Synthesis and burst strength of water‐swollen immunoisolatory tubules

A series of amphiphilic hydrogel tubules have been prepared by copolymerizing/crosslinking hydrophilic poly(dimethylacrylamide) segments with hydrophobic di‐, tri‐, and octamethacrylate‐telechelic polyisobutylene crosslinkers, and their elastic modulus and burst strength in the water‐swollen state were investigated. Because the burst characteristics of hydrogels have not yet been quantitatively investigated, equipment was designed and built to generate fundamental insight into the burst properties of thin‐walled (200–250 μm) narrow lumen (2–3 mm i.d.) water‐swollen tubules. The theory developed to describe quantitatively the inflation behavior of thin‐walled rubber tubules was adapted to treat our experimental observations. Changes in the burst strength, elastic modulus, and expansion during the inflation of hydrogel tubules were interpreted in terms of the molecular weight of the hydrophilic segments between crosslinking sites (M_{c,hydrophilic}), which in turn was calculated according to the rubber elasticity theory. According to these investigations, the burst strength of our water‐swollen amphiphilic tubules is in the 0.2–0.5 MPa range, which is sufficient for implantation and immunoisolatory applications. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2075–2084, 2002     

Scanning force microscopy based rapid force curve acquisition on supported lipid bilayers: experiments and simulations using pulsed force mode.

In situ pulsed force mode scanning force microscopy (PFM-SFM) images of phase separated solid-supported lipid bilayers are discussed with the help of computer simulations. Simultaneous imaging of material properties and topography in a liquid environment by means of PFM-SFM is severely hampered by hydrodynamic damping of the cantilever. Stiffness and adhesion images of solid-supported membranes consisting of cholesterol, sphingomyelin, and 1,2-dioleyl-phosphatidylcholine obtained in aqueous solution exhibit contrast inversion of adhesion and stiff. ness images depending on parameters such as driving frequency, amplitude, and trigger setting. Simulations using a simple harmonic oscillator model explain experimental findings and give a deeper insight into the way PFM-SFM experiments have to be performed in order to obtain interpretable results and hence pave the way for reliable material contrast imaging at high speed.     

磺化酚酞型聚醚砜膜的制备及其阻醇和质子导电性能

直接甲醇燃料电池 (Directmethanolfuelcell,DMFC)以高效、清洁和燃料储运方便等优点适宜于作为各种用途的可移动动力源 ,成为 2 0世纪 90年代以来研究与开发的热点[1,2 ] .目前 ,这种电池的研究难点主要集中在催化剂不稳定和质子交换膜透醇上 .一张好的DMFC膜不但要可传递质子、绝缘电子 ,还应具有良好的阻醇性能 .如果膜的阻醇性能不好 ,甲醇会穿过膜到达阴极 ,与氧直接反应而不产生电流 ,不但造成燃料的浪费 ,同时也影响阴极的正常反应 ,使电池效率下降[3 ] .目前广泛应用于燃料电池中的Nafion 系列膜是由美国DuPont公司生产的一种…     

Pore size distributions in microporous membranes. A critical analysis of the bubble point extended method

An extended bubble point method has been used to examine the porous morphology of several track-etched microporous polycarbonate membranes with nominal pore sizes ranging from 0.1 to 5.0 μm. The technique has been carefully analyzed and corrected to take into account the diverse non-ideal factors in flow along with the prevalence of Knudsen flow over the Hagen-Poiseuille one in the smaller pores.     

Permeation liquid membrane for trace metal speciation in natural waters. Transport of liposoluble Cu(II) complexes

In this paper, the transport of Cu(II) in the presence of lipophilic Cu(II) organic complexes through permeation liquid membranes (PLMs) have been investigated. In natural waters, small organic compounds, which form liposoluble neutral complexes with Cu(II), are potentially toxic and bioavailable. Hence, to understand the role of liposoluble Cu(II) complexes in natural waters, four organic ligands: phthalic acid, bipyridyl, pyrocatechol and hydroxyquinoline, which form uncharged or lipophilic Cu(II) complexes, were tested. The results showed that the transport of lipophilic Cu(II) complexes through PLM depends on the lipophilicity of the complex. Applications of PLMs in natural waters are presented.     

Proton-ionizable crown compounds. 17. Transport studies of alkali metal ions in a H2O-CH2Cl2-H2O liquid membrane system by macrocycles containing two sulfonamide groups derived fromo- andm-phenylene diamine

The transport of alkali metal cations by several macrocycles possessing two sulfonamide groups as a part of an 18-, 20-, or 21-membered macroring has been studied. Some of these compounds were found to be more effective transport agents than the proton-ionizable pyridone- and triazole-containing crown ethers reported previously. The factors affecting transport, such as ring size, source and receiving phase pH, and the nature of the groups attached to the sulfonamide nitrogen atoms were examined. Also, extraction experiments by some of the ligands were performed. The behavior of sulfonamide type crowns in single and competitive transport of the alkali metal cations is explained. The mechanism of transport appears to be complex. Transport of one or two cations per molecule of the disulfonamide carriers occurs. Complexation of these cations appears to occur both within and outside the macrocycle cavity. Our results also suggest that kinetic factors may play a significant role in transport rates and selectivities.Deceased: September 5, 1987.     

Artificial red cells with crosslinked hemoglobin membranes

Artificial cells containing concentrated hemoglobin (Hb) solution were prepared by interfacial polymerization of Hb with glutaraldehyde (GA) in liquid membrane capsules (LMC). A solution containing 30% of Hb was emulsified in mineral oil as red cell-size microdroplets, and this emulsion was dispersed in an aqueous phase containing glutaraldehyde to form LMC. The LMC were semipermeable templates that held the microdroplets of Hb in suspension while GA diffused through the oil to the microdroplet surfaces. The GA crosslinked Hb at the surface of each microdroplet to form an artificial red-cell membrane encapsulating Hb solution. A water-soluble surfactant was used to eject the cells from the LMC and suspend them in saline. Several surfactants were evaluated. Cell size was controlled by agitation speed during preparation of the original emulsion. Cells of 2.52 = ±1.69 μm were prepared. The encapsulated Hb retained capacity to bind and release O₂. The cells had aP ₅₀ of 8.9 torr (1200 Pa) and a capacity of 0.55 cc O₂/g of total Hb, indicating that the crosslinked portion of the Hb did not contribute to O₂ transport.     

Titania membrane preparation with chemical stability for very hash environments applications

The high-quality tubular titania MF membranes are successfully prepared by dip-coating techniques and systematically investigated with regard to their corrosive resistances. The experiments show that dispersants PAA and anatase powder were preferably employed to prepare desired suspensions with solid loading 10–15 wt.% and that suspensions properties significantly affect the final membranes quality. The titania MF membranes with pure water permeability 742.42 l m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹ and 0.1 μm pore diameter have been obtained using the prepared suspensions. The corrosion resistance of titania membranes exhibits that the anatase layers are more stable than the alumina supports in boiling corrosive medium and that the poor quality titania MF membranes become more deteriorated due to its top layer pore blockages and fouling layer formation, which provides a wide range of practical application fields in very hash environments with reliable data supports.     

Synthesis and characterization of MCM-48 tubular membranes

MCM-48 membranes have been prepared on alumina supports of different pore sizes. A battery of characterization techniques has been used to study the physical properties and the quality of the membranes prepared. The highest quality membranes were prepared on supports with pore size of up to 60 nm. The MCM-48 membranes were tested in the separation of gas phase mixtures and a cyclohexane/O₂ selectivity higher than 270 was obtained. The selective separation of organic compounds from inert components is a result of the cooperative effects of capillary condensation in MCM-48 pores and of the specific interactions of the permeating compounds and the membrane material.     

Electroanalytical sensors for nonconducting media based on electrodes supported on perfluorinated ion-exchange membranes

Electroanalytical sensors, suitable for the analysis and monitoring of electroactive analytes present in gaseous phase or low-conductive liquid media, and based on electrodes in close contact with perfluorinated ion-exchange polymers are reviewed. The basic operative mechanism of these sensors, in which ion-exchange polymers act as solid polymer electrolytes (SPE's), is thoroughly discussed, while stressing the fundamental reasons why their behavior differs from that of conventional membrane electrodes. The procedures for preparing composite working electrodes by coating one side of ion-exchange membranes with stable porous films of conductive materials are described, along with the most common strategies followed to assemble this type of sensors. Useful examples of measurements in electrolyte-free media of inorganic and organic electroactive species of interest mainly for environmental analysis are given. Future prospects for the development of these sensors are also discussed.