Details the principles and mechanisms of, and the equipment and optimal working conditions for, the liquid-chromatographic separation of well-defined oligomeric species and fraction with narrow molecular weight distribution. The work provides a complete description of the applications and possible performance of liquid chromatography in the field of oligomer separation.

This book provides an excellent introduction to the fundamentals of oligomer chemistry. Each section describes the synthesis, separation, physico-chemical characterization, and present and future applications of individual classes of oligomers organized according to the chemical structure of the main chain. In addition, this book features up-to-date references from both journals and patents and an extensive appendix covering synthesis and characterization methods of oligomeric derivatives. Synthesis and Characterization of Oligomers is a broad, state-of-the-art survey and will be useful not only for students and professionals working with oligomers, but also chemists who are new to the field.

A proven collection of readily reproducible techniques for studying amyloid proteins and their involvement in the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy of amyloid diseases. The contributors provide methods for the preparation of amyloid and its precursors (oligomers and protofibrils), in vitro assays and analytical techniques for their study, and cell culture models and assays for the production of amyloid proteins. Additional chapters present readily reproducible techniques for amyloid extraction from tissue, its detection in vitro and in vivo, as well as nontransgenic methods for developing amyloid mouse models. The protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, each offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principle behind the technique, lists of the necessary equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

This successful textbook undergoes a change of character in the third edition. Where earlier editions covered organic polymer chemistry, the third edition covers both physical and organic chemistry. Thus kinetics and thermodynamics of polymerization reactions are discussed. This edition is also distinct from all other polymer textbooks because of its coverage of such currently hot topics as photonic polymers, electricity conducting polymers, polymeric materials for immobilization of reagents and drug release, organic solar cells, organic light emitting diodes. This textbook contains review questions at the end of every chapter, references for further reading, and numerous examples of commercially important processes.

Reactive oligomers (ROs) constitute a starting material for the production of numerous polymeric materials with a pre-assigned set of physico-mechanical and physico-chemical properties. This book is the first to treat systematically various methods for determining the FTD and MWD of functional oligomers. Special attention is given to the application of liquid chromatography in different separation modes: exclusion (gel-permeation chromatography, GPC) and adsorption, as well as to the separation of functional oligomers in the critical region (SCR) at the boundary between the specified modes.

Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) composed of intracellular aggregates of tau protein are a key neuropathological feature of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases, collectively termed tauopathies. The abundance of NFTs has been reported to correlate positively with the severity of cognitive impairment in AD. However, accumulating evidences derived from studies of experimental models have identified that NFTs themselves may not be neurotoxic. Now, many of tau researchers are seeking a “toxic” form of tau protein. Moreover, it was suggested that a “toxic” tau was capable to seed aggregation of native tau protein and to propagate in a prion-like manner. However, the exact neurotoxic tau species remain unclear. Because mature tangles seem to be non-toxic component, “tau oligomers” as the candidate of “toxic” tau have been investigated for more than one decade. In this topic, we will discuss our consensus of “tau oligomers” because the term of “tau oligomers” [e.g. dimer (disulfide bond-dependent or independent), multimer (more than dimer), granular (definition by EM or AFM) and maybe small filamentous aggregates] has been used by each researchers definition. From a biochemical point of view, tau protein has several unique characteristics such as natively unfolded conformation, thermo-stability, acid-stability, and capability of post-translational modifications. Although tau protein research has been continued for a long time, we are still missing the mechanisms of NFT formation. It is unclear how the conversion is occurred from natively unfolded protein to abnormally mis-folded protein. It remains unknown how tau protein can be formed filaments [e.g. paired helical filament (PHF), straight filament and twisted filament] in cells albeit in vitro studies confirmed tau self-assembly by several inducing factors. Researchers are still debating whether tau oligomerization is primary event rather than tau phosphorylation in the tau pathogenesis. Inhibition of either tau phosphorylation or aggregation has been investigated for the prevention of tauopathies, however, it will make an irrelevant result if we don’t know an exact target of neurotoxicity. It is a time to have a consensus of definition, terminology and methodology for the identification of “tau oligomers”.

The Second Edition of Modern Size-Exclusion Chromatography offers a complete guide to the theories, methods, and applications of size-exclusion chromatography. It provides an unparalleled, integrated, up-to-date treatment of gel permeation and gel filtration chromatography. With its detailed descriptions of techniques, data handling, compilations of information on columns and column packings, and tables of important solvents and reference materials, the book offers readers everything they need to take full advantage of this popular macromolecular characterization technique. Since publication of the first edition in 1979, there have been many important advances in the field of size-exclusion chromatography. This Second Edition brings the book thoroughly up to date, with expert coverage of: New and emerging industrial and research applications Practical aspects of size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and multidetector and multidimensional SEC technologies for polymer architecture and copolymer analysis Updated information on the latest equipment and techniques New best practices for the lab SEC in relation to polymer characterization techniques such as GPEC, LCCC, and rheology Throughout the text, detailed examples guide you step by step through all the latest techniques and applications. With its extensive revisions and updates written by leading experts and pioneers in the field, Modern Size-Exclusion Liquid Chromatography remains the definitive resource for the broad range of researchers and scientists who use HPLC and GPC methods.

This two-volume work examines general relationships among the structures, reactivity, and properties of polyamides important for predictions in such fields as materials science. The team of authors, including polymer research chemists, physicists, and specialists in technology and processing, compiled an extensive amount of literature (over 2300 references) to produce two volumes packed with text, tables, drawings, and first-hand information, much of it never before published. Topics include lactams and their production, properties, analysis, theory, and the technology of their polymerization, in addition to polyamides and their processing, modification, analysis, molecular characterization, structure, physical properties, degradation and stabilization, designing and application of products. Researchers and specialists in the preparation, modification, processing, structure, and properties of linear aliphatic polyamides will find Lactam-Based Polyamides, Volumes I and II to be invaluable texts.

First published in 1988. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.