Zdzislaw Blaszczak

Determination of composition and structure of spongy bone tissue in human head of femur by Raman spectral mapping

Biomechanical properties of bone depend on the composition and organization of collagen fibers. In this study, Raman microspectroscopy was employed to determine the content of mineral and organic constituents and orientation of collagen fibers in spongy bone in the human head of femur at the microstructural level. Changes in composition and structure of trabecula were illustrated using Raman spectral mapping. The polarized Raman spectra permit separate analysis of local variations in orientation and composition. The ratios of ν2PO43−/Amide III, ν4PO43−/Amide III and ν1CO32−/ν2PO43− are used to describe relative amounts of spongy bone components. The ν1PO43−/Amide I ratio is quite susceptible to orientation effect and brings information on collagen fibers orientation. The results presented illustrate the versatility of the Raman method in the study of bone tissue. The study permits better understanding of bone physiology and evaluation of the biomechanical properties of bone.

Phase transition study of 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate by the optical Kerr effect and Brillouin light scattering☆

Abstract We report the results of a temperature study of the optical Kerr effect in 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate (BDM) revealing a phase transition in the temperature range from 295 to 302 K. Using the Brillouin light scattering method we have also studied the temperature behaviour of the sound velocity and the elasto-optic of BDM. The above temperature dependences display a characteristic discontinuity at about 298 K.

Molecular dynamics of poly(ethylene glycol)s studied by optical Kerr effect and Brillouin spectroscopy

The optical Kerr effect and Brillouin scattering study of a series of poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) in the function of temperature and molecular weight (MW) have been performed. The obtained results enabled us to determine some macroscopic and microscopic parameters (such as molecular Kerr constant, hypersonic velocity, adiabatic compressibility), of the compounds investigated. The values of these parameters were found to depend strongly on both temperature and PEGs MW. Analysis of the results indicates on the presence of molecular interactions leading to formation of molecular aggregates. The increase in the MW leads to folding of PEG chains and to formation of statistical coils.

Optical Kerr effect in a series of n-alcohols

Systematic measurements of optically induced birefringence in short-chain n-alcohols from methanol to decanol (excluding nonanol) have been carried out. The microscopic parameters of the molecular liquids such as optical and molar Kerr constants, the anisotropic factors, optical anisotropy and orientation function were calculated. A linear correlation between the molar Kerr constant and the number of carbon atoms in the alcohol molecule has been found.

Concentration dependence study of optical Kerr effect in optically active media.

Abstract Systematic measurements of optically induced birefringence in some optically active solutions are reported. Relative Kerr constants, refractive indices and densities of the solutions under study were measured at room temperature for a wide range of their concentrations. The absolute and molar Kerr constants as well as the specific Kerr constant were calculated as a function of the volume fraction. From these data the microscopic parameters of the samples such as mean polarizability, anisotropic factors, optical polarizability, orientation function and orientation parameter were found.

Optical interference study of physiological fluids transportation through semipermeable membranes

Recently much attention has been given to investigation of the mechanism of transportation through biological membranes [1,2,3]. The hitherto results have enabled a construction of a membrane model and assessment of the effect of external factors on the mechanism of transportation. The achievements have been used to design new forms of therapeutic substances and their dosage and to propose a production technology of synthetic membranes widely used e.g. in dialysis.

Investigation of molecular interactions in selected liquid diols and their diesters by optical Kerr effect and Brillouin light scattering

Optical methods, which are noninvasive and require small volumes of substance studied, are particularly useful for investigation of local structure and molecular interactions. These methods also proved suitable for investigation of monomers and polymers, which are so common in our civilisation and whose degradation poses an important problem in the aspect of the environment protection. Recognition of the processes taking place in polymers, in particular under the effect of optical irradiation, is a necessary prerequisite for design of materials of exactly predicted properties and able to undergo degradation after use. The paper reports results of investigation of a group of liquid aliphatic diols and their derivatives (unsaturated diesters belonging to dimethacrylanes) carried out using two optical methods the optical Kerr effect and Brillouin scattering. These compounds in the form of polymers have been commonly applied in microelectronics and optical waveguides. Temperature dependencies of these two effects have been studied in the range from 280 to 330K, determining in particular temperature changes of Kerr constants, hypersonic velocities and adiabatic compressibility. The values of the parameters measured were found to depend on the number of elements in the ester group and the temperature dependencies of hypersonic velocity, adiabatic compressibility, and optical Kerr constant were markedly non-linear. The results are presented in the form of tables and diagrams. A discussion of molecular interactions in the liquid esters studied and their relation to the changes in the local structure of the medium is also included.

Optically induced birefringence in a series of analogous diols

Optically induced birefringence has been analysed in a series of analogous diols containing heteroatoms, such as O, N or S. The presence of a heteroatom in a diol molecule can change the arrangement of hydrogen bonding and, consequently, the arrangement of molecules. This hypothesis was confirmed by the results of our study. The measurements were performed at temperatures from 280 to 350 K. The values of the absolute and molar Kerr constants were calculated. The character and magnitude of the temperature changes of molar Kerr constant depend on the type of the heteroatom. According to the theory of the optical Kerr effect such a temperature behaviour indicates the presence of molecular interactions leading to formation of molecular aggregates. The sign of the calculated values of angular correlation factor indicates the predominant parallel arrangement of molecules in such molecular ensembles.

Optical Kerr effect study in viscous media. The series of homologous polyoxyethylenediols

Systematic measurements of optically induced birefringence in the series of homologous polyoxyethylenediols have been carried out. Macroscopic and microscopic parameters of the molecular liquids studied, such as viscosity, molecular Kerr constant and effective optical anisotropy, have been calculated. The majority of the monomers studied have been found to show an untypical increase in the Kerr constant with increasing temperature. The possible explanation of this effect has been proposed.

Study of Brillouin scattering and optical Kerr effect in 2,2′-thiobisethanol dimethacrylate

Abstract In this work, we report the results of a temperature study of Brillouin light scattering and the optical Kerr effect in 2,2′-thiobisethanol dimethacrylate (TEDM). Using these methods, we studied the temperature behaviour of the sound velocity and optical Kerr constant in the temperature range 283–323 K. The temperature dependence observed by two independent optical methods displays a characteristic discontinuity at about 296–303 K, which may point to a change in intermolecular interaction in the compound investigated. The results presented are consistent with those obtained previously for the optical Kerr effect and Raman and Brillouin scattering of butane-1,4-diol dimethacrylate (BDM).