Assembly of alternating polycation and DNA multilayer films by electrostatic layer-by-layer adsorption

The assembly of alternating DNA and positively charged poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (PDDA) multilayer films by electrostatic layer-by-layer adsorption has been studied. The real-time surface plasmon resonance (BIAcore) technique was used to characterize and monitor the formation of multilayer films in solution in real time continuously. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and UV-vis absorbance measurements were also used to study the film assembly, and linear film growth was observed. All the results indicate that the uniform multilayer can be obtained on the poly(ethylenimine)- (PEI-) coated substrate surface. The kinetics of the adsorption of DNA on PDDA surface was also studied by the real-time BIAcore technique; the observed rate constant was calculated using a Langmuir model (k(obs) = (1.28 +/- 0.08) x 10(-2) s(-1).

Studies on electrostatic adsorption of proteins on modified surface by real-time surface plasmon resonance technique

The elucidation of key influence factors for electrostatic adsorption is very important to control protein nonspecific adsorption on modified surfaces. In this study, real-time surface plasmon resonance technique is used to characterize the electrostatic adsorption of two proteins (mouse IgG and protein A) on carboxymethyldextran-modified surface. The results show that protein solution pH and ionic strength are key influence factors for efficient electrostatic adsorption. The influence of protein, solution pH on the amount of electrostatic adsorption depends on the type of the charge and the charge density of both protein and modified matrix on the surface. The electrostatic adsorption process involves a competition between the positively charged protein and other positively charged species in the buffer solution. A decrease of ionic strength leads to an increasing electrostatic adsorption. The kinetic adsorption constants of protein A at different pH values were also calculated and compared.

In situ infrared spectroelectrochemical studies on adsorption and oxidation of nucleic acids at glassy carbon electrode

The adsorption and oxidation of yeast RNA and herring sperm DNA (HS DNA) at glass carbon (GC) electrode are studied by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and in situ FTIR spectroelectrochemistry. Two oxidation peaks of yeast RNA are obtained by DPV, whose peak potentials shift negatively with increasing pH. The peak currents decrease gradually in successive scans and no corresponding reduction peaks occur, thus indicating that the oxidation process of yeast RNA is completely irreversible. The IR bands in the 1200-1800 cm-l range, attributed to the stretching and ring vibrations of nucleic acid bases, show the main spectral changes when the potential is shifted positively, which gives evidence that the oxidation process takes place in the base residues. The oxidation process of HS DNA is similar to that of yeast RNA. The results both from DPV and in situ FTIR spectroelectrochemistry confirm that the guanine and adenine residues can be oxidized at the electrode surface, which is consistent with the oxidation mechanism of nucleic acids proposed previously. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and properties of novel random and block copolymers composed of phthalimidine- and perfluoroisopropylidene-polyarylether-sulfones

A series of novel polyarylethersulfone (AB)(n) block copolymers with different segment lengths have been synthesized by nucleophilic solution polycondensation of phenoxide-terminated and fluorine-terminated oligomers; random copolymers have been prepared over the whole composition ranges. The structures of the resultant copolymers have been confirmed by FTIR, C-13 NMR spectra and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Compared with two homopolymers and random copolymers, the block copolymers of this study possess excellent thermal stability (5% thermal decomposition under nitrogen atmosphere above 500 C) and high glass transition temperatures, and have a wide melt-processing temperature range. They may become a new class of mouldable high performance thermoplastics. (C) 2001 Society of Chemical Industry.

In-situ FTIR study on adsorption and oxidation of native and thermally denatured calf thymus DNA at glassy carbon electrodes

In-situ Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectra of native and thermally denatured calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) adsorbed and/or oxidized at a glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface are reported. The adsorption of native DNA occurs throughout the potential range (-0.2 similar to 1.3 V) studied, and the adsorbing state of DNA at electrode surface is changed from through the C=O band of bases and pyrimidine rings to through the C=O of cytosine and imidazole rings while the potential shifts negatively from 1.3 V to -0.2 V. An in-situ FTIR spectrum of native CT DNA adsorbed at GC electrode surface is similar to that of the dissolved DNA, indicating that the structure of CT DNA is not distorted while it is adsorbed at the GC electrode surface. In the potential range of -0.2 similar to 1.30 V, the temperature-denatured CT DNA is adsorbed at the electrode surface first, then undergoes electrochemical oxidation reaction and following that, diffuses away from the electrode surface. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Controlled synthesis of L-lactide-b-epsilon-caprolactone block copolymers using a rare earth complex as catalyst

Well-defined block copolymers of L-lactide-b-epsilon-caprolactone were synthesized by sequential polymerization using a rare earth complex, Y(CF3COO)(3)/Al(iso-Bu)(3), as catalyst system. The compositions of the block copolymers could be adjusted by manipulating the feeding ratio of comonomers. The characterizations by GPC, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, and DSC displayed that the block copolymer, poly(epsilon-caprolactone-b-L-lactide) [P(CL-b-LLA)], had a narrow molecular weight distribution and well-controlled sequences without random placement.

A double logarithmic method for studying the adsorption effects in an irreversible electrochemical process

The adsorption of an electroinactive product greatly influences an irreversible electrochemical reaction in three ways, including self-block, self-inhibition, and self-acceleration, and changes not only the heterogeneous electron-transfer rate constant but also the modified formal potential and electron-transfer coefficient of the electrochemical reaction. In order to study these adsorption effects, a double logarithmic method was suggested to be used in processing the potential-controlled thin layer spectroelectrochemical data. The result shows three types of double logarithmic plots for three kinds of adsorption effects. These double logarithmic plots can be a diagnostic criterion of the adsorption effects and enable us to determine some thermodynamic and kinetic parameters. The combination of nonlinear regression with double logarithmic method is a convenient way to examine the suggested mechanism and to extract more information from the limited experimental data. Some examples are given to test the theoretical results. (C) 1999 The Electrochemical Society. S0013-4651(98)05-012-5. All rights reserved.

Potential-dependent adsorption/desorption of organic adsorbate at HOPG electrode and accompanying delamination of graphite surface

In situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy, alternating current voltammetry, and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance have been employed to follow the potential-dependent adsorption/desorption processes of nucleic acid bases on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) electrode. The results show that (i) potential-dependent adsorption/desorption of nucleic acid bases on HOPG electrode was accompanied by delamination of the HOPG surface, and the delamination initiates from steps or kinks on the electrode surface, which provide highly active sites for adsorption; (ii) the delamination usually occurred when the electrode potential was changed or when the electrode was at potentials where the phase transition of adsorbate occurred. These results suggest that the surface stress resulting from the interaction between the substrate and adsorbate, as well as the interaction due to potential-induced surface charge distribution and the hysteresis of charge equilibrium are the main factors resulting in HOPG delamination. (C) 1999 The Electrochemical Society. S0013-4651(97)12-013-4. All rights reserved.

Studies on blends of LLDPE and ethylene-methacrylic acid random copolymer

Blends of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) (EMA) random copolymer were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and excimer fluorescence. In binary blends, crystallization of EMA was studied, and no modification of crystal structure was detected. In excimer fluorescence measurements, emission intensities of blends of EMA and naphthalene-labeled LLDPE were measured. The ratio of the excimer emission intensity (I-D) to the emission intensity of the isolated "monomer" (I-M) decreases upon addition of EMA, indicating that PE segments of EMA interpenetrate into the amorphous phase of LLDPE. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd,. All rights reserved.

Studies on blends of LLDPE and polar polymers compatibilized by a random copolymer

Compatibilization of blends of Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and LLDPE-copolymer of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 4-vinylpyridine (poly(MMA-co-4VP) with poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) (EMAA) have been studied. Mechanical properties of the LLDPE-PMMA blends increase upon addition of EMAA. In order to further improve interfacial adhesion of LLDPE and PMMA, 4-vinyl pyridine units are introduced into PMMA chains, or poly(MMA-co-4VP) is used as the polar polymer. In LLDPE-poly(MMA-co-4VP)-EMAA blends, interaction of MAA in EMAA with 4VP of poly(MMA-co-4VP) causes a band shift in the infrared (IR) spectra. Chemical shifts of N-1s binding energy in X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy (XPS) experiments indicate a transfer of proton from MAA to 4VP. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) pictures show that the morphology of the blends were improved upon addition of EMAA. Nonradiative energy transfer (NRET) fluorescence results attest that there exists interdiffusion of chromophore-labeled LLDPE chains and chromophore-labeled poly(MMA-co-4VP) chains in the interface. Based on experimental results, the mechanism of compatibilization is studied in detail. Compatibilization is realized through the interaction between MAA in EMAA with 4VP in poly(MMA-co-4VP). (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Rapid analysis of steroidal saponin mixture using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry combined with sequential tandem mass spectrometry

Using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (MS) combined with sequential tandem MS(ESI-MSn), two major steroidal saponins extracted from Tribulus terrestris were studied, and considerable useful structural information was obtained. The structure of the proposed known steroidal saponin was verified, and the structure of the unknown saponin was investigated using MSn experiments. Some special fragment ions were also observed, and the corresponding fragmentation mechanisms were investigated which are characteristic for steroidal saponins and can give some information on the linkage position of some sugar groups in saponins. This methodology has been established as a powerful tool for the rapid, comparative analysis of mixtures such as crude plant extracts. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Several new phenomena in the formation of ring-banded spherulites of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) and poly(styrene-random-acrylonitrile) blends

Ring-banded spherulites in crystallization of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) and poly (styrene-random-acrylonitrile) blends were observed with polarizing optical microscopy and digital image analysis technique was applied directly to the image obtained by polarizing microscope, Several new interesting phenomena were found. One is that the ring-banded structure is still clearly seen after the analyzer was removed and this astonished phenomenon couldn't result from the general concept about formation mechanism of ring-banded spherulite - lamellae twisting, Another one is that there is a slight, dark line in the bright band when cross polars were added, which may be related to the formation process and mechanism of ring-banded spherulites in the blends of poly (epsilon-caprolactone) and poly (styrene-random-acrylonitrile).

Electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study of the adsorption of phenanthraquinone accompanied by an electrochemical redox reaction on the Au electrode

In situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (ECSTM) and an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) have been employed to follow the adsorption/desorption processes of phenanthraquinone (PQ sat. in 0.1 mol l(-1) HClO4, solution) accompanied with an electrochemical redox reaction on the Au electrode. The result shows that: (1) the reduced form PQH(2) adsorbed at the Au electrode and the desorption occurred when PQH(2) was oxidized to PQ; (2) the adsorption process initiates at steps or kinks which provide high active sites on the electrode surface for adsorption, and as the potential shifts to negative, a multilayer of PQH(2) may be formed at the Au electrode; (3) the reduced PQH(2) adsorbed preferentially in the area where the tip had been scanned continually; this result suggests that the tip induction may accelerate the adsorption of PQH(2) on the Au(111) electrode. Two kinds of possible reason have been discussed; (4) high resolution STM images show the strong substrate lattice information and the weak monolayer adsorbate lattice information simultaneously. The PQH(2) molecules pack into a not perfectly ordered condensed physisorbed layer at potentials of 0.1 and 0.2 V with an average lattice constant a = 11.5 +/- 0.4 Angstrom, b = 11.5 +/- 0.4 Angstrom, and gamma = 120 +/- 2 degrees; the molecular lattice is rotated with respect to the substrate lattice by about 23 +/- 2 degrees. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.

Interfacial characteristics of the self-assembly system of poly-L-lysine 3-mercaptopropionic acid gold electrode

The interfacial characteristics of poly-L-lysine (PL) attached on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) were studied by an electrochemical method. The results indicated that PL\MPA layer inhibited partly the diffusion process of redox species in solution, and the electrode surface behaved like a microelectrode array. Its permeation effect was also strongly affected by Mg2+. The more Mg2+ ions were added into the electrolyte solution, the greater the difficulty with which the electron transfer of potassium ferricyanide took place. The three different conformations of PL on the electrode surface had different influences on the electron transfer processes of ferricyanide. PL in random coil state hindered most strongly the electron transfer behavior of ferricyanide,while the alpha-helical PL had nearly no effect and the effect of the beta-sheet state PL was intermediate of these. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.

Study on the Adsorption and Activation of NO and CO over Mixed Oxide Catalysts Containing Cu by Means of TPSR

Adsorption and activation of small molecules NO, CO and CO+ NO on LaSrCuO4, La2CuO4 and La1.7Th0.3CuO4 which are typical samples in the sence of nonstoichiometric oxygen(lambda) anrong the series of La2-x(SrTh)(x)CuO4 +/-lambda mixed oxide catalysts were studied by means of MS- TPD (TPSR ), XRD, chemical analysis and so on. It was shown that the adsorption amount of NO can be correlated with the content of oxygen vacancy while the types and strength of adsorption of NO could be related to the oxidation state of the metallic ion. It was also found that CO molecule was first converted into CO32- and then desorbed in the form of CO2 at high temperature during the adsorption and desorption of CO on the mixed oxide with oxygen vacancy. The fact that the profiles of TPD(TPSR) of NO in co-adsorption of NO+CO and in single NO adsorption are similar shows that the adsorption of NO molecule not only has some priority to that of CO but also is stronger than that of CO. It seems that the adsorption of NO plays a dominate role in the activation and decomposition of NO.