On the Effects of UV Radiation on the Release Ability of Glucose Embedded in Hydroxypropyl Cellulose Films

New drug delivery systems based on hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and different percents of glucose were prepared and characterized to check their suitability as UV resistant patches. The spectral absorption properties of the HPC and HPC-glucose blends before and after UV irradiation were analyzed. The surface polarity and hydrophilicity were correlated with the morphology of the films and analyzed with respect to the UV exposure time and the embedded amount of glucose. The effects of UV radiation on in vitro evaluation of glucose release from the HPC films are reported. The mechanism involved in the drug release process, evaluated using the Korsmeyer-Peppas equation, was dependent on the introduced amount of glucose and less on the UV exposure time. A more polar, smoother, and less dense surface releases the glucose over larger periods of time, making the system with lower percents of glucose more adequate for the pursued purpose.     

Visible Channeled Spectra of a Multilayer Wood Filter

The transmission factor of multilayer Wood filters containing quartz and rutile layers was simulated in order to avoid the experimental trials for obtaining optical filters with predicted transmission. The main refractive indices of uniaxial crystals—quartz and rutile—were interferometrically determined and Cauchy constants were obtained by simulation. The transmission factor of optical devices consisting of quartz and rutile layers was simulated using the Maple Program.     

Birefringence dispersion of N-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-4-butylaniline (MBBA) determined from channeled spectra

The birefringence of MBBA, determined from the channeled spectra, decreases when the wavelength increases, showing a normal dispersion. The changes induced by an external electrostatic field acting perpendicular on the nematic director in the birefringence values were evidenced. The birefringence increases with the electrostatic field intensity which enhances the preferential alignment by the big values of the electric dipole moments induced parallel to the long MBBA molecule. The main refractive indices were interferometrically measured for three visible monochromatic radiations and the birefringence values were concordant with those estimated from the channeled spectra. The main molecular polarizabilities were estimated.     

Quantum-chemical simulation and experimental study of some magnetic nanoparticles stabilized in fluid suspensions by using organic coating

Abstract

The biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles require the surface modification with organic, hydrophilic molecules, able to ensure the stability of the resulted colloidal suspensions. We present the quantum mechanical approach of two molecules developing stable interfaces with magnetic Co_0.5Fe_2.5O₄ nanoparticles. Sodium oleate, and citric acid, ensuring steric and respectively electrostatic stabilization are comparatively analyzed. The roles of dipole moment and frontier orbitals energies were emphasized to better understanding of some interface phenomena for the optimization of magnetic nanoparticle suspension preparation. Further, practical yielding of colloidal Co_0.5Fe_2.5O₄ nanoparticles by coating with sodium oleate and respectively with citric acid is discussed.     

Optical Rotatory Dispersion of Poly(propylene oxide) in Benzene Solution Determined from Channeled Spectra

The proposed method of channeled spectrum employs the recorded channeled spectrum of an optical active polymer solution placed between two crossed polarizers. The approach allows the evaluation of the optical rotatory dispersion of poly(propylene oxide) in benzene. The specific rotation, circular birefringence, and dispersion parameter depend on the wavelengths of the maxima and minima from the channeled spectrum.     

Thermal dimerization kinetics of 3‐(p‐bromo‐phenyl)‐pyridazinium benzoyl methylid in solutions

3‐(p‐Bromo‐phenyl)‐pyridazinium‐benzoyl methylid (BPPBM) participates in solution at 3 + 3 dipolar thermal dimerization that can be spectrally monitored by the extinction in its visible intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) band. The attenuation of ICT band intensity shows the decrease of the BPPBM concentration with the increasing of dimer concentration. The complex kinetics of light‐assisted dimerization process was studied taking into account that the thermodynamic equilibrium is reached after more than 24 h. On the basis of general order of reaction theory, we found that the dimerization reaction must be described as a multistep mechanism. The rate constants of the dimerization reactions in ethanol (k = 0.00897 s^?1) and benzene (k = 0.00774 s^?1) solutions were correlated with the BPPBM and dimer structural features established by using the HyperChem 5.02 simulation program package. A kinetic mechanism of 3 + 3 dipolar thermal dimerization for the studied ylid is proposed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 230–239, 2008     

Striking Features of DPH Electronic Spectra as a Function of Multicomponent Solvent Nature

1,6-Diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene is one of the most used fluorescent labels in cell membrane fluidity studies. However, its solubility in aqueous biological media is low and an initial solubilizing step is necessary. In this study, the authors present spectroscopic and computational results in order to explain the striking displacement observed in electronic spectra (absorption and fluorescence) in different solvents. The experimental results were correlated with those obtained by molecular dynamics simulations of multicomponent solutions, which revealed non-homogenous microscopic regions formation in the ternary aqueous DPH solutions.     

Quantum-Mechanical and Solvatochromic Characterization of Quercetin

ABSTRACT

Quercetin was subjected to a quantum-mechanical analysis and energetic and electro-optic parameters were evaluated. A solvatochromic study was used to estimate the dipole moment of quercetin in the excited state and to determine the angle between the dipole moments of this molecule in the electronic states responsible for the visible absorption band. The contribution of each type of intermolecular interactions to the total spectral shift experimentally recorded in quercetin solution was also established in this study.     

Two phase photochemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their impact on the chlorophylls

Abstract

We have designed an experimental study dedicated to silver nanotoxicity using a suspension of citrate-silver nanoparticles, obtained by photochemical reduction. Fine granularity of generally symmetrical shape nanoparticles were evidenced by tansmission electron microscopy. The localized surface plasmon resonance spectral band revealed the intensification of silver nanoparticle formation under UV exposure. The nanotoxicity of silver nanoparticles was tested on cereal sprouts by measuring the concentrations of chlorophylls and carotenes in the green tissue. The differences between control samples, supplied with distilled water and test samples, loaded with different volumes of silver nanoparticles suspension were analyzed statistically, and compared with literature reports.