Institut für Chemie
Refine
Year of publication
Document Type
- Article (2410)
- Doctoral Thesis (679)
- Postprint (237)
- Monograph/Edited Volume (60)
- Review (31)
- Other (30)
- Habilitation Thesis (16)
- Conference Proceeding (15)
- Preprint (8)
- Master's Thesis (2)
Keywords
- nanoparticles (31)
- Nanopartikel (25)
- self-assembly (24)
- DNA origami (20)
- biomaterials (19)
- ionic liquids (17)
- polymer (17)
- block copolymers (16)
- fluorescence (16)
- polymerization (16)
Institute
- Institut für Chemie (3489)
- Extern (48)
- Institut für Physik und Astronomie (18)
- Institut für Biochemie und Biologie (15)
- Institut für Geowissenschaften (14)
- Zentrum für Lehrerbildung und Bildungsforschung (ZeLB) (6)
- Institut für Ernährungswissenschaft (3)
- Institut für Umweltwissenschaften und Geographie (2)
- Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Biopolymere (2)
- Department Psychologie (1)
In the present thesis, the self-assembly of multi thermoresponsive block copolymers in dilute aqueous solution was investigated by a combination of turbidimetry, dynamic light scattering, TEM measurements, NMR as well as fluorescence spectroscopy. The successive conversion of such block copolymers from a hydrophilic into a hydrophobic state includes intermediate amphiphilic states with a variable hydrophilic-to-lipophilic balance. As a result, the self-organization is not following an all-or-none principle but a multistep aggregation in dilute solution was observed. The synthesis of double thermoresponsive diblock copolymers as well as triple thermoresponsive triblock copolymers was realized using twofold-TMS labeled RAFT agents which provide direct information about the average molar mass as well as residual end group functionality from a routine proton NMR spectrum. First a set of double thermosensitive diblock copolymers poly(N-n-propylacrylamide)-b-poly(N-ethylacrylamide) was synthesized which differed only in the relative size of the two blocks. Depending on the relative block lengths, different aggregation pathways were found. Furthermore, the complementary TMS-labeled end groups served as NMR-probes for the self-assembly of these diblock copolymers in dilute solution. Reversible, temperature sensitive peak splitting of the TMS-signals in NMR spectroscopy was indicative for the formation of mixed star-/flower-like micelles in some cases. Moreover, triple thermoresponsive triblock copolymers from poly(N-n-propylacrylamide) (A), poly(methoxydiethylene glycol acrylate) (B) and poly(N-ethylacrylamide) (C) were obtained from sequential RAFT polymerization in all possible block sequences (ABC, BAC, ACB). Their self-organization behavior in dilute aqueous solution was found to be rather complex and dependent on the positioning of the different blocks within the terpolymers. Especially the localization of the low-LCST block (A) had a large influence on the aggregation behavior. Above the first cloud point, aggregates were only observed when the A block was located at one terminus. Once placed in the middle, unimolecular micelles were observed which showed aggregation only above the second phase transition temperature of the B block. Carrier abilities of such triple thermosensitive triblock copolymers tested in fluorescence spectroscopy, using the solvatochromic dye Nile Red, suggested that the hydrophobic probe is less efficiently incorporated by the polymer with the BAC sequence as compared to ABC or ACB polymers above the first phase transition temperature. In addition, due to the problem of increasing loss of end group functionality during the subsequent polymerization steps, a novel concept for the one-step synthesis of multi thermoresponsive block copolymers was developed. This allowed to synthesize double thermoresponsive di- and triblock copolymers in a single polymerization step. The copolymerization of different N-substituted maleimides with a thermosensitive styrene derivative (4-vinylbenzyl methoxytetrakis(oxyethylene) ether) led to alternating copolymers with variable LCST. Consequently, an excess of this styrene-based monomer allowed the synthesis of double thermoresponsive tapered block copolymers in a single polymerization step.
Nanoporous carbon materials are widely used in industry as adsorbents or catalyst supports, whilst becoming increasingly critical to the developing fields of energy storage / generation or separation technologies. In this thesis, the combined use of carbohydrate hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) and templating strategies is demonstrated as an efficient route to nanostructured carbonaceous materials. HTC is an aqueous-phase, low-temperature (e.g. 130 – 200 °C) carbonisation, which proceeds via dehydration / poly-condensation of carbon precursors (e.g. carbohydrates and their derivatives), allowing facile access to highly functional carbonaceous materials. Whilst possessing utile, modifiable surface functional groups (e.g. -OH and -C=O-containing moieties), materials synthesised via HTC typically present limited accessible surface area or pore volume. Therefore, this thesis focuses on the development of fabrication routes to HTC materials which present enhanced textural properties and well-defined porosity. In the first discussed synthesis, a combined hard templating / HTC route was investigated using a range of sacrificial inorganic templates (e.g. mesoporous silica beads and macroporous alumina membranes (AAO)). Via pore impregnation of mesoporous silica beads with a biomass-derived carbon source (e.g. 2-furaldehyde) and subsequent HTC at 180 oC, an inorganic / carbonaceous hybrid material was produced. Removal of the template component by acid etching revealed the replication of the silica into mesoporous carbonaceous spheres (particle size ~ 5 μm), representing the inverse morphological structure of the original inorganic body. Surface analysis (e.g. FTIR) indicated a material decorated with hydrophilic (oxygenated) functional groups. Further thermal treatment at increasingly elevated temperatures (e.g. at 350, 550, 750 oC) under inert atmosphere allowed manipulation of functionalities from polar hydrophilic to increasingly non-polar / hydrophobic structural motifs (e.g. extension of the aromatic / pseudo-graphitic nature), thus demonstrating a process capable of simultaneous control of nanostructure and surface / bulk chemistry. As an extension of this approach, carbonaceous tubular nanostructures with controlled surface functionality were synthesised by the nanocasting of uniform, linear macropores of an AAO template (~ 200 nm). In this example, material porosity could be controlled, showing increasingly microporous tube wall features as post carbonisation temperature increased. Additionally, by taking advantage of modifiable surface groups, the introduction of useful polymeric moieties (i.e. grafting of thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)) was also demonstrated, potentially enabling application of these interesting tubular structures in the fields of biotechnology (e.g. enzyme immobilization) and medicine (e.g. as drug micro-containers). Complimentary to these hard templating routes, a combined HTC / soft templating route for the direct synthesis of ordered porous carbonaceous materials was also developed. After selection of structural directing agents and optimisation of synthesis composition, the F127 triblock copolymer (i.e. ethylene oxide (EO)106 propylene oxide (PO)70 ethylene oxide (EO)106) / D-Fructose system was extensively studied. D-Fructose was found to be a useful carbon precursor as the HTC process could be performed at 130 oC, thus allowing access to stable micellular phase. Thermolytic template removal from the synthesised ordered copolymer / carbon composite yielded functional cuboctahedron single crystalline-like particles (~ 5 μm) with well ordered pore structure of a near perfect cubic Im3m symmetry. N2 sorption analysis revealed a predominantly microporous carbonaceous material (i.e. Type I isotherm, SBET = 257 m2g-1, 79 % microporosity) possessing a pore size of ca. 0.9 nm. The addition of a simple pore swelling additive (e.g. trimethylbenzene (TMB)) to this system was found to direct pore size into the mesopore size domain (i.e. Type IV isotherm, SBET = 116 m2g-1, 60 % mesoporosity) generating pore size of ca. 4 nm. It is proposed that in both cases as HTC proceeds to generate a polyfuran-like network, the organised block copolymer micellular phase is essentially “templated”, either via hydrogen bonding between hydrophilic poly(EO) moiety and the carbohydrate or via hydrophobic interaction between hydrophobic poly(PO) moiety and forming polyfuran-like network, whilst the additive TMB presumably interact with poly(PO) moieties, thus swelling the hydrophobic region expanding the micelle template size further into the mesopore range.
Towards greener stationary phases : thermoresponsive and carbonaceous chromatographic supports
(2011)
Polymers which are sensitive towards external physical, chemical and electrical stimuli are termed as ‘intelligent materials’ and are widely used in medical and engineering applications. Presently, polymers which can undergo a physical change when heat is applied at a certain temperature (cloud point) in water are well-studied for this property in areas of separation chemistry, gene and drug delivery and as surface modifiers. One example of such a polymer is the poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) PNIPAAM, where it is dissolved well in water below 32 oC, while by increasing the temperature further leads to its precipitation. In this work, an alternative polymer poly (2-(2-methoxy ethoxy)ethyl methacrylate-co- oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (P(MEO2MA-co-OEGMA)) is studied due to its biocompatibility and the ability to vary its cloud points in water. When a layer of temperature responsive polymer was attached to a single continuous porous piece of silica-based material known as a monolith, the thermoresponsive characteristic was transferred to the column surfaces. The hybrid material was demonstrated to act as a simple temperature ‘switch’ in the separation of a mixture of five steroids under water. Different analytes were observed to be separated under varying column temperatures. Furthermore, more complex biochemical compounds such as proteins were also tested for separation. The importance of this work is attributed to separation processes utilizing environmentally friendly conditions, since harsh chemical environments conventionally used to resolve biocompounds could cause their biological activities to be rendered inactive.
In this thesis entitled “Saccharide Recognition - Boronic acids as Receptors in Polymeric Networks” different aspects of boronic acid synthesis, their analysis and incorporation or attachment to different polymeric networks and characterisation thereof were investigated. The following key aspects were considered: • Provision of a variety of different characterised arylboronic acids and benzoboroxoles • Attachment of certain derivatives to nanoparticles and the characterisation of saccharide binding by means of isothermal titration calorimetry and displacement assay (ARS) to enhance the association constant to saccharides at pH 7.4 • Enhancement of selectivity in polymeric systems by means of molecular imprinting using fructose as template and a polymerisable benzoboroxole as functional monomer for the recognition at pH 7.4 (Joined by a diploma thesis of F. Grüneberger) • Development of biomimetic saccharide structures and the development of saccharide (especially glucose and fructose) binding MIPs by using these structures as template molecules. In the first part of the thesis different arylboronic acid derivatives were synthesised and their binding to glucose or fructose was investigated by means of isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). It could be derived, which is in parallel to the literature, that derivatives bearing a methylhydroxyl-group in ortho-position to the boron (benzoboroxole) exhibit in most cases a two-fold higher association constant compared to the corresponding phenylboronic acid derivative. To gain a deeper understanding NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry with the benzoboroxole and glucose or fructose was performed. It could be shown that the exchange rate in terms of NMR time scale is quite slow since in titration experiments new peaks appeared. Via mass spectrometry of a mixture between benzoboroxole and glucose or fructose, different binding stoichiometries could be detected showing that the binding of saccharides is comparable with their binding to phenylboronic acid. In addition, the use of Alizarin Red S as an electrochemical reporter was described for the first time to monitor the saccharide binding to arylboronic acids not only with spectroscopy. Here, the redox behaviour and the displacement were recorded by cyclic voltammograms. In the second part different applications of boronic acids in polymeric networks were investigated. The attachment of benzoboroxoles to nanoparticles was investigated and monitored by means of isothermal titration calorimetry and a colourimetric assay with Alizarin Red S as the report dye. The investigations by isothermal titration calorimetry compared the fructose binding of arylboronic acids and benzoboroxoles coupled to these nanoparticles and “free” in solution. It could be shown that the attached derivatives showed a higher binding constant due to an increasing entropy term. This states for possible multivalent binding combined with a higher water release. Since ITC could not characterise the binding of glucose to these nanoparticles due to experimental restrictions the glucose binding at pH 7.4 was shown with ARS. Here, the displacement of ARS by fructose and also glucose could be followed and consequently these nanoparticles can be used for saccharide determination. Within this investigation also the temperature stability of these nanoparticles was examined and after normal sterilisation procedures (121°C, 20 min.) the binding behaviour was still unchanged. To target the selectivity of the used polymeric networks, molecular imprinting was used as a technique for creating artificial binding pockets on a molecular scale. As functional monomer 3-methacrylamidobenzoboroxole was introduced for the recognition of fructose. In comparison to polymers prepared with vinylphenylboronic acid the benzoboroxole containing polymer had a stronger binding at pH 7.4 which was shown for the first time. In addition, another imprinted polymer was synthesised especially for the recognition of glucose and fructose employing biomimetic saccharide analogues as template molecule. The advantage to use the saccharide analogues is the defined template-functional monomer complex during the polymerisation which is not the case, for example, for glucose-boronic acid interaction. The biomimetic character was proven through structural superimposition of crystal structures of the analogues with already described crystal structures of boronic acid esters of glucose and fructose. A molecularly imprinted polymer was synthesised with vinylphenylboronic acid as the functional monomer to show that both glucose and fructose are able to bind to the polymer which was predicted by the structural similarity of the analogues. The major scientific contributions of this thesis are • the determination of binding constants for some, not yet reported saccharide – boronic acid / benzoboroxole pairs, • the use of ARS as electrochemical reporter for saccharide detection, • the thermodynamic characterisation of a saccharide binding nanoparticle system containing benzoboroxole and functioning at pH 7.4, • the use of a polymerisable benzoboroxole as functional monomer for saccharide recognition in neutral, aqueous environments • and the synthesis and utilisation of biomimetic saccharide analogues as template molecules especially for the development of a glucose binding MIP.
In this thesis chemical reactions under hydrothermal conditions were explored, whereby emphasis was put on green chemistry. Water at high temperature and pressure acts as a benign solvent. Motivation to work under hydrothermal conditions was well-founded in the tunability of physicochemical properties with temperature, e.g. of dielectric constant, density or ion product, which often resulted in surprising reactivity. Another cornerstone was the implementation of the principles of green chemistry. Besides the use of water as solvent, this included the employment of a sustainable feedstock and the sensible use of resources by minimizing waste and harmful intermediates and additives. To evaluate the feasibility of hydrothermal conditions for chemical synthesis, exemplary reactions were performed. These were carried out in a continuous flow reactor, allowing for precise control of reaction conditions and kinetics measurements. In most experiments a temperature of 200 °C in combination with a pressure of 100 bar was chosen. In some cases the temperature was even raised to 300 °C. Water in this subcritical range can also be found in nature at hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. On the primitive earth, environments with such conditions were however present in larger numbers. Therefore we tested whether biologically important carbohydrates could be formed at high temperature from the simple, probably prebiotic precursor formaldehyde. Indeed, this formose reaction could be carried out successfully, although the yield was lower compared to the counterpart reaction under ambient conditions. However, striking differences regarding selectivity and necessary catalysts were observed. At moderate temperatures bases and catalytically active cations like Ca2+ are necessary and the main products are hexoses and pentoses, which accumulate due to their higher stability. In contrast, in high-temperature water no catalyst was necessary but a slightly alkaline solution was sufficient. Hexoses were only formed in negligible amounts, whereas pentoses and the shorter carbohydrates accounted for the major fraction. Amongst the pentoses there was some preference for the formation of ribose. Even deoxy sugars could be detected in traces. The observation that catalysts can be avoided was successfully transferred to another reaction. In a green chemistry approach platform chemicals must be produced from sustainable resources. Carbohydrates can for instance be employed as a basis. They can be transformed to levulinic acid and formic acid, which can both react via a transfer hydrogenation to the green solvent and biofuel gamma-valerolactone. This second reaction usually requires catalysis by Ru or Pd, which are neither sustainable nor low-priced. Under hydrothermal conditions these heavy metals could be avoided and replaced by cheap salts, taking advantage of the temperature dependence of the acid dissociation constant. Simple sulfate was recognized as a temperature switchable base. With this additive high yield could be achieved by simultaneous prevention of waste. In contrast to conventional bases, which create salt upon neutralization, a temperature switchable base becomes neutral again when cooled down and thus can be reused. This adds another sustainable feature to the high atom economy of the presented hydrothermal synthesis. In a last study complex decomposition pathways of biomass were investigated. Gas chromatography in conjunction with mass spectroscopy has proven to be a powerful tool for the identification of unknowns. It was observed that several acids were formed when carbohydrates were treated with bases at high temperature. This procedure was also applied to digest wood. Afterwards it was possible to fermentate the solution and a good yield of methane was obtained. This has to be regarded in the light of the fact that wood practically cannot be used as a feedstock in a biogas factory. Thus the hydrothermal pretreatment is an efficient means to employ such materials as well. Also the reaction network of the hydrothermal decomposition of glycine was investigated using isotope-labeled compounds as comparison for the unambiguous identification of unknowns. This refined analysis allowed the identification of several new molecules and pathways, not yet described in literature. In summary several advantages could be taken from synthesis in high-temperature water. Many catalysts, absolutely necessary under ambient conditions, could either be completely avoided or replaced by cheap, sustainable alternatives. In this respect water is not only a green solvent, but helps to prevent waste and preserves resources.
Das Hauptziel dieser Arbeit ist das Verständnis der molekularen Kristallisation, sowohl mit als auch ohne polymere Additive, als einen mehrstufigen Prozess. Dieser beinhaltet eine transiente flüssig-flüssig Phasentrennung, die Nukleation von Nanokristallen in der dichten flüssigen Precursor-Phase so wie eine anschließende nanokristalline Selbstorganisation. Die Arbeit beginnt mit Untersuchungen an einem quaternären Modelsystem bestehend aus DL-Glutamat (Glu), Polyethylenimin (PEI), Wasser und Ethanol. Das Phasendiagramm dieses quaternären Systems wird durch Variation der Glu/PEI w/w und Wasser/EtOH v/v Verhältnisse bestimmt, wobei Präzpitat aus polymerinduzierten flüssigen Precursor, Koazervate oder homogene Mischungen erhalten werden Das thermodynamisch stabile Koazervat kann als Referenz für das Verständnis von flüssigen Precursorn angesehen werden, welche in der Natur metastabil und transient sind. Der mehrstufige Mechanismus der Glu-Präzipitation mit PEI als Additiv wird dann mittels Neutronen Kleinwinkelstreuung untersucht. Dies zeigt, dass die ursprünglich gebildeten flüssigen Precursor noch vor der Nukleation von Nanokristallen einen Wechsel von Wachstum und Koaleszenz durchlaufen. Die Ergebnisse aus optischer- und Eletronenmikroskopie zeigen, dass sowohl die flüssigen Precursor Superstrukturen ausbilden als auch, dass die Nukleation von Nanoplättchen in jedem einzelnen Precursor Tropfen von statten geht. Dies geschieht noch bevor sich die Nanoplättchen selbst in einer radialen Orientierung ausrichten. Diese Studie liefert die Kinetik der Präzipitation von organischen Stoffen in Gegenwart von polymeren Additiven. Eine ähnliche Vorgehensweise wie für die Herstellung von Mikrokügelchen kann für die Darstellung von gemusterten Filmen angewandt werden. Die homogene Nukleation von Nanopartikeln (NPs) findet während der Verdampfung einer quarternären DL-Lys·HCl-Polyacrylsäure-Wasser-Ethanol Dispersion auf einer hydrophilen Oberfläche statt. Die darauffolgende vollständige Verdampfung löst die Mesokristallisation eines kontinuierlichen sphärolithischen dünnen Films aus, welcher sich wiederum in einen mesokristallinen dünnen Film umwandelt. Mesokristalline Filme mit 4 Hierarchiestufen bzw. auch periodische Filme werden durch die Verdampfung der Mikrokügelchen-Dispersion erhalten. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Verdampfung eine einfache aber effektive Methode zur Herstellung von verschieden gemusterten hierarchischen Filmen darstellt. Nicht-klassische Kristallisation wird auch in der Abwesenheit von polymeren Additiven beobachtet. Wir verfolgen mittels Rasterkraftmikroskop (AFM) die Nukleation und das Wachstum einer neuen molekularen Schicht auf wachsenden DL-Glu·H2O Kristallen aus übersättigter Mutterlauge. Die Bildung einer neuen molekularen Schicht verläuft durch die Anlagerung von amorphen Nanopartikeln. Das Schrumpfen der NPs zusammen mit der strukturellen Änderung von dreidimensionalen NPs zu 2D Schichten wird während dieses Relaxationsprozesses beobachtet. Schließlich kommt es zu der Ausbildung einer neuen molekularen Schicht. Die Bildung einer molekularen Schicht durch die Anlagerung von Nanopartikeln aus der Lösung und die darauffolgende Relaxation liefert ein abweichendes Bild zu der bisher gängigen klassischen Theorie des Kristallwachstums.
Poröse Sol-Gel-Materialien finden in vielen Bereichen Anwendung bzw. sind Gegenstand der aktuellen Forschung. Zu diesen Bereichen zählen sowohl klassische Anwendungen, wie z. B. die Verwendung als Katalysator, Molekularsieb oder Trockenmittel, als auch nichtklassische Anwendungen, wie z. B. der Einsatz als Kontrastmittel in der Magnet-Resonanz-Tomographie oder in Form von dünnen Zeolithfilmen als Isolatoren in Mikrochips. Auch für den Einsatz in der Photonik werden poröse Materialien in Betracht gezogen, wie die Entwicklung des Zeolith-Farbstoff-Lasers zeigt. Mikroporöse Zeolithe können generell über einfache Ionenaustauschreaktionen mit Lanthanoidionen in lumineszente Materialien umgewandelt werden. Neben der Erzeugung eines lumineszenten Materials, dessen Lumineszenzeigenschaften charakterisiert werden müssen, bietet die Nutzung von Lanthanoidionen die Möglichkeit diese Ionen als Sonde zur Charakterisierung der Ion-Wirt-Wechselwirkungen zu funktionalisieren, was z. B. in Bezug auf die Anwendung als Katalysator von großer Bedeutung ist. Dabei werden die einzigartigen Lumineszenzeigenschaften der Lanthanoidionen, in diesem Fall von Europium(III) und Terbium(III), genutzt. In dieser Arbeit wurden Lanthanoid-dotierte mikroporöse Zeolithe, mikroporös-mesoporöse Hybridmaterialien und mesoporöse Silikate hinsichtlich ihrer Lumineszenzeigenschaften und ihrer Wechselwirkung des Wirtsmaterials mit den Lanthanoidionen mittels zeitaufgelöster Lumineszenzspektroskopie untersucht. Zeitaufgelöste Emissionsspektren (TRES) liefern dabei sowohl Informationen in der Wellenlängen- als auch in der Zeitdomäne. Erstmalig wurden die TRES mittels einer umfangreichen Auswertemethodik behandelt. Neben der Anpassung des Abklingverhaltens mit einer diskreten Zahl von Exponentialfunktionen, wurden unterstützend auch Abklingzeitverteilungsanalysen durchgeführt. Zeitaufgelöste flächennormierte Emissionsspektren (TRANES), eine Erweiterung der normalen TRES, konnten erstmals zur Bestimmung der Zahl der emittierenden Lanthanoidspezies in porösen Materialien genutzt werden. Durch die Berechnung der Decayassoziierten Spektren (DAS) konnten den Lanthanoidspezies die entsprechenden Lumineszenzspektren zugeordnet werden. Zusätzlich konnte, speziell im Fall der Europium-Lumineszenz, durch Kombination von zeitlicher und spektraler Information das zeitabhängige Asymmetrieverhältnis R und die spektrale Evolution des 5D0-7F0-Übergangs mit der Zeit t untersucht und somit wesentliche Informationen über die Verteilung der Europiumionen im Wirtsmaterial erhalten werden. Über die Abklingzeit und das Asymmetrieverhältnis R konnten Rückschlüsse auf die Zahl der OH-Oszillatoren in der ersten Koordinationssphäre und die Symmetrie der Koordinationsumgebung gezogen werden. Für die mikroporösen und mikroporös-mesoporösen Materialien wurden verschiedene Lanthanoidspezies, im Regelfall zwei, gefunden, welche entsprechend der beschriebenen Methoden charakterisiert wurden. Diese Lanthanoidspezies konnten Positionen in den Materialien zugeordnet werden, die sich im tief Inneren des Porensystems oder auf bzw. nahe der äußeren Oberfläche oder in den Mesoporen befinden. Erstere Spezies ist aufgrund ihrer Position im Material gut vor Feuchtigkeitseinflüssen geschützt, was sich deutlich in entsprechend langen Lumineszenzabklingzeiten äußert. Zusätzlich ist diese Europiumspezies durch unsymmetrische Koordinationsumgebung charakterisiert, was auf einen signifikanten Anteil an Koordination der Lanthanoidionen durch die Sauerstoffatome im Wirtsgitter zurückzuführen ist. Ionen, die sich nahe oder auf der äußeren Oberfläche befinden, sind dagegen für Feuchtigkeit zugänglicher, was in kürzeren Lumineszenzabklingzeiten und einer symmetrischeren Koordinationsumgebung resultiert. Der Anteil von Wassermolekülen in der ersten Koordinationssphäre ist hier deutlich größer, als bei den Ionen, die sich tiefer im Porensystem befinden und entspricht in vielen Fällen der Koordinationszahl eines vollständig hydratisierten Lanthanoidions. Auch der Einfluss von Oberflächenmodifikationen auf die Speziesverteilung und das Verhalten der Materialien gegenüber Feuchtigkeit wurde untersucht. Dabei gelang es den Einfluss der Feuchtigkeit auf die Lumineszenzeigenschaften und die Speziesverteilung durch die Oberflächenmodifikation zu verringern und die Lumineszenzeigenschaften teilweise zu konservieren. Im Fall der mesoporösen Silikamonolithe wurde auch eine heterogene Verteilung der Lanthanoidionen im Porensystem gefunden. Hier wechselwirkt ein Teil der Ionen mit der Porenwand, während sich die restlichen Ionen in der wäßrigen Phase innerhalb des Porensystems aufhalten. Das Aufbringen von Oberflächenmodifikationen führte zu einer Wechselwirkung der Ionen mit diesen Oberflächenmodifikationen, was sich in Abhängigkeit von der Oberflächenbeladung in den enstprechenden Lumineszenzeigenschaften niederschlug.
Magnetische Nanopartikel bieten ein großes Potential, da sie einerseits die Eigenschaften ihrer Bulk-Materialien besitzen und anderseits, auf Grund ihrer Größe, über komplett unterschiedliche magnetische Eigenschaften verfügen können; Superparamagnetismus ist eine dieser Eigenschaften. Die meisten etablierten Anwendungen magnetischer Nanopartikel basieren heutzutage auf Eisenoxiden. Diese bieten gute magnetische Eigenschaften, sind chemisch relativ stabil, ungiftig und lassen sich auf vielen Synthesewegen relativ einfach herstellen. Die magnetischen Eigenschaften der Eisenoxide sind materialabhängig aber begrenzt, weshalb nach anderen Verbindungen mit besseren Eigenschaften gesucht werden muss. Eisencarbid (Fe3C) kann eine dieser Verbindungen sein. Dieses besitzt vergleichbare positive Eigenschaften wie Eisenoxid, jedoch viel bessere magnetische Eigenschaften, speziell eine höhere Sättigungsmagnetisierung. Bis jetzt wurde Fe3C hauptsächlich in Gasphasenabscheidungsprozessen synthetisiert oder als Nebenprodukt bei der Synthese von Kohlenstoffstrukturen gefunden. Eine Methode, mit der gezielt Fe3C-Nanopartikel und andere Metallcarbide synthetisiert werden können, ist die „Harnstoff-Glas-Route“. Neben den Metallcarbiden können mit dieser Methode auch die entsprechenden Metallnitride synthetisiert werden, was die breite Anwendbarkeit der Methode unterstreicht. Die „Harnstoff-Glas-Route“ ist eine Kombination eines Sol-Gel-Prozesses mit einer anschließenden carbothermalen Reduktion/Nitridierung bei höheren Temperaturen. Sie bietet den Vorteil einer einfachen und schnellen Synthese verschiedener Metallcarbide/nitride. Der Schwerpunkt in dieser Arbeit lag auf der Synthese von Eisencarbiden/nitriden, aber auch Nickel und Kobalt wurden betrachtet. Durch die Variation der Syntheseparameter konnten verschiedene Eisencarbid/nitrid Nanostrukturen synthetisiert werden. Fe3C-Nanopartikel im Größenbereich von d = 5 – 10 nm konnten, durch die Verwendung von Eisenchlorid, hergestellt werden. Die Nanopartikel weisen durch ihre geringe Größe superparamagnetische Eigenschaften auf und besitzen, im Vergleich zu Eisenoxid Nanopartikeln im gleichen Größenbereich, eine höhere Sättigungsmagnetisierung. Diese konnten in fortführenden Experimenten erfolgreich in ionischen Flüssigkeiten und durch ein Polymer-Coating, im wässrigen Medium, dispergiert werden. Desweiteren wurde durch ein Templatieren mit kolloidalem Silika eine mesoporöse Fe3C-Nanostruktur hergestellt. Diese konnte erfolgreich in der katalytischen Spaltung von Ammoniak getestet werden. Mit der Verwendung von Eisenacetylacetonat konnten neben Fe3C-Nanopartikeln, nur durch Variation der Reaktionsparameter, auch Fe7C3- und Fe3N-Nanopartikel synthetisiert werden. Speziell für die Fe3C-Nanopartikel konnte die Sättigungsmagnetisierung, im Vergleich zu den mit Eisenchlorid synthetisierten Nanopartikeln, nochmals erhöht werden. Versuche mit Nickelacetat führten zu Nickelnitrid (Ni3N) Nanokristallen. Eine zusätzliche metallische Nickelphase führte zu einer Selbstorganisation der Partikel in Scheiben-ähnliche Überstrukturen. Mittels Kobaltacetat konnten, in Sphären aggregierte, metallische Kobalt Nanopartikel synthetisiert werden. Kobaltcarbid/nitrid war mit den gegebenen Syntheseparametern nicht zugänglich.
The creation of complex polymer structures has been one of the major research topics over the last couple of decades. This work deals with the synthesis of (block co-)polymers, the creation of complex and stimuli-responsive aggregates by self-assembly, and the cross-linking of these structures. Also the higher-order self-assembly of the aggregates is investigated. The formation of poly-2-oxazoline based micelles in aqueous solution and their simultaneous functionalization and cross-linking using thiol-yne chemistry is e.g. presented. By introducing pH responsive thiols in the core of the micelles the influence of charged groups in the core of micelles on the entire structure can be studied. The charging of these groups leads to a swelling of the core and a decrease in the local concentration of the corona forming block (poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)). This decrease in concentration yields a shift in the cloud point temperature to higher temperatures for this Type I thermoresponsive polymer. When the swelling of the core is prohibited, e.g. by the introduction of sufficient amounts of salt, this behavior disappears. Similar structures can be prepared using complex coacervate core micelles (C3Ms) built through the interaction of weakly acidic and basic polymer blocks. The advantage of these structures is that two different stabilizing blocks can be incorporated, which allows for more diverse and complex structures and behavior of the micelles. Using block copolymers with either a polyanionic or a polycationic block C3Ms could be created with a corona which contains two different soluble nonionic polymers, which either have a mixed corona or a Janus type corona, depending on the polymers that were chosen. Using NHS and EDC the micelles could easily be cross-linked by the formation of amide bonds in the core of the micelles. The higher-order self-assembly behavior of these core cross-linked complex coacervate core micelles (C5Ms) was studied. Due to the cross-linking the micelles are stabilized towards changes in pH and ionic strength, but polymer chains are also no longer able to rearrange. For C5Ms with a mixed corona likely network structures were formed upon the collapse of the thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm), whereas for Janus type C5Ms well defined spherical aggregates of micelles could be obtained, depending on the pH of the solution. Furthermore it could be shown that Janus micelles can adsorb onto inorganic nanoparticles such as colloidal silica (through a selective interaction between PEO and the silica surface) or gold nanoparticles (by the binding of thiol end-groups). Asymmetric aggregates were also formed using the streptavidin-biotin binding motive. This is achieved by using three out of the four binding sites of streptavidin for the binding of one three-arm star polymer, end-functionalized with biotin groups. A homopolymer with one biotin end-group can be used to occupy the last position. This binding of two different polymers makes it possible to create asymmetric complexes. This phase separation is theoretically independent of the kind of polymer since the structure of the protein is the driving force, not the intrinsic phase separation between polymers. Besides Janus structures also specific cross-linking can be achieved by using other mixing ratios.
Gesunde sowie qualitativ hochwertige Nahrungsmittel sind wichtige Voraussetzungen, um einerseits die Lebensmittelsicherheit entlang der Wertschöpfungskette (Wachstum, Verarbeitung, Lagerung und Transport) und andererseits einen vorbeugenden Verbraucherschutz zu gewährleisten. Die Belastung der Nahrung mit Rückständen jeglicher Art war in letzter Zeit häufig Mittelpunkt heftiger öffentlicher Diskussionen. Zahlreiche Untersuchungen haben gezeigt, dass unter bestimmten Bedingungen durch Pilze gebildete Giftstoffe, so genannte Mykotoxine, die Ernteprodukte belasten und es bei deren Verzehr durch Menschen oder Tiere zu Vergiftungen kommen kann. Die FAO schätzt, dass etwa 25% der Weltproduktion von Nahrungsmitteln mit Mykotoxinen kontaminiert und in 20% der Getreideernte der Europäischen Union messbare Konzentrationen an Mykotoxinen detektierbar sind. Damit die Lebensmittelsicherheit weiterhin gewährleistet bleibt, werden neben den Routinemethoden schnellere und zerstörungsfreie Methoden benötigt, um die Lebensmittel direkt vor Ort auf Schimmelpilze und deren Mykotoxine zu untersuchen. In dieser Arbeit wird das Potenzial von ausgewählten optisch-basierten spektroskopischen Methoden für die in-situ bzw. in-line Detektion von Schimmelpilzen sowie Mykotoxinen in Getreide(produkten) untersucht. Es werden Absorptions- und Reflexionsmethoden einerseits und Fluoreszenztechniken andererseits eingesetzt. Die spektroskopischen Methoden werden dabei auf Proben unterschiedlicher Komplexität angewandt - beginnend mit der Untersuchung der photophysikalischen Eigenschaften der reinen Mykotoxine in Lösung über künstlich mit verschiedenen Mykotoxinen kontaminierten Getreideproben bis hin zu mit Pilzen befallenem Getreide und hochveredelte Lebensmittel (Wein und Bier) als Proben höchster Komplexität.
Mit Seitenkettenpolystyrenen wurde ein neues Synthesekonzept für phosphoreszente polymere LED-Materialien aufgestellt und experimentell verifiziert. Zunächst erfolgten auf Grundlage strukturell einfacher Verbindungen Untersuchungen zum Einfluss von Spacern zwischen aktiven Seitengruppen und dem Polystyrenrückgrat. Es wurden Synthesemethoden für die Monomere etabliert, durch die aktive Elemente - Elektronen- und Lochleiter - mit und ohne diesen Spacer zugänglich sind. Durch Kombination dieser Monomere waren unter Hinzunahme von polymerisierbaren Iridium-Komplexen in unterschiedlicher Emissionswellenlänge statistische Terpolymere darstellbar. Es wurde gezeigt, dass die Realisierung bestimmter Verhältnisse zwischen Loch-, Elektronenleiter und Triplettemitter in ausreichender Molmasse möglich ist. Die Glasstufen der Polymere zeigten eine deutliche Strukturabhängigkeit. Auf die Lage der Grenzorbitale übten die Spacer nahezu keinen Einfluss aus. Die unterschiedlichen Makromoleküle kamen in polymeren Licht emittierenden Dioden (PLEDs) zum Einsatz, wobei ein deutlicher Einfluss der Spacereinheiten auf die Leistungscharakteristik der PLEDs festzustellen war: Sowohl Effizienz, Leuchtdichte wie auch Stromdichte waren durch den Einsatz der kompakten Makromoleküle ohne Spacer deutlich höher. Diese Beobachtungen begründeten sich hauptsächlich in der Verwendung der aliphatischen Spacer, die den Anteil im Polymer erhöhten, der keine Konjugation und damit elektrisch isolierende Eigenschaften besaß. Diese Schlussfolgerungen waren mit allen drei realisierten Emissionsfarben grün, rot und blau verifizierbar. Die besten Messergebnisse erzielte eine PLED aus einem grün emittierenden und spacerlosen Terpolymer mit einer Stromeffizienz von etwa 28 cd A-1 (bei 6 V) und einer Leuchtdichte von 3200 cd m-2 (bei 8 V). Ausgehend von obigen Ergebnissen konnten neue Matrixmaterialien aus dem Bereich verdampfbarer Moleküle geringer Molmasse in das Polystyrenseitenkettenkonzept integriert werden. Es wurden Strukturvariationen sowohl von loch- wie auch von elektronenleitenden Verbindungen als Homopolymere dargestellt und als molekular dotierte Systeme in PLEDs untersucht. Sieben verschiedene lochleitende Polymere mit Triarylamin-Grundkörper und drei elektronendefizitäre Polymere auf der Basis von Phenylbenzimidazol konnten erfolgreich in den Polymeransatz integriert werden. Spektroskopische und elektrochemische Untersuchungen zeigten kaum eine Veränderung der Charakteristika zwischen verdampfbaren Molekülen und den dargestellten Makromolekülen. Diese ladungstransportierenden Makro-moleküle wurden als polymere Matrizes molekular dotiert und lösungsbasiert zu Einschicht-PLEDs verarbeitet. Als aussichtsreichstes Lochleiterpolymer dieser Reihe, mit einer Strom-effizenz von etwa 33 cd A-1 (bei 8 V) und einer Leuchtdichte von 6700 cd m-2 (bei 10 V), stellte sich ein Triarylaminderivat mit Carbazolsubstituenten heraus. Als geeignetstes Matrixmaterial für die Elektronenleitung wurde ein meta-verknüpftes Di-Phenylbenzimidazol ausfindig gemacht, das in der PLED eine Stromeffizienz von etwa 20 cd A-1 (bei 8 V) und eine Leuchtdichte von 7100 cd m-2 (bei 10 V) erzielte. Anschließend wurden die geeignetsten Monomere zu Copolymeren kombiniert: Die lochleitende Einheit bildete ein carbazolylsubstituiertes Triarylamin und die elektronen-leitende Einheit war ein disubstituiertes Phenylbenzimidazol. Dieses Copolymer diente im Folgenden dazu, PLEDs zu realisieren und die Leistungsdaten mit denen eines Homopolymer-blends zu vergleichen, wobei der Blend die bessere Leistungscharakteristik zeigte. Mit dem Homopolymerblend waren Bauteileffizienzen von annähernd 30 cd A-1 (bei 10 V) und Leuchtdichten von 6800 cd m-2 neben einer Verringerung der Einsatzspannung realisierbar. Für die abschließende Darstellung bipolarer Blockcopolymere wurde auf die Nitroxid-vermittelte Polymerisation zurückgegriffen. Mit dieser Technik waren kontrollierte radikalische Polymersiationen mit ausgewählten Monomeren in unterschiedlichen Block-längen durchführbar. Diese Blockcopolymere kamen als molekular dotierte Matrizes in phosphoreszenten grün emittierenden PLEDs zum Einsatz. Die Bauteile wurden sowohl mit statistischen Copolymeren, wie auch mit Homopolymerblends in gleicher Zusammensetzung aber unterschiedlichem Polymerisationsgrad hinsichtlich der Leistungscharakteristik verglichen. Kernaussage dieser Untersuchungen ist, dass hochmolekulare Systeme eine bessere Leistungscharakteristik aufweisen als niedermolekulare Matrizes. Über Rasterkraft-mikroskopie konnte eine Phasenseparation in einem Größenbereich von etwa 10 nm für den hochmolekularen Homopolymerblend nachgewiesen werden. Für die Blockcopolymere war es nicht möglich eine Phasenseparation zu beobachten, was vorwiegend auf deren zu geringe Blocklänge zurückgeführt wurde.
Von der Natur geschaffene Polymere faszinieren Polymerforscher durch ihre spezielle auf eine bestimmte Aufgabe ausgerichtete Funktionalität. Diese ergibt sich aus ihrer Bausteinabfolge uber die Ausbildung von Uberstrukturen. Dazu zählen zum Beispiel Proteine (Eiweiße), aus deren Gestalt sich wichtige Eigenschaften ergeben. Diese Struktureigenschaftsbeziehung gilt ebenso für funktionelle synthetische Makromoleküle. Demzufolge kann die Kontrolle der Monomersequenz in Polymeren bedeutend für die resultierende Form des Polymermoleküls sein. Obwohl die Synthese von synthetischen Polymeren mit der Komplexität und der Größe von Proteinen in absehbarer Zeit wahrscheinlich nicht gelingen wird, können wir von der Natur lernen, um neuartige Polymermaterialien mit definierten Strukturen (Sequenzen) zu synthetisieren. Deshalb ist die Entwicklung neuer und besserer Techniken zur Strukturkontrolle von großem Interesse für die Synthese von Makromolekülen, die perfekt auf ihre Funktion zugeschnitten sind. Im Gegensatz zu der Anzahl fortgeschrittener Synthesestrategien zum Design aus- gefallener Polymerarchitekturen – wie zum Beispiel Sterne oder baumartige Polymere (Dendrimere) – gibt es vergleichsweise wenig Ansätze zur echten Sequenzkontrolle in synthetischen Polymeren. Diese Arbeit stellt zwei unterschiedliche Techniken vor, mit denen die Monomersequenz innerhalb eines Polymers kontrolliert werden kann. Gerade bei den großtechnisch bedeutsamen radikalischen Polymerisationen ist die Sequenzkontrolle schwierig, weil die chemischen Bausteine (Monomere) sehr reaktiv sind. Im ersten Teil dieser Arbeit werden die Eigenschaften zweier Monomere (Styrol und N-substituiertes Maleinimid) geschickt ausgenutzt, um in eine Styrolkette definierte und lokal scharf abgegrenzte Funktionssequenzen einzubauen. Uber eine kontrollierte radikalische Polymerisationsmethode (ATRP) wurden in einer Ein-Topf-Synthese über das N-substituierte Maleinimid chemische Funktionen an einer beliebigen Stelle der Polystyrolkette eingebaut. Es gelang ebenfalls, vier unterschiedliche Funktionen in einer vorgegebenen Sequenz in die Polymerkette einzubauen. Diese Technik wurde an zwanzig verschiedenen N-substituierten Maleinimiden getestet, die meisten konnten erfolgreich in die Polymerkette integriert werden. In dem zweiten in dieser Arbeit vorgestellten Ansatz zur Sequenzkontrolle, wurde der schrittweise Aufbau eines Oligomers aus hydrophoben und hydrophilen Segmenten (ω-Alkin-Carbonsäure bzw. α-Amin-ω-Azid-Oligoethylenglycol) an einem löslichen Polymerträger durchgeführt. Das Oligomer konnte durch die geschickte Auswahl der Verknüpfungsreaktionen ohne Schutzgruppenstrategie synthetisiert werden. Der lösliche Polymerträger aus Polystyrol wurde mittels ATRP selbst synthetisiert. Dazu wurde ein Startreagenz (Initiator) entwickelt, das in der Mitte einen säurelabilen Linker, auf der einen Seite die initiierende Einheit und auf der anderen die Ankergruppe für die Anbindung des ersten Segments trägt. Der lösliche Polymerträger ermöglichte einerseits die schrittweise Synthese in Lösung. Andererseits konnten überschüssige Reagenzien und Nebenprodukte zwischen den Reaktionsschritten durch Fällung in einem Nicht-Lösungsmittel einfach abgetrennt werden. Der Linker ermöglichte die Abtrennung des Oligomers aus jeweils drei hydrophoben und hydrophilen Einheiten nach der Synthese.
One of the main issues with the use of nickel titanium alloy (NiTi) implants in cardiovascular implants (stents) is that these devices must be of very high quality in order to avoid subsequent operations due to failing stents. For small stents with diameters below ca. 2 mm, however, stent characterization is not straightforward. One of the main problems is that there are virtually no methods to characterize the interior of the NiTi tubes used for fabrication of these tiny stents. The current paper reports on a robust hybrid actuator for the characterization of NiTi tubes prior to stent fabrication. The method is based on a polymer/hydrogel/magnetic nanoparticle hybrid material and allows for the determination of the inner diameter at virtually all places in the raw NiTi tubes. Knowledge of the inner structure of the raw NiTi tubes is crucial to avoid regions that are not hollow or regions that are likely to fail due to defects inside the raw tube. The actuator enables close contact of a magnetic polymer film with the inner NiTi tube surface. The magnetic signal can be detected from outside and be used for a direct mapping of the tube interior. As a result, it is possible to detect critical regions prior to expensive and slow stent fabrication processes.
Um Prozesse in biologischen Systemen auf molekularer Ebene zu untersuchen, haben sich vor allem fluoreszenzspektroskopische Methoden bewährt. Die Möglichkeit, einzelne Moleküle zu beobachten, hat zu einem deutlichen Fortschritt im Verständnis von elementaren biochemischen Prozessen geführt. Zu einer der bekanntesten Methoden der Einzelmolekülspektroskopie zählt die Fluoreszenz-Korrelations-Spektroskopie (FCS), mit deren Hilfe intramolekulare und diffusionsgesteuerte Prozesse in einem Zeitbereich von µs bis ms untersucht werden können. Durch die Verwendung von sog. Fluoreszenzsonden können Informationen über deren molekulare Mikroumgebung erhalten werden. Insbesondere für die konfokale Mikroskopie und die Einzelmolekülspektroskopie werden Fluoreszenzfarbstoffe mit einer hohen Photostabilität und hohen Fluoreszenzquantenausbeute benötigt. Aufgrund ihrer hohen Fluoreszenzquantenausbeute und der Möglichkeit, maßgeschneiderte“ Farbstoffe in einem breiten Spektralbereich für die Absorption und Fluoreszenz zu entwickeln, sind Cyaninfarbstoffe von besonderem Interesse für bioanalytische Anwendungen. Als Fluoreszenzmarker finden diese Farbstoffe insbesondere in der klinischen Diagnostik und den Lebenswissenschaften Verwendung. Die in dieser Arbeit verwendeten Farbstoffe DY-635 und DY-647 sind zwei typische Vertreter dieser Farbstoffklasse. Durch Modifizierung können die Farbstoffe kovalent an biologisch relevante Moleküle gebunden werden. Aufgrund ihres Absorptionsmaximums oberhalb von 630nm werden sie insbesondere in der Bioanalytik eingesetzt. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden die spektroskopischen Eigenschaften der Cyaninfarbstoffe DY-635 und DY-647 in biomimetischen und biologischen Modellsystemen untersucht. Zur Charakterisierung wurden dabei neben der Absorptionsspektroskopie insbesondere fluoreszenzspektroskopische Methoden verwendet. Dazu zählen die zeitkorrelierte Einzelphotonenzählung zur Ermittlung des Fluoreszenzabklingverhaltens, Fluoreszenz-Korrelations-Spektroskopie (FCS) zur Beobachtung von Diffusions- und photophysikalischen Desaktivierungsprozessen und die zeitaufgelöste Fluoreszenzanisotropie zur Untersuchung der Rotationsdynamik und Beweglichkeit der Farbstoffe im jeweiligen Modellsystem. Das Biotin-Streptavidin-System wurde als Modellsystem für die Untersuchung von Protein-Ligand-Wechselwirkungen verwendet, da der Bindungsmechanismus weitgehend aufgeklärt ist. Nach Bindung der Farbstoffe an Streptavidin wurde eine erhebliche Veränderung in den Absorptions- und Fluoreszenzeigenschaften beobachtet. Es wird angenommen, dass diese spektralen Veränderungen durch Wechselwirkung von benachbarten, an ein Streptavidintetramer gebundenen Farbstoffmolekülen und Bildung von H-Dimeren verursacht wird. Für das System Biotin-Streptavidin ist bekannt, dass während der Bindung des Liganden (Biotin) an das Protein eine Konformationsänderung auftritt. Anhand von zeitaufgelösten Fluoreszenzanisotropieuntersuchungen konnte in dieser Arbeit gezeigt werden, dass diese strukturellen Veränderungen zu einer starken Einschränkung der Beweglichkeit des Farbstoffes DY-635B führen. Liegt eine Mischung von ungebundenem und Streptavidin-gebundenem Farbstoff vor, können die Anisotropieabklingkurven nicht nach einem exponentiellen Verlauf angepasst werden. Es konnte im Rahmen dieser Arbeit gezeigt werden, dass in diesem Fall die Auswertung mit Hilfe des Assoziativen Anisotropiemodells möglich ist, welches eine Unterscheidung der Beiträge aus den zwei verschiedenen Mikroumgebungen ermöglicht. Als zweites Modellsystem dieser Arbeit wurden Mizellen des nichtionischen Tensids Tween-20 eingesetzt. Mizellen bilden eines der einfachsten Systeme, um die Mikroumgebung einer biologischen Membran nachzuahmen. Sind die Farbstoffe in den Mizellen eingelagert, so kommt es zu keiner Veränderung der Mizellgröße. Die ermittelten Werte des Diffusionskoeffizienten der mizellar eingelagerten Farbstoffe spiegeln demzufolge die Translationsbewegung der Tween-20-Mizellen wider. Die Beweglichkeit der Farbstoffe innerhalb der Tween-20-Mizellen wurde durch zeitaufgelöste Fluoreszenzanisotropiemessungen untersucht. Neben der „Wackelbewegung“, entsprechend dem wobble-in-a-cone-Modell, wird zusätzlich noch die laterale Diffusion der Farbstoffe entlang der Mizelloberfläche beschrieben.
With the rise of nanotechnology in the last decade, nanofluidics has been established as a research field and gained increased interest in science and industry. Natural aqueous nanofluidic systems are very complex, there is often a predominance of liquid interfaces or the fluid contains charged or differently shaped colloids. The effects, promoted by these additives, are far from being completely understood and interesting questions arise with regards to the confinement of such complex fluidic systems. A systematic study of nanofluidic processes requires designing suitable experimental model nano – channels with required characteristics. The present work employed thin liquid films (TLFs) as experimental models. They have proven to be useful experimental tools because of their simple geometry, reproducible preparation, and controllable liquid interfaces. The thickness of the channels can be adjusted easily by the concentration of electrolyte in the film forming solution. This way, channel dimensions from 5 – 100 nm are possible, a high flexibility for an experimental system. TLFs have liquid IFs of different charge and properties and they offer the possibility to confine differently shaped ions and molecules to very small spaces, or to subject them to controlled forces. This makes the foam films a unique “device” available to obtain information about fluidic systems in nanometer dimensions. The main goal of this thesis was to study nanofluidic processes using TLFs as models, or tools, and to subtract information about natural systems plus deepen the understanding on physical chemical conditions. The presented work showed that foam films can be used as experimental models to understand the behavior of liquids in nano – sized confinement. In the first part of the thesis, we studied the process of thinning of thin liquid films stabilized with the non – ionic surfactant n – dodecyl – β – maltoside (β – C₁₂G₂) with primary interest in interfacial diffusion processes during the thinning process dependent on surfactant concentration 64. The surfactant concentration in the film forming solutions was varied at constant electrolyte (NaCl) concentration. The velocity of thinning was analyzed combining previously developed theoretical approaches. Qualitative information about the mobility of the surfactant molecules at the film surfaces was obtained. We found that above a certain limiting surfactant concentration the film surfaces were completely immobile and they behaved as non – deformable, which decelerated the thinning process. This follows the predictions for Reynolds flow of liquid between two non – deformable disks. In the second part of the thesis, we designed a TLF nanofluidic system containing rod – like multivalent ions and compared this system to films containing monovalent ions. We presented first results which recognized for the first time the existence of an additional attractive force in the foam films based on the electrostatic interaction between rod – like ions and oppositely charged surfaces. We may speculate that this is an ion bridging component of the disjoining pressure. The results show that for films prepared in presence of spermidine the transformation of the thicker CF to the thinnest NBF is more probable as films prepared with NaCl at similar conditions of electrostatic interaction. This effect is not a result of specific adsorption of any of the ions at the fluid surfaces and it does not lead to any changes in the equilibrium properties of the CF and NBF. Our hypothesis was proven using the trivalent ion Y3+ which does not show ion bridging. The experimental results are compared to theoretical predictions and a quantitative agreement on the system’s energy gain for the change from CF to NBF could be obtained. In the third part of the work, the behavior of nanoparticles in confinement was investigated with respect to their impact on the fluid flow velocity. The particles altered the flow velocity by an unexpected high amount, so that the resulting changes in the dynamic viscosity could not be explained by a realistic change of the fluid viscosity. Only aggregation, flocculation and plug formation can explain the experimental results. The particle systems in the presented thesis had a great impact on the film interfaces due to the stabilizer molecules present in the bulk solution. Finally, the location of the particles with respect to their lateral and vertical arrangement in the film was studied with advanced reflectivity and scattering methods. Neutron Reflectometry studies were performed to investigate the location of nanoparticles in the TLF perpendicular to the IF. For the first time, we study TLFs using grazing incidence small angle X – ray scattering (GISAXS), which is a technique sensitive to the lateral arrangement of particles in confined volumes. This work provides preliminary data on a lateral ordering of particles in the film.
Nanofibrous mats are interesting scaffold materials for biomedical applications like tissue engineering due to their interconnectivity and their size dimension which mimics the native cell environment. Electrospinning provides a simple route to access such fiber meshes. This thesis addresses the structural and functional control of electrospun fiber mats. In the first section, it is shown that fiber meshes with bimodal size distribution could be obtained in a single-step process by electrospinning. A standard single syringe set-up was used to spin concentrated poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) solutions in chloroform and meshes with bimodal-sized fiber distribution could be directly obtained by reducing the spinning rate at elevated humidity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury porosity of the meshes suggested a suitable pore size distribution for effective cell infiltration. The bimodal fiber meshes together with unimodal fiber meshes were evaluated for cellular infiltration. While the micrometer fibers in the mixed meshes generate an open pore structure, the submicrometer fibers support cell adhesion and facilitate cell bridging on the large pores. This was revealed by initial cell penetration studies, showing superior ingrowth of epithelial cells into the bimodal meshes compared to a mesh composed of unimodal 1.5 μm fibers. The bimodal fiber meshes together with electrospun nano- and microfiber meshes were further used for the inorganic/organic hybrid fabrication of PCL with calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate, two biorelevant minerals. Such composite structures are attractive for the potential improvement of properties such as stiffness or bioactivity. It was possible to encapsulate nano and mixed sized plasma-treated PCL meshes to areas > 1 mm2 with calcium carbonate using three different mineralization methods including the use of poly(acrylic acid). The additive seemed to be useful in stabilizing amorphous calcium carbonate to effectively fill the space between the electrospun fibers resulting in composite structures. Micro-, nano- and mixed sized fiber meshes were successfully coated within hours by fiber directed crystallization of calcium phosphate using a ten-times concentrated simulated body fluid. It was shown that nanofibers accelerated the calcium phosphate crystallization, as compared to microfibers. In addition, crystallizations performed at static conditions led to hydroxyapatite formations whereas in dynamic conditions brushite coexisted. In the second section, nanofiber functionalization strategies are investigated. First, a one-step process was introduced where a peptide-polymer-conjugate (PLLA-b-CGGRGDS) was co-spun with PLGA in such a way that the peptide is enriched on the surface. It was shown that by adding methanol to the chloroform/blend solution, a dramatic increase of the peptide concentration at the fiber surface could be achieved as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Peptide accessibility was demonstrated via a contact angle comparison of pure PLGA and RGD-functionalized fiber meshes. In addition, the electrostatic attraction between a RGD-functionalized fiber and a silica bead at pH ~ 4 confirmed the accessibility of the peptide. The bioactivity of these RGD-functionalized fiber meshes was demonstrated using blends containing 18 wt% bioconjugate. These meshes promoted adhesion behavior of fibroblast compared to pure PLGA meshes. In a second functionalization approach, a modular strategy was investigated. In a single step, reactive fiber meshes were fabricated and then functionalized with bioactive molecules. While the electrospinning of the pure reactive polymer poly(pentafluorophenyl methacrylate) (PPFPMA) was feasible, the inherent brittleness of PPFPMA required to spin a PCL blend. Blends and pure PPFPMA showed a two-step functionalization kinetics. An initial fast reaction of the pentafluorophenyl esters with aminoethanol as a model substance was followed by a slow conversion upon further hydrophilization. This was analysed by UV/Vis-spectroscopy of the pentaflurorophenol release upon nucleophilic substitution with the amines. The conversion was confirmed by increased hydrophilicity of the resulting meshes. The PCL/PPFPMA fiber meshes were then used for functionalization with more complex molecules such as saccharides. Aminofunctionalized D-Mannose or D-Galactose was reacted with the active pentafluorophenyl esters as followed by UV/Vis spectroscopy and XPS. The functionality was shown to be bioactive using macrophage cell culture. The meshes functionalized with D-Mannose specifically stimulated the cytokine production of macrophages when lipopolysaccharides were added. This was in contrast to D-Galactose- or aminoethanol-functionalized and unfunctionalized PCL/PPFPMA fiber mats.
Contents: Production and Applications of Chitin and Chitosan Krill as a promising raw material for the production of chitin in Europe - Containerized plant for producing chitin - Preparation and characterization of chitosan from Mucorales - Chitosan from Absidia orchidis - Scaling up of lactic acid fermentation of prawn wastes in packed-bed column reactor for chitin recovery - Preparation of chitin by acetic acid fermentation - Inter-source reproducibility of the chitin deacetylation process - Comparative analysis of chitosans from insects and crustacea - Effect of the rate of deacetylation on the physico-chemical properties of cuttlefish chitosan - Deacetylation of chitin by fungal enzymes - Production of partially degraded chitosan with desired molecular weight - Chitin-containing materials Mycoton for wounds treatment - Biological activity of selected forms of chitosan - Application of chitosan on the preservation quality of cut flowers - Preparation and characterization of chitosan films: application in cell cultures - Transport phenomena in chitin gels - Symplex membranes of chitosan and sulphoethylcellulose - Preparation and use of chitosan-Ca pectinate pellets - Bioseparation of protein from cheese whey by using chitosan coagulation and ultrafiltration membranes - Preparation of silk fibroin/chitosan fiber - Preparation of paper sheets containing microcrystalline chitosan - Applications of chitosan in textile printing - Permanent modification of fibrous materials with biopolymers - Ion exchanger from chitosan - Chitosan in waste water treatment - The immobilization of tyrosinase on chitin and chitosan and its possible use in wastewater treatment - Utilization of modified chitosan in aqueous system treatment Biomaterials Chemical and preclinical studies on 6-oxychitin - Diverse biological effects of fungal chitin-glucan complex - Effect of concentration of neutralizing agent on chitosan membrane properties - Preliminary investigation of the compatibility of a chitosan-based peritoneal dialysis solution - Influence of chitosan on the growth of several cellular lines - A new chitosan containing phosphonic group with chelating properties - Biocompatibility of chitin materials using cell culture method Oral Administration of Chitosan Recent results in the oral administration of chitosan - Reduction of absorption of dietary lipids and cholesterol by chitosan, its derivatives and special formulations - Chitosan in weight reduction: results from a large scale consumer study - Conformation of chitosan ascorbic acid salt - Trimethylated chitosans as safe absorption enhancers for transmucosal delivery of peptide drugs - Chitosan derivates as intestinal penetration enhancers of the peptide drug buserelin in vivo and in vitro - Chitosan microparticles for oral vaccination: optimization and characterization - Effect of chitosan in enhancing drug delivery across buccal mucosa - Influence of chitosans on permeability of human intestinal epithelial (Caco-2) cells: The effect of molecular weight, degree of deacetylation and exposure time - Oral polymeric N-acetyl-D-glucosamine as potential treatment for patients with osteoarthritis - Clinicoimmunological efficiency of the chitin-containing drug Mycoton in complex treatment of a chronic hepatitis - Interactions of chitin, chitosan, N-laurylchitosan, and N-dimethylaminopropyl chitosan with olive oil - The chitin-containing preparation Mycoton in a pediatric gastroenterology case - Antifungal activity and release behaviour of cross-linked chitosan films incorporated with chlorhexidine gluconate - Release of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine from chitosan in saliva - Physical and Physicochemical Properties Recent approach of metal binding by chitosan and derivatives - As(V) sorption on molybdate-impregnated chitosan gel beads (MICB) - Influence of medium pH on the biosorption of heavy metals by chitin-containing sorbent Mycoton - Comparative studies on molecular chain parameters of polyelectrolyte chains: the stiffness parameter B and temperature coefficient of intrinsic viscosity of chitosans and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) - Crystalline behavior of chitosan - The relationship between the crystallinity and degree of deacetylation of chitin from crab shell - Reversible water-swellable chitin gel: modulation of swellability - Syneresis aspects of chitosan based gel systems - In situ chitosan gelation using the enzyme tyrosinase - Preparation and characterization of controlling pore size chitosan membranes - Fabrication of porous chitin matrices - Changes of polydispersity and limited molecular weight of ultrasonic treated chitosan - A statistical evaluation of IR spectroscopic methods to determine the degree of acetylation of ?-chitin and chitosan - Products of alkaline hydrolysis of dibutyrylchitin: chemical composition and DSC investigation - Chitosan emulsification properties Chemistry of Chitin and Chitosan Chemically modified chitinous materials: preparation and properties - Progress on the modification of chitosan - The graft copolymerization of chitosan with methyl acrylate using an organohalide-manganese carbonyl coinitiator system - Grafting of 4-vinylpyridine, maleic acid and maleic anhydride onto chitin and chitosan - Peptide synthesis on chitosan/chitin - Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto mercapto-chitin - Thermal depolymerization of chitosan salts - Radiolysis and sonolysis of chitosan - two convenient techniques for a controlled reduction of molecular weight - Thermal and UV degradation of chitosan - Heat-induced physicochemical changes in highly deacetylated chitosan - Chitosan fiber and its chemical N-modification at the fiber state for use as functional materials - Preparation of a fiber reactive chitosan derivative with enhanced microbial activity - Chromatographic separation of rare earths with complexane types of chemically modified chitosan - The effects of detergents on chitosan - Chitosan-alginate PEC films prepared from chitosan of different molecular weights - Enzymology of Chitin and Chitosan Biosynthesis and Degradation Enzymes of chitin metabolism for the design of antifungals - Enzymatic degradation of chitin by microorganisms - Kinetic behaviours of chitinase isozymes - An acidic chitinase from gizzards of broiler (Gallus gallus L.) - On the contribution of conserved acidic residues to catalytic activity of chitinase B from Serratia marcescens - Detection, isolation and preliminary characterisation of a new hyperthermophilic chitinase from the anaerobic archaebacterium Thermococcus chitonophagus - Biochemical and genetic engineering studies on chitinase A from Serratia marcescens - Induction of chitinase production by Serratia marcescens, using a synthetic N-acetylglucosamine derivative - Libraries of chito-oligosaccharides of mixed acetylation patterns and their interactions with chitinases - Approaches towards the design of new chitinase inhibitors - Allosamidin inhibits the fragmentation and autolysis of Penicillium chrysogenum - cDNA encoding chitinase in the midge, Chironomus tentans - Extraction and purification of chitosanase from Bacillus cereus - Substrate binding mechanism of chitosanase from Streptomyces sp. N174 - Chitosanase-catalyzed hydrolysis of 4-methylumbelliferyl ?-chitotrioside - A rust fungus turns chitin into chitosan upon plant tissue colonization to evade recognition by the host - Antibiotic kanosamine is an inhibitor of chitin biosynthesis in fungi - PCR amplification of chitin deacetylase genes - Amplification of antifungal effect of GlcN-6-P synthase and chitin synthase inhibitors - ?-N-Acetylhexosaminidases: two enzyme families, two mechanisms - Purification and characterisation of chitin deacetylase from Absidia orchidis - Effect of aluminium ion on hydrolysis reaction of carboxymethyl- and dihydroxypropyl-chitin with lysozyme - Structure and function relatioship of human N-acetyl-D-glucosamine 2-epimerase (renin binding protein) - Identification of active site residue(s)
Injection of a mixture of HAuCl4 and cellulose dissolved in the ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [Bmim]Cl into aqueous NaBH4 leads to colloidal gold nanoparticle/cellulose hybrid precipitates. This process is a model example for a very simple and generic approach towards (noble) metal/cellulose hybrids, which could find applications in sensing, sterile filtration, or as biomaterials.
From the dichloromethane-methanol (1:1) extract of the seed pods of Derris trifoliata, a new flavanone derivative (S)-lupinifolin 4´-methyl ether was isolated. In addition, the known flavonoids lupinifolin and rotenone were identified. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Lupinfolin showed moderate in vitro antiplasmodial activity against the D6 (chloroquine-sensitive) and W2 (chloroquineresistant) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The different parts of this plant showed larvicidal activities against Aedes aegypti and rotenoids were identified as the active principles.
From the seedpods of Tephrosia elata, a new β-hydroxydihydrochalcone named (S)-elatadihydrochalcone was isolated. In addition, the known flavonoids obovatachalcone, obovatin, obovatin methyl ether and deguelin were identified. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. The crude extract and the flavonoids obtained from the seedpods of this plant showed antiplasmodial activities. The literature NMR data on β-hydroxydihydrochalcones is reviewed and the identity of some of the compounds assigned β-hydroxydihydrochalcone skeleton is questioned.
BACKGROUND: There is an increased need to replace materials derived from fossil sources by renewables. Sugar-cane derived carbohydrates are very abundant in Brazil and are the cheapest sugars available in the market, with more than 400 million tons of sugarcane processed in the year 2007. The objective of this work was to study the preparation of sugar acrylates from free sugars and free acrylic acid, thus avoiding the previous preparation of protected sugar derivatives, such as glycosides, or activated acrylates, such as vinyl acrylate. RESULTS: Lipase catalyzed esterification of three mono- and two disaccharides with acrylic acid, in the presence or absence of molecular sieves was investigated. The reactions were monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the products were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The main products are mono- and diacrylates, while higher esters are formed as minor products. The highest conversion to sugar acrylates was observed for the D-glucose and D-fructose, followed by D-xylose and D-maltose. Molecular sieves had no pronounced effect on the conversion CONCLUSIONS: A feasible method is described to produce and to characterize sugar acrylates, including those containing more than two acrylate groups. The process for production of these higher esters could potentially be optimized further to produce molecules for cross-linking in acrylate polymerization and other applications. The direct enzymatic esterification of free carbohydrates with acrylic acid is unprecedented.
Growth of phytopathogenic fungi in the presence of partially acetylated chitooligosaccharides
(2008)
Four phytopathogenic fungi were cultivated up to six days in media containing chitooligosaccharide mixtures differing in average DP and FA. The three different mixtures were named Q3 (which contained oligosaccharides ofDP2–DP10, withDP2–DP7 asmain components), Q2 (which contained oligosaccharides of DP2–DP12, with DP2–DP10 as main components) and Q1 (which derived from Q2 and contained oligomers of DP5–DP8 with hexamer and a heptamer as the main components). The novel aspect of this work is the description of the effect of mixtures of oligosaccharides with different and known composition on fungal growth rates. The growth rate of Alternaria alternata and Rhizopus stolonifer was initially inhibited by Q3 and Q2 at higher concentrations. Q1 had a growth stimulating effect on these two fungi. Growth of Botrytis cinerea was inhibited by Q3 and Q2, while Q1 had no effect on the growth of this fungus. Growth of Penicillium expansum was only slightly inhibited by higher concentrations of sample Q3, while Q2 and Q1 had no effect. The inhibition of growth rates or their resistance toward chitooligosaccharides correlated with the absence or presence of chitinolytic enzymes in the culture media, respectively.
From the roots of the African plant Bulbine frutescens (Asphodelaceae), two unprecedented novel dimeric phenylanthraquinones, named joziknipholones A and B, possessing axial and centrochirality, were isolated, together with six known compounds. Structural elucidation of the new metabolites was achieved by spectroscopic and chiroptical methods, by reductive cleavage of the central bond between the monomeric phenylanthraquinone and -anthrone portions with sodium dithionite, and by quantum chemical CD calculations. Based on the recently revised absolute axial configuration of the parent phenylanthraquinones, knipholone and knipholone anthrone, the new dimers were attributed to possess the P-configuration (i.e., with the acetyl portions below the anthraquinone plane) at both axes in the case of joziknipholone A, whereas in joziknipholone B, the knipholone part was found to be M-configured. Joziknipholones A and B are active against the chloroquine resistant strain K1 of the malaria pathogen, Plasmodium falciparum, and show moderate activity against murine leukemic lymphoma L5178y cells.
Molecular photoswitches are attracting much attention lately mostly because of their possible applications in nano technology, and their role in biology. One of the widely studied representatives of photochromic molecules is azobenzene (AB). With light, by a static electric field, or with tunneling electrons this specie can be "switched" from the flat and energetically more stable trans form, into the compact cis form. The back reaction can be induced optically or thermally. Quantum chemical calculations, mostly based on density functional theory, on the AB molecule, AB derivatives and related systems are presented. All the calculations were done for isolated species, however, with implications for latest experimental results aiming at the switching of surface mounted ABs. In some of these experiments, it is assumed that the switching process is substrate mediated, by attaching an electron or a hole to the adsorbate forming short-lived anion or cation resonances. Therefore, we calculated also cationic and anionic ABs in this work. An influence of external electric fields on the potential energy surfaces, was also studied. Further, by the type, number and positioning of various substituent groups, systematic changes on activation energies and rates for the thermal cis-to-trans isomerization can be enforced. The nature of the transition state for ground state isomerization was investigated. Applying Eyring's transition state theory, trends in activation energies and rates were predicted and are, where a comparison was possible, in good agreement with experimental data. Further, thermal isomerization was studied in solution, for which a polarizable continuum model was employed. The influence of substitution and an environment leaves its traces on structural properties of molecules and quantitative appearance of calculated UV/Vis spectra, as well. Finally, an explicit treatment of a solid substrate was demonstrated for the conformational switching, by scanning tunneling microscope, of a 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD) molecule at a Si(001) surface, treated by a cluster model. At first, we studied energetics and potential energy surfaces along relevant switching coordinates by quantum chemical calculations, followed by the switching dynamics using wave packet methods. We show that, in spite the simplicity of the model, our calculations support the switching of adsorbed COD, by inelastic electron tunneling at low temperatures.
We present an approach to the correlated dynamics of many-electron systems. We show, that the twoelectron reduced density matrix (2RDM) can provide a suitable description of the real time evolution of a system. To achieve this, the hierarchy of equations of motion must be truncated in a practical way. Also, the computational effort, given that the 2RDM is represented by products of two-electron determinants, is discussed, and numerical model calculations are presented.
In the first section of the thesis graphitic carbon nitride was for the first time synthesised using the high-temperature condensation of dicyandiamide (DCDA) – a simple molecular precursor – in a eutectic salt melt of lithium chloride and potassium chloride. The extent of condensation, namely next to complete conversion of all reactive end groups, was verified by elemental microanalysis and vibrational spectroscopy. TEM- and SEM-measurements gave detailed insight into the well-defined morphology of these organic crystals, which are not based on 0D or 1D constituents like known molecular or short-chain polymeric crystals but on the packing motif of extended 2D frameworks. The proposed crystal structure of this g-C3N4 species was derived in analogy to graphite by means of extensive powder XRD studies, indexing and refinement. It is based on sheets of hexagonally arranged s-heptazine (C6N7) units that are held together by covalent bonds between C and N atoms. These sheets stack in a graphitic, staggered fashion adopting an AB-motif, as corroborated by powder X-ray diffractometry and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. This study was contrasted with one of many popular – yet unsuccessful – approaches in the last 30 years of scientific literature to perform the condensation of an extended carbon nitride species through synthesis in the bulk. The second section expands the repertoire of available salt melts introducing the lithium bromide and potassium bromide eutectic as an excellent medium to obtain a new phase of graphitic carbon nitride. The combination of SEM, TEM, PXRD and electron diffraction reveals that the new graphitic carbon nitride phase stacks in an ABA’ motif forming unprecedentedly large crystals. This section seizes the notion of the preceding chapter, that condensation in a eutectic salt melt is the key to obtain a high degree of conversion mainly through a solvatory effect. At the close of this chapter ionothermal synthesis is seen established as a powerful tool to overcome the inherent kinetic problems of solid state reactions such as incomplete polymerisation and condensation in the bulk especially when the temperature requirement of the reaction in question falls into the proverbial “no man’s land” of classical solvents, i.e. above 250 to 300 °C. The following section puts the claim to the test, that the crystalline carbon nitrides obtained from a salt melt are indeed graphitic. A typical property of graphite – namely the accessibility of its interplanar space for guest molecules – is transferred to the graphitic carbon nitride system. Metallic potassium and graphitic carbon nitride are converted to give the potassium intercalation compound, K(C6N8)3 designated according to its stoichiometry and proposed crystal structure. Reaction of the intercalate with aqueous solvents triggers the exfoliation of the graphitic carbon nitride material and – for the first time – enables the access of singular (or multiple) carbon nitride sheets analogous to graphene as seen in the formation of sheets, bundles and scrolls of carbon nitride in TEM imaging. The thus exfoliated sheets form a stable, strongly fluorescent solution in aqueous media, which shows no sign in UV/Vis spectroscopy that the aromaticity of individual sheets was subject to degradation. The final section expands on the mechanism underlying the formation of graphitic carbon nitride by literally expanding the distance between the covalently linked heptazine units which constitute these materials. A close examination of all proposed reaction mechanisms to-date in the light of exhaustive DSC/MS experiments highlights the possibility that the heptazine unit can be formed from smaller molecules, even if some of the designated leaving groups (such as ammonia) are substituted by an element, R, which later on remains linked to the nascent heptazine. Furthermore, it is suggested that the key functional groups in the process are the triazine- (Tz) and the carbonitrile- (CN) group. On the basis of these assumptions, molecular precursors are tailored which encompass all necessary functional groups to form a central heptazine unit of threefold, planar symmetry and then still retain outward functionalities for self-propagated condensation in all three directions. Two model systems based on a para-aryl (ArCNTz) and para-biphenyl (BiPhCNTz) precursors are devised via a facile synthetic procedure and then condensed in an ionothermal process to yield the heptazine based frameworks, HBF-1 and HBF-2. Due to the structural motifs of their molecular precursors, individual sheets of HBF-1 and HBF-2 span cavities of 14.2 Å and 23.0 Å respectively which makes both materials attractive as potential organic zeolites. Crystallographic analysis confirms the formation of ABA’ layered, graphitic systems, and the extent of condensation is confirmed as next-to-perfect by elemental analysis and vibrational spectroscopy.
Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) has made an important contribution to polymer and particle characterization since its invention by Svedberg (Svedberg and Nichols 1923; Svedberg and Pederson 1940) in 1923. In 1926, Svedberg won the Nobel price for his scientific work on disperse systems including work with AUC. The first important discovery performed with AUC was to show the existence of macromolecules. Since that time AUC has become an important tool to study polymers in biophysics and biochemistry. AUC is an absolute technique that does not need any standard. Molar masses between 200 and 1014 g/mol and particle size between 1 and 5000 nm can be detected by AUC. Sample can be fractionated into its components due to its molar mass, particle size, structure or density without any stationary phase requirement as it is the case in chromatographic techniques. This very property of AUC earns it an important status in the analysis of polymers and particles. The distribution of molar mass, particle sizes and densities can be measured with the fractionation. Different types of experiments can give complementary physicochemical parameters. For example, sedimentation equilibrium experiments can lead to the study of pure thermodynamics. For complex mixtures, AUC is the main method that can analyze the system. Interactions between molecules can be studied at different concentrations without destroying the chemical equilibrium (Kim et al. 1977). Biologically relevant weak interactions can also be monitored (K ≈ 10-100 M-1). An analytical ultracentrifuge experiment can yield the following information: • Molecular weight of the sample • Number of the components in the sample if the sample is not a single component • Homogeneity of the sample • Molecular weight distribution if the sample is not a single component • Size and shape of macromolecules & particles • Aggregation & interaction of macromolecules • Conformational changes of macromolecules • Sedimentation coefficient and density distribution Such an extremely wide application area of AUC allows the investigation of all samples consisting of a solvent and a dispersed or dissolved substance including gels, micro gels, dispersions, emulsions and solutions. Another fact is that solvent or pH limitation does not exist for this method. A lot of new application areas are still flourishing, although the technique is 80 years old. In 1970s, 1500 AUC were operational throughout the world. At those times, due to the limitation in detection technologies, experimental results were obtained with photographic records. As time passed, faster techniques such as size exclusion chromatography (SEC), light scattering (LS) or SDS-gel electrophoresis occupied the same research fields with AUC. Due to these relatively new techniques, AUC began to loose its importance. In the 1980s, only a few AUC were in use throughout the world. In the beginning of the 1990s a modern AUC -the Optima XL-A - was released by Beckman Instruments (Giebeler 1992). The Optima XL-A was equipped with a modern computerized scanning absorption detector. The addition of Rayleigh Interference Optics is introduced which is called XL-I AUC. Furthermore, major development in computers made the analysis easier with the help of new analysis software. Today, about 400 XL-I AUC exist worldwide. It is usually applied in the industry of pharmacy, biopharmacy and polymer companies as well as in academic research fields such as biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology and material science. About 350 core scientific publications which use analytical ultracentrifugation are published every year (source: SciFinder 2008 ) with an increasing number of references (436 reference in 2008). A tremendous progress has been made in method and analysis software after digitalization of experimental data with the release of XL-I. In comparison to the previous decade, data analysis became more efficient and reliable. Today, AUC labs can routinely use sophisticated data analysis methods for determination of sedimentation coefficient distributions (Demeler and van Holde 2004; Schuck 2000; Stafford 1992), molar mass distributions (Brookes and Demeler 2008; Brookes et al. 2006; Brown and Schuck 2006), interaction constants (Cao and Demeler 2008; Schuck 1998; Stafford and Sherwood 2004), particle size distributions with Angstrom resolution (Cölfen and Pauck 1997) and the simulations determination of size and shape distributions from sedimentation velocity experiments (Brookes and Demeler 2005; Brookes et al. 2006). These methods are also available in powerful software packages that combines various methods, such as, Ultrascan (Demeler 2005), Sedift/Sedphat (Schuck 1998; Vistica et al. 2004) and Sedanal (Stafford and Sherwood 2004). All these powerful packages are free of charge. Furthermore, Ultrascans source code is licensed under the GNU Public License (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html). Thus, Ultrascan can be further improved by any research group. Workshops are organized to support these software packages. Despite of the tremendous developments in data analysis, hardware for the system has not developed much. Although there are various user developed detectors in research laboratories, they are not commercially available. Since 1992, only one new optical system called “the fluorescence optics” (Schmidt and Reisner, 1992, MacGregor et al. 2004, MacGregor, 2006, Laue and Kroe, in press) has been commercialized. However, except that, there has been no commercially available improvement in the optical system. The interesting fact about the current hardware of the XL-I is that it is 20 years old, although there has been an enormous development in microelectronics, software and in optical systems in the last 20 years, which could be utilized for improved detectors. As examples of user developed detector, Bhattacharyya (Bhattacharyya 2006) described a Multiwavelength-Analytical Ultracentrifuge (MWL-AUC), a Raman detector and a small angle laser light scattering detector in his PhD thesis. MWL-AUC became operational, but a very high noise level prevented to work with real samples. Tests with the Raman detector were not successful due to the low light intensity and thus high integration time is required. The small angle laser light scattering detector could only detect latex particles but failed to detect smaller particles and molecules due to low sensitivity of the detector (a photodiode was used as detector). The primary motivation of this work is to construct a detector which can measure new physico-chemical properties with AUC with a nicely fractionated sample in the cell. The final goal is to obtain a multiwavelength detector for the AUC that measures complementary quantities. Instrument development is an option for a scientist only when there is a huge potential benefit but there is no available commercial enterprise developing appropriate equipment, or if there is not enough financial support to buy it. The first case was our motivation for developing detectors for AUC. Our aim is to use today’s technological advances in microelectronics, programming, mechanics in order to develop new detectors for AUC and improve the existing MWL detector to routine operation mode. The project has multiple aspects which can be listed as mechanical, electronical, optical, software, hardware, chemical, industrial and biological. Hence, by its nature it is a multidisciplinary project. Again by its nature it contains the structural problem of its kind; the problem of determining the exact discipline to follow at each new step. It comprises the risk of becoming lost in some direction. Having that fact in mind, we have chosen the simplest possible solution to any optical, mechanical, electronic, software or hardware problem we have encountered and we have always tried to see the overall picture. In this research, we have designed CCD-C-AUC (CCD Camera UV/Vis absorption detector for AUC) and SLS-AUC (Static Light Scattering detector for AUC) and tested them. One of the SLS-AUC designs produced successful test results, but the design could not be brought to the operational stage. However, the operational state Multiwavelength Analytical Ultracentrifuge (MWL-AUC) AUC has been developed which is an important detector in the fields of chemistry, biology and industry. In this thesis, the operational state Multiwavelength Analytical Ultracentrifuge (MWL-AUC) AUC is to be introduced. Consequently, three different applications of MWL-AUC to the aforementioned disciplines shall be presented. First of all, application of MWL-AUC to a biological system which is a mixture of proteins lgG, aldolase and BSA is presented. An application of MWL-AUC to a mass-produced industrial sample (β-carotene gelatin composite particles) which is manufactured by BASF AG, is presented. Finally, it is shown how MWL-AUC will impact on nano-particle science by investigating the quantum size effect of CdTe and its growth mechanism. In this thesis, mainly the relation between new technological developments and detector development for AUC is investigated. Pioneering results are obtained that indicate the possible direction to be followed for the future of AUC. As an example, each MWL-AUC data contains thousands of wavelengths. MWL-AUC data also contains spectral information at each radial point. Data can be separated to its single wavelength files and can be analyzed classically with existing software packages. All the existing software packages including Ultrascan, Sedfit, Sedanal can analyze only single wavelength data, so new extraordinary software developments are needed. As a first attempt, Emre Brookes and Borries Demeler have developed mutliwavelength module in order to analyze the MWL-AUC data. This module analyzes each wavelength separately and independently. We appreciate Emre Brookes and Borries Demeler for their important contribution to the development of the software. Unfortunately, this module requires huge amount of computer power and does not take into account the spectral information during the analysis. New software algorithms are needed which take into account the spectral information and analyze all wavelengths accordingly. We would like also invite the programmers of Ultrascan, Sedfit, Sedanal and the other programs, to develop new algorithms in this direction.
This work presents the synthesis and the self-assembly of symmetrical amphiphilic ABA and BAB triblock copolymers in dilute, semi-concentrated and highly concentrated aqueous solution. A series of new bifunctional bistrithiocarbonates as RAFT agents was used to synthesise these triblock copolymers, which are characterised by a long hydrophilic middle block and relatively small, but strongly hydrophobic end blocks. As hydrophilic A blocks, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly(methoxy diethylene glycol acrylate) (PMDEGA) were employed, while as hydrophobic B blocks, poly(4-tert-butyl styrene), polystyrene, poly(3,5-dibromo benzyl acrylate), poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate), and poly(octadecyl acrylate) were explored as building blocks with different hydrophobicities and glass transition temperatures. The five bifunctional trithiocarbonates synthesised belong to two classes: the first are RAFT agents, which position the active group of the growing polymer chain at the outer ends of the polymer (Z-C(=S)-S-R-S-C(=S)-Z, type I). The second class places the active groups in the middle of the growing polymer chain (R-S-C(=S)-Z-C(=S)-S-R, type II). These RAFT agents enable the straightforward synthesis of amphiphilic triblock copolymers in only two steps, allowing to vary the nature of the hydrophobic blocks as well as the length of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks broadly with good molar mass control and narrow polydispersities. Specific side reactions were observed among some RAFT agents including the elimination of ethylenetrithiocarbonate in the early stage of the polymerisation of styrene mediated by certain agents of the type II, while the use of the RAFT agents of type I resulted in retardation of the chain extension of PNIPAM with styrene. These results underline the need of a careful choice of RAFT agents for a given task. The various copolymers self-assemble in dilute and semi-concentrated aqueous solution into small flower-like micelles. No indication for the formation of micellar clusters was found, while only at high concentration, physical hydrogels are formed. The reversible thermoresponsive behaviour of the ABA and BAB type copolymer solutions in water with A made of PNIPAM was examined by turbidimetry and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The cloud point of the copolymers was nearly identical to the cloud point of the homopolymer and varied between 28-32 °C with concentrations from 0.01 to 50 wt%. This is attributed to the formation of micelles where the hydrophobic blocks are shielded from a direct contact with water, so that the hydrophobic interactions of the copolymers are nearly the same as for pure PNIPAM. Dynamic light scattering measurements showed the presence of small micelles at ambient temperature. The aggregate size dramatically increased above the cloud point, indicating a change of aggregate morphology into clusters due to the thermosensitivity of the PNIPAM block. The rheological behaviour of the amphiphilic BAB triblock copolymers demonstrated the formation of hydrogels at high concentrations, typically above 30-35 wt%. The minimum concentration to induce hydrogels decreased with the increasing glass transition temperatures and increasing length of the end blocks. The weak tendency to form hydrogels was attributed to a small share of bridged micelles only, due to the strong segregation regime occurring. In order to learn about the role of the nature of the thermoresponsive block for the aggregation, a new BAB triblock copolymer consisting of short polystyrene end blocks and PMDEGA as stimuli-responsive middle block was prepared and investigated. Contrary to PNIPAM, dilute aqueous solutions of PMDEGA and of its block copolymers showed reversible phase transition temperatures characterised by a strong dependence on the polymer composition. Moreover, the PMDEGA block copolymer allowed the formation of physical hydrogels at lower concentration, i.e. from 20 wt%. This result suggests that PMDEGA has a higher degree of water-swellability than PNIPAM.
Die Kombination von Polymeren mit Peptiden vereint die Eigenschaften beider Stoffklassen miteinander. Dabei können die strukturbildenden Eigenschaften der Peptide genutzt werden, um Polymere zu organisieren. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde ein Polymer-Peptid-Konjugat verwendet, das sich in Wasser zu Bändern anordnet. Die treibende Kraft für diesen Prozess ist die Anordnung des Peptidteils zu β-Faltblattstrukturen. Das Polymer-Peptid-Aggregat besitzt einen Peptidkern mit funktionalen Oberflächen, der lateral von einer Polyethylenoxidschale umgeben ist. Durch Änderung der Peptidsequenz war es bisher möglich, die Eigenschaften dieser Fasern zu variieren. In der Arbeit wird ein modularer Ansatz zur vielfältigen Modifizierung einer Polymer-Peptid-Faser entwickelt. So ist es möglich, die Eigenschaften der Fasern einzustellen, ohne die strukturbildende β-Faltblattsequenz verändern zu müssen. Um weitere Funktionen an den Fasern anzubringen, wurde die 1,3-dipolaren Addition verwendet. Diese Reaktion beschreibt die konzertierte Umlagerung eines Azides mit einem Alkin. Sie ist in den meisten Lösungsmitteln unter hohen Ausbeuten durchführbar. Im Rahmen der Arbeit wird die Erzeugung von Aziden untersucht und auf die Polymer-Peptid-Fasern übertragen. Der Diazotransfer stellte dabei die Methode der Wahl dar, so können Azidgruppen aus Aminen gewonnen werden. Unter Verwendung der 1,3-dipolaren Addition konnten verschiedene alkinfunktionale Moleküle kovalent an die azidfunktionalisierten Polymer-Peptid-Fasern gebunden werden. So wurde ein Fluoreszenzfarbstoff an die Fasern gebunden, der eine Abbildung der Fasern mittels konfokaler Mikroskopie erlaubte. Weiterhin wurden die Eigenschaften der Fasern durch Addition dreier carboxylfunktionaler Moleküle modifiziert. Diese Fasern konnten weiter genutzt werden, um Kalzium zu binden. Dabei variierte die Anzahl der gebundenen Kalziumionen in Abhängigkeit der jeweiligen Fasermodifikation erheblich. Weitere Untersuchungen, die Morphologie von Kalziumcarbonatkristallen betreffend, werden aktuell durchgeführt. Die kovalente Anbringung eines reduzierenden Zuckers an die Polymer-Peptid-Fasern erlaubt die Abscheidung von Silber aus Tollens Reagenz. Durch eine Entwicklung analog zur Schwarz-Weiss-Photographie können in nachfolgenden Arbeiten so Silberdrähte in Nanogröße erzeugt werden. An die azidfunktionalen Fasern können weitere funktionale Moleküle angebracht werden, um die Eigenschaften und das Anwendungsspektrum der Polymer-Peptid-Fasern zu erweitern.
New ABC triblock copolymers were synthesized by controlled free-radical polymerization via Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT). Compared to amphiphilic diblock copolymers, the prepared materials formed more complex self-assembled structures in water due to three different functional units. Two strategies were followed: The first approach relied on double-thermoresponsive triblock copolymers exhibiting Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST) behavior in water. While the first phase transition triggers the self-assembly of triblock copolymers upon heating, the second one allows to modify the self-assembled state. The stepwise self-assembly was followed by turbidimetry, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and 1H NMR spectroscopy as these methods reflect the behavior on the macroscopic, mesoscopic and molecular scale. Although the first phase transition could be easily monitored due to the onset of self-assembly, it was difficult to identify the second phase transition unambiguously as the changes are either marginal or coincide with the slow response of the self-assembled system to relatively fast changes of temperature. The second approach towards advanced polymeric micelles exploited the thermodynamic incompatibility of “triphilic” block copolymers – namely polymers bearing a hydrophilic, a lipophilic and a fluorophilic block – as the driving force for self-assembly in water. The self-assembly of these polymers in water produced polymeric micelles comprising a hydrophilic corona and a microphase-separated micellar core with lipophilic and fluorophilic domains – so called multi-compartment micelles. The association of triblock copolymers in water was studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy, DLS and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). Direct imaging of the polymeric micelles in solution by cryo-TEM revealed different morphologies depending on the block sequence and the preparation conditions. While polymers with the sequence hydrophilic-lipophilic-fluorophilic built core-shell-corona micelles with the core being the fluorinated compartment, block copolymers with the hydrophilic block in the middle formed spherical micelles where single or multiple fluorinated domains “float” as disks on the surface of the lipophilic core. Increasing the temperature during micelle preparation or annealing of the aqueous solutions after preparation at higher temperatures induced occasionally a change of the micelle morphology or the particle size distribution. By RAFT polymerization not only the desired polymeric architectures could be realized, but the technique provided in addition a precious tool for molar mass characterization. The thiocarbonylthio moieties, which are present at the chain ends of polymers prepared by RAFT, absorb light in the UV and visible range and were employed for end-group analysis by UV-vis spectroscopy. A variety of dithiobenzoate and trithiocarbonate RAFT agents with differently substituted initiating R groups were synthesized. The investigation of their absorption characteristics showed that the intensity of the absorptions depends sensitively on the substitution pattern next to the thiocarbonylthio moiety and on the solvent polarity. According to these results, the conditions for a reliable and convenient end-group analysis by UV-vis spectroscopy were optimized. As end-group analysis by UV-vis spectroscopy is insensitive to the potential association of polymers in solution, it was advantageously exploited for the molar mass characterization of the prepared amphiphilic block copolymers.
The piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of oriented films possessing dipole moments are increasingly being used in pressure, acoustic, thermal and optical devices. The performance of these devices in many applications may be enhanced by thin-film technology.The developing Langmuir-Blodgett thin-film deposition technique offers the opportunity to obtain highly oriented and uniform organic-based films in the 10–5000 nm thickness range. Special techniques must be used, however, to assemble these molecules in such a way as to result in polar multilayer films. Several possible deposition techniques are investigated, with one resulting in a polar and pyroelectric film about 50 nm thick.
Controlling interactions in synthetic polymers as precisely as in proteins would have a strong impact on polymer science. Advanced structural and functional control can lead to rational design of, integrated nano- and microstructures. To achieve this, properties of monomer sequence defined oligopeptides were exploited. Through their incorporation as monodisperse segments into synthetic polymers we learned in recent four years how to program the structure formation of polymers, to adjust and exploit interactions in such polymers, to control inorganic-organic interfaces in fiber composites and induce structure in Biomacromolecules like DNA for biomedical applications.
The molecular packing and spatial correlations of two isomeric zwitterionic polymethacrylates and one polyacrylate analog are studied by means of X-ray analysis and conformational calculations. The analysis of the correlation functions and density distribution profiles suggest a double-layered molecular packing which is discussed for the three polymers investigated, with respect to their different chemical structures. Whereas the zwitterionic polymethacrylates studied exhibit liquid-like short-range order, the polyacrylate analog exhibits an ordered double-layered superstructure.
A variety of polymerizable lipids containing a hydrophilic spacer group between the reactive group and the main amphiphilic structure have been synthesized. They were investigated in monolayers, liposomes, and multilayers. When the spacer concept was used, efficient decoupling of the motions of the polymeric chain and the amphiphilic side groups is achieved. Thus, the often found loss of the important fluid phases by polymerization is avoided. Polymeric monolayers of the spacer lipid, prepared either by polymerization in the monolayer or by spreading of prepolymerized lipid, exhibit nearly identical surface pressure-area diagrams. Most distinctly, the successful decoupling of the motions of the polymer main chain and the membrane forming amphiphilic side groups is demonstrated by the self-organization of bulk polymerized spacer lipids to polymeric liposomes. In addition, spacer lipids are able to build polymeric Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers. The decoupling of the polymer main chain and the membrane-forming amphiphilic side groups enables the deposition of already polymeric monolayers onto supports to form defined multilayers. If, alternatively, monomeric monolayers are deposited and polymerized on the support, defects in the layers due to structural changes during the polymerization are avoided by the flexible spacer group.
Dielectric spectroscopy is employed to analyze the molecular dynamics and the charge transport in mixtures of zwitterionic polymers of the type poly{3 [N(-methacryloyloxyalkyl)] N, [N-dimethylammonio propanesulfonate] with sodium iodide in the frequency range of 10²Hz-10(up)7 Hz and in the temperature range of 110 K-400 K. The amount of inorganic salt added varies from 0-200 mol-% relative to the number of zwitterionic groups present in the polymer, contributing strongly to the conductivity. One relaxation process is observed whose relaxation rate depends strongly on the length of the aliphatic spacer between the polymethacrylate main chain and the zwitterionic group. Exhibiting an Arrhenius-like temperature depence with activation energy EA = 47 KJ/mol, this relaxation process is assigned to fluctuation of the quaternary ammonium groups in the side chains. At higher temperatures, the dielectric properties and the conductivity are primarily dominated by the mobile inorganic ions: conductivity strongly depends on the salt concentration, showing a pronounced electrode polarization effect. The frequency and salt concentration, dependences of the conductivity can be quantitatively described as hopping of charge carriers being subject to spatially randomly varying energy barriers. For the low-frequency regime and for the critical frequency marking the onset of the conductivity's dispersion, the Barton-Nakajima-Namikawa (BNN) relationship is fulfilled.
Several zwitterionic polymers were prepared by radical homopolymerization of surfactant monomers which bear diallyl, diene or vinylcyclopropane moieties. These polymer systems were complemented by alternating copolymers of appropriate zwitterionic vinyl compounds. Thus, polymers with reduced (as compared with simple vinylic homopolymers, or statistical copolymers) and well defined density of surfactant side groups are obtained. The solubilities found for these polymers are dominated by polymer geometry rather than by the balance of hydrophilic and hydrophobic fragments, thus corroborating a main-chain spacer model proposed recently. All water-soluble polymers exhibit characteristic features of classical polysoaps, as shown by surface tension measurements and by solubilization of hydrophobic dyes. In contrast, the water-insoluble copolymers are capable to form stable monolayers at the air-water interface.
This article describes recent achievements in the field of micellar polymers, or polysoaps. Taking advantage of zwitterionic model polymers, systematic variations of the molecular architecture have provided an improved understanding of the relationship between the molecular structure of the polymers and their key properties such as surface activity and solubilization capacity. Useful rules are established, which take into account much of the previous data in the literature.
A set of novel zwitterionic side-chain polyacrylates and polymethacrylates is studied by X-ray scattering. The structural order both in the short-range and long-range scale is investigated. The influence of the polymer backbone, of different locations of the ionic groups in isomeric polymers, of bound water and of added inorganic salts on the bulk structures is studied, and the observed rearrangements are analysed.
The article reviews water-soluble polymers characterized by surfactant side chains, and related amphiphilic polymers. Various synthetic approaches are presented, and rules for useful molecular architectures are given. Models for the self-organization of such polymers in water are presented comparing them with the micellization of low molecular weight surfactants. Highlighting key properties of aqueous polysoap solutions such as viscosity, surface tension and solubilization power, some structure-property relationships are established. Further, the formation of mesophases and of superstructures in bulk is addressed. Finally, the functionalization of polysoaps, and potential applications are discussed.
The prepaparation of amorphous, homogeneous blends of zwitterionic polymers and transition metal salts was investigated. Homogeneous miscibility was achieved in many cases up to equimolar amounts of salt, depending on the anion and cation chosen. Various analytical techniques point to a solid state solution of the inorganic ions in the polymer matrix.
A series of amphiphilic copolymers is prepared by copolymerization of choline methacrylate with 1,1,2,2-tetrahydroperfluorooctyl methacrylate in varying amounts. The copolymers bearing fluorocarbon chains are studied concerning their effects on viscosity, solubilization and surface activity in aqueous solution, exhibiting a general behavior characteristic for polysoaps. The results are compared with the ones obtained for an analogous series of amphiphilic copolymers bearing hydrocarbon chains.
Reversible changes in the self-organization of polysoaps may be induced by controlling their charge numbers via covalently bound redox moieties. This is illustrated with two viologen polysoaps, which in response to an electrochemical stimulus, change their solubility and aggregation in water, leading from homogeneously dissolved and aggregated molecules to collapsed ones and vice verse. Using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM), it could be shown that the reversibility of this process is better than 95% in 16 cycles.
Solubilization by polysoaps
(1994)
The aqueous solubilization power of several series of micellar homopolymers and copolymers (polysoaps) is investigated. Using five insoluble or poorly water-soluble dyes, comparisons of the capacities are made with respect ot the influence of structural variables such as the polymer backbone, the polymer geometry, the comonomer content, and the charge of the hydrophilic group. Some guidelines for polysoap structures suited for efficient solubilization are established. Noteworthy is that the solubilization capacities of the polysoaps are neither linked to the ability to reduce the surface tension of water, nor to the polarity of the solubilization sites deduced from spectroscopic probes.
The use of preformed polymers for the preparation of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) multilayers is reviewed. Principles for polymer self-organization are outlined and the appropriate molecular designs are discussed. Recent developments in the different classes of polymers for LB multilayers are presented, and their outstanding properties highlighted.
Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers of hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon polymers with hydrophilic spacer, lipid-polyelectrolyte complexes and mesogenic polymers have been prepared. The thermal behaviour of the multilayers was studied by small angle X-ray scattering, IR and UV—visible spectroscopy. Good thermal stabilities were found for the various classes of polymers. In addition, for both complexed multilayers and mesogenic polymer films, reorientation processes were observed.
The selective infrared (IR) excitation of molecular vibrations is a powerful tool to control the photoreactivity prior to electronic excitation in the ultraviolet / visible (UV/Vis) light regime ("vibrationally mediated chemistry"). For adsorbates on surfaces it has been theoretically predicted that IR preexcitation will lead to higher UV/Vis photodesorption yields and larger cross sections for other photoreactions. In a recent experiment, IR-mediated desorption of molecular hydrogen from a Si(111) surface on which atomic hydrogen and deuterium were co-adsorbed was achieved, following a vibrational mechanism as indicated by the isotope-selectivity. In the present work, selective vibrational IR excitation of adsorbate molecules, treated as multi-dimensional oscillators on dissipative surfaces, has been simulated within the framework of open-system density matrix theory. Not only potential-mediated, inter-mode coupling poses an obstacle to selective excitation but also the coupling of the adsorbate ("system") modes to the electronic and phononic degrees of freedom of the surface ("bath") does. Vibrational relaxation thereby takes place, depending on the availabilty of energetically fitting electron-hole (e/h) pairs and/or phonons (lattice vibrations) in the surface, on time-scales ranging from milliseconds to several hundreds of femtoseconds. On metal surfaces, where the relaxation process of the adsorbate via the e/h pair mechanism dominates, vibrational lifetimes are usually shorter than on insulator or semiconductor surfaces, in the range of picoseconds, being also the timescale of the IR pulses used here. Further inhibiting factors for selectivity can be the harmonicity of a mode and weak dipole activities ("dark modes") rendering vibrational excitation with moderate field intensities difficult. In addition to simple analytical pulses, optimal control theory (OCT) has been employed here to generate a suitable electric field to populate the target state/mode maximally. The complex OCT fields were analyzed by Husimi transformation, resolving the control field in time and energy. The adsorbate/surface systems investigated were CO/Cu(100), H/Si(100) and 2H/Ru(0001). These systems proved to be suitable models to study the above mentioned effects. Further, effects of temperature, pure dephasing (elastic scattering processes), pulse duration and dimensionality (up to four degrees of freedom) were studied. It was possible to selectively excite single vibrational modes, often even state-selective. Special processes like hot-band excitation, vibrationally mediated desorption and the excitation of "dark modes" were simulated. Finally, a novel OCT algorithm in density matrix representation has been developed which allows for time-dependent target operators and thus enables to control the excitation mechanism instead of only the final state. The algorithm is based on a combination of global (iterative) and local (non-iterative) OCT schemes, such that short, globally controlled time-intervals are coupled locally in time. Its numerical performance and accuracy were tested and verified and it was successfully applied to stabilize a two-state linear-combination and to enforce a successive "ladder climbing" in a rather harmonic system, where monochromatic, analytical pulses simultaneously excited several states, leading to a population loss in the target state.
Heterophase polymerization is a technique widely used for the synthesis of high performance polymeric materials with applications including paints, inks, adhesives, synthetic rubber, biomedical applications and many others. Due to the heterogeneous nature of the process, many different relevant length and time scales can be identified. Each of these scales has a direct influence on the kinetics of polymerization and on the physicochemical and performance properties of the final product. Therefore, from the point of view of product and process design and optimization, the understanding of each of these relevant scales and their integration into one single model is a very promising route for reducing the time-to-market in the development of new products, for increasing the productivity and profitability of existing processes, and for designing products with improved performance or cost/performance ratio. The process considered is the synthesis of structured or composite polymer particles by multi-stage seeded emulsion polymerization. This type of process is used for the preparation of high performance materials where a synergistic behavior of two or more different types of polymers is obtained. Some examples include the synthesis of core-shell or multilayered particles for improved impact strength materials and for high resistance coatings and adhesives. The kinetics of the most relevant events taking place in an emulsion polymerization process has been investigated using suitable numerical simulation techniques at their corresponding time and length scales. These methods, which include Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation, Brownian Dynamics (BD) simulation and kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) simulation, have been found to be very powerful and highly useful for gaining a deeper insight and achieving a better understanding and a more accurate description of all phenomena involved in emulsion polymerization processes, and can be potentially extended to investigate any type of heterogeneous process. The novel approach of using these kinetic-based numerical simulation methods can be regarded as a complement to the traditional thermodynamic-based macroscopic description of emulsion polymerization. The particular events investigated include molecular diffusion, diffusion-controlled polymerization reactions, particle formation, absorption/desorption of radicals and monomer, and the colloidal aggregation of polymer particles. Using BD simulation it was possible to precisely determine the kinetics of absorption/desorption of molecular species by polymer particles, and to simulate the colloidal aggregation of polymer particles. For diluted systems, a very good agreement between BD simulation and the classical theory developed by Smoluchowski was obtained. However, for concentrated systems, significant deviations from the ideal behavior predicted by Smoluchowski were evidenced. BD simulation was found to be a very valuable tool for the investigation of emulsion polymerization processes especially when the spatial and geometrical complexity of the system cannot be neglected, as is the case of concentrated dispersions, non-spherical particles, structured polymer particles, particles with non-uniform monomer concentration, and so on. In addition, BD simulation was used to describe non-equilibrium monomer swelling kinetics, which is not possible using the traditional thermodynamic approach because it is only valid for systems at equilibrium. The description of diffusion-controlled polymerization reactions was successfully achieved using a new stochastic algorithm for the kMC simulation of imperfectly mixed systems (SSA-IM). In contrast to the traditional stochastic simulation algorithm (SSA) and the deterministic rate of reaction equations, instead of assuming perfect mixing in the whole reactor, the new SSA-IM determines the volume perfectly mixed between two consecutive reactions as a function of the diffusion coefficient of the reacting species. Using this approach it was possible to describe, using a single set of kinetic parameters, typical mass transfer limitations effects during a free radical batch polymerization such as the cage effect, the gel effect and the glass effect. Using multiscale integration it was possible to investigate the formation of secondary particles during the seeded emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate over a polystyrene seed. Three different cases of radical generation were considered: generation of radicals by thermal decomposition of water-soluble initiating compounds, generation of radicals by a redox reaction at the surface of the particles, and generation of radicals by thermal decomposition of surface-active initiators "inisurfs" attached to the surface of the particles. The simulation results demonstrated the satisfactory reduction in secondary particles formation achieved when the locus of radical generation is controlled close to the particles surface.
Self-Structuring of functionalized micro- and mesoporous organosilicas using boron-silane-precursors
(2008)
The structuring of porous silica materials at the nanometer scale and their surface functionalization are important issues of current materials research. Many innovations in chromatography, catalysis and electronic devices benefit from this knowledge. The work at hand is dedicated to the targeted design of functional organosilica materials. In this context a new precursor concept based on boron-silanes is presented. These precursors combine the properties of a structure directing group and a silica source by covalent borane linkage. Formation of the precursor is easily realized by a sequential two-step hydroboration, firstly on bis(triethoxysilyl)ethene, and secondly on an unsaturated structure directing moiety such as alkenes or polymers. The so prepared precursors self-organize when hydrolysis of their inorganic moiety takes place via an aggregation of their organic side chains into hydrophobic domains. In this way, the additional use of a surfactant as a template is not necessary. Chemical cleavage of these moieties (e.g. by ammonolysis or oxidative saponification) yields an organosilica where all functionalities are exclusively located at the pore wall and therefore accessible. The accessibility of the functionalities is a vital point for applications and is not necessarily granted for common silica functionalization approaches. Further advantages of the boron-silane concept are the possibility to introduce a variety of surface functionalities by heterolytic cleavage of the boron linker and the control of the pore morphology. For that purpose the covalent linkage of different alkyl groups and polymers was studied. Another aspect is the access to chiral boron silane precursors yielding functionalized mesoporous organosilica with chiral functionalities exclusively located at the pore walls after condensation and removal of the structure directing moiety. These materials possess great potential for applications documented by preliminary investigations on chiral resolution of a racemic mixture by HPLC and asymmetric catalysis. In the course of this work valuable insights into the targeted structuring and surface functionalization of organosilicas were gained. A promising outlook for further investigations is the extension of this concept by altering the structure directing moieties of the precursor. That way the morphology of the final organosilica might be controlled by for example mesogens. Furthermore, the use of the boron linker enables the introduction of multiple functionalities into organosilicas, making the obtained material unique in its performance.
Chitooligosaccharides are composed of glycosamin and N-acetylglycisamin residues. Gel permeations chromatography is employed for the separation of oligomers, cation exchange chromatography is used for the separation of homologes and isomers. Trideuterioacetylation of the chitooligosaccharides followed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry allowes for the quantitation of mixtures of homologes. vMALDI LTQ multiple-stage MS is employed for quantitative sequencing of complex mixtures of heterochitooligosaccharides. Pure homologes and isomers are applied to biological assays. Chitooligosaccahrides form high-affinity non-covalent complexes with HC gp-39 (human cartilage glycoprotein of 39 kDa). The affinity of the chitooligosaccharides depends on DP, FA and the sequence of glycosamin and N-acetylglycosamin moieties. (+)nanoESI Q TOF MS/MS is used for identification of a high-affinity binding chitooligosaccharide of a non-covalent chitinase B - chitooligosaccharide complex. DADAA is identified as the heterochitoisomer binding with highest affinity and biostability to HC gp-39. Fluorescence based enzyme assays confirm the results.
Monolayers of rod-shaped and disc-shaped liquid crystalline compounds at the air-water interface
(1986)
Calamitic (rod-shaped) and discotic (disc-shaped) thermotropic liquid crystalline (LC) compounds were spread at the air-water interface, and their ability to form monolayers was studied. The calamitic LCs investigated were found to form monolayers which behave analogously to conventional amphiphiles such as fatty acids. The spreading of the discotic LCs produced monolayers as well, but with a behaviour different from classical amphiphiles. The areas occupied per molecule are too small to allow the contact of all hydrophilic groups with the water surface and the packing of all hydrophobic chains. Various molecular arrangements of the discotics at the water surface to fit the spreading data are discussed.
Cinnamic acid moieties were incorporated into amphiphilic compounds containing one and two alkyl chains. These lipid-like compounds with photoreactive units undergo self-organization to form monolayers at the gas-water interface and bilayer structures (vesicles) in aqueous solutions. The photoreaction of the cinnamic acid moiety induced by 254 nm UV light was investigated in the crystalline state, in monolayers, in vesicles and in solution in organic solvents. The single-chain amphiphiles undergo dimerization to yield photoproducts with twice the molecular weight of the corresponding monomers in organized systems. The photoreaction of amphiphiles containing two cinnamic acid groups occurs via two mechanisms: The intramolecular dimerization produces bicycles, with retention of the molecular weight of the corresponding monomer. The intermolecular reaction leads to oligomeric and polymeric photoproducts. In contrast to the single-chain amphiphiles, photodimerization processes of lipoids containing two cinnamic acid moieties also occur in solution in organic solvents.
Sinefungin inhibited the S-adenosylmethionine-dependent farnesoic acid methyltransferase in a cell-free system containing a homogenate of corpora allata from female locusts, Locusta migratoria. The enzyme catalyzed the penultimate step of juvenile hormone biosynthesis in the insects. Culturing corpora allata in the presence of sinefungin greatly suppressed juvenile hormone production. The following in vivo effects were visible after injection of the inhibitor: increase in mortality and reduction of total haemolymph protein liter and ovary fresh weight, as well as length of terminal oocytes. Attempts to reverse these effects by topical application of the juvenile hormone analog ZR-515 (methoprene) were only partly successful. Therefore, the in vivo effects may be due to a general inhibition of methyltransferase enzymes in the insect. Sinefungin appeared to be of potential interest as the first representative of a new class of insect growth regulators.
The inhibitory effect of sinefungin on juvenile hormone biosynthesis and development in locusts
(1987)
The antibiotic fungal metabolite sinefungin is a potent inhibitor of S-adenosylmethionine-acceptor methyltransferases. Its effect on insect metabolism and especially on corpora allata farnesoic acid methyltransferase, which catalyzes the penultimate step of juvenile hormone biosynthesis, was investigated in Locusta migratoria. Injection of sinefungin results in a delay of imaginal molt and in suppression of ovary development. Isolated corpora allata are unable to synthesize juvenile hormone III in the presence of more than 1.0 mM sinefungin. In a cell-free system containing the S-adenosylmethionine-dependent farnesoic acid methyltransferase from corpora allata sinefungin is a competitive inhibitor of the synthesis of methylfarnesoate with Ki of 1 μM.
Several types of insect cuticle contain enzymes catalyzing the formation ofof adducts between N-acetyldopamine (NADA) and N-acetylhistidine (NAH). Two such adducts, NAH-NADA-I and NAH NADA-II, have been isolated and their structures determined. In one of the adducts the link connecting the two residues occurs between the I-position (ß-position) in the NADA side chain and the 1-N atom (τ-N) in the imidazole ring of histidine. Diphenoloxidase activity alone is not sufficient for formation of this adduct, whereas extracts containing both diphenoloxidase and o-quinone-p-quinone methide isomerase activities catalyze the coupling reaction. The adduct consists of a mixture of two diastereomers and they are presumably formed by spontaneous reaction between enzymatically produced NADA-p-quinone methide and N-acetylhistidine. The other adduct has been identified as a ring addition product of N-acetylhistidine and NADA. In contrast to the former adduct it can be formed by incubation of the two substrates with mushroom tyrosinase alone. An adduct between N-acetylhistidine and the benzodioxan-type NADA-dimer is produced in vitro, when the N-acetylhistidine-NADA adduct is incubated with NADA and locust cuticle containing a 1,2-dehydro-NADA generating enzyme system. Trimeric NADA-polymerization products of the substituted benzodioxan-type have been obtained from in vivo sclerotized locust cuticle, confirming the ability of cuticle to produce NADA-oligomers. The results indicate that some insect cuticles contain enzymes promoting linkage of oxidized NADA to histidine residues. It is suggested that histidine residues in the cuticular proteins can serve as acceptors for oxidized NADA and that further addition of NADA-residues to the phenolic groups of bound NADA can occur, resulting in formation of protein-linked NADA-oligomers. The coupling reactions identified may be an important step in natural cuticular sclerotization.
The haemolymph of the adult Colorado potato beetle, Lepinotarsa decemlineata Say, contains a high molecular weight (MW > 200,000) JH-III specific binding protein. The Kd value of the protein for racemic JH-III is 1.3 ± 0.2 × 10−7 M. It has a lower affinity for racemic JH-I and it does not bind JH-III-diol or JH-III-acid. The binding protein does discriminate between the enantiomers of synthetic, racemic JH-III as was determined by stereochemical anaysis of the bound and the free JH-III. Incubation of racemic JH-III with crude haemolymph results in preferential formation of (10S)-JH-III-acid, the unnatural configuration. The JH-esterase present in L. decemlineata haemolymph is not enantioselective. It is concluded that the most important function of the binding protein is that of a specific carrier, protecting the natural hormone against degradation by esterases. The carrier does not protect JH-I as efficiently as the lower homologue.
This thesis provides a novel view on the early stage of crystallization utilizing calcium carbonate as a model system. Calcium carbonate is of great economical, scientific and ecological importance, because it is a major part of water hardness, the most abundant Biomineral and forms huge amounts of geological sediments thus binding large amounts of carbon dioxide. The primary experiments base on the evolution of supersaturation via slow addition of dilute calcium chloride solution into dilute carbonate buffer. The time-dependent measurement of the Ca2+ potential and concurrent pH = constant titration facilitate the calculation of the amount of calcium and carbonate ions bound in pre-nucleation stage clusters, which have never been detected experimentally so far, and in the new phase after nucleation, respectively. Analytical Ultracentrifugation independently proves the existence of pre-nucleation stage clusters, and shows that the clusters forming at pH = 9.00 have a proximately time-averaged size of altogether 70 calcium and carbonate ions. Both experiments show that pre-nucleation stage cluster formation can be described by means of equilibrium thermodynamics. Effectively, the cluster formation equilibrium is physico-chemically characterized by means of a multiple-binding equilibrium of calcium ions to a ‘lattice’ of carbonate ions. The evaluation gives GIBBS standard energy for the formation of calcium/carbonate ion pairs in clusters, which exhibits a maximal value of approximately 17.2 kJ mol^-1 at pH = 9.75 and relates to a minimal binding strength in clusters at this pH-value. Nucleated calcium carbonate particles are amorphous at first and subsequently become crystalline. At high binding strength in clusters, only calcite (the thermodynamically stable polymorph) is finally obtained, while with decreasing binding strength in clusters, vaterite (the thermodynamically least stable polymorph) and presumably aragonite (the thermodynamically intermediate stable polymorph) are obtained additionally. Concurrently, two different solubility products of nucleated amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) are detected at low binding strength and high binding strength in clusters (ACC I 3.1EE-8 M^2, ACC II 3.8EE-8 M^2), respectively, indicating the precipitation of at least two different ACC species, while the clusters provide the precursor species of ACC. It is proximate that ACC I may relate to calcitic ACC –i.e. ACC exhibiting short range order similar to the long range order of calcite and that ACC II may relate to vateritic ACC, which will subsequently transform into the particular crystalline polymorph as discussed in the literature, respectively. Detailed analysis of nucleated particles forming at minimal binding strength in clusters (pH = 9.75) by means of SEM, TEM, WAXS and light microscopy shows that predominantly vaterite with traces of calcite forms. The crystalline particles of early stages are composed of nano-crystallites of approximately 5 to 10 nm size, respectively, which are aligned in high mutual order as in mesocrystals. The analyses of precipitation at pH = 9.75 in presence of additives –polyacrylic acid (pAA) as a model compound for scale inhibitors and peptides exhibiting calcium carbonate binding affinity as model compounds for crystal modifiers- shows that ACC I and ACC II are precipitated in parallel: pAA stabilizes ACC II particles against crystallization leading to their dissolution for the benefit of crystals that form from ACC I and exclusively calcite is finally obtained. Concurrently, the peptide additives analogously inhibit the formation of calcite and exclusively vaterite is finally obtained in case of one of the peptide additives. These findings show that classical nucleation theory is hardly applicable for the nucleation of calcium carbonate. The metastable system is stabilized remarkably due to cluster formation, while clusters forming by means of equilibrium thermodynamics are the nucleation relevant species and not ions. Most likely, the concept of cluster formation is a common phenomenon occurring during the precipitation of hardly soluble compounds as qualitatively shown for calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate. This finding is important for the fundamental understanding of crystallization and nucleation-inhibition and modification by additives with impact on materials of huge scientific and industrial importance as well as for better understanding of the mass transport in crystallization. It can provide a novel basis for simulation and modelling approaches. New mechanisms of scale formation in Bio- and Geomineralization and also in scale inhibition on the basis of the newly reported reaction channel need to be considered.
Nanostructured inorganic materials are routinely synthesized by the use of templates. Depending on the synthesis conditions of the product material, either “soft” or “hard” templates can be applied. For sol-gel processes, usually “soft” templating techniques are employed, while “hard” templates are used for high temperature synthesis pathways. In classical templating approaches, the template has the unique role of structure directing agent, in the sense that it is not participating to the chemical formation of the resulting material. This work investigates a new templating pathway to nanostructured materials, where the template is also a reagent in the formation of the final material. This concept is described as “reactive templating” and opens a synthetic path toward materials which cannot be synthesised on a nanometre scale by classical templating approaches. Metal nitrides are such kind of materials. They are usually produced by the conversion of metals or metal oxides in ammonia flow at high temperature (T > 1000°C), which make the application of classical templating techniques difficult. Graphitic carbon nitride, g-C3N4, despite its fundamental and theoretical importance, is probably one of the most promising materials to complement carbon in material science and many efforts are put in the synthesis of this material. A simple polyaddition/elimination reaction path at high temperature (T = 550°C) allows the polymerisation of cyanamide toward graphitic carbon nitride solids. By hard templating, using nanostructured silica or aluminium oxide as nanotemplates, a variety of nanostructured graphitic carbon nitrides such as nanorods, nanotubes, meso- and macroporous powders could be obtained by nanocasting or nanocoating. Due to the special semi-conducting properties of the graphitic carbon nitride matrix, the nanostructured graphitic carbon nitrides show unexpected catalytic activity for the activation of benzene in Friedel-Crafts type reactions, making this material an interesting metal free catalyst. Furthermore, due to the chemical composition of g-C3N4 and the fact that it is totally decomposed at temperatures between 600°C and 800°C even under inert atmosphere, g-C3N4 was shown to be a good nitrogen donor for the synthesis of early transition metal nitrides at high temperatures. Thus using the nanostructured carbon nitrides as “reactive templates” or “nanoreactors”, various metal nitride nanostructures, such as nanoparticles and porous frameworks could be obtained at high temperature. In this approach the carbon nitride nanostructure played both the role of the nitrogen source and of the exotemplate, imprinting its size and shape to the resulting metal nitride nanostructure.
In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde ein Ansatz verfolgt, die besonderen Eigenschaften der Strukturbildung sequenzdefinierter Peptide mit den vielseitigen Materialeigenschaften synthetischer Blockcopolymere zu kombinieren. Dazu wurde ein synthetisches Polymer kovalent mit einer definierten Peptidsequenz verknüpft. Der Peptidblock (die Organisationseinheit) wurde speziell designt, um später die Strukturbildung des Peptid-Polymerkonjugates induzieren und leiten zu können. Als Organisationsmotiv diente hierbei das aus der Natur bekannte β-Faltblatt Strukturmotiv. Das Peptidsegment wurde in einer festphasengebundenen Synthese aufgebaut. Dabei wurden temporäre Stör-Segmente (Switch-Segmente) in die Peptidsequenz integriert. Diese Segmente unterdrücken die Aggregationstendenz während der Synthese und können durch einen pH-abhängigen Schaltvorgang in das natürliche Peptidrückgrat überführt werden. Zusätzlich zu der verbesserten Ausbeute und Reinheit der entsprechenden Peptide war auf diese Weise eine kontrollierte Aktivierung der Mikrostrukturbildung möglich. Mit Hilfe zwei verschiedener Synthesestrategien (Kupplungs- bzw. Polymerisationsstrategie) wurde ein Satz von definierten Peptid-Polymerkonjugaten mit unterschiedlich großen Polymersegmenten synthetisiert. Diese wurden anschließend im Hinblick auf ihre Strukturbildungseigenschaften in organischen Lösungsmitteln untersucht. Durch mikroskopische Verfahren (AFM, TEM), konnte für alle Konjugate, die Bildung faserartiger Aggregate mit Dimensionen im Nano- bis Mikrometerbereich beobachtet werden. Genauere Untersuchungen zeigten, dass die Peptidsegmente in diesen Faserstrukturen ein β-Faltblatt ausbilden. Dies ist ein deutlicher Hinweis darauf, dass die Strukturbildung der Konjugate tatsächlich durch den Peptidblock gesteuert und kontrolliert wurde.
For the first time stabilizer-free vinylidene fluoride (VDF) polymerizations were carried out in homogeneous phase with supercritical CO₂. Polymerizations were carried out at 140°C, 1500 bar and were initiated with di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP). In-line FT-NIR (Fourier Transform- Near Infrared) spectroscopy showed that complete monomer conversion may be obtained. Molecular weights were determined via size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and polymer end group analysis by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The number average molecular weights were below 104 g∙mol−1 and polydispersities ranged from 3.1 to 5.7 depending on DTBP and VDF concentration. To allow for isothermal reactions high CO₂ contents ranging from 61 to 83 wt.% were used. The high-temperature, high-pressure conditions were required for homogeneous phase polymerization. These conditions did not alter the amount of defects in VDF chaining. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that regular stack-type particles were obtained upon expansion of the homogeneous polymerization mixture. To reduce the required amount of initiator, further VDF polymerizations using chain transfer agents (CTAs) to control molecular weights were carried out in homogeneous phase with supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) at 120 °C and 1500 bar. Using perfluorinated hexyl iodide as CTA, polymers of low polydispersity ranging from 1.5 to 1.2 at the highest iodide concentration of 0.25 mol·L-1 were obtained. Electrospray ionization- mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS) indicates the absence of initiator derived end groups, supporting livingness of the system. The “livingness” is based on the labile C-I bond. However, due to the weakness of the C-I bond perfluorinated hexyl iodide also contributes to initiation. To allow for kinetic analyses of VDF polymerizations the CTA should not contribute to initiation. Therefore, additional CTAs were applied: BrCCl3, C6F13Br and C6F13H. It was found that C6F13H does not contribute to initiation. At 120°C and 1500 bar kp/kt0.5~ 0.64 (L·mol−1·s−1)0.5 was derived. The chain transfer constant (CT) at 120°C has been determined to be 8·10−1, 9·10−2 and 2·10−4 for C6F13I, C6F13Br and C6F13H, respectively. These CT values are associated with the bond energy of the C-X bond. Moreover, the labile C-I bond allows for functionalization of the polymer to triazole end groups applying click reactions. After substitution of the iodide end group by an azide group 1,3 dipolar cycloadditions with alkynes yield polymers with 1,2,3 triazole end groups. Using symmetrical alkynes the reactions may be carried out in the absence of any catalyst. This end-functionalized poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) has higher thermal stability as compared to the normal PVDF. PVDF samples from homogeneous phase polymerizations in supercritical CO₂ and subsequent expansion to ambient conditions were analyzed with respect to polymer end groups, crystallinity, type of polymorphs and morphology. Upon expansion the polymer was obtained as white powder. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that DTBP derived polymer end groups led to stack-type particles whereas sponge- or rose-type particles were obtained in case of CTA fragments as end groups. Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy and wide angle X-ray diffraction indicated that the type of polymorph, α or β crystal phase was significantly affected by the type of end group. The content of β-phase material, which is responsible for piezoelectricity of PVDF, is the highest for polymer with DTBP-derived end groups. In addition, the crystallinity of the material, as determined via differential scanning calorimetry is affected by the end groups and polymer molecular weights. For example, crystallinity ranges from around 26 % for DTBP-derived end groups to a maximum of 62 % for end groups originating from perfluorinated hexyl iodide for polymers with Mn ~2200 g·mol–1. Expansion of the homogeneous polymerization mixture results in particle formation by a non-optimized RESS (Rapid Expansion from Supercritical Solution) process. Thus, it was tested how polymer end groups affect the particles size distribution obtained from RESS process under controlled conditions (T = 50°C and P = 200 bar). In all RESS experiments, small primary PVDF with diameters less than 100 nm without the use of liquid solvents, surfactants, or other additives were produced. A strong correlation between particle size and particle size distribution with polymer end groups and molecular weight of the original material was observed. The smallest particles were found for RESS of PVDF with Mn~ 4000 g·mol–1 and PFHI (C6F13I) - derived end groups.
Im Rahmen der Arbeit werden hierarchisch strukturierte Silikakompositfasern präsentiert, deren Bildung ähnlich zu natürlichen Silifizierungsreaktionen verläuft. Als Analoga zu Proteinfilamenten in Silika Morphogeneseorganismen werden selbstorganisierte, funktionale Polyethylenoxid-Peptid-Nanobänder eingesetzt. Mit der Isolierung einheitlicher Nanokompositfasern wird gezeigt, dass die PEO-Peptid-Nanobänder eine starke Bindungsaffinität gegenüber Kieselsäure besitzen, diese aus sehr stark verdünnten Lösungen anreichern und deren Kondensation zu Silikanetzwerken kontrollieren können. In höheren Konzentrationen entstehen durch die peptidgeleitete Silifizierung der PEO-Peptid-Nanobänder spontan makroskopische Kompositfasern mit sechs Hierarchieebenen. Diese verbinden Längen von bis zu 3 cm und Durchmesser von 1-2 mm mit einer definierten Feinstruktur im Submikrometerbereich. Als Resultat der komplexen inneren Struktur und der Kontrolle der Grenzflächen zwischen Nanobändern und Silika wird eine Nanohärte erreicht, die schon ~1/3 der Härte von Bioglasfasern darstellt. Für die Elastizität (reduziertes Eindrückmodul) dagegen konnte durch den relativ hohen Anteil (~40%) an verformbaren, organischen Komponenten ein ~4-mal größer Wert im Vergleich mit Bioglasfasern bestimmt werden. Des Weiteren wird die Prozessierung der makroskopischen Kompositfasern in einem 2D-Plotprozess vorgestellt. Mit Verwendung der PEO-Peptid-Nanobänder als „Tinte“ können Kompositobjekte in beliebigen Formen geplottet werden, deren Linienbreite sowie anisotrope Ausrichtung der Nano- und Submikrometerstrukturelemente direkt mit der Plotgeschwindigkeit korrelieren. Außerdem können die Kompositobjekte als Vorstufen für orientierte, mesoporöse Silikaobjekte verwendet werden. Nachdem Calcinieren werden Silikastrukturen mit einer hohen spezifischen Oberfläche und in Plotrichtung ausgerichteten zylindrischen Poren erhalten. Im Kontrast zu den anorganisch-bioorganischen Kompositfasern sollten unter Ausnutzung ionischer Wechselwirkungen oder Metallkoordination Kompositmaterialien mit anderen mechanischen Eigenschaften dargestellt werden. Es wird gezeigt, dass durch Variationen in der Aminosäuresequenz des Peptidkerns, die Oberflächen der PEO-Peptid-Nanobänder gezielt mit funktionellen Gruppen versehen werden können. Eine gerichtete Vernetzung dieser modifizierten Nanobänder wurde nicht erreicht, dafür könnten die imidazolfunktionalisierten Nanobänder als eindimensionale Protonenleiter, die mit photochromen Gruppen (Spiropyran) funktionalisierten Nanobänder für die Modifizierung von Oberflächenpolaritäten oder für gerichtete Kristallisationsprozesse eingesetzt werden.
Nowadays, reactions on surfaces are attaining great scientific interest because of their diverse applications. Some well known examples are production of ammonia on metal surfaces for fertilizers and reduction of poisonous gases from automobiles using catalytic converters. More recently, also photoinduced reactions at surfaces, useful, \textit{e.g.}, for photocatalysis, were studied in detail. Often, very short laser pulses are used for this purpose. Some of these reactions are occurring on femtosecond (1 fs=$10^{-15}$ s) time scales since the motion of atoms (which leads to bond breaking and new bond formation) belongs to this time range. This thesis investigates the femtosecond laser induced associative photodesorption of hydrogen, H$_2$, and deuterium, D$_2$, from a ruthenium metal surface. Many interesting features of this reaction were explored by experimentalists: (i) a huge isotope effect in the desorption probability of H$_2$ and D$_2$, (ii) the desorption yield increases non-linearly with the applied visible (vis) laser fluence, and (iii) unequal energy partitioning to different degrees of freedom. These peculiarities are due to the fact that an ultrashort vis pulse creates hot electrons in the metal. These hot electrons then transfer energy to adsorbate vibrations which leads to desorption. In fact, adsorbate vibrations are strongly coupled to metal electrons, \textit{i.e.}, through non-adiabatic couplings. This means that, surfaces introduce additional channels for energy exchange which makes the control of surface reactions more difficult than the control of reactions in the gas phase. In fact, the quantum yield of surface photochemical reactions is often notoriously small. One of the goals of the present thesis is to suggest, on the basis of theoretical simulations, strategies to control/enhance the photodesorption yield of H$_2$ and D$_2$ from Ru(0001). For this purpose, we suggest a \textit{hybrid scheme} to control the reaction, where the adsorbate vibrations are initially excited by an infrared (IR) pulse, prior to the vis pulse. Both \textit{adiabatic} and \textit{non-adiabatic} representations for photoinduced desorption problems are employed here. The \textit{adiabatic} representation is realized within the classical picture using Molecular Dynamics (MD) with electronic frictions. In a quantum mechanical description, \textit{non-adiabatic} representations are employed within open-system density matrix theory. The time evolution of the desorption process is studied using a two-mode reduced dimensionality model with one vibrational coordinate and one translational coordinate of the adsorbate. The ground and excited electronic state potentials, and dipole function for the IR excitation are taken from first principles. The IR driven vibrational excitation of adsorbate modes with moderate efficiency is achieved by (modified) $\pi$-pulses or/and optimal control theory. The fluence dependence of the desorption reaction is computed by including the electronic temperature of the metal calculated from the two-temperature model. Here, our theoretical results show a good agreement with experimental and previous theoretical findings. We then employed the IR+vis strategy in both models. Here, we found that vibrational excitation indeed promotes the desorption of hydrogen and deuterium. To summarize, we conclude that photocontrol of this surface reaction can be achieved by our IR+vis scheme.
The three major biopolymers, proteins, nucleic acids and glycoconjugates are mainly responsible for the information transfer, which is a fundamental process of life. The biological importance of proteins and nucleic acids are well explored and oligosaccharides in the form of glycoconjugates have gained importance recently. The β-(1→4) linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) moiety is a frequently occurring structural unit in various naturally and biologically important oligosaccharides and related conjugates. Chitin which is the most abundant polymer of GlcNAc is widely distributed in nature whereas the related polysaccharide chitosan (polymer of GlcN and GlcNAc) occurs in certain fungi. Chitooligosaccharides of mixed acetylation patterns are of interest for the determination of the substrate specificities and mechanism of chitinases. In this report, we describe the chemical synthesis of three chitotetraoses namely GlcNAc-GlcN-GlcNAc-GlcN, GlcN-GlcNAc-GlcNAc-GlcN and GlcN-GlcN-GlcNAc-GlcNAc. Benzyloxycarbonyl (Z) and p-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl (PNZ) were used for the amino functionality due to their ability to form the β-linkage during the glycosylation reactions through neighboring group participation and the trichloroacetimidate approach was utilized for the donor. Monomeric, dimeric acceptors and donors have been prepared by utilizing the Z and PNZ groups and coupling between the appropriate donor and acceptors in the presence of Lewis acid yielded the protected tetrasaccharides. Finally cleavage of PNZ followed by reacetylation and the deblocking of other protecting groups afforded the N,N’-diacetyl chitotetraoses in good yield. Successful syntheses for the protected diacetyl chitotetraoses by solid phase synthesis have also been described.
Funktionalisierte Poly(2-oxazoline) als neue Materialien stellen sowohl unter strukturellen Gesichtspunkten als auch im Hinblick auf potentielle Anwendungen eine interessante Polymerklasse dar. Die Ausbildung von hierarchischen Strukturen mit Poly(2-oxazolinen) über intermolekulare Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen ist hierbei ein bisher nicht beachteter Aspekt. Über einen bioinspirierten Ansatz sollten gezielt funktionelle Gruppen, die für einen hierarchischen Aufbau, z.B. in Proteinen, verantwortlich sind, in vereinfachter Weise auf die synthetische Substanzklasse der Poly(2-oxazoline) übertragen werden. Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der modularen Synthese neuer, funktionalisierter Poly(2-oxazolin) Homo- und Copolymere. Ausgehend von der Synthese von 2-(3-Butenyl)-2-oxazolin wurden definierte Präpolymere in einer kationischen Isomerisierungspolymerisation unter kontrolliert/„lebenden“ Bedingungen hergestellt. In einer anschließenden „Thio-Click“ (Thiol-En-Reaktion) Modifizierungsreaktion wurden die gewünschten funktionellen Gruppen quantitativ eingeführt. Hydroxylierte Poly(2-oxazoline) wurden hinsichtlich ihres Aggregationsverhaltens in Wasser untersucht. Bereits die jeweiligen Homopolymere bildeten aufgrund von intermolekularen Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen supramolekulare tubuläre Nanofasern aus. Durch Einsatz verschiedener analytischer Methoden konnte die innere Struktur der Nanoröhren beschrieben und ein entsprechendes Modell aufgestellt werden. Die dargestellten funktionellen Poly(2-oxazoline) wurden hinsichtlich ihrer Anwendung als potentielle, synthetische „antifreeze additives“ untersucht. Alle Polymere besitzen eine ausgeprägte Tendenz zur Nukleierung von Wasser und führen daher zu signifikanten Änderungen der Eismorphologie. Des weiteren wurde ein carboxyliertes Derivat zur biomimetischen Mineralisation von Kalziumcarbonat eingesetzt und nach phänomenologischen Gesichtspunkten untersucht.
Nanostructured materials are materials consisting of nanoparticulate building blocks on the scale of nanometers (i.e. 10-9 m). Composition, crystallinity and morphology can enhance or even induce new properties of the materials, which are desirable for todays and future technological applications. In this work, we have shown new strategies to synthesise metal oxide and metal nitride nanomaterials. The first part of the work deals with the study of nonaqueous synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles. We succeeded in the synthesis of In2O3 nanopartcles where we could clearly influence the morphology by varying the type of the precursors and the solvents; of ZnO mesocrystals by using acetonitrile as a solvent; of transition metal oxides (Nb2O5, Ta2O5 and HfO2) that are particularly hard to obtain on the nanoscale and other technologically important materials. Solvothermal synthesis however is not restricted to formation of oxide materials only. In the second part we show examples of nonaqueous, solvothermal reactions of metal nitrides, but the main focus lies on the investigation of the influence of different morphologies of metal oxide precursors on the formation of the metal nitride nanoparticles. In spite of various reports, the number and variety of nanocrystalline metal nitrides is marginally small by comparison to metal oxides; hence preformed metal oxides as precursors for the preparation of metal nitrides are a logical choice. By reacting oxide nanoparticles with cyanamide, urea or melamine, at temperatures of 800 to 900 °C under nitrogen flow metal nitrides could be obtained. We studied in detail the influence of the starting material and realized that size, crystallinity, type of nitrogen source and temperature play the most important role. We have managed to propose and verify a dissolution-recrystallisation model as the formation mechanism. Furthermore we could show that the initial morphology of the oxides could be retained when ammonia flow was used instead.
4-Phenylphenoxazinones were isolated after biomimetic oxidation, using diphenoloxidases of insect cuticle, mushroom tyrosinase, or after autoxidation of N-acetyldopamine (Image ) in the presence of β-alanine, β-alanine methyl ester or N-acetyl-L-lysine. They are formed presumably by addition of 2-aminoalkyl-5-alkylphenols to the o-quinone of biphenyltetrol which, in turn, arises from oxidative coupling of. The structures of present the first examples for the assembly of reasonably stable intermediates in the rather complex process of chemical modifications of aliphatic amino acid residues by o-quinones.
Contents: 1. Discotic Liquid Crystals 2. Monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett Multilayers 3. Theoretical Considerations on the Molecular Packing of Discotic LCs in Monolayers and Multilayers 4. Spreading Experiments with Discotic LCs 5. LB-Multilayers of Discotic LCs 6. Polymeric Discotic LCs 7. Summary
Mixed monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers of functional low molecular weight guest compounds, especially nonlinear optical (NLO) dyes, within the matrix of an amphotropic spacer polymer have been prepared. The polymer matrix enabled the transfer of guest compounds not capable of self-organizing at the air-water interface by themselves. The structure of the LB multilayers and the transfer process were studied by small angle X-ray scattering and UV-visible spectroscopy. Good NLO coefficients were found in the mixed films.
In dieser Arbeit wird durch Modellrechnungen gezeigt, wie die Stickstoffinversion in Azacyclen als molekularer Schalter genutzt werden könnte. Hierzu werden ein Fluorazetidin- und ein Fluorazacyclopentanderviat quantenchemisch untersucht. Das letztere Molekül wird auch quantendynamisch untersucht. Jedes der beiden Moleküle besitzt zwei stabile Konformationen. Es wird gezeigt, dass das Azabicyclopentanderivat von der einen Konformation mittels zweier linear polarisierter IR-Laserpulse durch sogenanntes “ladder climbing” in die andere überführt werden kann.
For more than 70 years, understanding of the mechanism of particle nucleation in emulsion polymerization has been one of the most challenging issues in heterophase polymerization research. Within this work a comprehensive experimental study of particle nucleation in emulsion polymerization of styrene at 70 °C and variety of conditions has been performed. To follow the onset of nucleation, on-line conductivity measurements were applied. This technique is highly sensitive to the mobility of conducting species and hence, it can be employed to follow aggregation processes leading to particle formation. On the other hand, by recording the optical transmission (turbidity) of the reaction mixture particle growth was followed. Complementary to the on-line investigations, off-line characterizations of the particle morphology and the molecular weight have been performed. The aim was to achieve a better insight in the processes taking place after starting the reaction via particle nucleation until formation of colloidally stable latex particles. With this experimental protocol the initial period of styrene emulsion polymerization in the absence as well as in the presence of various surfactants (concentrations above and below the critical micellization concentration) and also in the presence of seed particles has been investigated. Ionic and non-ionic initiators (hydrophilic and hydrophobic types) have been applied to start the polymerizations. Following the above algorithm, experimental evidence has been obtained showing the possibility of performing surfactant-free emulsion polymerization of styrene with oil-soluble initiators. The duration of the pre-nucleation period (that is the time between starting the polymerization and nucleation) can be precisely adjusted with the initiator hydrophobicity, the equilibration time of styrene in water, and the surfactant concentration. Spontaneous emulsification of monomer in water, as soon as both phases are brought into contact, is a key factor to explain the experimental results. The equilibration time of monomer in water as well as the type and concentration of other materials in water (surfactants, seed particles, etc.) control the formation rate and the size of the emulsified droplets and thus, have a strong influence on the particle nucleation and the particle morphology. One of the main tasks was to investigate the effect of surfactant molecules and especially micelles on the nucleation mechanism. Experimental results revealed that in the presence of emulsifier micelles the conductivity pattern does not change essentially. This means that the presence of emulsifiers does not change the mechanism of particle formation qualitatively. However, surfactants assist in the nucleation process as they lower the activation free energy of particle formation. Contrary, seed particles influence particle nucleation, substantially. In the presence of seed particles above a critical volume fraction the formation of new particles can be suppressed. However, micelles and seed particles as absorbers exhibit a common behavior under conditions where monomer equilibration is not allowed. Results prove that the nucleation mechanism comprises the initiation of water soluble oligomers in the aqueous phase followed by their aggregation. The process is heterogeneous in nature due to the presence of monomer droplets.
Cationic and zwitterionic polymerizable surfactants bearing tri- and tetraethyleneglycol spacer groups between the polymerizable moiety and the surfactant structure were prepared and polymerized. Monomers and polymers were investigated with respect to their aggregation behavior in aqueous systems and compared to analogous monomers and polymers lacking spacer groups. In the case of the monomeric surfactants, the spacer groups depress both the Kraffttemperature and the critical micelle concentration. the area occupied per molecule at the air-water interface is substantially enlarged by the spacers, whereas the depression of surface tension is nearly constant. Although the monomers with and without spacers are true surfactants, all the polymers are water-insoluble, but form monomolecular layers at the air-water interface. In analogy to the monomer behavior, the incorporation of the spacer groups increases the area occupied per repeat unit at the air-water interface substantially, but hardly affects the surface activity.
Amphiphilic derivatives of octadiene and docosadiene were investigated in monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers, with respect to their self-organization and their polymerization behavior. All amphiphiles investigated form monolayers. However, only acid and alcohol derivatives were able to build up multilayers. Those multilayers are rapidly photopolymerized in the layers via a two-step process: Irradiation with long-wavelength UV light yields soluble polymers, whereas additional irradiation with sfiort-wavelength UV light produces insoluble and presumably cross-linked polymers. The reaction meclianism is discussed according to the polymer characterization by UV spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, NMR spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. All multilayers undergo structural changes during the polymerization; substantial changes result in defects in the polymerized layers as observed by scanning electron microscopy. In contrast to the acids and alcohols, the deposition of monolayers of the aldehyde derivatives did not yield well-ordered multilayers, but rather amorphous films. In this different film structure, the photopolymerization process differs from the one observed in multilayers.
Several polymerizable lipids were synthesized and polymerized to amphiphilic homopolymers and to copolymers with the help of hydrophilic comonomers. The self-organization of these polymeric lipids was investigated in monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers. The self-organization of these polymers in model membranes is due to hydrophilic spacer groups in the amphiphilic side groups as well as to hydrophilic spacer groups in the polymer backbone. Thus, highly ordered monolayers and LB-multilayers are easily obtained.
Oriented supramolecular systems-polymeric monolayers and multilayers from prepolymerized amphiphiles
(1986)
Oriented polymeric membranes were originally prepared by polymerization or polycondensation of preoriented monomers. The introduction of hydrophilic spacer groups into the polymeric amphiphiles allowed the formation of highly ordered systems (monolayers, liposomes, multilayers) from prepolymerized amphiphiles: due to the partial decoupling of the different mobilities and orientation tendencies of the polymer chain and the amphiphilic side groups, these polymers are able to self-organize. In monolayer experiments the high order of these membranes could be demonstrated by their surface pressure area-diagrams. In addition the combination of order and mobility of these spacer groups containing polymeric amphiphiles allowed the formation of Langmuir-Blodgett-multilyers with a high layer correlation. Thus, disturbancies in highly oriented layers can be avoided normally taking place during the polymerization reaction (e.g. contractions) or oriented monomeric layers.
Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers of polymerizable carboxylic acids with hydrocarbon or fluorocarbon chains were prepared. The multilayers were polymerized by UV light and the reactions were studied by UV/visible spectroscopy. The polyreactions strongly influence the multilayer structures which were investigated by X-ray small-angle scattering and scanning electron microscopy. The spreading behaviour of the monomers, the preparation of multilayers, their reactivities in multilayers and structural effects caused by the polyreactions are discussed with regard to the hydrophilic head groups, the polymerizable groups and the hydrophobic chains.
Aus dem Inhalt: Melanine sind komplexe polyphenolische Polymere. In der Natur entstehen sie durch meist enzymkatalysierte oxidative Polymerisation von o-Diphenolen. Man unterscheidet die aus Dopa 1 oder Dopamin 3 hervorgehenden, tiefschwarzen Eumelanine von den aus Dopa in Gegenwart von Cystein entstehenden, gelben bis braunen Phaomelaninen. [...]
Aus dem Inhalt: Melanins are complex polyphenolic polymers. They are usually formed in nature by enzyme-catalyzed oxidative polymerization of o-diphenols. The deep black eumelanins, derived from Dopa 1 or dopamine 3, are distinguished from the yellow to brown phaeomelanins obtained from Dopa in the presence of cysteine. Characteristic of eumelanins are the indole units, which are formed from catecholamines by intramolecular addition of the amino groups to the oxidatively generated o-quinones. [...]
Aus dem Inhalt: Die Juvenilhormone 1a-c werden im Blut von Insekten enzymatisch zu den biologisch inaktiven Sluren hydrolysiert. Bei der Hydrolyse von racemischem 1c im Blut der Wanderheuschrecke Locusta migratoria wird ein Umsatz von 40-60% erreicht. Das unumgesetzte Edukt enthällt einen Überschuß an natürlich konfiguriertem (10R)-1c (e.e. 47.2%). Wir konnten zeigen, daß das in der Hämolymphe vorhandene Hormon-Bindungsprotein bevorzugt mit (10R)- 1c assoziiert.
Chitooligosaccharides are composed of linear β-(1→4)-linked 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranose (GlcNAc) and/or 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranose (GlcN). They are of interest due to their remarkable biological properties including antibacterial, antitumor, antifungal and elicitor activities. They can be obtained from the aminoglucan chitosan by chemical or enzymatic degradation which obviously affords rather heterogenous mixtures. On the other hand, chemical synthesis provides pure compounds with defined sequences of GlcNAc and GlcN monomers. The synthesis of homo- and hetero-chitobioses and hetero-chitotetraoses is described in this thesis. Dimethylmaleoyl and phthaloyl groups were used for protection of the amines. The donor was activated as the trichloroacetimidate in order to form the β-linkages. Glycosylation in the presence of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, followed by N- and O-deprotection furnished chitobioses and chitotetraoses in good yields.
Chinone und Vorstufen, die oxidativ in Chinone und/oder Chinonmethide umgewandelt werden können, sind in der Natur weit verbreitet. Als sekundäre Naturstoffe wirken sie häufig antibiotisch, cytotoxisch, aber auch pathogen, und eine Reihe von Pflanzen und Tieren benutzt chinoide Substanzen als Abwehrstoffe, oft mit spektakulärem Erfolg. Auf makromolekularer Ebene spielen Chinonmethide im Pflanzenreich eine Schlüsselrolle bei der Biosynthese von Lignin, während die Bildung von Melanoproteinen ein Beispiel für Reaktionen von o-Chinonen im Tierreich ist. Bei den Insekten dienen Chinone und Chinonmethide zur Bildung des lebensnotwendigen Exoskeletts. Die Reaktivität von Chinonen in biologischen Systemen hat auch für den Menschen unmittelbare Bedeutung in pharmazeutischer, toxikologischer und technologischer Hinsicht. Den Beispielen in diesem Aufsatz liegt ein gemeinsames Prinzip zugrunde, nämlich die chemische Modifikation von Biopolymeren durch Chinone und Chinonmethide. Wie sich besonders bei einer detaillierteren Betrachtung der Reaktionen zeigt, die zur Sklerotisierung der Insektencuticula führen, sind in den letzten Jahren wichtige neue Erkenntnisse hinzugekommen, die vor allem durch die modernen Methoden der Stofftrennung und der Festkörper-NMR-Spektroskopie ermöglicht worden sind.
The synthesis of galactose clusters that are linked to a steroid moiety by a peptide-like spacer unit is described. The galactose cluster is obtained by Koenigs-Knorr glycosylation of TRIS-Gly-Fmoc (2b) under Helferich conditions. Peptide and ester bonds are formed after activation of carboxylic acids as diphenylthiophene dioxide (TDO) esters. 6a is synthesized in a convergent way by coupling of (Ac4Gal)3-TRIS-Gly (3e) with cholesteryl TDO succinate (5b). Coupling of (Ac4Gal)3-TRIS-Gly hydrogen succinate (3f) with Gly-O-Chol (5d) by means of EEDQ yields 6d. Reaction of (Ac4Gal)3-TRIS-Gly-SUCC-O-TDO (3g) with 25-hydroxycholesterol leads in a linear sequence to the oxysterol derivative 6f. Selective cleavage of the acetyl groups from galactose units yields the known compound 6b and the new derivatives 6e and 6g.
[1-14C]-N-Acetyldopamine (NADA) was oxidized in the presence of methyl [3-3H]-β-alanate with mushroom tyrosinase. The complex mixture of reaction products was partly resolved by chromatographic procedures and analyzed by spectroscopic methods. Methyl-β-alanate is incorporated to only a small extent into oxidation products of NADA which inter alia are presumed to be oligomeric hydroxyquinones. After oxidation of [1-14C, 2-3H]-NADA with preparations from tanning Manduca sexta pupal cuticle, N-acetylnoradrenalin was identified as one of the products. Binding of radioactivity to melanin-like material was also observed. These results suggest that oxidation products different from those formulated usually for the crosslinkages between protein amino groups and N-acetyldopaquinone are deposited in darkly brown coloured insect cuticles during sclerotization.
Die Arbeit beschreibt die Synthese, Charakterisierung und Anwendung von meso- und mikroporösen Hochleistungspolymeren. Im ersten Teil wird die Synthese von mesoporösen Polybenzimidazol (PBI) auf der Basis einer Templatierungsmethode vorgestellt. Auf der Grundlage kommerzieller Monomere und Silikatnanopartikel sowie eines neuen Vernetzers wurde ein Polymer-Silikat-Hybridmaterial aufgebaut. Das Herauslösen des Silikats mit Ammoniumhydrogendifluorid führt zu mesoporösen Polybenzimidazolen mit spherischen Poren von 9 bis 11 nm Durchmesser. Die Abhängigkeit der beobachteten Porosität vom Massenverhältnis Silikat zu Polymer wurde ebenso untersucht wie die Abhängigkeit der Porosität vom Vernetzergehalt. Die Porosität vollvernetzter Proben zeigt eine lineare Abhängigkeit vom Verhältnis Silikat zu Polymer bis zu einem Grenzwert von 1. Wird der Grenzwert überschritten, ist teilweiser Porenkollaps zu beobachten. Die Abhängigkeit der Porosität vom Vernetzergehalt bei festem Silikatgehalt ist nichtlinear. Oberhalb einer kritischen Vernetzerkonzentration wird eine komplette Replikation der Nanopartikel gefunden. Ist die Vernetzerkonzentration dagegen kleiner als der kritische Wert, so ist der völlige Kollaps einiger Poren bei Stabilität der verbleibenden Poren zu beobachten. Ein komplett unporöses PBI resultiert bei Abwesenheit des Vernetzers. Die mesoporösen PBI-Netzwerke konnten kontrolliert mit Phosphorsäure beladen werden. Die erhaltenen Addukte wurden auf ihre Protonenleitfähigkeit untersucht. Es kann gezeigt werden, dass die Nutzung der vordefinierten Morphologie im Vergleich zu einem unstrukturierten PBI in höheren Leitfähigkeiten resultiert. Durch die vernetzte Struktur war des Weiteren genügend mechanische Stabilität gegeben, um die Addukte reversibel und bei sehr guten Leitfähigkeiten bis zu Temperaturen von 190°C bei 0% relativer Feuchtigkeit zu untersuchen. Dies ist für unstrukturierte Phosphorsäure/PBI - Addukte aus linearem PBI nicht möglich. Im zweiten Teil der Arbeit wird die Synthese intrinsisch mikroporöser Polyamide und Polyimide vorgestellt. Das Konzept intrinsisch mikroporöser Polymere konnte damit auf weitere Polymerklassen ausgeweitet werden. Als zentrales, strukturinduzierendes Motiv wurde 9,9'-Spirobifluoren gewählt. Dieses Molekül ist leicht und vielfältig zu di- bzw. tetrafunktionellen Monomeren modifizierbar. Dabei wurden bestehende Synthesevorschriften modifiziert bzw. neue Vorschriften entwickelt. Ein erster Schwerpunkt innerhalb des Kapitels lag in der Synthese und Charakterisierung von löslichen, intrinsisch mikroporösen, aromatischen Polyamid und Polyimid. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass das Beobachten von Mikroporosität stark von der molekularen Architektur und der Verarbeitung der Polymere abhängig ist. Die Charakterisierung der Porosität erfolgte unter Nutzung von Stickstoffsorption, Kleinwinkelröntgenstreuung und Molecular Modeling. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Proben stark vom Umgebungsdruck abhängigen Deformationen unterliegen. Die starke Quellung der Proben während des Sorptionsvorgangs konnte durch Anwendung des "dual sorption" Modells, also dem Auftreten von Porenfüllung und dadurch induzierter Henry-Sorption, erklärt werden. Der zweite Schwerpunkt des Kapitels beschreibt die Synthese und Charakterisierung mikroporöser Polyamid- und Polyimidnetzwerke. Während Polyimidnetzwerke auf Spirobifluorenbasis ausgeprägte Mikroporosität und spezifische Oberflächen von ca. 1100 m²/g aufwiesen, war die Situation für entsprechende Polyamidnetzwerke abweichend. Mittels Stickstoffsorption konnte keine Mikroporosität nachgewiesen werden, jedoch konnte mittels SAXS eine innere Grenzfläche von ca. 300 m²/g nachgewiesen werden. Durch die in dieser Arbeit gezeigten Experimente kann die Grenze zwischen Polymeren mit hohem freien Volumen und mikroporösen Polymeren somit etwas genauer gezogen werden. ausgeprägte Mikroporosität kann nur in extrem steifen Strukturen nachgewiesen werden. Die Kombination der Konzepte "Mesoporosität durch Templatierung" und "Mikroporosität durch strukturierte Monomere" hatte ein hierarchisch strukturiertes Polybenzimidazol zum Ergebnis. Die Präsenz einer Strukturierung im molekularen Maßstab konnte SAXS bewiesen werden. Das so strukturierte Polybenzimidazol zeichnete sich durch eine höhere Protonenleitfähigkeit im Vergleich zu einem rein mesoporösen PBI aus. Der letzte Teil der Arbeit beschäftigte sich mit der Entwicklung einer neuen Synthesemethode zur Herstellung von Polybenzimidazol. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass lineares PBI in einer eutektischen Salzschmelze aus Lithium- und Kaliumchlorid synthetisiert werden kann. Die Umsetzung der spirobifluorenbasierten Monomere zu löslichem oder vernetztem PBI ist in der Salzschmelze möglich.
Characterisation of silica in Equisetum hyemale and its transformation into biomorphous ceramics
(2007)
Equisetum spp. (horsetail / “Schachtelhalm”) is the only surviving genus of the primitive Sphenopsids vascular plants which reached their zenith during the Carboniferous era. It is an herbaceous plant and is distinguished by jointed stems with fused whorl of nodal leaves. The plant has been used for scouring kitchen utensils and polishing wood during the past time due to its high silica encrustations in the epidermis. Equisetum hyemale (scouring rush) can accumulate silica up to 16% dry weight in its tissue, which makes this plant an interesting candidate as a renewable resource of silica for the synthesis of biomorphous ceramics. The thesis comprises a comprehensive experimental study of silica accumulations in E.hyemale using different characterisation techniques at all hierarchical levels. The obtained results shed light on the local distribution, chemical form, crystallinity, and nanostructure of biogenic silica in E.hyemale which were quite unclear until now. Furthermore, isolation of biogenic silica from E.hyemale to obtain high grade mesoporous silica with high purity is investigated. Finally, syntheses of silicon carbide (b-SiC) by a direct thermoconversion process of E.hyemale is attempted, which is a promising material for high performance ceramics. It is found that silica is deposited continuously on the entire epidermal layer with the highest concentration on the knobs. The highest silicon content is at the knob tips (≈ 33%), followed by epidermal flank (≈ 17%), and inner lower knob (≈ 6%), whereas there is almost no silicon found in the interior parts. Raman spectroscopy reveals the presence of at least two silica modifications in E.hyemale. The first type is pure hydrated amorphous silica restricted to the knob tips. The second type is accumulated on the entire continuous outer layer adjacent to the epidermis cell walls. It is lacking silanol groups and is intimately associated with polysaccharides (cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin) and inorganic compounds. Silica deposited in E.hyemale is found to be mostly amorphous with almost negligible amounts of crystalline silica in the form of a-quartz (< 7%). The silica primary particles have a plate-like shape with a thickness of about 2 nm. Pure mesoporous amorphous silica with an open surface area up to 400 m2/g can be obtained from E.hyemale after leaching the plant with HCl to remove the inorganic impurities followed by a calcination treatment. The optimum calcination temperature appears to be around 500°C. Calcination of untreated E.hyemale causes a collapse of the biogenic silica structure which is mainly attributed to the detrimental action of alkali ions present in the native plant. Finally, pure b-SiC with a surface area of about 12 m2/g is obtained upon direct pyrolysis of HCl-treated E.hyemale samples in argon atmosphere. The original structure of native E.hyemale is substantially retained in the biomorphous b-SiC. The results of this thesis lead to a better understanding of the silicification process and allow to draw conclusions about the role of silica in E.hyemale. In particular, a templating role of the plant biopolymers for the synthesis of the nanostructured silica within the plant body can be deduced. Moreover, the high grade ultrafine amorphous silica isolated from E.hyemale promises applications as adsorbent and catalyst support and as silica source for the fabrication of silica-based composites. The synthesis of biomorphous b-SiC from sustainable and low-cost E.hyemale is still in its initial stage. The present thesis demonstrates the principal possibility of carbothermal synthesis of SiC from E.hyemale with the prospect of potential applications, for instance as refractory materials, catalyst supports, or high performance advanced ceramics.
Phototropic microalgae have a large potential for producing valuable substances for the feed, food, cosmetics, pigment, bioremediation, and pharmacy industries as well as for biotechnological processes. Today it is estimated that the microalgal aquaculture worldwide production is 5000 tons of dry matter per year (not taking into account processed products) making it an approximately $1.25 billion U.S. per year industry. In this work, several spectroscopic techniques were utilized for the investigation of microalgae cells. Specifically, photondensity wave spectroscopy was applied as a technique for the on-line observation of the culture. For effective evaluation of the photosynthetic growth processes, fast and non-invasive sensor systems that analyze the relevant biological and technical process parameters are preferred. Traditionally, the biomass in a photobioreactor is quantified with the help of turbidimetry measurements, which require extensive calibration. Another problem frequently encountered when using spectral analysis for investigating solutions is that samples of interest are often undiluted and highly scattering and do not adhere to Beer-Lambert's law. Due to the fluorescence properties of chlorophyll, fluorescence spectroscopy techniques including fluorescence lifetime imaging and single photon counting could be applied to provide images of the cells as well as determine the effects of excitation intensity on the fluorescence lifetime, which is an indicator of the condition of the cell. A photon density wave is a sinusoidally intensity-modulated optical wave stemming from a point-source of light, which propagates through diffuse medium and exhibits amplitude and phase variations. Light propagation though strongly scattering media can be described by the P1 approximation to the Boltzmann transport equation. Photon density wave spectroscopy enables the ability to differentiate between scattered and absorbed light, which is desired so that an independent determination of the reduced scattering and absorption coefficients can be made. The absorption coefficient is related to the pigment content in the cells, and the reduced scattering coefficient can be used to characterize physical and morphological properties of the medium and was here applied for the determination of the average cell size.
The aim of this work was the generation of carbon materials with high surface area, exhibiting a hierarchical pore system in the macro- and mesorange. Such a pore system facilitates the transport through the material and enhances the interaction with the carbon matrix (macropores are pores with diameters > 50 nm, mesopores between 2 – 50 nm). Thereto, new strategies for the synthesis of novel carbon materials with designed porosity were developed that are in particular useful for the storage of energy. Besides the porosity, it is the graphene structure itself that determines the properties of a carbon material. Non-graphitic carbon materials usually exhibit a quite large degree of disorder with many defects in the graphene structure, and thus exhibit inherent microporosity (d < 2nm). These pores are traps and oppose reversible interaction with the carbon matrix. Furthermore they reduce the stability and conductivity of the carbon material, which was undesired for the proposed applications. As one part of this work, the graphene structures of different non-graphitic carbon materials were studied in detail using a novel wide-angle x-ray scattering model that allowed precise information about the nature of the carbon building units (graphene stacks). Different carbon precursors were evaluated regarding their potential use for the synthesis shown in this work, whereas mesophase pitch proved to be advantageous when a less disordered carbon microstructure is desired. By using mesophase pitch as carbon precursor, two templating strategies were developed using the nanocasting approach. The synthesized (monolithic) materials combined for the first time the advantages of a hierarchical interconnected pore system in the macro- and mesorange with the advantages of mesophase pitch as carbon precursor. In the first case, hierarchical macro- / mesoporous carbon monoliths were synthesized by replication of hard (silica) templates. Thus, a suitable synthesis procedure was developed that allowed the infiltration of the template with the hardly soluble carbon precursor. In the second case, hierarchical macro- / mesoporous carbon materials were synthesized by a novel soft-templating technique, taking advantage of the phase separation (spinodal decomposition) between mesophase pitch and polystyrene. The synthesis also allowed the generation of monolithic samples and incorporation of functional nanoparticles into the material. The synthesized materials showed excellent properties as an anode material in lithium batteries and support material for supercapacitors.
Zur selektiven Entfernung von Schwermetallen aus industriellen Abwässern und Prozesslösungen der metallverarbeitenden Industrie werden synthetische metallkomplexierende funktionelle Polymere – mit Iminodiessigsäure (IDE) als aktive Spezies – seit Jahren erfolgreich zur Eliminierung störender Kationen eingesetzt. Ständig steigende Anforderungen an die Qualität der aufzubereitenden Wässer verlangen nach leistungsfähigen Selektivaustauschern, die den Erhalt der Eigenschaften von Prozesslösungen (z. B. pH-Wert, Salzgehalt) ermöglichen. Ziel der Untersuchungen war es, die strukturellen Matrixeinflüsse auf Beladung, Kapazität, Selektivität und Kinetik durch Variation der Matrix und der experimentellen Bedingungen näher zu untersuchen. Auf Basis einer monodispersen Erstsubstitution eines Styren-Divinylbenzen-Copolymerisates wurde durch gezielten Einbau funktioneller Gruppen – Synthese mit differenziertem Substitutionsgrad (TK/N 1-2) – versucht, systematisch den Einfluss des Substitutionsgrades der Matrix auf die Eigenschaften der Ionenaustauscher zu analysieren. Methodisch geordnet wurden zunächst die Versuche nach dem Batch- und anschließend nach dem Säulenverfahren durchgeführt und parallel dazu die Matrix charakterisiert. Das Verhalten der funktionellen Ankergruppen in Abhängigkeit vom pH-Wert der Lösung (pH-Bereich 2 - 5) wurde untersucht, der optimale Anreicherungs-pH-Wert, die maximale Beladung (Kapazität) und Selektivität der unterschiedlich substituierten Proben für die Schwermetall-Ionen Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Pb und Co ermittelt. Den statischen Versuchen folgten dynamische Untersuchungen im Säulenverfahren. Ziel war die Ermittlung des Durchbruchverhaltens und der Durchbruchkapazität bei optimalem pH-Wert in Abhängigkeit vom Substitutionsgrad gegenüber den Einzelmetallionen (Cu, Ni, Zn) und ausgewählten Paaren (Cu/Ni, Cu/Zn, Ni/Zn). Alle Ionenaustauscher wurden ausschließlich in der Ca-Form eingesetzt.
Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird an Hand dreier Beispiele der Einsatz von optischer Sensorik zur Produktcharakterisierung dargestellt, nämlich Untersuchungen zum O2-Gehalt in Fruchtsäften, zur Isotopiesignatur von CO2 in Mineralwässern und zu Lichtstreueigenschaften eines Sonnenschutzmittels. Inhalt: Bestimmung von O2 mit Lumineszenzsonden Isotopenselektive Bestimmung von CO2 mit TDLAS Optische Charakterisierung stark streuender Materialien mit Photonendichtewellen
An approach to the development of fluorescent probes to follow polymerizations in situ using fluorinated cross-conjugated enediynes (Y-enynes) is reported. Different substitution patterns in the Y-enynes result in distinct solvatochromic behavior. β,β-Bis(phenylethynyl)pentafluorostyrene 7, which bears no donor substituents and only fluorine at the styrene moiety, shows no solvatochromism. Donor substituted β,β-bis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenylethynyl) pentafluorostyrene 8 and β,β-bis(4-butyl-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenylethynyl)-3,4,5-trimethoxystyrene 9 exhibit solvatochromism upon change of solvent polarity. Y-enyne 8 showed the largest solvatochromic shift (94 nm bathochromic shift) upon changing solvent from cyclohexane to acetonitrile. A smaller solvatochromic response (44 nm bathochromic shift) was observed for 9. Lippert–Mataga treatment of 8 and 9 yields slopes of -10,800 and -6,400 cm -1, respectively. This corresponds to a change in dipole moment of 9.6 and 6.9 D, respectively. The solvatochromic behavior in 8 and 9 supports the formation of an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state. The low fluorescence quantum yields are caused by competitive double bond rotation. The fluorescence decay time of 9 decreases in methyltetrahydrofuran from 2.1 ns at 77 K to 0.11 ns at 200 K. Efficient single bond rotation in 9 was frozen at -50 °C in a configuration in which the trimethoxyphenyl ring is perpendicular to the fluorinated rings. 7–9 are photostable compounds. The X-ray structure of 7 shows it is not planar and that its conjugation is distorted. Y-enyne 7 stacks in the solid state showing coulombic, actetylene–arene, and fluorine–π interactions.
Investigations with frequency domain photon density waves allow elucidation of absorption and scattering properties of turbid media. The temporal and spatial propagation of intensity modulated light with frequencies up to more than 1 GHz can be described by the P1 approximation to the Boltzmann transport equation. In this study, we establish requirements for the appropriate choice of turbid model media and characterize mixtures of isosulfan blue as absorber and polystyrene beads as scatterer. For these model media, the independent determination of absorption and reduced scattering coefficients over large absorber and scatterer concentration ranges is demonstrated with a frequency domain photon density wave spectrometer employing intensity and phase measurements at various modulation frequencies.
Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Synthese monodisperser, multifunktionaler Poly(amidoamine) (PAAs). Die Klasse der PAAs ist besonders interessant für eine Anwendung im Bereich der Biomedizin, da sie meist nicht toxisch ist, eine sehr geringe Immunogenizität zeigt und eine erhöhte Zellmembranpermeabilität besitzt. Allerdings ist der Einsatz linearer PAAs bisher limitiert, da ihre Synthese nur den Zugang von hoch-polydispersen Systemen mit einer streng alternierenden oder statistischen Verteilung von Funktionalitäten erlaubt. Es ist daher von großem Interesse diese Polymerklasse durch die Möglichkeit eines sequenzdefinierten Aufbaus und der Integration von neuen Funktionalitäten zu verbessern. Um dies zu ermöglichen, wurden, vergleichbar mit der etablierten Festphasensynthese von Peptiden, schrittweise funktionale Disäure- und Diamin-Bausteine an ein polymeres Träger-Harz addiert. Der sequenzielle Aufbau ermöglicht die Synthese monodisperser PAAs und die Kontrolle über die Monomersequenz. Die Wahl der Monomer-Bausteine und ihrer Funktionalitäten kann dabei für jede Addition neu getroffen werden und entscheidet so über die Sequenz der Funktionalitäten im Polymerrückgrat. Die verwendete Chemie entspricht dabei der Standardpeptidchemie, so dass mit Hilfe eines Peptidsynthese-Automaten die Synthese vollständig automatisiert werden konnte. Die Verwendung spezieller Trägerharze, die bereits mit einem synthetischen Polymerblock wie PEO oder auch mit einem Peptid vorbeladen waren, erlaubt die direkte Synthese von PEO- und Peptid-PAA Blockcopolymeren. Da die hier dargestellten PAAs später auf ihre Eignung als multivalente Polykationen in der Gentherapie getestet werden sollten, wurden zunächst Bausteine gewählt, die den Einbau verschiedener Aminfunktionalitäten ermöglichen. Die Bausteine müssen dabei so gewählt sein, dass sie kompatibel sind mit der Chemie des Peptidsynthesizers und eine quantitative Addition ohne Neben- oder Abbruchreaktionen garantieren. Darüber hinaus ist der Einbau von Peptidsequenzen und Disulfid-Einheiten in die PAA-Kette möglich, die z. B. für einen selektiven Abbau des Polymers im Organismus genutzt werden können. Zusammenfassend lässt sich feststellen, dass die in dieser Arbeit vorgestellten PAA-Systeme großes Potenzial als nicht-virale Vektoren für die Gentransfektion bieten. Sie sind nicht toxisch und zeigen Zellaufnahme-Effizienzen von bis zu 77%. Die Gentransfereffizienz ist im Vergleich zu etablierten Polymer-Vektoren zwar noch sehr gering, aber die bisherigen Versuche zeigen bereits eine mögliche Ursache, nämlich die schlechte Freisetzung des Genmaterials innerhalb der Zelle. Eine Lösung dieses Problems bietet jedoch die weitere Modifizierung der PAA-Systeme durch den Einbau von Sollbruchstellen. Diese Sollbruchstellen ermöglichen einen programmierten Abbau des Polymers innerhalb der Zelle und damit sollte die Freisetzung des Genmaterials vom Träger deutlich erleichtert werden. Mögliche Bruchstellen sind z. B. enzymatisch gezielt spaltbare Peptideinheiten oder Disulfid-Einheiten, wie sie bereits als Bausteine für die PAA-Synthese vorgestellt wurden (vergl. Kapitel 4.4). Da nur innerhalb der Zelle ein reduzierendes elektrochemisches Potential besteht, werden z. B. Disulfid-Einheiten auch nur dort gespalten und bieten außerhalb der Zelle ausreichende Stabilität zum Erhalt der Polyplexstruktur. Neben einer Anwendung in der Gentherapie bieten die hier vorgestellten PAA-Systeme den Vorteil einer systematischen Untersuchung von Struktur-Eigenschafts-Beziehungen der Polyplexe. Es wurden verschiedene Zusammenhänge zwischen der chemischen Struktur der PAA-Segmente und der Art und Stärke der DNS-Komprimierung aufgezeigt. Die Komprimierungsstärke wiederum zeigte deutlichen Einfluss auf die Internalisierungsrate und damit auch Transfektionseffizienz. Darüber hinaus zeigte sich ein drastischer Einfluss des PEO-Blocks auf die Stabilisierung der Polyplexe sowie deren intrazelluläre Freisetzung bei Zusatz von Chloroquin. Dennoch bleiben aufgrund der Komplexität der Zusammenhänge noch viele Mechanismen der Transfektion unverstanden, und es muss Aufgabe folgender Arbeiten sein, das Potential der hier eingeführten monodispersen PAA-Systeme weiter auszuloten. So wäre z. B. eine Korrelation der Kettenlänge mit den Parametern der Polyplexbildung, der Zellaufnahme und Transfektionseffizienz von großem Interesse. Darüber hinaus bietet der Einbau von Sollbruchstellen wie kurzen Peptidsequenzen oder den hier bereits eingeführten Disulfid-Einheiten neue Möglichkeiten der gezielten Freisetzung und des programmierten Abbaus, die näher untersucht werden müssen. Neben der Anwendung im Bereich der Gentransfektion sind außerdem andere Gebiete für den Einsatz von monodispersen multifunktionalen PAAs denkbar, da diese kontrollierbare und einstellbare Wechselwirkungen ermöglichen.
Die Anwendung von optischen Parametern zur Stoffcharakterisierung wird diskutiert. Dabei ist der Schwerpunkt der Diskussion auf absorptions- und fluoreszenzspektroskopische Methoden gesetzt. Beide Methoden können schnell und zuverlässig – auch im on-line Betrieb – eingesetzt werden. Der Beitrag soll einen Überblick über die grundlegenden Möglichkeiten der Anwendung beider Methoden geben.
Vibrationally resolved fluorescence spectra of four angular [N]phenylenes were recorded with laser excited Shpol’skii spectroscopy (LESS) in an n-octane matrix at 10 K. In general, the same vibrational frequencies were observed in the fluorescence excitation and emission spectra, indicating that the geometries of ground and electronically excited state are very similar. Because of intensity borrowing from the S2 state, vibrations of two different symmetries were observed in the fluorescence excitation spectra of angular [3]phenylene and zig-zag[5]phenylene. This finding allowed the location of the S2 state for these compounds. DFT calculations(RB3LYP/6-31G*) of the ground state vibrational frequencies were made. The calculated vibrational modes were in reasonably good agreement with the experimental data. A new very low-frequency vibration of approximately 100 cm-1 was predicted and experimentally confirmed for all [N]phenylenes investigated. This vibration seems to be unique for [N]phenylenes and is attributed to an in-plane movement of the carbon backbone.
The properties of a series of well-defined new surfactant oligomers (dimers to tetramers)were examined. From a molecular point of view, these oligomeric surfactants consist of simple monomeric cationic surfactant fragments coupled via the hydrophilic ammonium chloride head groups by spacer groups (different in nature and length). Properties of these cationic surfactant oligomers in aqueous solution such as solubility, micellization and surface activity, micellar size and aggregation number were discussed with respect to the two new molecular variables introduced, i.e. degree of oligomerization and spacer group, in order to establish structure – property relationships. Thus, increasing the degree of oligomerization results in a pronounced decrease of the critical micellization concentration (CMC). Both reduced spacer length and increased spacer hydrophobicity lead to a decrease of the CMC, but to a lesser extent. For these particular compounds, the formed micelles are relatively small and their aggregation number decreases with increasing the degree of oligomerization, increasing spacer length and sterical hindrance. In addition, pseudo-phase diagrams were established for the dimeric surfactants in more complex systems, namely inverse microemulsions, demonstrating again the important influence of the spacer group on the surfactant behaviour. Furthermore, the influence of additives on the property profile of the dimeric compounds was examined, in order to see if the solution properties can be improved while using less material. Strong synergistic effects were observed by adding special organic salts (e.g. sodium salicylate, sodium vinyl benzoate, etc.) to the surfactant dimers in stoichiometric amounts. For such mixtures, the critical aggregation concentration is strongly shifted to lower concentration, the effect being more pronounced for dimers than for analogous monomers. A sharp decrease of the surface tension can also be attained. Many of the organic anions produce viscoelastic solutions when added to the relatively short-chain dimers in aqueous solution, as evidenced by rheological measurements. This behaviour reflects the formation of entangled wormlike micelles due to strong interactions of the anions with the cationic surfactants, decreasing the curvature of the micellar aggregates. It is found that the associative behaviour is enhanced by dimerization. For a given counterion, the spacer group may also induce a stronger viscosifying effect depending on its length and hydrophobicity. Oppositely charged surfactants were combined with the cationic dimers, too. First, some mixtures with the conventional anionic surfactant SDS revealed vesicular aggregates in solution. Also, in view of these catanionic mixtures, a novel anionic dimeric surfactant based on EDTA was synthesized and studied. The synthesis route is relatively simple and the compound exhibits particularly appealing properties such as low CMC and σCMC values, good solubilization capacity of hydrophobic probes and high tolerance to hard water. Noteworthy, mixtures with particular cationic dimers gave rise to viscous solutions, reflecting the micelle growth.
Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) plays an important role for biochemical applications such as DNA sequencing, intracellular protein-protein interactions, molecular binding studies, in vitro diagnostics and many others. For qualitative and quantitative analysis, FRET systems are usually assembled through molecular recognition of biomolecules conjugated with donor and acceptor luminophores. Lanthanide (Ln) complexes, as well as semiconductor quantum dot nanocrystals (QD), possess unique photophysical properties that make them especially suitable for applied FRET. In this work the possibility of using QD as very efficient FRET acceptors in combination with Ln complexes as donors in biochemical systems is demonstrated. The necessary theoretical and practical background of FRET, Ln complexes, QD and the applied biochemical models is outlined. In addition, scientific as well as commercial applications are presented. FRET can be used to measure structural changes or dynamics at distances ranging from approximately 1 to 10 nm. The very strong and well characterized binding process between streptavidin (Strep) and biotin (Biot) is used as a biomolecular model system. A FRET system is established by Strep conjugation with the Ln complexes and QD biotinylation. Three Ln complexes (one with Tb3+ and two with Eu3+ as central ion) are used as FRET donors. Besides the QD two further acceptors, the luminescent crosslinked protein allophycocyanin (APC) and a commercial fluorescence dye (DY633), are investigated for direct comparison. FRET is demonstrated for all donor-acceptor pairs by acceptor emission sensitization and a more than 1000-fold increase of the luminescence decay time in the case of QD reaching the hundred microsecond regime. Detailed photophysical characterization of donors and acceptors permits analysis of the bioconjugates and calculation of the FRET parameters. Extremely large Förster radii of more than 100 Å are achieved for QD as acceptors, considerably larger than for APC and DY633 (ca. 80 and 60 Å). Special attention is paid to interactions with different additives in aqueous solutions, namely borate buffer, bovine serum albumin (BSA), sodium azide and potassium fluoride (KF). A more than 10-fold limit of detection (LOD) decrease compared to the extensively characterized and frequently used donor-acceptor pair of Europium tris(bipyridine) (Eu-TBP) and APC is demonstrated for the FRET system, consisting of the Tb complex and QD. A sub-picomolar LOD for QD is achieved with this system in azide free borate buffer (pH 8.3) containing 2 % BSA and 0.5 M KF. In order to transfer the Strep-Biot model system to a real-life in vitro diagnostic application, two kinds of imunnoassays are investigated using human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) as analyte. HCG itself, as well as two monoclonal anti-HCG mouse-IgG (immunoglobulin G) antibodies are labeled with the Tb complex and QD, respectively. Although no sufficient evidence for FRET can be found for a sandwich assay, FRET becomes obvious in a direct HCG-IgG assay showing the feasibility of using the Ln-QD donor-acceptor pair as highly sensitive analytical tool for in vitro diagnostics.
Polyelectrolyte microcapsules containing stimuli-responsive polymers have potential applications in the fields of sensors or actuators, stimulable microcontainers and controlled drug delivery. Such capsules were prepared, with the focus on pH-sensitivity and carbohydrate-sensing. First, pH-responsive polyelectrolyte capsules were produced by means of electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly of oppositely charged weak polyelectrolytes onto colloidal templates that were subsequently removed. The capsules were composed of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) or poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) and PMA and varied considerably in their hydrophobicity and the influence of secondary interactions. These polymers were assembled onto CaCO3 and SiO2 particles with diameters of ~ 5 µm, and a new method for the removal of the silica template under mild conditions was proposed. The pH-dependent stability of PAH/PMA and P4VP/PMA capsules was studied by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). They were stable over a wide pH-range and exhibited a pronounced swelling at the edges of stability, which was attributed to uncompensated positive or negative charges within the multilayers. The swollen state could be stabilized when the electrostatic repulsion was counteracted by hydrogen-bonding, hydrophobic interactions or polymeric entanglement. This stabilization made it possible to reversibly swell and shrink the capsules by tuning the pH of the solution. The pH-dependent ionization degree of PMA was used to modulate the binding of calcium ions. In addition to the pH-sensitivity, the stability and the swelling degree of these capsules at a given pH could be modified, when the ionic strength of the medium was altered. The reversible swelling was accompanied by reversible permeability changes for low and high molecular weight substances. The permeability for glucose was evaluated by studying the time-dependence of the buckling of the capsule walls in glucose solutions and the reversible permeability modulation was used for the encapsulation of polymeric material. A theoretical model was proposed to explain the pH-dependent size variations that took into account an osmotic expanding force and an elastic restoring force to evaluate the pH-dependent size changes of weak polyelectrolyte capsules. Second, sugar-sensitive multilayers were assembled using the reversible covalent ester formation between the polysaccharide mannan and phenylboronic acid moieties that were grafted onto poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). The resulting multilayer films were sensitive to several carbohydrates, showing the highest sensitivity to fructose. The response to carbohydrates resulted from the competitive binding of small molecular weight sugars and mannan to the boronic acid groups within the film, and was observed as a fast dissolution of the multilayers, when they were brought into contact with the sugar-containing solution above a critical concentration. It was also possible to prepare carbohydrate-sensitive multilayer capsules, and their sugar-dependent stability was investigated by following the release of encapsulated rhodamine-labeled bovine serum albumin (TRITC-BSA).
First studies of electron transfer in [N]phenylenes were performed in bimolecular quenching reactions of angular [3]- and triangular [4]phenylene with various electron acceptors. The relation between the quenching rate constants kq and the free energy change of the electron transfer (ΔG0CS ) could be described by the Rehm-Weller equation. From the experimental results, a reorganization energy λ of 0.7 eV was derived. Intramolecular electron transfer reactions were studied in an [N]phenylene bichomophore and a corresponding reference compound. Fluorescence lifetime and quantum yield of the bichromophor display a characteristic dependence on the solvent polarity, whereas the corresponding values of the reference compound remain constant. From the results, a nearly isoenergonic ΔG0CS can be determined. As the triplet quantum yield is nearly independent of the polarity, charge recombination leads to the population of the triplet state.