Essential Oil from Berries of Lebanese Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb Displays Similar Antibacterial Activity to Chlorhexidine but Higher Cytocompatibility with Human Oral Primary Cells.

Chlorhexidine (CHX), one of the most effective drugs administered for periodontal treatment, presents collateral effects including toxicity when used for prolonged periods; here, we have evaluated the bactericidal potency and the cytocompatibility of Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb essential oil (EO) in comparison with 0.05% CHX.

Characterization of an amylose-graft-poly(n-butyl methacrylate) copolymer obtained by click chemistry by EPR and SS-NMR spectroscopies.

We present an investigation of the main chemical and physico-chemical properties of a graft copolymer of amylose and poly(n-butyl methacrylate), Am-g-PBMA, amphiphilic and able to self-assemble in water, prepared by coupling end azide-functionalized PBMA and alkyne-functionalized amylose under convenient click conditions. A deep knowledge of these properties is necessary in the perspective of real applications of the copolymer. To this aim we combined a basic characterization through FT-IR, TGA, ICP-OES and SEM with an extensive EPR and Solid State NMR investigation.

Shape Memory Properties of PBS-Silica Hybrids.

A series of novel Si-O-Si crosslinked organic/inorganic hybrid semi-crystalline polymers with shape memory properties was prepared from alkoxysilane-terminated poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) by water-induced silane crosslinking under organic solvent-free and catalyst-free conditions. The hydrolyzation and condensation of alkoxysilane end groups allowed for the generation of silica-like crosslinking points between the polymeric chains, acting not only as chemical net-points, but also as inorganic filler for a reinforcement effect. The resulting networks were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMA) and tensile and shape memory tests to gain insight into the relationship between the polymeric structure, the morphology and the properties.

Dinuclear Cu(II) complexes of isomeric bis-(3-acetylacetonate)benzene ligands: synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties.

Highly versatile coordinating ligands are designed and synthesized with two β-diketonate groups linked at the carbon 3 through a phenyl ring. The rigid aromatic spacer is introduced in the molecules to orient the two acetylacetone units along different angles and coordination vectors. The resulting para, meta, and ortho bis-(3-acetylacetonate)benzene ligands show efficient chelating properties toward Cu(II) ions.

Synthesis and photophysical characterization of highly luminescent silica films doped with substituted 2-hydroxyphthalamide (IAM) terbium complexes.

Innovative Tb(3+) antenna complexes employing two different substituted 2-hydroxyphthalamide ligands (HxOH-IAM and bis-HxOH-IAM) acting simultaneously as coordinating sites and light collector units have been synthesized and successively anchored in silica layers by the sol-gel technique. The complexes show remarkable photoluminescence (PL) quantum yields in methanol solution, as high as 0.30 and 0.

Photophysical properties and tunable colour changes of silica single layers doped with lanthanide(III) complexes.

Highly stable Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes, emitting in the red and green visible regions, respectively, have been anchored onto a single SiO(2) transparent layer, yielding ca. 40 nm thick films; this allows high loading of tailored proportions of the red and green emitters within the films and results in highly uniform and easily colour-tunable luminescent layers.