Antioxidant Properties of 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate-Based Copolymers with Incorporated Sterically Hindered Amine.

A series of model linear copolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and a sterically hindered amine derivative [N-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidin-4-yl)methacrylamide (HAS)] were synthesized and characterized. Scavenging activities of the copolymers against reactive oxygen species (peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals were determined. It was found that copolymers with medium HAS content (3.5-4.0 mol %) were better scavengers than copolymers with lower and higher HAS content and also than polyHEMA and polyHAS homopolymers and the HAS monomer. Importantly, these copolymers compared favorably even to established low-molecular weight antioxidant standards (BHA and dexpanthenol). Monomer reactivity ratios were determined, and the microstructure of the copolymers was assessed. Subsequently, cross-linked copolymers in the powder and film forms with optimal HAS content were synthesized. Their scavenging activities against the three types of radicals were determined, revealing that these hydrogels are potent scavengers of reactive oxygen species.

Interaction of blood plasma with antifouling surfaces.

Nonspecific adsorption of proteins is a crucial problem in the detection of analytes in complex biological media by affinity sensors operating with label-free detection. We modified the gold surface of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors with three types of promising antifouling coatings: self-assembled monolayers (SAM)s of alkanethiolates terminated with diethylene glycol and carboxylic groups, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) grafted onto the SAMs, and zwitterionic polymer brushes of poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate), poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate), and poly(phosphorylcholine methacrylate). Using SPR, we compared the efficacy of the coatings to reduce nonspecific adsorption from human blood plasma and from single-protein solutions of human serum albumin, immunoglobulin G, fibrinogen, and lysozyme. There was no direct relationship between values of water contact angles and plasma deposition on the coated surfaces. A rather high plasma deposition on SAMs was decreased by grafting PEG chains. Fouling on PEG was observed only from plasma fractions containing proteins with molecular mass higher than 350 000 Da. The adsorption kinetics from plasma collected from different healthy donors differed. Poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate) completely prevented the deposition from plasma, but the other more hydrophilic zwitterionic polymers prevented single-protein adsorption but did not prevent plasma deposition. The results suggest that neither wettability nor adsorption of the main plasma proteins was the main indicator of deposition from blood plasma.

Structure of montmorillonite cointercalated with stearic acid and octadecylamine: modeling, diffraction, IR spectroscopy.

Structural analysis of Na-montmorillonite co-intercalated with octadecylamine and stearic acid was carried out using combination of experiment: X-ray powder diffraction and IR spectroscopy with molecular modeling (force field calculations) in Cerius(2) modeling environment. Results of structure analysis revealed the chemical reaction of guest compounds leading to the formation of octadecylammonium stearate. This reaction may occur even before the intercalation out of the interlayer space of montmorillonite. The presence of octadecylammonium stearate in the samples was clearly confirmed by IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Present results also showed that: (1) Stearic acid itself does not intercalate into Na-montmorillonite; (2) cointercalation with octadecylamine led to the formation of octadecylammonium stearate, which was successfully intercalated into the interlayer space of montmorillonite, and (3) Na-montmorillonite intercalated with octadecylammonium stearate does not create a stable structure. Intercalated samples in ambient conditions undergo gradual decomposition, accompanied by the release of octadecylammonium stearate from the interlayer space and rearrangement of the interlayer structure. Co-intercalation of STA and ODA to lower the octadecylamine content and consequently to suppress the unfavorable effect of amine groups on the polymer matrix in nanocomposite, was investigated.

[Study of leukocyte phagocytic activity using flow cytometry and hydrophilic fluorochrome-labeled microspheric particles]. / Vysetrování fagocytární aktivity leukocytu na prutokovém cytometru mikrosférickými hydrofilními cásticemi znacenými fluorochromem.

The phagocytic activity was determined in human polymorphonuclear leucocytes using the flow cytometry technique with microspheric hydrophilic particles labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. Non-specific adherence of particles is discussed and normal values of phagocytic activity are presented. The advantages of this method include simplified sample preparation using whole blood, rapidity of the test, precise phagocytosis quantification and possibility of archiving all findings in a computer.