Molecular self-assembly is the spontaneous association of molecules under equilibrium conditions into stable, structurally well-defined aggregates joined by noncovalent bonds. Molecular self-assembly is ubiquitous in biological systems and underlies the formation of a wide variety of complex biological structures. Understanding self-assembly and the associated noncovalent interactions that connect complementary interacting molecular surfaces in biological aggregates is a central concern in structural biochemistry. Self-assembly is also emerging as a new strategy in chemical synthesis, with the potential of generating nonbiological structures with dimensions of 1 to 10(2) nanometers (with molecular weights of 10(4) to 10(10) daltons). Structures in the upper part of this range of sizes are presently inaccessible through chemical synthesis, and the ability to prepare them would open a route to structures comparable in size (and perhaps complementary in function) to those that can be prepared by microlithography and other techniques of microfabrication.

Molecular self-assembly and nanochemistry: A chemical strategy for the synthesis of nanostructures

Photoinduced motions in azo-containing polymers.

https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/38544/10/1-s2.0-S0014305714004091-main%20%281%29.pdf

Biomedical applications of hydrogels: A review of patents and commercial products

Recent development of polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cells.

Polymeric materials with antimicrobial activity

The purpose of this research was to design and develop hydrogels by esterification of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with gelatin. The membranes were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry. The viscosity of the esterified product (as solution) was compared with the mixture of PVA and gelatin of the same composition. The mechanical properties of the hydrogels were characterized by tensile tests. Swelling behavior and hemocompatibility of the membrane were also evaluated. The diffusion coefficient of salicylic acid (SA), when the receptor compartment contained Ringer's solution, through the membrane was determined. SA was used as a model drug. FTIR spectra of the membranes indicated complete esterification of the free carboxylic groups of gelatin. XRD studies indicated that the crystallinity of the membranes was mainly due to gelatin. The comparison of viscosity indicated an increase in segment density within the molecular coil. The membrane had sufficient strength and water-holding capacity. Hemocompatibility suggested that the hydrogel could be tried as wound dressing and as an implantable drug delivery system. The diffusion coefficient of SA through the membrane was found to be 1.32×10−5 cm2/s. The experimental results indicated that the hydrogel could be tried for various biomedical applications.

/pdf/preparation-and-characterization-of-polyvinyl-alcohol-20pbdu4z0u.pdf

Preparation and characterization of polyvinyl alcohol-gelatin hydrogel membranes for biomedical applications.

Hydrogels are cross-linked polymeric networks, which have the ability to hold water within the spaces available among the polymeric chains. The hydrogels have been used extensively in various biomedical applications, e.g., drug delivery, cell carriers and/or entrapment, wound management and tissue engineering. Though far from extensive, this article has been devoted to study the common methods used for the characterization of the hydrogels and to review the range of applications of the same in health care.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1163/156855509X436030

Polymeric Hydrogels: Characterization and Biomedical Applications

Toughening of epoxy resins for improvement of crack resistance has been the subject of intense research interest during the last two decades. Epoxy resins are successfully toughened by blending with a suitable liquid rubber, which initially remains miscible with epoxy and undergoes a phase separation in the course of curing that leads to the formation of a two-phase microstructure, or by directly blending preformed rubbery particle. Unlike the situation for thermoplastics, physical blending is not successful for toughening epoxy resins. Recent advances in the development of various functionalized liquid rubber-based toughening agents and core-shell particles are discussed critically in this review.

/pdf/rubber-toughened-epoxy-n8m2w1v5cn.pdf

Rubber Toughened Epoxy

Boron carbide is one of the hardest materials with diamond-like mechanical properties, and is already used for a variety of applications including armor plating, blasting nozzles, and mechanical seal faces, as well as for grinding and cutting tools. It is produced on an industrial scale by classical carbothermal reduction of boric oxides at high temperatures, but the formation of pure boron carbide in processed forms, such as films and fibers, is difficult. As an alternative to high-temperature powder techniques, there is recently great interest in the development of polymer precursors to produce ceramic materials. The aim of the present work is to develop a cost effective and low-temperature manufacturing process to synthesize boron carbide from cheap and easily available raw materials. The initial objective of our research is the design and synthesis of a new type of boron–carbon polymer, which would serve as precursor for boron carbide. The polymeric precursor is synthesized by the reaction of boric acid and polyvinyl alcohol that after pyrolysis at 400 °C and 800 °C gives boron carbide. The polymeric precursor and its pyrolyzed products are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). X-ray diffraction shows that boron carbide (B 4 C) obtained from this method has an orthorhombic crystal structure. It is a unique low-temperature (∼400 °C) synthetic route for boron carbide.

Low-temperature synthetic route for boron carbide

The purpose of the present study was to develop and design pectin and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) blended hydrogel membranes (PEVP), with different pectin: PVP ratios (1:0.2, 1:0.4, 1:0.6, 1:0.8 and 1:1 w/w), which were prepared by using a conventional solution casting technique. An attempt has been made to characterize the hydrogel membranes by various instrumental techniques like, FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile strength test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The release patterns of the drug (salicylic acid) from the hydrogel membrane were done in three different release mediums (pH 1.4, pH 7.4 and distilled water) and samples were analyzed spectrophotometrically at 294 nm wavelength on a UV Vis spectrophotometer. MTT assay was done to ensure cytocompatibility of the pectin/PVP hydrogel membranes using B16 melanoma cells. FTIR spectroscopy indicated the presence of secondary amide (I) absorption bands. The XRD study shows decrease in crystallinity of the hydrogel membranes with increase in PVP ratio. DSC study shows an increase in Tg of pectin after blending with PVP. It was found that tensile strength increases with increasing PVP ratios in the hydrogel membranes. The prepared hydrogel membranes were found to be biocompatible with B16 melanoma cells.

/pdf/synthesis-and-characterization-of-pectin-pvp-hydrogel-34wyyr8rpp.pdf

Ajit K. Banthia

Papers

Preparation and characterization of polyvinyl alcohol-gelatin hydrogel membranes for biomedical applications.

Polymeric Hydrogels: Characterization and Biomedical Applications

Rubber Toughened Epoxy

Low-temperature synthetic route for boron carbide

Synthesis and Characterization of Pectin/PVP Hydrogel Membranes for Drug Delivery System