2001

A simple and more environmentally friendly procedure than that traditionally used was developed for preparation of esters consisting in acrylic acid addition to bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene and its 5-alkyl derivatives. The acrylates obtained were subjected to hydrogenetion followed by hydrolysis of propionic acid esters. A number of new compounds was obtained; some among them possess a pleasant odor.

An alpha-cyanoacrylate may be formed by first condensing a cyanoacetate with paraformaldehyde or formaldehyde; reacting the polymer formed with an alcohol to transesterify the polymer; and depolymerizing the polymer to form alpha-cyanoacrylate monomers.

A study was conducted to investigate the differences in reactivity between ethyl cyanoacrylate (ECA) with phosphines and amines, which contain different alkyl substituents. It was found that when an equimolar amount of dimethylphenylphosphine and ECA react, a stable zwitterion is formed. This is the first time the proposed initiating species for alkyl cyanoacrylate polymerization has been sufficiently stable to be isolated and fully characterized spectroscopically.

Purpose: In this experimental study, a sutureless scleral buckling was performed by using a tissue adhesive glue to fixate a silicone band to the sclera. In fact, one of the major risks of traditional scleral buckling is accidental perforation of the bulb, which is more frequent when the sclera is extremely thin as it is in newborns or in eyes with high myopia or scleromalacia.

Purpose: In this experimental study, a sutureless scleral buckling was performed by using a tissue adhesive glue to fixate a silicone band to the sclera. In fact, one of the major risks of traditional scleral buckling is accidental perforation of the bulb, which is more frequent when the sclera is extremely thin as it is in newborns or in eyes with high myopia or scleromalacia.

Cyanoacrylate polymers are commercially important materials as structural ad- hesives. They combine rapid curing and high strength and are widely used to bond a diverse range of substrate surfaces, including metals, ceramics, plastics, rubbers, and biologically derived materials. The corresponding monomers were first isolated in 1947 by Ardis at B. F. Goodrich (1). Subsequently, Eastman Ko- dak patented them as adhesive compositions in 1957 (2) and the first commer- cial adhesive formulation, based on methyl 2-cyanoacrylate, was introduced in 1958 (3).

Some methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene monosaccharides can act as strong low molecular weight gelators for various organic solvents. As they are accessible in a variety of homologues, each with a unique molecular architecture, they can be used for systematic studies of gelation phenomena. Structural details of their hydrogen-bond-based fiber network in the gel phase can be resolved by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS).

Rapid and isothermal (at room temperature) uptake of CO2 by solutions or, in some cases, organogels comprised of a primary or secondary aliphatic amine (1) and an organic liquid leads to in situ chemical transformation to the corresponding alkylammonium alkylcarbamate (2) based gels. Chemical reversibility is demonstrated by removal of CO2 from 2-based gels upon gentle heating in the presence of nitrogen. This is a general strategy for reversible self-assembly or disassembly of molecular aggregates relying on the initiation or termination of ionic interactions.

The biocompatibility of two cyanoacrylate surgical glues (Glubran and Glubran 2), supplied by General Enterprise Marketing, Viareggio, Lucca, Italy, was tested through cytotoxicity and blood compatibility tests and the evaluation of antimicrobial activity. Cytotoxicity and blood compatibility tests were performed on the polymerized glues. Using the neutral red uptake test, the extracts from Glubran and Glubran 2 after polymerization were non-toxic to L929 cells only when diluted 1 : 10 with culture medium.