Characterization of acid-base properties of polymers and other materials: relevance to adhesion science and technology

This paper reviews the background to the theory of Lewis acid-base (AB) interactions in adhesion, adsorption, wetting and mixing of polymers and other materials (pigments, fillers, fibres, etc.). These specific materials interactions require the revision of old concepts («polar» interactions) and the development of new analytical techniques and methodologies. Four of the most currently used techniques to characterize AB interactions are described: contact angle measurements, inverse gas chromatography. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy.     

Properties and processing of cork powder filled cellulose derivatives composites

This paper deals with the use of cork powder, a by‐product from cork industry, as a filler to reinforce hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) matrix. Several films were prepared using HPC, as a matrix, filled with different amounts of cork powder (average diameter < 50 μm) (0.0; 0.5; 1.0 and 10.0% w/w) and in the presence or not of 1,4‐diisocyanatobutane (BDI) (7.0% w/w). Before the elaboration of these films, the surface properties of cork powder as well as that of suberin (main component of cork) were determined by Inverse Gas Chromatography (IGC). The tensile properties of the solid films obtained were studied and, as expected, for the films with BDI but without cork powder, the Young's modulus and the tensile strength increased, while the elongation decreased. However with the filled films it seemed that the Young's modulus decreased and the elongation increased. The Scanning Electron Microscopy showed that the fractured plane of samples with cross‐linking agent and cork powder displayed some nucleation points (0.3 μm) which indicates a strongly bonded interface and which could be considered as a responsible for the high mechanical properties observed.     

Ternary complexes in gels from agarose and from chemically‐modified agarose

Thermodynamic data and mechanical measurements are shown for gels prepared in aqueous binary solvents (water/DMSO, water/DMF, water/methyl formamide and water/formamide). When electrostatic interactions, as opposed to hydrogen bonding, can be established with the cosolvent (DMSO, DMF, methyl formamide) we come to the conclusion that ternary complexes are formed (agarose/water/cosolvent). In the case of chemically‐modified agarose (OH groups replaced by OCH₃ groups) we suggest that these cosolvents are directly involved in the formation of the gel.     

Validation of the Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibitory Potential of Selected Triterpenes Using In Vitro and In Silico Studies,and the Evaluation of Their ADMET Properties

The antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory potential of fifteen cycloartane-type triterpenes’ potentials were investigated using different assays. In the phosphomolybdenum method, cycloalpioside D (6) (4.05 mmol TEs/g) showed the highest activity. In 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH*) radical and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) cation radical scavenging assays, cycloorbicoside A-7-monoacetate (2) (5.03 mg TE/g) and cycloorbicoside B (10) (10.60 mg TE/g) displayed the highest activities, respectively. Oleanolic acid (14) (51.45 mg TE/g) and 3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside-(23R,24S)-16β,23;16α,24-diepoxycycloart-25(26)-en-3β,7β-diol 7-monoacetate (4) (13.25 mg TE/g) revealed the highest reducing power in cupric ion-reducing activity (CUPRAC) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, respectively. In metal-chelating activity on ferrous ions, compound 2 displayed the highest activity estimated by 41.00 mg EDTAE/g (EDTA equivalents/g). The tested triterpenes showed promising AChE and BChE inhibitory potential with 3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside-(23R,24S)-16β,23;16α,24-diepoxycycloart-25(26)-en-3β,7β-diol 2′,3′,4′,7-tetraacetate (3), exhibiting the highest inhibitory activity as estimated from 5.64 and 5.19 mg GALAE/g (galantamine equivalent/g), respectively. Compound 2 displayed the most potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity (113.24 mg KAE/g (mg kojic acid equivalent/g)). Regarding α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, 3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside-(23R,24S)-16β,23;16α,24-diepoxycycloart-25(26)-en-3β,7β-diol (5) (0.55 mmol ACAE/g) and compound 3 (25.18 mmol ACAE/g) exerted the highest activities, respectively. In silico studies focused on compounds 2, 6, and 7 as inhibitors of tyrosinase revealed that compound 2 displayed a good ranking score (−7.069 kcal/mole) and also that the ΔG free-binding energy was the highest among the three selected compounds. From the ADMET/TOPKAT prediction, it can be concluded that compounds 4 and 5 displayed the best pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behavior, with considerable activity in most of the examined assays.     

Conformations and rotational barriers of 2,2′‐bithiazole and 4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bithiazole semiemperical,ab initio,and density functional theory calculations

Conformational properties of 2,2′‐bithiazole and 4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐ bithiazole have been studied by using AM1 and PM3 semiemperical methods and ab initio HF/6‐311+G* and B3LYP/6‐311+G* calculations. All methods agree that the planar s‐trans conformation is the global minimum and the perpendicular conformation is the transition state. Additional local minima were found using the Hartree–Fock (HF) and B3LYP levels for 2,2′‐bithiazole while for 4,4′‐dimethyl derivative the minima was located only at the MP2//B3LYP level. The barrier heights for rotation are 1.72, 7.69, and 7.88 kcal/mol at the PM3, HF, and B3LYP levels, respectively, and methyl substitution did not affect appreciably this value. Fourier expansion terms and bond orders were used to explain the origins of the rotational barrier in terms of π conjugation, electrostatic interaction, and steric effects, which represent the main factors in the shape of the rotational barrier. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 79: 367–377, 2000     

Kinetic study of azidopentaammine cobalt(III) complex as photoinitiator and termination agent of N‐vinylpyrrolidone radical polymerization

N‐Vinylpyrrolidone polymerization photoinitiated at 365 and 546 nm by azidopentaammine cobalt(III) {[Co(NH₃)₅N₃]²⁺} was investigated at room temperature in an argon atmosphere. By excitation into the ligand to metal charge transfer (LMCT), the cobalt complex showed an efficient photoredox process leading to the formation of a cobalt(II) and an azide radical (N, Φ_photoredox = 0.24). The same process was found to occur by excitation into the ligand field band with a low but not negligible quantum yield (Φ_photoredox = 0.016). Two different domains were clearly present when the plot of the rate of polymerization as a function of the cobalt(III) complex was studied; for [Co(III)] < 2.0 × 10⁻⁴ M, the termination step mainly involved a mutual annihilation of growing radicals whereas an oxidative termination was present in the range of 2.0 × 10⁻⁴ M < [Co(III)] < 1.0 × 10⁻³ M. Within the former domain the rate of polymerization (R_p ) varied with the first power of the monomer concentration and with the square root of the absorbed light intensity while for the latter domain the R_p was proportional to the monomer concentration and absorbed light intensity. Further investigations using the viscosity‐average molecular weight data allowed us to corroborate the proposed polymerization mechanism. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3997–4005, 2000     

Buffalo Yogurt Fortified with Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and Myrrh (Commiphora Myrrha) Essential Oils: New Insights into the Functional Properties and Extended Shelf Life

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and Myrrh (Commiphora Myrrha) essential oils (EOs) stand out for their benefits in terms of health and functionality. Buffalo set yogurt enriched with different concentrations of EOs (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9%) were investigated. The effects of addition on sensory, syneresis, antibacterial activity, and bioactive properties (total phenol content and antioxidant activity) of yogurt were studied. The most acceptable organoleptic properties of treated yogurt were those samples treated with Eucalyptus oil. The levels of syneresis were decreased by increasing the concentration of EOs. Moreover, the antioxidant activity, antibacterial activity, and total phenolic content were enhanced by increasing the concentration of EOs. Yogurt with 0.9% Eucalyptus oil showed the highest antioxidant activity and total phenolic content. The same concentration of Eucalyptus oil showed the highest antibacterial activity against S. typhimurium (the inhibition zone was 20.63 mm) then E. coli (the inhibition zone was 19.43 mm). On the other hand, the highest antibacterial effect against L. monocytogene was for Myrrh oil-enriched yogurt by 0.9% and the inhibition zone was 19.21 mm. The obtained results showed that Eucalyptus and Myrrh oils can be applied to yogurt to improve its beneficial properties in terms of physical characteristics and for human health due to their antioxidant activity and phenolic materials.     

Electronic absorption spectra of some nicotinamides and nicotinic acids. Molecular orbital treatment

The electronic absorption spectra of the position isomers nicotinamide and isonicotinamide, nicotinic acid, and isonicotinic acid were investigated, together with the spectra of thionicotinamide, N-methyl nicotinamide and nicotinic acid N oxide. Apparent differences in the spectra of the position isomers were interpreted in terms of the torsion angle between the planes of the molecule, the height of the barrier to internal rotation, and the results of molecular orbital (MO) calculations. The largest perturbation effect was observed in the case of thionicotinamide whereas the smallest effect was observed in the case of nicotinic acid N oxide. MO calculations have indicated the existence of overlapping transitions. The observed transitions proved to be π-π* transitions, none of the n-π* was observed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 64 : 689–701, 1997     

Effects of Geomaterial-Originated Fillers on Microstructure and Mechanical/Physical Properties of α- and β-Chitosan-Based Films

Edible films and coatings with good mechanical/physical properties are highly required for carrying medical substances and food packaging. So, solvent-cast films of α- or β-chitosan filled with palygorskite, montmorillonite or geopolymer-containing material (GCM), were prepared, and the effects of their clay contents (up to 50 wt.%) on the mechanical/physical properties were assessed. The microstructure of the films was investigated using FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM and thermal analysis. The results showed that, except for the films composed of GCM and β-chitosan, the mechanical properties of the films with limited (up to 5 wt.%) to moderate (5–25 wt.%) amounts of fillers increased as a result of the attractive electrostatic forces formed between the fillers and chitosan functional groups (–NH₃⁺, CH₂OH and NHCOCH₃). However, due to the occurrence of coarse aggregates, the strength of filler-rich films declined. The addition of fillers led to an increase in porosity and water absorption of the films, but it had irregular effects on their wettability and water vapor transmission rate. These observations as well as the thermal stability of the films were discussed in relation to the characterization results.