Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have been studied for biomedical applications due to their unique properties. However, pristine CNT have structural features and impurities that can cause toxicity to biological systems. In this work, we describe a method to purify multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) by chemical modification and subsequent attachment of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups to improve dispersion and to decrease toxic effects. Nanocomposites from poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and nanotubes were produced by the solvent casting method and characterized and evaluated for cytocompatibility with Vero cells. The nanocomposite interactions with Vero cells demonstrated that the cells were able to adhere and sustain proliferation and showed favorable cytocompatibility. In vitro studies also revealed an increase in fibroblast cell viability in the nanocomposites, compared with neat PLLA.

The adhesion of biofilm on dental prostheses is a prerequisite for the occurrence of oral diseases. Objective: To assess the antimicrobial activity and the mechanical properties of an acrylic resin embedded with nanostructured silver vanadate (β-AgVO3). Material and Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of β-AgVO3 was studied in relation to the species Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. The halo zone of inhibition method was performed in triplicate to determine the inhibitory effect of the modified self-curing acrylic resin Dencor Lay - Clássico®. The surface hardness and compressive strength were examined. The specimens were prepared according to the percentage of β-AgVO3 (0%-control, 0.5%, 1%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10%), with a sample size of 9x2 mm for surface hardness and antimicrobial activity tests, and 8x4 mm for the compression test. The values of the microbiologic analysis were compared and evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis test (α=0.05); the mechanical analysis used the Shapiro-Wilk's tests, Levene's test, ANOVA (one-way), and Tukey's test (α=0.05). Results: The addition of 10% β-AgVO3 promoted antimicrobial activity against all strains. The antimicrobial effect was observed at a minimum concentration of 1% for P. aeruginosa, 2.5% for S. aureus, 5% for C. albicans, and 10% for S. mutans. Surface hardness and compressive strength increased significantly with the addition of 0.5% β-AgVO3 (p<0.05). Higher rates of the nanomaterial did not alter the mechanical properties of the resin in comparison with the control group (p>0.05). Conclusions: The incorporation of β-AgVO3 has the potential to promote antimicrobial activity in the acrylic resin. At reduced rates, it improves the mechanical properties, and, at higher rates, it does not promote changes in the control.

Glass-ceramics are prepared by controlled separation of crystal phases in glasses, leading to uniform and dense grain structures. On the other hand, chemical leaching of soluble crystal phases yields porous glass-ceramics with important applications. Here, glass/ceramic interfaces of niobo-, vanado- and titano-phosphate glasses were studied by micro-Raman spectroscopy, whose spatial resolution revealed the multiphase structures. Phase-separation mechanisms were also determined by this technique, revealing that interface composition remained unchanged as the crystallization front advanced for niobo- and vanadophosphate glasses (interface-controlled crystallization). For titanophosphate glasses, phase composition changed continuously with time up to the equilibrium composition, indicating a spinodal-type phase separation.

Fundamental aspects of the conception and applications of ecomaterials, in particular porous materials in the perspective of green chemistry are discussed in this paper. General recommendations for description and classification of porous materials are reviewed briefly. By way of illustration, some case studies of materials design and applications in pollution detection and remediation are described. It is shown here how different materials developed by our groups, such as porous glasses, ecomaterials from biomass and anionic clays were programmed to perform specific functions. A discussion of the present and future of ecomaterials in green chemistry is presented along with important key goals.

This article provides some aspects that allow making a current reading of the situation of the Brazilian Chemistry that permit us considerate it as a strategic area. They are still presented some initial proposals related to the organization of the research as well as to win the challenges of the relationship with the other areas of the knowledge.

The alpha-zirconium (IV) hydrogenphosphate (alpha-ZrP) has received great attention in the last years due to its properties like ion exchange, intercalation, ionic conductivity and catalytic activity. This work reports a method to produce metallic copper clusters on alpha-ZrP to be used as catalysts in petrochemical processes. It was found that the solids were non-crystalline regardless of the uptake of copper and the reduction. The specific surface area increased as a consequence of the increase of the interlayer distance to accept the copper ions between the layers. During the reduction, big clusters of copper (0,5-11µ) with different sizes and shapes were produced.

Neste trabalho o vidro poroso Vycor foi utilizado como matriz para a imobilização de complexos contendo ligação metal-metal [Pd2Cl2(dppm)2], [Pd2(SnCl3)Cl(dppm)2 ] e [Pd2(SnCl3)2(dppm)2] A elevada reatividade das ligações metal-metal em reações de inserção de moléculas como CO e SO2 é preservada no meio poroso, sendo reversível sob vácuo. Os espectros de RMN MAS 31P, refletância difusa no infravermelho e Raman indicaram que há uma gama de interações possíveis entre o vidro e as moléculas, como resultado da disponibilidade de diferentes grupamentos presentes nas moléculas, bem como de uma topologia porosa irregular. O caráter estático das moléculas no ambiente restrito impede movimentos do anel Pd2P4C2 entre as conformações barco e cadeira, de modo que as moléculas confinadas podem ter diferentes conformações.

Porous Vycor glass (PVG) is used as a matrix for immobilization of complexes containing metal-metal bonds: [Pd2Cl2(dppm)2], [Pd2(SnCl3)Cl(dppm)2 ] and [Pd2(SnCl3)2(dppm)2]. The high reactivity of the metal-metal bonds in insertion reactions with small molecules such as CO and SO2 is preserved in the pore medium, and is reversible under vacuum. 31P MAS-NMR and Raman spectra indicate that there is a range of interactions between the glass and the adsorbed molecules as a result of the availability of different groups in the molecules and of the irregular pore topology as well. The static character of the molecules in the restrictive pore environment precludes motions such as flipping of the ring Pd2P4C2 between boat and chair conformations and rotation of the phenyl rings, and the molecules may present a range of conformations.

Resultados preliminares de XRD, IR, Raman e SEM mostraram que monólitos vitrocerâmicos porosos (pgc-LVCP) com esqueleto tridimensional constituído pelas fases V(PO3)3 e Ca3(VO4)2 foram obtidos utilizando um vidro original de Li2O-V2O3-CaO-P 2O5 como precursor. O pgc-LVCP pode ser um hospedeiro poroso promissor para sistemas químicos integrados visto que a fase Ca3(VO4)2 apresenta propriedades ferroelétricas e de luminescência enquanto a fase V(PO3)3 exibe propriedades magnéticas associadas com elevada estabilidade mecânica, química e térmica.

Preliminary XRD, IR, Raman and SEM data indicate that porous glass-ceramic monoliths (pgc-LVCP) with skeleton of V(PO3)3 and Ca3(VO4)2 with three-dimensional network structure using an original Li2O-V2O3-CaO-P 2O5 glass as precursor was obtained. The pgc-LVCP is a promising porous host for integrated chemical systems because the Ca3(VO4)2 has ferroelectric and luminophor properties while V(PO3)3 exhibits magnetic properties associated with high degree of mechanical, chemical and thermal stability.

Communications on Chemistry of Materials topics were already presented in the first annual meetings of the Brazilian Chemical Society, dispersed throughout various meeting sections. The SBQ Materials Chemistry division was organized in 1993, attracting those members with an interest in the composition, structure and properties of materials, as related to their functions. This paper is an account of the development of Materials Chemistry research in Brazil, based on the SBQ annual meetings data.

This review focus the more relevant foundations and applications of the Metallo-Organic Decomposition (MOD) technique, mainly within the last decade. The technique has grown significantly, mainly due to the good results concerning the preparation of multicomponent oxide systems with composition, structural and morphologic control, in a relatively simple way. This opened new opportunities to obtain materials with well-defined electrical and optical properties.