Controlled oxidation of iron nanoparticles in chemical vapour synthesis

Enteric-coated formulations can delay the release of drugs until they have passed through the stomach. However, high concentration of drugs caused by rapidly released in the small intestine leads to the intestinal damage, and frequent administration would increase the probability of missing medication and reduce the patient compliance. To solve the above-mentioned problems, aspirin-loaded enteric-coated sustained-release nanoparticles with core–shell structure were prepared via one-step method using coaxial electrospray in this study. Eudragit L100-55 as pH-sensitive polymer and Eudragit RS as sustained-release polymer were used for the outer coating and inner core of the nanoparticles, respectively. The maximum loading capacity of nanoparticles was 23.66 % by changing the flow rate ratio of outer/inner solutions, and the entrapment efficiency was nearly 100 %. Nanoparticles with core–shell structure were observed via fluorescence microscope and transmission electron microscope. And pH-sensitive and sustained drug release profiles were observed in the media with different pH values (1.2 and 6.8). In addition, mild cytotoxicity in vitro was detected, and the nanoparticles could be taken up by Caco-2 cells within 1.0 h in cellular uptake study. These results indicate that prepared enteric-coated sustained-release nanoparticles would be a more safety and effective carrier for oral drug delivery.     

Sobolev Spaces with Zero Boundary Values on Metric Spaces

We generalize the definition of the first order Sobolev spaces with zero boundary values to an arbitrary metric space endowed with a Borel regular measure. We show that many classical results extend to the metric setting. These include completeness, lattice properties and removable sets.     

Electron ionization mass spectra and tautomerism of substituted 2‐phenacylquinolines

Tautomerism has been studied conventionally in solutions or in the solid state. However, the importance of mass spectrometry in the gas phase was realized relatively late. 2‐Phenacylquinolines are known to undergo ketimine‐enaminone tautomerism. The ratio of tautomers is dependent on the nature of the phenyl ring substituent and the Hammett substituent constants σ. Theoretical calculations indicate the presence of ketimine and enaminone tautomers in the gas phase. The electron ionization mass spectra of eight 2‐phenacylquinolines (ketimine form) were recorded at 70 eV in order to determine the fragmentation routes and to screen for the presence of their enaminone tautomers, (Z)‐2‐benzoylmethylene‐1,2‐dihydroquinolines, in the gas phase. The relative abundances or total ion currents of some ions correlated with the Hammett substituent constants and Hammett‐Brown constants. The product ions [M–CO]^{+ .} and [M–HCO]⁺ were observed. A reaction mechanism is suggested for the formation of these ions, requiring skeletal rearrangements. The results furnish information relating to tautomerism in the gas phase. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the geometry of the coefficient body (a 2 , a 3 ) for bounded univalent functions and some related coefficient problems

Journal d'Analyse Mathématique -     

Hydrogen-bond strengths by magnetically induced currents

We present here a "non-invasive" computational method to estimate the strength of individual hydrogen bonds using magnetically induced currents. The method is calibrated using H-bonding dimers, and applied on Watson-Crick DNA base pairs and proton wires in carbonic anhydrase.