In Situ Forming, Silanized Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels with Fine Control Over Mechanical Properties and In Vivo Degradation for Tissue Engineering Applications.

In situ forming hydrogels that can be injected into tissues in a minimally-invasive fashion are appealing as delivery vehicles for tissue engineering applications. Ideally, these hydrogels should have mechanical properties matching those of the host tissue, and a rate of degradation adapted for neo-tissue formation. Here, the development of in situ forming hyaluronic acid hydrogels based on the pH-triggered condensation of silicon alkoxide precursors into siloxanes is reported.

Joint spectroscopic and theoretical investigation of cationic cyanine dye Astrazon Orange-R: solvent viscosity controlled relaxation of excited states.

In this paper, the first study of cationic cyanine dye Astrazon Orange-R by combined spectroscopic and theoretical investigation is presented. It is shown that molecular modeling of Astrazon Orange-R is in very good agreement with experiment, allowing us to gain insight into its complicated photophysics. A solvent viscosity controlled relaxation of excited states, involving cyanine isomerization, is also outlined.

Selective, direct detection of acetylcholine in PBS solution, with self-assembled fluorescent nano-particles: experiment and modelling.

We report synthesis, characterisation and molecular modelling of a new fluorescent cyclotriveratrylene probe for acetylcholine in aqueous media, with emission around 430 nm thanks to extended conjugation. The probe discriminates acetylcholine from choline, with respective binding constants 540 and 240 M(-1) in PBS buffered saline solution, an order of magnitude improvement over the previous best performance. Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy show the new probe self-assembles in ca.

Efficient cyanoaromatic photosensitizers for singlet oxygen production: synthesis and characterization of the transient reactive species.

In order to graft cyanoaromatic molecules onto various inert supports, we designed two new cyanoanthracene derivatives of benzo[b]triphenylene-9,14-dicarbonitrile (DBTP, 1), which already demonstrated good photosensitizing properties. We synthesized 3-(N-hydroxypropyl)carboxamido-9,14-dicyanobenzo[b]triphenylene, 3 and 3-(N-N0-Boc-aminohexyl)carboxamido-9,14-dicyanobenzo[b]triphenylene, 4 and compared their photophysical properties in acetonitrile relative to those of the parent compound 1 and its carboxylic derivative 9,14-dicyanobenzo[b]triphenylene-3-carboxylic acid, 2. The transient species were analysed and the quantum yields of singlet oxygen production (ΦΔ) determined in acetonitrile.

Association of indigo with zeolites for improved color stabilization.

The durability of an organic color and its resistance against external chemical agents and exposure to light can be significantly enhanced by hybridizing the natural dye with a mineral. In search for stable natural pigments, the present work focuses on the association of indigo blue with several zeolitic matrices (LTA zeolite, mordenite, MFI zeolite). The manufacturing of the hybrid pigment is tested under varying oxidizing conditions, using Raman and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrometric techniques.