S-X1) were used as the packing material for the preparative SEC column, CdSe QDs treated with a functional coumarin dye could be separated from the excess free dye by using tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the mobile phase. This column was unable to separate polymer-coated QDs from free polymer (M ∼ 8000) because of the relatively low cutoff mass of the column. Here a preparative HPLC column packed with TOYOPEARL gel allowed the effective separation of polymer-bound QDs from the excess free polymer by using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) as the mobile phase. When other solvents such as absolute ethanol, acetonitrile, THF, and THF–triethylamine mixtures were used as the eluent, QDs stuck to the column. While NMP was an effective medium to remove excess free polymer from the QDs, it was difficult to transfer the purified QDs to more volatile solvents and maintain colloidal stability.     

Progress in the Application of Nanoparticles and Graphene as Drug Carriers and on the Diagnosis of Brain Infections

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is the protective sheath around the brain that protects the sensitive microenvironments of the brain. However, certain pathogens, viruses, and bacteria disrupt the endothelial barrier and cause infection and hence inflammation in meninges. Macromolecular therapeutics are unable to cross the tight junctions, thereby limiting their bioavailability in the brain. Recently, nanotechnology has brought a revolution in the field of drug delivery in brain infections. The nanostructures have high targeting accuracy and specificity to the receptors in the case of active targeting, which have made them the ideal cargoes to permeate across the BBB. In addition, nanomaterials with biomimetic functions have been introduced to efficiently cross the BBB to be engulfed by the pathogens. This review focuses on the nanotechnology-based drug delivery approaches for exploration in brain infections, including meningitis. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, or, rarely, protozoa or parasites may be the cause of brain infections. Moreover, inflammation of the meninges, called meningitis, is presently diagnosed using laboratory and imaging tests. Despite attempts to improve diagnostic instruments for brain infections and meningitis, due to its complicated and multidimensional nature and lack of successful diagnosis, meningitis appears almost untreatable. Potential for overcoming the difficulties and limitations related to conventional diagnostics has been shown by nanoparticles (NPs). Nanomedicine now offers new methods and perspectives to improve our knowledge of meningitis and can potentially give meningitis patients new hope. Here, we review traditional diagnosis tools and key nanoparticles (Au-NPs, graphene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), QDs, etc.) for early diagnosis of brain infections and meningitis.     

Compatibilized PP/EPDM/PA6 ternary blends: extended morphological studies

Polypropylene (PP)/polyamide6 (PA6)/ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) (70/15/15) ternary polymer blends compatibilized with maleic‐anhydride‐grafted EPDM (EPDM‐g‐MA) were prepared by melt blending using a twin‐screw extruder (TSE) in different processing conditions (barrel temperature profile, screw speed, and mixing sequence). The microstructures of prepared ternary blends were studied and compared to the predictions of spreading coefficient, minimum relative interfacial energy (RIE), and dynamic interfacial energy phenomenological models. The observed morphologies were somehow different from the model predictions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A mechanistic approach to photochemical behavior of 4‐anisyl‐4‐methyl‐2,6‐diphenyl‐4H‐thiopyran‐1,1‐dioxide

Photoisomerization of 4‐anisyl‐4‐methyl‐2,6‐diphenyl‐4H‐thiopyran‐1,1‐dioxide is described in the presence of a sensitizer and new mechanistic features are proposed. The relative molar ratios of the stereoselective photoproducts compared in the presence and the absence of sensitizer in different concentrations of the starting material using hplc. The results observed are discussed on the basis of a triplet excited state thiadi‐π‐methane rearrangement.     

Existence and Multiplicity of solutions for a quasilinear elliptic system on unbounded domains involving nonlinear boundary conditions

We prove two existence results for the nonlinear elliptic boundary value system involving $p$-Laplacian over an unbounded domain in $R^N$ with noncompact boundary. The proofs are based on variational methods applied to weighted spaces.     

Ni/Al LDH纳米粒子改性的陶瓷碳电极对甲醇和乙醇电催化氧化性能(英文)

A Ni/Al layered double hydroxide(LDH) nanoparticle modified carbon ceramic electrode(Ni/Al LDH/NMCC) was fabricated and used for the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol and ethanol in alkaline media.Cyclic voltammetric(CV) studies showed that it gave a significantly higher activity for methanol and ethanol oxidation and can be used as an electrocatalytic anode for fuel cells.The kinetic parameters of the electron transfer coefficient(α) and number of electrons involved in the rate determining step(nα) for the oxidation of methanol and ethanol were determined using CV.The anodic currents showed a linear dependence on the concentration of methanol and ethanol.     

Existence of multiple solutions for a perturbed discrete anisotropic equation

In this paper, we are concerned with the existence of at least three distinct solutions for a perturbed anisotropic discrete Dirichlet problem. The approach is based on variational methods. We also provide two examples in order to illustrate the results.     

Release behavior,kinetic and antimicrobial study of nalidixic acid from [Zn2(bdc)2(dabco)] metal-organic frameworks

In the present study, a hydrothermal method was developed to prepare nalidixic acid-loaded [Zn₂(bdc)₂(dabco)] metal–organic frameworks. The self-assembly of primary building blocks was used for synthesis of [Zn₂(bdc)₂(dabco)] at room temperature. The zinc metal ion was used as a connector, 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate (bdc) as a chelating ligand, and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (dabco) as a bridging ligand. The metal organic frameworks were used as the carriers for drug delivery system, where it could entrap nalidixic acid as a model drug. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), BET nitrogen adsorption–desorption method, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used for characterization of samples. The drug release was also monitored, and 96 and 62% of the loaded drug were released over 120 h at pH values of 5.0 and 7.4, respectively. The antimicrobial activities of [Zn₂(bdc)₂(dabco)] and nalidixic acid-loaded [Zn₂(bdc)₂(dabco)] were tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative species. The results revealed that this nanoscale metal organic framework may be regarded as a simple and stable platform for drug release in the treatment of infectious diseases.