Reversible Immobilization of Urease by Using Bacterial Cellulose Nanofibers

In this work, bacterial cellulose nanofibers were produced by using the Gluconacetobacter hansenii HE1 strain. These nanofibers were derivatized with dye affinity ligand Reactive Green 5, and these newly synthesized dye-attached nanofibers were used for affinity adsorption of urease. Reactive Green 5-attached nanofibers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, SEM, and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis. Some adsorption conditions which significantly affect the adsorption efficiency were investigated. The maximum urease adsorption capacity was found to be 240 mg/g nanofiber in pH 6.0 and at room temperature. Dye-free plain nanofibers also used for studying nonspecific urease adsorption onto plain nanofibers and nonspecific adsorption were found to be negligible (3.5 mg/g nanofiber). Prepared dye-attached nanofibers can be used in five successive adsorption/desorption steps without any decrease in their urease adsorption capacity. The desorption rate of the adsorbed urease was found to be 98.9 %. The activity of the urease was also investigated, and it was found that free and desorbed urease from the dye-attached nanofibers showed similar specific activity.     

Two-dimensional agnor evaluation as a prognostic variable in urinary bladder carcinoma: a different approach via total agnor area/nucleus area per cell

Traditional criterions are not sufficient to predict accurately the recurrence of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the AgNORs via total AgNOR area/nucleus area (TAA/NA) for each cell as a prognostic parameter, in TCC of urinary bladder. Tumor tissues of 20 consecutive cases of male bladder cancer patients were divided into two groups as middle differentiated (LG) and high grade (HG). The extra-tumoral tissue (ETT) samples of 10 males served as control group. A second control group (HC) consisted of five healthy and normal bladder tissue samples. The 3 microm of sections from each paraffin embedded tumoral, extra-tumoral and normal tissue samples served as patient and control groups. After deparaffinization and rehydratation steps, silver (AgNO(3)) staining of nucleolar organizer regions-associated proteins (AgNORs) was performed. Instead of Giemsa stain, we used Hematoxylin for contra staining. The images of the 100 analyzable nuclei from each tissue sample, transferred by means of a video camera and video capture card from microscope and recorded onto a computer. Software was prepared in Delphi language for analysis. Mean (E+02) TAA/NA values of HC, ETT, LG and HG groups were 6.97+2.80, 5.70+1.82, 7.80+3.22 and 9.24+3.88, respectively. Statistical comparisons have shown significant differences between all groups.In conclusion, mean TAA/NA per cell has a potential to be a prognostic parameter. Therefore, further evaluation of big patient series will be useful.     

RF-CF4 plasma surface modification of paper: Chemical evaluation of two sidedness with XPS/ATR-FTIR

The study was performed to examine the correlation between the initial roughness and surface fluorination of paper under RF-CF₄ plasma environment.Based on the experimental observations, a correlation was observed between surface fluorination and plasma parameters, e.g. RF-power, treatment time and gas pressure. The level of fluorination with RF-CF₄ plasma treatment was found to be extensive in both side of paper. Even very short treatment time, as low as 1 min at 300 W power, provides effective implantation of fluorine (38.7%) on surfaces. It was observed that, CF₄ plasma treatment had a significant effect on the molecular fragmentation on both side of paper. However, the felt side have a much stronger effect on plasma-induced dissociation and fluorination than in the wire side of paper.     

Chiral lariat ethers as membrane carriers for chiral amino acids and their sodium and potassium salts

Four chiral lariat ethers 8–11 containing a (p-methoxyphenoxy) methyl side arm were used for chiral discrimination of amino acids in their zwitterionic form or as potassium and sodium salts in transport across a bulk chloroform membrane with satisfactory selectivity. The carriers that were employed exhibited different transport selectivity relative to the amino acids and their salts under study. The d/l selectivity strongly depends on the amino acids or their salts, and in some cases reverse selectivity has been obtained. The best selectivity was obtained in the case of tyrosine and its potassium salts for all carriers. The transport rates of amino acids and their salts were found to be controlled by factors such as the structure of the carriers and amino acids or their salts. Among these factors, it was also found that the side arm of the lariat ethers plays an important role in the transport process. As a consequence, the main goal of our investigation was to separate the chiral amino acids through liquid membranes.     

A near IR di-styryl BODIPY-based ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor for Hg(II)

A novel BODIPY-based near-IR emitting probe as a selective and sensitive fluorophore for Hg(II) is synthesized. This versatile BODIPY fluorophore is functionalized for long wavelength emission at the 3 and 5 positions via a condensation reaction in which two dithiodioxomonoaza-based crown-containing phenyl units are conjugated to the BODIPY core as a chelating unit. This designed fluorophore, employing an ICT sensor can be used effectively to detect Hg(II) cations by way of a hypsochromic shift (∼90 nm) in both the absorption and emission spectra.     

Irradiance fluctuations of partially coherent super Lorentz Gaussian beams

By using the semi-analytic approach introduced earlier, we formulate and subsequently evaluate the irradiance fluctuations of partially coherent super Lorentz Gaussian beams for orders of 10 and 11. Within the range of examined source and propagation conditions, our calculations show that there will be less fluctuations at short propagation distances as the Lorentzian property is increased. But the reverse will be applicable, if the longer propagation distances are considered. The use of focusing will cause reductions, particularly for beams with increased Lorentzian property.     

Thermal decomposition kinetics of polypyrrole and its star shaped copolymer

Thermal behavior of 2,4,6-tris(4-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenoxy)-1,3,5-triazine monomer, polypyrrole, and their star shaped copolymer, were investigated using TG and DTA methods. It was found that Tria melts at 517 K and after than it starts to decompose. Decomposition proceeded in two stages which were corresponding to removal of branched groups and remaining core structure degradation, respectively. Polypyrrole and copolymer showed similar thermal behaviors. These compounds decomposed in three stages which are removal of solvent, removal of dopant anion and rest of structure decomposition. The calculation of activation energies of all reactions were realized using model-free (KAS and FWO) methods. The graphs were prepared which show the alteration of activation energy with decomposition ratio. Thermal analysis results showed that dopant anion and solvent removal activation energy values for copolymer are lower than polypyrrole. Star shaped loose-packed novel structure greatly facilitates solvent and dopant anion removal from copolymer. It can be concluded also that thermal analysis can be used as predict package structure of conducting polymers.     

Theoretical investigation of triazine based a star shape pyrrole monomer

In this work, we report a comprehensive theoretical investigation of electroactive star shaped pyrrole functionalized triazine monomer with two main goals. First goal of this work is to explore the physical and chemical properties of the monomer, then to investigate correlation between the experimental and the theoretical properties of monomer. The scale factor which is calculated from B3LYP/cc-pVDZ was determined as 0.985 for FT-IR and it is an important and reliable contribution to the literature. It is determined that the most appropriate basis set for this molecule. The other novel objective of this research is to investigate temperature effect on displacement of chlorine atoms in 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine. This method applied for the first time in the literature for triazines is especially crucial to the synthesis of unsymmetrical triazines.     

Responsive microgrooves for the formation of harvestable tissue constructs

Given its biocompatibility, elasticity, and gas permeability, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is widely used to fabricate microgrooves and microfluidic devices for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture studies. However, conformal coating of complex PDMS devices prepared by standard microfabrication techniques with desired chemical functionality is challenging. This study describes the conformal coating of PDMS microgrooves with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) by using initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD). These microgrooves guided the formation of tissue constructs from NIH-3T3 fibroblasts that could be retrieved by the temperature-dependent swelling property and hydrophilicity change of the PNIPAAm. The thickness of swollen PNIPAAm films at 24 °C was approximately 3 times greater than at 37 °C. Furthermore, PNIPAAm-coated microgroove surfaces exhibit increased hydrophilicity at 24 °C (contact angle θ = 30° ± 2) compared to 37 °C (θ = 50° ± 1). Thus PNIPAAm film on the microgrooves exhibits responsive swelling with higher hydrophilicity at room temperature, which could be used to retrieve tissue constructs. The resulting tissue constructs were the same size as the grooves and could be used as modules in tissue fabrication. Given its ability to form and retrieve cell aggregates and its integration with standard microfabrication, PNIPAAm-coated PDMS templates may become useful for 3D cell culture applications in tissue engineering and drug discovery.