Zusammensetzung und Stabilität von Komplexen des Kupfer(II)-Ions mit DL-Threonin in Lösung

The equilibria in Cu(II) ion and DL-threonine (ThrH₂) solutions have been studied. It was found that in the pH interval from 2 to 13.5 the following compounds can exist: CuThrH⁺, Cu(ThrH), Cu(Thr)(ThrH)^? and Cu(Thr). The stoichiometric instability constants of the first two compounds were determined by the spectrophotometric method and by a combination of spectrophotometric and potentiometric methods. In addition, it was established in the same way that the Cu(ThrH) complex behaves like a weak dibasic acid, whose ionisation constants were determined too. Finally, the absorptionspectra of the above complex compounds are given.     

The first oligopeptide derivative of 1'-aminoferrocene-1-carboxylic acid shows helical chirality with antiparallel strands

The unnatural organometallic amino acid 1'-aminoferrocene-1-carboxylic acid (Fca) induces a turn structure in a tetrapeptide with anti-parallel strands which is stabilized by two intra-molecular hydrogen bonds in the solid state and in solution.     

Incorporation of Metal-Based Nanoadditives into the PLA Matrix: Effect of Surface Properties on Antibacterial Activity and Mechanical Performance of PLA Nanoadditive Films

In this work, the modification process of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with metal-based nanoparticle (NPs) additives (Ag, ZnO, TiO₂) at different loading (0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 wt%) and by melt-mix extrusion method followed by film formation as one of the advantageous techniques for industrial application have been investigated. PLA nanoparticle composite films (PLA-NPs) of PLA-Ag, PLA-ZnO, PLA-TiO₂ were fabricated, allowing convenient dispersion of NPs within the PLA matrix to further pursue the challenge of investigating the surface properties of PLA-NPs reinforced plastics (as films) for the final functional properties, such as antimicrobial activity and surface mechanical properties. The main objective was to clarify how the addition of NPs to the PLA during the melt extrusion process affects the chemistry, morphology, and wettability of the surface and its further influence on the antibacterial efficiency and mechanical properties of the PLA-NPs. Therefore, the effect of Ag, ZnO, and TiO₂ NPs incorporation on the morphology (SEM), elemental mapping analysis (SEM-EDX), roughness, surface free energy (SFE) of PLA-NPs measured by goniometry and calculated by OWRK (Owens, Wendt, Rabel, and Kaelble) model was evaluated and correlated with the final functional properties such as antimicrobial activity and surface mechanical properties. The developed PLA-metal-based nanocomposites, with improved mechanical and antimicrobial surface properties, could be used as sustainable and biodegradable materials, offering desirable multifunctionalities not only for food packaging but also for cosmetics and hygiene products, as well as for broader plastic products where antimicrobial activity is desirable.     

Unexpected cleavage of the N-N bond in the reactions of 3-pyrazolidinone-1-azomethine imines with HCN

Treatment of (1Z,4R^∗,5R^∗)-1-arylmethylidene-4-benzamido-5-phenylpyrazolidin-3-one 1-azomethine imines 4a-d with potassium cyanide in the presence of acetic acid resulted in addition of HCN to the exocyclic CN double bond followed by β-eliminative N-N single bond cleavage (ring opening) to give the N-[(1R^∗,2R^∗)-3-amino-2-benzamido-3-oxo-1-phenylpropyl]benzimidoyl cyanides 6a-d in 28-85% yields. Reaction of dipole 4e with HCN furnished stable intermediate, (1′S^∗,4R^∗,5R^∗)-4-benzamido-1-[cyano(mesityl)methyl]-5-phenylpyrazolidin-3-one (5e), in 76% yield. The structure of compound 6c was determined by X-ray diffraction.     

Purification of recombinant adenovirus type 3 dodecahedric virus-like particles for biomedical applications using short monolithic columns

Adenovirus type 3 dodecahedric virus-like particles (Ad3 VLP) are an interesting delivery vector. They penetrate animal cells in culture very efficiently and up to 300,000 Ad3 VLP can be observed in one cell. The purification of such particles usually consists of several steps. In these work we describe the method development and optimization for the purification of Ad3 VLP using the Convective Interaction Media analytical columns (CIMac). Results obtained with the CIMac were compared to the already established two-step purification protocol for Ad3 VLP based on sucrose density gradient ultracentifugation and the Q-Sepharose ion-exchange column. Pure, concentrated and bioactive VLP were obtained and characterized by several analytical methods. The recovery of the Ad3 VLP was more than 50% and the purified fraction was almost completely depleted of DNA; less than 1% of DNA was present. The purification protocol was shortened from five days to one day and remarkably high penetration efficacy of the CIMac-purified vector was retained. Additionally, CIMac QA analytical column has proven to be applicable for the final and in-process control of various Ad3 VLP samples.     

Protonation behavior of 6-deoxy-6-(2-aminoethyl)amino cellulose: a potentiometric titration study

The protonation behavior of 6-deoxy-6-(2-aminoethyl)amino cellulose as a novel soluble aminated derivate of cellulose was studied by means of the potentiometric titration technique. The resulting proton binding isotherms exhibit two equivalent steps, which can be described by the standard macroscopic two-pK model, in which the degree of protonation is averaged over all the amine groups. In addition, a microscopic proton binding model was applied, in which the protonation sites are distinguished and the protonation free energy is expanded into an intrinsic term and an electrostatic repulsion between the primary and secondary amine groups. The protonation behavior of 6-deoxy-6-(2-aminoethyl)amino cellulose was compared with a model compound (N-methylethylenediamine).     

Methods based on data envelopment analysis for deriving group priorities in analytic hierarchy process

In recent years, group decision making has become one of the important issues in multiple criteria decision making, and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is considered an appropriate method when dealing with this kind of problems. Many different approaches for attaining a group valuation in AHP have been developed. The applications most commonly employ the weighted geometric mean method. In the paper, we focus on the group AHP methods, which are based on the data envelopment analysis (DEA). First we discuss two methods for deriving a group priority vector: Wang and Chin’s DEA group method and Hosseinian et al.’s DEA-WDGD. Further, we propose a new WGMDEA method and compare all three methods with the WGMM on theoretical examples and on a real case study. The objective of the case study is to examine the current state of forest owners’ cooperatives. An analysis of the influence of forest owners’ cooperatives on private forest management in Slovenia was put forward. The A’WOT analysis, which is a combined method of AHP and SWOT analysis, an approach for identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the object under consideration, was performed.     

A novel synergistic formulation between a cationic surfactant from lysine and hyaluronic acid as an antimicrobial coating for advanced cellulose materials

In this investigation, a novel coating for viscose fabric surface modification was developed using a synergistic formulation between a natural antimicrobial cationic surfactant from lysine (MKM) and a biopolymer hyaluronic acid (HA). The interaction between MKM and HA in aqueous solutions, as well as the interactions between their synergistic formulation (HA-MKM) and viscose fabric (CV) were studied using pH-potentiometric titrations’, turbidity measurements, the Kjeldahl method for the determination of nitrogen amounts, attenuated total reflectance fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The hydrophilic and antimicrobial properties of the functionalised CV were examined in order to evaluate its usages for medical applications. The results of the interaction studies showed that MKM and HA interact with each other by forming a precipitate when the binding sites of HA are saturated. The precipitate has a slightly positive charge at neutral pH due to excess binding of the MKM to HA. The excess positive charge was also detected on CV coated with HA-MKM. This was proven to be very beneficial for the antimicrobial properties of the functionalised CV. The antimicrobial tests showed exceptional antimicrobial activity of the functionalised CV against Escherichia Coli, Staphylococcus Aureus, Streptococcus Agalactiae, Candida Albicans, and Candida Glabrata, making the CV fabric highly interesting for potential use in medicine.     

Sol–gel coating of cellulose fibres with antimicrobial and repellent properties

Multifunctional, water and oil repellent and antimicrobial finishes for cotton fibres were prepared from a commercially available fluoroalkylfunctional water-born siloxane (FAS) (Degussa), nanosized silver (Ag) (CHT) and a reactive organic–inorganic binder (RB) (CHT). Two different application procedures were used: firstly, one stage treatment of cotton fabric samples by FAS sol (i), as well as by a sol mixture constituted from all three precursors (Ag–RB–FAS, procedure 1S) (ii), and secondly, two stage treatment of cotton by Ag–RB sol and than by FAS sol (Ag–RB + FAS, procedure 2S) (iii). The hydrophobic and oleophobic properties of cotton fabrics treated by procedures (i)–(iii) before and after consecutive (up to 10) washings were established from contact angle measurements (water, diiodomethane and n-hexadecane) and correlated with infrared and XPS spectroscopic measurements. The results revealed that even after 10 washing cycles cotton treated with Ag–RB + FAS (2S) retained an oleophobicity similar to that of the FAS treated cotton, while the Ag–RB–FAS (1S) cotton fibres exhibited a loss of oleophobicity already after the second washing, even though fluorine and C–F vibrational bands were detected in the corresponding XPS and IR spectra. The antibacterial activity of cotton treated by procedures (i)–(iii) was tested by its reduction of the bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus following the AATCC 100-1999 standard method and EN ISO 20743:2007 transfer method. The reduction in growth of both bacteria was nearly complete for the unwashed Ag–RB and Ag–RB–FAS (S1), but for the unwashed Ag–RB + FAS (S2) treated cotton no reduction of S. aureus and 43.5 ± 6.9% reduction of E. coli was noted. After the first washing, the latter two finishes exhibited nearly a complete reduction of E. coli but for the Ag–RB treated cotton the reduction dropped to 88.9 ± 3.4. None of the finishes retained antibacterial properties after 10 repetitive washings. The beneficial and long-lasting low surface energy effect of FAS finishes in the absence of Ag nanoparticles, which led to the “passive” antibacterial properties of FAS treated cotton fabrics, was established by applying the EN ISO 20743:2007 transfer method. The results revealed a reduction in bacteria of about 21.9 ± 5.7% (FAS), 13.1 ± 4.8% (Ag–RB–FAS (S1)) and 41.5 ± 3.7% (Ag–Rb + FAS (S2)), while no reduction of the growth of bacteria was observed for cotton treated with Ag nanoparticles after 10 repetitive washings. The physical properties (bending rigidity, breaking strength, air permeability) of finished cotton samples were determined, and showed increased fabric softness and flexibility as compared to the Ag–RB treated cotton, but a slight decrease of breaking strength in the warp and weft directions, while air permeability decreased for all type of finishes.     

Simple methods for characterization of metals in historical textile threads

Characterization of metal threads on historical textile materials is important for preservation of valuable cultural heritage. Obtained results dictate decisions on cleaning, conservation and restoration steps. The most important part of characterization is chemical analysis of originally applied materials, since this enables understanding the nature of chemical and physical degradation and determines the cleaning methods. Methods applied should be non-destructive and sensitive enough to detect trace elements in small sample amounts. The goal of this research was to describe the most useful procedures for fast and simple determination of specific metals of interest. Therefore we propose application of scanning electron microscopy equipped with EDS detector (SEM-EDS) for sample surface analysis and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) for chemical analysis of metals threads. For quality insurance reasons, a comparative method applied for chemical analysis was atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). This combination of methods has proven to be very useful in analysis of historical samples, since SEM-EDS was a simple and non-destructive method which provided information on chemical composition of sample surfaces, while ICP-OES and AAS enabled the full insight into the average chemical composition of samples. Nevertheless, both ICP-OES and AAS were destructive methods which demanded dissolving of samples prior to the analysis. In this work nine different metal fibers collected from historical textile materials were characterized. Proposed methods enabled obtaining information on sample constitution, morphology, topology and chemical composition.