Effect of chain density and conformation on protein adsorption at PEG-grafted polyurethane surfaces

Polyurethanes were modified using monobenzyloxy polyethylene glycol (BPEG) which possesses a bulky hydrophobic benzyloxy group at one end and a hydroxyl group at the other end as a preconstructed BPEG layer, and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and monomethoxyl poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) with various chain lengths as fillers. Our objective was to investigate the effect of PEG graft density and conformation on protein adsorption at PEGlated surface. The graft density was estimated by a chemical titration method. The combination of ATR-FTIR, AFM and titration results provide evidences that the graft density can be increased by backfilling PEG or MPEG to a BPEG layer. However, fibrinogen and albumin adsorption significantly increased on all surfaces after PEG or MPEG backfilling. We conclude that the conformation of hydrophobic benzyloxy end groups of the BPEG layer plays a key role. The benzyloxy end groups of preconstructed PEG chains stretch to the surface after PEG backfilling, which possibly accounts for the observed increase in protein adsorption. The BPEG conformation change after backfilling with PEG or MPEG was also suggested by contact angles. Additionally, protein adsorption was slightly influenced by the length of filler, suggesting a change in surface morphology.     

Topochemical modification of cotton fibres with carboxymethyl cellulose

Adsorption of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a method to introduce charged (ionizable) groups onto cellulose cotton fibre surfaces was investigated. The method was based on application of a previously published method used for wood fibres. The amount of adsorbed ionizable groups was determined indirectly by analysis of CMC in solution by the phenol–sulphuric acid method and directly by conductometric titration of the fibres. Results from the two methods correlated well. The molecular weight and purity of the CMC had an influence on its adsorption onto cotton; high molecular weight CMC was preferentially adsorbed. The adsorbed charge correlated linearly with the amount of CMC adsorbed. The total charge of the cotton fibres could be increased by more than 50% by adsorption of CMC. It is expected that this modification procedure can be used in a wide spectrum of practical applications. Lidija Fras Zemljič and Karin Stana-Kleinschek are the members of the European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE).     

Carboxyl groups in pre-treated regenerated cellulose fibres

The influence of peroxide bleaching and slack-mercerization on the amount of acidic groups in regenerated fibres (viscose, modal and lyocell) were studied. Conductometric titration was used to determine the total content of acidic carboxylic groups. Polyelectrolyte titration was used for surface and total charge determination, and to obtain information about the charge distribution and accessibilities of charged groups. Changes in fibre crystallinity to pre-treatment processes were characterized using iodine sorption (Schwertassek method) and correlated to treatments and the amount of carboxylic groups. For all three types of fibres the amount of accessible carboxyl groups was lowered by an increase in the degree of crystallinity. Bleaching with hydrogen peroxide causes some oxidative cellulose damage and, therefore, a larger amount of carboxyl groups (presumably formed at the end of cellulose chains). Slack-mercerization did not significantly change the total amount of acidic groups in the fibres, but their accessibility to cationic polyelectrolytes, in particular to polymers with high molecular weight was substantially lowered. Lidija Fras Zemljič, Zdenka Peršin, and Karin Stana Kleinschek are the members of the European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE).     

Upgrading of paper grade pulps to dissolving pulps by nitren extraction: yields,molecular and supramolecular structures of nitren extracted pulps

Different paper grade pulps were extracted with nitren in order to produce dissolving pulps and polymeric xylan. The yield and molecular structure of the extracted pulps were investigated by carbohydrate analysis and HPSEC combined with fluorescence labelling in order to additionally monitor the carbonyl and carboxyl group profiles of the pulps. The supramolecular structure of selected pulps were further studied by solid state ¹³C-CP/MAS-NMR and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). These supramolecular data of nitren extracted pulps were compared to samples extracted with NaOH and a conventional dissolving pulp in order to classify the properties of nitren extracted pulps. Nitren extraction results in selective xylan removal without noticeable degradation or oxidation of the cellulose fraction. The resulting dissolving pulps have high molar masses, a narrow molar mass distribution and the typical contents of carbonyl and carboxyl groups. The supramolecular structure of cellulose is less affected by nitren compared to strong NaOH, and the resultant dissolving pulps still have the cellulose I structure. All laboratories are members of the European polysaccharide network of excellence EPNOE.     

Poly(arylene ether) ionomers containing sulfofluorenyl groups: Effect of electron-withdrawing groups on the properties

For polymer electrolyte membrane fuel membrane cell (PEMFC) applications, the effect of electron-withdrawing groups on the properties of sulfonated poly(arylene ether) (SPE) ionomer membranes was investigated. A series of poly(arylene ether)s containing fluorenyl groups and electron-withdrawing groups (sulfone, nitrile, or fluorine) was synthesized, which were sulfonated with chlorosulfonic acid using a flow reactor to obtain the title ionomers. The ionomers had high molecular weight (M_n > 77 kDa, M_w > 238 kDa) and gave tough, ductile membranes by solution casting. The ion exchange capacity (IEC) of the membranes ranged from 1.6 to 3.5 mequiv/g as determined by titration. The electron-withdrawing groups did not appear to affect the thermal properties (decomposition temperature higher than 200 °C). The presence of nitrile groups, especially at positions meta to the ether linkages, improved the oxidative stability of the SPE membranes, while it led to a deterioration of the hydrolytic stability. The perfluorinated biphenylene groups were effective in providing high mechanical strength with reasonable dimensional change, probably due to a somewhat decreased water absorbability. The SPE membrane containing sulfone groups showed the highest proton conductivity (10⁻³-10⁻¹ S/cm) at 20-93% RH (relative humidity) and 80 °C. The nitrile-containing SPE membrane showed smaller apparent activation energies for oxygen and hydrogen permeability and is thus considered to be a possible candidate for applications in PEMFCs.     

高度有序介孔氧化硅材料SBA-15：高浓度氨基官能化及氨基及氨基团的可利用性

采用简单的方法合成高浓度氨基修饰的高度有序氧化硅材料并深入研究氨基官能化材料的孔结构以及氨基的存在状态和可利用性。结果表明,氨基基团共价连接到SBA-15的孔表面,即使初始合成体系中的APTES（氨丙基三乙氧基硅烷）浓度高达30mol%时材料依然保持高度的有序性。合成体系中APTES浓度为20％的样品还保持良好的介孔结构,比表面积为680 m²·g^-1,孔容为0.89 cm³·g^-1,此介孔结构中的氨基官能团对镍离子表现出很强的亲和力,Ni²⁺的吸附量高达1.88 mmol·g^-1,相比之下未官能化的SBA-15对Ni²⁺没有吸附作用。当初始合成体系中APTES的浓度进一步增大到30％时,修饰到介孔氧化硅材料的氨基含量也随之增大,但由于材料的孔隙度急剧降低,这些氨基的可利用性也降低。     

Non-integrability of the Karabut system

In order to characterize the solitary wave in a fluid of finite depth, Witting introduced a specific power series (the Witting series). Karabut demonstrated that the problem of summation of the Witting series is brought to the integration of a particular system of ordinary differential equations and solved this system in the cases when the number of the equations is three or four. We give a simple proof that the Karabut system of five equations is already non-integrable in non-Hamiltonian sense using the Differential Galois approach.     

Efficient and highly selective cyclization induced by Lewis acid to generate 2-hydroxyl-α-cyclogeraniol

A cyclization reaction of the hydroxyl-protected geraniol epoxide induced by the different Lewis acids to generate 2-hydroxyl-α-cyclogeraniol has been explored. Compared with the previous methods, this method enhances the production and selectivity of this reaction without the consumption of a large amount of solvent. Also, the coordination of the metal with two oxygen atoms of hydroxyl groups might be crucial for the reaction is first addressed.     

Aminopropyl-modified silica as cross-linkers of polysiloxane containing γ-chloropropyl groups for preparing heat-curable silicone rubber

A series of aminopropyl-modified silica (APS) with different amine contents was prepared and, subsequently, used as cross-linkers of polysiloxane containing γ-chloropropyl groups (CPPS) to prepare heat-curable silicone rubber (MCSR). The dispersion of APS in polysiloxane matrix was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The curing characteristics, mechanical and thermal properties of the MCSR were analyzed by a rheometer, mechanical testing and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. The effects of the silica (TS530) content and the molar ratio of APS/CPPS on the curing characteristics were studied. The influence of the amounts of TS530 and APS, and the kind of APS, on the comprehensive mechanical properties of MCSR is discussed. The optimized conditions to prepare MCSR were obtained as follows: the amount of TS530, 55 parts per hundreds of polysiloxane in weight; the molar ratio of [NH]/[γ-chloropropyl], 1.5: 1; and the amount of amino groups on the surface of APS, 0.65 mmol/g. Additionally, TGA results show that MCSR has high thermal stability.