Staphylococcus aureus—A Known Opponent against Host Defense Mechanisms and Vaccine Development—Do We Still Have a Chance to Win?

The main purpose of this review is to present justification for the urgent need to implement specific prophylaxis of invasive Staphylococcus aureus infections. We emphasize the difficulties in achieving this goal due to numerous S. aureus virulence factors important for the process of infection and the remarkable ability of these bacteria to avoid host defense mechanisms. We precede these considerations with a brief overview of the global necessitiy to intensify the use of vaccines against other pathogens as well, particularly in light of an impasse in antibiotic therapy. Finally, we point out global trends in research into modern technologies used in the field of molecular microbiology to develop new vaccines. We focus on the vaccines designed to fight the infections caused by S. aureus, which are often resistant to the majority of available therapeutic options.     

Acrylic bone cements modified with poly(ethylene glycol)‐based biocompatible phase‐change materials

The high polymerization temperature of acrylic bone cements used in hip replacement implantation may cause thermal necrosis of surrounding tissues. In order to reduce the polymerization temperature, acrylic bone cement has been modified with a biocompatible polymeric phase‐change material (PCM) based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) of different molecular weights and stabilized with potato starch. Structural and morphological studies were performed, and the thermal and mechanical properties were investigated. The incorporation of PEG‐based PCM led to a decrease in the polymerization temperature of bone cement from 70 °C for unmodified cement to 58 °C for modified cement. Modified cement materials were stable in incubation tests, although acoustic analysis data revealed a decrease in propagation speed after incubation, which indicates formation of material defects (pores, cracks, voids, etc.) due to water activity. However, in the regeneration process, these defects can be filled by freshly grown bone tissue leading to better incorporation of bone cement replacements into tissue. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43898.     

Synthesis,modification, and porous properties of new glycidyl methacrylate copolymers

Synthesis, copolymerization, and physicochemical properties of new, of different degrees of crosslinker tetrafunctional bis[4(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methacryloyloxypropoxy)phenyl]sulfide and glycidyl methacrylate copolymers are presented. The monomers were used for the synthesis of porous microspheres in the presence of pore‐forming diluents, decan‐1‐ol, and toluene. Influence of diluents composition on their porous structures was studied. Porous structure of the obtained microspheres in dry (from nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements) states was studied. Their chemical structures were studied by the use of Fourier transform infrared. The number of epoxy groups of the obtained copolymers, their thermal properties (thermogravimetric analysis), and swelling characteristics in 10 solvents of different chemical nature were examined. Selected copolymers were modified by amines in the epoxide ring‐opening reaction. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Mechanism of MxOy nanoparticles/CNTs for catalytic carbonization of polyethylene and application to flame retardancy

Three kinds of metal oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄, Co₃O₄, and Ni₂O₃) are produced on carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The synergistic effects rendered by the CNTs and metal oxide nanoparticles on carbonization of polyethylene (PE) are studied and applications to flame retardancy of PE are investigated systematically. The CNT‐Ni₂O₃ delivers the best performance and the mechanism pertaining to the enhanced flame retardancy is proposed and discussed. It is found that under the same conditions, the carbonization rate can be a factor to influence the flame retardancy performance. Among Fe, Co, and Ni, Ni has the fastest carbonation rate, which leads to the best flame retardancy performance. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 45233.     

2-azaallylic rearrangement in homogeneous systems

In this work we present mechanism of the base-catalyzed 2-azaallylic rearrangement in homogeneous media. Detailed 2-azaallylic rearrangement studies have shown that tautomerism of derivatives of benzylidenebenzhydrylamines and N-fluorenylidenebenzylamines is not adequately encomposed by the Hammet equation and the equilibrium constant in the case of studied derivatives depends on the electronic as well as steric factors of the azaallylic system substituents. The presence of steric interactions which influence the equilibrium state has been additionally confirmed by means of crystallographic and molecular mechanics data as well as NOE studies. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis and surface properties of new dicephalic saccharide-derived surfactants

A new group of nonionic dicephalic saccharide amides, N-dodecyl-N,N-bis[(3-d-gluconylamido)propyl]-amine, N-dodecyl-N,N-bis[(3-d-glucoheptonylamido)propyl]-amine, and N-alkyl-N,N-bis[(3-lactobionylamido)propyl]amines (alkyl: n-C₁₂H_25′ n-C₁₆H_33′, n-C₁₈H₃₇) were synthesized and characterized. Their structure and purity were confirmed by means of ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Carbon spectra were verified using a DEPT experiment. The surface and interfacial properties such as critical micelle concentration (CMC), standard free energy of micellization, ΔG _CMC, surface excess concentration, Γ_CMC, and surface area demand per molecule, A _CMC, were determined. The tertiary nitrogen atom seems to have a surprising effect on surfactnat packing at the interface.     

Porous microspheres,copolymers of bis[4‐(2‐hydroxy‐ 3‐methacryloyloxypropoxy)phenyl]sulfide,and divinylbenzene as stationary phase for HPLC

Synthesis of highly crosslinked methacrylate copolymers of in form of microspheres is presented. They are prepared from tetrafunctional methacrylate derivative of bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)sulfide, bis[4‐(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methacryloyloxypropoxy)phenyl]sulfide (BES‐DM), and divinylbenzene (DVB). In chemical structure of these copolymers exhibit hydroxyl and ester groups of hydrophilic nature. Additionally, copolymer contains sulfur atoms coming from BES‐DM monomer. Porous structure of the copolymers in the dry and wet state was studied. Microspheres possessing the largest pore volume and specific surface area were subjected to chromatographic investigations. The results show that polar functional groups existing in the chemical structure of the studied microspheres have influence on reversed‐phase HPLC retention mechanism. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Properties of Magnesium Oxo-Fluoride Supports for Metal Catalysts

A mixed MgF₂–MgO system has been tested as a potential support of iridium catalysts in the hydrodesulfurization of thiophene. Samples of MgF₂–MgO with different contents of MgO (0–100%) have been prepared by one-step sol–gel method in the reaction of magnesium methoxide dissolved in methanol with hydrofluoric acid. They have been used as supports for the synthesis of iridium (1 wt% Ir) catalysts. The supports have been characterized by XRD, low temperature nitrogen adsorption and thermogravimetric measurements. The one-step method of MgF₂–MgO synthesis has been shown to permit the control of MgO content in the mixed system. The MgF₂–MgO samples are classified as mesoporous, of large surface area (100–450 m² g^?1) depending on the amount of MgO introduced, with the maximum for 71 mol% MgO. The presence of two phases in the mixture delays the process of both MgF₂ and MgO crystallization and increases the resistance of the MgF₂–MgO texture to treatment at temperatures up to 800 °C. The catalysts obtained by deposition of the iridium phase on MgF₂, MgO and MgF₂–MgO (62 mol% MgO) calcined at 400–700 °C, have been tested in the reaction of hydrodesulfurization of thiophene. The most active has been the iridium catalyst supported on MgF₂–MgO.     

Synthesis of glycidyl esters

A novel method of synthesis of glycidyl carboxylates (2,3‐epoxypropyl carboxylates, RCOOCH₂CH‐CH₂O) has been developed by carrying out the reaction of epichlorhydrin with a carboxylic acid in the presence of chromium acetate catalyst and subsequent dehydrochlorination of the resulting mixture of chlorohydrin esters followed by their separation. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry