CHLOROPHYLLS IN POLYMERS. I. STATE OF CHLOROPHYLL a IN UNSTRETCHED POLYMER SYSTEMS

Abstract— Model systems for the study of energy transfer processes are useful for the elucidation of the various factors governing the mechanism of energy transfer in photosynthetic systems. Here we describe the characterization of two systems, consisting of chlorophyll a incorporated in anhydrous nitrocellulose and polyvinylalcohol films. First, optical spectroscopy and time-resolved fluorescence techniques are used to characterize the state of the chlorophyll molecules in the films. We find that in nitrocellulose films the state of chlorophyll a depends strongly on the ratio of nitrocellulose to dimeth-ylsulfoxide in the solutions from which the films are cast. The state of chlorophyll a in polyvinylalcohol films does not depend on the amount of polymer originally dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide. In these films the pigment is monomeric at low concentrations of chlorophyll a, but aggregates are formed at much lower concentrations than in nitrocellulose. The latter fact is explained by the existence of pockets in polyvinylalcohol, leading to high local concentrations.
To further test the suitability of the nitrocellulose polymer films as model systems for energy transfer processes, time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy profiles are measured in dependence of the concentration of pigments in the matrix. Fits of the observed decay profiles to the predicted decay show good correspondence, as long as no traps are present. Furthermore, the fitted decay times yield the correct value of the Forster radius R₀ as compared to the value obtained spectroscopically. We thus conclude that the chlorophyll a-nitrocellulose system can be very appropriate for the study of energy transfer processes between photosynthetic pigment, since the pigments are uniformally distributed in the matrix.     

Natural and biotech-derived therapeutic proteins: what is the future?

A myriad of novel proteins and ligands of unknown function will be generated by the Human Genomic Project. Due to differences in post-translational processing, proteins produced by recombinant DNA technology may not possess proper biological activity. One way to find their function is to search for their natural counterparts. Proteins are produced in the tissues, and many of them are secreted into plasma and excreted into urine. There is a virtually "unlimited" array of human proteins in our plasma and urine, many of them in a fully active form. They include small molecules like steroids, peptides, and large glycoproteins like human menopausal gonadotropin. A library of plasma and urinary proteins could be developed to serve as a reference for the novel proteins generated by the functional genomic projects.     

Preparation of zein microspheres conjugated with antitumor drugs available for selective cancer chemotherapy and development of a simple colorimetric determination of drugs in microspheres

Zein microspheres conjugated with antitumor drugs (mitomycinc (MMC), daunomycin hydrochloride (DM), peplomycin sulfate (PEP] were prepared by using a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-H2O system. MMC with low solubility in H2O was easily entrapped by the standard procedure, whereas some modifications were required for moderately and highly soluble drugs such as DM and PEP. Colorimetric determination of the drugs in microspheres was easily achieved by use of the phenol-sulfuric acid method for drugs with sugar moieties in their molecules, such as DM and PEP, while a simple treatment of the microspheres with concentrated sulfuric acid was applied in the case of drugs having a chromophore in their molecules, such as DM and MMC.     

Radiation degradation of copolymers of methyl methacrylate and 3-oximino-2-butanone methacrylate

Copolymers of methyl methacrylate and 3-oximino-2-butanone methacrylate (OM) were investigated as deep-UV and e-beam resists. Their increased sensitivity relative to PMMA (up to 50 times) was correlated with the radiation chemical yields of the volatile products and main chain scissions. The degradation of these copolymers, activated by the 3-oximino-2-butanone entity, is discussed in terms of energy absorption mechanisms and the subsequent scission reactions.     

Transient response of a Brownian particle with general damping

We study the transient response of a Brownian particle with general damping in a system of metastable potential well. The escape rate is evaluated as a function of time after an infinite wall is removed from the potential barrier. It takes a relaxation time for the rate to reach its limit value and this rate relaxation time differs from the relaxation time of the majority of the probability around the bottom of the potential well. The rate relaxation time is found to depend on the temperature as well as the damping constant. It involves the diffusion time and the instanton time, in general agreement with recent studies of the overdamped case by Bier et al. [Phys. Rev. E 59, 6422 (1999)].     

Colloidal rings in a liquid mixture

We investigate the self-assembly of colloidal particles on microscopic decane droplets in water and show that, by use of paramagnetic colloids, it is possible to assemble ringlike structures that can be controlled with a magnetic field. Moreover, the use of paramagnetic colloids allows us to determine the attractive forces between the colloids located at the three-phase contact line between decane, water, and air. The attractive force is in the femtonewton range and is attributed to capillary interactions due to interface deformations. When the liquid emulsion dries on a glass slide, we observe solid deposits in the form of microscopic rings of varying diameters.     

Cucurbit[10]uril

Melamine diamine 1 is able to displace CB[5] from the CB[10].CB[5] complex resulting in CB[10].12 and precipitated CB[5].1. We were able to isolate free CB[10] by treatment of CB[10].1 with acetic anhydride followed by washing with MeOH, DMSO, and water. The spacious cavity of CB[10] is able to complex large guests, including a cationic calix[4]arene derivative in its 1,3-alternate form (CB[10].1,3-alt-3). The addition of adamantane carboxylic acid (4) to CB[10].3 triggers a conformational change during the formation of termolecular complex CB[10].cone-3.4.     

The Conductance- and Capacitance-Frequency Characteristics of the Rectifying Junctions Formed by Sublimation of Organic Pyronine-B on p-Type Silicon

The rectifying junction characteristics of the organic compound pyronine-B film on a p-type Si substrate has been studied. The pyronine-B has been sublimed on the top of p-Si surface. The barrier height and ideality factor values of 0.79±0.04 and 1.13±0.06 eV for this structure have been obtained from the forward bias current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. From the low capacitance-frequency (C-f) characteristics as well as conductance-frequency (G-f) characteristics, the energy distribution of the interface states and their relaxation time have been determined in the energy range of (0.53−E_v)-(0.79−E_v) eV taking into account the forward bias I-V data. The interface state density N_ss ranges from 4.93×10¹⁰ cm⁻² eV⁻¹ in (0.79−E_v) eV to 3.67×10¹³ cm⁻² eV⁻¹ in (0.53−E_v) eV. Furthermore, the relaxation ranges from 3.80×10⁻³ s in (0.53−E_v) eV to 4.21×10⁻⁴ s in (0.79−E_v) eV. It has been seen that the interface state density has an exponential rise with bias from the midgap towards the top of the valence band. The relaxation time shows a slow exponential rise with bias from the top of the valence band towards the midgap.     

Chips and Qi: microcomponent-based analysis in traditional Chinese medicine

Over the last 50 years or so Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been subject to intensive basic and clinical research. Although the effectiveness and remarkable safety of TCM have been documented after controlled clinical studies, there are several herbal and animal parts that are toxic or difficult to identify. DNA polymorphism-based assays have recently been developed for the identification of herbal medicines. In this approach, small amounts of DNA are amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and the reactions products are analyzed by gel electrophoresis, sequencing, or hybridization with species-specific probes. With the DNA based identification of TCM materials as an example, chip-based analytical micro devices were developed with the goal of fabricating an integrated device that will enable sample preparation, amplification, and analysis on a single microchip-based device ("lab-on-a-chip"). The application of a silicon-based polymerase chain reaction microreactor and a DNA microarray for the DNA sequence-based identification of toxic medicinal plants is reported here.