Does cytosolic pressure facilitate f-actin polymerization to push the leading edge of a cell forward during self-propelled motion? AFM force-distance (f-d) curves obtained from lamellipodia of live cells often exhibit a signal from which the tension, bending modulus, elastic modulus and thickness in the membrane-cortex complex can be estimated close to the contact point. These measurements perm...

This experimental and theoretical study deals with the thermal spontaneous polymerization of n-butyl acrylate (n-BA). The polymerization was carried out in solution (n-heptane as the solvent) at 200 and 220 ◦C without adding any conventional initiators. It was studied with the five different n-BA/n-heptane volume ratios: 50/50, 70/30, 80/20, 90/10, and 100/0. Extensive experimental data present...

Two binuclear magnesium and zinc alkoxides supported by a bis-salalen type dinucleating heptadentate Schiff base ligand were synthesized and fully characterized. The two complexes are efficient initiators for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of L-lactide, affording polymers with narrow polydispersities and desirable molecular weights. Interestingly, the mechanisms for the ROP of lactide ar...

In this communication, we report on a solvent free chemical oxidative polymerization route for the monomers based on 3,4-propylenedioxythiophenes wherein the process is applicable to both solid as well as liquid monomers and results in the bulk synthesis of ultra high molecular weight polymers.

Vascular embolization is a minimally invasive treatment used for the management of vascular malformations and tumors. It is carried out under X-ray by navigating a microcatheter into the targeted blood vessel, through which embolic agents are delivered to occlude the vessels. Cyanoacrylate liquid glues have been widely used for vascular embolization owing to their low viscosity, rapid polymeriz...

Zinc alkyl cations supported by N,N-BIAN-type bidentate ligands were found to be highly active in the immortal ROP of ε-caprolactone to yield narrowly disperse and chain length-controlled poly(ε-caprolactone), whether in solution or bulk polymerization conditions.

Particles of linear polyethylene (M(n) = (2-3) x 10(3) g x mol(-)(1); M(w)/M(n) = 2-4) obtained by catalytic emulsion polymerization of ethylene possess a nonspherical, lentil-like shape with an average aspect ratio of ca. 10 and diameters from 30 to >300 nm, as determined by TEM and AFM. The particle structure results from a stacking of the lamellae along the one shorter axis of the lentils (i...