Migration of mineral hydrocarbons into foods. 2. Polystyrene, ABS, and waxed paperboard containers for dairy products

Migration of mineral hydrocarbons into dairy products and sunflower oil (fatty food simulant) has been studied using a gas chromatographic procedure. The food contact materials examined were polystyrene and ABS pots and tubs, and waxed paperboard. Levels of mineral oil in the polystyrene and ABS articles ranged from 0.3 to 5.5% w/w (13 to 366 mg/dm2) and as a coating on the paperboard ranged from 1.0 to 7.7% (55 to 565 mg/dm2). Exposure conditions were 7 days at 4 degrees C for the dairy products and 10 days at 40 degrees C for the oil. However, individual serving milk and creams (UHT) were retail samples which were stored at ambient temperature before analysis. Migration into the milk products was less than 3 mg/kg. Transfer to sunflower oil simulant and into individual serving milk products was much higher at levels up to 150 mg/kg (2 mg/dm2) and 90 mg/kg (4 mg/dm2) for the oil and milk respectively.

Effect of the curing cycle on residual monomer levels of acrylic resin denture base polymers

It has been shown previously that high levels of residual monomer have a deleterious effect on the properties of denture base polymers. Levels of residual monomer were determined on a homopolymer and a copolymer using gas-liquid chromatography. A wide range of recommended and 'short cut' curing cycles were then investigated which produced values ranging from 0.56 to 18.46%. From the ranges examined an optimum cycle of 7 h at 70 degrees C and 1 h at 100 degrees C was established which was used to polymerize 23 currently available synthetic denture base polymers. Only small differences were found between the materials tested with a range from 0.54 to 1.08% of residual monomer.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate-capillary gel electrophoresis of proteins using non-cross-linked polyacrylamide

Proteins with relative molecular masses of 14,000 to 205,000 were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-capillary gel electrophoresis (SDS-CGE) using non-cross-linked linear polyacrylamide gels on both coated and uncoated fused-silica capillaries. It was determined that viscosity of the acrylamide solution was a major factor affecting column stability with linear acrylamide gels. When the viscosity of the acrylamide solution reaches 100 cP, electro-osmotically driven displacement of the gels is insignificant. Uncoated capillaries provided better resolution, stability, and reproducibility than surface coated capillaries when the concentration of linear polyacrylamide was greater than 4%. At lower gel concentrations, non-cross-linked polyacrylamide is easily displaced from the columns. A calibration plot of log molecular mass vs. mobility with non-linear polyacrylamide was linear, which indicated that resolution was equivalent to that obtained with cross-linked acrylamide. Separations with model proteins indicated that baseline resolution between protein species that vary 10% in molecular mass can be achieved.

The usage period of dentures and their residual monomer contents

The quantity of residual monomer content in 24 maxillary dentures was detected by gas liquid chromatography. The residual monomer contents tended to be lower in dentures used for long periods than in those used for short periods. Decreases in the quantities of residual monomer in acrylic resin dentures as a result of aging can be expressed in a hyperbola. The fitted curve also suggests that most of the loss could be accomplished in 5 years; however, complete loss of the residual monomer content takes many years.

Evaluation of heat-cured resin bases following the addition of denture teeth using a second heat cure

This study compared heat-cured acrylic resin denture baseplate distortions following a second heat cure used to add the denture teeth. The second heat cure was done with three different water-bath curing temperatures. The distortions were evaluated in three planes by use of a measuring microscope. Recorded distortions were not clinically significant.

Secondary caries in situ around fluoride-releasing light-curing composites: a quantitative model investigation on four materials with a fluoride content between 0 and 26 vol%

In the literature, secondary caries around composite restorations is reported often. Fluoridated composites are therefore interesting materials because they might reduce or inhibit secondary caries. In this article an in situ model investigation is presented in which the effect of F-releasing composites on enamel demineralisation around an artificial gap of 200 microns width was quantified after 1 month. The fluoride content of the composites varied between 0 and 26 vol%. The beneficial effect of the fluoride released was larger in the gap than at the outer enamel surface. In the gap, all fluoridated composites reduced the enamel demineralisation statistically significantly with respect to the non-fluoridated control. Microradiography showed a reduction of lesion depth values of 27-45%, and a reduction of mineral loss values of 25-56%. At the outer enamel surface next to the artificial gap, a beneficial fluoridation effect was measurable only near the most fluoridated composite. The results indicate that fluoridated composites may play a role in the future prevention of secondary caries.

Evaluation of the level of residual monomer in acrylic denture base materials having different polymerization properties

The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of residual monomer in acrylic denture base materials having different polymerization properties. The investigation included a conventional-type acrylic cured under heat and pressure, as well as a pour-type resin polymerized by an injection-moulding technique at room temperature and under pressure. It was found that the residual monomer content ranged from 0.22-0.54% in pour-type resin, and from 0.23-0.52% in routinely used resins when the specimens were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography. These findings revealed that there were no significant differences between the two types of acrylic in terms of their residual monomer content.

A simple and rapid method for the quantification of Eudragit RS100 and RL100 poly(methacrylates) in sustained-release dosage forms

A colorimetric ion-pair complexation method has been developed which provides a simple and rapid way of quantifying Eudragit RS100 and RL100 in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The quaternary ammonium groupings in these polymers appear to form an ion-pair complex with the dye tropaeolin OOO. When extracted into an organic phase, the optical density at 484 nm is linearly related to polymer concentration. Control of pH is important, and it should be maintained within the range 4.5 to 9.0. A wide range of pharmaceutical excipients commonly used in tablet, pellet, and film-coating formulations did not interfere with formation of the complex, but certain drugs were found to significantly enhance or decrease the assay response. Good reproducibility, precision, and accuracy were demonstrated when the method was applied to a film-coated pellet formulation containing an interfering drug (promethazine hydrochloride). However, removal of interfering substances must be optimized. The method was sufficiently sensitive for the determination of polymer on a single dose unit of encapsulated beads.

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of some potential toxicants amongst volatile compounds emitted during large-scale thermal degradation of poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) plastic

A number of compounds emitted during the thermal degradation of plastics are potentially toxic. This study was aimed at identifying the volatile compounds emitted during large-scale thermal degradation of poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene). About 5 g of the sample were degraded at between 25 and 470 degrees C in air and nitrogen in a device that can simulate temperature-programmed thermogravimetry. The volatiles were collected in dichloromethane using the solvent trap technique. Some of the 92 compounds identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were found to have no hitherto documented toxicological profiles, even though they are potentially dangerous.

Analysis of proteins eluted from hemodialysis membranes

To further investigate the types of interactions occurring between blood and hemodialysis membranes, proteins were sequentially eluted from used dialysers. Four different membranes (cuprophan, hemophan, cellulose acetate and polyacrylonitrile) were successively treated with a hydrogen bond cleaving agent (10 M urea), an ionic detergent destabilizing the hydrophobic interactions between apolar groups (SDS solution), and a hydroxylamine solution at alkaline pH to release postulated covalently bound C3 fragments. The eluted proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and immunological techniques. Total protein determinations demonstrate different behaviour of the membranes as regards the 'protein cake'. Electrophoretic analysis suggests that qualitative and quantitative differences in the binding of the blood proteins are related to the membrane material. Complement fragment studies indicate that the complement activating potential of the dialysis membrane may not be determined by the availability of potential binding sites for activated C3b. An attempt is made to correlate these results with the biocompatibility concept.

A method of determining residual monomer in acrylic resin using methyl ethyl ketone

An improved method of extraction of residual monomer from acrylic resin has been described for determination of the concentration of residual monomer by gas chromatography. Four kinds of organic solvent selected according to their physicochemical properties (methanol, N,N-dimethylformamide, ethyl acetate and methyl ethyl ketone) were tested for their capacity to extract residual monomer at varying temperatures and time periods. Extraction with methyl ethyl ketone at 4 degrees C was found to be the most effective. The method is simpler and more effective than others reported so far, and therefore seems to be suitable for clinical laboratory use.

Monomer composition and bond strength of light-cured 4-META opaque resin

A light-cured opaque resin was prepared with 4-(2-methacryloxyethoxycarbonyl) phthalic anhydride (4-META), bifunctional methacrylates, and titanium dioxide (TiO2). The relation between monomer composition and bond strength was examined with seven methacrylate monomers. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was useful as a solvent of 4-META. However, it was not sufficiently cured by photo-initiator. The bond strength of a triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA)-based composition was superior to other monomer-based compositions after repeated thermocycles. 1,6-bis(methacryloxy-2-ethoxycarbonyl-amino)-2,4,4-trimethylhex ane (UDMA) effectively provided viscosity to the composition. The prepared opaque resin consisted of 4-META/MMA-TEGDMA primer, TEGDMA-UDMA-based monomer, and titanium dioxide. This opaque resin bonded strongly to alumina-blasted cobalt-chromium alloy. The light-cured 4-META opaque resin may be useful for bonding prosthodontic composite to metal frameworks.

A method for detection of cellulases in polyacrylamide gels using 5-bromoindoxyl-beta-D-cellobioside: high sensitivity and resolution

The assay of endo-1,4-beta-glucanases (cellulases) from Trichoderma reesei, T. longibrachiatum, and Sporotrichum pulverulentum by 5-bromoindoxyl-beta-D-cellobioside is described. The substrate is enzymatically cleaved to afford 5-bromoindoxyl and latter undergoes immediate azo coupling with Fast Red or oxidation by nitroblue monotetrazolium chloride, various forms of endoglucanases which can thus be assayed in polyacrylamide gel.

The effect of an elevated level of residual monomer on the whitening of a denture base and its physical properties

It has been suggested that incomplete or faulty processing leading to a high level of residual monomer is a factor in denture whitening. Laboratory tests which simulate the cleaning procedures used by patients presenting with whitened dentures have been carried out on specimen strips of acrylic denture base material with high or low levels of residual monomer. The results show that these samples exhibit similar changes and that the high level of residual monomer had no effect on the whitening process, this being attributable to the cleaning method. The major factor responsible for whitening is confirmed as a high water temperature irrespective of the presence of the denture cleaning agent. However, some physical properties were adversely affected by a high residual monomer content (due to the processing method) which has serious consequences for denture-wearing patients. The use of short/low temperature curing cycles now common in many dental laboratories should be avoided.

High-performance liquid chromatographic estimation of eluates from denture base polymers

A quantitative analytical method using high-performance liquid chromatography is developed to estimate elution profiles of dental acrylic polymers used for denture bases. The method is applied to elution studies in distilled water of resins polymerized by different representative methods. Elution properties or 'leachabilities' vary depending on polymerization conditions. Methyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid and benzoic acid are eluted from autopolymerized resins at the highest eluate concentrations and are followed by heat- and microwave-polymerized resins. These results appear to be comparable to residual amounts of the eluates in resins and their cytotoxic potencies reported.