Real-time and in situ observation of structural evolution of giant block copolymer thin film under solvent vapor annealing by atomic force microscopy

An instrumentation technique for real-time, in situ and real space observation of microphase separation was proposed for ultra-high molecular weight block copolymer thin films (1010 kg mol⁻¹, domain spacing of 180 nm) under high solvent vapor swelling conditions. This is made possible by a combination of a homebuilt chamber which is capable of supplying sufficient amount of vapor, and force–distance curve measurements which gives real-time swollen film thickness and allow active feedback for controlling the degree of swelling. We succeeded in monitoring the domain coarsening of perpendicular lamellar structures in polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) thin films for eight hours via tapping mode imaging. During the annealing process, the thickness reached a maximum of 8.5 times that of the original film. The series of temporal real space topographic images obtained via this method allowed us to study, for the first time, the growth exponent of the correlation length under solvent vapor annealing.

Real-time and in situ observation technique was proposed for ultra high molecular weight block copolymer thin films under solvent vapor annealing.

Cinoxacin: competitive inhibitory effect on p-aminohippurate transport and its uptake in renal cortical slices

The effect of cinoxacin on p-aminohippurate (PAH) transport and the accumulation of cinoxacin were examined in renal cortical slices. Cinoxacin significantly inhibited the uptake of PAH by the slices from rats and rabbits. Cinoxacin increased the apparent Michaelis constant (Km) but did not affect Vmax for PAH uptake by rat kidney cortical slices, suggesting that cinoxacin inhibited PAH transport in a competitive manner. Cinoxacin was taken up but did not affect the cellular metabolism of Na+, K+ and ATP in the slices from rats and rabbits, except that 740 microM cinoxacin increased net Na+ efflux. These data indicate that cinoxacin is transported by the same process as that of PAH in renal cortical slices. Lastly, repeated administration of cinoxacin to rats did not affect the uptake of the drug by the slices.

Effect of cinoxacin on cellular metabolism and p-aminohippurate transport in kidney cortical slices in terms of its nephrotoxic action

Cinoxacin is a drug which, at very high doses, causes renal damage only in rats. This study compared the in vitro effects of cinoxacin and nalidixic acid on cellular metabolism and p-aminohippurate (PAH) transport in renal cortical slices. Cinoxacin had no effect on Na+ transport, ATP content, oxygen consumption, inulin space and tissue water content, in rat renal cortical slices in vitro, while nalidixic acid affected most of the parameters tested. PAH uptake by slices from rats pre-treated with a nephrotoxic dose of cinoxacin was decreased. This renal damage appeared to be due to physical trauma resulting from deposition of cinoxacin crystals in the urinary tract.