Synthesis of SET–LRP‐induced galactoglucomannan‐diblock copolymers

Polysaccharides are biorenewable and biodegradable starting materials for the development of functional materials. The synthesis of a monofunctional macroinitiator for single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization was successfully developed from a wood polysaccharide‐O‐acetyl galactoglucomannan (GGM) using a beforehand synthesized amino‐functional α‐bromoisobutyryl derivative applying reductive amination. The GGM macroinitiator was employed to initiate a controlled radical polymerization of [2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride (MeDMA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) using Cu⁰/Me₆‐Tren as a catalyst. The either charged or amphiphilic GGM‐b‐copolymers with different chain lengths of the synthetic block were successfully synthesized without prior hydrophobization of the GGM chain and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or DMSO/water mixtures were used as solvents. This novel synthetic approach may find untapped potentials particularly for the development of polysaccharide‐based amphiphilic additives for cosmetics or paints and for the design of novel temperature or pH responsive polymers with such potential applications as in drug delivery systems or in biocomposites. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 5100–5110     

Quantum field theoretical methods in chemically bonded systems II

Summary Many-body perturbation theory is derived for chemical bonds. Paired quasiparticles represent the bonds. Products of the paired quasiparticles define a model Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer function. The pairing force is added as a model interaction to the self-consistent problem. The starting model is based on valency and adiabatic symmetry correlation. Symmetries are enforced by the model Hamiltonian. Perturbative corrections are expressed as ordinary Feynman diagrams. The number of diagrams needed is the same as for particle-hole theory.This work was supported in part by the U.S. Department of the Navy, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command under Contract N00039-89-C-0001, and in part by NATO Research Grant 1861. It was presented, in part, at the A.C. Wahl Memorial Session, Molecular Spectroscopy Symposium, Columbus, Ohio, 1984; and Midwest Theoretical Chemistry Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1985.     

On the Synthesis of 2-Acetyl-4-aryl-6H-1,3,4-thiadiazin-5-ones by Reaction of Nitrilimines with α-Mercapto Alkanoic Acids

Summary.  N′-Arylacetonitrilimines were generated from acetohydrazonyl chlorides and reacted with mercaptoalkanoic acids forming 4-aryl-5-oxo-3-thiahexanoic acids. These were cyclized by reaction with dicyclohexyl carbodiimide yielding 2-acetyl-4-aryl-6H-1,3,4-thiadiazin-5-ones. Received November 13, 2001. Accepted January 9, 2002     

Rational Design of Macromolecular Structures: Focusing on the Embryonic Stages of Polymerization

Acetate-terminated oligomers of fluoral, chloral and bromal, prepared with the lithium alkoxides of tert-butanol and (-)-borneol, were analyzed by gas chromatography, polarimetry, NMR and mass spectroscopies, and by single crystal x-ray diffraction methods. The configurational and conformational properties of the “embryonic” adducts were found to depend strongly on the relative size of the trihalomethyl side group in these systems. The results of our efforts, summarized here, help to shed new light on the origins of helical geometry and crystalline order in polymers of the perhaloacetaldehydes.     

Time-resolved enzymatic determination of glucose using a fluorescent europium probe for hydrogen peroxide

An enzymatic assay for glucose based on the use of the fluorescent probe for hydrogen peroxide, europium(III) tetracycline (EuTc), is described. The weakly fluorescent EuTc and enzymatically generated H₂O₂ form a strongly fluorescent complex (EuTc–H₂O₂) whose fluorescence decay profile is significantly different. Since the decay time of EuTc–H₂O₂ is in the microseconds time domain, fluorescence can be detected in the time-resolved mode, thus enabling substantial reduction of background fluorescence. The scheme represents the first H₂O₂-based time-resolved fluorescence assay for glucose not requiring the presence of a peroxidase. The time-resolved assay (with a delay time of 60 s and using endpoint detection) enables glucose to be determined at levels as low as 2.2 mol L^–1, with a dynamic range of 2.2–100 mol L^–1. The method also was adapted to a kinetic assay in order to cover higher glucose levels (mmol L^–1 range). The latter was validated by analyzing spiked serum samples and gave a good linear relationship for glucose levels from 2.5 to 55.5 mmol L^–1. Noteworthy features of the assay include easy accessibility of the probe, large Stokes shift, a line-like fluorescence peaking at 616 nm, stability towards oxygen, a working pH of approximately 7, and its suitability for both kinetic and endpoint determination.     

The thermal decomposition of hydro-carbons. Part 1. n-alkanes (C≥5)

The pyrolysis of the long (C≥5) chain n-alkanes is reviewed with emphasis on the radical chain mechanism and on the reactions of the intermediate alkyl radicals. The effects of the experimental conditions and conversion on the types and distributions of the final products are also evaluated. The Arrhenius rate parameters are summarized for both the elementary steps and the overall decomposition reactions.     

Five-component food-grade microemulsions: structural characterization by SANS

In this paper we present the structural characterization of a five-component food-grade microemulsion containing Tween 80, R(+)-limonene, ethanol, glycerol, and water. Our main approach to investigating the microstructure of dense microemulsions, and how it can be influenced by the various components, was to employ small-angle neutron scattering and the new evaluation technique for dense, interacting systems, the Generalized Indirect Fourier Transformation. We started our investigation with the impact of glycerol and ethanol on Tween 80 micelles in water. We found that glycerol increases the aggregation number and withdraws the hydrating agents from the headgroup region of the surfactant, resulting in a higher packing density of molecules in a micelle at slightly increasing size. The same trend holds when the micelles are oil swollen and/or ethanol is present. Ethanol, on the other hand, redistributes mainly between water and the interface-headgroup region of the surfactant. Part of it replaces surfactant molecules in the micelles, which increases the available interface and results in a higher number of micelles with shrinking size. The same trend holds when the micelles are oil swollen and/or glycerol is present in the aqueous phase. We also investigated samples along the dilution of a mixture of surfactant and oil phase (R(+)-limonene and ethanol), which can be diluted with aqueous phase (mixture of water and glycerol) without the occurrence of phase separation. In some samples of this dilution most probably bicontinuous structures are present. To elucidate this point, we also employed dynamic light scattering, viscosity, and conductivity measurements.     

Raman imaging of PLGA microsphere degradation inside macrophages

Understanding the degradation behavior of polymeric microspheres is crucial for the successful application of such devices in controlled drug delivery. The degradation mechanism of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres inside phagocytic cells is not known, but different models for degradation in aqueous solution have been proposed. We have used confocal Raman spectroscopy and imaging to study the intracellular degradation of PLGA microspheres inside individual macrophages. Our results show that ingested microspheres degrade in a heterogeneous manner, with a more rapid degradation in the center. Comparison of Raman spectra from degrading beads with those of uningested beads reveals that ester hydrolysis occurs throughout the phagocytosed microspheres, with a selective loss of glycolic acid units. Furthermore, we show that PLGA degradation is a cell-mediated process, possibly caused by the low pH of the phagosome and/or the presence of hydrolytic enzymes. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that the chemical composition of degrading polymers inside cells can be probed by Raman spectral imaging. This technique will expand the capabilities of investigating biomaterial degradation in vivo.