Synthesis and in vitro degradation of poly(N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone)‐based graft copolymers for biomedical applications

This work is devoted to the design of a novel family of hydrosoluble biomaterials: poly(N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) (PVP)‐based graft copolymers. A synthesis route has been elaborated in which ω‐functionalized PVP is prepared via chain‐transfer radical polymerization, end‐group modified, and subsequently grafted onto a polyhydroxylated backbone, typically dextran or poly(vinyl alcohol). The resulting graft copolymer biomaterials are designed for use in various biomedical applications, particularly as materials with a stronger potential for plasma expansion than already existing products have. The graft copolymers are potentially degradable because the PVP grafts are connected to the polyol backbone via a hydrolytically labile carbonate or ester linkage. The degradation of the graft copolymers was performed in vitro over a period of 6 weeks. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3652–3661, 2002     

Synthesis and properties of amine‐containing poly(arylene ether sulfone) as an anion‐exchange matrix

Poly(arylene ether sulfone) (PSF), showing good thermal stability and excellent mechanical properties, was synthesized as an anion‐exchange matrix. It was synthesized by the condensation polymerization between bisphenol A and 4,4′‐dichlorodiphenylsulfone. 1°‐Amine‐containing poly(arylene ether sulfone) (1°‐APSF) was synthesized by the reduction reaction of a nitrated PSF. Then, it was transferred to 3°‐amine‐containing poly(arylene ether sulfone) (3°‐APSF) by the alkylation of the amine of 1°‐APSF. The properties of PSF, 1°‐APSF, and 3°‐APSF were investigated by Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The introduction of the 3°‐amine group into PSF increased the glass‐transition temperature but decreased thermooxidative stability. The ion‐exchange capacities of 1°‐APSF and 3°‐APSF were shown to be 2.24 and 2.86 mequiv/g, respectively. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4281–4287, 2002     

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) copolymers containing nitroterephthalic units. III. Methanolytic degradation

The methanolytic degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) copolymers containing nitroterephthalic units was investigated. Random poly(ethylene terephthalate‐co‐nitroterephthalate) copolyesters (PETNT) containing 15 and 30 mol % nitrated units were prepared from ethylene glycol and a mixture of dimethyl terephthalate and dimethyl nitroterephthalate. A detailed study of the influence of the nitro group on the methanolytic degradation rate of the nitrated bis(2‐hydroxyethyl) nitroterephthalate (BHENT) model compound in comparison with the nonnitrated bis(2‐hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) model compound was carried out. The kinetics of the methanolysis of BHENT and BHET were evaluated with high‐performance liquid chromatography and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. BHENT appeared to be much more reactive than BHET. The methanolytic degradation of PET and PETNT copolyesters at 80 °C was followed by changes in the weight and viscosity, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The copolyesters degraded faster than PET, and the degradation increased with the content of nitrated units and occurred preferentially by cleavage of the ester groups placed at the meta position of the nitro group in the nitrated units. For both PET and PETNT copolyesters, an increase in crystallinity accompanied methanolysis. A surface degradation mechanism entailing solubilization of the fragmented polymer and consequent loss of mass was found to operate in the methanolysis of the copolyesters. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2276–2285, 2002     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of two Novel Copper(I) Complexes with Oxygen Donor

Two novel copper(I) complexes with Cu‐O bonds, [Cu₂L₂(PPh₃)₂](BF₄)₂ ( 1 ) and [Cu(L)(dppeo)](BF₄) ( 2 ) ( L = 6‐(4‐diethylmethylphosphonatephenyl)‐2,2′‐bipyridine, dppeo = bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane monoxide), have been prepared and their structures characterized. In the binuclear complex 1 , the ligand L serves as tridentate donor with the N, N′ and O as coordination atoms, and the two Cu^I atoms are bridged through both P = O donor atoms in different ligand L with a triphenylphosphine molecule as auxiliary ligand. While in mononuclear complex 2 , both ligands L and dppeo behave as bidentate with N^∧N from L and P^∧O from dppeo chelating to Cu^I atom.     

Determination of the free activation energy for the breaking of the P---Ag bond in [(η-p-cymene)Ru(μ-pz)3Ag(PPh3)]

The Arrhenius equation corresponding to the process P---Ag+P*---Ag*→---P---Ag*+P*---Ag has been determined for [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(μ-pz)₃Ag(PPh₃)] (1) by complete line-shape analysis of the ³¹P NMR spectra between −40°C and +30°C. It has the form K = 10^11.8± e^{(−46±5 kJ mol−1/RT)}. The preexponential term, log A = 11.8 corresponds to a small activation entropy, whereas the activation energy, 46 kJ mol⁻¹ is comparable to those determined for other phosphorus—metal compounds.     

Novel Sesquiterpenoids from Siegesbeckia orientalis

Five new sesquiterpenoids, namely, 8β‐(angeloyloxy)‐4β,6α,15‐trihydroxy‐14‐oxoguaia‐9,11(13)‐dien‐12‐oic acid 12,6‐lactone ( 1 ), 4β,6α,15‐trihydroxy‐8β‐(isobutyryloxy)‐14‐oxoguaia‐9,11(13)‐dien‐12‐oic acid 12,6‐lactone ( 2 ), 11,12,13‐trinorguai‐6‐ene‐4β,10β‐diol ( 3 ), (1(10)E,4E,8Z)‐8‐(angeloyloxy)‐6α,15‐dihydroxy‐14‐oxogermacra‐(1(10),4,8,11(13)‐tetraen‐12‐oic acid 12,6‐lactone ( 9 ), and (1(10)E,4β)‐8β‐(angeloyloxy)‐6α,14,15‐trihydroxygermacra‐1(10),11(13)‐dien‐12‐oic acid 12,6‐lactone ( 11 ), and three new artifacts, (1(10)E,4Z)‐8β‐(angeloyloxy)‐9α‐ethoxy‐6α,15‐dihydroxy‐14‐oxogermacra‐1(10),4,11(13)‐trien‐12‐oic acid 12,6‐lactone ( 6 ), (1(10)E,4Z)‐8β‐(angeloyloxy)‐9α,13‐diethoxy‐6α,15‐dihydroxy‐14‐oxogermacra‐1(10),4‐dien‐12‐oic acid 12,6‐lactone ( 7 ), and (1(10)E,4Z)‐8β‐(angeloyloxy)‐9α‐ethoxy‐6α,15‐dihydroxy‐13‐methoxy‐14‐oxogermacra‐1(10),4‐dien‐12‐oic acid 12,6‐lactone ( 8 ), together with the three known sesquiterpenoids 4, 5 , and 10 , were isolated from the aerial parts of Siegesbeckia orientalis L. Their structures were established by spectral methods, especially 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectral methods.     

3D－QSAR Study on Diindolylmethane and Its Analogues with Comparative Molecular Field Analysis(CoMFA)

Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA),a three dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) method was applied to a series of diindolylmethane(DIM) analogs to study the relationship between their structure and their induction of CYP 1A1-associated ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase(EROD) activity.A DISCO model of pharmacophore was derved to guide the superposition of the compounds.The coefficient of cross-validation (q^2) and non cross-validation(r^2) for the model established by the study are 0.827 and 0.988 respectively,the value of variance ratio (F) is 103.53 and standard error estimate (SEE)is 0.044.These values indicate that the CoMFA model derived is significant and might have a good prediction for the catalytic activity of DIM compounds.As a consequence,the predicted activity values of new designed compounds were all higher than that of the reported value.     

Fluorometric sensors based on chemically modified enzymes Glucose determination in drinks

In this paper an enzymatic fluorometric sensor for glucose determination in drinks is presented. The sensor film was obtained by immobilisation of glucose oxidase chemically modified with a fluorescein derivative (GOx-FS) in a polyacrylamide polymer. During the enzymatic reaction the changes in the fluorescence intensity of the GOx-FS are related to the glucose concentration. Working in FIA mode, the optimum conditions found were: 0.7 ml min(-1) flow rate, 300 mul sample injection and pH 6.5. The sensor responds to glucose concentrations ranging from 400 to 2000 mg l(-1), the reproducibility is around 3% and the life-time is at least 3 months (more than 350 measurements). The sensor was applied to direct glucose determination in drinks with good accuracy; interference caused by the filter effect was avoided by the kinetics of the reaction.