Synthesis, Anti-Tumor Activity and Apoptosis-Inducing Effect of Novel Dimeric Keggin-Type Phosphotungstate

A dimeric Keggin-type phosphotungstate (ODA)10[(PW11FeO39)2O]·9H2O (abbreviated as ODA10[(PW11Fe)2], ODA = octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide) was synthesized and investigated comprehensively its antitumor activity on MCF-7 and A549 cells. The dimeric structure and amorphous morphology were characterized by FT-IR, UV-vis-DRS, SEM and XRD. The in vitro MTT assay of ODA10[(PW11Fe)2] showed anticancer activity on MCF-7 and A549 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and the IC50 values for MCF-7 and A549 cells at 48 h were 5.83 μg/ml and 3.23 μg/ml, respectively. The images of the ODA10[(PW11Fe)2]-treated cells observed by inverted biological microscope exhibited the characteristic morphology of apoptosis. Flow cytometric analysis showed cell apoptosis and cycle arrested at S phase induced by ODA10[(PW11Fe)2]. The above results illuminated the main mechanism of the antitumor action of ODA10[(PW11Fe)2] on MCF-7 and A549 cells, indicating that this dimeric phosphotungstate is a promising anticancer drug.

Functionalization of MXene Nanosheets for Polystyrene towards High Thermal Stability and Flame Retardant Properties

Fabricating high-performance MXene-based polymer nanocomposites is a huge challenge because of the poor dispersion and interfacial interaction of MXene nanosheets in the polymer matrix. To address the issue, MXene nanosheets were successfully exfoliated and subsequently modified by long-chain cationic agents with different chain lengths, i.e., decyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (OTAB), and dihexadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB). With the long-chain groups on their surface, modified Ti3C2 (MXene) nanosheets were well dispersed in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), resulting in the formation of uniform dispersion and strong interfacial adhesion within a polystyrene (PS) matrix. The thermal stability properties of cationic modified Ti3C2/PS nanocomposites were improved considerably with the temperatures at 5% weight loss increasing by 20 °C for DTAB-Ti3C2/PS, 25 °C for OTAB-Ti3C2/PS and 23 °C for DDAB-Ti3C2/PS, respectively. The modified MXene nanosheets also enhanced the flame-retardant properties of PS. Compared to neat PS, the peak heat release rate (PHRR) was reduced by approximately 26.4%, 21.5% and 20.8% for PS/OTAB-Ti3C2, PS/DDAB-Ti3C2 and PS/DTAB-Ti3C2, respectively. Significant reductions in CO and CO2 productions were also obtained in the cone calorimeter test and generally lower pyrolysis volatile products were recorded by PS/OTAB-Ti3C2 compared to pristine PS. These property enhancements of PS nanocomposites are attributed to the superior dispersion, catalytic and barrier effects of Ti3C2 nanosheets.

Rod-like micelles of octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and their freezing upon solubilised styrene polymerisation

C18TABr formed rod-like micelles in ethanol/water (10/90 wt%) with the assistance of SNphs and styrene was then solubilised and polymerised in situ, by which means the mono-dispersed, rod-like micelles were frozen.

Bentonite-Based Organoclays as Innovative Flame Retardants Agents for SBS Copolymer

Two organophilic bentonites, based on nitrogen-containing compounds, have been synthesised via ion exchange starting from pristine bentonite with octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (OTAB) and with synthetic melamine-derived N2,N4-dihexadecyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine (DEDMEL). The chemical and morphological characterization of the organoclays was based on XRD, TEM, Laser Granulometry, X-Ray Fluorescence and CEC capacity. Copoly(styrene-butadiene-styrene)-nanocomposites (SBS-nanocomposites) were obtained by intercalation of the SBS-copolymer into these new organoclays by melt intercalation method. XRD and TEM analysis of the organoclays and of the micro/nano-composites obtained are presented. The effect of the organoclays on the SBS-nanocomposite's flammability properties was investigated using cone calorimeter. An encouraging decrease of 20% in the peak heat released rate (PHRR) has been obtained confirming the important role of melamine's based skeleton and its derived organoclays to act as effective fire retardants and for the improvement of this important functional property in SBS copolymers.