Sol-Gel Synthesis and Characterization of Coatings of Mg-Al Layered Double Hydroxides.

In this study, new synthetic approaches for the preparation of thin films of Mg-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been developed. The LDHs were fabricated by reconstruction of mixed-metal oxides (MMOs) in deionized water. The MMOs were obtained by calcination of the precursor gels. Thin films of sol-gel-derived Mg-Al LDHs were deposited on silicon and stainless-steel substrates using the dip-coating technique by a single dipping process, and the deposited film was dried before the new layer was added. Each layer in the preparation of the Mg-Al LDH multilayers was separately annealed at 70 °C or 300 °C in air. Fabricated Mg-Al LDH coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was discovered that the diffraction lines of Mg3Al LDH thin films are sharper and more intensive in the sample obtained on the silicon substrate, confirming a higher crystallinity of synthesized Mg3Al LDH. However, in both cases the single-phase crystalline Mg-Al LDHs have formed. To enhance the sol-gel processing, the viscosity of the precursor gel was increased by adding polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution. The LDH coatings could be used to protect different substrates from corrosion, as catalyst supports, and as drug-delivery systems in medicine.

Formation of hybrid bilayers on silanized thin-film Ti electrode.

Phospholipid bilayer membranes are essential elements of living organisms as they form boundaries between the intracellular cytoplasm and the extracellular environment, as well as organelles. In this work we report on our attempts to assemble artificial phospholipid bilayer model membranes on Ti surface. To provide hydrophobic cushion for phospholipids, the surface of a thin-film Ti electrode was initially functionalized with trichloro(octadecyl)silane (OTS). Increased hydrophobicity of the solid support allowed vesicle fusion and the formation of a hybrid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) bilayer, as probed by the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), contact angle measurements (CA) also by the Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Our study demonstrates the applicability of thin-film Ti electrodes for the formation of hybrid bilayer membranes. These membranes allow functional reconstitution of the pore-forming toxins and provide a bioanalytical platform for the detection of the activity of the cholesterol-dependent cytolysins.

The isotope method for the determination of stoichiometry between compounds forming the polypyrrole and glucose oxidase composite.

Stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry is a conventional method used in archaeology, and medical, environmental and paleoenvironmental reconstruction studies. However new insights and applicability of the equipment often open new research areas and improve our understanding of the ongoing processes. Therefore the stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry method was applied for the stoichiometry determination of the complex polypyrrole and glucose oxidase composite (PPy-GOx composite). The enzyme glucose oxidase and conducting polymer polypyrrole were reported to form a composite, which was evaluated in time using the dynamic light scattering method. The consistent enlargement of the PPy-GOx composite and the relative decrease of the spare enzyme molecules were observed in the polymerization solution. UV-VIS spectrometry was employed to follow the polymerization process. The isotope mixing model was applied for the evaluation of the constitution of the PPy-GOx composite. According to the obtained results the determination of the PPy-GOx composite stoichiometry could be more reliably determined using the nitrogen isotope ratio approach in comparison to the carbon approach. We expect that this novel work will widen the applications of stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry in research.