Search results for "Light"

Micelles as containers for self-assembled nanodevices: a fluorescent sensor for lipophilicity

2008

Potentiometric titrations, fluorescence versus pH titrations, dynamic light scattering and fluorescence polarization anisotropy studies demonstrate that inside the nanodimensioned Triton X-100 micelles, 1-pyrenecarboxylic acid, PCOO-, forms an apical complex with the Zn2+ cation encircled by a lipophilic cyclen ligand and hugely increasing its fluorescence. The ability of the Zn2+-cyclen-PCOO- complex plus its micellar container to act as a fluorescent sensor to evaluate the lipophilicity of molecular species is demonstrated on the fatty acid series CH 3(CH2)xCOOH (x=0-16). At pH 7.4 a decrease in fluorescence is observed on the addition of fatty acids that is directly related to their chai…

Cell adhesion on UV-crosslinked polyurethane gels with adjustable mechanical strength and thermoresponsiveness

2021

Temperature-responsive polyurethane (PU) hydrogels represent a versatile material platform for modern tissue engineering and biomedical applications. However, besides intrinsic advantages such as high mechanical strength and a hydrolysable backbone composition, plain PU materials are generally lacking bio-adhesive properties. To overcome this shortcoming, the authors focus on the synthesis of thermoresponsive PU hydrogels with variable mechanical and cell adhesive properties obtained from linear precursor PUs based on poly(ethylene glycol)s (pEG) with different molar masses, isophorone diisocyanate, and a dimerizable dimethylmaleimide (DMMI)-diol. The cloud point temperatures of the dilute,…

Synthesis and characterization of well-defined poly(tert-butyl acrylate) star polymers

2009

Abstract Star polymers with different numbers and lengths of poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PTBA) arms were obtained via atom transfer radical polymerization. Aliphatic alcohols with different number of hydroxyl groups varying from 3 to 6 and calix[4]arenes based on pyrogallol with 12 and 16 phenol groups were transformed to bromoester derivatives to prepare multifunctional ATRP initiators used as the cores of the stars. The star polymers were characterized by GPC with refractive index, multiangle laser light scattering and viscosimetric detectors. The molar masses of the stars reached 70,000 g/mol and the molar mass dispersities did not exceed 1.2. To elucidate the compact structure of the sta…

1991

Tracer diffusion coefficients D* of both components were measured in mixtures of polystyrene (PS) and polymethylstyrene (PMS), a random copolymer from 60 wt.-% of m-methylstyrene and 40 wt.-% of p-methylstyrene. The results are interpreted in terms of the free-volume theory which yields master curves even for “asymmetric” mixtures of oligomer and polymer chains, if D* is drawn versus the distance from the glass transition temperature, T–Tg. Whereas D* was measured by the forced Rayleigh scattering technique, we also studied photon correlation spectroscopy in these mixtures and observed “slow modes” with decay constants that correspond to diffusion coefficients 2–3 decades smaller than the i…

Quasi-elastic light scattering in polymer-containing microemulsion

1996

Abstract Quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS) was performed in dilute water in oil microemulsion stabilized by AOT surfactant. The water-soluble polyethylene oxide (PEO) with low molecular weight (8000) added to the microemulsion seems to be confined within the aqueous microphase, since PEO is insoluble in oil (n-heptane). The measurements by QELS of diffusion coefficient, at dilute concentrations, allow determination of the size of the droplets. The phase diagram of the microemulsion undergoes remarkable changes on addition of the polymer. The results show that at fixed R ( water surfactant ratio) the droplets decrease their size as the concentration of polymer increases. This occurrence …

Temperature-responsive inclusion complex of cationic PNIPAAM diblock copolymer and γ-cyclodextrin

2012

Aqueous mixtures of γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) and the thermosensitive cationic diblock copolymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-poly(3-acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride (PNIPAAM24-b-PAMPTAM(+)9) or the PNIPAAM homopolymer PNIPAAM47 have been investigated using various experimental methods. Solid γ-CD–polymer inclusion complexes (pseudopolyrotaxanes) form at ambient temperatures in fairly concentrated CD solutions. The NMR measurements showed that the stoichiometry of the inclusion complexes is close to two NIPAAM units per CD molecule. The cationic block of the copolymer is not incorporated into the CD cavity. Synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction spectra of the solid inclusion compl…

Structure of e-beam sculptured poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) networks across different length-scales, from macro to nano

2013

Abstract Study of macromolecular structure and dynamics of networks formed by pulsed electron-beam irradiation of poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) aqueous solutions, at relatively low energy per pulse and across different concentration regimes, provides the basis for the understanding of a new generation of functional nanostructures. Networks are the result of the follow–up reactions initiated by a continuous series of electron pulse-generated hydroxyl radicals, which may have a different fate at the variance of polymer concentration. Different spectroscopic techniques, FT-IR, 13 C { 1 H} CP-MAS NMR and Raman, applied to characterize the formed networks, describe a profound modification of t…

Nanoparticle Vesicles Through Self Assembly of Cyclodextrin- and Adamantyl-Modified Silica

2010

Stable nanoparticle vesicles were for the first time prepared from adamantyl- and cyclodextrin (CD)-modified silica nanoparticles forming host-guest interactions in aqueous solution. Adamantyl-functionalized nanoparticles were obtained from thiol-isocyanate reaction of thiol-modified nanoparticles with 1-adamantyl isocyanate. The CD modified silica particles were isolated from a reaction of mono-6-para-toluenesulfonyl-β-cyclodextrin with the thiol functionalized silica under microwave conditions in basic media. The obtained particles were characterized in respect of agglomeration and self-assembly behavior in aqueous solution by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy.…

3'-Arylazido-beta-alanyl-2-azido ATP, a cross-linking photoaffinity label for F1ATPases.

1989

Abstract The synthesis of the 3′-arylazido-2-azido ATP derivative 3′-O-{3-[N-(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)-amino]propionyl}2-azido-adenosine 5′-triphosphate (2,3′-DiN3ATP) is described. The bifunc­ tional photoreactive ATP analog is characterized spectroscopically. Photoaffinity labeling of F, ATPase from Micrococcus luteus by this analog results in the inactivation of the enzyme and in the formation of higher molecular weight cross-links,

Refined carotenoid analysis of the major light-harvesting complex of Mantoniella squamata

1997

The major light-harvesting complex (LHC) of the prasinophycean alga Mantoniella squamata is unique compared to other chlorophyll (Chl) a/b-binding LHC with respect to the primary protein structure and the pigmentation. Although the presence of Chl a, Chl b, a Chl c-type pigment and the xanthophylls neoxanthin, violaxanthin and prasinoxanthin was clearly determined, several carotenoids remained unidentified or were described controversially. We re-analysed the carotenoid composition and identified a new set of xanthophylls present in the LHC: uriolide, micromonol, micromonal and dihydrolutein. Additionally, one hydrophobic component was detected, presumably a xanthophyll. The pigment analysi…