A new porous 2D coordination polymer built by copper(II) and trimesic acid

A 2D porous material, Cu-3(tmen)(3)(tma)(2)(H2O)(2)(.)6.5H(2)O [tmen = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethane-1,2-diamine; tmaH(3) = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid/trimesic acid], has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray single crystal analysis, variable temperature magnetic measurements, IR spectra and XRPD pattern. The complex consists of 2D layers built by three crystallographically independent Cu(tmen) moieties bridged by tma anions. Of the three copper ions, Cu(1) and Cu(2) present distorted square pyramidal coordination geometry, while the third exhibits a severely distorted octahedral environment. The Cu(1)(tmen) and Cu(2)(tmen) building blocks bridged by tma anions give rise to chains with a zig-zag motif, which are cross-connected by Cu(3)(tmen)-tma polymers sharing metal ions Cu(2) through pendant tma carboxylates. The resulting 2D architecture extends in the crystallographic ab-plane. The adjacent sheets are embedded through the Cu(3)(tmen) tma chains, leaving H2O-filled channels. There are 6.5 lattice water molecules per formula unit, some of which are disordered. Upon heating, the lattice water molecules get eliminated without destroying the crystal morphology and the compound rehydrated reversibly on exposure to humid atmosphere. Magnetic data of the complex have been fitted considering isolated irregular Cu-3 triangles (three different J parameters) by applying the CLUMAG program. The best fit indicates three close comparable J parameters and very weak antiferromagnetic interactions are operative between the metal centers. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A new cyano-bridged one-dimensional (GdFeIII)-Fe-III coordination polymer with o-phenanthroline as the blocking ligand: synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties

Synthesis, structural characterization, and magnetic properties of a new cyano-bridged one-dimensional iron (III)-gadolinium (III) compound, trans-[Gd(o-phen)(2)(H2O)(2)(mu-CN)(2)Fe(CN)(4)], - 2no-phen (o-phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), have been described. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic P (1) over bar space group with the following unit cell parameters: a = 10.538(14) angstrom, b = 12.004(14) angstrom, c = 20.61(2) angstrom, alpha = 92.41(1)degrees, beta = 92.76(1)degrees, gamma = 11 2.72(1)degrees, and Z = 2. In this complex, each gadolinium (III) is coordinated to two nitrile nitrogens of the CN groups coming from two different ferricyanides, the mutually trans cyanides of each of which links another different Gd-III to create -NC-Fe(CN)(4)-CN-Gd-NC- type 1-D chain structure. The one-dimensional chains are self-assembled in two-dimensions via weak C-H center dot center dot center dot N hydrogen bonds. Both the variable-temperature (2-300 K, 0.01 T and 0.8 T) and variable-field (0-50 000 Gauss, 2 K) magnetic measurements reveal the existence of very weak interaction in this molecule. The temperature dependence of the susceptibilities has been analyzed using a model for a chain of alternating classic (7/2) and quantum (1/2) spins. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrospinning atactic polystyrene: a neutron scattering study

Electrospinning is a method used to produce nanoscale to microscale sized polymer fibres. In this study we electrospin 1:1 blends of deuterated and hydrogenated atactic- Polystyrene from N,N-Dimethylformamide for small angle neutron scattering experiments in order to analyse the chain conformation in the electrospun fibres. Small angle neutron scattering was carried out on randomly orientated fibre mats obtained using applied voltages of 10kV-15kV and needle tip to collector distances of 20cm and 30cm. Fibre diameters varied from 3μm – 20μm. Neutron scattering data from fibre samples were compared with bulk samples of the same polymer blend. The scattering data indicates that there are pores and nanovoiding present in the fibres; this was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. A model that combines the scattering from the pores and the labelled polymer chains was used to extract values for the radius of gyration. The radius of gyration in the fibres is found to vary little with the applied voltage, but varies with the initial solution concentration and fibre diameter. The values for the radius of gyration in the fibres are broadly equivalent to that of the bulk state.

Synthesis of a Mn-6 cluster and its self-assembly of an azido-bridged polymer

A rare mu(6)-oxo-centered Mn-6 mixed-valent cluster (1) is prepared and used as a secondary building unit for the self-assembly of its azido-bridged polymeric analogue (2) in a systematic way with the retention of the Mn-6 core of (1). Both complexes are characterized by X-ray single-crystal structure determination. The complex 1 was crystallized in a monoclinic system, space group P2(1), a = 11.252(5) A, b = 20.893(9) A, c = 12.301(6) A, and beta = 115.853(7)degrees, whereas the polymeric analogue was crystallized in an orthorhombic system, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 13.1941(8) A, b = 14.9897(9) A, and c = 27.8746(14) A. Variable-temperature magnetic behavior showed the presence of strong antiferromagnetic interaction in both cases.

Polymer conformation structure of wheat proteins and gluten subfractions revealed by ATR-FTIR

The polymer conformation structure of gluten extracted from a Polish wheat cultivar, Korweta, and gluten subtractions obtained from 2 U.K. breadmaking and biscuit flour cultivars, Hereward and Riband, was investigated using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The results showed the conformation of proteins varied between flour, hydrated flour, and hydrated gluten. The beta-sheet structure increased progressively from flour to hydrated flour and to hydrated gluten. In hydrated gluten protein fractions comprising gliadin, soluble glutenin, and gel protein, beta-sheet structure increased progressively from soluble gliadin and glutenin to gluten and gel protein; beta-sheet content was also greater in the gel protein from the breadmaking flour Hereward than the biscuit flour Riband.

Polymer-mediated disruption of drug crystallinity

Ibuprofen (IB), a BCS Class II compound, is a highly crystalline substance with poor solubility properties. Here we report on the disruption of this crystalline structure upon intimate contact with the polymeric carrier cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-CL) facilitated by low energy simple mixing. Whilst strong molecular interactions between APIs and carriers within delivery systems would be expected on melting or through solvent depositions, this is not the case with less energetic mixing. Simple mixing of the two compounds resulted in a significant decrease in the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) melting enthalpy for IB, indicating that approximately 30% of the crystalline content was disordered. This structural change was confirmed by broadening and intensity diminution of characteristic IB X-ray powder diffractometry (PXRD) peaks. Unexpectedly, the crystalline content of the drug continued to decrease upon storage under ambient conditions. The molecular environment of the mixture was further investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Fourier transform Raman (FT-Raman) spectroscopy. These data suggest that the primary interaction between these components of the physical mix is hydrogen bonding, with a secondary mechanism involving electrostatic/hydrophobic interactions through the IB benzene ring. Such interactions and subsequent loss of crystallinity could confer a dissolution rate advantage for IB. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Miscibility studies in poly(methyl vinyl ether)/hydroxypropylcellulose binary system in aqueous solutions and solid state

The phase separation behaviour in aqueous mixtures of poly(methyl vinyl ether) and hydroxypropylcellulose has been studied by cloud points method and viscometric measurements. The miscibility of these blends in solid state has been assessed by infrared spectroscopy; methanol vapours sorption experiments and scanning electron microscopy. The values of Gibbs energy of mixing of the polymers and their blends with methanol as well as between each other were calculated. It was found that in solid state the polymers can interact with methanol very well but the polymer-polymer interactions are unfavourable. Although in aqueous solutions the polymers exhibit some intermolecular interactions their solid blends are not completely miscible. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mucoadhesive and elastic films based on blends of chitosan and hydroxyethylcellulose

Mucoadhesive polymeric films have been prepared based on blends of chitosan and hydroxyethylcellulose. The blends have been characterized by IR spectroscopy, DSC, WAXD, TGA, SEM, and mechanical testing. It is demonstrated that the mechanical properties of chitosan are improved significantly upon blending with hydroxyethylcellulose. An increase in hydroxyethylcellulose content in the blends makes the materials more elastic. The thermal treatment of the blends at 100 degrees C leads to partial cross-linking of the polymers and formation of water-insoluble but swellable materials. The adhesion of the films towards porcine buccal mucosa decreases with increasing hydroxyethylcellulose content in the blends.

Characterisation of blends based on hydroxyethylcellulose and maleic acid-alt-methyl vinyl ether

Hydrophilic polymeric films based on blends of hydroxyethylcellulose and maleic acid-co-methyl vinyl ether were produced by casting from aqueous solutions. The physicochemical properties of the blends have been assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, dielectric spectroscopy, etc. The pristine films exhibit complete miscibility due to the formation of intermacromolecular hydrogen bonding. The thermal treatment of the blend films leads to cross-linking via intermacromolecular esterification and anhydride formation. The cross-linked materials are able to swell in water and their swelling degree can be easily controlled by temperature and thermal treatment time. The formation of the crosslinks is apparent in the dynamic properties of the blends as observed through the mechanical relaxation and dielectric relaxation spectra. The dielectric characteristics of the material are influenced by the effects of change in the local structure of the blend on the ionic conduction processes and the rate of dipolar relaxation. Separation of these processes is attempted using the dielectric modulus method. Significant deviations from a simple additive rule of mixing on the activation energy are observed consistent with hydrogen bonding and crosslinking of the matrix. This paper indicates a method for the creation of films with good mechanical and physical characteristics by exposing the blends to a relatively mild thermal treatment.

Polymer-drug conjugates: current status and future trends

Polymer conjugates are nano-sized, multicomponent constructs already in the clinic as anticancer compounds, both as single agents or as elements of combinations. They have the potential to improve pharmacological therapy of a variety of solid tumors. Polymer-drug conjugation promotes passive tumor targeting by the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and allows for lysosomotropic drug delivery following endocytic capture. In the first part of this review, we analyze the promising results arising from clinical trials of polymer-bound chemotherapy. The experience gained on these studies provides the basis for the development of a more sophisticated second-generation of polymer conjugates. However, many challenges still lay ahead providing scope to develop and refine this field. The "technology platform'' of polymer therapeutics allows the development of both new and exciting polymeric materials, the incorporation of novel bioactive agents and combinations thereof to address recent advances in drug therapy. The rational design of polymer drug conjugates is expected to realize the true potential of these "nanomedicines".

Compression of polymer brushes: quantitative comparison of self-consistent field theory with experiment

The self-consistent field theory (SCFT) prediction for the compression force between two semi-dilute polymer brushes is compared to the benchmark experiments of Taunton et al. [Nature, 1988, 332, 712]. The comparison is done with previously established parameters, and without any fitting parameters whatsoever. The SCFT provides a significant quantitative improvement over the classical strong-stretching theory (SST), yielding excellent quantitative agreement with the experiment. Contrary to earlier suggestions, chain fluctuations cannot be ignored for normal experimental conditions. Although the analytical expressions of SST provide invaluable aids to understanding the qualitative behavior of polymeric brushes, the numerical SCFT is necessary in order to provide quantitatively accurate predictions.

A supramolecular polymer based on tweezer-type pi-pi stacking interactions: molecular design for healability and enhanced toughness

An elastomeric, healable, supramolecular polymer blend comprising a chain-folding polyimide and a telechelic polyurethane with pyrenyl end groups is compatibilized by aromatic pi-pi stacking between the pi-electron-deficient diimide groups and the pi-electron-rich pyrenyl units. This interpolymer interaction is the key to forming a tough, healable, elastomeric material. Variable-temperature FTIR analysis of the bulk material also conclusively demonstrates the presence of hydrogen bonding, which complements the pi-pi stacking interactions. Variable-temperature SAXS analysis shows that the healable polymeric blend has a nanophase-separated morphology and that the X-ray contrast between the two types of domain increases with increasing temperature, a feature that is repeatable over several heating and cooling cycles. A fractured sample of this material reproducibly regains more than 95% of the tensile modulus, 91% of the elongation to break, and 77% of the modulus of toughness of the pristine material.

Polymer − surfactant vesicular complexes in aqueous medium

The introduction of ionic single-tailed surfactants to aqueous solutions of EO18BO10 [EO = poly(ethylene oxide), BO = poly(1,2-butylene oxide), subscripts denote the number of repeating units] leads to the formation of vesicles, as probed by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Dynamic light scattering showed that the dimensions of these aggregates at early stages of development do not depend on the sign of the surfactant head group charge. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis indicated the coexistence of smaller micelles of different sizes and varying polymer content in solution. In strong contrast to the dramatic increase of size of dispersed particles induced by surfactants in dilute solution, the d-spacing of corresponding mesophases reduces monotonically upon increasing surfactant loading. This effect points to the suppression of vesicles as a consequence of increasing ionic strength in concentrated solutions. Maximum enhancements of storage modulus and thermal stability of hybrid gels take place at different compositions, indicating a delicate balance between the number and size of polymer-poor aggregates (population increases with surfactant loading) and the number and size of polymer−surfactant complexes (number and size decrease in high surfactant concentrations).