Microcarriers: Elaborate Design Strategies Toward Novel Microcarriers for Controlled Encapsulation and Release (Part. Part. Syst. Charact. 1/2013)

Microencapsulation and the controlled release of bioactive agents have long been investigated and exploited to both improve the fundamental understanding of cell functionality and to develop efficient delivery vehicles for drugs, nutrients, and cosmetics. Conventional approaches to the synthesis of particles and capsules for practical applications have achieved only limited control over particle size, shape, functionality, and encapsulation efficiency. To overcome such limitations, a variety of approaches have been developed. Recent advances in microfluidics and other techniques have inspired the design of new microcarriers that efficiently encapsulate bioactive agents to enable the on‐demand release or functionalization of encapsulants. Here, the current state of the art in the area of elaborate design strategies for microcarriers that enable efficient encapsulation and controlled release for biological applications is described. This is discussed in three sections, which are categorized by microcarrier type: particle‐type carriers, capsule‐type carriers, and foldable microcarriers. In each section, new routes to fabricating microcarriers are discussed together with their functionalities; techniques based on droplet microfluidics, lithography, micromolding, and imprinting are covered. In addition, the synthetic routes and the microcarriers are evaluated by comparison with alternative routes. Finally, future perspectives for these new strategies are outlined briefly.     

Some basic relationships among transforms, convolution products, first variations and inverse transforms

In this paper we obtain several basic formulas for generalized integral transforms, convolution products, first variations and inverse integral transforms of functionals defined on function space.     

Facile and template‐free method toward chemical synthesis of polyaniline film/nanotube structures

A facile and template‐free method is reported to synthesize a new thin film structure: polyaniline (PANI) film/nanotubes (F/N) structure. The PANI F/N is a 100‐nm thick PANI film embedded with PANI nanotubes. This well‐controlled method requires no surfactant or organic acid as well as relatively low concentration of reagents. Synthesis condition studies reveal that aniline oligomers with certain structures are responsible for guiding the growth of the nanotubes. Electrical characterization also indicates that the PANI F/N possesses similar field‐effect transistor characteristics to bare PANI film. With its 20% increased surface‐area‐to‐volume (S/V) ratio contributed by surface embedded nanotubes and the excellent p‐type semiconducting characteristic, PANI F/N shows clear superiority compared with bare PANI film. Such advantages guarantee the PANI F/N a promising future toward the development of ultra‐high sensitivity and low‐cost biosensors © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3973–3979     

Novel stilbene‐based Fischer base analog of leuco‐TAM – (2E,2′Z)‐{2‐(4‐(E)‐styrylphenyl)propane‐1,3‐diylidene}bis(1,3,3‐trimethylindoline) – derivatives: synthesis and structural consideration by 1D NMR and 2D NMR spectroscopy

We report the synthesis of a series of novel stilbene‐based (St) Fischer base analogs of leuco‐triarylmethane (LTAM) dyes by treating Fischer base with (E)‐4‐styrylbenzaldehyde derivatives. All St‐LTAM molecules examined herein are characterized by 1D and 2D NMR. They were found to exhibit ZE configuration and isomerize to their diastereomers EE and ZZ in 2–3 h. They exhibit type I behavior of diastereomeric isomerization. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of organic–inorganic hybrid block copolymers containing a fully condensed ladder‐like polyphenylsilsesquioxane

A series of inorganic–organic hybrid block copolymers were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization using a fully condensed, ladder‐like structured polyphenylsilsesquioxane end‐functionalized macroinitiator. The inorganic portion, ladder‐like polyphenylsilsesquioxane, was synthesized in a one‐batch, base‐catalyzed system, whereas organic hard and soft monomers, styrene, and n‐butyl acrylate, were polymerized and copolymerized on the ends of the linear, inorganic backbone. Synthesized hybrid diblock, triblock, and random copolymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, ²⁹Si NMR, gel permeation chromatography, static light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. Hybrid block copolymers were well‐defined with low polydispersity (<1.4) and exhibited enhanced thermal properties in the form of increased glass transition and degradation onset temperatures over their organic analogues.© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Mechanism and Applications of the Photoredox Catalytic Coupling of Benzyl Bromides

The photoredox catalytic coupling of halomethyl arenes to bibenzyl derivatives has been demonstrated. The catalytic protocol employed the Hantzsch ester, potassium phosphate, and a photoactive cyclometalated Ir^III complex catalyst. A photochemical quantum yield as high as 20 % was obtained. The catalytic mechanism was investigated in detail by performing photophysical and electrochemical measurements, as well as by quantum chemical calculations. The results suggest that two‐electron mediation might be responsible for the improved photon economy. The reaction protocol was compatible with halomethyl arenes that contain a variety of functional groups. Finally, the synthetic utility of our protocol was demonstrated by the preparation of a natural dihydrostilbenoid, brittonin A.