Serkan Demirci

Preparation and Characterization of Blend Films of Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) and Sodium Alginate

Blend films of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and sodium alginate (NaAlg) were prepared by casting from aqueous solutions. This blend films were characterized by tensile strength test, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The miscibility in the blends of PVA and NaAlg was established on the basis of the thermal analysis results. DSC showed that the blends possessed single, composition‐dependent glass transition temperatures (Tgs), indicating that the blends are miscible. FT‐IR studies indicate that there is the intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions, i.e. –OH…−OOC– in PVA/NaAlg blends. The blend films also exhibited the higher thermal stability and their mechanical properties improved compared to those of homopolymers.

Surface modification of electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibers via RAFT polymerization for DNA adsorption

We report on a facile and robust method by which surface of electrospun cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibers can be chemically modified with cationic polymer brushes for DNA adsorption. The surface of CA nanofibers was functionalized by growing poly[(ar-vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium chloride)] [poly(VBTAC)] brushes through a multi-step chemical sequence that ensures retention of mechanically robust nanofibers. Initially, the surface of the CA nanofibers was modified with RAFT chain transfer agent. Poly(VBTAC) brushes were then prepared via RAFT-mediated polymerization from the nanofiber surface. DNA adsorption capacity of CA nanofibrous web surface functionalized with cationic poly(VBTAC) brushes was demonstrated. The reusability of these webs was investigated by measuring the adsorption capacity for target DNA in a cyclic manner. In brief, CA nanofibers surface-modified with cationic polymer brushes can be suitable as membrane materials for filtration, purification, and/or separation processes for DNA.

Thermal, Spectroscopic, and Mechanical Properties of Blend Films of Poly(N-Vinyl-2-Pyrrolidone) and Sodium Alginate

Blends of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) and sodium alginate (NaAlg) were prepared by casting from aqueous solutions. These blends were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile strength test. The miscibility in the blends of PVP and NaAlg was established on the basis of the thermal analysis results. DSC showed that the blends possessed single, composition-dependent glass transition temperatures (T g s), indicating that the blends are miscible in amorphous state. FT-IR studies indicate that there are the intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions, i.e., –OH·····O=C in PVP/NaAlg blends. This blend films also exhibited the higher thermal stability and improved the elongation at break in dry states.

pH-responsive nanofibers with controlled drug release properties

Smart polymers and nanofibers are potentially intriguing materials for controlled release of bioactive agents. This work describes a new class of pH responsive nanofibers for drug delivery systems with controlled release properties. Initially, poly(4-vinylbenzoic acid-co-(ar-vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium chloride) [poly(VBA-co-VBTAC)] was synthesized via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Then, ciprofloxacin was chosen as the model drug for the release study and encapsulated into pH-responsive polymeric carriers of poly(VBA-co-VBTAC) nanofibers via electrospinning. The morphology of the electrospun nanofibers was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The structural characteristics of the pH responsive nanofibers were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The release measurements of ciprofloxacin from pH responsive nanofibers were also performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. To show the pH sensitivity of these nanofibers, the release profile of ciprofloxacin was examined under acidic, neutral and basic conditions. The results indicate that pH responsive nanofibers can serve as effective drug carriers since the release of ciprofloxacin could be controlled by changing the pH of the environment, and therefore these drug loaded pH-responsive nanofibers might have potential applications in the biomedical field.

RAFT-mediated synthesis of cationic poly[(ar-vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium chloride] brushes for quantitative DNA immobilization

The synthesis of cationic poly[(ar-vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium chloride)] [poly(VBTAC)] brushes was achieved via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and used for quantitative DNA immobilization. Initially, silicon surfaces were modified with RAFT chain transfer agent by utilizing an amide reaction involving a silicon wafer modified with allylamine and 4-cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate (CPAD). Poly(VBTAC) brushes were then prepared via RAFT-mediated polymerization from the surface immobilized CPAD. Various characterization techniques including ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, grazing angle-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and contact-angle goniometer were used to characterize the immobilization of CPAD on the silicon wafer and the subsequent polymer formation. The addition of free CPAD was required for the formation of well-defined polymer brushes, which subsequently resulted in the presence of free polymer chains in solution. The free polymer chains were isolated and used to estimate the molecular weights and polydispersity index of chains attached to the surface. Moreover, from atomic force microscopy and ellipsometry measurements, it was also determined that the density of immobilized DNA on the cationic poly(VBTAC) brushes can be quantitatively controlled by adjusting the solution concentration.

Synthesis, structure characterization and antimicrobial evaluation of 4-(substituted phenylazo)-3,5-diacetamido-1H-pyrazoles

The present article deals with the synthesis, spectral characterization and antimicrobial activity of phenylazo dyes. All of the synthesized phenylazo dyes were characterized using ATR-FTIR, FT-Raman, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, elemental analysis and mass spectroscopic techniques. Solvent effects on the UV-Vis absorption spectra of these phenylazo dyes were studied. Acid and base effects on the visible absorption maxima of the phenylazo dyes were also reported. The structural and spectroscopic analysis of the molecules were carried out using Density Functional Theory (DFT) employing the standard 6-31G(d) basis set, and the optimized geometries and calculated vibrational frequencies were evaluated via comparison with experimental values. The antimicrobial activity of 4-(substituted phenylazo)-3,5-diacetamido-1H-pyrazoles was reported against bacteria, including B. cereus (RSKK 863), S. aureus (ATCC 259231), M. luteus (NRRL B-4375), E. coli (ATCC 11230) and the yeast C. albicans (ATCC 10239).

Determination of pK a of benzoic acid- and p-aminobenzoic acid-modified platinum surfaces by electrochemical and contact angle measurements

Acidity constant values of benzoic acid (BA)-modified platinum electrode (Pt-BA) and p-aminobenzoic acid (pABA)-modified platinum electrode (Pt-NHBA) surfaces were determined using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and contact angle measurements (CAM). Diazonium tetrafluoroborate salt reduction and pABA oxidation reactions were used to prepare (Pt-BA) and (Pt-NHBA) surfaces, respectively. Both surfaces exhibited pH dependence with [Fe(CN)6]3−/4− redox probe solutions at different pH; this allowed us to estimate the surface pKa values. Acidity constants for Pt-BA surface were found to be pKa (3.09 ± 0.25), (4.89 ± 0.11), and (3.91 ± 0.54) by CV, EIS, and CAM techniques, respectively, while the values for Pt-NHBA surface were pKa (3.16 ± 0.45), (4.24 ± 0.40), and (5.64 ± 0.12). The Pt-BA surface pKa values were lower in CV and CAM measurements relative to the bulk solution of BA, while a higher value was observed in EIS for Pt-BA surface. The pKa values determined for Pt-NHBA surface via both CV and EIS were lower than the bulk value; however, the result obtained from CAM was one unit higher than pKa of bulk pABA.