Ciencia y Tecnología

Synthesis and characterization of nanoparticulate silica with organized multimodal porous structure impregnated with 12-phosphotungstic acid for its use in heterogeneous catalysis

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Synthesis and characterization of nanoparticulate silica with organized multimodal porous structure impregnated with 12-phosphotungstic acid for its use in heterogeneous catalysis Morales, María Dolores; Frenzel, Romina Alejandra; Romanelli, Gustavo Pablo; Pizzio, Luis Rene Mesoporous silica (MESSI) nanoparticles with ordered mesoporous frameworks were successfully obtained using the triblock copolymer P123 as the mesoporous template and agar as micropore former. The agar/TEOS ratio influences the specific surface area (SBET) and the micropore area (SMIC). The SBET values increase with the increment of the agar/TEOS ratio used in the synthesis. SAXS (small angle X-ray scattering) patterns and TEM (transmission electron microscopy) images of MESSI samples reveal the presence of a 2D hexagonal mesopore array. The study of all the materials impregnated with PTA by 31P NMR and FT-IR confirmed the existence of undegraded [H3-XPW12O40](3−X)− and [PW12O40]3− anions interacting with the ≡Si-OH2 + groups. The potentiometric titration results show that the MESSI-2PTA solids present very strong acid sites and that both the acid strength and the number of sites increase with the increment of the PTA amount in the samples. The performance of MESSI-2PTA materials as catalysts in the solvent-free synthesis of a series of substituted 3H-1,5-benzodiazepines was evaluated. The yields achieved were high, without formation of by-products resulting from competitive reactions or decomposition products, so the prepared materials are highly selective and reusable catalysts.

Alpha 1 adrenergic receptor-mediated inflammatory responses in human testicular peritubular cells

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Alpha 1 adrenergic receptor-mediated inflammatory responses in human testicular peritubular cells Rossi, Soledad Paola; Walenta, Lena; Rey Ares, Veronica; Köhn, Frank-Michael; Ulrich Schwarzer, J.; Welter, Harald; Calandra, Ricardo Saul; Frungieri, Monica Beatriz; Mayerhofer, Artur Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system and is linked to impaired fertility in man. We hypothesized that catecholamines by acting on testicular cells have a role in these events, possibly by fostering an inflammatory environment. The cells of the wall of seminiferous tubules, human testicular peritubular cells (HTPCs), express adrenergic receptors (ADRs) α1B, α1D, β1 and β2. A selective α1-ADR agonist, phenylephrine, increased intracellular Ca 2+ -levels in cultured HTPCs and induced COX-2, IL-6 and MCP-1 mRNA expression without affecting IL-1β mRNA. These changes were paralleled by a significant increase in the secretion of IL-6 and MCP-1. Epinephrine was also effective, but salbutamol, a selective β2-ADR agonist was not. Our results suggest that stress-associated elevation of catecholamines may be able to promote inflammatory events by targeting peritubular cells in the human testis. Blockage of α1-ADRs may therefore be a novel way to interfere with stress-related impairment of male reproductive functions.

Polymer functionalized nanoparticles in liquid crystals: Combining PDLCs with LC nanocomposites

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Polymer functionalized nanoparticles in liquid crystals: Combining PDLCs with LC nanocomposites Allie, Safiya; Hegoburu, Ignacio; Shin, Min Jeong; Jung, Jung Young; Toader, Violeta; Rey, Alejandro D.; Soulé, Ezequiel Rodolfo; Reven, Linda Liquid crystal (LC)-polymer blends are important stimuli responsive materials already employed in a wide range of applications whereas nanoparticle (NP)-LC blends are an emerging class of nanocomposites. Polymer ligands offer the advantages of synthetic simplicity along with chemical and molecular weight tunability. Here we compare the phase behavior of 5CB blended with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and with gold NPs functionalized with thiolated PEO (AuNP-PEO) as a function of PEO concentration by DSC, POM and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Both PEO and the AuNP-PEO form uniform dispersions in isotropic 5CB and phase separate below the I-N phase transition temperature. Above the PEO crystallization temperature, the PEO/5CB blends show the expected biphasic state of PEO rich-isotropic liquid co-existing with PEO-poor nematic droplets. At PEO concentrations above 10 wt%, nematic 5CB nucleates with PEO crystallization. Both PEO and AuNP-PEO induce homeotropic alignment of the 5CB matrix immediately below TNI. The AuNP-PEO/5CB blends form thermally reversible cellular networks similar to AuNPs functionalized with low molecular weight mesogenic ligands. A thermodynamic model to account for the observed phase behavior is presented.

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