Displaying publications 61 - 80 of 228 in total

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  1. Semi-empirical spectrophotometric (SESp) method for the indirect determination of the ratio of cationic micellar binding constants of counterions X⁻ and Br⁻(K(X)/K(Br))
    Khan MN, Yusof NS, Razak NA
    J Oleo Sci, 2013;62(9):695-708.
    PMID: 24005014
    The semi-empirical spectrophotometric (SESp) method, for the indirect determination of ion exchange constants (K(X)(Br)) of ion exchange processes occurring between counterions (X⁻ and Br⁻) at the cationic micellar surface, is described in this article. The method uses an anionic spectrophotometric probe molecule, N-(2-methoxyphenyl)phthalamate ion (1⁻), which measures the effects of varying concentrations of inert inorganic or organic salt (Na(v)X, v = 1, 2) on absorbance, (A(ob)) at 310 nm, of samples containing constant concentrations of 1⁻, NaOH and cationic micelles. The observed data fit satisfactorily to an empirical equation which gives the values of two empirical constants. These empirical constants lead to the determination of K(X)(Br) (= K(X)/K(Br) with K(X) and K(Br) representing cationic micellar binding constants of counterions X and Br⁻). This method gives values of K(X)(Br) for both moderately hydrophobic and hydrophilic X⁻. The values of K(X)(Br), obtained by using this method, are comparable with the corresponding values of K(X)(Br), obtained by the use of semi-empirical kinetic (SEK) method, for different moderately hydrophobic X. The values of K(X)(Br) for X = Cl⁻ and 2,6-Cl₂C6H₃CO₂⁻, obtained by the use of SESp and SEK methods, are similar to those obtained by the use of other different conventional methods.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions*
  2. Fulltext Influence of chemical extraction conditions on the physicochemical and functional properties of polysaccharide gum from durian (Durio zibethinus) seed
    Mirhosseini H, Amid BT
    Molecules, 2012 May 29;17(6):6465-80.
    PMID: 22643356 DOI: 10.3390/molecules17066465
    Durian seed is an agricultural biomass waste of durian fruit. It can be a natural plant source of non-starch polysaccharide gum with potential functional properties. The main goal of the present study was to investigate the effect of chemical extraction variables (i.e., the decolouring time, soaking temperature and soaking time) on the physicochemical properties of durian seed gum. The physicochemical and functional properties of chemically-extracted durian seed gum were assessed by determining the particle size and distribution, solubility and the water- and oil-holding capacity (WHC and OHC). The present work revealed that the soaking time should be considered as the most critical extraction variable affecting the physicochemical properties of crude durian seed gum.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  3. Fulltext Effect of surfactant and surfactant blends on pseudoternary phase diagram behavior of newly synthesized palm kernel oil esters
    Mahdi ES, Sakeena MH, Abdulkarim MF, Abdullah GZ, Sattar MA, Noor AM
    Drug Des Devel Ther, 2011;5:311-23.
    PMID: 21792294 DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S15698
    The purpose of this study was to select appropriate surfactants or blends of surfactants to study the ternary phase diagram behavior of newly introduced palm kernel oil esters.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  4. Physicochemical and sorption characteristics of Malaysian Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. as a natural oil sorbent
    Abdullah MA, Rahmah AU, Man Z
    J Hazard Mater, 2010 May 15;177(1-3):683-91.
    PMID: 20060641 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.12.085
    Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn (kapok) is a natural sorbent that exhibits excellent hydrophobic-oleophilic characteristics. The effect of packing density, the oil types and solvent treatment on the sorption characteristics of kapok was studied in a batch system. Oil sorption capacity, retention capacity, entrapment stability and kapok reusability were evaluated. Based on SEM and FTIR analyses, kapok fiber was shown to be a lignocellulosic material with hydrophobic waxy coating over the hollow structures. Higher packing density at 0.08 g/ml showed lower sorption capacity, but higher percentage of dynamic oil retention, with only 1% of oil drained out from the test cell. Kapok remained stable after fifteen cycles of reuse with only 30% of sorption capacity reduction. The oil entrapment stability at 0.08 g/ml packing was high with more than 90% of diesel and used engine oil retained after horizontal shaking. After 8h of chloroform and alkali treatment, 2.1% and 26.3% reduction in sorption capacity were observed, respectively, as compared to the raw kapok. The rigid hollow structure was reduced to flattened-like structure after alkali treatment, though no major structural difference was observed after chloroform treatment. Malaysian kapok has shown great potential as an effective natural oil sorbent, owing to high sorption and retention capacity, structural stability and high reusability.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  5. Lipase immobilized on poly(VP-co-HEMA) hydrogel for esterification reaction
    Basri M, Samsudin S, Ahmad MB, Razak CN, Salleh AB
    Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 1999 Sep;81(3):205-17.
    PMID: 15304777
    Lipase from Candida rugosa was immobilized by entrapment on poly(N-vinyl- 2-pyrrolidone-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (poly[VP-co-HEMA]) hydrogel, and divinylbenzene was the crosslinking agent. The immobilized enzymes were used in the esterification reaction of oleic acid and butanol in hexane. The activities of the immobilized enzymes and the leaching ability of the enzyme from the support with respect to the different compositions of the hydrogels were investigated. The thermal, solvent, and storage stability of the immobilized lipases was also determined. Increasing the percentage of composition of VP from 0 to 90, which corresponds to the increase in the hydrophilicity of the hydrogels, increased the activity of the immobilized enzyme. Lipase immobilized on VP(%):HEMA(%) 90:10 exhibited the highest activity. Lipase immobilized on VP(%):HEMA(%) 50:50 showed the highest thermal, solvent, storage, and operational stability compared to lipase immobilized on other compositions of hydrogels as well as the native lipase.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  6. Fulltext The identification of novel Mycobacterium tuberculosis DHFR inhibitors and the investigation of their binding preferences by using molecular modelling
    Hong W, Wang Y, Chang Z, Yang Y, Pu J, Sun T, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2015;5:15328.
    PMID: 26471125 DOI: 10.1038/srep15328
    It is an urgent need to develop new drugs for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), and the enzyme, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is a recognised drug target. The crystal structures of methotrexate binding to mt- and h-DHFR separately indicate that the glycerol (GOL) binding site is likely to be critical for the function of mt-DHFR selective inhibitors. We have used in silico methods to screen NCI small molecule database and a group of related compounds were obtained that inhibit mt-DHFR activity and showed bactericidal effects against a test Mtb strain. The binding poses were then analysed and the influence of GOL binding site was studied by using molecular modelling. By comparing the chemical structures, 4 compounds that might be able to occupy the GOL binding site were identified. However, these compounds contain large hydrophobic side chains. As the GOL binding site is more hydrophilic, molecular modelling indicated that these compounds were failed to occupy the GOL site. The most potent inhibitor (compound 6) demonstrated limited selectivity for mt-DHFR, but did contain a novel central core (7H-pyrrolo[3,2-f]quinazoline-1,3-diamine), which may significantly expand the chemical space of novel mt-DHFR inhibitors. Collectively, these observations will inform future medicinal chemistry efforts to improve the selectivity of compounds against mt-DHFR.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  7. Parametric Investigation of Batch Adsorption of Proteins onto Polymeric Particles
    Tan MX, Agyei D, Pan S, Danquah MK
    Curr Pharm Biotechnol, 2015;16(9):816-22.
    PMID: 26119365
    BACKGROUND: Effective bimolecular adsorption of proteins onto solid matrices is characterized by in-depth understanding of the biophysical features essential to optimize the adsorption performance.

    RESULTS: The adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) onto anion-exchange Q-sepharose solid particulate support was investigated in batch adsorption experiments. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms were developed as a function of key industrially relevant parameters such as polymer loading, stirring speed, buffer pH, protein concentration and the state of protein dispersion (solid/aqueous) in order to optimize binding performance and adsorption capacity. Experimental results showed that the first order rate constant is higher at higher stirring speed, higher polymer loading, and under alkaline conditions, with a corresponding increase in equilibrium adsorption capacity. Increasing the stirring speed and using aqueous dispersion protein system increased the adsorption rate, but the maximum protein adsorption was unaffected. Regardless of the stirring speed, the adsorption capacity of the polymer was 2.8 mg/ml. However, doubling the polymer loading increased the adsorption capacity to 9.4 mg/ml.

    CONCLUSIONS: The result demonstrates that there exists a minimum amount of polymer loading required to achieve maximum protein adsorption capacity under specific process conditions.

    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  8. Hydrophobic modification of cellulose isolated from Agave angustifolia fibre by graft copolymerisation using methyl methacrylate
    Rosli NA, Ahmad I, Abdullah I, Anuar FH, Mohamed F
    Carbohydr Polym, 2015 Jul 10;125:69-75.
    PMID: 25857961 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.03.002
    Graft copolymerisation of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto Agave angustifolia was conducted with ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as the redox initiator. The maximum grafting efficiency was observed at CAN and MMA concentrations of 0.91 × 10(-3) and 5.63 × 10(-2)M, respectively, at 45°C for 3h reaction time. Four characteristic peaks at 2995, 1738, 1440, and 845 cm(-1), attributed to PMMA, were found in the IR spectrum of grafted cellulose. The crystallinity index dropped from 0.74 to 0.46, while the thermal stability improved upon grafting. The water contact angle increased with grafting yield, indicating increased hydrophobicity of cellulose. SEM images showed the grafted cellulose to be enlarged and rougher. The changes in the physical nature of PMMA-grafted cellulose can be attributed to the PMMA grafting in the amorphous regions of cellulose, causing it to expand at the expense of the crystalline component.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  9. Fulltext Reinventing nano drug delivery systems for hydrophilic active ingredients in Ayurvedic lipid based formulations containing poly herbal decoction
    Duraipandi S, Selvakumar V
    J Ayurveda Integr Med, 2019 01 08;11(3):224-227.
    PMID: 30635246 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaim.2018.01.008
    BACKGROUND: Anu Tailam, an Ayurvedic medicated oil where 'anu' meant for atom and 'tailam' meant for oil and virtually meant for 'oil of subtle or atomic size particles'. Since the major active ingredients in this formulation are incorporated from the polyherbal decoction, it is expected to contain predominantly water soluble ingredients.

    OBJECTIVES: It is hypothesized that these polar active botanical ingredients are present in the formulation should be either suspended in the form of submicron particles or entrapped in the submicron vesicular structures since the formulation did not show any precipitation or phase separation instead showed a monophasic oily liquid with very little moisture.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present investigation, the micro architecture of the anu tailam is studied via column chromatography and high performance thin layer chromatography to prove the contents are polar hydrophilic compounds followed by optical microscopy, photon correlation Spectroscopy (PCS) and environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) to study the particle/vesicle size of the formulation.

    RESULTS: In this study, it was proved that the formulation contained only polar ingredients and can be extracted in polar solvents like methanol and ethanol. It was also found that the formulation taken for study contained nano particles of the active botanical ingredients embedded in a network of vesicular structures of the lipid base.

    CONCLUSION: The selected Ayurvedic formulation 'anutailam' found to contain novel nano drug delivery system to deliver water soluble ingredients across barriers.

    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  10. Fulltext Influence of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on the Rheological Behavior and Physical Properties of Kenaf Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Composites
    Abdul Azam F', Razak Z, Md Radzi MKF, Muhamad N, Che Haron CH, Sulong AB
    Polymers (Basel), 2020 Sep 13;12(9).
    PMID: 32933225 DOI: 10.3390/polym12092083
    The incorporation of kenaf fiber fillers into a polymer matrix has been pronounced in the past few decades. In this study, the effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with a short kenaf fiber (20 mesh) with polypropylene (PP) added was investigated. The melt blending process was performed using an internal mixer to produce polymer composites with different filler contents, while the suitability of this melt composite for the injection molding process was evaluated. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out to investigate the thermal stability of the raw materials. Rheological analyses were conducted by varying the temperature, load factor, and filler content. The results demonstrate a non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behavior in all samples with changed kenaf fillers (10 to 40 wt %) and MWCNT contents (1 to 4 wt %), which confirm the suitability of the feedstock for the injection molding process. The addition of MWCNTs had an immense effect on the viscosity and an enormous reduction in the feedstock flow behavior. The main contribution of this work is the comprehensive observation of the rheological characteristics of newly produced short PP/kenaf composites that were altered after MWCNT additions. This study also presented an adverse effect on the composites containing MWCNTs, indicating a hydrophilic property with improved water absorption stability and the low flammability effect of PP/kenaf/MWCNT composites. This PP/kenaf/MWCNT green composite produced through the injection molding technique has great potential to be used as car components in the automotive industry.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  11. Fulltext Development of Polyvinylidene Fluoride Membrane by Incorporating Bio-Based Ginger Extract as Additive
    Fahrina A, Arahman N, Mulyati S, Aprilia S, Mat Nawi NI, Aqsha A, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2020 Sep 03;12(9).
    PMID: 32899138 DOI: 10.3390/polym12092003
    Biofouling on the membrane surface leads to performance deficiencies in membrane filtration. In this study, the application of ginger extract as a bio-based additive to enhance membrane antibiofouling properties was investigated. The extract was dispersed in a dimethyl acetamide (DMAc) solvent together with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) to enhance biofouling resistance of the resulting membrane due to its antibiotic property. The concentrations of the ginger extract in the dope solution were varied in the range of 0-0.1 wt %. The antibacterial property of the resulting membranes was assessed using the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. The results show an inhibition zone formed around the PVDF/ginger membrane against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus demonstrating the efficacy of the residual ginger extract in the membrane matrix to impose the antibiofouling property. The addition of the ginger extract also enhanced the hydrophilicity in the membrane surface by lowering the contact angle from 93° to 85°, which was in good agreement with the increase in the pure water flux of up to 62%.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  12. Fulltext Highly Sensitive Fluorescence Sensor for Carrageenan from a Composite Methylcellulose/Polyacrylate Membrane
    Hassan RA, Heng LY, Tan LL
    Sensors (Basel), 2020 Sep 04;20(18).
    PMID: 32899886 DOI: 10.3390/s20185043
    Carrageenans are linear sulphated polysaccharides that are commonly added into confectionery products but may exert a detrimental effect to human health. A new and simpler way of carrageenan determination based on an optical sensor utilizing a methylcellulose/poly(n-butyl acrylate) (Mc/PnBA) composite membrane with immobilized methylene blue (MB) was developed. The hydrophilic Mc polymer membrane was successfully modified with a more hydrophobic acrylic polymer. This was to produce an insoluble membrane at room temperature where MB reagent could be immobilized to build an optical sensor for carrageenan analysis. The fluorescence intensity of MB in the composite membrane was found to be proportional to the carrageenan concentrations in a linear manner (1.0-20.0 mg L-1, R2 = 0.992) and with a detection limit at 0.4 mg L-1. Recovery of spiked carrageenan into commercial fruit juice products showed percentage recoveries between 90% and 102%. The optical sensor has the advantages of improved sensitivity and better selectivity to carrageenan when compared to other types of hydrocolloids. Its sensitivity was comparable to most sophisticated techniques for carageenan analysis but better than other types of optical sensors. Thus, this sensor provides a simple, rapid, and sensitive means for carageenan analysis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  13. A hysteresis-free perovskite transistor with exceptional stability through molecular cross-linking and amine-based surface passivation
    Kim HP, Vasilopoulou M, Ullah H, Bibi S, Ximim Gavim AE, Macedo AG, et al.
    Nanoscale, 2020 Apr 14;12(14):7641-7650.
    PMID: 32207472 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr10745b
    Organo-metal halide perovskite field-effect transistors present serious challenges in terms of device stability and hysteresis in the current-voltage characteristics. Migration of ions located at grain boundaries and surface defects in the perovskite film are the main reasons for instability and hysteresis issues. Here, we introduce a perovskite grain molecular cross-linking approach combined with amine-based surface passivation to address these issues. Molecular cross-linking was achieved through hydrogen bond interactions between perovskite halogens and dangling bonds present at grain boundaries and a hydrophobic cross-linker, namely diethyl-(12-phosphonododecyl)phosphonate, added to the precursor solution. With our approach, we obtained smooth and compact perovskite layers composed of tightly bound grains hence significantly suppressing the generation and migration of ions. Moreover, we achieved efficient surface passivation of the perovskite films upon surface treatment with an amine-bearing polymer, namely polyethylenimine ethoxylated. With our synergistic grain and surface passivation approach, we were able to demonstrate the first perovskite transistor with a complete lack of hysteresis and unprecedented stability upon continuous operation under ambient conditions. Added to the merits are its ambipolar transport of opposite carriers with balanced hole and electron mobilities of 4.02 and 3.35 cm2 V-1 s-1, respectively, its high Ion/Ioff ratio >104 and the lowest sub-threshold swing of 267 mV dec-1 reported to date for any perovskite transistor. These remarkable achievements obtained through a cost-effective molecular cross-linking of grains combined with amine-based surface passivation of the perovskite films open a new era and pave the way for the practical application of perovskite transistors in low-cost electronic circuits.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  14. Fulltext Dry Thermotropic Glycolipid Self-Assembly:A Review
    Hashim R, Zahid NI, Velayutham TS, Aripin NFK, Ogawa S, Sugimura A
    J Oleo Sci, 2018 Jun 01;67(6):651-668.
    PMID: 29760332 DOI: 10.5650/jos.ess17261
    Also recognized as carbohydrate liquid crystals, glycolipids are amphiphiles whose basic unit comprises of a sugar group attached to an alkyl chain. Glycolipids are amphitropic, which means these materials form liquid crystal self-assemblies when dry (thermotropic) as well as when dissolved in solvents (lyotropic/surfactants) such as water. Many glycolipids are also naturally derived since these can be found in cell membranes. Their membrane and surfactant functions are largely understood through their lyotropic properties. While glycolipids are expected to play major roles as eco-friendly surfactants in the global surfactant market, their usefulness as thermotropic liquid crystal material is, to date, unknown, due to relatively lack of research performed and data reported in the literature. Understandably since glycolipids are hygroscopic with many hydroxy groups, removing the last trace water is very challenging. In recent time, with careful lyophilization and more consistent characterization technique, some researchers have attempted serious studies into "dry" or anhydrous glycolipids. Motivated by possible developments of novel thermotropic applications, some results from these studies also provide surprising new understanding to support conventional wisdom of the lyotropic systems. Here we review the dry state of glycosides, a family of glycolipids whose sugar headgroup is linked to the lipid chain via a glycosidic oxygen linker. The structure property relationship of both linear and anhydrous Guerbet glycosides will be examined. In particular, how the variation of sugar stereochemistry (e.g. anomer vs. epimer), the chain length and chain branching affect the formation of thermotropic liquid crystals phases, which not only located under equilibrium but also far from equilibrium conditions (glassy phase) are scrutinized. The dry glycolipid assembly has been subjected to electric and magnetic fields and the results show interesting behaviors including a possible transient current generation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  15. Surface-modified nanocrystalline cellulose from oil palm empty fruit bunch for effective binding of curcumin
    Foo ML, Tan CR, Lim PD, Ooi CW, Tan KW, Chew IML
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2019 Oct 01;138:1064-1071.
    PMID: 31301392 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.07.035
    Rod-shape particles have been a good drug carrier due to the long circulatory time, tumor accumulation and high cellular uptake in body. Acid-hydrolysed nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) from empty fruit bunch exhibited a width of 13-30nm and a length of 150-360nm in rod-shape structure. NCC holds good potential as a bio-based drug carrier owing to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy results confirmed the binding of curcumin onto the NCC modified with tannic acid (TA) and decylamine (DA). TA-DA modification rendered NCC with a higher level of hydrophobicity, as evidenced by a substantial increase in contact angle from 45° to 73°. The modified NCC had the curcumin-binding efficiency in the range of 95-99%, which is at least twofold higher than the unmodified NCC at any curcumin concentration tested. This remarkable curcumin-binding effciency was comparable to that of commercialized NCC from wood-based origin. This work suggests NCC as a superior and sustainable drug carrier, while TA-DA modification is a promising approach to alter the surface property of NCC for an efficient binding of curcumin.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  16. Fulltext Antifouling Properties of PES Membranes by Blending with ZnO Nanoparticles and NMP⁻Acetone Mixture as Solvent
    Ahmad AL, Sugumaran J, Shoparwe NF
    Membranes (Basel), 2018 Dec 14;8(4).
    PMID: 30558199 DOI: 10.3390/membranes8040131
    In this study, the antifouling properties of polyethersulfone (PES) membranes blended with different amounts of ZnO nanoparticles and a fixed ratio of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)-acetone mixture as a solvent were investigated. The properties and performance of the fabricated membranes were examined in terms of hydrophilicity, porosity, pore size, surface and cross-section image using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface roughness using atomic force microscopy (AFM), pure water flux, and humic acid filtration. Addition of ZnO as expected was found to improve the hydrophilicity as well as to encourage pore formation. However, the agglomeration of ZnO at a higher concentration cannot be avoided even when dissolved in a mixed solvent. The presence of highly volatile acetone contributed to the tight skin layer of the membrane which shows remarkable antifouling ability with the highest flux recovery ratio and negligible irreversible fouling. ZnO NPs in acetone/NMP mixed solvent shows an improvement in flux and rejection, but, the fouling resistance was moderate compared to the pristine membrane.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  17. Immobilization of bovine serum albumin on the chitosan/PVA film
    Nurul Mujahidah Ahmad Khairuddin, Amalina Muhammad Afifi, Katayoon Kalantari, Nur Awanis Hashim, Shaza Eva Mohamad
    Sains Malaysiana, 2018;47:1311-1318.
    Chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (Chitosan/PVA) blended film was prepared by direct blend process and solution casting methods.
    In order to reduce the swelling ratio and enhance the chemical and mechanical stability, Chitosan/PVA film was crosslinked
    with glutaraldehyde in order to produce Chitosan-g-PVA. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as a model protein
    to incorporate into the Chitosan-g-PVA. The chemical structure and morphological characteristics of films were studied
    by FT-IR and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mechanical and physical properties of blended films such as tensile
    properties in the dry and wet states, water uptake and water contact angle measurement were characterized. Blending
    PVA and chitosan improved strength and flexibility of the films. Crosslinking with glutaraldehyde further improves the
    tensile strength and decrease the hydrophilicity of films. BSA immobilized on the Chitosan-g-PVA film was calculated as
    BSA encapsulation efficiency.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  18. Fulltext Pore formation in lipid membrane I: Continuous reversible trajectory from intact bilayer through hydrophobic defect to transversal pore
    Akimov SA, Volynsky PE, Galimzyanov TR, Kuzmin PI, Pavlov KV, Batishchev OV
    Sci Rep, 2017 09 22;7(1):12152.
    PMID: 28939906 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12127-7
    Lipid membranes serve as effective barriers allowing cells to maintain internal composition differing from that of extracellular medium. Membrane permeation, both natural and artificial, can take place via appearance of transversal pores. The rearrangements of lipids leading to pore formation in the intact membrane are not yet understood in details. We applied continuum elasticity theory to obtain continuous trajectory of pore formation and closure, and analyzed molecular dynamics trajectories of pre-formed pore reseal. We hypothesized that a transversal pore is preceded by a hydrophobic defect: intermediate structure spanning through the membrane, the side walls of which are partially aligned by lipid tails. This prediction was confirmed by our molecular dynamics simulations. Conversion of the hydrophobic defect into the hydrophilic pore required surmounting some energy barrier. A metastable state was found for the hydrophilic pore at the radius of a few nanometers. The dependence of the energy on radius was approximately quadratic for hydrophobic defect and small hydrophilic pore, while for large radii it depended on the radius linearly. The pore energy related to its perimeter, line tension, thus depends of the pore radius. Calculated values of the line tension for large pores were in quantitative agreement with available experimental data.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  19. Fulltext Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Montmorillonite-Reinforced Polypropylene/Rice Husk Hybrid Nanocomposites
    Majeed K, Ahmed A, Abu Bakar MS, Indra Mahlia TM, Saba N, Hassan A, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2019 Sep 25;11(10).
    PMID: 31557811 DOI: 10.3390/polym11101557
    In recent years, there has been considerable interest in the use of natural fibers as potential reinforcing fillers in polymer composites despite their hydrophilicity, which limits their widespread commercial application. The present study explored the fabrication of nanocomposites by melt mixing, using an internal mixer followed by a compression molding technique, and incorporating rice husk (RH) as a renewable natural filler, montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclay as water-resistant reinforcing nanoparticles, and polypropylene-grafted maleic anhydride (PP-g-MAH) as a compatibilizing agent. To correlate the effect of MMT delamination and MMT/RH dispersion in the composites, the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites were studied. XRD analysis revealed delamination of MMT platelets due to an increase in their interlayer spacing, and SEM micrographs indicated improved dispersion of the filler(s) from the use of compatibilizers. The mechanical properties were improved by the incorporation of MMT into the PP/RH system and the reinforcing effect was remarkable as a result of the use of compatibilizing agent. Prolonged water exposure of the prepared samples decreased their tensile and flexural properties. Interestingly, the maximum decrease was observed for PP/RH composites and the minimum was for MMT-reinforced and PP-g-MAH-compatibilized PP/RH composites. DSC results revealed an increase in crystallinity with the addition of filler(s), while the melting and crystallization temperatures remained unaltered. TGA revealed that MMT addition and its delamination in the composite systems improved the thermal stability of the developed nanocomposites. Overall, we conclude that MMT nanoclay is an effective water-resistant reinforcing nanoparticle that enhances the durability, mechanical properties, and thermal stability of composites.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  20. Fulltext Safely Dissolvable and Healable Active Packaging Films Based on Alginate and Pectin
    Makaremi M, Yousefi H, Cavallaro G, Lazzara G, Goh CBS, Lee SM, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2019 Sep 29;11(10).
    PMID: 31569482 DOI: 10.3390/polym11101594
    Extensive usage of long-lasting petroleum based plastics for short-lived application such as packaging has raised concerns regarding their role in environmental pollution. In this research, we have developed active, healable, and safely dissolvable alginate-pectin based biocomposites that have potential applications in food packaging. The morphological study revealed the rough surface of these biocomposite films. Tensile properties indicated that the fabricated samples have mechanical properties in the range of commercially available packaging films while possessing excellent healing efficiency. Biocomposite films exhibited higher hydrophobicity properties compared to neat alginate films. Thermal analysis indicated that crosslinked biocomposite samples possess higher thermal stability in temperatures below 120 °C, while antibacterial analysis against E. coli and S. aureus revealed the antibacterial properties of the prepared samples against different bacteria. The fabricated biodegradable multi-functional biocomposite films possess various imperative properties, making them ideal for utilization as packaging material.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
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