N-functionalization of chitosan with bis-O-glycosylated derivative of 2,2-bis(methylol)propionic acid

A glycosylated 2,2-bis(methylol)propionic acid (bis-MPA) derivative as a versatile glycodendritic building block was synthesized by direct O-glycosylation of benzyl protected bis-MPA with d-glucose pentaacetate. After removal of the benzyl protection group by hydrogenation, the obtained bis-O-glycosylated bis-MPA unit with free carboxyl group was applied for modification of trityl protected chitosan by amidation. The removal of the 6-O-trityl protection group on chitosan backbone under acidic conditions yields acetyl protected glycosylated chitosan that forms gel in water. The acetyl protection group of d-glucose was removed under alkaline conditions to form glycosylated chitosan which is water-soluble at physiological conditions and, thus, it is suitable for further investigation as a potential carrier in drug delivery systems.     

An Isocyanide‐Based Multicomponent Reaction: New Route for Synthesis of Isoxazolinedione Derivatives

An efficient and novel multicomponent reaction for synthesis of new isoxazolinedione has been described. This protocol involves reaction of two molecules of isocyanide, aliphatic oxime, alkylidene substituted Meldrum's acid, and water (moisture). Elemental analyses, IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic data of products are consistent with the structure defined by X‐ray diffraction analysis.     

Numerical investigation of mixed convection heat transfer behavior of nanofluid in a cavity with different heat transfer areas

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The main purpose of this research is the numerical modeling of laminar mixed convection heat transfer inside an open square cavity with different heat...     

Synthesis and Catalytic Performance of Hierarchically Porous MIL‐100(Fe)@polyHIPE Hybrid Membranes

Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) nanoparticles in combination with a nonionic surfactant (Pluronic L‐121) are used to stabilize dicyclopentadiene (DCPD)‐in‐water high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). The resulting HIPEs containing the MIL‐100(Fe) nanoparticles (MIL: Materials of Institut Lavoisier) at the interface between the oil‐ and the water‐phases are then cured, and 100 μm thick, fully open, hierarchically porous hybrid membranes are obtained. The properties of the MIL‐100(Fe)@pDCPD polyHIPE membranes are characterized and it is found that up to 14 wt% of the MIL‐100(Fe) nanoparticles are incorporated in the hybrid material resulting in an increase of the microporosity up to 130 m² g⁻¹. Hybrid membranes show an appealing catalytic activity in Friedel–Crafts alkylation in a batch mode as well as in a flow‐through mode, thereby demonstrating the preserved accessibility of Lewis acidic sites in the MOF nanostructures.

     

Outcome of mTHPC mediated photodynamic therapy is primarily determined by the vascular response

We have previously shown that the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using the photosensitizer meso-tetra-hydroxyphenyl-chlorin (mTHPC) correlated with plasma drug levels at the time of illumination rather than drug levels in human tumor xenografts or mouse skin. These results suggested that vascular-mediated effects could be important determinants of PDT response in vivo. In the present study we further investigated the relationship between PDT response, mTHPC pharmacokinetics and the localization and extent of vascular damage induced in human squamous cell carcinoma xenografts (HNXOE). Plasma levels of mTHPC decreased exponentially with time after injection, whereas tumor drug levels remained maximal for at least 48 h. At 3 h after administration mTHPC was localized in the blood vessels, whereas at later times it was distributed throughout the whole tumor. Illumination at 3 h after mTHPC, which resulted in 100% long-term tumor cure, led to a marked reduction of vascular perfusion and increased tumor hypoxia at 1 h after treatment. Illumination at 48 h resulted in rapid regrowth of most tumors and only 10% cure. This protocol did not affect a significant decrease in vascular perfusion or increase in tumor hypoxia. These data show that optimal responses to mTHPC-mediated PDT were primarily dependent on the early vascular response, and that plasma drug levels at the time of illumination could predict this relationship.     

Closed and σ-Finite Measures on the Orthogonal Projections

We characterize the connection between closed and σ-finite measures on orthogonal projections of von Neumann algebras.     

The effect of low-pressure air plasma treatment on the wettability and surface energy of polyvinyl chloride films

Low-pressure plasma in a RF discharge of air is employed to introduce a polar function to a polyvinyl chloride surface to enhance the wettability and activation. A clear increase in the surface energy of the surface of a polymer due to air plasma treatment was observed. The surfaces become highly hydrophilic after treatment. The effect of plasma treatment on the morphology and wettability of the surfaces were characterized by using a static contact angle measurement and attenuated total reflection-FTIR spectroscopy.     

Wood surface functionalization by means of low-pressure air plasma

Low-pressure plasma treatments in an radio frequency (RF) discharge of air have been used on the surface of wood to stimulate polar function groups onto pine and beach surfaces to enhance the wettability and activation. The effects of plasma treatments on the morphology and wettability of surfaces were characterized by using static contact angle measurements, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. A clear increase in the surface energy of the wood surface due to air plasma treatment was observed. The surfaces became highly hydrophilic when woods were exposed for 5 s or longer to the plasma discharge. The wettability of wood surface can be improved when oxygen functionalities were generated, which can be achieved directly in O-containing plasma or via post plasma reaction. A small reduction in the surface energy of the treated wood after 12 days of aging showed that the plasma-induced cross-linking in the surface of the wood was not the dominant phenomenon.     

Growth-morphology-luminescence correlation in ZnO-containing nanostructures synthesized in different media

Zinc hydroxide particles were prepared by a two-step process employing zinc nitrate hexahydrate, urea, ethylene glycol, water and p-toluene-sulfonic acid monohydrate (p-TSA). We used different concentrations of the reactants as well as different volume ratios of the solvents. ZnO particles were obtained by thermal treatment of the reaction products at two different temperatures: 350 °C and 500 °C. The samples were characterized by scanning field emission electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, BET analysis, thermogravimetry (TG) analysis and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. It was found that after the thermal treatment particles become smaller, with the p-TSA concentration strongly affecting the morphology of the particles. Luminescence properties of the samples probed by PL at 8 K and room temperature exhibited a remarkable correlation with specimens′ nanomorphology. Luminescent features at ～2.0–2.2 eV, ～2.4–2.5 eV, ～2.65 eV, ～2.9 eV, ～3.0–3.1 eV and ～3.3 eV were observed in most specimens, although their relative intensity and temperature dependence were specific to an individual group of samples vis-à-vis their growth history and morphology.