Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Used as MRI Contrast Agents: A Parametric Study

Colloidal iron oxides play an important role as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. The superparamagnetic particles actually used are constituted by solid cores (diameter of 5-15 nm), generally coated by a thick polysaccharidic layer (hydrodynamic radii of 30-100 nm), and formulated by direct coprecipitation of iron salts in the presence of polymeric material. To better control the synthesis, we attempted to formulate new stable uncoated superparamagnetic nanoparticles. Colloids were generated by coprecipitation of an aqueous solution of iron salts and tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH) solution. The influence of parameters such as media composition, iron media, injection fluxes, Fe and TMAOH concentrations, temperature, and oxygen on size, magnetic and magnetic resonance relaxometric properties, and colloidal stability of particles were evaluated. We have determined the relative importance of these parameters as well as the optimal conditions for obtaining uncoated stable particles with an average size of 5 nm and interesting relaxivities. The interpretation of the observed limits takes into account diffusibilities of reactants and product, feeding rates of reactants, and surface properties of nanoparticles. A model of synthesis, related to spontaneous emulsification of suspensions, is proposed. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.     

Syntheses of 4‐Alkoxy‐3‐methoxy‐5H‐benzocycloheptenes and 2‐Alkoxy‐3‐methoxy‐5H‐benzocycloheptenes from Isovanillin via Claisen Rearrangement and Ring‐closing Metathesis

New syntheses of 4‐alkoxy‐3‐methoxy‐5H‐benzocycloheptenes and 2‐alkoxy‐3‐methoxy‐5H‐benzocycloheptenes were studied. Based on Claisen rearrangement, O‐alkylation, nucleophilic addition of allyl magnesium bromide, ring‐closing metathesis, and dehydration, a series of new 4‐alkoxy‐3‐methoxy‐5H‐benzocycloheptenes and 2‐alkoxy‐3‐methoxy‐5H‐benzocycloheptenes were respectively synthesized from isovanillin in good overall yields.     

Soluble copolyimides with high modulus and low moisture absorption

A series of transparent copolyimides were prepared from PMDA-ODPA-TFDB via chemical imidization of the corresponding poly(amic acid)s. Copolyimides containing less than 70% PMDA were completely soluble in DMAc and other amide solvents and gave ductile films with unexpectedly high tensile moduli (up to 8.9 GPa). Water absorption, after boiling in water for 72 h, were less than 1 % for the copolymer with 67% PMDA and less than 0.5% for copolymers with less PMDA. Thermooxidative stability was comparable to a commercial polyimide film up to 325°C. A copolyimide containing 34% PMDA had the best overall properties based on the above tests. Additional evaluations revealed a coefficient of linear expansion of about 6 X 10^?6/°C, an essentially frequency independent dielectric constant of 2.8, a dissipation factor of about 0.004–0.01 over the range of 1–1000 kHz, and complete retention of tensile properties after exposure to a humid environment for 16 weeks. A model compound study suggests the probable presence of short blocks in these copolymers. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Editorial Board: Electrophoresis 18'14

Electrophoresis 2014, 35, 2673–2680. DOI: 10.1002/elps.201400210 pH‐responsive microcapsules manufactured by combining electrostatic droplets (ESD) and microfluidic droplets (MFD) techniques to produce mono‐disperse core (alginate) ‐ shell (chitosan) structure with controlled drug release behavior. The fabricated core‐shell microcapsules have a pH‐controlled drug delivery function according to acidic and alkaline environment, and present positive biocompatibility, indicating their potential use in biological and biomedical applications, such as pH‐responsive drug‐delivery systems, scaffolding for bone tissues, and as an oral drug‐delivery vehicle.

     

PEG‐4000‐promoted palladium‐catalyzed N‐allylation in water: aminonaphthalene as an example

An environmentally friendly, efficient catalytic process using palladium associated with ligands in a PEG4000–water system leading to N‐allylation was described in this study. PEG‐4000 was found to improve the palladium‐catalyzed allylic amination of allylic acetates with aminonaphthalenes and gave overall good to high yields of the corresponding N‐allylic aminonaphthalenes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Conducting and magnetic behaviors of monodispersed iron oxide/polypyrrole nanocomposites synthesized by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization

This study describes the preparation of nanocomposites fabricated from monodispersed iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) and polypyrrole (PPy) by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization. The monodispersed 4 nm Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles which served as cores were synthesized using the thermal decomposition of a mixture of Iron (III) acetylacetonate and oleic acid in the presence of high boiling point solvents. The resulting nanoparticles were further dispersed in an aqueous solution with anionic surfactant sodium bis(2‐ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate to form micelle/Fe₃O₄ spherical templates that avoid the aggregation of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles during the further preparation of the nanocomposites. The Fe₃O₄/PPy nanocomposites were then synthesized via in situ chemical oxidative polymerization on the surface of the spherical templates. Both field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images indicate that the resulting Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles are close to spherical dots with a particle size of about 4 nm and a standard deviation of less than 5% (4 ± 0.2 nm). Structural and morphological analysis using FESEM and HRTEM showed that the fabricated Fe₃O₄/PPy nanocomposites are core (Fe₃O₄)‐shell (PPy) structures. Morphology of the nanocomposites shows a remarkable change from spherical to tube‐like structures as the content of monodispersed Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles increases from 9% up to 24 wt %. The conductivities of these Fe₃O₄/PPy nanocomposites are about six times higher than those of PPy without Fe₃O₄. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4647–4655, 2007     

Novel Zinc Porphyrin Sensitizers for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells: Synthesis and Spectral,Electrochemical, and Photovoltaic Properties

Novel meso‐ or β‐derivatized porphyrins with a carboxyl group have been designed and synthesized for use as sensitizers in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The position and nature of a bridge connecting the porphyrin ring and carboxylic acid group show significant influences on the spectral, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties of these sensitizers. Absorption spectra of porphyrins with a phenylethynyl bridge show that both Soret and Q bands are red‐shifted with respect to those of porphyrin 6 . This phenomenon is more pronounced for porphyrins 3 and 4 , which have a π‐conjugated electron‐donating group at the meso position opposite the anchoring group. Upon introduction of an ethynylene group at the meso position, the potential at the first oxidation alters only slightly whereas that for the first reduction is significantly shifted to the positive, thus indicating a decreased HOMO–LUMO gap. Quantum‐chemical (DFT) results support the spectroelectrochemical data for a delocalization of charge between the porphyrin ring and the amino group in the first oxidative state of diarylamino‐substituted porphyrin 5 , which exhibits the best photovoltaic performance among all the porphyrins under investigation. From a comparison of the cell performance based on the same TiO₂ films, the devices made of porphyrin 5 coadsorbed with chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) on TiO₂ in ratios [ 5 ]/[CDCA]=1:1 and 1:2 have efficiencies of power conversion similar to that of an N3 ‐based DSSC, which makes this green dye a promising candidate for colorful DSSC applications.