Poly(vinylbenzyl chloride-co-divinyl benzene) polyHIPE monolith-supported o-hydroxynaphthaldehyde propylenediamine Schiff base ligand complex of copper(ii) ions as a catalyst for the epoxidation of cyclohexene.

Poly(vinylbenzyl chloride-co-divinyl benzene)-based polyHIPE monoliths of different porosities were prepared using high-internal-phase emulsions (HIPEs) containing a fixed amount of vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC, 6.0 g, 0.0393 mol) and divinyl benzene (DVB 4.0 g, 0.0308 mol) as the oil phase and different volume ratios of aqueous calcium chloride as the internal phase. Span-80 (2.0 g (4.67 mmol))-stabilized HIPEs were polymerized at 60 °C using potassium persulfate (0.4 g, 1.48 mmol) as the initiator. Upon varying the volume ratio of aqueous calcium chloride from 80 to 90%, the prepared polyHIPE monoliths have shown significant variations in their surface morphology, specific surface area (SA), and pore volumes (V p) as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a gas adsorption (BET) method. The prepared polyHIPE monoliths were anchored with o-hydroxynaphthaldehyde propylenediamine Schiff base ligand (HNPn) and then loaded with copper(ii) ions (HNPn-Cu) to act as a catalyst. The structural information of unsupported HNPn-Cu complexes was obtained by recording its FT-IR and UV-visible spectra. The amount of copper(ii) ions loaded onto HNPn ligand-anchored polyHIPE monoliths was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopic analysis. In comparison to unsupported HNPn-Cu catalyst, the polyHIPE monolith-supported HNPn-Cu catalyst has shown high catalytic activity (66.8%), product selectivity for epoxycyclohexane (ECH) (94.8%), high turn over number (0.028 mol mol-1 h-1) and low energy of activation (22.4 kJ mol-1) in the epoxidation of cyclohexene in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as an oxidant at 40 °C. The polyHIPE-supported HNPn-Cu catalyst also shows high reuse applications. Studies show that there is sufficient scope to develop polyHIPE monoliths with various properties for specific applications.

Imidazolium-based titanium substrates against bacterial colonization.

Nosocomial infections are often induced by the presence of pathogenic organisms on the surface of medical devices or hospital equipment. Chemical modifications of the surface are recognized as efficient strategies to prevent bacterial adhesion but they may have a negative impact on the material's interaction with living tissues. Here we have developed a photoactivated method for the modification of titanium substrates. A photoinduced technique employing a grafting-onto process has been successfully performed to covalently anchor an imidazolium-derivative siloxane onto titanium surfaces. Imidazolium surfaces showed higher bacteria-repellency performances than native titanium substrates, achieving more than 98% anti-adhesion efficiency against Escherichia coli after 24 h of incubation. In addition, these surfaces allowed for the adhesion and viability of osteoblasts cells without evidence of cytotoxicity.

Photoactivable Surface of Natural Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) for Antiadhesion Applications.

A green photoinduced method for the modification of a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer, Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBHV) has been successfully carried out using two types of monomers with potential antibacterial effects, i.e., 2-[(methacryloyloxy)-ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride (META) and an ampicillin-derived monomer. The photografting process is conducted through a photoinduced free-radical process employing a thiocarbamate-based photoinitiator in an aqueous medium. Under appropriate conditions, radicals are generated from the PHBHV surface, thus initiating the UV-mediated photopolymerization of methacrylate or methylacrylamide-derived monomers from the surface of PHBHV films. The photochemical mechanism of the thiocarbamate photolysis is entirely described by the electron spin resonance/spin-trapping technique and laser flash photolysis, and the modified-PHBHV films are extensively characterized by fluorescence experiments, water contact angle, and XPS measurements. Finally, a primary investigation is conducted to support the antibacterial property of the new functionalized films against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and their cytocompatibility with NIH-3T3 fibroblastic cells is evaluated.

Synthesis and characterization of heparinized polyurethanes using plasma glow discharge.

Polyurethanes (PU) were synthesized from 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate and polytetramethylene glycol, and subsequently with ethylene diamine as a chain extender. The PU film was exposed to oxygen plasma glow discharge to produce peroxides on the surfaces. These peroxides were then used as catalysts for the copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA) and methyl acrylate (MA) in order to prepare carboxyl group-introduced PU (PU-C). Heparin-immobilized PU was prepared using the coupling reaction of PU-C with polyethylene oxide (PEO) followed by the reaction of grafted PEO with heparin. The surface-modified PUs were then characterized by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), and a contact angle goniometer. The concentration of carboxylic acid groups on the PU surfaces could be controlled within the range of 0.47-1.68 micromol cm(-2) by the copolymerization of AA and MA. The amounts of heparin coupled to terminus amino groups on PU-6 and PU-33 were 1.30 and 1.16 microg cm(-2), respectively. The water contact angle of the PU was decreased by AA grafting, and further decreased by PEO grafting and heparin immobilization, showing an increased hydrophilicity of the modified PUs. A 3% loss from the originally bound heparin appeared within several hours and thereafter almost no heparin was released when heparin-immobilized PUs were immersed in a physiological solution for 100 h, indicating the covalent immobilization of heparin on the surfaces.

Gas permeability of the film of block and graft copolymers of polydimethylsiloxane and poly(gamma-benzyl L-glutamate).

A-B-A type block copolymers of poly(gamma-benzyl L-glutamate) (PBLG, A segment) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, B segment) and PDMS (trunk)-PBLG (branch) graft copolymers were synthesized, and the permeation of oxygen in water and the permeation of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the dry state were investigated. The gas permeation coefficient (P) increased with increasing content of PDMS. However, PCO2/PO2 values of copolymer films were in the range 6-9, i.e. larger than 5.4 for PDMS film. The oxygen permeation in water suffered from the interfacial resistance, which was reduced by the hydrolysis of film surface. The Arrhenius plot of the gas permeation coefficient in the dry state of the block copolymer B showed a turning point at about 40 degrees C. This temperature is close to beta-peak temperature (39 degrees C) and may be ascribed to the molecular motion of the PBLG segment. Transmission electron microscopy showed that one of the block copolymer films (PDMS 46 mol%) appears to have PDMS segments dispersed in the PBLG matrix (island-in-sea structure) and one of the graft copolymer films (PDMS 58 mol%) appears to take a lamellar structure. The gas permeation across the graft copolymer film appears to occur through the continuous PDMS phase, leading to a near-negligible activation energy in this process.

Adsorption of plasma proteins and platelet adhesion on to polydimethylsiloxane/poly(gamma-benzyl L-glutamate) block copolymer films.

A-B-A-type block copolymers of four different compositions were synthesized, in which A and B represent poly(gamma-benzyl L-glutamate) and polydimethylsiloxane segments, respectively. Among the block copolymers and their surface-modified derivatives, those containing 40-70 mol% polydimethylsiloxane and having water contact angles ranging from 50 degrees to 85 degrees were found not to induce conformational change of plasma proteins upon adsorption. It was also observed that the number of adhered platelets and the rate of serotonin release from adhered platelets increased when plasma proteins underwent conformational change upon adsorption. These experimental observations indicate that hydrophobic-hydrophilic block copolymers having a certain composition do not induce conformational change of plasma proteins upon adsorption and do not adhere to and activate platelets, thus leading to a suppression of thrombus formation.

Immobilization of proteins on poly(methyl methacrylate) films.

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) films were treated by oxygen plasma discharge followed by acrylic acid (AA) grafting. The amount of carboxyl groups introduced by the grafting of AA on to the film surfaces was in the range 0.47-9.48 mumol/cm2, depending on the pressure of the plasma chamber during the discharge treatment. The carboxyl groups of the PMMA film surface previously activated with water soluble carbodiimide were coupled with bovine serum albumin, collagen and gelatin. The protein immobilization on the surface was confirmed by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). The amount of albumin, collagen and gelatin immobilized on the PMMA surface was 6.25, 7.25 and 13.75 micrograms/cm2, respectively, as determined by the coomassie brilliant blue-protein interaction. The water contact angle of the PMMA film was markedly decreased by oxygen plasma treatment, AA grafting or protein immobilization, indicating the increase of hydrophilicity of the surface-modified PMMA films. The protein-immobilized PMMA films may be widely used as a biocompatible material.

Cell behaviour on polymer surfaces with different functional groups.

Surfaces with differently chargeable functional groups were prepared on low density polyethylene sheets by corona discharge treatment, followed by graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (-COOH, negatively chargeable) and a subsequent substitution reaction of carboxylic acid groups to hydroxyl (-CH2OH, neutral) or amide (-CONH2, neutral) groups. The amide groups grafted on the surface were further converted to amine groups (-CH2NH2, positively chargeable). The prepared surfaces were characterized by measuring the water contact angle, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy in the attenuated total reflectance mode. It was observed that the wettability of the different functional group-grafted surfaces largely increases compared with the control surface but is not much affected by the kind of functional groups grafted. The interaction of Chinese hamster ovary cells with the functional group-grafted surfaces was investigated. The cells adhered and grown on the surfaces were counted using an electronic cell counter and observed by a scanning electron microscope. The surface grafted with amine groups was best for cell adhesion, spreading and growth probably owing to the positively chargeable character in aqueous cell culture medium. For surfaces grafted with neutral functional groups, the surface grafted with hydroxyl groups showed better cell spreading than that grafted with amide groups.

Preparation of insulin-immobilized polyurethanes and their interaction with human fibroblasts.

Insulin-immobilized polyurethanes (PU) were prepared by the graft polymerization of acrylic acid on oxygen plasma-treated PU, followed by a coupling reaction with polyethylene oxide (PEO) and subsequently with insulin. Modified PUs were characterized by measuring the water contact angle, the electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis and the attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The wettabilities of the PU surfaces were increased by the introduction of acrylic acid, PEO and insulin. The amount of insulin immobilized was controlled by changing the concentrations of grafted acrylic acid and PEO. The interactions of human fibroblasts with surface-modified PUs were investigated using [3H]-thymidine incorporation and optical microscopy. Compared to the PU control, the proliferation of cells on the insulin-immobilized PUs was accelerated irrespective of the presence of serum while it was not influenced by PEO grafting. It seemed to be certain, from the experiments with high performance liquid chromatography, that A chain of insulin mainly reacted with the amine-end group of PEO grafted during the immobilization reaction.

Preparation and surface characterization of functional group-grafted and heparin-immobilized polyurethanes by plasma glow discharge.

Functional group-grafted polyurethanes were prepared by oxygen plasma discharge treatment, followed by graft polymerization of 1-acryloylbenzotriazole (AB) and a subsequent substitution reaction of AB with sodium hydroxide and ethylene diamine. The primary amine or carboxylic acid groups grafted on the surfaces were coupled with heparin using water-soluble carbodiimide. The modified surfaces were characterized by measuring the water contact angle, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis and attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The amount of heparin covalently immobilized on the primary amine- and carboxylic acid group-grafted polyurethanes were 2.0 and 1.4 micrograms cm-2, respectively, as determined by the toluidine blue method. The water contact angle of the polyurethanes was decreased by AB grafting, and further decreased by the introduction of functional groups such as carboxylic acid and primary amine and immobilization of heparin, showing increased hydrophilicity of the modified surfaces. Heparin was almost not released from the immobilized surfaces in the physiological solution for 100 h, indicating good stability of immobilized heparin.

Surface characterization and in vitro blood compatibility of poly(ethylene terephthalate) immobilized with insulin and/or heparin using plasma glow discharge.

Poly(ethylene terephthalate)(PET) film was exposed to oxygen plasma glow discharge to produce peroxides on its surfaces. These peroxides were then used as catalysts for the polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) in order to prepare a carboxylic acid group-introduced PET (PET-AA). Insulin and heparin co-immobilized PET (PET-I-H) was prepared by the grafting of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) on to PET-AA, followed by reaction first with insulin and then heparin. These surface-modified PETs were characterized by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), and a contact angle goniometer. The concentration of the heparin (1.23 microg/cm2) bound to the PEO-grafted PET (PET-PEO) was higher than that (0.77 microg/cm2) on the insulin-immobilized PET (PET-In). The blood compatibilities of the surface-modified PETs were examined using in vitro thrombus formation, plasma recalcification time (PRT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and platelet adhesion and activation. In the experiment with plasma proteins, the PRT and APTT were significantly prolonged for both the heparin-immobilized PET (PET-He) and the PET-I-H, suggesting the binding of immobilized heparin to antithrombin III. The percentage of platelet adhesion slightly increased with the introduction of AA on the PET surfaces, decreased with the introduction of PEO and insulin, and decreased further with the immobilization of heparin. The release of serotonin was highly suppressed on PET-He and PET-I-H, and on surface-modified PETs the percentage of its release increased with an increase in platelet adhesion.

In vitro blood compatibility of functional group-grafted and heparin-immobilized polyurethanes prepared by plasma glow discharge.

Blood compatibilities of functional group-grafted and heparin-immobilized polyurethanes (PUs) were investigated using in vitro thrombus formation, plasma recalcification time (PRT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), platelet adhesion and activation, and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) activation. In the experiment with plasma proteins, PRT was shortened on amine group-grafted PU (PU-NH2) but prolonged on heparin-immobilized polyurethane (PU-Hep) when compared to PU control. APTT was significantly prolonged on PU-Hep, suggesting the binding of immobilized heparin to antithrombin III. The percentage of platelet adhesion was slightly increased by the introduction of functional groups such as carboxylic acid and primary amine on PU surfaces, but significantly decreased by the immobilization of heparin on the same substrate. The percentage of serotonin released from platelets adhered on surface-modified PUs was increased with increase of platelet adhesion. In the PBMC experiment, cells adhered less on heparin-immobilized PUs than on functional group-grafted PUs, and the production levels of tumour necrosis factor mRNAs from the cells stimulated by heparin-immobilized PU (PU-N-Hep) were smaller than those by the other substrates.

Surface modification of polyhydroxyalkanoate films and their interaction with human fibroblasts.

A poly(3-hydroxybutylate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHA) film containing 34 mol.% 3-hydroxyvalerate (Biopol D600P) was prepared by the solvent cast method using a 10 wt.% chloroform solution of PHA. The PHA film was exposed to an oxygen plasma glow discharge to produce peroxides on its surfaces. These peroxides were then used as catalysts for the polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) in order to prepare carboxyl group-introduced PHA (PHA-C). Insulin-immobilized PHA was prepared using the coupling reaction of PU-C with insulin. The surface-modified PHAs were then characterized by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, and a contact angle goniometer. The amounts of insulin directly coupled to the carboxyl groups on PHA-C and coupled to the terminus amino groups of the grafted polyethylene oxide were 2.9 and 0.8 microg cm(-2), respectively. The PHA water contact angle (75 degrees ) decreased with AA grafting (33 degrees ) and insulin immobilization (31 degrees ), thereby exhibiting the increased hydrophilicity of the modified PHAs. When compared with PHA and PHA-C, the proliferation of human fibroblasts in the presence of serum was significantly accelerated on the insulin-immobilized PHAs.

Intracellular degradation of two structurally different polyhydroxyalkanoic acids accumulated in Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas citronellolis from mixtures of octanoic acid and 5-phenylvaleric acid.

From a set of mixed carbon sources, 5-phenylvaleric acid (PV) and octanoic acid (OA), polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (PHA) was separately accumulated in the two pseudomonads Pseudomonas putida BM01 and Pseudomonas citronellolis (ATCC 13674) to investigate any structural difference between the two PHA accumulated under a similar culture condition using one-step culture technique. The resulting polymers were isolated by chloroform solvent extraction and characterized by fractional precipitation and differential scanning calorimetry. The solvent fractionation analysis showed that the PHA synthesized by P. putida was separated into two fractions, 3-hydroxy-5-phenylvalerate (3HPV))-rich PHA fraction in the precipitate phase and 3-hydroxyoctanoate (3HO)-rich PHA fraction in the solution phase whereas the PHA produced by P. citronellolis exhibited a rather little compositional separation into the two phases. According to the thermal analysis, the P. putida PHA exhibited two glass transitions indicative of the PHA not being homogeneous whereas the P. citronellolis PHA exhibited only one glass transition. It was found that the structural heterogeneity of the P. putida PHA was caused by a significant difference in the assimilation rate between PV and OA. The structural heterogeneity present in the P. putida PHA was also confirmed by a first order degradation kinetics analysis of the PHA in the cells. The two different first-order degradation rate constants (k(1)), 0.087 and 0.015/h for 3HO- and 3HPV-unit, respectively, were observed in a polymer system over the first 20 h of degradation. In the later degradation period, the disappearance rate of 3HO-unit was calculated to be 0.020 h. The k(1) value of 0.083/h, almost the same as for the 3HO-unit in the P. putida PHA, was obtained for the P(3HO) accumulated in P. putida BM01 grown on OA as the only carbon source. In addition, the k(1) value of 0.015/h for the 3HPV-unit in the P. putida PHA, was also close to 0.019/h for the P(3HPV) homopolymer accumulated in P. putida BM01 grown on PV plus butyric acid. On the contrary, the k(1) values for the P. citronellolis PHA were determined to be 0.035 and 0.029/h for 3HO- and 3HPV-unit, respectively, thus these two relatively close values implying a random copolymer nature of the P. citronellolis PHA. In addition, the faster degradation of P(3HO) than P(3HPV) by the intracellular P. putida PHA depolymerase indicates that the enzyme is more specific against the aliphatic PHA than the aromatic PHA.

Vitiligo coexistent with nevus depigmentosus.

A 45-year-old Korean man had two distinct types of hypopigmented lesions on the forehead and back: vitiligo and nevus depigmentosus (ND). The hypopigmented macules on the forehead were incidentally discovered 15 days previously and responded well to steroid therapy. The hypopigmented macule on the back had been present since birth, was stable in size, and showed no response to steroid therapy. There were no remarkable differences between the two lesions in routine histopathology or Fontana-Masson staining. However, the lesion on the back was shown to contain melanocytes in electron microscopy (EM).

Morphology and metabolism of hepatocytes microencapsulated with acrylic terpolymer-alginate using gelatin and poly(vinyl alcohol) as extracellular matrices.

Microcapsules with good mechanical stability were prepared using an appropriate mixture of alginate and acrylic terpolymer. It was found from the microscopic observation that the microcapsules had a porous structure with interconnected pores, with a size of 50-150 nm. The results of the permeability experiment of microcapsules using FITC-dextrans showed that the capsule had a molecular mass cut-off of 120 kDa. The hepatocytes encapsulated in both alginate and acrylic terpolymer with gelatin and PVA rapidly aggregated in the core. The aggregated cells showed high albumin synthesis and ammonia removal, suggesting good metabolic function.

Serotonin and beta-thromboglobulin release reaction from platelet as triggered by interaction with polypeptide derivatives.

The effect of wettability of 14 polypeptide derivatives upon adhesion and activation of platelets was investigated with reference to release reactions from adhered platelets, using radioisotope labeling and radioimmunoassay method. The serotonin release was more significant from platelets adhered to polymer materials to which a large number of platelets are adhered. However, no clear relationship was found between adhesion of platelets and beta-thromboglobulin release from adhered platelets. Therefore, stimuli inducing serotonin release and beta-thromboglobulin release were considered to be from different origins. The trend in beta-thromboglobulin release was well correlated with the extent of morphological change of adhered platelets as observed by scanning electron microscope. It was suggested that the determination of released beta-thromboglobulin in association with the measurement of platelet adhesion could be useful for evaluation of blood compatibility of materials.

Attachment and growth of fibroblast cells on polypeptide derivatives.

Attachment and growth of mouse fibroblast cells on polypeptide derivatives with different wettabilities were studied in the presence or absence of serum proteins. In the presence of serum, a peak level of cell attachment was observed for substrates with a contact angle of around 70 degrees. However, no relationship was found between cell attachment and water contact angle of the substrate in the absence of serum. Ca2+ -dependent cell attachment was observed on hydrophobic polypeptides in the absence of serum proteins. This suggests that Ca2+ -dependent membrane proteins function as mediators for cell attachment to hydrophobic polypeptides. In the presence of serum proteins, it was found that cell attachment is affected by the metabolism, Ca2+, and the cytoskeleton of the cell. Cell growth rate on hydrophilic polypeptide substrates was higher than that on intermediate or hydrophobic polypeptide substrates. This demonstrates that the strong interaction between cells and substrates will be unfavorable for a dewebbing process during mitosis.

The subgingival microflora and gingival crevicular fluid cytokines in refractory periodontitis.

Refractory periodontitis manifests as a rapid, unrelenting, progressive loss of attachment despite the type and frequency of therapy. This study examined possible relationships between cytokine levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), occurrence of specific periodontopathic microflora, and disease activity in patients with refractory periodontitis. Refractory periodontitis patients (7 male and 3 female) were selected on the basis of history and longitudinal clinical observations. In each patient, 2 teeth with pocket depths greater than 6 mm were selected and individual acrylic stents were fabricated with reference grooves for each site. The sites were examined at both baseline and 3 months later. The pattern and amount of alveolar bone resorption were assayed by quantitative digital subtraction radiography. Pocket depth and attachment loss were measured with a Florida Probe. The gingival index was measured at 4 sites around each sample tooth. Sites were divided into active sites (> or = 2.1 mm loss of attachment in 3 months) or inactive sites (< or = 2.0 mm loss of attachment in 3 months). The distribution and prevalence of the predominant microflora in active and inactive sites were compared using anaerobic culture and indirect immunofluorescence. Interleukin-1 beta, 2, 4, 6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) were quantified by ELISA. Prevotella intermedia and Eikenella corrodens significantly decreased in inactive sites but remained the same in active sites after 3 months. The active sites revealed significantly higher GCF levels of IL-2 and IL-6 than inactive sites at both baseline and at 3 months. IL-1 beta was also significantly greater in active sites than in inactive sites at 3 months. Alveolar bone loss in active sites correlated with increased GCF levels of IL-1 beta and IL-2. These results suggest that GCF levels of IL-1 beta, IL-2 and IL-6 and P. intermedia and E. corrodens in subgingival plaque may serve as possible indicators of disease activity in refractory periodontitis.

N-terminal amino acid sequence of persimmon fruit beta-galactosidase.

beta-Galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) from persimmon fruit was purified 114-fold with a 15% yield using Sephadex G-100 gel filtration, CM-Sephadex ion exchange, and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration chromatography, with subsequent electroelution from nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) gels. The estimated molecular mass of the native beta-galactosidase by Sephacryl S-200 was 118 kD. After sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE of the enzyme electroeluted from native gels, two subunits with estimated molecular masses of 34 and 44 kD were observed, suggesting that the native enzyme was an aggregate of several subunits. Amino acid composition and N-terminal amino acid sequences of the two major subunits were different.