Studies on the preparation and characterization of monodisperse polystyrene latices V.: The preparation of cationic latices

Summary Methods are described for the preparation of monodisperse polystyrene latices using as initiators, 2-azo-bis-(2-methylpropamidinium) dichloride and 2-azo-bis-(2-isopropyliminazolium) dichloride. The preparations were carried out in the absence of any added surface active agents. The effect on particle size of varying initiator concentration, monomer concentration, temperature and ionic strength was examined and the conditions defined for preparing monodisperse latices, with particles in the size range 0.2 to 1m. Electrophoretic measurements confirmed that the latex particles were cationic. The evidence obtained suggested that the charged sites on the particle surface were amidinium groupings. The latices were not stable at pH values greater than 11 and prolonged heating at 90° also caused coagulation.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurden Methoden zur Darstellung monodisperser Polystyrol-Latices unter Verwendung von 2-azo-bis-(2-methylpropamidinium)-dichlorid und 2-azo-bis-(2-isopropyliminazolium)-dichlorid als Initiator beschrieben. Die Darstellung erfolgte in Abwesenheit von grenzflächenaktiven Verbindungen. Der Einfluß unterschiedlicher Initiator- und Monomerkonzentrationen, der Temperatur und der lonenstärke auf die Teilchengröße wurde untersucht und die Bedingungen festgelegt, unter denen monodisperse Latices mit Teilchen im Größenbereich von 0,2-1m erhalten werden. Elektrophoretische Messungen bestätigten, daß die Latexteilchen kationisch sind. Die Ladungen auf der Teilchenoberfläche sind Amidiniumgruppen. Die Latices waren bei pH-Werten über 11 nicht stabil; längeres Erhitzen auf 90° führte ebenfalls zur Koagulation.

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With 6 figures and 9 tables     

Model cationic flocculants from the Mannich reaction of polyacrylamide

¹⁴C-Labeled cationic derivatives of polyacrylamide were prepared by the reaction of polyacrylamide with ¹⁴C-labeled formaldehyde and dimethylamine hydrochloride. The resulting Mannich base was reacted with dimethyl sulfate. Both reactions produced a yield of about 50% and the final product was a substituted polyacrylamide with tertiary and quaternary amine groups. Extensive dialysis removed the tertiary groups to give a stable radio-labeled polymer that was an effective flocculant. Treatment with mixed-bed ion exchange resin was effective in purifying polyacrylamide derivatives; however, counterions for the quanternary amine groups were not quantitatively exchanged for hydroxide groups.     

Flocculation with poly(ethylene oxide)/tyrosine-rich polypeptide complexes

New insights into the mechanism for the flocculation of aqueous colloids by the sequential addition of a water-borne phenolic polymer, called cofactor, followed by very high molecular poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) are presented. It is proposed that PEO/cofactor complexes form in the aqueous phase and adsorb onto the surfaces of the target colloidal particles. Flocculation will occur if PEO/cofactor complex on one particle will bind to adsorbed complex on a second particle; i.e., if the complexes are sticky. The proposed mechanism was illustrated by flocculation experiments with precipitated calcium carbonate, very high molecular weight PEO, and a polypeptide cofactor called PEY1 which was a 1:1 random copolymer of l-glycine and l-tyrosine. Independent measurements of the PEO/PEY1 complex properties, in the absence of calcium carbonate, were used to support the mechanism. In order for PEO/PEY1 complexes to be sticky, they must simultaneously have unbound PEY1 and polymer segments. With time the complexes deactivate (i.e., lose their stickiness) by a reconfiguration process which results in elimination of either unbound PEY1 or PEO segments.     

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). I. Interactions with sodium dodecyl sulfate measured by conductivity

Conductometric titration of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (polyNIPAM) with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gave two apparent transitions labeled C1 and C2. The C1 transition was independent of polyNIPAM concentration in the 0.05–0.3 wt % range, whereas C2 was proportional to the polymer concentration. C1 corresponded to the onset of binding of surfactant with polymer. Arguments based on a simple mass action model for micellization are presented to show that C2, the second transition, is not due to any simple explanation such as being the point above which only free micelles are formed with surfactant addition. The cloud point of polyNIPAM increased with the amount of bound surfactant. This was attributed to electrostatic contribution of bound sulfate groups to the increased solubility of polyNIPAM. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Turning Tryptophanase into Odor‐Generating Biosensors

An odor‐based sensor system that exploits the metabolic enzyme tryptophanase (TPase) as the key component is reported. This enzyme is able to convert an odorless substrate like S‐methyl‐L ‐cysteine or L ‐tryptophan into the odorous products methyl mercaptan or indole. To make a biosensor, TPase was biotinylated so that it could be coupled with a molecular recognition element, such as an antibody, to develop an ELISA‐like assay. This method was used for the detection of an antibody present in nM concentrations by the human nose. TPase can also be combined with the enzyme pyridoxal kinase (PKase) for use in a coupled assay to detect adenosine 5′‐triphosphate (ATP). When ATP is present in the low μM concentration range, the coupled enzymatic system generates an odor that is easily detectable by the human nose. Biotinylated TPase can be combined with various biotin‐labeled molecular recognition elements, thereby enabling a broad range of applications for this odor‐based reporting system.     

Pullulan Encapsulation of Labile Biomolecules to Give Stable Bioassay Tablets

A simple and inexpensive method is reported for the long‐term stabilization of enzymes and other unstable reagents in premeasured quantities in water‐soluble tablets (cast, not compressed) made with pullulan, a nonionic polysaccharide that forms an oxygen impermeable solid upon drying. The pullulan tablets dissolve in aqueous solutions in seconds, thereby facilitating the easy execution of bioassays at remote sites with no need for special reagent handling and liquid pipetting. This approach is modular in nature, thus allowing the creation of individual tablets for enzymes and their substrates. Proof‐of‐principle demonstrations include a Taq polymerase tablet for DNA amplification through PCR and a pesticide assay kit consisting of separate tablets for acetylcholinesterase and its chromogenic substrate, indoxyl acetate, both of which are highly unstable. The encapsulated reagents remain stable at room temperature for months, thus enabling the room‐temperature shipping and storage of bioassay components.     

Regulated and entangled photons from a single quantum Dot

We propose a new method of generating nonclassical optical field states. The method uses a semiconductor device, which consists of a single quantum dot as active medium embedded in a p- i- n junction and surrounded by a microcavity. Resonant tunneling of electrons and holes into the quantum dot ground states, together with the Pauli exclusion principle, produce regulated single photons or regulated pairs of photons. We propose that this device also has the unique potential to generate pairs of entangled photons at a well-defined repetition rate.     

Development and use of a virtual NMR facility

We have developed a "virtual NMR facility" (VNMRF) to enhance access to the NMR spectrometers in Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL). We use the term virtual facility to describe a real NMR facility made accessible via the Internet. The VNMRF combines secure remote operation of the EMSL's NMR spectrometers over the Internet with real-time videoconferencing, remotely controlled laboratory cameras, real-time computer display sharing, a Web-based electronic laboratory notebook, and other capabilities. Remote VNMRF users can see and converse with EMSL researchers, directly and securely control the EMSL spectrometers, and collaboratively analyze results. A customized Electronic Laboratory Notebook allows interactive Web-based access to group notes, experimental parameters, proposed molecular structures, and other aspects of a research project. This paper describes our experience developing a VNMRF and details the specific capabilities available through the EMSL VNMRF. We show how the VNMRF has evolved during a test project and present an evaluation of its impact in the EMSL and its potential as a model for other scientific facilities. All Collaboratory software used in the VNMRF is freely available from www.emsl.pnl.gov:2080/docs/collab.     

Bioactive paper provides a low-cost platform for diagnostics

Bioactive paper includes a range of potential paper-based materials that can perform analytical functions normally reserved for multi-well plates in the laboratory or for portable electronic devices. Pathogen detection is the most compelling application. Simple paper-based detection, not requiring hardware, has the potential to have impacts in society, ranging from the kitchen to disasters in the developing world. Bioactive-paper research is an emerging field with significant efforts in Canada, USA (Harvard), Finland and Australia.Following a brief introduction to the material and surface properties of paper, I review the literature. Some of the early work exploits the porosity of paper to generate paper-based microfluidics (“paperfluidics”) devices. I exclude from this review printed electronic devices and plastics-supported devices.     

Observation of size-dependent thermalization in CdSe nanocrystals using time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy

We report heat dissipation times in semiconductor nanocrystals of CdSe. Specifically, a previously unresolved, subnanosecond decay component in the low-temperature photoluminescence decay dynamics exhibits longer decay lifetimes (tens to hundreds of picoseconds) for larger nanocrystals as well as a size-independent, ~25-meV spectral shift. We attribute the fast relaxation to transient phonon-mediated relaxation arising from nonequilibrium acoustic phonons. Following acoustic phonon dissipation, the dark exciton state recombines more slowly via LO-phonon assistance resulting in the observed spectral shift. The measured relaxation time scales agree with classical calculations of thermal diffusion, indicating that interfacial thermal conductivity does not limit thermal transport in these semiconductor nanocrystal dispersions.