The nature of sites of absorption of low-molecular-mass compounds by butadiene–acrylonitrile copolymers

The rotational mobilities of the paramagnetic probes TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl) and BZONO (4-benzoate-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl) are studied via EPR spectroscopy and the equilibrium swelling of random and multiblock butadiene–acrylonitrile copolymers of various compositions and stereostructures of butadiene units in n-heptane, methyl acetate, and toluene are studied. The nature of defective regions sorbing low-molecular-mass compounds is ascertained. The rotational mobilities of the probes in defects of various structures are estimated. The sites of sorption are found to be identical in crosslinked and noncrosslinked elastomers. It is shown that the sorption of n-heptane and methyl acetate appears in the same defective regions as those of the TEMPO radical, while the sorption of toluene emerges in sorption sites where the value of free volume is sufficient for the sorption of the bulky radical BZONO. A decay in local molecular mobility in structural defects (“holes”) does not hinder the absorption of lowmolecular- mass compounds if the free volume is sufficient.     

Optical evidence of quantum rotor orbital excitations in orthorhombic manganites

In magnetic compounds with Jahn–Teller (JT) ions (such as Mn³⁺ or Cu²⁺), the ordering of the electron or hole orbitals is associated with cooperative lattice distortions. There the role of JT effect, although widely recognized, is still elusive in the ground state properties. Here we discovered that, in these materials, there exist excitations whose energy spectrum is described in terms of the total angular momentum eigenstates and is quantized as in quantum rotors found in JT centers. We observed features originating from these excitations in the optical spectra of a model compound LaMnO₃ using ellipsometry technique. They appear clearly as narrow sidebands accompanying the electron transition between the JT split orbitals at neighboring Mn³⁺ ions, displaying anomalous temperature behavior around the Néel temperature T_N ≈ 140 K. We present these results together with new experimental data on photoluminescence found in LaMnO₃, which lend additional support to the ellipsometry implying the electronic-vibrational origin of the quantum rotor orbital excitations. We note that the discovered orbital excitations of quantum rotors may play an important role in many unusual properties observed in these materials upon doping, such as high-temperature superconductivity and colossal magnetoresistance.     

Spin probe study of acidity of inorganic materials

Acidic characteristics of various inorganic materials, such as silica gel, aluminum, and titanium(IV) oxides, original and modified with F^? and SO ₄ ^2? ions, in the form of hydrogels and nanostructured powders doped by copper(II) ions, are studied. It is shown that pH values inside pores of the studied sorbents (pH_intr) differ from the pH of external solutions by 0.5–1.1 units. In the pores of original γ-Al₂O₃, the pH_intr values are higher, while, in pores of γ-Al₂O₃ samples modified with F^? и SO ₄ ^2? , as well as nonmodified α-Al₂O₃, SiO₂ gel, and TiO₂ hydrogels, pH_intr are lower compared to the pH of the external solution. It is found that pH_intr decreases, as the content of Cu²⁺ ions in the TiO₂ phase grows, and, beginning with a certain moment, it coincides with pH of an equilibrium solution. The pK _a values of functional group dissociation in some materials are determined. It is shown that, using spin probes, that is, pH-sensitive nitroxyl radicals, the electrostatic potential of the surface of nanostructured TiO₂ can be estimated.     

Forces between surfaces across nanoparticle solutions: role of size, shape, and concentration

Using a surface force apparatus, we have measured the normal forces between mica surfaces across various types of nanoparticles consisting of ZnS cores coated with a monolayer of physisorbed surfactant, dispersed in organic solvents. We focused on the effects of nanoparticle size, shape, and concentration on the force-distance profiles. Forces were exponentially repulsive when the surfactant layers were strongly bound to the nanoparticles and were roughly linear when there was adhesion between the nanoparticle cores, i.e., when the surfactant layers detached from the nanoparticles. In both cases, the range and magnitude of the forces were dependent upon the particle size, shape, and solution concentration. Fine details in the otherwise smooth force-distance profiles indicate specific effects due to particle chemistry and geometry and the existence of first-order disorder-order phase transitions upon confinement. Small amounts of water in the (hydrophobic) organic solvents had dramatic effects on the measured forces. Understanding and controlling the effects of particle shape, size, and concentration and the presence of water (or other surface-active solutes) on particle-particle and particle-surface interactions are important for the processing of nanoparticles into ordered superstructured materials.     

X-ray diffraction study of CsZn<Subscript>2</Subscript>Br<Subscript>5</Subscript>

CsZn₂Br₅ crystals are studied by X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system with the unit cell parameters a = 6.8880(12) Å, b = 10.4703(19) Å, c = 6.5197(9) Å, β = 108.25°, V = 446.55 ų, ρ_calcd = 4.960 g/cm³. Refractive indices are n _p = 1.640 and n _p = 1.754.     

Adsorption and photo-catalytic properties of layered lepidocrocite-like quasi-amorphous compounds based on modified potassium polytitanates

TiO2 compounds possess relatively high adsorption abilities and exhibit high photocatalytic activities that exhibit potential for the destruction of organic pollutants in natural and waste waters.Nanostructured potassium polytitanates modified using transition metals and their oxides/hydroxides generate new nanomaterials that operate in the visible spectral range.This study presents the synthesis and investigation of the structure,composition and photocatalytic activity of powdered nanoscale quasi-amorphous potassium polytitanates particles modified with iron,zinc,copper,cobalt and nickel sulfate in aqueous solutions.All of the powders investigated in this work exhibit a high adsorption capacity for methylene blue dye（15-20mg/g） related to the welldeveloped surface of the layered potassium polytitanate particles.Introducing transition metals and their oxides/hydroxides influences the electronic structure of the obtained systems.A high photocatalytic activity was observed for systems containing iron,zinc,nickel and their oxides/hydroxides in the ultraviolet and visible ranges.     

Biological ferroelectricity uncovered in aortic walls by piezoresponse force microscopy

Many biological tissues are piezoelectric and pyroelectric with spontaneous polarization. Ferroelectricity, however, has not been reported in soft biological tissues yet. Using piezoresponse force microscopy, we discover that the porcine aortic walls are not only piezoelectric, but also ferroelectric, with the piezoelectric coefficient in the order of 1 pm/V and coercive voltage approximately 10 V. Through detailed switching spectroscopy mapping and relaxation studies, we also find that the polarization of the aortic walls is internally biased outward, and the inward polarization switched by a negative voltage is unstable, reversing spontaneously to the more stable outward orientation shortly after the switching voltage is removed. The discovery of ferroelectricity in soft biological tissues adds an important dimension to their biophysical properties, and could have physiological implications as well.     

Effect of the acidity and chemical nature of the protonating agent on the rate of acetylene reduction catalyzed by the nitrogenase active site isolated from the enzyme

The effect of the acidity (pK _a) of the source of protons on the rate and selectivity of acetylene reduction has been investigated in order to elucidate the mechanism of protonation of substrate molecules coordinated to the reduced FeMoco cluster. A number of compounds whose pK _a in DMF varies between 6 and 20 have been examined as protonating agents. The rate of the reaction is almost independent of the acidity of the proton donor in a wide pK _a range. This can be explained in terms of the specific features of substrate protonation catalyzed by iron-sulfur clusters. Active protonating agents in the system are those which react with the catalyst to form hydrogen-bonded association species or those which are ligands reversibly binding to the cluster and are capable of donating protons, likely with simultaneous electron transfer.     

Effect of Poly(methacrylic acid) on the Cytokine Level in an In Vivo Tumor Model

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality globally. Despite remarkable improvements in cancer-treatment approaches, disease recurrence and progression remain major obstacles to therapy. While chemotherapy is still a first-line treatment for a variety of cancers, the focus has shifted to the development and application of new approaches to therapy. Nevertheless, the relationship between immune response, neoplastic diseases and treatment efficiency is not fully understood. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the immunopharmacological effects of methacrylic acid homopolymer in an in vivo tumor model. Materials and methods: Monomeric methacrylic acid was used to synthesize polymers. Methacrylic acid was polymerized in dioxane in the presence of 4-Cyano-4-[(dodecylsulfanylthiocarbonyl)sulfanyl]pentanoic acid. To study the molecular weight characteristics of PMAA by GPC, carboxyl groups were preliminarily methylated with diazomethane. An experimental cancer model was obtained by grafting RMK1 breast cancer cells. The serum levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were measured by ELISA. Results: The effect of PMAA on the serum concentrations of several cytokines was studied upon its single administration to laboratory animals in early neoplastic process. The IL-6, IL-17 and TGF-β1 concentrations were found to change significantly and reach the level observed in intact rats. The IL-10 concentration tended to normalize. Conclusion: The positive results obtained are the basis for further studies on the effect of methacrylic-acid polymers with different molecular-weight characteristics on the neoplastic process.