Synthesis and characterization of active ester-functionalized polypyrrole-silica nanoparticles: application to the covalent attachment of proteins

Novel ester-functionalized polypyrrole-silica nanocomposite particles were prepared by oxidative copolymerization of pyrrole and N-succinimidyl ester pyrrole (50/50% initial concentrations), using FeCl3 in the presence of ultrafine silica nanoparticles (20 nm diameter). The N-succinimidyl ester pyrrole monomer was prepared in aqueous solution using 1-(2-carboxyethylpyrrole) and N-hydroxysuccinimide in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide. The resulting nanocomposites (N-succinimidyl ester polypyrrole-silica) are raspberry-shaped agglomerates of silica sol particles "glued" together by the insoluble poly(pyrrole-co-N-succinimidyl pyrrole). The N-succinimidyl ester polypyrrole-silica particles were characterized in terms of their size, density, copolymer content, and polydispersity. Scanning electron microscopy and disk centrifuge sedimentometry confirmed that the nanocomposite particles had narrow size distributions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicated a silica-rich surface and a high surface concentration of N-succinimidyl ester groups. These nanoparticles exhibited good long-term dispersion stability. The chemical stability of the ester functions in aqueous media after several weeks of storage was monitored by FTIR spectroscopy. The functionalized nanocomposites were tested as bioadsorbents of human serum albumin (HSA). The very high amount of immobilized HSA determined by UV-visible spectroscopy is believed to be due to covalent binding. Incubation of the HSA-grafted nanocomposite with anti-HSA resulted in immediate flocculation, an indication that they are alternative candidates for visual diagnostic assays.     

Unusual hysteresis in the magnetic susceptibility of cubic hexaboride KB6

Electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements were carried out for cubic hexaboride KB(6), which is one electron short of completely filling its conduction band. It is found that KB(6) is not metallic and has localized spins. KB(6) exhibits a highly unusual hysteresis in the magnetic susceptibility below 100 K, which suggests that it undergoes a slow relaxation process.     

Synthesis of <Superscript>99m</Superscript>Tc-pefloxacin: A new targeting agent for infectious foci

Summary This investigation focused on the labeling of pefloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent, with ^99mTc to form ^99mTc-pefloxacin complex. The labeling process was done by direct addition of pertechnetate in isotonic solution to Sn-pefloxacin solution. The labeling technique is effective, as a high labeling yield (98%) was obtained after 30-minute reaction time. Different factors were found that influenced this labeling reaction: 0.5 mg pefloxacin or more must be used to prevent the formation of colloids in the reaction medium. Fifty micrograms of stannous chloride dihydrate were found to be sufficient to reduce all pertechnetate with activity ranging from 37 to 3700 MBq without the detection of free pertechnetate or colloids in the reaction mixture. The pH of the reaction medium was found to play an important role in the labeling process. The labeling reaction proceeds well at neutral pH (pH 6) but at acidic pH value (pH 4 or below) the yield of ^99mTc-pefloxacin complex decreased markedly to a labeling yield of 5%. The reaction mixture must be heated to 100 °C in an oil bath to enhance the formation of the ^99mTc-pefloxacin complex. The biodistribution data show that ^99mTc labeled pefloxacin was retained in infectious focus. The retention was specific since the abscess uptake of ^99mTc-pefloxacin remained high as compared to the uptake of aseptic foci at 24-hour post injection. Also, the clearance of the tracer from other tissues is rapid on the contrary to its clearance from the septic focus. This supports the hypothesis that ^99mTc-pefloxacin is retained at the infectious site because of its specific binding to the gyrase enzymes of bacterial cells.     

On simulations investigating droplet diameter–charge distributions in electrostatically atomized dielectric liquid sprays

A general procedure has been developed for the simulation of charged liquid and electrostatically atomized sprays. The procedure follows a Lagrangian approach for simulation of spray droplets and a Eulerian approach for gas‐phase variables, including the electric field generated by the charge presence on droplets. Validation of the procedure was examined through simulations of previously published charged spray experiments. Results showed that for the specification of initial droplet charge, modelling the droplet charge–diameter relationship through a scaling law is as reliable a method as using a directly obtained charge–diameter relationship from experimental measurements. The normalized root‐mean‐square errors for sprays using the two methods were shown to be within 12% of one another, for the prediction of spatially averaged profiles of mean droplet diameters, mean axial velocities and mean radial droplet velocities. Results showed that the general spatial characteristics and dynamics of a charged liquid spray can successfully be reproduced, including the axial and radial dispersal pattern of droplets and the distribution of mean droplet diameters throughout the spray plume. For all sprays with droplet charges defined through a scaling law relationship, the normalized root‐mean‐square errors range from 9.0% to 31.6% for mean droplet diameters, 10.4% to 67.9% for mean axial droplet velocities and 16.8% to 38.6% for mean radial droplet velocities. Lastly, we present a brief set of general recommendations for simulating electrostatically atomized dielectric liquid sprays.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SYNTHESIS OF MONO-AND DIALKYLPHOSPHATES BY THE REACTIONS OF HYDROXYCOMPOUNDS WITH THE PHOSPHORUS PENTAOXIDE UNDER MICROWAVE IRRADIATION

The reactions of phosphorus pentoxide with two alcohols and one phenol were performed in different conditions under microwave irradiation. The products (alkylphosphates and dialkylphosphates) were identical to those formed by classic heating and were obtained with better yields. The speed of the reaction was increased by a factor from 100 to 4000.