[Correlation between endogenous harmful components in mainstream cigarette smoke and chemical constituents in tobacco leaves].

Correlation analysis between main chemical constituents of tobacco leaves and endogenous harmful components in mainstream cigarette smoke was conducted. Leaf stalk positions exhibited a high relation with endogenous harmful components and hazard index (H). Upper stalk position leaves had greater release of 1-butanone,4-(methylnitrosoamino)-1-(3-pyridinyl)-(NNK), B[a]P, HCN, NH3 and phenol in mainstream cigarette smoke, and a higher hazard index than middle position leaves except for crotonaldehyde, which had greater release from middle position leaves. Different endogenous harmful components in mainstream cigarette smoke presented complicated correlation with main chemical constituents in tobacco. The same type of leaf chemical constituents presented different correlations with various endogenous harmful components in mainstream cigarette smoke. Cigarette hazard index showed significantly positive correlations with contents of nicotine, protein, total nitrogen, major polyphenols and organic acids, while significantly negative correlation with potassium and carbonaceous substances, such as total sugars, reducing sugars and starch. The results suggested that properly increasing potassium content and decreasing nitrogenous constituents in cured tobacco leaf may reduce the cigarette hazard index.

Silver nanoparticles capped by oleylamine: formation, growth, and self-organization.

Nearly monodisperse silver nanoparticles have been prepared in a simple oleylamine-liquid paraffin system. Intensive study has found that the formation process of silver nanoparticles could be divided into three stages: growth, incubation, and Ostwald ripening stages. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution TEM have all demonstrated the occurrence of Ostwald ripening, which could result in better control over the size and size distribution of silver nanoparticles. SAXS (small-angle X-ray scattering) results show that the as-obtained silver nanoparticles can self-assemble into ordered arrays. The possible reduction mechanism of silver ions by oleylamine is related to the Ag+-mediated conversion of primary amines to nitriles.