Solid-State 13C NMR and Raman Studies of Cellulose Triacetate: Oligomers, Polymorphism, and Inferences about Chain Polarity

Cellulose Acetate Microparticles Synthesized from Agave sisalana Perrine for Controlled Release of Simvastatin

Simvastatin (SIM) is widely prescribed to treat hyperlipidemia, despite its limitations, such as a short half-life and low oral bioavailability. To overcome these drawbacks, the development of a controlled-release formulation is desirable. This study aims to develop a microparticulate system based on cellulose acetate (ACT) obtained from Agave sisalana Perrine to promote a controlled SIM release. SIM-loaded microparticles (SMP) were prepared using the solvent emulsification-evaporation method. Several parameters were evaluated, including particle size, surface charge, morphology, encapsulation efficiency, thermochemical characteristics, crystallinity, and in vitro release profile. ACT exhibited favorable flow properties after acetylation, with a degree of substitution values superior to 2.5, as confirmed by both the chemical route and H-NMR, indicating the formation of cellulose triacetate. The obtained SMP were spherical with an average size ranging from 1842 to 1857 nm, a zeta potential of -4.45 mV, and a high SIM incorporation efficiency (98%). Thermal and XRD analyses revealed that SIM was homogeneously dispersed into the polymeric matrix in its amorphous state. In vitro studies using dialysis bags revealed that the controlled SIM release from microparticles was higher under simulated intestinal conditions and followed the Higuchi kinetic model. Our results suggest that ACT-based microparticles are a promising system for SIM delivery, which can improve its bioavailability, and result in better patient compliance.

Ferric perchlorate hydrate as a new catalyst for highly efficient esterification of cellulose at room temperature

Ferric perchlorate was tested for the first time as a new catalyst to accelerate the esterification of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) at room temperature in a less amount of acetic anhydride compared to the amount used in the conventional methods. It was possible to manufacture cellulose acetate (CA) with a high yield of up to 94%. The influence of changes in reaction time, catalyst amounts, and acetic anhydride on the characterization of cellulose acetate produced was investigated. The optimum condition for esterification of 2.0 g (12.34 mmol) MCC was found to be: 10 mL (105.98 mmol) AC₂O, 200 mg (0.564 mmol, anhydrous basis) of Fe(ClO₄)₃·xH₂O and 1 h reaction time at room temperature. The substitution degree of CA was investigated by FTIR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. Thermal stability of CA was studied using TGA, DTA and DSC analyses. The degree of polymerization and the polydispersity index (PDI) were obtained using Gel permeation chromatography (GPC). This study verified the direct and efficient synthesis of di- and tri-cellulose acetate in one-pot reaction using Fe(ClO₄)₃·xH₂O as a catalyst without using solvent.

Esterification of β-Chitin via Intercalation by Carboxylic Anhydrides

beta-chitin is known to form intercalation complexes with aliphatic alcohols and amines. We found that it also forms complexes with carboxylic anhydrides. When the beta-chitin-acetic anhydride complex was heated to 105 degrees C, the hydroxyl groups of chitin were acetylated by a host-guest reaction, maintaining the host's crystal structure. Structures of complex and acetylated products were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, (13)C CP/MAS NMR, and infrared spectroscopy. The maximum degree of substitution (DS) was close to 1.0, suggesting regioselective esterification at the C6 position of chitin. Partially acetylated beta-chitin with a DS of 0.4 could incorporate various guest species that are difficult to be incorporated by original beta-chitin. In contrast, beta-chitin acetate with a DS of 1 lost the ability to form a complex. Intercalation complexes of beta-chitin with cyclic anhydrides (succinic and maleic) also underwent esterification by heating, and the products with a DS of approximately 1 dissolved in aqueous alkali, apparently as the result of the dissociation of introduced carboxyl groups. These phenomena are potentially useful in controlling the complexation ability of beta-chitin and the preparation of regioselectively esterified chitin derivatives.

Characterization of a Thermally Induced Irreversible Conformational Transition of Amylose Tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) Chiral Stationary Phase in Enantioseparation of Dihydropyrimidinone Acid by Quasi-Equilibrated Liquid Chromatography and Solid-State NMR

A thermally induced irreversible conformational transition of amylose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (i.e., Chiralpak AD) chiral stationary phase (CSP) in the enantioseparation of dihydropyrimidinone (DHP) acid racemate was studied for the first time by quasi-equilibrated liquid chromatography with cyclic van't Hoff and step temperature programs and solid-state ((13)C CPMAS and (19)F MAS) NMR using ethanol and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)-modified n-hexane as the mobile phase. The conformational transition was controlled by a single kinetically driven process, as evidenced by the chromatographic studies. Solid-state NMR was used to study the effect of the temperature on the conformational change of the solvated phase (with or without the DHP acid enantiomers and TFA) and provided some viable structural information about the CSP and the enantiomers.

CP/MAS (13)C NMR study of cellulose and cellulose derivatives. 2. Complete assignment of the (13)C resonance for the ring carbons of cellulose triacetate polymorphs

Complex ring (13)C resonance lines of the cross-polarization/magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) (13)C NMR spectra of cellulose triacetate (CTA) I and CTA II were completely assigned, for the first time, by (13)C-enriched CTA allomorphs. The (13)C-enriched CTA I was prepared by heterogeneous acetylation of bacterial cellulose which was biosynthesized by Acetobacter xylinum (A. xylinum) ATCC10245 from culture medium containing D-(2-(13)C)-, D-(3-(13)C)-, or D-(5-(13)C)glucose as a carbon source, while CTA II samples were obtained by solution acetylation of the (13)C-enriched bacterial celluloses. From comparison of the spectra of normal CTA prepared from ramie with those of the enriched CTA samples, it was revealed that all carbons composed of CTA I appeared as a singlet, while those of CTA II except for C1 were shown as equal-intensity doublets in the CP/MAS (13)C NMR spectrum. This finding suggests that CTA I is made up of one kind of glucopyranose residue while there are two magnetically inequivalent sites in the unit cell of CTA II in the same population.

Solid-state NMR characterization of amylose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) chiral stationary-phase structure as a function of mobile-phase composition

Solid-state NMR (1H/13C CPMAS) was utilized to identify structural differences in amylose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) chiral stationary phase (Chiralpak AD), as a function of mobile-phase composition. Dry Chiralpak AD stationary phase displayed an amorphous CPMAS NMR spectrum. However, CPMAS spectra of Chiralpak AD flushed with organic mobile phases clearly displayed evidence of solvent complexes. Chiralpak AD flushed with nonpolar hexane exhibited solvent complexes with minimal structural perturbation. For Chiralpak AD flushed with hexane containing alcohol modifiers, however, solvent incorporation caused significant difference in conformation distribution as evidenced by increased resolution of 13C peaks in the CPMAS spectrum of the stationary phase. 2-Propanol modifier displayed more efficient displacement of incorporated hexane while forming relatively more distinct/ordered solvent complexes with Chiralpak AD in comparison to ethanol modifier. Reversed elution order and unusual retention behavior on Chiralpak AD as a function of mobile-phase modifier was reported earlier. These chromatographic behaviors are believed to be due to different alterations of the steric environment of the chiral cavities in the CSP by the different mobile-phase modifiers. In addition, on the basis of the chemical shift of C-1 carbon on the amylose backbone, it is possible that Chiralpak AD's structure is a helix with a number of fold less than six.