Critical factors for high-performance physically adsorbed (dynamic) polymeric wall coatings for capillary electrophoresis of DNA

Physically adsorbed (dynamic) polymeric wall coatings for microchannel electrophoresis have distinct advantages over covalently linked coatings. In order to determine the critical factors that control the formation of dynamic wall coatings, we have created a set of model polymers and copolymers based on N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) and N,N-diethylacrylamide (DEA), and studied their adsorption behavior from aqueous solution as well as their performance for microchannel electrophoresis of DNA. This study is revealing in terms of the polymer properties that help create an "ideal" wall coating. Our measurements indicate that the chemical nature of the coating polymer strongly impacts its electroosmotic flow (EOF) suppression capabilities. Additionally, we find that a critical polymer chain length is required for polymers of this type to perform effectively as microchannel wall coatings. The effective mobilities of double-stranded (dsDNA) fragments within dynamically coated capillaries were determined in order to correlate polymer hydrophobicity with separation performance. Even for dsDNA, which is not expected to be a strongly adsorbing analyte, wall coating hydrophobicity has a deleterious influence on separation performance.     

Oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by highly charged polyelectrolyte-grafted silica nanoparticles

Fully sulfonated poly(styrenesulfonate) brushes were grown from the surface of colloidal silica particles and used to prepare stable trichloroethylene-in-water and heptane-in-water Pickering emulsions. These particles were highly charged and colloidally stable in water but could not be dispersed in trichloroethylene or heptane. Both two-phase (emulsion plus neat water) and three-phase (emulsion separating neat oil and water phases) systems were observed, with water-continuous emulsion phases in all cases. Emulsion phases containing as much as 83% (v/v) oil were stable for over six months. Poly(styrenesulfonate)-grafted particles were very efficient emulsifiers; stable emulsion phases were prepared when using as little as 0.04 wt% particles. The emulsifying effectiveness of the poly(styrenesulfonate)-grafted silica particles can be attributed to the hydrophobicity of the vinylic polymer backbone that makes this highly charged polyelectrolyte unusually surface active at the oil/water interface.     

Small Heteroborane Cluster Systems. 6. Mössbauer Effect Study of Iron Substituted Small Metallaborane Clusters

The M?ssbauer effect spectra for a series of small [Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)(x)()] substituted metallaborane complexes are reported, where x = 1 or 2. The pentaborane cage in compounds [Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)(2)B(5)H(7)P(C(6)H(5))(2)] (1), [Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)(2)B(5)H(8)] (2), and [(Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)(2))(2)B(5)H(7)] (3) was found to act as a significantly better donor ligand than the ligands in a comparison group of previously reported [Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)LX] complexes, where L = CO or PPh(3) and X = halide, pseudohalide, or alkyl ligands. These metallaborane complexes were found to most resemble their silyl analogues in M?ssbauer spectral parameters and the electronic distribution around the iron centers. In addition, the M?ssbauer data showed that the [&mgr;-2,3-(P(C(6)H(5))(2)B(5)H(7)](-) ligand was a superior donor to the corresponding unsubstituted [B(5)H(8)](-) ligand. The M?ssbauer spectral results for the metallaborane complexes studied were found to be in general agreement with the anticipated donor and accepting bonding considerations for the cage ligands based upon their infrared and (11)B NMR spectra and X-ray structural features. The M?ssbauer data for the [Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)B(4)H(6)(P(C(6)H(5))(2))] (4) and [Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)B(3)H(7)(P(C(6)H(5))(2))] (5) complexes, in comparison with compound 1, showed that as the borane cage becomes progressively smaller, it becomes a poorer donor ligand. A qualitative relationship was found between the observed M?ssbauer isomer shift data and the number of boron cage vertices for the structurally related [Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)(x)B(y)H(z)P(C(6)H(5))(2)] complexes, where x = 1 or 2, y = 3-5, and z = 6 or 7. The X-ray crystallographic data for compounds 1, 2, 5, and [Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)B(5)H(8)] (6) were also found to agree with the trends observed in the M?ssbauer spectra which showed that the s-electron density on the iron nucleus increases in the order 5 < 6 < 2 < 1. The X-ray crystal structure of complex 2 is also reported. Crystallographic data for 2: space group P2(1)/c (No. 14, monoclinic), a = 6.084(3) ?, b = 15.045(8) ?, c = 13.449(7) ?, beta = 99.69(5) degrees, V = 1213(1) ?(3), Z = 4 molecules/cell.     

Unified model to predict self-assembly of nonionic surfactants in solution and adsorption on solid or fluid hydrophobic surfaces: effect of molecular structure

We have developed a pseudo-phase model to predict the self-assembly of nonionic surfactants on hydrophobic solid or fluid interfaces and in bulk solution. The uniqueness of this model is that it provides the relationship between molecular structure and self-assembly in solution and on interfaces. This model requires the input of minimal new experimental data. The remaining model parameters may be calculated on the basis of the surfactant molecular structure. The validity of the model has been established by comparing predictions with a wide array of experimental data for nonionic surfactant adsorption at the hydrophobic solid-water interface and at the air-water interface. The same model is then used to predict the self-assembly in bulk solution. The model predictions for critical aggregation concentration, aggregate shapes, and adsorption isotherms of various surfactants are in good agreement with the experimental data available in the literature.     

Optical imaging and magnetophoresis of nanorods

Peclet number analysis is performed to probe the convective motion of nanospheres and nanorods under the influence of magnetophoresis and diffusion. Under most circumstances, magnetophoretic behaviour dominates diffusion for nanorods, as the magnetic field lines tend to align the magnetic moment along the rod axis. The synthesis and dispersion of fluorophore-tagged nanorods are described. Fluorescence microscopy is employed to image the nanorod motion in a magnetic field gradient. The preliminary experimental data are consistent with the Peclet number analysis.     

LC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of ethyl gallate and its major metabolite in rat plasma

A simple, rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectroscopy (LC–MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of ethyl gallate, a pharmacologically active constituent isolated from Lagerstroemia speciosa (Linn.) Pers. This method was used to examine the pharmacokinetics of ethyl gallate and its major metabolite gallic acid in rat plasma using propyl gallate as an internal standard. After precipitation of the plasma proteins with acetonitrile, the analytes were separated on a Zorbax SB‐C₁₈ column (3.5 μm, 2.1 × 50 mm) with an isocratic mobile phase consisted of methanol–acetonitrile–10 mM ammonium acetate (10 : 25 : 65, v/v/v) containing 0.1% formic acid at a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min. The Agilent G6410A triple quadrupole LC/MS system was operated under the multiple‐reaction monitoring mode using the electrospray ionization technique in negative mode. The lower limits of quantification of gallic acid and ethyl gallate of the method were 0.5 and 1.0 ng/mL. The intra‐day and inter‐day accuracy and precision of the assay were less than 8.0%. This method has been applied successfully to a pharmacokinetic study involving the intragastric administration of ethyl gallate to rats. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study on the surface of fluorosilicone acrylate RGP contact lens treated by low-temperature nitrogen plasma

In order to improve the surface hydrophilicity of fluorosilicone acrylate rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lens, low temperature nitrogen plasma was used to modify the lens surface. Effects of plasma conditions on the surface structures and properties were investigated. Results indicated that the surface hydrophilicity of RGP contact lens was significantly improved after treatment. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results showed that the nitrogen element was successfully incorporated into the surface. Furthermore, some new bonds such as NCO, F⁻ and silicate were formed on the lens surface after nitrogen plasma treatment, which could result in the improvement of the surface hydrophilicity. Scanning electronic microscope (SEM) results indicated that nitrogen plasma with moderate power could make the surface smoother in some degree, while plasma with higher power could etch the surface.     

Enhanced mixing in polyacrylamide gels containing embedded silica nanoparticles as internal electroosmotic pumps

Many biosensors, including those based on sensing agents immobilized inside hydrogels, suffer from slow response dynamics due to mass transfer limitations. Here we present an internal pumping strategy to promote convective mixing inside crosslinked polymer gels. This is envisioned as a potential tool to enhance biosensor response dynamics. The method is based on electroosmotic flows driven by non-uniform, oscillating electric fields applied across a polyacrylamide gel that has been doped with charged colloidal silica inclusions. Evidence for enhanced mixing was obtained from florescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) measurements with fluorescein tracer dyes dissolved in the gel. Mixing rates in silica-laden gels under the action of the applied electric fields were more than an order of magnitude faster than either diffusion or electrophoretically driven mixing in gels that did not contain silica. The mixing enhancement was due in comparable parts to the electroosmotic pumping and to the increase in gel swelling caused by the presence of the silica inclusions. The latter had the effect of increasing tracer mobility in the silica-laden gels.     

High capacity, charge-selective protein uptake by polyelectrolyte brushes

Surface plasmon resonance was used to measure binding of proteins from solution to poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) brushes end-grafted from gold surfaces by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). PDMAEMA brushes were prepared with a variety of grafting densities and degrees of polymerization. These brushes displayed charge selective protein uptake. The extent of uptake for net negatively charged bovine serum albumin (BSA) scaled linearly with the surface mass concentration of grafted PDMAEMA, regardless of grafting density. BSA was bound at a constant ratio of 120 DMAEMA monomer units per protein molecule for all brushes examined. The equivalent three-dimensional concentration of BSA bound in the brush (i.e., the bound BSA surface excess concentration divided by the brush thickness) decreased monotonically with decreasing grafting density. The concentration of BSA bound within brushes prepared at higher grafting densities was comparable with the aqueous protein solubility limit. BSA desorption from the brush required changes in solution pH and/or ionic strength to eliminate its net electrostatic attraction to PDMAEMA. Net positively charged lysozyme was completely rejected by the PDMAEMA brushes.     

Experimental observations on the scaling of adsorption isotherms for nonionic surfactants at a hydrophobic solid-water interface

The self-assembly of nonionic surfactants in bulk solution and on hydrophobic surfaces is driven by the same intermolecular interactions, yet their relationship is not clear. While there are abundant experimental and theoretical studies for self-assembly in bulk solution and at the air-water interface, there are only few systematic studies for hydrophobic solid-water interfaces. In this work, we have used optical reflectometry to measure adsorption isotherms of seven different nonionic alkyl polyethoxylate surfactants (CH3(CH2)I-1(OCH2CH2)JOH, referred to as CIEJ surfactants, with I = 10-14 and J = 3-8), on hydrophobic, chemically homogeneous self-assembled monolayers of octadecyltrichlorosilane. Systematic changes in the adsorption isotherms are observed for variations in the surfactant molecular structure. The maximum surface excess concentration decreases (and minimum area/molecule increases) with the square root of the number of ethoxylate units in the surfactant (J). The adsorption isotherms of all surfactants collapse onto the same curve when the bulk and surface excess concentrations are rescaled by the bulk critical aggregation concentration (CAC) and the maximum surface excess concentration. In an accompanying paper we compare these experimental results with the predictions of a unified model developed for self-assembly of nonionic surfactants in bulk solution and on interfaces.