Effect of sintering atmosphere and lithium ion co-doping on photoluminescence properties of NaCaPO4:Eu phosphor

This paper reports on the photoluminescence properties of Na_1−yLi_yCa_1−xPO₄:_xEu²⁺ phosphors synthesized by a solid state reaction method. The prepared phosphors have been thoroughly characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), Raman spectrum, Thermo gravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) and photoluminescent spectral measurements. The structure of Na_1−yLi_yCa_1−xPO_4:xEu²⁺ phosphors were found to be orthorhombic in nature with a sphere-like morphology and having the particle size in micrometer range. The excitation spectra of NaCaPO₄:Eu²⁺ phosphors revealed a broad excitation band having its maximum intensity at 373 nm and ranging from 250 m to 450 nm. Incidentally, it matches well with the ultraviolet (UV) radiation of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Upon 373 nm excitation, these phosphors exhibited intense bluish-green emission band centered at 505 nm. The effect of sintering atmospheres and co-doping of lithium ions on the photoluminescence properties of the NaCaPO₄:Eu²⁺ phosphors were studied and explained suitably. The obtained results indicate that the prepared NaCaPO₄:Eu²⁺ phosphors are promising bluish-green candidates for the phosphor-converted white LED applications.     

Hydrolysis of SnCl2 on polyaniline: Formation of conducting PAni‐SnO2 composite with enhanced electrochemical properties

First time in the literature, we report that polyaniline‐EB can be doped by SnCl₂ to give conducting SnO₂ doped polyaniline novel material. The composite is characterized by Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet‐visible, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron micrograph, transmission electron microscopy, and electrochemical methods. The new composite exhibited improved electrochemical properties compared with the virgin polymer. The composite is also expected for its high sensitivity for recognizing volatile organic compounds. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Fabrication and characterization of multilayer SiO2/polymethacrylic acid/polypyrrole composites and hollow polypyrrole microspheres

Methacrylic acid was polymerized on the 3‐(methacryloxy)propyl trimethoxysilane‐modified silica core. The carboxylic acid groups of polymethacrylic acid (PMAA) not only provide the “active‐sites” for growth of the pyrrole monomers but also act as doping acids for polypyrrole (PPy). By in situ polymerization route, SiO₂/PMAA/PPy multilayer composites and hollow PPy microspheres with controllable shell thickness were fabricated. The morphologies, sizes, and structures of the nanocomposites were investigated in detail by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectra, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Study on ozone bleaching of cotton fabric – process optimisation, dyeing and finishing properties

In this work the role played by the presence of moisture and pH during ozone bleaching of grey cotton fabric and the design features of the ozone application chamber are reported. The results are explained with the help of a simplified model. The dyeing and resin finishing properties of ozone-bleached fabric are compared with those of hydrogen peroxide-bleached fabric.     

Polycarbonate urethane films modified by heparin to enhance hemocompatibility and endothelialization

Polyurethane with pendant carboxyl groups was synthesized by a two‐step reaction using methylene diphenyl diisocyanate as hard segments, polycarbonate diols as soft segments and 2,2‐bis(hydroxymethyl) propionic acid as chain extenders. The surfaces of the casting polymer films were further covalently conjugated with heparin as confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The associated surface‐exposed heparin content was measured to be 1.92 µg cm^?2 and was shown to be active. Meanwhile, surface hydrophobicity decreased after heparin modification. Heparin immobilization greatly improved the hemocompatibility of polyurethane films both in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro cell responses revealed that the expression of proinflammatory markers CD106 and CD62E of human vein endothelial cells was significantly suppressed on the surfaces of the heparinized polyurethane films, while the affinity and proliferation of the cells were improved. The in vivo performance of this material before and after heparin modification was evaluated as a stent coating material in a porcine coronary artery injury model. Histological analysis indicated that heparinized polyurethane induced mild foreign body reactions and inflammation, which were much lower than those induced by unmodified polyurethane. Heparin immobilization also accelerated the endothelialization process on the surface of the polymer‐coated stents when implanted in porcine coronary arteries. More detailed long‐term studies are needed to confirm the biostability of the heparin and the endothelialized surfaces. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Chemical Biology for Understanding Matrix Metalloproteinase Function

The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family has long been associated with normal physiological processes such as embryonic implantation, tissue remodeling, organ development, and wound healing, as well as multiple aspects of cancer initiation and progression, osteoarthritis, inflammatory and vascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. The development of chemically designed MMP probes has advanced our understanding of the roles of MMPs in disease in addition to shedding considerable light on the mechanisms of MMP action. The first generation of protease‐activated agents has demonstrated proof of principle as well as providing impetus for in vivo applications. One common problem has been a lack of agent stability at nontargeted tissues and organs due to activation by multiple proteases. The present review considers how chemical biology has impacted the progress made in understanding the roles of MMPs in disease and the basic mechanisms of MMP action.     

Design of Cyclic Peptides Featuring Proline Predominantly in the cis Conformation under Physiological Conditions

Turns are secondary‐structure elements that are omnipresent in natively folded polypeptide chains. A large variety of four‐residue β‐turns exist, which differ mainly in the backbone dihedral angle values of the two central residues i+1 and i+2. The βVI‐type turns are of particular biological interest because the i+2 residue is always a proline in the cis conformation and might thus serve as target of peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPIases). We have designed cyclic hexapeptides containing two proline residues that predominantly adopt the cis conformation in aqueous solution. NMR data and MD calculations indicated that the cyclic peptide sequences c‐(‐D Xaa‐Ser‐Pro‐D Xaa‐Lys‐Pro‐) result in highly symmetric backbone structures when both prolines are in the cis conformation and the D ‐amino acids are either alanine or phenylalanine residues. Replacement of the serine residue either by phosphoserine or by tyrosine compromises this symmetry, but further increases the cis conformation content of both prolines. As a result, we obtained a cyclic hexapeptide that exists almost exclusively as the cis‐Pro/cis‐Pro conformer but shows no cis/trans interconversion even in the presence of the PPIase Pin1, apparently due to an energetically quite favorable but highly restricted conformational space.