Ionic liquid–modified cellulosic hydrogels for loading and sustained release of selenourea: an ensuing inhibition of tyrosinase activity

Cellulose-based hydrogel materials were prepared and modified with tannic acid and l-methionine using ionic liquid as the solvent. The gels were prepared to develop a sustained release medium for selenourea (SeU). The drug delivery characteristics of selenourea-loaded cellulose (CSeU), selenourea-loaded tannic acid-modified cellulose (CTSeU), and selenourea-loaded L-methionine-modified cellulose (CMSeU) were investigated in aqueous media and simulated gastric fluid (SGF) media. This modified gel beads have been characterized using field emission scanning electron microscope, X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis and swelling properties and compared with those of the unmodified ones. We also investigated the inhibitory effects of SeU released from these gels on the activity of mushroom tyrosinase. Out of all the gel materials, CTSeU showed maximum SeU release both in water and SGF media. However, tyrosinase inhibitory action in PBS medium was comparable for all the three gel materials.     

Robust interface on ENR-50/TiO2 nanohybrid material based sol-gel technique: Insights into synthesis,characterization and applications in optical

In this work, the sol–gel technique was used to prepare a new organic–inorganic hybrid from Epoxidized Natural Rubber (ENR-50) and Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) by blending different content of titania precursors (10, 30, and 50 wt%) with an ENR-50 matrix. A wide range of analyses was conducted to understand the nature of this hybrid and also to evaluate its potential uses in applications required high refractive index such as micro optical and optoelectronic devices. Results indicated that the ring-opening reaction of epoxide groups in ENR-50 increased with the increase of titania content in the hybrid resulting a strong bonding between titania and ENR-50 through TiOC bond, which was observed in FTIR spectrum at 1027–1028 cm⁻¹. It is also observed a slight decrease in the intensity of the amorphous peak along with a new crystalline peak appeared at 2θ = 23 and 27° due to the crystalline nature of titania. The hybrids showed three thermal degradation steps in the range of temperature 76 to 769 °C due to the existence of the Ti moieties with the mixture of polymer chains, which in turn shifted the T_g at 24.3, 26.9 and 28.1 °C for the hybrid at 10, 30, and 50 wt% TiO₂ compared to the T_g of ENR-50 at −18.4 °C respectively. The morphology of the ENR-50 showed clear changes during of the synthesis of ENR-50/TiO₂ hybrids, these changes were proven by SEM, TEM, and AFM analyses. Uv–Vis results showed that the higher wavelength peak at 293 nm has shifted to 296, 298 and 300 nm for the hybrid at 10, 30, and 50 wt% TiO₂ respectively due to the strong interaction between titania precursors and ENR-50 matrix. Furthermore, the hybrids showed good optical transparency in the visible light range.     

聚氯乙烯结构缺陷和热不稳定性之间关系的研究 2.各种结构缺陷含量和热脱氯化氢速率之间的关系

本工作采用溴加成法、酚解法、FTIR法及臭氧裂解法分别测定了五种不饱和蒸气压下聚合的PVC样品(u-PVC)和五种商品PVC样品(s-PVC)的总双键、总不稳定氯、孤立双键和内部双键的含量.通过研究结构缺陷和PVC的平均分子量及脱HCl速率的相互关系,揭示了不饱和总双键值,总不稳定氯和孤立双键含量彼此的相关性是建立在它们分别与1/M_n的相关性基础之上,从而得出了这三种定量值测得的主要都是端基烯丙基氯结构.根据三者对脱HCl速率的良好线性相关性,首次提出了端基烯丙基氯结构在HCl催化作用下异构化成内部烯丙基氯从而成为脱HCl速率主要原因的机理.     

Reaction of carboxamide with Cu2Oisonitrile complex; formation of a new chelated copper(I) complex

Reaction of carboxamides with Cu₂O in the presence of t-butyl isocyanide gave new chelated copper(I) complexes, which probably are formed by the insertion of t-butyl isocyanide into the coppernitrogen bond of copper(I) amide isonitrile complexes, which were initially produced from the carboxamides and Cu₂Ot-butyl isocyanide complex. The same chelated copper(I) complexes were prepared more readily by the reaction of the corresponding N-trimethylsilyl-carboxamides with Cu₂Ot-butyl isocyanide complex. Reactions of the copper(I) complexes thus obtained with alkylating agents, such as alkyl halides, alkyl tosylates and triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate, also were described.     

Study on the interaction of trypsin with some DNAs and their analytical application by resonance Rayleigh scattering spectra

When trypsin reacts with Herring sperm DNA (hsDNA), Salmon sperm DNA (sDNA), and Calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) to form a complex, the resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) was remarkably enhanced and new RRS spectra appear. These new spectra have similar characteristics of RRS spectra. The maximum RRS peaks are at 307 nm (hsDNA, sDNA) and 290 nm (ctDNA), and other peaks are at 350 nm. The scattering intensity is proportional to the concentration of DNA or trypsin; so this intereaction can be used to determine trypsin using DNA or DNA using trypsin. In the determination of DNA using trypsin, the linear ranges for hsDNA, sDNA, and ctDNA are 0–2.3, 0–2.5, and 0–1.9 μg·mL⁻¹, and the detection limits are 0.4, 0.7, and 1.1 ng·mL⁻¹, respectively. In the determination of trypsin using hsDNA, the linear range is 0–30.0 μg·mL⁻¹, and the detection limit is 39.0 ng·mL⁻¹. In this paper, the intereaction conditions were optimized. The affecting factors, chemical properties of the complex, and the composition ratio of trypsin with DNA were investigated. Using trypsin as RRS probe, a sensitive method for the determination of trace amounts of DNA was developed. Translated from Chemical Journal of Chinese Universities, 2006, 27(3) (in Chinese)     

N-Heterocyclic Olefins as Electron Donors in Combination with Triarylborane Acceptors: Synthesis,Optical and Electronic Properties of D–π–A Compounds

N-heterocyclic olefins (NHOs), relatives of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), exhibit high nucleophilicity and soft Lewis basic character. To investigate their π-electron donating ability, NHOs were attached to triarylborane π-acceptors (A) giving donor (D)–π–A compounds 1 – 3 . In addition, an enamine π-donor analogue ( 4 ) was synthesized for comparison. UV–visible absorption studies show a larger red shift for the NHO-containing boranes than for the enamine analogue, a relative of cyclic (alkyl)(amino) carbenes (CAACs). Solvent-dependent emission studies indicate that 1 – 4 have moderate intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) behavior. Electrochemical investigations reveal that the NHO-containing boranes have extremely low reversible oxidation potentials (e.g., for 3 , =−0.40 V vs. ferrocene/ferrocenium, Fc/Fc⁺, in THF). Time-dependent (TD) DFT calculations show that the HOMOs of 1 – 3 are much more destabilized than that of the enamine-containing 4 , which confirms the stronger donating ability of NHOs.     

多场耦合作用下光热敏感介电凝胶的力电耦合变形行为

介电弹性体在电场作用下将产生形变,为获得高的变形能,需对介电弹性体施以较强的电场,而强电场的施加可能诱发力电耦合失稳导致失效。针对光热敏感介电凝胶力电耦合变形行为,基于热力学和连续介质力学理论建立力电耦合变形模型,分析了光强、温度以及预拉伸对光热敏感介电凝胶力电耦合变形行为的影响,结果表明:无预拉伸时,随着电场强度的增大,光热敏感介电凝胶最终发生力电失稳,光强越小、温度越低发生力电失稳时的临界电压越高;预拉伸可显著改善力电稳定性,施加等双轴预拉伸后,凝胶厚度方向的伸长率显著变小,电场强度随电位移增大而线性增大,未出现力电失稳现象。     

Purification of plasmid DNA vectors by aqueous two-phase extraction and hydrophobic interaction chromatography

The current study explores the possibility of using a polyethyleneglycol(PEG)-ammonium sulphate aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) as an early step in a process for the purification of a model 6.1 kbp plasmid DNA (pDNA) vector. Neutralised alkaline lysates were fed directly to ATPS. Conditions were selected to direct pDNA towards the salt-rich bottom phase, so that this stream could be subsequently processed by hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC). Screening of the best conditions for ATPS extraction was performed using three PEG molecular weights (300, 400 and 600) and varying the tie-line length, phase volume ratio and lysate load. For a 20% (w/w) lysate load, the best results were obtained with PEG 600 using the shortest tie-line (38.16%, w/w). By further manipulating the system composition along this tie-line in order to obtain a top/bottom phase volume ratio of 9.3 (35%, w/w PEG 600, 6%, w/w NH4)2 SO4), it was possible to recover 100% of pDNA in the bottom phase with a three-fold increase in concentration. Further increase in the lysate load up to 40% (w/w) with this system resulted in a eight-fold increase in pDNA concentration, but with a yield loss of 15%. The ATPS extraction was integrated with HIC and the overall process compared with a previously defined process that uses sequential precipitations with iso-propanol and ammonium sulphate prior to HIC. Although the final yield is lower in the ATPS-based process the purity grade of the final pDNA product is higher. This shows that it is possible to substitute the time-consuming two-step precipitation procedure by a simple ATPS extraction.     

Isotachophoretic determination of carboxylic acids in biodegradation samples

In the current study a method of isotachophoretic separation of selected carboxylic acids was developed. The method was used for the determination of carboxylated oligo(ethylene glycol)s and their degradation products in biodegradation tests of PEG 250 DA [a mixture of dicarboxylated oligo(ethylene glycol)s]. Two tests were performed in the studies: the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) screening test and the river water die-away test. Both the biodegradation tests proved relatively fast biodegradation of the studied compounds. In the OECD screening test the biodegradation was faster than in the river water die-away test which can be ascribed to a higher concentration of bacteria in the biodegradation liquor. The minimal sample pretreatment and relatively low cost of analysis by the isotachophoretic method used here make it a good alternative to existing methods of carboxylic acids analysis.     

Experimental study of the induced flow birefringence of a suspension of rigid particles at the transition from Couette flow to Taylor vortex flow

The flow birefringence induced in solutions of rigid particles is studied experimentally in the region of the axisymmetrical Taylor vortex flow which arises once the velocity gradient G in the annular gap of a conventional Couette cell reaches a critical value G _c .The measurements are performed for several values of G > G _c and for 10 radial observation points in the annular gap. Solutions of two types of rigid particles are investigated: the first is a suspension of flattened clay particles like bentonite, while the second contains rod-like particles of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). The variations of the birefringence intensity n and of the extinction angle measured in the domain of the axisymmetrical flow show a different behavior according to the shape of the particle in solution. This fact is confirmed theoretically with a good agreement for the measurements performed with solutions of flat particles.