Suspension polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate: a route for swellable spherical gel beads with controlled hydrophilicity and functionality

Monodisperse-porous Mn5O8 microspheres as an efficient catalyst for fast degradation of organic pollutants via peroxymonosulfate activation

Monodisperse-porous Mn5O8 microspheres with multiple oxidation states were used as a highly stable, efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the fast degradation of organic pollutants via peroxymonosulfate activation.

Recent trends in sorbents for bioaffinity chromatography

Isolation or enrichment of biological molecules from complex biological samples is mostly a prerequisite in proteomics, genomics, and glycomics. Different techniques have been used to advance the efficiency of the purification of biological molecules. Bioaffinity chromatography is one of the most powerful technique that plays an important role in the isolation of target biological molecules by the specific interactions with ligands that are immobilized on different support materials. This review examines the recent developments in bioaffinity chromatography particularly over the past 5 years in the literature. Also properties of supports, immobilization techniques, types of binding agents, and methods used in bioaffinity chromatography applications are summarized.

Preparation and characterization of poly(MMA-EGDMA-AMPS) microspheres by soap-free emulsion polymerization

The poly(methyl methacrylate-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) [poly(MMA-EGDMA-AMPS)] microsphere was produced by a soap-free emulsion polymerization of MMA, EGDMA and AMPS. The chemical composition, morphology, particle size distribution and properties of the obtained microspheres were characterized by energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a laser particle analyzer and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Results showed that the microspheres had a high-quality spherical morphology, irrespective of the components, and their particle sizes mainly ranged from 10 μm to 70 μm. The microspheres were thermally stable up to 190°C. As the AMPS loading was increased, the synthetic yield rate decreased and the water uptake increased. The optimum synthetic yield rate and water uptake were obtained at a 2.0 wt% AMPS. In addition, the selected microspheres with a diameter of approximately 25 μm provided an effective plugging, and the plugging rate was up to 80%. This study demonstrated that the plugging behavior of microspheres was due to their deformation, migration and aggregating properties in the plugging process, which made them potential materials for modifying the porous reservoir to enhance oil recovery in petroleum engineering.

Atom transfer radical polymerization to fabricate monodisperse poly[glycidyl methacrylate-co-poly (ethylene glycol) methacrylate] microspheres and its application for protein affinity purification

Poly[glycidyl methacrylate-co-poly (ethylene glycol) methacrylate] microspheres for the first time were successfully synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) method at room temperature. The co-polymerization approach was investigated to delicately control the microsphere morphology and size-distribution by reaction conditions including solvent percentage, monomer loading and rotation speed. The results show that the average size of the microspheres is ∼5.7 μm with coexistence of epoxy, hydroxyl and ether groups, which provide plentiful functional sites for protein anchoring. The mechanism of the microsphere formation is proposed. The microsphere successfully demonstrates its unique application for affinity purification of proteins, in which the functional epoxy group facilitates a simple and efficient protein covalent immobilization to purify immunoglobulin G on the microspheres, while the hydrophilic poly (ethylene glycol) motif can repulse nonspecific protein adsorption for good specificity. This microspheres can be used in broad protein biosensors due to their abundant functional groups and high surface to volume ratio.

The synthesis of poly(vinylphosphonic acid-co-methacrylic acid) microbeads by suspension polymerization and the characterization of their indium adsorption properties

Poly(vinylphosphonic acid-co-methacrylic acid) microbeads were synthesized by suspension polymerization, and their indium adsorption properties were investigated. The obtained microbeads were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The microbeads were wrinkled spheres, irrespective of the components, and their sizes ranged from 100 to 200 μm. The microbeads were thermally stable up to 260°C. As the vinylphosphonic acid (VPA) content was increased, the synthetic yields and ion-exchange capacities decreased and the water uptakes increased. The optimum synthetic yield, ion-exchange capacity and water uptake were obtained at a 0.5 mol ratio of VPA. In addition, the maximum adsorption predicted by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model was greatest at a 0.5 mol ratio of VPA.

The use of polyethyleneglycolmethacrylate-co-vinylimidazole (PEGMA-co-VI) microspheres for the removal of nickel(II) and chromium(VI) ions

The polyethyleneglycolmethacrylate-co-vinylimidazole (PEGMA-VI) copolymers, that can be used in heavy metal removal applications, were synthesized and characterized; and their use as sorbents in heavy metal removal was investigated. It was determined that the ligand vinylimidazole was successfully inserted into the polymer structure. Then, chromium (Cr(VI)) and nickel (Ni(II)) ions were used as model species to investigate the usability of the obtained microspheres in heavy metal removal. The effects of pH of the adsorption medium, initial concentration of the metal ions and VI content of PEGMA-VI microspheres were investigated as the effective parameters on the adsorption capacities of the microspheres. The adsorption rate of the microspheres was also investigated for determination of the optimum adsorption time which is the required time for maximum adsorption capacity. The adsorption capacities under optimum conditions were also determined. The order of adsorption affinities of PEGMA-VI microspheres with respect to the used metals was determined by competitive adsorption studies. According to the obtained results, the highest adsorption affinity of the PEGMA-VI microspheres was towards Cr(VI) ions, the adsorption affinity was less for Ni(II) and the least affinity was towards Cu(II) ions. The adsorption-desorption studies showed that the microspheres were reusable without a significant decrease in the ion adsorption capacities.

Preparation and characterization of polyethyleneglycolmethacrylate (PEGMA)-co-vinylimidazole (VI) microspheres to use in heavy metal removal

Polyethyleneglycolmethacrylate (PEGMA) and vinylimidazole (VI) were used in order to obtain microspheres of PEGMA-VI copolymers that can be used in heavy metal removal applications. The obtained copolymers were characterized and their use as sorbents in heavy metal removal was investigated. In the first part of the study, PEGMA-VI microspheres were prepared by suspension polymerization method. The obtained swellable microspheres with 10-50 microm average diameter did not have permanent porosity according to the morphological and physicochemical determinations. The sizes of microspheres became smaller with increasing VI and cross-linker ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate (EGDMA) contents and increasing agitation rate. The VI content, EGDMA ratio, pH and ionic strength were determined as the effective parameters on the swelling behavior of PEGMA-VI microspheres. In the second part of the study, Cu(II) ions were used as a model species in order to investigate the usability of the obtained PEGMA-VI microspheres in heavy metal removal. Adsorption capacities under optimum conditions were determined. The Cu(II) ion adsorption capacity increased by increasing the initial Cu(II) ion concentration, and it reached the maximum value (i.e., 30 mg Cu(II)/g PEGMA-VI microspheres) at 400 mg Cu(II)/L initial Cu(II) ion concentration under the determined optimum conditions. Microspheres were found to be reusable after desorption for several times.

Label-free DNA biosensors based on functionalized carbon nanotube field effect transistors

A carbon nanotube transistor array was used to detect DNA hybridization. A new approach to ensure specific adsorption of DNA to the nanotubes was developed. The polymer poly (methylmethacrylate(0.6)-co-poly(ethyleneglycol)methacrylate(0.15)-co-N-succinimidyl methacrylate(0.25)) was synthesized and bonded noncovalently to the nanotube. Aminated single-strand DNA was then attached covalently to the polymer. After hybridization, statistically significant changes were observed in key transistor parameters. Hybridized DNA traps both electrons and holes, possibly caused by the charge-trapping nature of the base pairs.

Poly(vinyl pyridine-poly ethylene glycol methacrylate-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) beads for heavy metal removal

Poly(vinyl pyridine-poly ethylene glycol methacrylate-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) [poly(VP-PEGMA-EGDMA)] beads with an average size of 30-100 microm were prepared by suspension polymerization. Poly(VP-PEGMA-EGDMA) beads were characterized by swelling studies, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The beads with a swelling ratio of 65% were used for the heavy metal removal studies. Chelation capacity of the beads for the selected metal ions, i.e., Pb(II), Cd(II), Cr(III) and Cu(II) were investigated in aqueous media containing different amounts of these ions (5-80 mg/l) and at different pH values (2.0-10.0). The maximum chelation capacities of the poly(VP-PEGMA-EGDMA) beads were 18.23 mg/g for Pb(II), 16.50 mg/g for Cd(II), 17.38 mg/g for Cr(III) and 18.25 mg/g for Cu(II). The affinity order on mass basis was observed as follows: Cu(II)>Pb(II)>Cr(III)>Cd(II). pH significantly affected the chelation capacity of VP incorporated beads. Heavy metal adsorption on the poly(PEGMA-EGDMA) control microspheres was negligible. Regeneration of the chelating beads was easily performed with 0.1 M HNO3. It was shown that these beads can be used effectively for heavy metal removal from aqueous solutions with repeatedly adsorption-desorption operations. These features show that poly(VP-PEGMA-EGDMA) beads are potential candidate sorbent for heavy metal removal.

Polyethylene glycol-based cationically charged hydrogel beads as a new microcarrier for cell culture

A new polyethylene glycol (PEG) based microcarrier was designed and examined by the attachment and growth of mouse fibroblast cells. In the design of microcarrier, a PEG-based macromonomer, polyethyleneglycol methacrylate (PEGMA), was selected as the main component of hydrogel beads since PEG is known as a nontoxic and biocompatible material. A relatively new cationic comonomer, N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide (DMAPM), with higher ionization ability with respect to the similar comonomers was used for providing cationic charge to the hydrogel structure. In the first part, a suspension copolymerization method was developed for the production of cationically charged hydrogel beads as a potential microcarrier for cell culturing. The suspension copolymerization by using ethylene dimethacrylate (EDM) as cross-linking agent and cyclohexanol as the diluent provided spherical, polydisperse poly(PEGMA-DMAPM-EDM) hydrogel beads with an average size of 121 microm. The hydrogel beads exhibited a pH-dependent swelling behavior. The L929 mouse fibroblast cells were cultured on poly(PEGMA-DMAPM-EDM) hydrogel beads with an initial concentration of 200,000 cells/mL. The cells were incubated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium during 5 days and the cell proliferation was investigated at every 24 h. An effective cell attachment and growth up to 3.5 x 10(6) cells/mL were observed with the poly(PEGMA-DMAPM-EDM) hydrogel beads. The results indicated that the proposed microcarrier was a significant alternative to the hydrogel beads obtained by the copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and 2-dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate commonly used in microcarrier-facilitated cell culturing studies.

Voltage-tunable volume transitions in nanoscale films of poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) surfaces grafted onto gold

Surface grafting of a polymerizable monomer onto Au was used to produce nanometer-scale planar hydrogel films with controllable volume. A self-assembled monolayer of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid on a planar Au surface was activated through water-soluble carbodiimide and N-hyroxysuccinimide followed by reaction with 2-aminomethacrylate to produce a methacrylate-terminated surface layer, which readily polymerized under UV radiation in the presence of hydroxyethyl methacrylate monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate cross-linker, and a photoinitiator. The reaction steps were characterized by external reflection mode Fourier transform IR spectroscopy. Under controlled UV exposure, thin (3 nm < d < 10 nm) hydrogel films were obtained from 1:1 ethanol/H(2)O. Surface plasmon resonance measurements were used to characterize both the synthesis of the hydrogel and the potential-induced volume changes. The nanometer-scale hydrogels thus produced undergo reproducible changes in thickness, when a potential is applied across the film. Thickness changes increasing with applied potential were obtained for both voltages in the range |V(appl)| </= 600 mV. In NaCl, electrolyte films swell with application of negative potentials and shrink with positive potentials, due to the imbibing or extrusion of hydrated Na(+) ions, respectively. Thickness changes as large as 50% can be achieved. An increase in the cross-linker content results in thicker films, but at the cost of dramatically restricted swelling. Response times are generally faster for smaller applied potentials, as expected if the volume change results from mass transport of electrolyte.