Influence of imide functionalized organo‐modified Mg‐Al layered double hydroxide on the thermal and mechanical properties of new aliphatic‐aromatic poly (amide‐imide)

A new dicarboxylic acid modified Mg‐Al LDH (DLDH) containing imide groups was prepared and its effects on the thermal and mechanical properties of the new synthesized aliphatic‐aromatic poly (amide‐imide) (PAI) were investigated via preparation of PAI/nanocomposite films by solution casting method. The results of X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission‐scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed a uniform dispersion for LDH layers into the PAI matrix. For comparison, the effects of polyacrylic acid‐co‐poly‐2‐acrylamido‐ 2‐methylpropanesulfonic acid (PAMPS‐co‐PAA) modified Mg‐Al LDH (ALDH) on the PAI properties were also studied. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results exhibited that the temperature at 5 mass% loss (T₅) increased from 277 °C to 310 °C for nanocomposite containing 2 mass% of DLDH, while T₅ for nanocomposite containing 2 mass% of ALDH increased to 320 °C, along with the more enhancement of char residue compared to the neat PAI. According to the tensile test results, with 5 mass% DLDH loading in the PAI matrix, the tensile strength increased from 51.6 to 70.8 MPa along with an increase in Young's modulus. Also the Young's modulus of PAI nanocomposite containing 5 mass% ALDH reduced from 1.95 to 0.81 GPa.     

Green synthesis and characterization of copper and nickel hybrid nanomaterials: Investigation of their biological and photocatalytic potential for the removal of organic crystal violet dye

Nanotechnology deals with the materials at nanoscale to synthesize nanoparticles. The current study introduced a new green approach for the synthesis of Copper and Nickel hybrid nanoparticles by using Zingiber officinale rhizome extract as a capping and reducing agent. The nanoparticles were physico-chemically characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Scanning electron microscopy. It was revealed by scanning electron micrograph that the Cu-Ni hybrid nanoparticles have spherical geometries with average grain size of 25.12 ± 1.2 nm. Furthermore, biocatalytic and photocatalytic applications of the biosynthesized nanoparticles were assessed. The results of antibacterial assay revealed that Cu-Ni hybrid nanoparticles had an inhibition zones of 28 ± 1.0, 25 ± 0.8, and 25 ± 1.5 mm against P. aeruginosa, E. coli and Proteus vulgaris. Commercially available antibiotics were purchased and coated with Cu-Ni hybrid nanoparticles, it was found that their antimicrobial efficacy was increased twice. To evaluate the antioxidant potential, nanoparticles having a concentration of 200 µg/mL were applied against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radicals and NPs showed 42.1 ± 0.71 % inhibition. Cu-Ni nanoparticles have shown a dose-dependent cytotoxicity against amastigote and promastigote in anti-leishmanial assay. The synthesized nanoparticles were found biocompatible and safe in nature to be used in vivo, as they showed no significant hemolysis of human red blood cells at their highest concentration. In antidiabetic assay, NPs inhibited alpha-amylase enzyme up to 38.07 ± 0.65 %. An organic crystal violet dye was successfully degraded by the synthesized nanoparticles in photocatalytic assay. Hence, it is concluded that Cu-Ni hybrid nanoparticles can be used both in vitro and in vivo for drug delivery in biomedical research. These nanoparticles can also be used in the remediation of organic dyes as a catalyst.     

Preparation and Characterization of Ternary Europium ComplexDoped Thin SolGel Hybrid Film by Fluorescence Spectroscopy*

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Variation of anions in layered double hydroxides: Effects on dispersion and fire properties

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are interesting materials for nanocomposite formation because one can vary the identity of the metals, the anions and the stoichiometry to see the effect of these on the ability of the nano-material to disperse in a polymer and to see what effect dispersion has on the properties of the polymer. In this study, the anions 2-ethylhexyl sulfate (SEHS), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (HDEHP) and dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS) have been utilized as the charge balancing anions to synthesize organo-LDHs. Nanocomposites of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) with organo-LDHs were prepared both by melt blending and bulk polymerization. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the morphology of the nanocomposites while the thermal stability and fire properties of nanocomposites were studied by thermogravimetric analysis and cone calorimetry; the mechanical properties are also investigated. In general, it is easier to disperse these organo-LDHs in PMMA than in PS, but the sulfate cannot be dispersed at the nanometer level in either material. The addition of these organo-LDHs does not affect the mechanical properties. The best fire properties are obtained with the sulfonate LDH, SDBS; the reduction in the peak heat release rate is almost 50% for both polymers.     

Preparation,swelling, and stimuli‐responsive characteristics of superabsorbent nanocomposites based on carboxymethyl cellulose and rectorite

Utilization of naturally available raw materials for the fabrication of eco‐friendly functional materials has long been desired. In this work, a series of superabsorbent nanocomposites were prepared by radical solution copolymerization of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), partially neutralized acrylic acid (NaA), and rectorite (REC) in the presence of initiator ammonium persulfate (APS) and crosslinker N,N'‐methylene‐bis‐acrylamide (MBA). The optimal reaction variables including the mass ratio of acrylic acid (AA) to CMC, MBA concentration, and REC content were explored. FTIR spectra confirmed that NaA had been grafted onto CMC and REC participated in polymerization. REC was exfoliated and uniformly dispersed in the CMC‐g‐PNaA matrix without agglomeration as shown by XRD, TEM, and SEM analysis. The thermal stability, swelling capabilities, and rate of the nanocomposites were improved after introducing REC, and the gel strength greatly depended on the concentration of crosslinker MBA. The nanocomposite showed excellent responsive properties and reversible On–Off switching characteristics in various saline, pH, and hydrophilic organic solvent/water solutions, which provided great possibility to extend the application domain of the superabsorbent nanocomposites such as drug delivery system. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Selective localization of organoclay and effects on the morphology and mechanical properties of LDPE/PA11 blends with distributed and co‐continuous morphology

A study was made on the effect of small amounts of organically modified clay on the morphology and mechanical properties of blends of low‐density polyethylene and polyamide 11 at different compositions. The influence of the filler on the blend morphology was investigated using wide angle X‐ray diffractometry, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and selective extraction experiments. The filler was found to locate predominantly in the more hydrophilic polyamide phase. Although such uneven distribution does not have a significant effect on the onset of phase co‐continuity of the polymer components, it brings about a drastic refinement of the microstructure for the blends both with droplets/matrix and co‐continuous morphologies. In addition to the expected reinforcing action of the filler, the resulting fine microstructure plays an important role in enhancing the mechanical properties of the blends. This is essentially because of a good quality of stress transfer across the interface between the constituents, which also seems to benefit for a good interfacial adhesion promoted by the filler. Our results provide the experimental evidence for the capabilities of nanoparticles added to multiphase polymer systems to act selectively as a reinforcing agent for specific domains of the material and as a medium able to assist the refinement of the polymer phases during mixing. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 600–609, 2010     

磁性三维氮掺杂碳纳米材料对6种双酚类化合物的吸附性能及其在泡腾分散微萃取中的应用

采用简单高温煅烧法成功制备了磁性钴镍基氮掺杂三维碳纳米管与石墨烯复合材料(CoNi@NGC),将其作为吸附剂用于水体中6种双酚类化合物(BPs)的吸附性能和机理研究。将CoNi@NGC复合纳米材料用作萃取介质,运用酸碱泡腾片的CO₂强力分散作用,开发了泡腾反应强化的分散固相微萃取前处理方法,结合高效液相色谱-荧光检测(HPLC-FLD)快速定量饮料中痕量BPs。采用扫描电镜、透射电镜、傅里叶红外光谱、氮气吸脱附、X射线光电子能谱和磁滞回线等技术手段对材料形貌结构进行表征,结果显示:该吸附剂成功实现氮元素的掺杂,且具有较大的比表面积(109.42 m²/g)、丰富的孔径及较强的磁性(17.98 emu/g)。吸附剂投加量、pH、温度、时间等因子优化试验表明:当pH=7,在初始质量浓度为5 mg/L的BPs混合溶液中投加5 mg CoNi@NGC, 298 K反应5 min,对双酚M(BPM)、双酚A(BPA)的吸附率分别高达99.01%和98.21%。作用90 min时对双酚Z(BPZ)、BPA、BPM的吸附率近100%。在吸附过程中,BPs与CoNi@NGC之间的整个吸附过程主要受氢键、静电作用和π-π共轭作用共同控制。整个吸附过程符合Freundlich吸附等温线模型和准二级动力学方程,吸附自发进行。进一步将CoNi@NGC作为萃取介质制备成磁性泡腾片,利用泡腾分散微萃取技术高效富集和提取6种盒装饮料中的BPs,优化了影响富集效果的泡腾片的存在与否、洗脱剂种类、洗脱时间、洗脱体积等关键因子,在最佳萃取条件下(pH=7,投加5 mg CoNi@NGC, 2 mL丙酮洗脱6 min),结合HPLC-FLD,新开发的泡腾分散微萃取方法提供的检出限为0.06~0.20 μg/L,定量限为0.20~0.66 μg/L,日内和日间精密度分别为1.44%~4.76%和1.69%~5.36%,在实际样品中不同水平下的加标回收率为82.4%~103.7%,在桃汁中检测到BPA和双酚B(BPB)分别为2.09 μg/L和1.37 μg/L。再生试验表明该吸附材料至少可以重复使用5次以上,显著降低了分析的试验成本。与其他方法相比,该方法具有灵敏度高、萃取速度快、环境友好等优点,在常规食品污染监测中具有较强的应用价值。     

The anti-HIV potential of imidazole,oxazole and thiazole hybrids: A mini-review

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) especially HIV-1 infection and its progression to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) remains a significant global health challenge. The advent of the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has greatly extended the life expectancy of patients living with HIV, but it has become evident that long-term HAART will not eliminate the HIV reservoir and cure the infection. Moreover, the drug resistance and undesirable side effects hamper efficacious therapy, creating an urgent need to develop novel, more effective and less toxic anti-HIV therapeutics. Imidazole, oxazole and thiazole with two heteroatoms at meta-position of five-membered rings are fascinating structures and constitute an important class of heterocycles in drug discovery. Their derivatives could exert the anti-HIV activity through diverse mechanisms and possess promising antiviral activity against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant HIV strains. This review summarizes the research progress made regarding the anti-HIV potential of imidazole, oxazole and thiazole hybrids, and the structure–activity relationships (SARs) are also discussed to facilitate further rational design of more effective candidates, covering articles published from 2012 to 2022.