ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF IODINE DOPED POLY(PHTHALOCYANINATOSILOXANE)/PPTA BLEND FIBERS

Poly(phthalocyaninatosiloxane), [Si(Pc)O]n, with the number average degree of polymerization of about 130 was prepared by heating its monomer Si(Pc) (OH)_2, in solid state at 420℃for 42 hrs at 10~(-3) torr dynamic vacuum. The [Si(Pc)O]n powder was iodine doped with I_2-bensene solution for 48 hrs. Pure iodine doped poly(phthalocyaninatosiloxune), {[Si(Pc)O]I_y}n, fibers and {[Si(Pc)O]I_y}n/poly(p-pbenylene terephthalamide) blend fibers were wet-spun with dry nltrogen-sealed Teflon lined device. D.C. electrical conductivity of the fibers was measured by the four-probe method with an automated charge transport measurement system from 80K to room temperature. It was found that the dependence of conductivity, σ, on temperature, T, could fit a group of thermal fluctuation-induced tunnelling (TFIT) equations, and that the dependence of conductivity on volume fraction, φ, of the iodine doped {[Si(Pc)O]I_y}n could fit a group of modified percolation equations. A thrce-dimensioual composite plot of σ-1 / T-φshows that these two groups of equations match each other quite well. It has been pointed out that for the blend fibers their composition is the most important factor for both mechanical and electrical properties.     

Local photodynamic therapy with Zn(II)-phthalocyanine in an experimental model of intimal hyperplasia

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) appears to be a novel promising modality to prevent intimal hyperplasia (IH) and restenosis after angioplasty. Local PDT, that consists of local delivery of photosensitizing agents followed by intraluminal local irradiation, represents a recent advancement. This methodology requires optimization in order to achieve the best prompt outcome especially in terms of pharmacokinetics of the photosensitizing agent. We studied the pharmacokinetic properties by using the photosensitizing agent Zn(II)-phthalocyanine (ZnPc), locally released by a channeled balloon. The efficacy of local PDT in reducing IH was evaluated in an experimental rabbit model of arterial injury. The maximum accumulation of ZnPc was found at 30 min: the injured portion of the artery gave a ZnPc recovery of 1.18 micromol/mg, as compared with undetectable amounts of ZnPc in the non injured arteries; within 90 min after the local delivery, clearance of the agent was almost complete. Local PDT produced an effective reduction of IH in our vascular injury model: at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days IH and intima/media ratio (IMR) was significantly reduced as compared with balloon injured arteries. The local delivery of ZnPc showed favourable pharmacokinetic properties, that allow the performance of PDT immediately after the vascular injury. Local PDT performed in these conditions represents a promising approach to prevent IH after balloon injury. Further studies are needed to better clarify the biological response of the injured arterial wall to local PDT.     

New computational approach for the simultaneous photometric determination of catalysts and activators

A new method for the simultaneous kinetic determination of catalysts and activators was developed on the basis of a mathematical model. The parameters and variables are optimized from experimental data obtained by application of a multiple standard-addition method and use of the Gauss-Newton and Simplex method, both of which provide identical results. The proposed method was applied to the simultaneous photometric determination of Mn(II) and Pb(II) on the basis of their catalytic and activating effects, respectively, on the oxidation of Tiron by hydrogen peroxide. Data were both acquired and processed with the aid of software developed by the authors. The linear determination range achieved was 1.00-5.00 ng/ml Mn(II) and 200-800 ng/ml Pb(II). Experimental readings were made at 450 nm with a fibre optics detector. The most serious interference with the method was posed by Cr(III).     

Improving sensitivity by large-volume sample stacking using the electroosmotic flow pump to analyze some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by capillary electrophoresis in water samples

Large-volume sample stacking using the electroosmotic flow (EOF) pump (LVSEP) has been used to analyze some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in water samples. With methanol as the run buffer solvent to suppress the EOF, sensitivity was enhanced by 80-100-fold. The sample for the analysis of real water sample was pretreated by solid-phase extraction (SPE). When the method was based on off-line SPE-LVSEP-CE, sensitivity improved by as much as 1000 times.     

Flow-rate dependence of post-column reaction chromatographic detectors and optimization of reactor length for slow chemical reactions

In high-performance liquid chromatography, use of any post-column reactor invariably involves a compromise between the conditions needed to obtain complete reaction and avoidance of excessive dispersion by band broadening in the reactor. Flow rate and the reactor geometry interact to establish the final chromatographic performance. Based on the flow-rate dependence of the peak area and peak height, post-column detectors constitute a distinct class of detectors which differ from mass-flow and concentrations-sensitive detectors such as the flame ionization and absorbance detector, respectively. The concept of reactor length optimization is developed for first-order chemical reactions in a post-column detector. The findings are applicable to both chromatographic and flow-injection systems.     

Electrochromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry of textile dyes

Electrochromatography with its high chromatographic performance has been coupled with electrospray mass spectrometry (MS) for the analysis of non-ionic disperse textile dyes. Electrochromatography offers an alternative to micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) for the analysis of uncharged compounds in conjunction with MS, since MECC generally relies on MS incompatible compounds for micelle formation. Overall, the technique of electrochromatography-MS should find application in many areas.     

Flow techniques in water analysis

In the present work the main flow techniques for the analysis and monitoring of several parameters of interest in the quality control of different types of waters are reviewed. Firstly, a review involving the advantages and disadvantages of flow techniques, from those currently out-dated, such as segmented flow analysis (SFA), to the most modern techniques, such as flow injection analysis (FIA), sequential injection analysis (SIA) and multi-commutation techniques (MCFA), is carried out. On the other hand, a new technique, the multi-syringe flow analysis (MSFA) is hereby described for the first time as both a fast and robust alternative. Its possibilities, limitations and potential advantages when using this technique either on its own or coupled to SIA, which carries out a previous sample handling, are outlined.     

Reducing activity of polyphenols with stable radicals of the TTM series. Electron transfer versus H-abstraction reactions in flavan-3-ols

A new method to test the antioxidant activity of polyphenols by electron transfer reactions to a stable organic free radical, tris(2,4,6-trichloro-3,5-dinitrophenyl)methyl radical (HNTTM), is reported. Therefore, the activity of the natural flavanols, (-)-epicatechin, and two synthetic derivatives, 4beta-(S-cysteinyl)epicatechin and 4beta-(2-aminoethylthio)epicatechin, can be differentiated by their capacity to transfer hydrogen atoms to 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and to transfer electrons to HNTTM. [structure: see text]     

An ultra acid stable reversed stationary phase

We report a new reversed phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) phase with remarkable acid stability using dimethyl(ethylphenylchloromethyl)chlorosilane (1), oligomeric polystyrene (PS), and octylbenzene (C8). This phase Si-1-PS-C8 was prepared using silica modification processes and Friedel-Crafts alkylation chemistry. Under highly aggressive mobile phase conditions, Si-1-PS-C8 exhibited remarkable stability as evinced by only minimal reduction in retention factor (k') after 1400 column volumes at pH = 0.5 and 150 degrees C. The peak shapes for a variety of basic solutes were symmetric using Si-1-PS-C8. Evidence for a highly cross-linked coating of the silica particles was observed using scanning electron microscopy. The remarkable stability of this phase is unparalleled as compared to all other RPLC phases reported to date.     

Separation and on-column preconcentration of some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by microemulsion electrokinetic capillary chromatography using high-speed separations

Various strategies have been investigated for separating a group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by microemulsion electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEEKC) using high-speed separations. The parameters that of affect the separation, such as the nature of the oil droplet and the buffer, and the surfactant concentration have been studied. In addition, several organic solvents were used to decrease the retention of the analytes in the oil droplet phase and to improve the resolution of the NSAIDs. The optimum microemulsion background electrolyte (BGE) solution made of 0.8% w/w ethyl acetate, 6.6% w/w butan-1-ol, 6.0% w/w acetonitrile, 1.0% w/w sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and 85.6% w/w of 10 mM sodium tetraborate at pH 9.2 resolved the drugs within 8 min. The short-end injection procedure is an alternative for reducing the analysis time. When this procedure was used, the microemulsion BGE solution consisted of 0.8% w/w ethyl acetate, 6.6% w/w butan-1-ol, 17.0% w/w methanol, 1.0% w/w SDS, and 74.6% w/w of 10 mM sodium tetraborate, pH 9.2, and the NSAIDs were separated within 3 min. The reversed electrode polarity stacking mode (REPSM) technique was applied to the on-line concentration of the NSAIDs. In this technique, the sample matrix was pumped out of the capillary using a polarity-switching step. When this technique was applied, the sensitivity was enhanced up to 40-fold and the limits of detection (LODs) were in the low microg.L(-1) levels.