A Novel Boron Lipid to Modify Liposomal Surfaces for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a cancer treatment with clinically demonstrated efficacy using boronophenylalanine (BPA) and sodium mercaptododecaborate (BSH). However, tumor tissue selectivity of BSH and retention of BPA in tumor cells is a constant problem. To ensure boron accumulation and retention in tumor tissues, we designed a novel polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based boron-containing lipid (PBL) and examined the potency of delivery of boron using novel PBL-containing liposomes, facilitated by the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. PBL was synthesized by the reaction of distearoylphosphoethanolamine and BSH linked by PEG with Michael addition while liposomes modified using PBL were prepared from the mixed lipid at a constant molar ratio. In this manner, novel boron liposomes featuring BSH in the liposomal surfaces, instead of being encapsulated in the inner aqueous phase or incorporated in the lipid bilayer membrane, were prepared. These PBL liposomes also carry additional payload capacity for more boron compounds (or anticancer agents) in their inner aqueous phase. The findings demonstrated that PBL liposomes are promising candidates to effect suitable boron accumulation for BNCT.

Ячеистый беспорядок наноглобул желатина

The surface topology of thin polymer films obtained on glass from micellar solutions of gelatin samples in a mixture of isooctane – water – (bis-2-ethylhexyl) sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) with a variation in the average molecular weight M of the polymer and a constant molar ratio [H2O]/[AOT] = 40, has been studied using electron microscopy. It is shown that solutions with an initial gelatin concentration corresponding to the gelation threshold form films with a characteristic structure: polymer nanoglobuls are located in the cells of the physical network of macromolecules-the internal percolation cluster of particles. At the same time, with a decrease in M, the average size of the globules decreases and the degree of their polydisperity increases. The same changes are observed for network cells in which local density – density correlations weaken. The ratio of average cell sizes to nanoglobuls is independent of M due to the universal fractal cluster structure of the films.

Preparation of lignin-containing porous microspheres through the copolymerization of lignin acrylate derivatives with styrene and divinylbenzene

A novel method for synthesizing microspheres from lignin or lignin acrylate derivatives through copolymerization with styrene (St) and divinylbenzene (DVB) has been developed. The copolymers were obtained by the emulsion-suspension polymerization with a constant molar ratio of DVB to St of 1:1 (w/w) and different amounts of lignin or its derivatives. The morphologies of the obtained materials were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Two types of lignin modifications were performed to introduce vinyl groups into the lignin molecules: modification with acrylic acid and modification with epichlorohydrin plus acrylic acid. The course of modification was confirmed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The thermal stability and degradation behavior of the obtained microspheres were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, and the pore structure was characterized via nitrogen sorption experiments. Owing to the presence of specific functional groups and the well-developed pore structure, the obtained Lignin-St-DVB microspheres may have potential application as specific sorbents for the removal of phenolic pollutants from water, as demonstrated by the solid-phase extraction technique.

Synthesis of nanostructured conducting polyaniline in the presence of 5-sulfosalicylic acid

Oxidative polymerizations of aniline with ammonium peroxydisulfate in aqueous solution of 5-sulfosalicylic acid (SSA), were performed at the constant molar ratio [oxidant]/[monomer] = 1.25, by using various initial molar ratios of SSA to aniline. It was shown that the ratio [SSA]/[aniline] has a crucial influence on the molecular structure, morphology, and conductivity of synthesized polyaniline5-sulfosalicylate (PANI-SSA), as well as on the yield and temperature profile i.e. the mechanism of polymerization process. The yield of PANI-SSA was 80 - 86% for [SSA]/[aniline] ratios in the range 0.25-1.0. Granular PANI-SSA was obtained by the oxidative polymerization of in situ formed anilinium 5-sulfosalicylate ([SSA]/[aniline] = 1.0). The initial induction period was followed by the rapid exothermic polymerization of aniline during the oxidation of anilinium 5-sulfosalicylate with peroxydisulfate. Nanostructured PANI-SSA was synthesized by the oxidation of the mixture of dianilinium 5-sulfosalicylate and aniline ([SSA]/[aniline] = 0.25), which proceeds in two exothermic phases well separated with an athermal period. The presence of nanocylinders (nanorods, possibly nanotubes), with the average diameter of 95-250 nm and the length of 0.5-1.0 ?m has been revealed by scanning electron microscopy. It was concluded that PANI nanocylinders are formed when reaction solution has the initial pH > 3.5. Electroconductivity of synthesized polyanilines was in the range 0.01-0.17 S cm-1, and it increases with increasing molar ratio of SSA to aniline. Molecular structure of synthesized polyanilines was investigated by FTIR spectroscopy. Besides the characteristic bands of standard PANI in emeraldine form (benzenoid, quinonoid, and semiquinonoid units), the band attributable to substituted phenazine structural units was observed at -1415 cm-1 in the FTIR spectrum of nanostructured PANI-SSA sample.

Nickel/Silica Precursor from Sodium Silicate Solution - Synthesis and Characterization

The aim of this paper was the investigation of the influence of synthesis parameters, as well as the order of synthesis steps, in procedure of chemical precipitation, on the properties of synthesized nickel precursor. The starting materials were always the same aqueous solutions of Ni(NO3)2×6H2O and Mg(NO3)2×6H2O of constant molar ratio, 2% solution of SiO2 in the form of sodium silicate solution (module SiO2/Na2O = 3.0) and 10% solution of Na2CO3, while synthesis steps and addition modes were varied. Complete pH and temperature monitoring was performed during entire synthesis at 90°C. The formed precipitate aged 30 minutes at synthesis temperature. By changing the order and conditions of adding SiO2 and Na2CO3 solutions and keeping the treatment of precipitates the same (rinsing with hot distilled water followed by drying at 110°C for 24 hours) six different precursors were obtained. Samples characterizations were performed using different experimental techniques: XRD analysis, IR spectroscopy, reflection spectroscopy, TG analysis, N2 physisorption. The relation between synthesis procedure and precursor properties was established.

Synthesis of N-hydroxymethylacrylamide in an aqueous solution

The paper deals with a reaction between acrylamide and formaldehyde leading to the synthesis of N-hydroxymethylacrylamide. The reaction was carried out in the temperature range 303.2 to 333.2 K, pH 9.2-10.35, at the methanol concentration 0-6.5239 mol l-1 at the constant molar ratio of acrylamide to formaldehyde 1 : 1. The time dependence of the loss of formaldehyde in the reaction mixture was approximated by an empirical relation (cF)0 - cF = t/(A + Bt), which was used in the determination of the rate constants for a reaction leading to the synthesis of N-hydroxymethylacrylamide and for the reversible reaction, and of the equilibrium constant of the reaction. The measurements and calculations showed that the optimal conditions for the synthesis of N-hydroxymethylacrylamide were 313.2 K, methanol concentration 1.5 mol l-1 and pH 9.8-10.1.