Alkyl-modified siloxanes as pseudostationary phases for electrokinetic chromatography

Anionic siloxane polymers with novel linker arm structures have been synthesized and characterized with respect to their performance and selectivity as pseudophases for electrokinetic chromatography. The linker arm between the siloxane backbone and the sulfonate head group is shorter and does not have the tertiary amine structure found in the siloxane pseudophases studied previously. This change in the linker arm structure and chemistry has dramatic effects on the chemical selectivity of the pseudophases. Linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) studies show that the greatest contributor to the difference in selectivity is that the new polymers are not as nonpolar as those previously studied. This result indicates that siloxane polymers are not by their nature more nonpolar or hydrophobic than other pseudophases. The LSER studies also demonstrate that siloxane pseudophases have a strong tendency to accept hydrogen bonds that cannot be attributed to the presence of the tertiary amine in the linker arm.     

Preparative Monolithic Silica Sorbents (PrepRODs™) and Their Use in Preparative Liquid Chromatography

The use of monolithic silica sorbents for the isolation of substances by preparative liquid chromatography is demonstrated. Preparative liquid chromatography is recognized as a valuable technique for the isolation and purification of substances in the pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industry. The system technology has meanwhile reached a high standard, and the greatest future improvements are expected to arise from new and improved adsorbents. Monolithic silica sorbents offer some unique features for preparative liquid chromatography. They exhibit high efficiencies even at high flow rates due to their fast convective mass transfer and can therefore be used at very high mobile phase velocities, leading to high productivity and hence to maximum process economy. The benefits of this new type of adsorbent are illustrated for an example in batch‐chromatographic mode and an example using the continuous simulated moving bed (SMB) technology.     

Microwave-assisted,one-pot reaction of 7-azaindoles and aldehydes: a facile route to novel di-7-azaindolylmethanes

A novel and highly efficient synthetic method leveraging microwave-assisted organic synthesis (MAOS) to yield di-7-azaindolylmethanes (DAIMs) is reported. Under MAOS conditions, reaction of 7-azaindole with aldehydes resulted predominantly in DAIMs, as opposed to the expected 7-azaindole addition products that form at ambient temperature. Based upon studies of different indoles and azaindoles with various aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes, we herein propose a mechanism where rapid and efficient microwave heating promotes nucleophilicity of 7-azaindoles toward the corresponding alkylidene–azaindolene intermediate to form the DAIM. This sequence provides a versatile approach to efficiently synthesize novel DAIMs that may be useful pharmaceuticals.     

Topography-induced cell adhesion to Acr-sP(EO-stat-PO) hydrogels: the role of protein adsorption

Topographic surface patterning of intrinsically non-adhesive P(EO-stat-PO)-based hydrogels can lead to the adhesion and spreading of fibroblasts. Explanations for this unexpected behavior are discussed, particularly with regard to non-specific protein adsorption from the serum-supplemented culture medium. The presence of serum proteins is shown to be essential for adhesion. Adsorption of plasma and ECM proteins (Fibronectin (FN) and Vitronectin (VN)) to the hydrogels is possible. The effect of VN on initial cell adhesion is analyzed in detail. It appears that VN is the main serum component that is crucial for initial cell adhesion to PEG and that surface topography is essential for further, durable adhesion establishment, and spreading.     

Catalytically active CNT–polymer-membrane assemblies: From synthesis to application

A new membrane electrode assembly set up for catalytic processes containing carbon nanotubes has been developed. The process includes the nanotube synthesis, sputter deposition of platinum as catalyst and the membrane casting. Aligned nanotube carpets were grown from toluene/ferrocene solutions and sputtered with platinum. Subsequently the assembly was investigated using cyclic voltammetry to confirm a sufficient catalyst activity. A procedure was developed to embed the carbon nanotubes doped with catalyst into SPEEK membranes, while preserving the aligned structure and keeping some surface area of the catalyst-doped nanotubes free of membrane material to allow for easy access to reactants. So far the best results were obtained using an aligned but somewhat loose nanotube structure and a deposition of 0.034 mg/cm² Pt, forming a combination of small catalyst clusters and a thin film. The assemblies are optimized in respect to application in fuel cells and functional membranes.     

Chiral Self‐Discrimination and Guest Recognition in Helicene‐Based Coordination Cages

Chiral nanosized confinements play a major role for enantioselective recognition and reaction control in biological systems. Supramolecular self‐assembly gives access to artificial mimics with tunable sizes and properties. Herein, a new family of [Pd₂L₄] coordination cages based on a chiral [6]helicene backbone is introduced. A racemic mixture of the bis‐monodentate pyridyl ligand L¹ selectively assembles with Pd^II cations under chiral self‐discrimination to an achiral meso cage, cis‐[Pd₂ L^1P ₂ L^1M ₂]. Enantiopure L¹ forms homochiral cages [Pd₂ L^1P/M ₄]. A longer derivative L² forms chiral cages [Pd₂ L^2P/M ₄] with larger cavities, which bind optical isomers of chiral guests with different affinities. Owing to its distinct chiroptical properties, this cage can distinguish non‐chiral guests of different lengths, as they were found to squeeze or elongate the cavity under modulation of the helical pitch of the helicenes. The CD spectroscopic results were supported by ion mobility mass spectrometry.     

Dissolution of MWCNTs by using polyoxadiazoles,and highly effective reinforcement of their composite films

Nonmodified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/sulfonated polyoxadiazole (sPOD) nanocomposites are successfully prepared by a facile solution route. The pristine MWCNTs are dispersed in a sPOD solution, and the mixtures are fabricated into thin films by solution casting. The homogeneous dispersion of nanotubes in the composites is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The mechanical properties, thermal stability, and electrical conductivity are investigated. Tensile strength, elongation at break, and tensile energy to break are shown to increase by more than 28, 45, and 73%, respectively, by incorporating up to 1.0 wt % pristine MWCNTs. The experimental values for sPOD/MWCNTs composite stiffness are compared with Halpin‐Tsai and modified Halpin‐Tsai predictions. The storage modulus is found to increase up to 10% at low CNT loading. The composite films, which have an outstanding thermal stability, show an increase of up to 57 °C in the initial degradation temperature. The addition of 1.0 wt % MWCNTs increases the electrical conductivity of the sPOD matrix by two orders of magnitude. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Ex vivo Application of δ-Aminolevulinic Acid Induces High and Specific Porphyrin Levels in Human Skin Tumors: Possible Basis for Selective Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract— In photodynamic therapy with topically applied δ-aminolevulinic acid porphyrins are acting as photosensitiz-ers. The profile of porphyrin metabolites in normal or in neoplastic skin after administration of δ-aminolevulinic acid has not been determined in detail yet. Thus, to study porphyrin biosynthesis in human skin an organ culture model was developed. Explant pieces of normal skin, ker-atoacanthoma, and basal cell carcinoma were incubated with 1 niM δ-aminolevulinic acid for 36 h. Levels of δ-aminolevulinic acid, porphyrins and porphyrin metabolites were measured in tissues and supernatants. After incubation with δ-aminolevulinic acid, higher porphyrin levels were demonstrated in tumors as compared to normal skin. In supernatants, most of formed porphyrins, preferentially highly carboxylated porphyrin metabolites, were measured. The pattern of synthesized porphyrins differed between normal and neoplastic skin explants. In tissues of basal cell carcinomas protoporphyrin was preferentially shown and tissues of keratoacanthomas were characterized by a predominance of coproporphyrin as compared to normal skin. The results show that explant cultures offer an easy approach to examine the porphyrin biosynthesis of various tissues. The tumor-specific δ-aminolevulinic acid metabolism indicates additional porphyrin metabolites such as coproporphyrin apart from protoporphyrin as effective photosensitizers and may offer a novel approach to tumor-selective photodynamic damage.