Manganese-Catalyzed Synthesis of Polyketones Using Hydrogen-Borrowing Approach.

We report here a method of making polyketones from the coupling of diketones and diols using a manganese pincer complex. The methodology allows us to access various polyketones (polyarylalkylketone) containing aryl, alkyl, and ether functionalities, bridging the gap between the two classes of commercially available polyketones: aliphatic polyketones and polyaryletherketones. Using this methodology, 12 polyketones have been synthesized and characterized using various analytical techniques to understand their chemical, physical, morphological, and mechanical properties.

Enhancement of infrared absorption through a patterned thin film of magnetic field and spin-coating directed self-assembly of gold nanoparticle stabilised ferrofluid emulsion.

Molecular vibration signals were amplified by the gold strip gratings as a result of grating resonances and nearby electric field hotspots. Colloidal gold island films exhibit similar enhancement; however, the uneven geometrical characteristics of these films restrict the tunability of the vibrational enhancement. Infrared absorption is enhanced by regular metallic patterns such as arrays of strips fabricated using a top-down approach such as nanolithography, although this technology is expensive and difficult.

Tuneable magnetic nanocomposites for remote self-healing.

When polymer composites containing magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are exposed to an alternating magnetic field, heat is generated to melt the surrounding polymer locally, partially filling voids across any cracks or deformities. Such materials are of interest for structural applications; however, structural polymers with high melting temperatures pose the challenge of generating high localised temperatures enabling self-healing. A method to prepare a multiferroic-Polyamide 6 (PA6) nanocomposite with tuneable magnetocaloric properties is reported.

Experimental Investigation on Micro Milling of Polyester/Halloysite Nano-Clay Nanocomposites.

Efficient machining of the polyester nanocomposite components requires a better understanding of machinability characteristics of such material, which has become an urgent requirement for modern industrial production. In this research, the micro-milling of polyester/halloysite nano-clay (0.1, 0.

Microbubble-liposome conjugate: Payload evaluation of potential theranostic vehicle.

Liposome-microbubble conjugates are considered as better targeted drug delivery vehicles compared to microbubbles alone. The microbubble in the integrated drug delivery system delivers the drug intracellularly on the target, whereas the liposome component allows loading of high drug dose and extravasation through leaky vasculature. In this work, a new high yielding microbubble production method was used to prepare microbubbles for formulation of the liposome-conjugated drug delivery system.

High Yielding Microbubble Production Method.

Microfluidic approaches to microbubble production are generally disadvantaged by low yield and high susceptibility to (micro)channel blockages. This paper presents an alternative method of producing microbubbles of 2.6 μm mean diameter at concentrations in excess of 30 × 10(6) mL(-1).

A review of imaging methods for measuring drug release at nanometre scale: a case for drug delivery systems.

Introduction: Current drug delivery research is focused on improving the efficacy of drug delivery systems, with emphasis on precise targeting, accurate dose delivery, strategies for overcoming the tissue barrier and monitoring the effects of drugs on their targets. To realize these goals, it is essential to determine the spatio-temporal bio-distribution of particles in the whole animal. Enabling such a measurement at the nanometer scale helps in the design of efficient systems.

In vitro method to characterize diffusion of dye from polymeric particles: a model for drug release.

The release profile of a drug delivery system is a key factor in determining its efficacy. In the case of a polymeric particle based system, the release profile is a function of several parameters including particle diameter and porosity. The effects of these parameters are usually investigated experimentally using UV-spectroscopy.

Novel electrohydrodynamic preparation of porous chitosan particles for drug delivery.

Uniform spherical chitosan particles of size <10 microm in diameter are important in drug delivery applications due to their excellent biocompability and biodegradability. A high concentration of chitosan in the particles can help to control the release of drugs and methods for processing high viscosity chitosan solutions are therefore required. In principle, any type of polymer, whether hydrophobic or hydrophilic, can be electrosprayed to obtain monodisperse particles of diameter <10 microm.

Generation of microbubbles for diagnostic and therapeutic applications using a novel device.

Developments in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications of microbubbles have greatly increased the need for more advanced preparation technologies which provide a well-defined, narrow microbubble size-distribution. In this paper, we demonstrate the use of a new device, consisting of a T-junction whose outlet capillary is fitted with an electrohydrodynamic spraying arrangement, to prepare phospholipid-coated air microbubbles, making significant advances in controlling and decreasing the size and size-distribution, and increasing the stability/lifetime of the bubbles prepared. The microbubbles were characterised via optical microscopy to determine the relationship between the size-distribution obtained and the process variables, specifically the flow rates of the phospholipid suspension and air (Q(l) and Q(g)), and the applied voltage (V).

Dynamics of bubble formation in highly viscous liquids.

There has recently been considerable interest in the development of devices for the preparation of monodisperse microbubble suspensions for use as ultrasound contrast agents and drug delivery vehicles. These applications require not only a high degree of bubble uniformity but also a maximum bubble size of 8 mum, and this provides a strong motivation for developing an improved understanding of the process of bubble formation in a given device. The aim of this work was to investigate bubble formation in a T-junction device and determine the influence of the different processing parameters upon bubble size, in particular, liquid viscosity.