Low Molecular Mass Materials Research Articles

Fast Scanning Calorimetry of Organic Materials from Low Molecular Mass Materials to Polymers

Fast Scanning Calorimetry of Organic Materials from Low Molecular Mass Materials to Polymers

2,3,4-Trihydroxy benzonitrile-based liquid crystals: Fiber forming room temperature nematic phases

Herein we report the synthesis and investigation of a new type of liquid crystalline trimers. These trimers were designed and synthesized by connecting a 2,3,4-trihydroxy benzonitrile to three 4-cyanobiphenyl units via ether linkages with aliphatic spacers having a variable number of carbon atoms (n = 5–12). Their phase behaviour has been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was found that all the synthesized materials exhibit nematic phases that exist over wide temperature ranges and are even stable around ambient temperature. Smectic phases are suppressed and unique fiber formation was found for the nematic phases of these low molecular mass materials. Therefore, this report represents a step forward towards the design and synthesis of single component room temperature nematic materials with unique properties for potential applications.

Ovarian cavity fluid of the viviparous surfperch Neoditrema ransonnetii suppresses the spontaneous cytotoxic activity of head-kidney leucocytes against xenogeneic targets.

In this study, the effect of ovarian cavity fluid (OCF) from a surfperch Neoditrema ransonnetii on the cytotoxic activity of leucocytes was investigated. In an assay targeting RTG-2, a cell line derived from rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss gonads, leucocytes from both the spleen and head kidney showed spontaneous killing activity. Pre-incubation with OCF significantly suppressed the cytotoxic activity of head-kidney leucocytes towards RTG-2. This suppressive activity was due to the presence of low molecular-mass materials. These results suggest that OCF plays significant roles in pregnancy by its ability to modulate cytotoxicity with maternal leucocytes.

Compliance work for food contact materials: feasibility of the legally required safety assessment of an epoxy/amine-based coating for domestic water pipe restoration

Options were explored for fulfilling the legally required safety assessment for a widely applied epoxy/amine coating used for restoring corroded domestic drinking water supply systems. The coating was made up of two components mixed shortly before application, the first mainly consisting of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), the second of various amines. The analytically identified starting substances were all authorised, but only constituted a small proportion of the low molecular mass material left after curing and potentially migrating into water. Reaction products synthesised from constituents of the starting components (expected oligomers) could not be eluted from GC even after derivatisation, indicating that standard GC-MS screening would miss most potential migrants. They were detectable by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) after acetylation. HPLC with MS or fluorescence detection was possible for constituents including a BADGE moiety, but phenalkamines could not be detected with adequate sensitivity. Possibilities for determining long-term migration relevant for chronic toxicity are discussed. Analysis in water shortly after application of the coating overestimates migration if migration decreases over time and requires detection limits far out of reach. Analysis of a solvent extract of the coating is easier and provides an upper estimate of what could migrate into the drinking water over the years. However, to satisfy the regulatory requirements, components of the complex mixture need to be identified at lower proportions than those accessible. In vitro testing of the whole mixture for genotoxicity is expected to fail because of the required sensitivity and the glycidyl functions probably wrongly resulting in positive tests. The difficulties in dealing with this situation are discussed.

Chip electrophoresis of gelatin‐based nanoparticles

Recently, biodegradable nanoparticles received increasing attention for pharmaceutical applications as well as applications in the food industry. With the current investigation we demonstrate chip electrophoresis of fluorescently (FL) labeled gelatin nanoparticles (gelatin NPs) on a commercially available instrument. FL labeling included a step for the removal of low molecular mass material (especially excess dye molecules). Nevertheless, for the investigated gelatin NP preparation two analyte peaks, one very homogeneous with an electrophoretic net mobility ofμ = -24.6 ± 0.3 × 10(-9) m(2) /Vs at the peak apex (n = 17) and another more heterogeneous peak withμ between approximately -27.2 ± 0.2 × 10(-9) m(2) /Vs and -36.6 ± 0.2 × 10(-9) m(2) /Vs at the peak beginning and end point (n = 11, respectively) were recorded. Filtration allowed enrichment of particles in the size range of approximately 35nm (pore size employed for concentration of gelatin NPs) to 200nm (pore size employed during FL labeling). This corresponded to the very homogeneous peak linking it to gelatin NPs, whereas the more heterogeneous peak probably corresponds to gelatin not cross-linked to such a high degree (NP building blocks). Several further gelatin NP preparations were analyzed according to the same protocol yielding peaks with electrophoretic net mobilities between -23.3 ± 0.3 × 10(-9) m(2) /Vs and -28.9 ± 0.2 × 10(-9) m(2) /Vs at peak apexes (n = 15 and 6). Chip electrophoresis allows analyte separation in less than two minutes (including electrophoretic sample injection). Together with the high sensitivity of the FL detection - the LOD as derived for the first main peak of the applied dye from the threefold standard deviation of the background noise values 80 pM for determined separation conditions - this leads to a very promising high throughput separation technique especially for the analysis of bionanoparticles. For gelatin NP preparations, chip electrophoresis allows for example the comparison of preparation batches concerning the amount of NPs and gelatin building blocks as well as the indirect assessment of the degree of gelatin cross-linking (from obtained FL signals).

Preparation of self-assembled microspheres and their potential for drug delivery

Dextran solutions intended for use as plasma extenders have been observed to form insoluble precipitates. Earlier studies of precipitation have shown that in solutions of 50% and 60% w/w of dextran molecular mass 6000 g mol−1 beaded precipitates are formed over a two-week period. This study considers dextran precipitation over a wider molecular mass range and the kinetics, of formation, morphology and potential utility of these precipitates is investigated. Results show precipitation occurs over the dextran molecular mass range 6000–17,000 g mol−1, with lower molecular mass material showing more rapid precipitation. As bead formation is accompanied by an increase in turbidity, formation kinetics were quantified spectrophotometrically confirming that precipitation rates were inversely proportional to molecular mass. The utility of these precipitates for drug delivery applications was assessed using bovine serum albumin as a protein drug analogue. The results showed that the inclusion of protein did not prevent bead formation and that entrapped protein was subsequently released from dextran beads in a time dependant manner. This suggests that dextran beads of this type may find application in the drug delivery area, as they combine the advantages of mild entrapment conditions with the use of an unmodified clinically approved polymer.

Hardening of smooth pulsed laser deposited PMMA films by heating

Smooth poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films without any droplets were pulsed laser deposited at a wavelength of 248 nm and a laser fluence of 125 mJ/cm2. After deposition at room temperature, the films possess low universal hardness of only 3 N/mm2. Thermal treatments up to 200°C, either during deposition or afterwards, lead to film hardening up to values of 200 N/mm2. Using a combination of complementary methods, two main mechanisms could be made responsible for this temperature induced hardening effect well above the glass transition temperature of 102°C. The first process is induced by the evaporation of chain fragments and low molecular mass material, which are present in the film due to the ablation process, leading to an increase of the average molecular mass and thus to hardening. The second mechanism can be seen in partial cross-linking of the polymer film as soon as chain scission occurs at higher temperatures and the mobility and reactivity of the polymer material is high enough.

Pyrolysis of Waste Polypropylene and Characterisation of Tar

Waste polypropylene (PP) has been pyrolysed to obtain mainly a liquid tar product of high yield (83.5%) with the balance as gas (15.5%) and a little residue (1.0%). The elemental composition of the PP tar was: C: 87.1%, H: 12.6% and O+others: 0.4% (by difference). The tar samples have been characterised by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, heated-probe mass spectrometry and laser -desorption mass spectrometry (LD- MS), to give molecular mass distributions for comparison with molecular mass ranges indicated by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). About 50% of the tar was soluble in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, the solvent used for SEC. It appeared to consist mostly of low molecular mass materials with elution time at 20-27 min. Mass ranges from SEC and LD-MS agreed approximately in showing the upper mass limit of the tar to be about 1200 u, consisting of aromatics, alkenes, dialkenes and only minor quantities of alkanes.

Synthesis and optical/thermal properties of low molecular mass V-shaped materials based on 2,3-dicyanopyrazine

A novel series of luminescent low molecular mass materials containing a 2,3-dicyanopyrazine central core were synthesized through an esterification reaction between diphenol 10 and different aromatic carboxylic acids 1– 6, containing terminal long alkyl chains. They have a similar V-shaped geometry with lack of planarity between the two arms, confirmed by the X-ray structure of the central core. The optical and thermal properties of these compounds were evaluated. They show blue fluorescence in solution ( λ em max 440–480 nm) with quantum fluorescence yields ( Φ F) from 0.003 to 0.1 and Stokes shifts of around 90 nm. In solid state, optical band gaps ( E g) were from 3.14 to 3.32 eV. Thin films of 11, 13, and 14 exhibited blue fluorescence ( λ em max 430–456 nm), and 12, 15, and 16 (more bulky) displayed green fluorescence ( λ em max 488–512 nm). Most of the materials exhibited good thermal stability, exhibiting an amorphous glassy state after melting. Transparent amorphous films were easily obtained through spin coating and characterized by AFM analysis.

Adenosine in the venoms from viperinae snakes of the genus Bitis: Identification and quantitation using LC/MS and CE/MS

Snake venoms are rich sources of toxic proteins and small molecules. This study was directed at molecules of molecular mass below 1 kDa. Thirty different venoms, of either neurotoxic or haemorrhagic type, were fractionated using size-exclusion chromatography. Only venoms of the Puff adder ( Bitis arietans), Gaboon viper ( Bitis gabonica), and Rhinoceros viper ( Bitis nasicornis) exhibited large absorbance peaks at λ 280nm in the total volume range of the chromatographic column indicating the presence of abundant low molecular mass material. Analysis of fractions containing this material using both HPLC and capillary electrophoresis interfaced with electrospray ion-trap mass spectrometry unequivocally established that the bioactive nucleoside, adenosine, was the major component. The concentrations of adenosine found (Puff adder—97.7 × 10 −6 mol L −1; Gaboon viper—28.0 × 10 −6 mol L −1; and Rhinoceros viper—56.8 × 10 −6 mol L −1) were above those required to activate all known sub-types of adenosine receptors. Adenosine may thus act at the site of envenomation causing local vasodilatation and may play a role in the subsequent systemic hypotension observed.

Evidence That the Streptomyces Developmental Protein WhiD, a Member of the WhiB Family, Binds a [4Fe-4S] Cluster

WhiD is required for the late stages of sporulation in the Gram-positive bacterium Streptomyces coelicolor. WhiD is a member of the WhiB-like family of putative transcription factors that are present throughout the actinomycetes but absent from other organisms. This family of proteins has four near-invariant cysteines, suggesting that these residues might act as ligands for a metal cofactor. Overexpressed WhiD, purified from Escherichia coli, contained substoichiometric amounts of iron and had an absorption spectrum characteristic of a [2Fe-2S] cluster. After Fe-S cluster reconstitution under anaerobic conditions, WhiD contained approximately 4 iron atoms/monomer and similar amounts of sulfide ion and gave an absorption spectrum characteristic of a [4Fe-4S] cluster. Reconstituted WhiD gave no electron paramagnetic resonance signal as prepared but, after reduction with dithionite, gave an electron paramagnetic resonance signal (g approximately 2.06, 1.94) consistent with a one-electron reduction of a [4Fe-4S](2+) cluster to a [4Fe-4S](1+) state with electron spin of S = (1/2). The anaerobically reconstituted [4Fe-4S] cluster was oxygen sensitive. Upon exposure to air, absorption at 410 and 505 nm first increased and then showed a steady decrease with time until the protein was colorless in the near UV/visible region. These changes are consistent with an oxygen-induced change from a [4Fe-4S] to a [2Fe-2S] cluster, followed by complete loss of cluster from the protein. Each of the four conserved cysteine residues, Cys-23, -53, -56, and -62, was essential for WhiD function in vivo.

Characterization of particulate proteins in Pacific surface waters

We investigated molecular characteristics of particulate proteins in Pacific surface waters using two‐dimensional electrophoresis (2DE). Most proteinaceous materials estimated by dye‐binding methods were characterized by the 2DE unresolved acidic materials with a broad range of molecular mass and the 2DE unresolved low molecular mass materials with a broad range of isoelectric point. The 2DE unresolved acidic and low molecular mass materials were considered to comprise peptides conjugated with acidic saccharides and degradation products (peptides) of proteins, respectively, which indicates that almost all proteins in living organisms failed to survive in detrital particulate organic matter (POM). Nevertheless, 23 discrete proteins were distinguished by the 2DE. Electrophoretic patterns of the discrete proteins indicated that they were a component of detrital POM. Three discrete proteins were subjected to N terminal amino acid sequence analysis. Two proteins out of three could not be determined because their N termini were blocked, and one protein was determined from the N terminus to the ninth amino acid residue. A homology search revealed that the N terminal amino acid sequence of the protein agreed completely with that of 70 kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) derived from photosynthetic organisms. HSP70 is a major member of the molecular chaperones that protect or repair proteins from damage under conditions of environmental stress. The occurrence of HSP70 in this study demonstrated that phytoplankton were able to induce the molecular chaperone(s). Clarification of factor(s) controlling induction of chaperones will enable us to assess the actual environmental stress on phytoplankton at the biomolecular level.

Viscoelastic director rotation of a low molecular mass liquid crystal

We show evidence for a viscoelastic rotation of the spontaneous polarization in a low molecular mass chiral ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal (SmC*). A weak elastic modulusw of ~102 Pa is sufficient to cause a unique effect: the polarization turns perpendicular to sufficiently strong a.c. electric fields. Viscoelasticity is unusual for low molecular mass materials. We suggest that it is connected to the anisotropy of the positional order. This is an inherent property of liquid crystals, but has never been taken into account in macroscopic descriptions.

Photogeneration of singlet oxygen and free radicals in dissolved organic matter isolated from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya River plumes

The photoreactivity to UV light of ultrafiltered dissolved organic matter (DOM) collected during cruises along salinity transects in the Mississippi and Atchafalaya River plumes was examined by measuring photogenerated free radicals and singlet molecular oxygen (1O2) photosensitization. Singlet oxygen was detected by its infrared phosphorescence at 1270 nm using both steady-state and time-resolved techniques. The 1O2 quantum yields were corrected for self-quenching of 1O2 by the DOM substrates. Photogenerated free radicals were monitored by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Two size fractions of the dissolved organic matter were examined: material retained with a 3 kDa cut-off filter and material retained with a 1 kDa cut-off filter. The highest 1O2 quantum yields were found in the lower molecular mass material. There was little change in the 1O2 quantum yields with increasing salinity, indicating that the photosensitizing ability of the estuarine DOM does not decrease as terrestrial DOM is transported to sea and mixes with marine DOM. In contrast to 1O2 formation, the steady-state levels of photoproduced free radicals did not significantly differ between high and low molecular mass DOM, and the levels were substantially higher in riverine DOM than along plume salinity transects. This rapid transition in free radical level suggests that terrestrially-derived DOM experiences significant changes in this aspect of its photoreactivity in low (<10 ppt) salinity waters.

Evaluation of “Solvent-Peak Separation” Column for the Determination of Polymer Molecular Mass Averages by SEC

The poor baseline recovery between the end of the polymer chromatogram and the beginning of the solvent-related impurity peaks is often encountered in size exclusion chromatography. Also oligomers included in the polymer samples disturb the baseline recovery. The arbitrary selection of the end of the polymer chromatogram for the calculation of molecular mass averages is one of the most restrictive aspects of accurate measurement of the number-average molecular mass; inclusion of low-molecular mass materials results in underestimation of number-average molecular mass. The connection of a short-column packed with packing materials of a small pore size was shown to effectively separate the polymer chromatogram from the solvent-related impurity peaks and to allow the proper selection of the baseline.

Antiferroelectric and ferrielectric liquid crystalline low molar mass materials and polymers

Novel liquid crystalline Low Molecular Mass (LMM) materials bearing two chiral lactate groups, as well as compounds of like structure to MHPOBC have been synthesized. All the LMM compounds exhibit the SmC*A (antiferroelectric) and/or SmC*gamma (ferrielectric) phases. The mesogens have been incorporated as pendant groups on polymer backbones of three different natures to prepare side chain liquid crystalline copolysiloxanes, homopolysiloxanes and homopolyacrylates. The investigation of the polymers by means of miscibility studies showed that the antiferro- and ferri-electric phases are strongly destabilized in the coposiloxanes and homopolysiloxanes, while in the homopolyacrylates a large temperature range mesophase is found to be miscible with the SmC*A phase. The physical properties of the mesophases and their stability, both for the LMM materials and the polymers, are presented and discussed.

Characterization of the particulate protein in Pacific surface waters

We investigated molecular characteristics of particulate proteins in Pacific surface waters using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE). Most proteinaceous materials estimated by dye-binding methods were characterized by the 2DE unresolved acidic materials with a broad range of molecular mass and the 2DE unresolved low molecular mass materials with a broad range of isoelectric point. The 2DE unresolved acidic and low molecular mass materials were considered to comprise peptides conjugated with acidic saccharides and degradation products (peptides) of proteins, respectively, which indicates that almost all proteins in living organisms failed to survive in detrital particulate organic matter (POM). Nevertheless, 23 discrete proteins were distinguished by the 2DE. Electrophoretic patterns of the discrete proteins indicated that they were a component of detrital POM. Three discrete proteins were subjected to N terminal amino acid sequence analysis. Two proteins out of three could not be determined because their N termini were blocked, and one protein was determined from the N terminus to the ninth amino acid residue. A homology search revealed that the N terminal amino acid sequence of the protein agreed completely with that of 70 kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) derived from photosynthetic organisms. HSP70 is a major member of the molecular chaperones that protect or repair proteins from damage under conditions of environmental stress. The occurrence of HSP70 in this study demonstrated that phytoplankton were able to induce the molecular chaperone(s). Clarification of factor(s) controlling induction of chaperones will enable us to assess the actual environmental stress on phytoplankton at the biomolecular level. The particulate organic matter (POM) in surface water is a complex mixture of living biomass and nonliving detritus. The contribution of living biomass to the bulk POM is generally 1 order of magnitude lower than that of detrital organic matter (e.g., Volkman and Tanoue 2002). The particulate combined amino acids (PCAA) are the largest identified fraction in surface POM (e.g., Wakeham et al. 1997), and dye-binding colorimetric methods demonstrated that proteinaceous materials were a major component of POM (Setchell 1981; Long and Azam 1996). Phytoplankton is a primary producer of organic matter in the sea, and most combined amino acids in phytoplankton are in the form of proteins. However, heterotrophic processing may convert cellular proteins of phytoplankton to other forms before its incorporation into detrital pool. At present the chemical nature of the detrital combined amino acids and proteinaceous materials is not well documented, and the processes by which organic matter produced by phytoplankton is transferred to detrital POM are not clear. The characterization of proteinaceous materials in POM at the molecular level is 1

The influence of starch molecular mass on the properties of extruded thermoplastic starch

The mechanical properties of a low and a high molecular mass thermoplastic starch (TPS) were monitored at water contents in the range of 5–30% (w/w). The granular starches were plasticized by extrusion processing with glycerol and water. The low molecular mass starch was prepared by partial acid hydrolysis of potato starch. The extruded TPS materials were stored at 60% relative humidity for 12 months to level out differences in starch structure due to retrogradation. The water content was then varied by an additional storage period at various humidities. The average molecular masses of the TPS materials, composed of native starch or of hydrolysed starch, were 37 000 and 1900 kg mol −1, respectively. The apparent amylose contents of the high and low molecular mass materials were 25% and 11%, respectively. Differences were observed in thermal properties and crystallinity between the two types of materials, as a function of water content but not as a function of molecular mass. The stress-strain properties of the materials were dependent on the water content. The materials showed a viscoelastic behaviour characteristic of a semicrystalline polymer. Materials containing less than 9% water were glassy with an elastic modulus between 400 and 1000 MPa. For the materials a transition from brittle to ductile behaviour occurred at a water content in the range of 9–10%, which is in accordance with the observed glass transition temperature at this water content. The rubbery materials, with a water content of 9–15%, were tough and an optimum in ultimate elongation was observed. Above a water content of 15% the materials became weak and soft and the strain at break decreased. No significant differences in brittle-to-ductile transition as a function of water content were observed between the low and high molecular mass TPS materials. In the rubbery state with 14% water, the elongations at break of the high and low molecular mass materials were 100–125% and 30–50%, respectively. The tearing energy of the materials showed a maximum at a water content of 9–10%. The energies at this maximum of the high and low molecular mass materials were 0.15 and 0.1 J mm −2, respectively. The lower strain and tearing energy of the low molecular mass materials in the rubbery state were attributed to the reduced amylose chain length as well as the molecular mass and the degree of branching of the amylopectin molecules. This resulted in a material with a less effective entangled starch matrix. The entanglements were described as a complex network of the linear amylose chains and the outer chains of the amylopectin molecules in which hydrogen bonding plays an important role.

The mechanism of calcium channel facilitation in bovine chromaffin cells.

1. This study was planned to clarify the mechanism of Ca2+ channel facilitation by depolarizing prepulses given to voltage-clamped bovine chromaffin cells. The hypothesis for an autocrine modulation of such channels was tested by studying the effects of a soluble vesicle lysate (SVL) on whole-cell Ba2+ currents (IBa). 2. SVL was prepared from a bovine adrenal medullary homogenate. The ATP content in this concentrated SVL amounted to 3.18 +/- 0.12 mM (n = 4). The concentration of noradrenaline and adrenaline present in the SVL was 11.2 +/- 0.97 and 15.2 +/- 2 mM, respectively (n = 5). A 1:1000 dilution of SVL in the external solution halved the magnitude of IBa and produced a 7-fold slowing of its activation kinetics. The blocking effects of SVL were concentration dependent and quickly reversed upon washout. 3. Inhibition and slowing of the kinetics of IBa by SVL could be partially reversed by strong depolarizing prepulses (+90 mV, 45 ms). This reversal of inhibition, called Ca2+ channel facilitation, persisted in the presence of 3 microM nifedipine. 4. Intracellular dialysis of GDP-beta-S (0.5 mM) or pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin (100 ng ml-1 for 18-24 h) prevented the reduction in peak current caused by a 1:100 dilution of SVL; no prepulse facilitation could be observed under these conditions. 5. The receptor blockers naloxone (10 microM) or suramin (100 microM) and PPADS (100 microM) largely antagonized the effects of SVL. Treatment of SVL with alkaline phosphatase or dialysis against a saline buffer to remove low molecular mass materials (< 10 kDa) considerably reduced the activity of SVL. 6. Stopping the flow of the external solution (10 mM Ba2+) gradually reduced the size, and slowed down the activation phase, of the current. Prepulse facilitation of IBa was absent or weak in a superfused cell, but was massive upon flow-stop conditions in the presence or absence of 3 microM nifedipine. 7. Our experiments suggest that facilitation by prepulses of whole-cell current through Ca2+ channels is due to the suppression of an autoinhibitory autocrine loop present in bovine chromaffin cells. By acting at least on purinergic and opiate receptors, the exocytotic release of ATP and opiates will cause a tonic inhibition of the current through a G-protein-mediated mechanism. Such a mechanism will be removed by strong depolarizing prepulses, and will involve preferentially non-L-type channels. In the light of these and other recent results, previously held views on the selective recruitment by prepulses of dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels are not tenable.

A combined Raman and XPS study of the effects induced on glutathione by ion beam irradiation

Low fluence ion irradiation of organic materials causes physical and chemical modifications that depend on the nature of the pristine materials and on the beam parameters. The knowledge of the microscopic mechanisms that induce the macroscopic modifications is able to produce the desired effect by a careful selection of the pristine material and of the beam parameters. Ion beam irradiation of “biomaterials” is currently the subject of many studies aimed to investigate these materials for both fundamental and applied reasons. Here we present the results of a combined XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) and Raman study on thin films of glutathione bombarded with 250 keV He ions. The need for having a low molecular mass material arises from our plan to investigate the ion beam effects by means of techniques that follow the chemical evolution of the sample under ion bombardment such as mass spectrometry, photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. In this respect a low molecular weight target, in principle, is easier to understand than one at high molecular mass.