10 research outputs found
Probing secondary coordination sphere interactions within porphyrin-cored polymer nanoparticles
A suite of zinc porphyrin-cored random coil polymers and polymeric nanoparticles with varying degrees of potential hydrogen bonding character and steric bulk were synthesized and characterized to study secondary coordination sphere interactions. The reaction of cyanide with N,N-dimethylformamide in the presence of porphyrin-cored polymeric nanoparticles was monitored via UV-Vis spectroscopy. It is shown that the zinc porphyrin-cored polymers and nanoparticles catalyzed the reaction of cyanide with N,N-dimethylformamide with the highest reaction rates occurring with polymeric nanoparticles with a greater number of potential hydrogen bond donors and greater steric bulk
The desirable qualities of future doctors: a study of medical student perceptions
Background: There is a lack of consensus regarding the qualities possessed by the ideal doctor, and very limited research regarding the views of medical students on these
qualities.
Aims: To investigate the views of commencing medical students regarding the desirable qualities of doctors
Methods: A survey containing a set of proposed desirable qualities of doctors identified from the existing literature was completed by 158 first year medical
students.
Results: The survey had a 75% response rate. Students rated the individual qualities of empathy, motivation to be a doctor, good verbal communication, ethically sound,
integrity and honesty as the most important. A factor analysis identified six categories of qualities: Methodical Processing, Cognitive Capacity, People Skills, Generic Work
Ethic, Role Certainty and Warmth. Significant differences in factor scores were found across subgroups of students (international and domestic students, with and without
prior tertiary studies) on the following factors: Methodical Processing, which was scored highest by domestic students with prior tertiary studies, Cognitive Capacity,
which was scored highest by domestic students without prior tertiary studies and Generic Work Ethic, which was scored highest by international students.
Conclusions: Medical students identified a range of desirable personal qualities of a doctor which varied according to student characteristics, including their prior
educational experience. Future research aiming to define such desirable qualities should include a broader range of stakeholders, including students at different training
levels and institutions
Injectable biocompatible and biodegradable pH-responsive hollow particle gels containing poly(acrylic acid): The effect of copolymer composition on gel properties
The
potential of various pH-responsive alkyl (meth)Âacrylate ester-
and (meth)Âacrylic acid-based copolymers, including polyÂ(methyl methacrylate-<i>co</i>-acrylic acid) (PMMA-AA) and polyÂ(<i>n</i>-butyl
acrylate-<i>co</i>-methacrylic acid) (PBA-MAA), to form
pH-sensitive biocompatible and biodegradable hollow particle gel scaffolds
for use in non-load-bearing soft tissue regeneration have been explored.
The optimal copolymer design criteria for preparation of these materials
have been established. Physical gels which are both pH- and redox-sensitive
were formed only from PMMA-AA copolymers. MMA is the optimal hydrophobic
monomer, whereas the use of various COOH-containing monomers, e.g.,
MAA and AA, will always induce a pH-triggered physical gelation. The
PMMA-AA gels were prepared at physiological pH range from concentrated
dispersions of swollen, hollow, polymer-based particles cross-linked
with either cystamine (CYS) or 3,3′-dithiodipropionic acid
dihydrazide (DTP). A linear relationship between particle swelling
ratios, gel elasticity, and ductility was observed. The PMMA-AA gels
with lower AA contents feature lower swelling ratios, mechanical strengths,
and ductilities. Increasing the swelling ratio (e.g., through increasing
AA content) decreased the intraparticle elasticity; however, intershell
contact and gel elasticity were found to increase. The mechanical
properties and performance of the gels were tuneable upon varying
the copolymers’ compositions and the structure of the cross-linker.
Compared to PMMA-AA/CYS, the PMMA-AA/DTP gels were more elastic and
ductile. The biodegradability and cytotoxicity of the new hollow particle
gels were tested for the first time and related to their composition,
mechanical properties, and morphology. The new PMMA-AA/CYS and PMMA-AA/DTP
gels have shown good biocompatibility, biodegradability, strength,
and interconnected porosity and therefore have good potential as a
tissue repair agent