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Biomedical subjects

Sheng Dai

Publications and source records attributed to Sheng Dai.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The aggregation behavior of O-carboxymethylchitosan in dilute aqueous solution.

O-Carboxymethylchitosan (OCMCS) is a kind of biocompatible derivatives of chitosan whose water solubility is strongly dependent on the degree of carboxymethylation. The OCMCS with 100 carboxymethyl groups and 75 amino groups per 100 anhydroglucosamine units of OCMCS was synthesized by the reaction of chitosan and monochloroacetic. When OCMCS was dissolved in water, its solution was neutral and OCMCS behaved like a weak polyanionic polyeclectrolyte because most of carboxylic groups were not dissociated in neutral aqueous solution. The aggregation behavior of OCMCS in aqueous solution was studied by surface tensiometry, steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy and viscometry. The critical aggregation concentration (cac) of OCMCS was determined to be between 0.042 mg/ml and 0.050 mg/ml. The possible aggregation mechanism of OCMCS in water was elucidated.

Biocompatible Materials↗

Facile one-pot synthesis of gold nanoparticles stabilized with bifunctional amino/siloxy ligands.

A method for the direct one-pot synthesis of amine-stabilized gold nanoparticles using 3-(trimethoxysilylpropyl)diethylenetriamine (TMSP dien) is described. The amine groups of this bifunctional molecule act as a stabilizer for gold nanoparticles as they form by reduction of HAuCl4. Highly stable gold nanoparticles with sizes tunable between 8 and 20 nm can be readily obtained. This method is quite simple to implement and environmentally benign as there is no need to add an external reducing reagent. The incorporated siloxy functionality was subsequently used to form a silica shell around the gold particle.

Amines↗

Facile, alternative synthesis of lanthanum phosphate nanocrystals by ultrasonication.

Highly luminescent, rhabdophane (Ce(0.33)La(0.66))PO4.nH2O nanorods and nanoparticles were prepared in aqueous solutions by ultrasonication, at pH 1 and pH 12, respectively. Both nanorods (5 to 9 nm wide and several tens to several hundreds nm long) and nanoparticles (elongated, connected 5 nm particles) were as small and as uniform as products obtained from methods that utilize complexing agents or surfactants, only with no complexing agent. This method of synthesis by ultrasonication is a fast and simple method and it is expected to be applicable for the synthesis of other nanocrystalline lanthanide phosphates.

Journal Article↗

Synthesis and characterization of periodic mesoporous organosilicas as anion exchange resins for perrhenate adsorption.

A new methodology to immobilize ionic liquids through the use of a bridged silsesquioxane N-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl), N(3)-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl-4,5-dihydroimidazolium iodide that incorporates an ionic functionality for the assembly of novel periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) materials has been developed. The resulting PMO materials were investigated for use as novel anion exchange resins for the separation of perrhenate anions in aqueous solution. As compared with cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, 1-hexadecane-3-methylimidazolium bromide has been demonstrated to be a more efficient surfactant template for the generation of mesopores and surface areas for such PMO materials.

Journal Article↗

Preparation and comparison of supported gold nanocatalysts on anatase, brookite, rutile, and P25 polymorphs of TiO2 for catalytic oxidation of CO.

Nanosized anatase (< or = 10 nm), rutile (< or = 10 nm), and brookite (approximately 70 nm) titania particles have been successfully synthesized via sonication and hydrothermal methods. Gold was deposited with high dispersion onto the surfaces of anatase, rutile, brookite, and commercial titania (P25) supports through a deposition-precipitation (D-P) process. All catalysts were exposed to an identical sequence of treatment and measurements of catalytic CO oxidation activity. The as-synthesized catalysts have high activity with concomitant Au reduction upon exposure to the reactant stream. Mild reduction at 423 K produces comparably high activity catalysts for every support. Deactivation of the four catalysts was observed following a sequence of treatments at temperatures up to 573 K. The brookite-supported gold catalyst sustains the highest catalytic activity after all treatments. XRD and TEM results indicate that the gold particles supported on brookite are smaller than those on the other supports following the reaction and pretreatment sequences.

Journal Article↗

Organosilica copolymers for the adsorption and separation of multiple pollutants.

Benzene, diethylbenzene, and ethylenediamine-bridged bistrialkoxy precursors were used in the synthesis of multifunctional PMO copolymers for the adsorption of phenols and metal ions. Polyoxyethylene(10) stearyl ether (Brij 76) was used as the structure director with the surfactant template approach in the synthesis. The resulting PMO copolymers with two or more bridging groups have been characterized by nitrogen gas adsorption, powder X-ray diffraction, and 13C and 29Si solid-state NMR. These organosilicas exhibit large surface areas, narrow pore size distributions, large total pore volumes, and pore ordering consistent with well ordered, hexagonally packed p6mm structures. Minimal competitive effects were observed on the adsorption of p-chlorophenol to the copolymers in the presence of copper ions in solution. Similarly, the presence of p-chlorophenol in solution or adsorbed onto the copolymers did not interfere with copper adsorption. Replacement of a small portion of the benzene bridge in the 90:10 BENZ:EDA copolymer with diethylbenzene produced a copolymer 2.5-fold more efficient for p-chlorophenol adsorption. ICP analysis revealed that greater than 98% of adsorbed copper was removed during extraction with HCl, and this extraction process can be repeated with no difference in copper adsorption after regeneration.

Adsorption↗

Pyrolysis of mesoporous silica-immobilized 1,3-diphenylpropane. Impact of pore confinement and size.

Mesoporous silicas such as SBA-15 and MCM-41 are being actively investigated for potential applications in catalysis, separations, and synthesis of nanostructured materials. A new method for functionalizing these mesoporous silicas with aromatic phenols is described. The resulting novel hybrid materials possess silyl aryl ether linkages to the silica surface that are thermally stable to ca. 550 degrees C, but can be easily cleaved at room temperature with aqueous base for quantitative recovery of the organic moieties. The materials have been characterized by nitrogen physisorption, FTIR, NMR, and quantitative analysis of surface coverages. The maximum densities of 1,3-diphenylpropane (DPP) molecules that could be grafted to the surface were less than those measured on a nonporous, fumed silica (Cabosil) and were also found to decrease as a function of decreasing pore size (5.6-1.7 nm). This is a consequence of steric congestion in the pores that is magnified at the smaller pore sizes, consistent with parallel studies conducted using a conventional silylating reagent, 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisilazane. Pyrolysis of the silica-immobilized DPP revealed that pore confinement leads to enhanced rates and altered product selectivity for this free-radical reaction compared with the nonporous silica, and the rates and selectivities also depended on pore size. The influence of confinement is discussed in terms of enhanced encounter frequencies for bimolecular reaction steps and pore surface curvature that alters the accessibility and resultant selectivity for hydrogen transfer steps.

Journal Article↗

Self-assembly of stimuli-responsive water-soluble [60]fullerene end-capped ampholytic block copolymer.

A well-defined, water-soluble, pH and temperature stimuli-responsive [60]fullerene (C(60)) containing ampholytic block copolymer of poly((methacrylic acid)-block-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate))-block-C(60) (P(MAA-b-DMAEMA)-b-C(60)) was synthesized by the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) technique. The self-assembly behavior of the C(60) containing polyampholyte in aqueous solution was characterized by potentiometric and conductometric titration, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy. This amphiphilic mono-C(60) end-capped block copolymer shows enhanced solubility in aqueous medium at room and elevated temperatures and at low and high pH but phase separates at intermediate pH between 5.4 and 8.8. The self-assembly of the copolymer is different from that of P(MAA-b-DMAEMA). Examination of the association behavior using DLS revealed the coexistence of unimers and aggregates at low pH at all temperatures studied, with the association being driven by the balance of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Unimers and aggregates of different microstructures are also observed at high pH and at temperatures below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PDMAEMA. At high pH and at temperatures above the LCST of PDMAEMA, the formation of micelles and aggregates coexisting in solution is driven by the combination of hydrophobic, electrostatic, and charge-transfer interactions.

Chromatography, Gel↗

Nanowire array gratings with ZnO combs.

Diffraction gratings are mainly manufactured by mechanical ruling, interference lithography, or resin replication, which generally require expensive equipment, complicated procedures, and a stable environment. We describe the controlled growth of self-organized microscale ZnO comb gratings by a simple one-step thermal evaporation and condensation method. The ZnO combs consist of an array of very uniform, perfectly aligned, evenly spaced and long single-crystalline ZnO nanowires or nanobelts with periods in the range of 0.2 to 2 microm. Diffraction experiments show that the ZnO combs can function as a tiny three-beam divider that may find applications in miniaturized integrated optics such as three-beam optical pickup systems.

Journal Article↗

Modelling of composite neutron scintillators.

Composite neutron scintillators consisting of neutron-insensitive fluorescent dopant particles (e.g. ZnS:Ag) embedded in a matrix material containing isotopes with high neutron cross sections that emit energetic charged particles (e.g. 6Li) are a popular method for neutron detection in a variety of applications. The size and volume doping fraction of the fluorescent dopant particles and the densities of both dopant particles and the matrix material determine the characteristics of the pulse-height spectrum of emitted light and the probability that capture of a neutron will result in scintillation. In this work, we characterise the effects of these parameters for ZnS:Ag particles in a lithiated glass matrix using a Monte Carlo simulation of composite neutron detectors that we have constructed.

Computer Simulation↗

Polymer-induced fractal patterns of [60]fullerene containing poly(methacrylic acid) in salt solutions.

Well-defined water-soluble pH-responsive [60]fullerene (C60) containing poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA-b-C60) was synthesized using the atom transfer radical polymerization technique. By varying pH and salt concentration, different types of fractal patterns at nano- to microscopic dimensions were observed for negatively charged PMAA-b-C60, while such structure was not observed for positively charged poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-b-C60. We demonstrated that negatively charged fullerene containing polymeric systems can serve as excellent nanotemplates for the controlled growth of inorganic crystals at the nano- to micrometer length scale, and the possible mechanism was proposed.

Journal Article↗

13C NMR characterization of the organic constituents in ligand-modified hexagonal mesoporous silicas: media for the synthesis of small, uniform-size gold nanoparticles.

This paper reports the (13)C NMR characterization of functionalized MCM-41's and describes the chemistry that occurs in the pores of these materials in the process of forming gold nanoparticles. Nanoparticles formed on hexagonal mesoporous silica (MCM-41) by hydrogen reduction of chloroauric acid have little affinity for pure silica surfaces. The gold can be removed from the support with very mild treatment, for example, solvent extraction. The loss of gold from the substrate can be prevented using a pore functionalization methodology that entails synthesis of the silica containing polydentate amine functionality chemically bound in the mesopores. The synthetic scheme introduces solvents and templating reagents (surfactants) into the mesopores that are chemically reactive under the conditions required for gold particle formation. Extensive base-catalyzed elimination and nucleophilic substitution reactions involving the tetraalkylammonium surfactant occur during the reduction of chloroauric acid to gold.

Journal Article↗

Fluorinated carbon with ordered mesoporous structure.

Fluorination and structural change of highly ordered mesoporous carbons were studied. Mesoporous and fluorinated carbons with ordered cubic structure were synthesized and characterized with TEM, FTIR, adsorption, and EDX.

Journal Article↗

Nitrogen adsorption characterization of aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes and their acid modification.

Aligned multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays were synthesized by using an iron-based sol-gel catalyst and acetylene as the precursor. These CNTs show high purity, uniform diameters and pore-wall thickness. Low temperature nitrogen adsorption was employed to characterize the structural and surface properties of the as-synthesized sample and that modified with boiling concentrated nitric acid. The adsorption characteristics of the as-synthesized and modified CNTs were thoroughly investigated. High-resolution comparative alpha(s)-plot showed that the nitrogen adsorption on CNTs takes place via a multistage mechanism closely related to their structures. It was also found that the acid modification significantly increased the adsorption energy and enhanced the adsorption capacity under low pressures. High-resolution comparative method provided valuable insights about the surface and pore structures of CNTs.

Adsorption↗

Controlled layer-by-layer formation of ultrathin TiO2 on silver island films via a surface sol-gel method for surface-enhanced Raman scattering measurement.

A surface sol-gel process has been demonstrated to be an effective method for the surface modification of silver island films as unique SERS substrates for monitoring molecular adsorption on a dielectric titania surface. This layer-by-layer approach allows control of the thickness of the dielectric surface with a monolayer precision on silver surfaces. The enhancement of Raman scattering from adsorbed Rhodamine 6G molecules is inversely proportional to the thickness of the titania film, which is consistent with the decay of electromagnetic enhancement. Despite a reduction in the sensitivity of the film, a substantial improvement in the film was achieved as a result of the enhanced stability of this substrate compared to the silver island film without a TiO(2) coating.

Fluorescent Dyes↗