Pressure-induced change in permeation of insulin through a polymer alloy membrane for an implantable insulin pump

Pressure-induced change in insulin permeability through a polymer alloy membrane for an implantable insulin pump was investigated. The polymer alloy membrane was composed of a segmented polyurethane (SPU) and poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-co-2-ethylhexyl methacrylate) (PMEH). The polymer alloy membrane had a pathway for insulin permeation because the hydrophilic PMEH became the domain structure in the polymer alloy. The functions of the SPU/PMEH alloy membrane were characterized in terms of insulin permeability and water permeability with an applied pressure, mechanical properties, and strain and volume changes under the pressured condition. The insulin permeability synchronized with the applied pressure, that is, the insulin permeability increased 3.4 times with the applied pressure (pressure-on state) of 18 kPa in comparison with no applied pressure (pressure-off state). The permeability changed reversibly without lag time between the pressure-on and -off states. The phenomenon was caused by an increase in water permeation with the applied pressure. From the observation of volume change in the insulin reservoir in the pressure-on state, the effective pressure advancing water permeation was produced by the elasticity of the polymer alloy membrane. The polymer alloy membrane had excellent mechanical properties resisting the applied pressure, as was indicated by stress–strain measurements. It was concluded that the SPU/PMEH alloy membrane had a useful function for an implantable insulin pump.     

Functionalization of polyethylene based on metallocene catalysis and its application to syntheses of new graft copolymers possessing polar polymer segments

The control of hydroxylated polyethylene (PE) structures was investigated in the copolymerization of ethylene with allyl alcohol or 10-undecen-1-ol with a specific metallocene, methylaluminoxane, and trialkyl aluminum catalyst system through changes in the copolymerization conditions. The incorporation of allyl alcohol into the PE backbones was controllable through changes in the trialkyl aluminum, leading to terminally hydroxylated PE or a copolymer possessing hydroxyalkyl side chains. The copolymerization of ethylene with 10-undecen-1-ol gave copolymers with hydroxyalkyl side chains of various contents with a variety of molecular weights through changes in the copolymerization conditions. The obtained copolymers were useful as macroinitiators that allowed polar polymer segments to grow on the PE backbones, leading to the creation of graft copolymers that possessed PE and polar polymer segments. In this way, polyethylene-g-poly(propylene glycol) (PE-g-PPG) and polyethylene-g-poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PE-g-PCL) were synthesized. The ¹³C NMR analysis of PE-g-PPG suggested that all the hydroxyl groups were consumed for propylene oxide polymerization, and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated nanoorder phase separation and indistinct phase boundaries. ¹³C NMR and gel permeation chromatography analyses indicated the formation of PE-g-PCL, in which 36–80 mol % of the hydroxyl groups worked as initiators for ϵ-caprolactone polymerization. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3657–3666, 2003     

Temperature dependence of impurity quenched luminescence in Tm:LiLuF4

The study of the optical properties of a LiLuF₄ crystal doped with Tm³⁺ yielded the discovery of a strong temperature dependence of the Tm-Tm diffusion coefficient. Spectroscopic characteristics have been investigated as a function of the sample temperature, with particular regard to the luminescence decay following pulsed excitation. An appreciable excitation of the lifetime of the ³F₄ manifold is observed over the temperature range 8.9-298 K. The Judd-Ofelt calculations point out a radiative lifetime considerably longer than the experimental one. These facts suggest a theoretical interpretation based on the presence of impurities that quench the manifold and on a temperature-dependent energy migration between Tm³⁺ ions. A one-parameter best fit of the experimental measurements strongly confirms this hypothesis. Weak OH⁻ ion concentration is detected by means of IR and UV spectra, thus supporting the theoretical interpretation.     

A near infrared spectroscopic discrimination of noodle flours using a principal-component analysis coupled with chemical information.

Using a portable near infrared (NIR) spectrometer, we discriminated flours for making Japanese noodles (Soba), not only relying on a statistical and mathematical approach, but also on a chemical interpretation of the NIR spectra. In original NIR spectra, the particle-size difference, which results in an undesired systematic variation, was extracted and interpreted as the first-principal component factor by a principal-component analysis. The discrimination of flour materials cannot be satisfied by this factor. However, after a standardized treatment for the original spectra, the particle-size effects were eliminated; alternatively, differences in the chemical contents were extracted as principal-component factors. Using these factors, flour material discrimination was achieved much better. This study suggests a novel idea of utilizing the wavelength contribution ratio spectra for interpreting the factors extracted from the principal-component analysis for the NIR spectra. This report also describes the relationship between the NIR spectra and the chemical-analysis data.     

Synthesis of a water-soluble molecular tweezer and a recognition study in an aqueous media

Synthesis of a 1,10-diphenanthryl all-trans fused perhydrophenanthrene derivative and a recognition study in an aqueous media were carried out. A water-soluble derivative recognized certain benzene derivatives with 10⁴-10⁵ M⁻¹ of binding constant.     

In situ nanostructure formation of (micro-hydroxo)bis(micro-carboxylato) diruthenium units in nafion membrane and its utilization for selective reduction of nitrosonium ion in aqueous medium

Nanostructured molecular film containing the (micro-hydroxo)bis(micro-carboxylato) diruthenium(III) units, [RuIII2(micro-OH)(micro-CH3COO)2(HBpz3)2]+ ({RuIII2(micro-OH)}), was prepared by an in situ conversion of its micro-oxo precursor, [RuIII2(micro-O)(micro-CH3COO)2(HBpz3)2] ({RuIII2(micro-O)}), in a Nafion membrane matrix, where HBpz3 is hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate. The conversion procedure results in fine nanoparticle aggregates of the {RuIII2(micro-OH)} units in the Nafion membrane (Nf-{RuIII2(micro-OH)}), where an average particle size (4.1 +/- 2.3 nm) is close to the Nafion's cluster dimension of approximately 4 nm. Chemically modified electrodes by using the Nafion molecular membrane films (Nf-{RuIII2(micro-OH)}-MMFEs) were further developed on ITO/glass and glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surfaces, and a selective reduction of nitrosonium ion (NO+), presumably through reaction of a {RuIIRuIII(micro-OH)} mixed-valence state with HNO2, was demonstrated without interference by molecular oxygen in an acidic aqueous solution. The Nf-{RuIII2(micro-OH)}-MMFEs are stable even in a physiological condition (pH 7), where the naked {RuIII2(-OH)} complex is readily transformed into its deprotonated {RuIII2(micro-O)} form, demonstrating an unusual stabilizing effects for the {RuIII2(micro-OH)} unit by the Nafion cluster environment.     

A PhSeCl-mediated allylic oxidation of prenyl moiety: a convenient method for the construction of 3-isopenten-2-ol unit

A phenylselenenyl chloride (PhSeCl)-mediated allylic oxidation to give allylically rearranged alcohol has been developed. A possible mechanism for the present reaction is generation of allylic selenide from prenyl moiety via [1,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, followed by oxidation and [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement to afford 3-isopenten-2-ol.     

Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic amination of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct derivatives using chiral diaminophosphine oxides: DIAPHOXs

[reaction: see text] Asymmetric allylic amination of allylic carbonates prepared from racemic Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts proceeded in the presence of Pd catalyst, chiral diaminophosphine oxide (DIAPHOX), and BSA, affording the corresponding chiral aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct derivatives in excellent yield with up to 99% ee. The cyclic reaction products could be converted into various synthetically useful compounds such as chiral cyclic beta-amino acids.