Structure-Directing Agents for the Synthesis of TiO(2) -Based Drug-Delivery Systems

A series of titanium oxides was prepared by using a surfactant-template method (STM) and used as a carrier for the sustained release of ibuprofen, which was chosen as a model drug. This STM provides an efficient route to TiO(2) matrices with both high surface area (when compared with those that were obtained by using traditional synthetic approaches) and well-defined mesoporous textures. Some parameters of the synthetic procedure were varied: pH value, surfactant, and thermal treatment. The physicochemical nature of the surface carriers were investigated by means of N(2) -physisorption measurements and FTIR spectroscopy. The effect of the amount of drug on the release kinetics was also investigated. The drug delivery was evaluated in vitro in four different physiological solutions (that simulated the gastrointestinal tract) to analyze the behavior of the TiO(2) -based systems if they were to be formulated as oral DDSs. Our optimized approach is a good alternative to the classical methods that are used to prepare efficient TiO(2) -based drug-delivery systems.     

Structure‐Directing Agents for the Synthesis of TiO2‐Based Drug‐Delivery Systems

A series of titanium oxides was prepared by using a surfactant‐template method (STM) and used as a carrier for the sustained release of ibuprofen, which was chosen as a model drug. This STM provides an efficient route to TiO₂ matrices with both high surface area (when compared with those that were obtained by using traditional synthetic approaches) and well‐defined mesoporous textures. Some parameters of the synthetic procedure were varied: pH value, surfactant, and thermal treatment. The physicochemical nature of the surface carriers were investigated by means of N₂‐physisorption measurements and FTIR spectroscopy. The effect of the amount of drug on the release kinetics was also investigated. The drug delivery was evaluated in vitro in four different physiological solutions (that simulated the gastrointestinal tract) to analyze the behavior of the TiO₂‐based systems if they were to be formulated as oral DDSs. Our optimized approach is a good alternative to the classical methods that are used to prepare efficient TiO₂‐based drug‐delivery systems.     

Production of Graphite During the Extinguishing Arc with New SF6 Alternative Gases

Most high voltage circuit breakers in operation use SF₆ as the arc interruption medium because of its high dielectric strength and good arc interruption properties. However SF₆ also displays a high global warming potential which motivates the investigation of possible alternatives such as CO₂–Novec?4710 and N₂–Novec?5110 mixtures proposed by different HVCB manufacturers. CB power test comparison between pure CO₂ and CO₂–Novec?4710 mixture shows that the latter created a large amount of graphite and reduced CB performances after several current breaking shots. Using Gibbs free energy method, a theoretical study has been conducted on SF₆ replacement candidates listed above. Aiming to understand graphite formation, several parameters impact were discussed: carrier gas such as CO₂ and N₂, pressure and O₂ initial mixture proportions. The study focuses on graphite condensation temperature and graphite production amount evolutions in respect to the study parameters as well as in respect to CB inter-contacts space condition in terms of pressure and temperature at current-zero. It has been shown that a high percentage of CO₂ in the mixture reduces graphite condensation temperature by 2600 K while adding N₂ do not make such an impact. Pressure increases graphite condensation temperature and O₂ reduces it. The amount of graphite produced is pressure independent but decreases with the increase of O₂ proportion in the initial mixture. It has been shown that adding a sufficient O₂ amount can prevent graphite production at all.

     

Synthesis of diarylmethane derivatives from Stille cross-coupling reactions of benzylic halides

A catalyst precursor prepared in situ from palladium acetate and a phosphine ligand was used for the Stille cross-coupling reaction of benzylic bromides and chlorides with aryltributyltin analogues. The reactions were performed at 80 °C using dppf as ligand in the presence of KF, or more conveniently using PPh₃ in the absence of base, furnishing diarylmethane derivatives in high yields (86-99%). Using Pd(OAc)₂/PPh₃ as catalyst precursor competitive Stille and Suzuki cross-coupling reactions with benzyl chloride showed that in the absence of base or in the presence of KF the Stille product is the majority product, and only the Suzuki product was obtained in the presence of KOH as base.