A combinatorial approach to obtain affinity media with binding properties towards the aflatoxins

In our work we performed a combinatorial solid-phase synthesis in aqueous medium to prepare peptide libraries from which to select an amino acid sequence with binding properties towards aflatoxins.We used polystyrene beads, functionalised with carboxylic groups as solid support and eight amino acids as monomers. During the first step 64 different sequences of two amino acids were prepared by exploiting the principles of combinatorial chemistry; then the binding properties of all sequences towards aflatoxin B(1 )were checked. We determined binding constants towards aflatoxin B(1) and towards aflatoxins B(2), G(1) and G(2). Results were promising, so we prepared a new library by using the selected dipeptide as the starting solid phase. After selecting the best tetrapeptide sequences, we determined binding constants towards the quoted aflatoxins. We obtained binding constants ( K>10(4) M(-1)) similar to those shown by human serum albumin for similar compounds. Preliminary studies on an extraction column were promising for the development of an SPE system and for its application in food matrices.     

Surface characterization of macroporous glycidyl methacrylate based copolymers by inverse gas chromatography

Two samples of macroporous crosslinked poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate), PGME, with different porosity parameters were synthesized by suspension copolymerization and modified by ring-opening reaction of the pendant epoxy groups with ethylene diamine, EDA. Inverse gas chromatography at infinite dilution was used for the determination of adsorption properties of PGME, and copolymer modified with ethylene diamine, PGME-en. Thermodynamic parameters of adsorption, dispersive components of the surface free energies, and the acid/base constants for the copolymer samples were calculated. The calculated dispersive surface energy values, , for PGME and PGME-en are comparable with the literature data for nonconductive polymers.     

Some investigations on the photostabilization of polypropylene

The effect of substituted hydroxybenzophenone, benzotriazole and organic metal complexes on the photooxidation of PP films has been studied. It has been established that NiDBTC added in 1.0 wt. % is the most effective photostabilizer.While in the case of other stabilizers there is a slight increase in the Co content even during the induction period, with the application of NiDBTC practically no oxidation can be observed before the stabilizer completely disappears. This means that NiDBTC inhibits the photooxidation of the polymer even in low concentration.

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Analytical procedures for quantification of peptides in pharmaceutical research by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

Peptide quantification by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) combines the high resolving power of reversed-phase (RP) chromatography with the excellent selectivity and sensitivity of mass spectrometric detection. On the basis of comprehensive practical experience in the analysis of small molecules, pharmaceutical research is developing technologies for analysis of a growing number of peptidic drug candidates. This article is a detailed review of procedures based on LC–MS techniques for quantitative determination of peptides. With the focus on pharmaceutical applications several technologies for sample preparation, various aspects of peptide chromatography, important characteristics of ESI–MS, selectivity of MS-detection modes, the large variability of internal standards, and modern instrumentation are discussed. The demand for reliable, robust, sensitive, and accurate methods is discussed using numerous examples from the literature, complemented by experiments and results from our laboratory.     

Effect of silica-type sol-gel carrier’s structure and morphology on a supported Ziegler-Natta catalyst for ethylene polymerization

Silica xerogels with different structures and morphology, synthesized using a sol-gel procedure, were used as a carrier of vanadium catalysts (VOCl₃/AlEt₂Cl) for ethylene polymerization. Two techniques of catalyst synthesis were applied: slurry impregnation and gas-phase adsorption and the relevant polymerization methods were then employed. The effect of the carrier structure and morphology on the vanadium loading in the catalysts, the catalyst’s activity and kinetic stability were investigated.     

Differential response of excision proficient and deficient L5178Y cells to UVC irradiation and benzamide

L5178Y-R and L5178Y-S cells differ in sensitivity to UVC radiation (D0 values: 2.8 and 9.0 J m-2 respectively, exposure in Fischer's medium). The UVC sensitivity is related to the excision repair ability. Benzamide (Bz), an inhibitor of adenosine diphosphoribosyl transferase (ADPRT), does not modify the lethal effect of UVC radiation in L5178Y-R cells, whereas it sensitizes L5178Y-S cells. The content of NAD+ after irradiation decreases only in the latter cells and this decrease can be prevented by 2 mM Bz treatment. In agreement with the survival data, in L5178Y-R cells neither the proportion of abnormal cells nor the frequency of chromatid aberration are affected by 2 mM Bz treatment, in contrast with L5178Y-S cells. Bz slightly reverses inhibition of 3H-thymidine incorporation only in L5178Y-S cells, but it does not affect the proportions of cells in the different phases of the cell cycle in either cell strain after UVC exposure. These data could be taken as an indirect indication of the involvement of ADPRT in DNA repair in UVC-irradiated L5178Y-S cells. However, the increase in the number of DNA strand breaks in UVC-exposed, Bz-treated cells compared with UVC-exposed untreated cells is the same in both L5178Y strains.     

Transport properties of alkyltrimethylammonium bromide surfactants in aqueous solutions

Differential mutual diffusion coefficients of n-alkyltrimethylammonium bromides [CH₃(CH₂)_n–1N(CH₃)₃Br, C_nTAB] (n=10, 12, 14, 16) have been measured in aqueous solutions at 298.15 K using a conductimetric cell and an automatic apparatus to follow diffusion. The cell is based on an open-ended capillary, and the technique follows the diffusion process by measuring the resistance of a solution inside the capillaries at various times. The electrical conductances of those solutions have also been measured to calculate the critical micellar concentration (cmc). Thermodynamic analysis of the data suggests that the free ion concentration decreases at concentrations above the cmc, in agreement with theoretical predictions. The obtained values of the micellization parameters were used to model the mutual diffusion coefficients of C_nTAB aqueous solutions.     

Potential distribution around a charged spherical colloidal particle in a medium containing its counterions and a small amount of added salts

A theory is developed for the potential distribution around a charged spherical colloidal particle carrying ionized groups on the particle surface in a medium containing its counterions (i.e., counterions produced from dissociation of the particle surface groups) and a small amount of added salts on the basis of the theory of Imai and Oosawa. Numerical solutions to the Poisson–Boltzmann equation for the potential distribution are obtained for the case of dilute (but not infinitely dilute) particle suspensions of volume fraction 1 for a1 (where is the Debye–Hückel parameter and a is the particle radius). Here we have taken into account the effects of (i) counterions from the particle surface groups, and (ii) the finite particle volume fraction. These effects, which are usually neglected in the conventional Poisson–Boltzmann equation, are found to be important. It is found that, as in the case of completely salt-free media, there is a certain critical value of the particle charge (which is the same as that for the completely salt-free case). When the particle charge is lower than the critical value, the potential is given by a Coulomb potential. If the particle charge is higher than the critical value, then counterions are accumulated in the vicinity of the particle surface (counterion condensation) and the potential becomes less dependent on the particle charge. The above behaviors can be observed even for the case where the electrolyte concentration is higher than the concentration of counterions from the particle surface groups, if the conditions 1 and a1are both satisfied.     

Analysis of functional groups on the surface of plasma-treated carbon nanofibers

Plasma chemically modified carbon nanofibers were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with regard to the content of carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen and the contribution of carboxylic groups or ester, carbonyl and hydroxylic groups or ether on the surface. Unfortunately, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy only provides an average value of the first 10 to 15 molecular layers. For comparison, depth profiles were measured and wet chemical methods were applied to estimate the thickness of the functionalized layer and the distribution of oxygen-containing functional groups within the near-surface layers. The results indicate that the fiber surface is covered by a monomolecular oxygen-containing layer and that plasma treatment allows a complete oxygen functionalization of the uppermost surface layer. The best conditions for plasma treatment found within the set of parameters applied to generate complete functionalization are: plasma gas O(2)/Ar ratio 1:1, gas pressure 1-1.5 hPa, plasma power 80 W, treatment time >or= 5 min. Additionally, three quick and easy methods are presented to estimate the efficiency of plasma treatment with regard to surface functionalization: pyrolysis, contact angle measurements, and light permeability measurements of aqueous carbon nanofiber suspensions.     

Production of polyacrylonitrile particles by precipitation polymerization in supercritical carbon dioxide

Polyacrylonitrile particles were produced by precipitation polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) without any colloidal stabilizer in supercritical carbon dioxide as a polymerization medium at about 30 MPa for 24 h at 65 °C at different initiator concentrations (0.8–45.2 mmol/l) and at different AN concentrations (10–40% w/v). An increase in the initiator concentration led to increases in the conversion and in the degree of coagulation and to a decrease in the molecular weight. At AN concentration of 20% w/v, micron-sized, relatively monodisperse polyacrylonitrile particles with clean and uneven surfaces were produced.