The silver (0.5-3 at %) substituted nanosize hydroxyapatites (AgHAs) were synthesized by microwave processing. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks are very broad, indicating that the AgHAs were of nanosize (30 nm). Transmission electron microscopy analysis shows needle-like morphology of AgHA, having length 60-70 nm and width 15-20 nm. The AgHA phase was stable up to 700 degrees C without any secondary phases. The antibacterial effect of AgHA against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was observed by spread plate method, even for low concentration of silver ions (0.5%) with 1 x 10(5) cells/mL of respective bacterial culture, after a 48 h incubation period. However, some colonies of E. coli were seen with a high dose of 1 x 10(8) cells/mL after 24 h. The zone of inhibition by disc diffusion test method was found to vary with the amount of silver in the sintered AgHA pellets, for both the bacteria, after 24 h of inoculation. Osteoblast cell attachment in varying density was noticed on AgHA samples with 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% silver substitution. However, osteoblast spreading was significantly greater on 0.5% AgHA compared to 1.0 or 1.5% substituted AgHA samples. Thus, the low amount of AgHA has a potential of minimizing the risk of bacterial contamination, without compromising the bioactivity, and is expected to display greater biological efficacy in terms of osseointegration.

A new porous coordination polymer, ([La(BTB)H 2 O] · solvent ( 1 ⊃ ⊃ guest)), is synthesized. Gas adsorption, ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) and breakthrough experiments of it exhibits high CH 4 separation capability toward CO 2 and C2 hydrocarbons at 273 K. In addition, this also shows good water and chemical stability, in particular, it is stable at pH = 14 at 100 ° C, which is unprecedented for carboxylate-based porous coordination polymers. Furthermore, the effective adsorption site for separation is revealed by using an in situ diffuse refl ectance IR fourier transform (DRIFT) spectra study.

We demonstrate a new approach to superhydrophobic porous coordination polymers by incorporating an anisotropic crystal morphology featuring a predominant surface that is highly corrugated and terminated by aromatic hydrocarbon moieties. The resulting low-energy surface provides particularly promising hydrophobic properties without the need for postsynthetic modifications or surface processing that would block the porosity of the framework. Consequently, hydrophobic organic molecules and water vapor are able to penetrate the surface and be densely accommodated within the pores, whereas bulk water is repelled as a result of the exterior surface corrugation derived from the aromatic surface groups. This study provides a new strategy for the design and development of superhydrophobic porous materials.

To establish factors that determine the formation of three-dimensional hybrid structures of metal dicarboxylates involving metal-oxygen-metal linkages, we have investigated metal dicarboxylates derived from 1,2-cyclohexene as well as 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acids. Thus, we have synthesized a 1,2-cyclohexenedicarboxylate of Cd, [Cd(1,2-CHeDC)(H2O)] (I), a 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate of Pb, [Pb(1,2-CHDC)] (II), and three 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylates of La [La2(1,4-CHDC)3(H2O)4] (III), [La3(1,4-HCHDC)2(1,4-CHDC)5(H2O)2].H2O (IV) and [La2(1,4-CHDC)3(H2O)].2.5 H2O (V) under hydrothermal conditions and determined their structures. A mixed dicarboxylate involving both 1,3- and 1,4-cyclohexenedicarboxylates of Pb, [Pb3O(1,3-CHDC)(1,4-CHDC)].0.5 H2O (VI) and a 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate of Pb, [Pb(6)O(2)(1,4-CHDC)3(1,4-HCHDC)2], have also been synthesized and characterized. While the 1,2-dicarboxylates have layered structures, the 1,4-dicarboxylates and the mixed dicarboxylates possess three-dimensional structures. Interestingly, both the 1,2 and 1,4-dicarboxylates are true hybrid compounds composed of infinite M-O-M linkages. The equatorial-equatorial (e,e) conformation is adopted commonly in all these compounds, although less stable conformations are encountered occasionally. The formation of the layered and the three-dimensional structures can be understood based on the relative disposition of the two carboxylic groups, the 1,4-isomer favoring the three-dimensional structure. Based on the results of the present study along with the available literature, we conclude that in order to obtain three-dimensional hybrid structures with metal-oxygen-metal networks, it appears necessary to make use of the 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid.