Adsorption dynamics of hydrophobically modified polymers at an air-water interface

The adsorption dynamics of a series of hydrophobically modified polymers, PAAαCn, at the air-water interface is studied by measuring the dynamic surface tension. The PAAαCn are composed of a poly(acrylic acid) backbone grafted with a percentage α of C8 or C12 alkyl moieties, at pH conditions where the PAA backbone is not charged. The observed adsorption dynamics is very slow and follows a logarithmic behavior at long times indicating the building of an energy barrier which grows over time. After comparison of our experimental results to models from the literature, a new model which accounts for both the deformation of the incoming polymer coils as well as the deformation of the adsorbed pseudo-brush is described. This model enables to fit very well the experimental data. The two fitting parameters give expected values for the monomer size and for the area per adsorbed polymer chain.This article is uploaded in "arXiv.org" https://arxiv.org/abs/1706.0710

Applications of dielectric pads, novel materials and resonators in 1.5T and 3T MRI

\u3cp\u3eIn order to boost the performance of magnetic resonance imaging without increasing the static magnetic field, it is necessary to increase its intrinsic sensitivity. This allows a reduction in the scanning time, increased spatial resolution, and can enable low-field strength systems (which are much cheaper and can be used to scan patients with metallic implants) to have a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) so that they are comparable to more expensive higher field strength systems. In this contribution, we demonstrate radiofrequency field enhancing and shaping devices based on novel materials, such as high permittivity dielectric structures and metamaterials. These materials can substantially enhance SNR, thus potentially increasing image resolution or allowing faster examinations.\u3c/p\u3

Nuclear nanomedicine using Si nanoparticles as safe and effective carriers of 188Re radionuclide for cancer therapy

International audienceNuclear nanomedicine, with its targeting ability and heavily loading capacity, along with its enhanced retention to avoid rapid clearance as faced with molecular radiopharmaceuticals, provides unique opportunities to treat tumors and metastasis. Despite these promises, this field has seen limited activities, primarily because of a lack of suitable nanocarriers, which are safe, excretable and have favorable pharmacokinetics to efficiently deliver and retain radionuclides in a tumor. Here, we introduce biodegradable laser-synthesized Si nanoparticles having round shape, controllable low-dispersion size, and being free of any toxic impurities, as highly suitable carriers of therapeutic 188 Re radionuclide. the conjugation of the polyethylene glycol-coated Si nanoparticles with radioactive 188 Re takes merely 1 hour, compared to its half-life of 17 hours. When intravenously administered in a Wistar rat model, the conjugates demonstrate free circulation in the blood stream to reach all organs and target tumors, which is radically in contrast with that of the 188 Re salt that mostly accumulates in the thyroid gland. We also show that the nanoparticles ensure excellent retention of 188 Re in tumor, not possible with the salt, which enables one to maximize the therapeutic effect, as well as exhibit a complete time-delayed conjugate bioelimination. Finally, our tests on rat survival demonstrate excellent therapeutic effect (72% survival compared to 0% of the control group). Combined with a series of imaging and therapeutic functionalities based on unique intrinsic properties of Si nanoparticles, the proposed biodegradable complex promises a major advancement in nuclear nanomedicine

Combined Effect of Bortezomib and Menadione Sodium Bisulfite on Proteasomes of Tumor Cells: The Dramatic Decrease of Bortezomib Toxicity in a Preclinical Trial

Tumor growth is associated with elevated proteasome expression and activity. This makes proteasomes a promising target for antitumor drugs. Current antitumor drugs such as bortezomib that inhibit proteasome activity have significant side effects. The purpose of the present study was to develop effective low-toxic antitumor compositions with combined effects on proteasomes. For compositions, we used bortezomib in amounts four and ten times lower than its clinical dose, and chose menadione sodium bisulfite (MSB) as the second component. MSB is known to promote oxidation of NADH, generate superoxide radicals, and as a result damage proteasome function in cells that ensure the relevance of MSB use for the composition development. The proteasome pool was investigated by the original native gel electrophoresis method, proteasome chymotrypsin-like activity—by Suc-LLVY-AMC-hydrolysis. For the compositions, we detected 10 and 20 μM MSB doses showing stronger proteasome-suppressing and cytotoxic in cellulo effects on malignant cells than on normal ones. MSB indirectly suppressed 26S-proteasome activity in cellulo, but not in vitro. At the same time, MSB together with bortezomib displayed synergetic action on the activity of all proteasome forms in vitro as well as synergetic antitumor effects in cellulo. These findings determine the properties of the developed compositions in vivo: antitumor efficiency, higher (against hepatocellular carcinoma and mammary adenocarcinoma) or comparable to bortezomib (against Lewis lung carcinoma), and drastically reduced toxicity (LD50) relative to bortezomib. Thus, the developed compositions represent a novel generation of bortezomib-based anticancer drugs combining high efficiency, low general toxicity, and a potentially expanded range of target tumors

Properties of Si quantum dot/SiOx porous film structures synthesized using hydrogen fluoride technology

Quantum dot/SiOx film structures synthesized using a new hydrogen fluoride technology of silicon nanoparticles in a porous silicon oxide matrix have been studied in detail. A physical mechanism of influence of chemical treatment in HF vapors in air on structural and light emitting properties of nanosized silicon film porous systems has been proposed. We show that passivation of broken bonds on the surface of Si nanoinclusions as a result of treatment with the participation of oxygen, fluorine and hydrogen atoms reduces the non-emitting recombination channel. A model has been suggested accounting for the shift of the photoluminescence spectrum towards the blue region as a result of treatment due to a decrease in the sizes of the Si quantum dots during the oxidation of their surface layer

Mechanochemical Synthesis of Cocrystals of Betulin with Adipic Acid

Смешанные кристаллы бетулина с адипиновой кислотой получены механохимической активацией при добавлении небольших количеств органических растворителей. Образование смешанных кристаллов подтверждено методами рентгенофазового анализа и ИК-спектроскопии. С целью выбора жидкости для приготовления смешанных кристаллов проведено сравнение растворителей различной полярности. Показано, что смешанные кристаллы бетулина с адипиновой кислотой образуются, если при механической обработке используются растворители, хорошо растворяющие адипиновую кислотуThe cocrystal of betulin with adipic acid was prepared using a liquid-assisted grinding method. The formation of cocrystal was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy methods. In order to choose a liquid for preparing cocrystal, solvents of different polarity were compared. It was shown that cocrystal of betulin with adipic acid was formed if solvents were used during mechanical treatment, in which the increased solubility of adipic acid was observe