Preparation and characterization of chitosan coatings onto regular cellulose fibers with ultrasound technique

Regenerated cellulose fibers—viscose fibers—were coated with chitosan using an ultrasound technique to improve their accessibility, reactivity and sorption properties. The main purpose of our research was to study the modification of viscose fibers and to determine the effect of the application of chitosan onto viscose fibers. Samples were obtained by treating the fibers with chitosan in a dilute acetic acid solution in an ultrasonic bath. The influences of the chitosan coating on the changes in morphology, supramolecular structure, sorption and tensile properties were studied. The spectra (FTIR analysis) of the treated viscose fibers showed changes and new absorption bands that revealed the existence of the chemical interactions with the chitosan. The scanning electron microscope images confirmed that the surface of the fibers was covered with the chitosan. A decrease in the water retention value and increase in the absorption and moisture content with an increasing concentration of chitosan was noted. Furthermore, the differences in tensile behavior were analyzed using an Instron tensile testing machine. The chitosan coating had no effect on the tensile strength of the viscose fibers, but influenced the tensile strain. Some changes, though not significant, were noted in the structure (crystallinity, orientation) of the treated viscose fibers.     

Anti-fog chitosan/sodium lauryl ether sulfate films

The aim of this study was the preparation and characterization of hydrophobic–hydrophilic chitosan films obtained through interaction between the cationic biopolymer, chitosan (CH), with sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), an anionic surfactant, which has also nonionic surfactant properties. The chitosan flat films were obtained at different concentrations of SLES, in the range of 0.02–0.1 M, where spherical capsules were also obtained. The wettability, quantified by the values of contact angle, indicated the hydrophobic character of the films. The significant values of swelling capacity in water, and in 1 % acetic acid solution confirmed the hydrophilic character of the obtained films. Weight loss of CH/SLES films after 24 h, in water and 1 % acetic acid solution was less than 3 % for the all samples. The structure of CH/SLES complex was determined by FTIR spectroscopy method. The morphology of CH/SLES film surfaces determined by atomic force microscopy showed a film surface with nanoroughness structure, determined by the SLES self-assembled nanostructures. The obtained CH/SLES films are transparent and have anti-fogging properties, compared with CH/sodium lauryl sulfate film, which is also transparent but, it gets fogged when coming in contact with warm air.     

Tuning of defects in ZnO nanorod arrays used in bulk heterojunction solar cells

With particular focus on bulk heterojunction solar cells incorporating ZnO nanorods, we study how different annealing environments (air or Zn environment) and temperatures impact on the photoluminescence response. Our work gives new insight into the complex defect landscape in ZnO, and it also shows how the different defect types can be manipulated. We have determined the emission wavelengths for the two main defects which make up the visible band, the oxygen vacancy emission wavelength at approximately 530 nm and the zinc vacancy emission wavelength at approximately 630 nm. The precise nature of the defect landscape in the bulk of the nanorods is found to be unimportant to photovoltaic cell performance although the surface structure is more critical. Annealing of the nanorods is optimum at 300°C as this is a sufficiently high temperature to decompose Zn(OH)₂ formed at the surface of the nanorods during electrodeposition and sufficiently low to prevent ITO degradation.     

Investigating the Role of Conformational Effects on Laccase Stability and Hyperactivation under Stress Conditions

Fungal laccase from Steccherinum ochraceum 1833 displays remarkable stability under different harsh conditions: organic/buffer mixtures, thermal treatment, and microwave radiation. The behavior is particularly significant in the light of the sharp inactivation observed for two different fungal laccases. Laccase from S. ochraceum 1833 also displays hyperactivation under mild thermal treatment (60 °C). Molecular dynamics simulations at 80 °C explained how this laccase retains the geometry of the electron transfer pathway, thereby assuring electron transfer through the copper ions and thus maintaining its catalytic activity at high temperature. Spectroscopic studies revealed that the thermal activation corresponds to specific conformational changes in the protein. The results indicate that this laccase is potentially applicable under denaturing conditions that might be beneficial for the biotransformation of recalcitrant substrates.     

Highly thermally conductive hexagonal boron nitride/alumina composite made from commercial hexagonal boron nitride

Hexagonal BN is an unusual material in that it is both highly thermally conductive as well as an electrical insulator. Additionally, hBN is also thermally stable in air. This unusual combination of properties makes hBN of significant interest for thermal management. Unfortunately, hBN is not easily consolidated into substrates without the addition of second phases which generally result in poorer thermal performance. This research investigates the potential to utilize this material to dissipate heat from high‐voltage, high‐power electrical devices. Specifically, a process to coat individual platelets of commercial hexagonal BN powder with a layer of amorphous aluminum oxide was developed. The coated hexagonal BN was then hot‐pressed to form a highly thermally conductive substrate. The process to coat hexagonal BN platelets with aluminum oxide was accomplished by mixing hexagonal BN with AlCl₃ containing some water, then evaporation of excess AlCl₃ to form a Al, Cl, and O layer on hexagonal BN. This product was then heated in air to convert the surface layer into aluminum oxide. Following hot pressing to 1950°C and 10 ksi, the consolidated composite has through‐plane and in‐plane thermal conductivity of 14 and 157 W·(m·K)^?1, respectively, at room temperature.     

Synthesis and functional characterization of tridegin and its analogues: inhibitors and substrates of factor XIIIa

Tridegin, a 66‐mer peptide isolated from the leech Haementeria ghilianii, is a potent inhibitor of the coagulation factor XIIIa. This paper describes the chemical synthesis of tridegin by two different strategies—solid‐phase assembly and native chemical ligation—both followed by oxidation in solution phase. Tridegin and truncated analogues were examined for their activity and revealed a particular importance of the C‐terminal region of the parent peptide. Based on these studies a minimal sequence required for factor XIIIa inhibition could be identified. Our data revealed that the glutamine residue at position 52 (Q⁵²) of tridegin most likely binds to the active site of factor XIIIa and was therefore suggested to react with the enzyme. The function of the N‐terminal region is also discussed, as the isolated C‐terminal segment of tridegin lost its inhibitory activity rapidly in the presence of factor XIIIa, whereas this was not the case for the full‐length inhibitor.     

A versatile synthesis method of dendrites-free segmented nanowires with a precise size control

ABSTRACT: We report an innovative strategy to obtain cylindrical nanowires combining well established and low-cost bottom-up methods such as template-assisted nanowires synthesis and electrodeposition process. This approach allows the growth of single-layer or multi-segmented nanowires with precise control over their length (from few nanometers to several micrometers). The employed techniques give rise to branched pores at the bottom of the templates and consequently dendrites at the end of the nanowires. With our method, these undesired features are easily removed from the nanowires by a selective chemical etching. This is crucial for magnetic characterizations where such non-homogeneous branches may introduce undesired features into the final magnetic response. The obtained structures show extremely narrow distributions in diameter and length, improved robustness and high-yield, making this versatile approach strongly compatible with large scale production at an industrial level. Finally, we show the possibility to tune accurately the size of the nanostructures and consequently provide an easy control over the magnetic properties of these nanostructures.     

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of 2-aminobenzanilide derivatives as potent and selective HDAC inhibitors

Epigenetic regulation is an essential process for the normal functioning of genes. Therefore, targeting epigenetic dysregulation in cancer may be a valid therapeutic approach for the treatment of this severe disease. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are enzymes involved in the regulation of epigenetic post-translational modifications; because they are overexpressed in many types of cancer, HDACs are valuable targets for the development of new anticancer agents. A large series of 2-aminobenzanilides linked at the 4'-position to α-amino acid amides, arenes, and heteroarenes through a methylene bridge were designed, synthesized, and tested as novel HDAC inhibitors. Several compounds showed IC(50) values in the two-digit nanomolar range in hrHDAC1 inhibition assays, lower than that of the reference compound MS-275. They also showed interesting selectivity profiles, as confirmed by western blot assays.     

Synthesis and spectral evaluation of some unsymmetrical mesoporphyrinic complexes

Synthesis and spectral evaluation of new zinc and copper unsymmetrical mesoporphyrinic complexes are reported. Zn(II)-5-(4-acetoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-10,15,20- tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)porphyrin, Zn(II)-5-[(3,4-methylenedioxy)phenyl]-10,15,20- tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)porphyrin, Cu(II)-5-(4-acetoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-10,15,20- tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)porphyrin and Cu(II)-5-[(3,4-methylenedioxy)phenyl]-10,15,20- tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)porphyrin were synthesized using microwave-assisted synthesis. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-Vis, EPR and NMR spectroscopy, which fully confirmed their structure. The spectral absorption properties of the porphyrinic complexes were studied in solvents with different polarities. Fluorescence emission and singlet oxygen formation quantum yields were evaluated for the compounds under study, revealing high yields for the zinc derivatives. The copper complexes are not emissive and only display residual capacity for singlet oxygen formation.