@article{YenesewMushibeIndulietal.2005, author = {Yenesew, Abiy and Mushibe, E. K. and Induli, M. and Derese, Solomon and Midiwo, Jacob O. and Kabaru, Jacques M. and Heydenreich, Matthias and Koch, Andreas and Peter, Martin G.}, title = {7a-O-methyldeguelol, a modified rotenoid with an open ring-C, from the roots of Derris trifoloata}, issn = {0031-9422}, year = {2005}, abstract = {From the acetone extract of the roots of Derris trifoliata an isollavonoid derivative, named 7a-O- methyldeguelol, a modified rotenoid with an open ring-C, representing a new sub-class of isollavonoids (the sub-class is here named as rotenoloid), was isolated and characterised. In addition, the known rotenoids, rotenone, deguelin and alpha-toxicarol, were identified. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Rotenone and deguelin were identified as the larvicidal principles of the acetone extract of the roots of Derris trifoliata. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved}, language = {en} } @article{YenesewDereseMidiwoetal.2005, author = {Yenesew, Abiy and Derese, Solomon and Midiwo, Jacob O. and Bii, Christine C. and Heydenreich, Matthias and Peter, Martin G.}, title = {Antimicrobial flavonoids from the stem bark of Erythrina burttii}, issn = {0367-326X}, year = {2005}, abstract = {The chloroform extract of the stem bark of Erythrina burttii showed antifungal and antibacterial activities using the disk diffusion method. Flavonoids were identified as the active principles. Activities were observed against fungi and Gram(+) bacteria, but the Gram(-) bacteria Escherichia coli was resistant. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved}, language = {en} } @article{WieheShakerBrandtetal.2005, author = {Wiehe, A. and Shaker, Y. M. and Brandt, J. C. and Mebs, S. and Senge, Mathias O.}, title = {Lead structures for applications in photodynamic therapy : Part 1: Synthesis and variation of m-THPC (Temoporfin) related amphiphilic A(2)BC-type porphyrins}, issn = {0040-4020}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a developing modality for the treatment of certain tumorous and other diseases. Considerable progress has been made in recent years in the search for new photosensitizers, in particular elucidating the role of localization of the photosensitizer. Known successful photosensitizers of the tetrapyrrole type are amphiphilic molecules, preferably localizing in cellular membrane structures. Thus, the quest for new photosensitizers requires the synthesis of unsymmetrically Substituted (amphiphilic) tetrapyrroles. In this article. we describe strategies for the de novo synthesis of amphiphilic tetrapyrroles using a 3-hydroxyphenyl substituted tetrapyrrolic system (Temoporfin) as the lead structure. From an applied science-oriented approach, such a set of amphiphilic porphyrins is best synthesized by combining well-developed condensation methods with subsequent functionalization via organolithium compound or transition metal catalyzed coupling protocols. Starting from simple A(2)- or AB-porphyrins, the synthesis of A(2)B-, A(3)-, A(3)B-, and A(2)BC-porphyrins with a mixed hydrophilic/hydrophobic substitution pattern is described. Because of the versatility of this approach to unsymmetrically Substituted porphyrins it is also applicable to other areas where porphyryns with a tailor-made substitution patterns are needed. for example. catalysts or molecular electronic devices based on tetrapyrroles. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved}, language = {en} } @article{WanjohiYenesewMidiwoetal.2005, author = {Wanjohi, John M. and Yenesew, Abiy and Midiwo, Jacob O. and Heydenreich, Matthias and Peter, Martin G. and Dreyer, M. and Reichert, M. and Bringmann, Gerhard}, title = {Three dimeric anthracene derivatives from the fruits of Bulbine abyssinica}, issn = {0040-4020}, year = {2005}, abstract = {From the fruits of Bulbine abyssinica three new dimeric anthracene derivatives, (P)-8,9,1',8'- tetrahydroxy-3,3'-dimethyl[10,7'-bianthracene]-1,4,9',10'- tetraone (trivial name abyquinone A), (10R)-1,4,8,1',8-pentahydroxy-3,3'-dimethyl-[10,7'-bianthracene]9,9',10' (10H)-trione (trivial name abyquinone B), and (10R)-3,4'-dihydro-1,4,8,3',8',9'-hexahydroxy-3,3'- dimethyl-[10,7'-biant hracene]9,1'(10H,2'H)-dione (trivial name abyquinone Q were isolated. Despite their structural differences, these three compounds are connected to each other by the apparently biomimetic conversion of abyquinone C (a preanthraquinonylanthrone with two stereogenic centers) into B (an anthraquinonylanthrone with one stereogenic center) and finally into A (an axially chiral bianthraquinone) under mild conditions, involving a highly efficient center-to-axis chirality transfer. In addition, the known anthraquinones islandicin and chrysophanol were identified. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopical evidences, chemical transformations, and quantum chemical CD calculations. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved}, language = {en} } @article{WolfKleinpeter2005, author = {Wolf, G. and Kleinpeter, Erich}, title = {Pulsed field gradient NMR study of anomalous diffusion in a lecithin-based microemulsion}, issn = {0743-7463}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Self-diffusion measurements in microemulsion systems composed of a naturally occurring soybean lecithin mixture, an aqueous phase, either water or a 1\% aqueous PDADMAC solution, and isooctane were accomplished by pulsed field gradient (PFG) (HNMR)-H-1 spectroscopy at oil dilution lines of low and intermediate water/lecithin ratios. The concentration-dependent diffusion data reveal water-in-oil (W/O) reverse micellar aggregates with dimensions on the nanometer scale being slightly smaller at low water content. With increasing micellar volume fractions, both hydrodynamic as well as direct interactions between particles significantly slow aggregate diffusion. The surfactant mean square displacements (msd's) in dilute and concentrated polymer-free systems studied as a function of diffusion time (20-1000 ms) are characterized by a crossover from Gaussian diffusion, due to slow aggregate motion, to anomalously enhanced diffusion, due to fast surface-bulk surfactant exchange at intermediate times revealing weak, barrier-controlled adsorption behavior. Upon addition of the polycation PDADMAC, the diffusion characteristics change to exclusively superdiffusive behavior with surfactant msd scaling with time as t(3/2) over the entire time range studied. This is caused by surfactant molecules performing Levy walks along the surface of reverse micelles mediated by the dilute bulk. The bulk-mediated surface diffusion is a consequence of the diffusion-controlled micelle-bulk exchange dynamics induced by interactions of PDADMAC with surfactant headgroups}, language = {en} } @article{ThomasKleinpeter2005, author = {Thomas, Steffen and Kleinpeter, Erich}, title = {A novel empirical approach for the structure elucidation of disilanes by empirical estimation of their Si-29 chemical shifts}, issn = {0022-2860}, year = {2005}, abstract = {In C-13 NMR spectroscopy, there are many empirical methods for fast and exact computation of C-13 chemical shifts; comparable procedures for Si-29 NMR chemical shifts are not existing or are older than 20 years. On basis of the largest database of Si-29 chemical shifts available, along this paper a relatively simple procedure for the similarly exact calculation of the Si-29 chemical shifts of disilanes (average margin of error ca. 3.7 ppm) is given. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved}, language = {en} } @article{SzczubialkaMoczekGoliszeketal.2005, author = {Szczubialka, K. and Moczek, Lukasz and Goliszek, A. and Nowakowska, M. and Kotzev, Anton and Laschewsky, Andr{\´e}}, title = {Characterization of hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon microdomains formed in aqueous solution of associative polymers : a molecular probe technique}, issn = {0022-1139}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Fluorocarbon associative polymers of the polysoap type were studied using two fluorescent probes, 1- octanoylpyrene (OcPyH) and 1-perfluorooctanoylpyrene (OcPyF). In aqueous solution the polymers formed hydrophobic domains composed of hydrocarbon, fluorocarbon or both types of polymeric side chains, which could solubilize the probes. This resulted in the appearance of new fluorescence emission bands and changes in the fluorescence polarization of the probes. The differences in the solubilization properties of the polymers are discussed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved}, language = {en} } @article{TaddeiKleinpeter2005, author = {Taddei, F. and Kleinpeter, Erich}, title = {The anomeric effect in substituted cyclohexanes : II. The role of hyperconjugative interactions and steric effect in 1,4-disubstituted cyclohexanes}, issn = {0166-1280}, year = {2005}, abstract = {The conformational equilibria of the cis/trans isomers of some 1,4-di-substituted cyclohexanes (X = OH, OMe, Me, OCOCH3, OCOC(CH3)(3), OCOCCl3, OCOCF3) were calculated at several levels of theory; the best correlation between calculated and experimentally available Delta G(0)s refers to the MP2/6-311 +G*//MP2/6-311G* results. In addition, the hyperconjugative effect of the substituents was studied with the NBO options included in the GAUSSIAN-98 package; a number of interactions between filled NBOs and antibonding orbitals could be considered as most representative for delocalization along the molecules studied. The effect of the substituents on the molecular geometry of the substituted cyclohexanesas well as the partitioning of both hyperconjugative and steric substituent effects on the present conformational equilibria is critically evaluated. Our model [E. Kleinpeter, F. Taddei, J. Mol. Struct. (THEOCHEM) 683 (2004) 29] for interpreting the relative stability of conformers of substituted cyclohexanes could be further verified and its reliability assessed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved}, language = {en} } @article{StrehmelSarkerLahtietal.2005, author = {Strehmel, Veronika and Sarker, A. M. and Lahti, P. M. and Karasz, F. E. and Heydenreich, Matthias and Wetzel, Hendrik and Haebel, Sophie and Strehmel, Bernd}, title = {One- and two-photon photochemistry and photophysics of poly(arylenevinylene)s containing a biphenyl moiety}, issn = {1439-4235}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Photochemical and photophysical properties were investigated for poly(arylenevinylene)s containing a flexible biphenyl "hinge" unit by applying one-photon (OP) and two-photon (TP) excitation to explore excited-state properties. The poly(arylenevinylene)s were poly[(2,5-dihexyloxy-p-phenylenevinylene)-alt-(4,4'-dihexyloxy-3,3'-biph enylenevinylene)] (1), poly[(2,5-dihexyloxy-p-phenylenevinylene)-alt-(2,2'-dihexyloxy-3,3'-biph enylenevinylene)] (2), and poly[(2,5-dihexyloxy-p-phenylenevinylene)-alt-(2,2'-biphenylene-vinylene )] (3). Effective emission quantum yields and related photonic properties were evaluated on a realistic per-chromophore basis using effective conjugation lengths based on the Strickler-Berg relationship. intramolecular photocyclization was deduced to occur in the one case where the biphenyl molecular connectivity permitted the reaction, based on matrix- assisted loser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF), heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence (HMQC)-NMR, and gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) results. The various photoprocesses could be induced by either OP or TP excitation, though the first excited singlet state is the photoactive state. The higher excitation energy 1 of the TP excited state favors indirect population of the S, state by electronic coupling between the TP and OP excited states [lambda(max)(TPE) (nm): 726; delta (GM)([9]): 1 = 229, 2 = 215, 3 = 109). Photochemical processes occurring from the lowest OP excited state (S-1) could therefore also be indirectly induced by TP excitation}, language = {en} } @article{SieboldKellingSchildeetal.2005, author = {Siebold, M. and Kelling, Alexandra and Schilde, Uwe and Strauch, Peter}, title = {Heterobimetallic 3d-4-complexes with bis(1;2-dithiooxalato)nickelate(II) as planar bridging block}, issn = {0932-0776}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Planar bis(1,2-dithiooxalato)nickelates(II) react in aqueous solutions of lanthanide ions to form pentanuclear, heterobimetallic complexes of the general composition [{Ln(H2O)(n)}(2)- {Ni(dto)(2)}(3)] (.) xH(2)O (Ln = Y3+, La3+, Ce3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Gd3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, Ho3+, Er3+, Tm3+, Yb3+, Lu3+; n = 4 or 5; x = 9-12). With [{Nd(H2O)(5)}(2){Ni(S2C2O2)(2)}(3)] (.) xH(2)O (x = 10-12) (1) and [{Er(H2O)(4)}(2){Ni(S2C2O2)(2)}(3)] (.) xH(2)O (x = 9- 10) (2) we were able to isolate two complexes of this series as single crystals, which were characterized by X-ray structure analysis. Depending on the individual ionic radii of the lanthanide ions, the compounds crystallize in two different crystal systems with the following unit cell parameters: 1, monoclinic in P2(1)/c with a = 11.3987(13), b = 11.4878(8), c = 20.823(2)angstrom , beta = 98.907(9)degrees and Z = 2; 2, triclinic in P (1) over bar with a = 10.5091(6), b = 11.0604(6), c = 11.2823(6) angstrom, alpha = 107.899(4)degrees, beta = 91.436(4)degrees, gamma = 112.918(4)degrees and Z = 1. The channels and cavities appearing in the packing of the molecules are occupied by uncoordinated water molecules. High magnetic moments up to 14.65 BM./f.u. have been observed at room temperature due to the combined moments of the individual lanthanide ions}, language = {en} } @article{SeidlCarneiroTostesetal.2005, author = {Seidl, Peter Rudolf and Carneiro, J. W. D. and Tostes, J. G. R. and Koch, Andreas and Kleinpeter, Erich}, title = {Interpretation of conformational effects on 2-endo-norborneol by natural chemical shielding analysis}, issn = {1089-5639}, year = {2005}, abstract = {This paper represents an extension of our work on the H-1 and C-13 NMR chemical shifts of norbornane and 2-endo- norborneol. NCS-NBO analysis was employed to probe contributions of bond orbitals and orbitals of lone pairs to nuclear shielding in conformers of the alcohol generated by rotation of the C-O bond. Variations in H-1 and C-13 chemical shifts with the dihedral angle are discussed in terms of Lewis and non-Lewis partitioning and their respective importance is evaluated. In addition to hyperconjugation of the lone pair in a p orbital of oxygen that was previously reported, a sizable participation of the lone pair which is in an sp orbital is also observed and their combined effect dominates the carbon chemical shifts of the C-1-C-2-OH and C-3-C-2-OH fragments. Both lone pairs on oxygen also contribute to localized, though-space effects on nuclei in the vicinity, these effects answering for the largest deviations in hydrogen chemical shifts on rotation around the C-O bond. On the other hand, for conformers in which nonbonded repulsions lead to distortions in the molecular framework, variations in chemical shifts may be attributed to angular effects}, language = {en} } @article{SchulerLipmanSteinbachetal.2005, author = {Schuler, Benjamin and Lipman, Everett A. and Steinbach, P. J. and Kumke, Michael Uwe and Eaton, W. A.}, title = {Polyproline and the "spectroscopic ruler" revisited with single-molecule fluorescence}, issn = {0027-8424}, year = {2005}, abstract = {To determine whether Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurements can provide quantitative distance information in single-molecule fluorescence experiments on polypeptides, we measured FRET efficiency distributions for donor and acceptor dyes attached to the ends of freely diffusing polyproline molecules of various lengths. The observed mean FRET efficiencies agree with those determined from ensemble lifetime measurements but differ considerably from the values expected from Forster theory, with polyproline treated as a rigid rod. At donor-acceptor distances much less than the Forster radius R-o, the observed efficiencies are lower than predicted, whereas at distances comparable to and greater than R-0, they are much higher. Two possible contributions to the former are incomplete orientational averaging during the donor lifetime and, because of the large size of the dyes, breakdown of the point-dipole approximation assumed in Forster theory. End-to-end distance distributions and correlation times obtained from Langevin molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the differences for the longer polyproline peptides can be explained by chain bending, which considerably shortens the donor-acceptor distances}, language = {en} } @article{SaalfrankKlamrothHuberetal.2005, author = {Saalfrank, Peter and Klamroth, Tillmann and Huber, C. and Krause, Pascal}, title = {Laser-driven electron dynamics at interfaces}, issn = {0021-2148}, year = {2005}, abstract = {In this paper we present time-dependent, quantum-dynamical simulations of photoinduced processes at solid surfaces involving nonadiabatic transitions of electrons to and from short-lived intermediate excited states. In particular, two-photon photoemission (2PPE) spectra of naked metal surfaces and free-standing metal films are considered. One major problem in both cases is the presence of electron-electron scattering, which is treated here in various ways. The first way is to adopt an open-system density matrix approach, in which a single electron is weakly coupled to a "bath" of other electrons. The second approach is based on a many-electron Schrodinger equation, which is solved with the help of a time-dependent configuration interactions singles (TD-CIS) method}, language = {en} } @article{RyppaSengeHatscheretal.2005, author = {Ryppa, C. and Senge, Mathias O. and Hatscher, S. S. and Kleinpeter, Erich and Wacker, Philipp and Schilde, Uwe and Wiehe, A.}, title = {Synthesis of mono- and disubstituted porphyrins : A- and 5,10-A(2)-type systems}, issn = {0947-6539}, year = {2005}, abstract = {General syntheses have been developed for meso-substituted porphyrins with one or two substituents in the 5,10- positions and no beta substituents. 5-Substituted porphyrins with only one meso substituent are easily prepared by an acid-catalyzed condensation of dipyrromethane, pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde. and an appropriate aldehyde using a "[2+1+1]" approach. Similarly, 5,10-disubstituted porphyrins are accessible by simple condensation of unsubstituted tripyrrane with pyrrole and various aldehydes using a "[3+1]" approach. The yields for these reactions are low to moderate and additional formation of either di- or mono-substituted porphyrins due to scrambling of the intermediates is observed. However, the reactions can be performed quite easily and the desired target compounds are easily removed due to large differences in solubility. A complementary and more selective synthesis involves the use of organolithium reagents for SNAr reactions. Reaction of in situ generated porphyrin (porphine) with 1.1-8 equivalents of RLi gave the monosubstituted porphyrins, while reaction with 3-6 equivalents of RLi gave the 5,10-disubstituted porphyrins in yields ranging from 43 to 90\%. These hitherto almost inaccessible compounds complete the series of different homologues of A-, 5,15-A(2)-, 5,10-A(2)-, A(3)-, and A(4)-type porphyrin's and allow an investigation of the gradual influence of type, number, and regiochemical arrangement of substituents on the properties of meso-substituted porphyrins. They also present important starting materials for the synthesis of ABCD porphyrins and are potential synthons for supramolecular materials requiring specific substituent orientations}, language = {en} } @article{RitschelKuntzZulicke2005, author = {Ritschel, Thomas and Kuntz, Philip J. and Zulicke, Lutz}, title = {Structure and dynamics of cationic van-der-Waals clusters : I. Binding and structure of protonated argon clusters}, year = {2005}, abstract = {The geometric structure and bonding properties of medium-sized ArnH+ clusters (n = 2-35), in which a proton is wrapped up in a number of Ar atoms, are investigated by applying a diatomics-in-molecules (DIM) model with ab-initio input data generated by means of multi-reference configuration-interaction (MRCI) computations. For the smaller complexes, n = 2-7, cross-checking calculations employing the coupled-cluster approach (CCSD) with the same one-electron atomic basis set as for the input data calculations (aug-cc-pVTZ from Dunning), show good agreement thus justifying the extension of the DIM study to larger n. Local minima of the multi-dimensional potential-energy surfaces (PES) are determined by combining a Monte-Carlo sampling followed, for each generated point, by a steepest-descent optimization procedure. For the electronic ground state of the ArnH+ clusters, the global minimum (corresponding to the most stable structure of the cluster) as well as secondary minima are found and analyzed. The structural and energetic data obtained reveal the building-up regularities for the most stable structures and make it possible to formulate a simple increment scheme. The low-lying excited states are also calculated by the DIM approach; they all turn out to be globally repulsive}, language = {en} } @article{RancanWieheNoebeletal.2005, author = {Rancan, Fiorenza and Wiehe, Arno and N{\"o}bel, Maria and Senge, Mathias O and Al Omari, Saleh and B{\"o}hm, Fritz and John, Matthias and R{\"o}der, Beate}, title = {Influence of substitutions on asymmetric dihydroxychlorins with regard to intracellular uptake, subcellular localization and photosensitization of Jurkat cells}, issn = {1011-1344}, year = {2005}, abstract = {The search for new efficient sensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) points to improve photophysical properties like absorption in the red region and singlet oxygen quantum yield as well as to control the localization of the sensitizer within the tumour cell. Depending on their physicochemical properties and their uptake mechanism, sensitizers can reach different intracellular concentrations and localize in different subcellular compartments. Moreover, the preferential localization of a sensitizer in target organelles, like mitochondria or lysosomes, could determine the cell death mechanism after PDT. This study aimed to investigate the influence of substitutions on dihydroxychlorins with regard to intracellular uptake, subcellular localization and cell death pathway. Moreover, the effect of a liposome-based delivery system was tested. The intracellular uptake was found to be strictly dependent on the sensitizer molecular structure and the means of its delivery. The most polar sensitizer in this study (compound 3) had, depending on incubation time, an intracellular concentration 2-8 times higher than the unsubstituted chlorin 1. All investigated photosensitizers localize predominantly in lysosomes but after longer incubation times weak fluorescence intensity was also detected in mitochondria and Golgi apparatus. The cell death pathway was found to be influenced by the sensitizer intracellular concentration and the applied light doses. In general, the increasing amphiphilicity of the sensitizer molecules is correlated with an increased sensitizer uptake and an increased rate of necrotic cells after irradiation. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved}, language = {en} } @article{PetersPetersRebienetal.2005, author = {Peters, Karl and Peters, E. M. and Rebien, F. and Linker, Torsten}, title = {Crystal structure of methyl (1R,2S,3R,4S)-1-phenyl-3,4-epoxi-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-carboxy late,C18H16O3}, issn = {1433-7266}, year = {2005}, abstract = {C18H16O3, monoclinic, P12(1)/c1 (no. 14), a = 14.954(3) angstrom, b = 8.088(2) angstrom, c = 11.973(2) angstrom, beta = 93.50(1)degrees, V = 1445.4 angstrom(3), Z = 4, R-gt(F) = 0.083, wR(ref)(F-2) = 0.249, T = 293 K.}, language = {en} } @article{PetersPetersLinkeretal.2005, author = {Peters, Karl and Peters, E. M. and Linker, Ursula and Linker, Torsten}, title = {Crystal structure of 1,1,2,2-tetramethoxycarbonylethanol, C2H(CH3OCO)(4)OH}, issn = {1433-7266}, year = {2005}, abstract = {C10H14O9, monoclinic, C12/c1 (no. 15), a = 15.801(1) angstrom, b = 7.920(1) angstrom, c = 21.055(2) angstrom, beta = 101.31 (1)degrees, V = 2583.8 angstrom(3), Z = 8, R-gt(F) 0.044, wR(ref)(F-2) = 0.134, T = 293 K.}, language = {en} } @article{PetersPetersKimetal.2005, author = {Peters, Karl and Peters, E. M. and Kim, Boo Geun and Linker, Torsten}, title = {Crystal structure of ethyl (3aR,4R,5R,6R,7aR)-4,5-diacetoxy-6-acetoxymethyl-2-oxy-3a,5,6,7a-tetrahy dro-4H- pyrano[3,2-d]isoxazole-3-carboxylate, C16H21NO11}, issn = {1433-7266}, year = {2005}, abstract = {C16H21NO11, monoclinic, P12(1)1 (no. 4), a = 8.181(1) angstrom, b = 11.604(2) angstrom, c = 10.193(1) angstrom, beta = 101.59(1)degrees, V = 947.9 angstrom(3), Z = 2, R-gt(F) = 0.068, wR(ref)(F-2) = 0.177, T = 293 K.}, language = {en} } @article{RusuNgWilkeetal.2005, author = {Rusu, Viorel Marin and Ng, C. H. and Wilke, Max and Tiersch, Brigitte and Fratzl, Peter and Peter, Martin G.}, title = {Size-controlled hydroxyapatite nanoparticles as self-organized organic-in organic composite materials}, issn = {0142-9612}, year = {2005}, abstract = {This paper presents some results concerning the size-controlled hydroxyapatite nanoparticles obtained in aqueous media in a biopolymer matrix from soluble precursors salts. Taking the inspiration from nature, where composite materials made of a polymer matrix and inorganic fillers are often found, e.g. bone, shell of crustaceans, shell of eggs, etc., the feasibility on making composite materials containing chitosan and nanosized hydroxyapatite was investigated. A stepwise co-precipitation approach was used to obtain different types of composites by means of different ratio between components. The synthesis of hydroxyapatite was carried out in the chitosan matrix from calcium chloride and sodium dihydrogenphosphate in alkaline solutions at moderate pH of 10-11 for 24 h. Our research is focused on studying and understanding the structure of this class of composites, aiming at the development of novel materials, controlled at the nanolevel scale. The X-ray diffraction technique was employed in order to study the kinetic of hydroxyapatite formation in the chitosan matrix as well as to determine the HAp crystallite sizes in the composite samples. The hydroxyapatite synthesized using this route was found to be nano-sized (15-50nm). Moreover, applying an original approach to analyze the (002) XRD diffraction peak profile of hydroxyapatite by using a sum of two Gauss functions, the bimodal distribution of nanosized hydroxyapatite within the chitosan matrix was revealed. Two types of size distribution domains such as cluster-like (between 200 and 400 nm), which are the habitat of "small" hydroxyapatite nanocrystallites and scattered-like, which are the habitat of "large" hydroxyapatite nanocrystallites was probed by TEM and CSLM. The structural features of composites suggest that self-assembly processes might be involved. The composites contain nanosized hydroxyapatite with structural features close to those of biological apatites that make them attractive for bone tissue engineering applications. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved}, language = {en} }