Polymerization of supramonomers: A new way for fabricating supramolecular polymers and materials

Supramolecular polymers and materials are attracting more and more attention nowadays due to their dynamic properties such as reversibility, stimuli-responsiveness and self-healing. Conventionally, bifunctional or multi-functional monomers are first covalently synthesized, followed by the supramolecular complexation to form supramolecular polymers and materials. Recently, we have proposed the supramonomer concept to construct supramolecular polymers and materials in a different way. Supramonomers are bifunctional or multi-functional monomers fabricated by noncovalent synthesis, but can undergo traditional covalent polymerization. In this highlight article, we will summarize and discuss the fabrication of supramonomer and covalent polymerization methods of supramonomers; fabrication of multi-responsive supramolecular polymers from supramonomers; and fabrication of supramolecular materials from supramonomers. It is highly anticipated that the supramonomer concept will enrich the methodology towards supramolecular polymers and materials. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 604–609     

Thermal Behavior of Polypropylene-g-glycidyl Methacrylate Prepared by Melt Grafting

The thermal behaviors of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)-grafted polypropylene (PP) (PP-g-GMA) with two different grafting degrees, namely, GPP1 and GPP2, were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and thermogravimetrical analysis (TGA). DSC results suggested that the GMA grafted PP exhibited higher crystallization temperature T_c, higher melting temperature T_m, and higher crystallinity compared with the neat PP. The isothermal crystallization kinetics was analyzed with the Avrami equation and the total crystallization activation energy was calculated. It was concluded that the crystallization processes of PP and the grafted PP were controlled by nucleation and the values of the crystallization activation energy of PP and the grafted PP were almost identical. POM results suggested that the GMA grafted PP exhibited smaller spherulites size compared with the neat PP. WAXD patterns indicated that the neat PP encouraged the formation of γ phase, compared with the grafted PP, during the crystallization process. DMA results showed that melt grafting did not induce a clear effect on the γ-transition and β-transition of the amorphous phase but resulted in a decrease in mobility of the PP chains in the crystals. TGA curves suggested that the melt grafting slightly improved the thermal stability of PP.     

An efficient electrochemical disinfection of E. coli and S. aureus in drinking water using ferrocene–PAMAM–multiwalled carbon nanotubes–chitosan nanocomposite modified pyrolytic graphite electrode

This work reported an efficient electrochemical treatment for drinking water disinfection using a pyrolytic graphite electrode modified with ferrocenyl tethered poly(amidoamine) dendrimers–multiwalled carbon nanotubes–chitosan nanocomposite. The influence parameters of electrochemical disinfection of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, such as applied potential and sterilization time, were investigated. Further investigation indicated that almost all (99.99 %) of the initial bacteria were killed after applying a low potential of 0.4 V for 10 min. During the electrochemical disinfection process, the oxidized form of ferrocene was formed on electrode, which played a key role in the disinfection towards E. coli and S. aureus. Hence, the proposed method may provide potential application for the disinfection of drinking water.

人工纳米材料与植物的相互作用:植物毒性、吸收和传输

近十几年来纳米科技取得了突飞猛进的发展,人工纳米材料的应用日益广泛,势必导致大量纳米材料进入生态环境中,因此纳米材料可能带来的环境污染和生态效应也受到了高度关注。越来越多的研究表明,纳米材料对微生物、水生和陆生动物和植物都具有一定的毒性效应。植物是生态系统的重要组成部分,一方面纳米材料可能影响植物的发育与生长;另一方面,植物的代谢活动会影响纳米材料在环境中的迁移转化行为及其在食物网中的传递。但是,目前关于纳米材料与植物相互作用的研究还十分匮乏,多数研究只局限于相互作用导致的表观现象,例如:毒性的研究多关注于纳米材料对植物或植物细胞的表观毒性效应,缺乏对致毒机制的探讨;纳米材料的植物吸收和传输研究也仅停留在现象观察阶段,缺乏对吸收与传输机理的深入研究。而且很多研究结论还存在较大的争议,因此非常有必要对相关的研究进展与结论做全面梳理。本文综述了近年来关于纳米材料与植物相互作用的研究,从植株到植物细胞水平讨论了不同纳米材料对植物的毒性效应以及纳米材料的植物吸收和传输过程。     

Identification of urinary metabolites of imperatorin with a single run on an LC/Triple TOF system based on multiple mass defect filter data acquisition and multiple data mining techniques

The detection of drug metabolites, especially for minor metabolites, continues to be a challenge because of the complexity of biological samples. Imperatorin (IMP) is an active natural furocoumarin component originating from many traditional Chinese herbal medicines and is expected to be pursued as a new vasorelaxant agent. In the present study, a generic and efficient approach was developed for the in vivo screening and identification of IMP metabolites using liquid chromatography-Triple TOF mass spectrometry. In this approach, a novel on-line data acquisition method mutiple mass defect filter (MMDF) combined with dynamic background subtraction was developed to trace all probable urinary metabolites of IMP. Comparing with the traditionally intensity-dependent data acquisition method, MMDF method could give the information of low-level metabolites masked by background noise and endogenous components. Thus, the minor metabolites in complex biological matrices could be detected. Then, the sensitive and specific multiple data-mining techniques extracted ion chromatography, mass defect filter, product ion filter, and neutral loss filter were used for the discovery of IMP metabolites. Based on the proposed strategy, 44 phase I and 7 phase II metabolites were identified in rat urine after oral administration of IMP. The results indicated that oxidization was the main metabolic pathway and that different oxidized substituent positions had a significant influence on the fragmentation of the metabolites. Two types of characteristic ions at m/z 203 and 219 can be observed in the MS/MS spectra. This is the first study of IMP metabolism in vivo. The interpretation of the MS/MS spectra of these metabolites and the proposed metabolite pathway provide essential data for further pharmacological studies of other linear-type furocoumarins.     

Ionic Liquid–Catalyzed Internal Redox Esterification Reaction

The internal redox esterification of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and alcohols was carried out using different ionic liquids (ILs) as catalysts and reaction solvents. The basic ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([bmim]OAc), exhibited the best activity for this reaction. The influences of the amount of ionic liquid catalyst and reaction time on yield of saturated ester have been investigated. The results showed that ionic liquid anions have a crucial effect on the redox esterification of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and alcohols. The nucleophilic carbenes generated in situ from the ionic liquid cation were believed to be actual active species for this reactions.     

Syngas production from methane over CeO2-Fe2O3 mixed oxides using a chemical-looping method

A series of mixed oxides Ce_{1 ? x} Fe _x O₂ was prepared by a hydrothermal method. XRD and Raman spectra were measured to study the structure of the prepared materials. The temperature-programmed reduction was undertaken to estimate reducibility of the oxides. Syngas generation from methane using these materials as oxygen carriers/catalysts via a chemical-looping procedure was investigated in detail. This procedure includes catalytic oxidation and decomposition of methane to produce H₂-rich gas at the first step followed by the production of the CO-rich gas by oxidizing the carbon deposited on deactivated catalysts. The results showed that all iron ions were incorporated into the ceria lattice with the formation of oxygen vacancies in the Ce_0.9Fe_0.1O₂ sample, while isolated Fe₂O₃ particles were distributed on the surface of the Ce_0.8Fe_0.2O₂ sample. TPR measurements and the analysis of the two-step chemical-looping reactions indicated a strong interaction between the Ce and Fe species which accounts for an increased activity of the mixed oxides in the syngas generation compared to that of individual oxides. Among the several samples, the Ce_0.8Fe_0.2O₂ catalyst showed the highest activity for methane partial oxidation due to the synergetic effects caused by the interaction of surface iron entities and Ce-Fe solid solution. In addition, selective oxidation of carbon by oxygen to CO can also be found over this material since gaseous products are formed at the carbon oxidation step with the selectivity to CO reaching 91.2%. Evidence is presented that syngas can be feasibly produced from methane with high selectivity via the chemical-looping procedure over the CeO₂-Fe₂O₃ mixed oxides.     

Catalytic behavior of decomposed molybdophosphoric acid supported on alumina for oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene

Oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (ODHE) to ethylene was investigated over a series of alumina supported molybdophosphoric acid (MPA) catalysts. The MPA was transformed into surface Mo oxides on Al₂O₃ when subjected to calcination at 600°C. The catalysts were characterized by N₂-adsorption, XRD, FT-IR spectroscopy and TPR techniques. The results showed that MPA loading and the source of Mo precursor had a clear influence on the catalytic performance. The evaluation of the catalysts for ODHE at temperatures between 450 and 550°C revealed superior ethane conversion (X～24%) and ethylene selectivity (S = ca. 65%) over 20 wt % MPA/Al₂O₃ catalyst. The transformation of MPA into finely dispersed Mo oxides on Al₂O₃ appeared to be responsible for this improved performance.     

Synthesis,Characterization, Crystal Structure,and Biological Activities of Transition Metal Complexes with 1‐Phenyl‐3‐methyl‐5‐hydroxypyrazole‐4‐methylene‐8′‐quinolineimine

The Schiff base ligand, 1‐phenyl‐3‐methyl‐5‐hydroxypyrazole‐4‐methylene‐8′‐quinolineimine, and its Cu^II, Zn^II, and Ni^II complexes were synthesized and characterized. The crystal structure of the Zn^II complex was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, indicating that the metal ions and Schiff base ligand can form mononuclear six‐coordination complexes with 1:1 metal‐to‐ligand stoichiometry at the metal ions as centers. The binding mechanism and affinity of the ligand and its metal complexes to calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) were investigated by UV/Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence titration spectroscopy, EB displacement experiments, and viscosity measurements, indicating that the free ligand and its metal complexes can bind to DNA via an intercalation mode with the binding constants at the order of magnitude of 105–106 M ^–1, and the metal complexes can bind to DNA more strongly than the free ligand alone. In addition, antioxidant activities of the ligand and its metal complexes were investigated through scavenging effects for hydroxyl radical in vitro, indicating that the compounds show stronger antioxidant activities than some standard antioxidants, such as mannitol. The ligand and its metal complexes were subjected to cytotoxic tests, and experimental results indicated that the metal complexes show significant cytotoxic activity against lung cancer A 549 cells.     

单壁碳纳米管对C-C键水解酶BphD的固定化性能

采用修饰与未修饰单壁碳纳米管固定C-C键水解酶BphD,并对固定化酶的相对活性、稳定性、重复使用性进行了考察.结果表明,未修饰单壁碳纳米管固定的BphD相对活性为游离态的52.5%,其热稳定性和在变性剂中的稳定性均有所提高,且重复使用10次仍可保持初始活力的90%.修饰单壁碳纳米管固定的BphD相对活性可达99.7%,但其稳定性没有明显提高.同源模建及分子对接分析结果显示,未修饰的单壁碳纳米管对BphD亚基之间的联系可能存在干扰作用,从而对其活性产生影响.