Enthalpy assisted size exclusion chromatography. Part 2. Adsorption retention mechanism

A novel high performance liquid chromatographic method for separation of synthetic polymers has been tested. It involves combination of the enthalpic and entropic retention mechanisms, resulting in increased selectivity of separation within a specific molar mass range. In this present case, the enthalpic retention mechanism is adsorption of macromolecules on a bare silica gel column packing. Under critical conditions of enthalpic interactions, homopolymers are known to elute irrespective of their molar mass. However, in the vicinity of critical conditions, a situation can be identified when retention volumes (V(R)) rapidly decrease with increasing molar mass. Typically, this happens for polymer species close to or above their exclusion limit observed with the same column in the absence of enthalpic interactions between macromolecules and packing, that is near "ideal SEC" conditions. The dependence of polymer retention volume on molar mass closely resembles size exclusion conditions. However, the witnessed rate of change in V(R )with polymer molar mass is more pronounced, thus indicating increased selectivity of separation. This situation not only offers the benefit of more selective separation according to molar mass but efficient discrimination of macromolecules possessing different nature and interactivity with the column packing can be accomplished as well.     

Evaluation of the activity of the sponge metabolites avarol and avarone and their synthetic derivatives against fouling micro- and macroorganisms

The sesquiterpene hydroquinone avarol (1) was isolated from the marine sponge Dysidea avara, whereas the corresponding quinone, avarone (2), was obtained by oxidation of avarol, and the significantly more lipophilic compounds [3'-(p-chloro-phenyl)avarone (3), 3',4'-ethylenedithioavarone (4), 4'-isopropylthioavarone (5), 4'-tert-butylthioavarone (6), 4'-propylthioavarone (7), 4'-octylthioavarone (8)] were obtained by nucleophilic addition of thiols or p-chloroaniline to avarone. All these compounds were tested, at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 50 microg/mL, for their effect on the settlement of the cyprid stage of Balanus amphitrite, for toxicity to both nauplii and cyprids and for their growth inhibitory activity on marine bacteria (Cobetia marina, Marinobacterium stanieri, Vibrio fischeri and Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis) and marine fungi (Halosphaeriopsis mediosetigera, Asteromyces cruciatus, Lulworthia uniseptata and Monodictys pelagica).     

Control of EOF in CE by different ways of application of radial electric field

Various ways of application of radial electric field for the control of electrokinetic potential and EOF in a home-made device for CE are presented. The device comprises three high-voltage power supplies, which are used to form a radial electric field across the fused-silica capillary wall. One power supply provides the internal electric field - a driving force for electrophoretic migration of charged analytes and for the EOF. Two power supplies are connected to the ends of the outer low-conductivity polymeric coating, which is formed by the dispersion of insoluble conductive copolymer of aniline and p-phenylendiamine in polystyrene matrix (dissolved in N-methylpyrrolidone) attached to the original outer polyimide coating of the capillary. They are able to constitute the external longitudinal electric field with variable values of electric potential at both ends of the outer coating. The potential gradient between the external and internal electric field is perpendicular to the capillary wall and forms a radial electric field across the capillary wall, which affects the electrokinetic potential at the solid-liquid interface and EOF inside the capillary. The developed device and methodology has been applied for the analysis of both chiral and achiral molecules such as terbutaline enantiomers and oligopeptides (diglycine and triglycine). The effect of magnitude, orientation, and different ways of application of the radial electric field on the flow rate of the EOF and on the speed, efficiency, and resolution of CZE separations of the above analytes in the internally noncoated fused-silica capillaries have been evaluated.     

Chitosan based hydrogel microspheres as drug carriers

Chitosan/tripolyphosphate (CHIT/TPP) and chitosan/tripolyphosphate/chondroitin sulfate (CHIT/TPP/CHS) core-shell type microspheres were prepared by polyelectrolyte complexation in order to develop a biocompatible matrix for drug delivery. The continual method using a multi-loop reactor under sterile conditions was applied for microsphere preparation. All the types of microspheres produced were spherical in shape and had a porous structure. The mechanical resistance of the microspheres increased in the presence of CHS as the second polyanion, which toughened the microsphere shell structure. For a drug release application, the process of microsphere preparation was modified by dissolving ofloxacin (OFL), the fluoroquinolone antibiotic, in CHIT solution before complex formation. This study shows the difference in OFL release comparing the microspheres CHIT/TPP and CHIT/TPP/CHS and implies the potential to control this process.     

DMT-MM mediated functionalisation of the non-reducing end of glycosaminoglycans

Efficient functionalisation of the non-reducing end of uronic acid derivatives and glycosaminoglycan-derived disaccharides using peptide coupling has been achieved, mediated by the water-soluble agent DMT-MM.     

AFM nanoindentations of diatom biosilica surfaces

Diatoms have intricately and uniquely nanopatterned silica exoskeletons (frustules) and are a common target of biomimetic investigations. A better understanding of the diatom frustule structure and function at the nanoscale could provide new insights for the biomimetic fabrication of nanostructured ceramic materials and lightweight, yet strong, scaffold architectures. Here, we have mapped the nanoscale mechanical properties of Coscinodiscus sp. diatoms using atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based nanoindentation. Mechanical properties were correlated with the frustule structures obtained from high-resolution AFM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Significant differences in the micromechanical properties for the different frustule layers were observed. A comparative study of other related inorganic material including porous silicon films and free-standing membranes as well as porous alumina was also undertaken.     

Strategies in two‐dimensional liquid chromatographic separation of complex polymer systems

Complex synthetic polymer systems as for example copolymers exhibit distributions in at least two of the three basic molecular characteristics which are molar mass, chemical structure/composition and molecular architecture. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) separates macromolecules according to their size in solution which simultaneously depends on all molecular characteristics. Therefore, multi‐dimensional liquid chromatographic techniques are to be applied to independently assess all different distributions present in the sample. So far, two‐dimensional separations have been attempted. In the first dimension separation column, selected liquid chromatographic mechanisms are intentionally combined to suppress effects of all but one molecular characteristic. Consequently, polymer species are separated exclusively or at least predominantly according to one single parameter. In the second dimension separation column, macromolecules are separated according to another molecular characteristic. In this contribution the methods are briefly reviewed in which effect of polymer molar mass on polymer retention is suppressed. The resulting ”one parameter separation systems” can be on‐line or off‐line connected to another separation system such as SEC to provide more detailed characterization of complex polymers. Besides, selected procedures for the re‐concentration of diluted polymer solutions are concisely treated. These may be utilized for increasing the concentration of sample(s) leaving the first dimension separation column. Eventually, some arrangements for controlled sample re‐introduction into the second dimension separation column are outlined.     

Biodegradable hybrid polymer films based on poly(vinyl alcohol) and collagen hydrolyzate

Hybrid blends of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and collagen hydrolyzate (CH), an added value waste from leather indutry, have been converted by blown molding extrusion, to environmentally degradable films. Blown extruded films comprising 5-15% of CH, were tested as sel fertilizing mulching films and analyzed for their propensity to enviromental degradation. PVA/CH films rapidly disintegrate when buried in soil, and resulted promising for application such as transplanting films, with additional fertilizing action of CH.     

A simple approach for synthesis of TiO2 nanotubes with through‐hole morphology

The present work reports a simple approach for fabrication of self‐standing titania (TiO₂) nanotube membranes with through‐hole morphology. The method is hydrofluoric acid free and the pore opening of TiO₂ nanotubes is performed by electrochemical thinning of the oxide barrier layer. A reduction of anodization voltage was applied at the end of the anodization process to cause a successful removal of the remaining barrier layer from the TiO₂ nanotubes during their detachment from the underlying titanium substrate. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Preparation of Cyclodextrin–Iron Species in Water by Laser Ablation: Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

Supramolecular complexes between cyclodextrin and iron species are studied by using secondary ion mass spectrometry. The iron species are prepared by pulsed‐laser ablation of bulk iron in water; this gives Fe⁺ (56 m/z) and Fe_xO_y⁺ (x, y=1–7) species. Cyclodextrin is added to the water either before or after the laser ablation. When it is added before laser ablation, molecular fragments of cyclodextrin are detected as dehydrated glucopyranose units (C₆H₈O₄⁺) associated with Fe⁺, FeO⁺, and Fe₂O⁺ species. The focus is to observe supramolecular host–guest complexes or adducts between intact molecules of cyclodextrin and iron species. When cyclodextrin is added after laser ablation, the relevant peak at 1210 m/z is observed and assigned as C₄₂H₆₇O₃₅FeNa⁺, which corresponds to a cyclodextrin molecule minus three H atoms. Two possible explanations of this finding are the presence of the host–guest C₄₂H₆₇O₃₅Na–Fe complex, in which Fe is in the cavity, or the presence of the adduct C₄₂H₆₇O₃₄Na–FeO with FeO on the outer surface; the formation of these complexes are supported by the hydrophobicity of Fe and hydrophilicity of FeO, respectively. Due to the presence of 12 % of intact C₄₂H₇₀O₃₅Na–Fe complex and an estimated Fe/FeO ratio of approximately 10², host–guest formation is assumed to be more significant.