Effect of Pluronic F127 on the pore structure of macrocellular biodegradable polylactide foams

Thermally induced phase separation technique was utilized to fabricate biodegradable poly(l ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) macrocellular foams which were capable of being applied in tissue engineering. The block copolymer Pluronic F127 composed of (polyethyleneoxide)‐(polypropyleneoxide)‐(polyethyleneoxide) [(PEO)‐(PPO)‐(PEO)] was used as a porogen. Water/dioxane mixtures with different volume ratios were used as solvents. The addition of Pluronic F127 could induce an appearance of large pores (50–200 μm) besides small pores (10–20 μm) or a change from a solid–liquid phase separation to a liquid–liquid phase separation. The role of Pluronic F127 depends on the water/dioxane ratios in the PLLA/dioxane/water system. The X‐ray diffraction patterns and porosity measurement results showed that Pluronic F127 was crystallized and existed on the pore wall. The effect of Pluronic F127 on changing pore structure is attributed to the occurrence of the interaction of the lipophilic PPO blocks in Pluronic F127 with PLLA clews, consequently, this results in PLLA aggregation and early phase separation on cooling. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Composite Silica Particles Using a Mixture of Organosilane Monomers

Composite silica particles were synthesized by a two-step (acid-base) process in an aqueous solution with a mixture of organoalkoxysilane monomers. The two-step process separates the hydrolysis and condensation procedures to easily control condensation rate. In this study, the silane monomers used were phenyltrimethoxysilane (PTMS), vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS), methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS), and tetraethyl-orthosilicate (TEOS). The physical properties of the resultant composite particles were investigated with the change in the molar ratio of monomers. The size of the particles increased with increasing the molar ratio of R_aSi(OR)₃/R_bSi(OR)₃ or R_aSi(OR)₃/TEOS (R_a: phenyl; R_b: vinyl, methyl).     

Aqua dissociation nature of cesium hydroxide

To understand the mechanism of aqueous base dissociation chemistry, the ionic dissociation of cesium-hydroxide in water clusters is examined using density functional theory and ab initio calculations. In this study, we report hydrated structures, stabilities, thermodynamic quantities, dissociation energies, infrared spectra, and electronic properties of CsOH(H(2)O)(n=0-4). With the addition of water molecules, the Cs-OH bond lengthened significantly from 2.46 A for n=1 to 3.08 A for n=4, which causes redshift in Cs-O stretching frequency. It is found that three water molecules are needed for the dissociation of Cs-OH, in contrast to the case of strong acid dissociation which requires at least four water molecules. However, the dissociation for n=3 could be considered as incomplete because a very weak CS em leader OH stretch mode is still present, while that for n=4 is complete since the Cs em leader OH mode no longer exists. This study can be related with hydration chemistry of cations and anions, and extended into the intra- and intercharge-transfer phenomena.     

Photocatalytic hydrogen production from hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyridines by platinum(II) terpyridyl complexes in homogeneous solution

1,4-Dihydropyridines have been photocatalytically oxidized to pyridines by platinum(II) terpyridyl complexes with the generation of hydrogen in homogeneous solution. The hydrogen production proceeds in quantitative yield and with great catalytic turnover.     

Transport properties of acetone aqueous solutions: molecular dynamics simulation and NMR studies

Two quantities η_rel and are applied to study the nonideal acetone–water association mixture. An all-atom acetone model and a TIP5P water model have been adopted for molecular dynamics simulation. We study the transport properties of the system comparing the 's of strong hydrogen bond and weak contact based on transport properties, MD simulations together with NMR experimental data and find good agreement of concentration dependence, which exhibits the cooperation effect.     

Structural determinants of steroids for cytochrome P450 3A4-mediated metabolism

Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), a major member of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, metabolizes the majority of steroids in 6β-position. For the purpose of determining requisite structural features of a series of structurally related steroids for CYP3A4-mediated metabolism, three-dimensional pharmacophore modeling as well as electrotopological state map were conducted for 15 steroids. Though prior studies speculated that the chemical reactivity of the allylic 6β-position might have a greater influence on CYP3A4 selective 6-hydroxylation than steric constraints in the enzyme, our results reveal that for CYP3A4 steroidal substrates, it is not the chemical reactivity of atoms at 6β-site, but the pharmacophoric features, i.e. the two hydrophobic rings together with two H-bond donors, that act as the key factors responsible for determining the CYP3A4 selective 6-hydroxylation of steroids.     

Recombinant cell bioassay systems for the detection and relative quantitation of halogenated dioxins and related chemicals

Proper epidemiological, risk assessment and exposure analysis of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, dioxin) and related halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs) requires accurate measurements of these chemicals both in the species of interest and in various exposure matrices (i.e. biological, environmental, food and feed). High-resolution instrumental analysis techniques are established for these chemicals, however, these procedures are very costly and time-consuming and as such, they are impractical for large scale sampling studies (i.e. for epidemiological studies and assessment of areas with widespread contamination). Accordingly, numerous bioanalytical methods have been developed for the detection of these chemicals in extracts from a variety of matrices, the majority of which take advantage of the ability of these chemicals to activate the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and the AhR signal transduction pathway. Here we review the currently available in vitro AhR-based cell bioassay systems with a focus on recent recombinant reporter gene cell lines that have been developed for detection and relative quantitation of TCDD and related HAHs. Comparison of the relative sensitivities of the various cell bioassays and examples of their use in screening and analysis of environmental, biological, and food and feed samples are presented. Currently available experimental results and validation studies demonstrate the utility of these cell bioassay systems to provide a relatively rapid, accurate, and cost effective screening approach for the detection of TCDD and related HAHs in a variety of environmental, biological, food and feed samples. The availability of these cell bioassay systems will not only facilitate the large scale sampling studies needed for accurate assessment of contamination and exposure to these environmental chemicals, but they provide avenues for the identification of novel classes of TCDD-like chemicals.     

Novel rearranged acetophenone derivatives possessing diverse architectures from the leaves of Melicope ptelefolia

Melicolones C–K (1–9), nine acetophenone derivatives with three unprecedented architectures, were characterized from the leaves of Melicope ptelefolia. Among them, melicolone C (1) was a novel acetophenone analogue possessing a highly rearranged spiro skeleton. Melicolones D-F (2–4) were three novel acetophenone congeners bearing unusual octalactone ring. Melicolones G-K (5–9) were five new prenylated acetophenone derivatives featuring a 9-oxatricyclo [3.2.1.13, 8]nonane core. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis and ECD spectra. These different structures were presumably derived from the same precursor via three major biosynthetic pathways. Compounds 5–9 exerted moderate effects to reverse multidrug-resistance in MCF-7/ADR cells with reversal fold values ranging from 6.2 to 13.3.     

Photovoltaic Performance of Triphenylamine Dyes-sensitized Solar Cells Employing Cobalt Redox Shuttle and Influence of π-conjugated Spacers

Developing photosensitizers suitable for the cobalt electrolyte and understanding the structure-property relationship of organic dyes is warranted for the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The DSSCs incorporating tris(1,10-phenanthroline)cobalt(II/III)-based redox elec-trolyte and four synthesized organic dyes as photosensitizers are described. The photovoltaic performance of these dyes-sensitized solar cells employing the cobalt redox shuttle and the influences of the π-conjugated spacers of organic dyes upon the photovoltage and photocur-rent of mesoscopic titania solar cells are investigated. It is found that organic dyes with thiophene derivates as linkers are suitable for DSSCs employing cobalt electrolytes. DSSCs sensitized with the as-synthesized dyes in combination with the cobalt redox shuttle yield an overall power conversion efficiency of 6.1% under 100 mW/cm² AM1.5 G illumination.     

In3+共掺杂诱导NaY0.95-xYb0.03Er0.02F4相转变与上转换发光增强研究

引入In³⁺作为新的掺杂离子通过水热法合成了In³⁺与Er³⁺,Yb³⁺共掺杂的NaYF₄上转换发光材料. 通过XRD表征及Rietveld精修,SEM以及TEM研究了In掺杂引起的NaYF₄形貌与晶体结构的变化. 通过发射光谱与发光衰减曲线表征了掺杂NaYF₄的上转换发光性能,以研究晶体微观结构与上转换发光性能之间的关系. 结果表明随着In掺杂量的增加,立方相NaYF₄的晶格畸变不断增强且发生由立方相向六方相的转变. 对于六方相NaYF₄,其上转换发光强度随着In含量的提高不断增强并当In含量为3%时达到最大值. 该研究结果可以有助于设计与合成具有优良上转换发光性能的材料.