Recycling of pharmaceutical waste gelatin for controlled‐release applications. I. A 2,4‐dicholorphenoxy acetic acid based system

Gelatin is a natural macromolecular protein. It contains a wide variety of amino acids in its polymer structure, and it is colorless to yellowish, water‐soluble, and tasteless. It is used as a dispersing agent, sizing medium, and coating for photographic films and in pharmaceutical formulations. In this study, biodegradable mulching, based on waste gelatin from pharmaceutical gelatin scraps (derived from pharmaceutical soft gelatin capsule production), was formulated via the casting of water solutions or suspensions into flexible and consistent films. Gelatin was blended with synthetic materials such as poly(vinyl alcohol) and other natural wastes such as sugar cane bagasse and sawdust. To all formulations, 2,4‐dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4‐D) was added as a herbicide. The morphology and mechanical properties of the samples were investigated with scanning electron microscopy and tensile testing, respectively. The results showed that the produced films had controlled‐release properties. The effects of various additives and crosslinking on the films and the release of the herbicide 2,4‐D from the films were also investigated. The introduction of synthetic and natural additives reduced the release rate of 2,4‐D. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 2313–2319, 2004     

Effect of heat treatment on the structural and optical properties of CuInTe2 thin films

The CuInTe2 thin films were prepared by thermal vacuum evaporation of the bulk compound. The structural and optical properties in the temperature range 300–47 K of thin films grown on glass substrates and annealed in vacuum were studied. The films were investigated by X-ray diffraction and electron microscope techniques. The calculated lattice constants for CuInTe₂ powder were found to bea=0.619 nm andc –1,234 nm. From the reflection and transmission data, the optical constants, refractive indexn, absorption index,k, and the absorption coefficient, , werw computed. The optical energy gap was determined for CuInTe₂ thin films heat treated at different temparatures for different periods of time. It was found thatE _g increases with both increasing temperature and time of annealing.     

Removal, preconcentration and determination of trace heavy metal ions in water samples by AAS via chemically modified silica gel N-(1-carboxy-6-hydroxy) benzylidenepropylamine ion exchanger

The use of chemically modified silica gel N-(1-carboxy-6-hydroxy) benzylidenepropylamine (SiG-CHBPA), ion exchanger for removal and preconcentration of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in natural water samples collected from River Nile, Mediterranean Sea and other locations followed by their consecutive AAS determination was described. The effects on the percentage of recovered metal ions including mass change of ion exchanger, stirring time, pH of sample solutions and eluent concentration were studied. The distribution coefficient K_d, ml g^− 1 and the percentage concentration of the studied metal ions on the ion exchanger at equilibrium, C_M,_eqm ,% (Recovery, %) were studied as a function of experimental parameters. The logarithmic values of the distribution coefficients, log K_d are 3-6.3. The interfering effects of some foreign ions on the removal, preconcentration and determination of the investigated metal ions were described. The metal-chelates formed between the ion exchanger and the studied metal ions were characterized by IR (absorption and reflectance), UV spectrometry, potentiometric titration and thermal analysis (TG and DTG). The reliability of the present method was confirmed by the comparison with a standard solvent extraction method. The present method is simple and rapidly applicable for the determination of the studied metal ions, ng ml^− 1 in different natural water samples.     

An Environmentally Benign,Highly Efficient Catalytic Reduction of p‐Nitrophenol using a Nano‐Sized Nickel Catalyst Supported on Silica‐Alumina

A green and effective method is reported for the reduction of p‐nitrophenol to p‐aminophenol using a nano‐sized nickel catalyst supported on silica‐alumina in the presence of hydrazine hydrate as an alternative source of hydrogen. It was found that nickel loaded on a silica‐alumina support is a very effective catalyst in the hydrogenation of p‐nitrophenol to p‐aminophenol. Thus it attained 100% conversion in only 69 seconds instead of 260 seconds for commercial Raney nickel. In addition, the possibility to reuse it more than one time with great efficiency gives it another advantage over commercial Rainey nickel which cannot be used more than once. This economical and environmentally friendly method provides a potentially new approach for the synthesis of the intermediate product of paracetamol in industry, which overcomes the drawbacks of the known reduction methods. The prepared catalysts were fully characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX), and electron spin resonance (ESR) tehniques.     

In vitro displacement by rat serum of adsorbed radiolabeled poloxamer and poloxamine copolymers from model and biodegradable nanospheres

Poloxamer 407 and poloxamine 908 have been used by many research groups to modify the surface of both model latex and biodegradable nanospheres, thereby producing nanospheres that have shown reduced protein adsorption in vitro and extended circulation times in vivo. A potential limitation of such systems is the desorption of the copolymer coating layer. We describe a two-stage process to radiolabel poloxamer 407 and poloxamine 908 that has facilitated an investigation into this potential desorption, in vitro. The first stage of the labeling procedure involved the substitution of the terminal hydroxyl groups in each poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chain of poloxamer 407 and poloxamine 908 with an amino group. The aminated copolymers were then radiolabeled with 125Iodine Bolton-Hunter reagent. The efficiency of labeling was calculated to be approximately 20% for the tetramine poloxamine 908 and approximately 33% for the diamine poloxamer 407. Remaining free amino groups were then either acetylated, using acetic anhydride, or left in the free amino form. Covalent linkage of the radiolabel to the copolymer was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The stability of the link between radiolabel and copolymer to hydrolysis was also confirmed; <4% loss of radiolabel occurred from poloxamine 908 after incubation in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 37 degrees C for 8 days. The radiolabeled copolymers (with the free amino groups acetylated) were then used in experiments that have given the first direct evidence that adsorbed copolymers can be displaced by serum proteins in significant amounts from the surface of model and biodegradable nanospheres. The displacement was highly dependent on copolymer-nanosphere compatibility, with up to 78% of 125I tetramine poloxamine 908 being displaced from poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanospheres in 24 h, compared with 20% displacement of 125I tetramine poloxamine 908 in 24 h from polystyrene nanospheres. These results have direct implication for the future design of drug delivery systems based on coated nanospheres.     

Influence of silicon carbide on structural,optical and magnetic properties of Wollastonite/Fe2O3 nanocomposites

The influence of adding 10, 20 and 30% molar ratio of silicon carbide (SiC) separately to a composite of wollastonite (W) with a fixed content of 10%Fe₂O₃ prepared by wet precipitation method was studied. The crystal structure of the annealed composite powders was inspected by X-ray diffraction (XRD); revealing multi-phase structure. The highest estimated crystallite size investigated by Scherrer equation of W, SiC, WFe:SiC₁₀, WFe:SiC₂₀ and WFe:SiC₃₀ were 53.89, 54.6, 56.3, 48.5 and 54.6 nm respectively; demonstrating the formation of nanocomposites. Particles shape, size and crystallinity of the samples were studied using high resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM). The band gap E_g values of the nanocomposites increased with SiC content having an intermediate value that lies between that of γ-Fe₂O₃ (maghemite) and SiC. Ferromagnetic and paramagnetic contributions were observed in the magnetic hysteresis loops for the composites. This study highlighted that the coercive field (H_ci) of the composites improved with increasing the SiC content. The innovative wollastonite/Fe₂O₃/SiC with amended magnetic properties elicited attention due to their promising application in bone filler and industrial purposes.     

Biologically active polymers. IV. Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of tartaric acid polyamides

New bactericidal polyamides with quaternary ammonium or phosphonium salts were prepared, and their antimicrobial activities were explored. The polyamides were synthesized by the polycondensation of diethyl‐l‐tartrate or chloromethylated diethyl‐l‐tartrate with ethylenediamine in dry absolute ethanol. The polyamides were modified to yield polymers with either quaternary ammonium or phosphonium salts. The polymers were characterized with elemental microanalysis and ¹H‐NMR and IR spectra. The antimicrobial activity of the polymers bearing onium salts was studied against Gram‐negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomones aeruginosa, Shigella sp., and Salmonella typhae), Gram‐positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus), and a fungus (Trichophytum rubrum) by the cut‐plug and viable‐cell‐count methods. Although all the polymers showed high antibacterial activity, some had no antifungal activity. The tributyl phosphonium salt of the polyamide was more effective against both Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria than the triethyl ammonium and triphenyl phosphonium salts of the polyamide. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 4780–4790, 2006     

Chemical modification of chloromethylated polystyrene with pyridylazo‐β‐naphthol

Chloromethylated polystyrene was chemically modified through alkylation of pyridylazo‐β‐naphthol (PAN) in the presence of a phase‐transfer catalyst. The chemical modification was achieved through O‐alkylation as well as N‐alkylation of PAN, leading to formation of polymer‐supported quaternary ammonium salt in the latter case. Both types of a polymer‐supported PAN moiety were detected by FTIR spectroscopic analysis. The complexation behavior of the polymer‐supported PAN as an ion‐exchanger toward some metal ions was studied. Thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric analyses data were used to study the kinetics of the thermal decomposition process of the ion‐exchanger. Some thermodynamic parameters for the ion‐exchanger were calculated by applying the rate theory of the first‐order reaction. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 3044–3048, 2000     

Antimicrobial activity of novel modified aminated chitosan with aromatic esters

Polymer Bulletin - Novel modified aminated chitosan with aromatic esters has been synthesized and characterized, and finally, their antimicrobial activities were evaluated. p-hydroxymethyl...