Effect of Pore-Forming Agent Type on Swelling Properties of Macroporous Poly(N-[3-(dimethylaminopropyl)]-methacrylamide-co-acrylamide) Hydrogels

Macroporous poly(N-[3-(dimethylaminopropyl)]methacrylamide-co-acrylamide) [P(DMAPMA-co-AAm)] hydrogels were prepared by free-radical crosslinking copolymerization of corresponding monomers in water using two different pore-forming agents such as hydroxypropyl celluose (HPC) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The effect of these pore-forming agents on the volume phase transition temperature (VPT-T), interior morphology and swelling/deswelling kinetics of the P(DMAPMA-co-AAm) hydrogels was investigated. Scanning electron micrographs revealed that the interior network structure of the hydrogel matrix became more porous due to the presence of HPC or PEG pore-forming agents. The more porous matrix provided numerous water channels for water diffusion in or out of the matrix and, therefore, an improved response rate to the external stimuli. Particularly, due to its unique macroporous structure, the PEG-modified hydrogel showed a tremendously faster response to the external temperature changes during deswelling process and the swelling process at 22°C.     

Some new energetic benzaldoximes

5-Nitro-2-hydroxy benzaldoxime (I), 3-nitro-4-hydroxy benzaldoxime (II), 3,5-dinitro-2-hydroxy benzaldoxime (III), and 3,5-dinitro-4-hydroxy benzaldoxime (IV) were prepared from their respective nitrated aldehydes. Prepared oximes were characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry. Suitable crystals of compounds II and III were obtained and molecular structures were determined by means of the single crystal XRD method. All benzaldoximes were investigated by TG. At temperatures above 140 °C, it was observed that compounds II and IV lost one H₂O and was converted to the respective benzonitriles. Only thermal analysis peaks of 3,5-dinitro-4-hydroxy benzonitrile (V) were found proper for both experimental and theoretic calculations; whereas, compounds I and III were converted to phenoxazines by Beckmann rearrangement along with dehydration. Beckmann product of compound III is referred as compound VI and its tautomer as compound VII. Similarly only 3,5-dinitro phenoxazine (VIII) was investigated experimentally and theoretically since its thermal analysis peaks were proper for the purpose. DFT-based structure optimizations and frequency analyses were performed at the B3LYP/cc-pVDZ level of theory. The enthalpies of formation for compounds III–VIII were calculated by means of the complete basis set (CBS-4M) method of Petersson and coworkers to obtain accurate energies. The enthalpies of decomposition for compounds III and IV were obtained from calculated enthalpies of formation according to Hess’ law and were compared with the experimental values which were available from DSC analyses and were found to be in good agreement with the theoretic values.     

Effect of type and concentration of surfactants on swelling behavior of poly[<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide-co- <Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N</Emphasis>-methylenebis(acrylamide)] hydrogels

A series of thermosensitive hydrogels were prepared from N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide (DMAPMA) monomer by using 11.6–17.8% (m/m) N,N-methylenebis(acrylamide) (MBAAm) as the crosslinker and comonomer in water. A kinetic study of the absorption determined the transport mechanism. The diffusion coefficients of these hydrogels were calculated for the Fickian mechanism. It was shown that the swelling behavior of the P(DMAPMA-co-MBAAm) hydrogels can be controlled by changing the amount of MBAAm. The swelling equilibrium of the P(DMAPMA-co-MBAAm) hydrogels was also investigated as a function of temperature in aqueous solutions of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the cationic surfactant dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB). In pure water, irrespective of the amount of MBAAm, the P(DMAPMA-co-MBAAm) hydrogels showed a discontinuous phase transition between 30 and 40 °C. However, the transition changed from discontinuous to continuous with the addition of surfactants, this is ascribed to the conversion of non-ionic P(DMAPMA-co-MBAAm) hydrogel into polyelectrolyte hydrogels due to binding of surfactants through the hydrophobic interaction. Additionally, the amount of free SDS and DTAB ions was measured at different temperatures by a conductometric method, it was found that the electric conductivity of the P(DMAPMA-co-MBAAm) – surfactant systems depended strongly on both the type and concentration of surfactant solutions.     

New Energetic Copper(II) Complexes With Pyrazolyl Type Ligands

Nine Cu^II complexes ( I – IX ) containing the azide ion and bis‐2,6‐(pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine (pp), bis‐2,6‐(pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine (dmpp), and 2‐(pyrazol‐1‐yl)‐6‐(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine (mpp), which are derivatives of pyrazolylpyridine, were prepared in nonaqueous medium. These complexes were characterized by elemental analyses and IR spectroscopy. Crystals of one of these complexes [CumppClN₃ ( VII )] were prepared in suitable size, and a molecular structure of this complex was obtained with X‐ray diffraction method. Complexes were examined by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry methods. Thermal decomposition was observed in complexes including two azide groups similar to that seen in explosives. In the complexes containing one azide group, formation of the Cu^I complexes was observed after thermal decomposition of the azide group.     

Polarization-independent beam splitting by a photonic crystal right prism

Splitting of light waves by a two-dimensional photonic crystal associated with source size and dispersion relation of photonic crystal at a wavelength of 1,550 nm without disturbing periodicity is numerically demonstrated via finite-difference time-domain simulations. Split branches in either polarization state make plus or minus 45° with the [11] direction and propagate in a self-collimated manner with equal amplitude and phase. Sixty-four percent of total transmittance is attained provided that the waves are coupled and collected through appropriate planar waveguides. Alternatively, approximately 50 % total transmittance for both polarizations can be obtained by application of an anti-reflection coating layer at the input face. Polarization-independent beam splitting occurs in a narrow range around the target wavelength, while its transverse-magnetically polarized sub-harmonic can also be split. The photonic crystal can also operate as a polarizing splitter at oblique incidence.     

Oxidative Stress Parameters of L929 Cells Cultured on Plasma-Modified PDLLA Scaffolds

Oxidative stress may produce high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) following cell exposure to endogenous and exogenous factors. Recent experiments implicate oxidative stress as playing an essential role in cytotoxicity of many materials. The aim of this study was to measure intracellular malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities of L929 fibroblasts cultured on PDLLA, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or ethylenediamine (EDA) grafted PDLLA by plasma polymerization method. Cell proliferation on these scaffolds was studied by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The study showed that MDA, AOPP levels, and SOD activities in L929 fibroblast cells cultured on all scaffolds were significantly different compared to the control group and each other. The highest MDA (0.42 ± 0.76 nmol/mg protein), AOPP (14.99 ± 4.67 nmol/mg protein) levels, and SOD activities (7.49 ± 3.74 U/mg protein) were observed in cells cultured on non-modified scaffolds; meanwhile, the most cell proliferation was obtained in EDA-modified scaffolds (MDA 0.15 ± 0.14 nmol/mg protein, AOPP 13.12 ± 3.86 nmol/mg protein, SOD 4.82 ± 2.64 U/mg protein). According to our finding, EDA- or PEG-modified scaffolds are potentially useful as suitable biomaterials in tissue engineering.