Abstract:
Superparmagnetic acid-functionalized nanoparticle catalysts are provided along with methods of using the same to protonate an oxygen atom of a carbon-oxygen bond. Particularly, the catalysts comprise a nanoparticle having a ferromagnetic core surrounded by a metal oxide shell. The nanoparticle is at least partially coated with an acid-functionalized siloxane compound. The acid-functionalized nanoparticles may be used to catalyze any number of reactions that can be catalyzed in the presence of protons. The ferromagnetic core permits the nanoparticle catalyst material to be separated from the reaction medium through application of a magnetic field and reused.
Abstract:
Superparmagnetic acid-functionalized nanoparticle catalysts are provided along with methods of using the same to protonate an oxygen atom of a carbon-oxygen bond. Particularly, the catalysts comprise a nanoparticle having a ferromagentic core surrounded by a metal oxide shell. The nanoparticle is at least partially coated with an acid-functionalized siloxane compound. The acid-functionalized nanoparticles may be used to catalyze any number of reactions that can be catalyzed in the presence of protons. The ferromagnetic core permits the nanoparticle catalyst material to be separated from the reaction medium through application of a magnetic field and reused.
Abstract:
The present invention broadly provides novel peptides that can be used to form hydrogels. The peptides are short (preferably 30 amino acid residues or less) and include hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments joined by a turning segment. The hydrogels are formed by altering the pH of a solution of these peptides to an acidic level, or by introducing a source of ions into a solution of these peptides. The resulting hydrogels are shear thinning gels that have high storage moduli and high rates of recovery after destruction. They find use in medical applications, including tissue engineering.