This paper reports the rheological behavior of chitosan solutions that have been cross-linked with different amounts of genipin, at body temperature and physiological pH. The effect of the cross-linker loading on the rheological properties of hydrogels has been evaluated. The oscillatory time sweep method was used to monitor the dynamic viscoelastic parameters during in situ (i.e., in the rheometer) gelation experiments, enabling the determination of the gelation time. The stress and frequency sweeps were employed to measure G′ of the cured hydrogels. It was found that the solutions of chitosan cross-linked with genipin, under physiological conditions, could form relatively strong elastic gels when compared to those of pure chitosan. Moreover, the gelation time obtained from the crossover of G′′ and G′ was in excellent agreement with the value obtained from the Winter–Chambon criterion. A significant reduction on this parameter was achieved even at low genipin concentrations. This behavior suggests that these formulations are able to be produced in situ and thus constitute promising matrices for cells and bioactive molecule encapsulations.

Various polymer coatings have been investigated for the protection of mercury thin-film electrodes in the square wave anodic stripping voltammetry of environmental samples using batch injection analysis, with injection of untreated samples of volume 50 [mu]l directly over the sensing electrode. Polymer coatings studied include those with controlled porosity, and cation-exchange polymers based on sulphonated polymers. Of the polymers tested, films of ca. 1 [mu]m thickness made from Nafion® mixed with 5% poly(vinyl sulphonic acid) were found to give the best results in tests with the model surfactants Triton-X-100 detergent, sodium dodecyl sulphate and protein standard. The validity of the approach is demonstrated by application to real samples.

Endophthalmitis, an inflammation of the eye due to perioperative infection, may occur after cataract surgery. Intraocular lenses (IOLs) loaded with an antibiotic have been proposed as an alternative to the conventional postoperative endophthalmitis prophylaxis, since the antibiotic is delivered directly to the target site. In this work, an IOL-based antibiotic releasing system was prepared from a copolymer used in the production of IOLs and a fluoroquinolone used in endophthalmitis prophylaxis (moxifloxacin, MFX). Argon plasma-assisted grafting with 2- hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) in the presence of MFX was the approach selected for surface modification, with MFX loaded both by entrapment in the grafted polyHEMA coating and by soaking. Surface and bulk properties were evaluated before and after surface modification and the MFX release profiles were obtained both in batch mode (sink conditions) and under hydrodynamic conditions, employing a purpose-built microfluidic cell, which simulated the hydrodynamic conditions around the eye lens. The effect of storage on the release profile of the best system was also assessed. The best system released MFX for ca. 15 days above the minimum inhibitory concentration for Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The released MFX showed antimicrobial activity against these bacteria and was non-cytotoxic against corneal endothelial cells.

The solution behaviour has been studied of a series of even chain length lead(II) carboxylates (octanoate to octadecanoate) and the odd chain length lead(II) heptadecanoate in a variety of non-complexing organic solvents and in alcohols. In agreement with previous studies, solubility increases dramatically above a certain temperature, which depends on solute concentration, chain length and solvent. This solution temperature is also affected by traces of water. These results are complemented by studies using vapour pressure osmometry, dynamic light scattering, 1H and 13NMR spectroscopy. The results in water-free systems are consistent with the formation of rather ill-defined, polydisperse aggregates, which increase in size with concentration and decrease with temperature. These show similar local structure to lamellar mesophases in the pure lead(II) carboxylates, and are suggested to be formed by solvent induced swelling and break-up of these mesophases. In the presence of water, a more ordered structure is formed, in which a few water molecules are suggested to be bound to the lead(II) carboxylate headgroup.