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Pure magnesium oxide nanoparticles were prepared using the sol-gel method and calcined at various temperatures - 500, 600, 800 and 1000 °C. The average crystalline size of the smallest particles obtained at 500 °C was 7.2 nm. This powder was hydrolyzed at room temperature in the nitrogen atmosphere for 48 h with addition of 10 w.% of water. To stabilize this mixture 1 w.% of hydroxypropyl cellulose (Klucel E) was added. A suspension of pure Mg(OH)2 nanoparticles (20-30 nm) in 2-propanole was directly used for paper deacidification treatment. The samples were investigated and the obtained results were compared with the samples treated with bare Mg(OH)2. The antibacterial and fungicidal efficiency of obtained nanoparticles was also investigated by introducing the particles into the media containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli growth media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the fabrication of a paper-sensor for quantitative detection of α -amylase activity in human blood serum. Pieces of filter papers were coated with starch–iodine solution leading to an intense blue coloration on the surface. Dispensing α- amylase solution on the starch–iodine coated paper reduced the intensity of the color because of starch-hydrolysis catalyzed by amylase. The variation in the intensity of the color with the concentration of amylase was estimated in three stages: (i) initially, the paper-surface was illuminated with a light emitting diode, (ii) then, the transmitted (reflected) rays emitted through (from) the paper were collected on a photoresistor, and (iii) the variations in the electrical resistance of the photoresistor were correlated with the amylase concentration in analyte. The resistance of photoresistor decreased monotonically with an increase in amylase concentration because the intensity of the reflected (transmitted) rays collected from (through) the paper increased with reduction in the color intensity on the paper surface. Since a specific bio-reaction was employed to detect the activity of amylase, the sensor was found to be equally efficient in detecting unknown quantities of amylase in human blood serum. The reported sensor has shown the potential to graduate into a point-of-care detection tool for α- amylase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of poly[vinylamine-co-(sodium acrylate)] [P(VAm-co-NaAA)] and its application as a paper strength additive have been investigated. P(VAm-co-NaAA) was synthesized by the alkaline hydrolysis of poly[Nvinylformamide- co-(acrylic acid)] (PNVFAA). The influence of polymer concentration, hydrolysis temperature, and NaOH concentrations on the extent of hydrolysis were examined experimentally. The hydrolysis was 100% completed under the following conditions: hydrolysis temperature 80 °C, hydrolysis time 8 h, polymer concentration 2%, and NaOH concentration 0.045 mol/g of PNVFAA. P(VAm-co-NaAA) obtained in this manner increased the tensile strength and folding endurance of paper by 44% and 48%, respectively, and the strength increase was greater than that obtained with the commercially available polyvinylamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]