Molecular imprinting is a technique for making a selective binding site for a specific chemical. The technique involves building a polymeric scaffold of molecular complements containing the target molecule. Subsequent removal of the target leaves a cavity with a structural "memory" of the target. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) can be employed as selective adsorbents of specific molecules...

The potential crosslinking of three types nitrogen-containing functionalized silica (TAAcONa, guanidine, and triamine) with polyacrylamide (PAM) has been investigated. Only triamine was able to crosslink PAM, producing barely flowing gel storage modulus around 700 Pa. Micro differential scanning calorimeter (?DSC) analysis illustrated exothermic peaks indicating PAM polyethyleneimine (PEI), ons...

Biotechnology enables the creation of proteinand nucleicacid-based materials to perform functions such as recognition, catalysis, signaling, and information storage/transfer. Interestingly, neither proteins nor nucleic acids are Nature’s most abundant biopolymers. Polysaccharides and polymeric phenolics (e.g., lignins) are more abundant. We contend that the reaction cascades that generate pheno...

The cell nucleus houses the chromosomes, which are linked to a soft shell of lamin filaments. Experiments indicate that correlated chromosome dynamics and nuclear shape fluctuations arise from motor activity. To identify physical mechanisms, we develop model an active, crosslinked Rouse chain bound polymeric shell. System-sized motions occur but require both activity {\it and} crosslinks. Contr...

Though silane chemistry has been used to crosslink unfilled polyethylene for many years, such crosslinking has only been recently applied to wood plastic composites to improve properties such as creep resistance. However, the presence of wood significantly changes the silane chemistry and a greater understanding is necessary for optimal processing and performance. We investigated three differen...

AbstractIn the last step of desolvation method for preparation of albumin nanoparticles, glutaraldehyde (GA) is added to stabilize the newly formed nanoparticles. Due to undesirable effects of GA, the objective of this study was to evaluate alternative methods of crosslinking including ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, adding of glucose and combination of both methods. The nanoparticles were prepar...