Search

This book reviews some of the latest developments in the field of water treatment using multi-functional chitosan-based materials. It covers the production of chitosan beads and membranes from chitosan powder, as well as modification techniques for enhancing the material for commercial and industrial purposes. The book summarizes the results of experimental adsorption/desorption studies for elucidating the underlying reaction mechanism of heavy-metal removal from wastewater, presenting an advanced overview of an array of characterization techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, it features a look at the development and application of specialized engineering software and image analysis for modelling the kinetics of adsorption. This book is ideal for scientists and engineers working in the broader field of environmental materials science. It is all well suited for chemists, as well as industrial and civil engineers, interested in wastewater treatment and mitigation of water pollution

Biopolymers are becoming an increasingly important area of research as traditional chemical feedstocks run low and concerns about environmental impacts increase. One area of particular interest is their use for more sustainable development of metal nanoparticles. Biopolymer-Based Metal Nanoparticle Chemistry for Sustainability Applications, Volume 2 reviews key uses of biopolymers and biopolymer-based metal nanoparticles for a range of key sustainability-focused applications. After providing contextual examples of applications across the fields of food science, biomedicine and biochemistry, the book goes on to explore further sustainability-focused applications of Biopolymer-Based Metal Nanoparticles in such important areas as catalysis, environmental science, biosensing, and energy. - Provides an overview of biopolymer-based metal nanoparticles for a wide range of applications - Provides technological details on the synthesis of natural polymer-based metal nanoparticles - Explores the role of biopolymer-based metal nanoparticles for more sustainable catalytic processes

Biopolymers are becoming an increasingly important area of research as traditional chemical feedstocks run low and concerns about environmental impacts increase. One area of particular interest is their use for more sustainable development of metal nanoparticles. Biopolymer-based Metal Nanoparticle Chemistry for Sustainability Applications, Volume 1 reviews key polymers found in nature, their characterization and modification, and processes for using them in the development of metal nanoparticles. Beginning with an introduction to both green chemistry and biopolymers in Part 1, the book goes on to outline the classification of biopolymers in Part 2, with specific details on polysaccharides, proteins and polypeptides, lignin, and polylactic acid. Properties of biopolymers, including biodegradability and toxicity, are the focus of Part 3, before Part 4 goes on to discuss synthesis and characterization. - Reviews novel sources of polymers with high potential as green media for synthesizing nanostructures - Provides technological details on the synthesis of natural polymer-based metal nanoparticles - Highlights the use of natural polymer supports and the impact of their properties on stability, morphology and scale of nanostructures

This volume deals with chemical modification, structure-property relationship, biological interaction and biomedical applications of chitosan and its chemically modified derivatives. The chapters of this volume provide an overview of the structural comparison of chitosan with other sugar-based biopolymers, a different type of strategy used in chemical modification of chitosan to interact with metal ions and to enhance antimicrobial activity. The chapters further discuss the development of functionalized chitosan hydrogels, films, scaffolds and composites that have the potential to be used in food packaging, enhancing saltiness, biosensors and wound dressing. In addition the fabrication and biological properties of chitosan and its derivatives-based nanofibers are presented. Another important aspect covered in this volume is that of the interaction of chitosan with blood, platelet-rich plasma and stem cells. Finally, this volume presents the current challenges in the development of biomedical products based on chitosan and its derivatives. The volume will be of interest to chemists, material science, biological science and biomaterial scientists can able to understand structure-property relationship, biological interaction and biomedical applications of chitosan and its derivatives.

Biopolymer Electrolytes: Fundamentals and Applications in Energy Storage provides the core fundamentals and applications for polyelectrolytes and their properties with a focus on biopolymer electrolytes. Increasing global energy and environmental challenges demand clean and sustainable energy sources to support the modern society. One of the feasible technologies is to use green energy and green materials in devices. Biopolymer electrolytes are one such green material and, hence, have enormous application potential in devices such as electrochemical cells and fuel cells. - Features a stable of case studies throughout the book that underscore key concepts and applications - Provides the core fundamentals and applications for polyelectrolytes and their properties - Weaves the subject of biopolymer electrolytes across a broad range of disciplines, including chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, environmental science, and pharmaceutical science

In recent years, considerable progress has been made in the study of organic semiconductors. The main directions of investigation, have been determined and substantial results have been achieved in the theoretical treatment of many questions. However, the range of investigations is so broad that it is impossible to discuss all branches fully in a short monograph. In fact, the chemist synthe­ sizing systems with conjugated bonds and studying their reactivity, the physical chemist studying the catalytic and absorption proper­ ties of substances with conjugated bonds, the physicist studying the photoelectric and magnetic characteristics of dyes and polynuclear hydrocarbons, and the biologist attempting to explain the mechan­ ism of energy transfer in the living cell -they are all working in the field of organic semiconductors. Consequentiy, in the present book the authors have not attempted to include all sides of the problem of organic semiconductors. The monograph considers in detail only those questions which appear to the authors to be most immediate and interesting. Other questions are touched on only to the extent necessary to illustrate the main material. The book begins with a statement of material which is of the nature of a review. The main classes of organic semiconductors are mentioned but the methods for their preparation are not illus­ trated in detail. Somewhat more attention is devoted to the depen­ dence of the electrical characteristics of organic semiconductors on their structure and chemical composition.

The investigation of molecules as individuals has grown rapidly in recent years, and in the process has uncovered molecular properties not normally accessible by ensemble experiments. In particular, the direct characterization of biologically important molecules such as enzymes, molecular motors, or receptors and entire signaling complexes in action, for example in a live biological cell, yielded un- pected insights. Common approaches for studying single molecules include the electrical detection of ion channels in membranes, the measurement of the dynamics of (bio)chemical reactions between individual molecules, the imaging of individual molecules by scanning probe techniques or by fluorescence correlation spectr- copy, and the direct monitoring of single molecules by optical microscopies, to mention a few. The application of these techniques in physics, chemistry, and bi- ogy has opened new areas of nanotechnology. This book provides a representative selection of recent developments in the rapidly evolving field of single molecule techniques of importance in life sciences and will have future impact on the quan- tative description of biological processes. The editors of this book hope that the chapters, written by leading scientists in the field, will attract students and scientists from different disciplines, provide them with an authentic insight into this young field of research, allow them to evaluate experimental methods and results, and thereby give them support for their own research. Lausanne Rudolf Rigler September 2007 Horst Vogel v Contents 1 Nanophotonics and Single Molecules............................ 1 W. E. Moerner, P. James Schuck, David P.

‘‘Biopolymers''are polymeric materials of biological origin, including globular, membrane, and fibrous proteins, polypeptides, nucleic acids, po- saccharides, lipids, etc. and their assembly, although preference to respe- ive subjects may be different among readers who are more interested in their biological significance or industrial and/or medical applications. Nevert- less, characterizing or revealing their secondary structure and dynamics may be an equally very important and useful issue for both kinds of readers. Special interest in revealing the 3D structure of globular proteins, nucleic acids, and peptides was aroused in relation to the currently active Structural Biology. X-ray crystallography and multidimensional solution NMR sp- troscopy have proved to be the standard and indispensable means for this purpose. There remain, however, several limitations to this end, if one intends to expand its scope further. This is because these approaches are not always straightforward to characterize fibrous or membrane proteins owing to extreme difficulty in crystallization in the former, and insufficient spectral resolution due to sparing solubility or increased effective molecular mass in the presence of surrounding lipid bilayers in the latter.

Modern Methods for Theoretical Physical Chemistry of Biopolymers provides an interesting selection of contributions from an international team of researchers in theoretical chemistry. This book is extremely useful for tackling the complicated scientific problems connected with biopolymers'physics and chemistry. The applications of both the classical molecular-mechanical and molecular-dynamical methods and the quantum chemical methods needed for bridging the gap to structural and dynamical properties dependent on electron dynamics are explained. Also included are ways to deal with complex problems when all three approaches need to be considered at the same time. The book gives a rich spectrum of applications: from theoretical considerations of how ATP is produced and used as'energy currency'in the living cell, to the effects of subtle solvent influence on properties of biopolymers and how structural changes in DNA during single-molecule manipulation may be interpreted.· Presents modern successes and trends in theoretical physical chemistry/chemical physics of biopolymers· Topics covered are of relevant importance to rapidly developing areas in science such as nanotechnology and molecular medicine· Quality selection of contributions from renowned scientists in the field

This new edition features research from nearly 60 of the profession's most distinguished international authorities. Recognizing emerging developments in biopolymer systems research with fully updated and expanded chapters, the second edition discusses the biopolymer-based multilayer structures and their application in biosensors, the progress made in the understanding of protein behaviour at the air-water interface, experimental findings in ellipsometry and reflectometry, and recent developments concerning protein interfacial behaviour in microfabricated total analysis systems and microarrays. With over 3000 references, this is an essential reference for professionals and students in surface, pharmaceutical, colloid, polymer, and medicinal chemistry; chemical, formulation, and application engineering; and pharmacy.

Self-assembly monolayer (SAM) structures of lipids and macromolecules have been found to play an important role in many industrial and biological phenomena. This book describes two procedures, namely the STM and AFM, that are used to study SAMs at solid surfaces. K.S. Birdi examines the SAMs at both liquid and solid surfaces by using the Langmuir monolayer method. This book is intended for researchers, academics and professionals.