Monodisperse chloromethyl-functionalized macroporous polymer particles by seeded polymerization in aqueous media

This study presents a method to produce monodisperse chloromethyl-functionalized macroporous poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) polymer particles by seeded polymerization in aqueous media. We observed that the molecular structure of polystyrene seed particles, the composition of the secondary monomer mixtures, and the type of solvents were very important factors that determine the morphology and porosity of the final particles. This study proposes that the molecular chemistry of polystyrene seed polymers, increasing molecular weight or crosslinking, is another factor that can control the porosity of the final particles. Also, the selection of a poor solvent was effective in forming the larger surface area. In this study, it was confirmed that the chloromethyl groups introduced on the surface of porous particles were quantified chemically and their effective incorporation had a close relationship with the surface area.     

Synthesis, characterization and potential biomedical applications of N-succinimidyl ester functionalized, polypyrrole-coated polystyrene latex particles

N-Succinimidyl ester functionalized polypyrrole-coated polystyrene latex particles (PS_E-PPyNSE) were prepared by the in situ copolymerization of pyrrole and the active ester-functionalized pyrrole (pyrrole-NSE) in the presence of polystyrene latex particles. Polystyrene microspheres were prepared by emulsion polymerization (PS_E) leading to particles having a diameter of 450 nm. These PS_E particles were precoated with poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) prior to the in situ copolymerization of pyrrole and pyrrole-NSE. The initial comonomer concentration fractions were 25/75, 50/50 and 75/25 for pyrrole and pyrrole-NSE, respectively. The PPy-coated PS_E particles were characterized in terms of morphology, particle size, electrophoretic mobility and chemical composition. The study of morphology by means of scanning electron microscopy showed roughening of the underlying PS_E particles owing to the addition of PPyNSE, the overlayer thickness of which was estimated to be around 7 nm. Moreover, loading PPyNSE overlayers resulted in a shift of the electrophoretic mobility from –5.31 m cm/V s to a very small but positive value (0.082–0.112 m cm/V s). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy permitted the detection of pyrrole-NSE repeat units at the surface indicating that pyrrole and pyrrole-NSE did indeed copolymerize. The PS_E-PPyNSE particles were further evaluated as bioadsorbents of human serum albumin used as a test protein. For this study, PS_E-PPyNSE₅₀ particles, synthesized from a comonomer feed ratio of 50/50 in pyrrole/pyrrole-NSE, were used and were shown to attach efficiently human serum albumin macromolecules with a maximum amount of 0.2 mg m^–2.

The adsorption of endothelin 1 to phospholipids is governed by electrostatic interactions: A monolayer and fluorescence study

In order to elucidate the influence on the lipidic environment on the recognition process of its membrane associated receptor, the interactions of the vasoconstrictor peptide endothelin 1 with various phospholipids have been investigated using different lipidic model membranes: monolayers at constant surface pressure, vesicles and micelles. A monolayer study of ET1 adsorbed onto the water surface has shown that the C-terminus of the peptide points towards the aqueous phase. Penetration measurements into lipidic monolayers indicate that ET1 adsorbs to phospholipids with an orientation similar to that of the air–water interface and fluorescence measurements are in agreement with such an orientation of the peptide. This adsorption is selective for neutral phospholipids and indicates that the nature of the phospholipid headgroups is of major importance for the approach of the membrane associated receptor.     

Interactions between gelatin and sodium dodecyl sulphate: binding isotherm and solution properties

The interaction between sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and gelatin was studied at pH 4.5 and 6.5 where the gelatin is positively charged (i.e.p. 8). At pH 4.5 a SDS/gelatin concentration range was found where gelatin precipitates. At pH 6.5 the SDS-gelatin complex remains soluble although three SDS concentration domains were distinguished where the SDS-gelatin complex had very different affinities for the solvent. Below C₁ the complex was highly surface active but other measurements (viscosity, potentiometry, protons uptake) did not reveal any particular consequence of binding. Between C₁ and C₂ the molecular size decreased (viscosity lowering) upon charge neutralization and collapse about small SDS aggregates (17 SDS molecules per gelatin molecule). Above C₂ a cooperative binding mechanism lead to the formation of SDS aggregates; the complex stretched out and turned strongly hydrophilic (the viscosity increases, low surface activity). At saturation one gelatin molecule bound about 200 SDS molecules. Above the overlap concentration (about 3 wt%) SDS aggregates formed between several gelatin molecules, the viscosity increased continuously with SDS concentration and the binding ratio was lower than in dilute gelatin solutions. A very good correspondence was found between the different analytical data including turbidity, viscosity, surface tension, protons uptake and direct potentiometric SDS binding measurements.     

红外光谱研究甲烷和氧与SrO-La2O3/CaO表面的相互作用

在甲烷氧化偶联（ＯＣＭ）反应条件下，用原位红外光谱研究ＳｒＯ－Ｌａ２Ｏ３／ＣａＯ催化剂，结果表明，晶格氧使甲深度氧化，Ｌａ２Ｏ３和ＣａＯ具有活泼的晶格氧，ＳｒＯ的晶格氧比较稳定，气相氧通过催化剂表面消耗掉的晶格氧，加速甲烷了深度氧化，另一方面，催化剂表面的碳酸根物种在氧气氛下分解，在Ｌａ２Ｏ３和ＬＣ催化剂中，催化剂表面Ｌａ２Ｏ２（ＣＯ３）的分解形成配位不饱和的晶格氧Ｏ＾２－，并为气相氧吸附提供氧空     

Method of immobilization of carboxymethyl-dextran affects resistance to tissue and cell colonization

Coatings from carboxymethylated dextrans (CMDs) were fabricated, analyzed by XPS, and investigated for their ability to inhibit corneal epithelial tissue outgrowth and bovine corneal epithelial cell attachment and growth. CMDs with differing degrees of carboxymethyl substitution and various molecular weights were synthesized by the solution reaction of dextrans with bromoacetic acid under different reactant ratios. The CMD compounds thus obtained were attached onto aminated surfaces produced in two ways: by the plasma deposition of a coating from n-heptylamine vapour, and by the plasma deposition of an acetaldehyde coating onto whose surface aldehyde groups the polyamine compounds polylysine, polyethyleneimine and polyallylamine were immobilized to provide platforms for CMD immobilization. XPS spectra showed that the latter route produced thicker coatings than the former approach. CMD molecules attached directly onto the plasma-fabricated amine surface supported some tissue migration; the extent of carboxymethyl substitution and the molecular weight of the CMDs had little influence. For CMDs immobilized via polyamine spacers, on the other hand, tissue outgrowth was completely inhibited, and again there were no discernible effects from the extent of carboxymethyl substitution and the molecular weight of the CMDs. In assays involving cell attachment and growth, analogous observations were found. Thus, the mode of immobilization of these polysaccharide coatings is the dominant factor in their anti-fouling performance, suggesting that optimization of the architecture of polysaccharide coatings may be an important factor for maximizing their cell-repellent abilities.     

Surface modification of carbon anodes for secondary lithium battery by fluorination

Recent results on the surface modification of petroleum cokes and their electrochemical properties as anodes of secondary lithium batteries are summarized. The surface of petroleum coke and those heat-treated at 1860-2800 °C were fluorinated by elemental fluorine (F₂), chlorine trifluoride (ClF₃) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃). No surface fluorine was found except only one sample when ClF₃ and NF₃ were used as fluorinating agents while surface region of petroleum coke was fluorinated when F₂ was used. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) observation revealed that closed edge of graphitized petroleum coke was destroyed and opened by surface fluorination. Raman spectra showed that surface fluorination increased the surface disorder of petroleum cokes. Main effect of surface fluorination with F₂ is the increase in the first coulombic efficiencies of petroleum cokes graphitized at 2300-2800 °C by 12.1-18.2% at 60 mA/g and by 13.3-25.8% at 150 mA/g in 1 mol/dm³ LiClO₄-ethylene carbonate (EC)/diethyl carbonate (DEC) (1:1, v/v). On the other hand, main effect of the fluorination with ClF₃ and NF₃ is the increase in the first discharge capacities of graphitized petroleum cokes by ∼63 mAh/g (∼29.5%) at 150 mA/g in 1 mol/dm³ LiClO₄-EC/DEC.     

Surface derivatization of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) fiber designed for novel separation and extraction media

The surface derivatization of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) fiber was studied. The obtained surface-derivatized filaments were packed into a fused-silica capillary to evaluate its surface characteristics by using GC. As the stationary phase for GC the surface-derivatized fibers showed higher retention for alkanes and alkylbenzenes than that with the untreated Kevlar fiber. The improvements on the retention power and the peak shape were observed on the benzyl-modified fibrous stationary phase. The derivatized fibrous materials were also evaluated as the extraction medium in fiber-in-tube SPE, and the effect of the surface modification on the extraction power was compared to the parent fiber. The results indicated that the modified fiber possessed a higher extraction power than the untreated fiber. Based on the facts, the successful modification of the fiber surface was estimated.     

Effect of electrolytes on the surface behavior of rhamnolipids R1 and R2

The surface behavior of solutions of the rhamnolipids, R1 and R2, were investigated in the absence and presence of an electrolyte (NaCl) through surface tension measurements and optical microscopy at pH 6.8. The NaCl concentrations studied are 0.05, 0.5 and 1 M. Electrolytes directly affect the carboxylate groups of the rhamnolipids. The solution/air interface has a net negative charge due to the dissociated carboxylate ions at pH 6.8 with strong repulsive electrostatic forces between the rhamnolipid molecules. This negative charge is shielded by the Na⁺ ions in the electrical double layer in the presence of NaCl, causing the formation of a close-packed monolayer, and a decrease in CMC, and surface tension values. The maximum compaction is observed at 0.5 M NaCl concentrations for R1 and R2 monolayers, with the R1 monolayer more compact than R2. The larger spaces left below the hydrophobic tails of R1 with respect to that of R2, due to the missing second rhamnosyl groups are thought to be responsible for the higher compaction. The rigidity of both R1 and R2 monolayers increases with the electrolyte concentration. The rigidity of the R1 monolayer is greater than that of R2 at all NaCl concentrations due to the lower hydrophilic character of R1. The variation of CMC values as a function of NaCl concentration obtained from the surface tension measurements and critical packing parameter (CPP) calculations show that spherical micelles, bilayer and rod like micelles are formed in the rhamnolipid solutions as a function of the NaCl concentration. The results of optical microscopy supported these aggregation states indicating lamellar nematic liquid crystal, cubic lamellar and hexagonal liquid crystal phases in R1 and R2 solutions depending on the NaCl concentration.     

掺杂ZrO＿2的Pt／Al＿2O＿3表面氧性质及一氧化碳氧化性能研究

用ＴＰＤ－ＭＳ、ＴＰＳＲ－ＭＳ及ＣＯ氧化活性测定等方法研究了Ｐｔ／Ａｌ２Ｏ３和掺杂超细ＺｒＯ２的样品的表面氧脱出－恢复性能、ＣＯ表面氧化性能及催化氧化性能．结果表明，在Ｐｔ／Ａｌ２Ｏ３中掺杂ＺｒＯ２后，样品表面上的氧物种脱出和氧化恢复性能明显提高，脱氧量也明显增大；并发现在ＣＯ－ＴＰＳＲ过程中程脱物ＣＯ２的脱附量大小及峰顶温度次序与对ＣＯ的催化氧化活性也有一致的关系