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Optochemical sensor for determining ozone based on novel soluble indigo dyes immobilised in a highly permeable polymeric film.

An optochemical ozone sensor is described that has been manufactured by immobilisation of novel soluble indigo derivatives in permeable transparent polymeric films of polydimethylsiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer. From a number of investigated indigo derivatives, 4,4',7,7'-tetraalkoxyindigo 9 has been selected for optimal sensitivity and specificity of ozone detection. A linear calibration for ozone can be obtained in the range between 0.01 and 0.5 ppm. The limit of quantitation is 0.03 ppm, and the accuracy exceeds 8%. It takes about 134 s to measure the relatively low occupational exposure concentration of 0.1 ppm. A reduction of the sensor response time could be achieved through application of double-sided coated sensors instead of single-sided variants. The stability of the sensors and the effect of external parameters like relative humidity (RH), temperature and gas flow on the sensor response have been investigated. The sensor response is affected by varying the gas flow or temperature; however, humidity in the range between 0 and 90% RH does not affect sensor response. The indigo derivative 9 remained stable inside the polymeric film and no chemical reaction, crystallisation or leaching occurred during 10 months of observation. Proper choice of indicator dye and polymeric material and successful application of kinetic evaluation method for the exposure experiments determine the desired features of the sensor.

Air Pollutants↗

Polymerization of guaiacol by lignin-degrading manganese peroxidase from Bjerkandera adusta in aqueous organic solvents.

Lignin-degrading manganese (II) peroxidase (MnP) purified from the culture of a wood-rotting basidiomycete, Bjerkandera adusta, was used in the polymerization of guaiacol. MnP was found to catalyze polymerization of guaiacol in 50% aqueous acetone, dimethyl formamide, methanol, ethanol, dioxane, acetonitrile, ethylene glycol and methylcellosolve. Maximum yield of polyguaiacol was achieved in 50% aqueous acetone. The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the polymer was estimated to be 30,300 by gel permeation chromatography. However, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF-MS) analysis gave a more reliable Mw of 1,690. IR, 13C-NMR, MALDI-TOF-MS and pyrolysis GC-MS analyses showed the presence of C-C and C-O linkages and quinone structure in polyguaiacol. It was also indicated that polyguaiacol has a methoxy-phenyl group as the terminal moiety. This suggests that polyguaiacol is a branched polymer in which guaiacol units are cross-linked at the phenolic group. Thermal gravimetric and differential scanning calorimetric analyses were also carried out. MnP also catalyzed the polymerization of o-cresol, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol and other phenolic compounds and aromatic amines. Mw of these polymers ranged from around 1,000 to 1,500.

Basidiomycota↗

Exposure to polymeric materials in vascular soft-tissue sarcomas.

UNLABELLED: Known etiologic factors related to endothelial angiosarcomas are exposures to arsenic, thorium dioxide, therapeutic irradiation, and certain congenital diseases. Little is known on the etiology of hemangiopericytomas. Since 1974, several reports have appeared on a distinct relationship between the exposure to vinyl chloride monomers and angiosarcomas of the liver. The early reports on this matter provided the reason to collect the occupational histories of vascular sarcomas accumulated since that time. METHODS: Data on the occupational histories of patients with different forms of angiosarcomas, treated between 1975 and 1995 in two institutions, were prospectively collected and analyzed. In this personal series the only selection criteria were the referral of patients for postoperative or palliative irradiation and their personal care by the author. FINDINGS: Among 21 adult cases of vascular sarcomas there were 4 patients with occupational exposure to vinyl chloride (VC) either alone or together with other artificial polymers. Seven other patients showed exposure to several plastics or resins other than VC. Altogether, 11 of 21 (52%) of the explored patients were found to have been exposed to artificial polymeric materials over a mean period of 18 years. The patients without such exposure were 4 farmers, 2 house-wives, and 1 woodworker, telephonist, mason, and inland revenue official, respectively. Two cases were radiation-induced. The series contained no angiosarcoma of the liver. INTERPRETATION: This study offers new evidence of the occurrence of vinyl-chloride-induced angiosarcomas outside the liver and confirms observations that have previously been published in case reports. Moreover, it may be suspected from this analysis that polyvinyl chloride and its monomers are not the only polymeric materials that may contribute to an induction of angiosarcomas in humans. Repeated occupational histories have to be taken from the patients to achieve data of the greatest value, since there are many professional activities that do not primarily lead to the assumption of specific exposure to polymeric materials.

Adult↗

Tip-localized actin polymerization and remodeling, reflected by the localization of ADF, profilin and villin, are fundamental for gravity-sensing and polar growth in characean rhizoids.

Polar organization and gravity-oriented, polarized growth of characean rhizoids are dependent on the actin cytoskeleton. In this report, we demonstrate that the prominent center of the Spitzenkörper serves as the apical actin polymerization site in the extending tip. After cytochalasin D-induced disruption of the actin cytoskeleton, the regeneration of actin microfilaments (MFs) starts with the reappearance of a flat, brightly fluorescing actin array in the outermost tip. The actin array rounds up, produces actin MFs that radiate in all directions and is then relocated into its original central position in the center of the Spitzenkörper. The emerging actin MFs rearrange and cross-link to form the delicate, subapical meshwork, which then controls the statolith positioning, re-establishes the tip-high calcium gradient and mediates the reorganization of the Spitzenkörper with its central ER aggregate and the accumulation of secretory vesicles. Tip growth and gravitropic sensing, which includes control of statolith positioning and gravity-induced sedimentation, are not resumed until the original polar actin organization is completely restored. Immunolocalization of the actin-binding proteins, actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) and profilin, which both accumulate in the center of the Spitzenkörper, indicates high actin turnover and gives additional support for the actin-polymerizing function of this central, apical area. Association of villin immunofluorescence with two populations of thick undulating actin cables with uniform polarity underlying rotational cytoplasmic streaming in the basal region suggests that villin is the major actin-bundling protein in rhizoids. Our results provide evidence that the precise coordination of apical actin polymerization and dynamic remodeling of actin MFs by actin-binding proteins play a fundamental role in cell polarization, gravity sensing and gravity-oriented polarized growth of characean rhizoids.

Actin Depolymerizing Factors↗

Clinical performance of polyacid-modified resin restorations using "softstart-polymerization".

This study investigated the influence of "softstart-polymerization" on the clinical performance and marginal integrity of polyacid-modified resin restorations (PMR) in class V cavities. Eighty PMR restorations were placed in 20 patients [40 Dyract (DY); 40 Hytac (HY)] with (npat = 10) and without preparation (npat = 10). Restorations were light cured for 40 s either conventionally (CP) or with a lower light intensity for the first 10 s (SSP). Each patient received four restorations (DY-CP, DY-SSP, HY-CP, HY-SSP), which were examined clinically according to modified USPHS criteria, and by quantitative SEM-analysis after 7 days (baseline), 6 months and 1 year. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney-U test (P < or = 0.05) and error rates method. Clinically, no restoration showed recurrent caries or crevices. After 1 year, margins of 24-47% of the HY- and 36-53% of the DY-restorations were rated "Bravo". Marginal discoloration occurred in 20-37% in HY- and in 18-21% in DY-restorations. The error rates method revealed no significant differences between materials or between polymerization modes with and without preparation. Pairwise testing showed that without preparation, the marginal adaptation to dentin was significantly worse compared to enamel for HY with both polymerization modes, for DY with SSP. With preparation, no significant differences were found. Cavity preparation may have an influence on differences in marginal quality between enamel and dentin.

Compomers↗

Influence of a high-speed polymerization method on the marginal integrity of composite fillings in Class-II cavities.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a rapid photopolymerization method on the marginal integrity of composite fillings. Ninety two-surface cavities were prepared in extracted human molars using the SonicSys preparation system. All cavities were bonded with one bonding agent (Syntac) and filled with a microfilled composite (Herculite XRV), a heavy filled composite (Z100 MP), and an Ormocer (Definite) in two increments. Each increment had a thickness of approximately 1.5 mm and was polymerized using either halogen light or the plasma light of Apollo 95 E. In this process, six trial groups each containing 15 fillings were created. After replicas were made, the test teeth were subjected to a thermocycling process of 2000 temperature cycles (5 degrees C/55 degrees C) followed by a wear simulation of 50,000 stress cycles each with 50 N. This was followed by the creation of a second set of replicas, quantitative margin analysis, and dye penetration. A significant (P < 0.05) influence of the thermomechanical stress and a significant (P < 0.05) influence of the factor "material" were shown for the margin criterion "continuous margin" using MANOVA. The factor "light source" produced no significant influence (P = 0.57) on the amount of continuous margin. During the dye penetration, no significant differences between the polymerization methods could be established with the materials Herculite XRV and Z100 MP (H-test according to Kruskall and Wallis). Only with the material Definite was a significantly higher dye penetration observed at the occlusal measuring point in the plasma light group. A rapid polymerization with high light intensity had no adverse effects on the margin quality within the limitations of this in vitro study. However the marginal integrity might have been influenced by the chosen adhesive system/composite resin combination, which does not represent the respective product line. Additionally, further studies ought to show which exposure time is necessary for a sufficient degree of conversion.

Acrylates↗

Production of fungal antibiotics using polymeric solid supports in solid-state and liquid fermentation.

The use of inert absorbent polymeric supports for cellular attachment in solid-state fungal fermentation influenced growth, morphology, and production of bioactive secondary metabolites. Two filamentous fungi exemplified the utility of this approach to facilitate the discovery of new antimicrobial compounds. Cylindrocarpon sp. LL-Cyan426 produced pyrrocidines A and B and Acremonium sp. LL-Cyan416 produced acremonidins A-E when grown on agar bearing moist polyester-cellulose paper and generated distinctly different metabolite profiles than the conventional shaken or stationary liquid fermentations. Differences were also apparent when tenfold concentrated methanol extracts from these fermentations were tested against antibiotic-susceptible and antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, and zones of inhibition were compared. Shaken broth cultures of Acremonium sp. or Cylindrocarpon sp. showed complex HPLC patterns, lower levels of target compounds, and high levels of unwanted compounds and medium components, while agar/solid support cultures showed significantly increased yields of pyrrocidines A and B and acremonidins A-E, respectively. This method, mixed-phase fermentation (fermentation with an inert solid support bearing liquid medium), exploited the increase in surface area available for fungal growth on the supports and the tendency of some microorganisms to adhere to solid surfaces, possibly mimicking their natural growth habits. The production of dimeric anthraquinones by Penicillium sp. LL-WF159 was investigated in liquid fermentation using various inert polymeric immobilization supports composed of polypropylene, polypropylene cellulose, polyester-cellulose, or polyurethane. This culture produced rugulosin, skyrin, flavomannin, and a new bisanthracene, WF159-A, after fermentation in the presence and absence of polymeric supports for mycelial attachment. The physical nature of the different support systems influenced culture morphology and relative metabolite yields, as determined by HPLC analysis and measurement of antimicrobial activity. The application of such immobilized-cell fermentation methods under solid and liquid conditions facilitated the discovery of new antibiotic compounds, and offers new approaches to fungal fermentation for natural product discovery.

Acremonium↗

A comparison of flow field structures of two tri-leaflet polymeric heart valves.

Polymeric heart valves have the potential to reduce thrombogenic complications associated with current mechanical valves and overcome fatigue-related problems experienced by bioprosthetic valves. In this in vitro study, the velocity fields inside and downstream of two different prototype tri-lealfet polymeric heart valves were studied. Experiments were conducted on two 23 mm prototype polymeric valves, provided by AorTech Europe, having open or closed commissure designs and leaflet thickness of 120 and 80 microm, respectively. A two-dimensional LDV system was used to measure the velocity fields in the vicinity of the two valves under simulated physiological conditions. Both commissural design and leaflet thickness were found to affect the flow characteristics. In particular, very high levels of Reynolds shear stress of 13,000 dynes/cm2 were found in the leakage flow of the open commisure design. Maximum leakage velocities in the open and closed designs were 3.6 m/s and 0.5 m/s respectively; the peak forward flow velocities were 2.0 m/s and 2.6 m/s, respectively. In both valve designs, shear stress levels exceeding 4,000 dyne/cm2 were observed at the trailing edge of the leaflets and in the leakage and central orifice jets during peak systole. Additionally, regions of low velocity flow conducive to thrombus formation were observed in diastole. The flow structures measured in these experiments are consistent with the location of thrombus formation observed in preliminary animal experiments.

Animals↗

Fluid dynamic assessment of three polymeric heart valves using particle image velocimetry.

Polymeric heart valves have the potential to reduce thrombogenic complications associated with current mechanical valves and overcome fatigue-related problems experienced by bioprosthetic valves. In this paper we characterize the in vitro velocity and Reynolds Shear Stress (RSS) fields inside and downstream of three different prototype trileaflet polymeric heart valves. The fluid dynamic differences are then correlated with variations in valve design parameters. The three valves differ in leaflet thickness, ranging from 80 to 120 mum, and commisural design, either closed, opened, or semi-opened. The valves were subjected to aortic flow conditions and the velocity measured using three-dimensional stereo Particle Image Velocimetry. The peak forward flow phase in the three valves was characterized by a strong central orifice jet of approximately 2 m/s with a flat profile along the trailing edge of the leaflets. Leakage jets, with principle RSS magnitudes exceeding 4,500 dyn/cm(2), were observed in all valves with larger leaflet thicknesses and also corresponded to larger leakage volumes. Additional leakage jets were observed at the commissural region of valves with the open and the semi-open commissural designs. The results of the present study indicate that commissural design and leaflet thickness influence valve fluid dynamics and thus the thrombogenic potential of trileaflet polymeric valves.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

Interaction of quantitative PCR components with polymeric surfaces.

This study investigated the effect of exposing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mixture to capillary tubing of different materials and lengths, at different contact times and flow rates and the adsorption of major reaction components into the tubing wall. Using 0.5 mm ID tubing, lengths of 40 cm and residence times up to 45 min, none of the tested polymeric materials was found to affect subsequent PCR amplification. However, after exposure of the mixture to tubing lengths of 3 m or reduction of sample volume, PCR inhibition occurred, increasing with the volume to length ratio. Different flow velocities did not affect PCR yield. When the adsorption of individual PCR components was studied, significant DNA adsorption and even more significant adsorption of the fluorescent dye Sybr Green I was found. The results indicate that PCR inhibition in polymeric tubing results from adsorption of reaction components to wall surfaces, increasing substantially with tubing length or sample volume reduction, but not with contact time or flow velocities typical in dynamic PCR amplification. The data also highlight that chemical compatibility of polymeric capillaries with DNA dyes should be carefully considered for the design of quantitative microfluidic devices.

Artifacts↗

Stilbene-like molecules as fluorescent probes applied for monitoring of polymerization process.

2-(p-N,N-dimethylaminostyryl)benzoxazole (OS), 2-(p-N,N-dimethylaminostyryl)-benzothiazole (SS) and 2-(p-N,N-dimethylaminostyryl)naphtiazole (PS) were prepared and their absorption and fluorescence spectra were measured in various solvents at room temperature. On the basis of the solvatochromic behavior the ground state (mu(g)) and excited state (mu(e)) dipole moments of these pN,N-dimethylaminostyryl derivatives were evaluated. The dipole moments (mu(g) and mu(e)) were estimated from solvatochromic shifts of absorption and fluorescence spectra as function of the dielectric constant (epsilon) and refractive index (n) of applied solvents. The absorption spectra only slightly are affected by the solvent polarity in contrast to the fluorescence spectra that are highly solvatochromic and display a large Stokes shift. The analysis of the solvatochromic behavior of the fluorescence spectra as function of Deltaf (epsilon, n) revealed that the emission occurs from a high polarity excited state. The large dipole moment change along with the strongly red-shifted fluorescence, as the solvent polarity is increased, demonstrate the formation of an intramolecular charge transfer state (ICT). Compounds under the study were used as fluorescence probes for monitoring the kinetics of polymerization. The study on the changes in fluorescence intensity and spectroscopic shifts of studied compounds were carried out during thermally initiated polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and during photoinitiated polymerization of 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol triacrylate (TMPTA).

Acrylates↗

Dissociation in a polymerization model of homochirality.

A fully self-contained model of homochirality is presented that contains the effects of both polymerization and dissociation. The dissociation fragments are assumed to replenish the substrate from which new monomers can grow and undergo new polymerization. The mean length of isotactic polymers is found to grow slowly with the normalized total number of corresponding building blocks. Alternatively, if one assumes that the dissociation fragments themselves can polymerize further, then this corresponds to a strong source of short polymers, and an unrealistically short average length of only 3. By contrast, without dissociation, isotactic polymers becomes infinitely long.

Models, Theoretical↗

Polymeric micelles based on amphiphilic scorpion-like macromolecules: novel carriers for water-insoluble drugs.

PURPOSE: The objective was to evaluate amphiphilic scorpion-like macromolecules (AScMs) as drug carriers for hydrophobic drugs. METHODS: Indomethacin (IMC) was incorporated into two AScM micelles (M12P5 and M12P2) by the O/W emulsion technique. The influences of IMC:polymer feed ratio and molecular weight of the hydrophilic block of AScMs on the micelle size, IMC entrapment efficiency and release behavior were investigated. Furthermore, cytotoxicity of the AScMs was evaluated with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). RESULTS: The maximal IMC entrapment efficiency in M12P5 and M12P2 micelles (72.3 and 20.2%, respectively) was obtained at ratios of 0.1 to 1 for indomethacin:polymer. The sizes of IMC-loaded M12P5 and Mi2P2 polymeric micelles were <20 nm with a narrow size distribution. In vitro release studies revealed that IMC released from MI2P5 and M12P2 polymeric micelles showed sustained release behavior during the 24 h of experiment. Additionally, M12P5 and M12P2 polymeric micelles did not induce remarkable cytotoxicity against HUVEC cells at concentrations up to 1 and 0.5 mM, respectively. CONCLUSION: The amphiphilic scorpion-like macromolecules may be useful as novel drug carriers because of their small size, ability to encapsulate hydrophobic drugs and release them in a sustained manner as well as low cytotoxicity.

Cell Line↗

Polymeric gene transfection on insulin-secreting cells: sulfonylurea receptor-mediation and transfection medium effect.

PURPOSE: In vitro transfection of secreting cells is regarded as one strategy for improved cell engineering/ transplantation. Insulin-secreting insulinoma cell lines or pancreatic beta-cells could be genetically engineered using designed polymeric vectors which are safer than viral vectors. This study investigates the effects of the constituents in transfection media on polymeric transfection. METHODS: Polyplexes conjugated with sulfonylurea (SU) were evaluated under different transfection conditions for gene transfection and their effects on cytotoxicity and insulin secretion. Several components in transfection media specifically associated with the insulin secretion pathway were amino acids, vitamins, Ca2+ and K+. The interactions of the polyplexes with insulin were monitored by surface charge and particle size to monitor how insulin as a protein influences transfection. RESULTS: For an insulin-secreting cell line (RINm5F), polyplexes in Ca2+--containing KRH medium (Ca2+(+)KRH) enhanced transfection and did not cause damage to biological functions. When adding amino acids, vitamins, or K+ or depleting Ca2+ from Ca2+(+)KRH, poly(L-lysine)/DNA complexes showed a greater reduction in transfection than SU receptor (SUR)-targeting polyplexes (SU-polyplex). Positively charged polyplexes interacted with insulin, developing a negative surface charge, and these interactions may cause a decrease in transfection. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that in vitro and ex vivo polymeric transfection of insulin-secreting cells can be modulated and enhanced by adjusting the transfection conditions.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Polymerization of tobacco mosaic virus protein without and with hydrogen ion binding.

When tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) protein is polymerized at pH values above 7 in unbuffered solutions, either by raising temperature at constant ionic strength or by increasing ionic strength at constant temperature, a 20 S component is formed having bound only the very small amount of H+ ion supplied by the unpolymerized protein. When hydrogen ion is added by titration during polymerization so as to keep pH constant, as would occur automatically if a buffer were present, a 20 S component is formed with one H+ ion bound each for half of the subunits. Thus, a 20 S form with and a 20 S form without bound H+ ion exist. Furthermore, the 20 S form without bound H+ ion binds H+ ion when supplied by titration to produce a 20 S form with the same amount of bound H+ ion as when H+ ion is supplied during the polymerization.

Hydrogen Bonding↗

Interaction of a polymeric biguanide biocide with phospholipid membranes.

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and fluorescence polarization methods have been used to study the interactions between phospholipid membranes and a polymeric biocide, poly(hexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride) (PHMB). It was found that PHMB had very little effect on neutral lipids such as phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), whereas it greatly reduced the phase transition temperature of phosphatidylglycerol (PG), an acidic lipid found in bacteria. Although the corresponding monomeric biocide had a similar effect on the PG bilayer, the behaviour towards mixed lipid bilayers of PC and PG has been shown to be completely different for the polymeric and monomeric biocides: viz. the former can induce isothermal phase separation into a PHMB-PG complex domain and a PC-enriched domain, whilst the latter cannot. This may account for the great difference in bactericidal activity between them. It is suggested that PHMB interacts primarily with negatively charged species in the membranes, inducing aggregation of acidic lipids in the vicinity of the adsorption site, where higher fluidity and higher permeability are expected. The results have shown that two factors might be crucial in the cidal activity of such types of cationic disinfectants as biguanides: phase separation and interaction with the hydrocarbon interior of the membranes. Polymeric biocides could be particularly effective by virtue of their ability to combine hydrophobic character and multiple charges within a single molecule.

Biguanides↗

Interactions of polymerized phospholipid vesicles with cells. Uptake, processing and toxicity in macrophages.

We have studied the uptake of photopolymerized multilamellar vesicles composed of bis(1,2(methacryloyloxy)dodecanoyl)-L-alpha-phosphatidylchol ine (DPL) by mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro. Vesicles composed of polymerized DPL are taken up more rapidly and extensively than vesicles composed of conventional phosphatidylcholine. The uptake of radioactive DPL vesicles was not blocked by incubation with unlabelled phosphatidylcholine vesicles in either the fluid or gel state. Likewise, fluid-phase negatively charged vesicles failed to block uptake of DPL vesicles, whereas solid-phase negatively charged vesicles did have a blocking effect. A radioactive lipophilic marker (dipalmitoylphosphatidyl[N-methyl-3H]choline) incorporated into DPL vesicles was metabolized at essentially the same rate whether the vesicles were polymerized or not. Nonpolymerized DPL vesicles were quite toxic to macrophages, whereas polymerized DPL vesicles or vesicles composed of conventional phosphatidylcholines were not toxic.

Animals↗

Mixed monolayers of natural and polymeric phospholipids: structural characterization by physical and enzymatic methods.

This study has focused on physical characterization and enzymatic hydrolysis of mixed monolayers of a natural phospholipid substrate and a polymerizable phospholipid analogue. Such a mixed system presents the possibility to stabilize model biomembranes, vary the molecular environment within the layer through polymerization and simultaneously examine these influences on monolayer structure. Phospholipase A2 was used here as a sensitive probe of the molecular environment within these mixed, polymerizable monolayers to complement information obtained from isotherm and isobar data. The results clearly show a strong influence of molecular environment on phospholipase A2 activity, even if differences in the physical state of mixed monolayers are not detectable with isotherm and isobar measurements. Physical characterization indicated that both monomeric and polymeric mixed monolayers were phase-mixed. Enzyme hydrolysis, however, showed large differences in the ability of the enzyme to selectively hydrolyze the natural phosphatidylcholine component from the monomeric as opposed to the polymeric mixtures. This demonstrates a high sensitivity of phospholipase A2 to distinguish subtle differences in molecular arrangement within mixed monolayers on a molecular level.

Chemical Phenomena↗