Conductivity as a Sensor for Monitoring Relative Magnesium Corrosion Rates in Real‐time,in Serum‐containing Media under Cell Culture Conditions

Because controlling the corrosion rate of magnesium metal will be crucial to the success of biomedical implants containing pure magnesium or magnesium alloys, many ways have been sought to improve in vitro tests to analyze corrosion rates, and also to identify new methods of preparing or post‐processing magnesium. In this work, for an in vitro assay, we explored the use of a commercially available conductivity sensor to study magnesium corrosion under cell culture conditions that duplicate many physiologically appropriate parameters. With this sensor, we studied the corrosion of two previously untested magnesium single crystal samples that differed in surface treatments that could alter corrosion rates. The results show that the relative conductivity changes in (mS/cm) over the total time of immersion were proportional to the corrosion rates in (mm/y) and also to the total magnesium released, as detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS).     

Persistent luminescence in Ca8Zn(SiO4)4Cl2:Eu2+

A new persistent, green emission is reported for europium activated Calcium Zinc Chlorosilicate (CZCS). The phosphor was prepared by the solid state reaction and characterized using XRD, PL and TL techniques. The decay was characterized by admixture of two exponential components with decay constants 20.2 and 101 s.     

Note High Yield Synthesis of Low Molecular Weight Poly(Vinyl Acetate) in Aqueous Acidic Media

Polymerization of vinyl acetate continues to interest workers in the field as evidenced by recent publications [1–3]. However, little information is available concerning the synthesis of low molecular weight poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) despite its industrial importance.     

Influence of an Oxidising Impurity on Preparation of 2-Lithio-1,3-dithiane: Isolation of bis[2-d,3-Dithianyl)]methanol

Bis-dithianylalkanols and dimers are formed in preparation of 2-lithio-1,3-dithianes due to the presence of oxidising impurity in n-BuLi (perhaps n-BuOOLi).     

Confinement and controlled release of quinine on chitosan–montmorillonite bionanocomposites

To accomplish the controlled‐release systems based on layered clay minerals, one of the best ways is to intercalate organic molecules into the interlayer gallery of clay minerals. Into a series of chitosan (CS) intercalated montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites, prepared via ion‐exchange route, antimalarial drug [quinine (QUI)] was loaded to act as effective drug delivery systems. Among the CS–MMT nanocomposites, higher drug adsorption with decreasing CS concentration was observed. CS–MMT and CS–MMT/QUI intercalated compounds were characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. The synthesized nanocomposites, filled in the gelatin capsules followed by coating of Eudragit® L 100, were tested for in vitro drug release performance in the sequential buffer environments at 37 ± 0.5 °C. As no drug release (0%) was observed in the gastric fluid, the coating of Eudragit® L 100 to the capsules is highly adequate. However, the drug release rate was comparatively faster from the CS intercalated clay with compare with pure clay. The drug release kinetic data revealed that the release of QUI from the nanocomposites can be explained by modified Freundlich model. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Click chemistry‐based synthesis of azo polymers for second‐order nonlinear optics

Four linear polymers containing pendant azo moiety were synthesized through click chemistry for second‐order nonlinear optical study. The polymers were found soluble in most of the polar organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), chloroform, and dimethyl formamide (DMF). The polymers showed thermal stability up to 300 °C and glass transition temperatures (T_g) in the range of 120–140 °C. The molecular weights (M_w) of these polymers (measured by gel permeation chromatography) were in the range 37,900–55,000 g/mol. The polymers were found to form optically transparent films by solution casting from THF solution. Order parameters were calculated from UV–vis absorption spectra. The morphology changes in the films after poling were characterized by atomic force microscopy. The angular dependence, temperature dependence, and time dependence of second harmonic generation (SHG) intensity were obtained by using 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser. The SHG intensity remained unchanged up to 95 °C. At room temperature, it remained stable up to 8 days after initial drop of about 14%. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Interactions with herring sperm DNA and biological studies of sparfloxacin drug‐based copper(II) compounds

Copper(II) complexes of the type [Cu(SPF)(Lⁿ)Cl] (where SPF is sparfloxacin and Lⁿ = substituted terpyridines) were synthesized and found to have a distorted octahedral geometry. Superoxide dismutase‐like activity of the complexes was measured using a nitroblue tetrazolium/reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide/phenazine methosulfate system and expressed in terms of the concentration of complex which terminates the formation of formazan by 50% (IC₅₀ value), which was found to range from 0.572 to 1.522 µm . Interactions of the complexes with herring sperm DNA were studied by absorption titration, viscosity measurement and gel electrophoresis under physiological conditions. The antimicrobial efficiency of the complexes was tested against five different microorganisms and showed good biological activity. All the complexes showed good cytotoxic activity, with LC₅₀ values ranging from 4.01 to 9.64 µg ml^?1. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Formation of bamboo-shaped carbon nanotubes on carbon black in a fluidized bed

For the first time, bamboo-shaped multiwalled carbon nanotubes, having diameter of the order of 50 nm, have been grown on carbon black in a fluidized bed in bulk amount. The activation energy for the synthesis of the product was found out to be around 33 kJ/mol in the temperature range of 700−900 °C. The carbon nanotubes were separated from the carbon black by preferential oxidation of the later, the temperature of which was determined by thermogravimetry. The transmission electron microscopy revealed different features of the nanotubes such as “Y” junction, bend, and catalyst filling inside the nanotubes. Small angle neutron scattering was performed on the nanotubes synthesized at different temperatures. The data were fitted into a suitable model in order to find out the average diameter, which decreases with increase in synthesis temperature. The Monte Carlo simulation predicts the same behavior. Based on the above observations, a possible growth mechanism has been predicted. The oscillation in carbon saturation value inside the catalyst in the fluidized bed has been indicated as the responsible factor for the bamboo-shaped structure.