biological activities of polymers. edited by charles e. carraher jr and charles g. gebelein, acs...

1
Book Reviews Encyclopedia of polymer science and engineering, Volume 3 Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline I. Kroschwitz, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester and New York, 1985. pp. xxivf820, subscription price f155.00 ($205.00), single volume price 2185.00 ($240.00). ISBN 0 471 88789 7 (Volume 3) The general scheme, and details of the subscription arrange- ments of this series were indicated in the review of Volume 1 (British Polymer Journal, 1985, 17, 321). The present volume comprises a mixed bunch of articles including: Cellular materials Cellulose (biosynthesis, graft polymers, microcrystalline Cellulose esters and ethers Chain transfer polymerisation Characterisation of polymers Charge transfer polymers Chemical analysis Chemically resistant polymers Chitin Chloroprenes and chlorotrifluoroethylene polymers Chromatography Coating methods and coatings Collagen Colloids Colorants Compatibility of polymers Composites types, structure and properties, and derivatives) As always with this series, the overall standard of contributions is high, and each article, authoritatively written and clearly edited, will be of interest to many readers. Like the earlier volumes in this series (and, it may be hoped, the succeeding ones), this volume is to be welcomed as an important part of the literature of polymer science. C. A. Finch Biological activities of polymers Edited by Charles E. Carraher Jr and Charles G. Gebelein, ACS Symposium Series No. 186, American Chemical Society, Washington D.C., 1982. pp. x+293, price $34.95 (USA & Canada), $41.95 (rest of world). This volume is based on a Symposium of the Division of Organic Coatings and Plastics Chemistry at the ACS Meeting held in Atlanta in March 1981. The contents are intended to illustrate current research in relation to the biological activities of macromolecules. Following an introductory chapter by the Editors on ‘Perspectives in bioactive polymers’, the remainder of the text consists of three sections on Non-medical applica- tions of biological polymers; Medical applications-drug rel- ated activity; and Anticancer applications. The first section, on non-medical applications, includes con- tributions on the biological activities of metal-containing poly- mers, on activity of organo-tin polymers in wood preservation, on polymer-bound fungicides for paints, on poly(thio- semicarbazide) copper complexes as algicides, and on poten- tial herbicides based on the polyvinyl backbone. Amongst the Medical applications, there are papers on in vitro drug-poly- mer sustained release systems (gentamycin or niridazole in silicone rubber; tetracycline in hydroxyethylmethacrylate! BRITISH POLYMER JOURNAL, VOL. 18, NO. 2 1986 ISBN 0-8412-0719-4 methyl methacrylate copolymers), kinetics of drug release; polymeric iron chelators; covalent bonding of trypsin to hydro- gels; chitin-protein interactions; and the use of thermal analysis techniques to examine the biological activities of poly- mers. In the section on Anticancer applications, a review of antineoplastic polymeric drugs (notably polyanions and nucleic acid analogues), is followed by papers on the effects of polycarboxylic acids, on platinum-containing polymeric drugs and their controlled release, the interaction of polylysine (methotrexate) with tumour cells, and biological effects of bonding of carcinogens and antibiotics to DNA. This volume, which is well-produced from camera-ready copy, with a good index, should be studied by anyone concerned with the biological and medical applications of polymers. C. A. Finch Advances in inorganic and bioinorganic mechanisms, Volume 2 Edited by A. G. Sykes, Academic Press, London, 1984. pp x+388, price f48.00, $75.00. This volume, the second in a projected annual series, provides six reviews in the area of inorganic mechanisms and the newer, but rapidly expanding, area of bioinorganic mechanisms. Three are concerned with inorganic substitution reactions, including base hydrolysis, substitution reactions of di- and tri- valent metal ions and oxygen-18 exchange studies on 0x0 and aqua ions. Of more interest to the (bio) polymer chemist are the three reviews on bioinorganic mechanisms. Rapid-reaction techniques, available for the study of the com- plexities of chemical reactions involved in biological systems, supplement the normal chemical study of biological processes. Whilst many biological processes are not normally considered fast reactions, study of acid-base reactions, the interactions between metalloproteins and ligands (commonly encountered in enzyme catalysis), conformational changes, protein-protein interactions and protein unfolding and refolding processes all require such techniques, whilst many other processes can be forced into the rapid time area by increasing concentrations of, for example, enzymes (which closely simulate the biological conditions). The discussion of binucleating ligands and their relevance to nitrogen fixation is most timely, with the current interest in nitrogen fixation via biotechnological processes. It describes the concept of securing two metal ions at an appropriate dis- tance, such that the bridging position remaining is capable of binding the nitrogen molecule, and the relationship of such systems to biological molecules which contain similar types of bimetallic centres. The types of system available and their production, and their application as model compounds for study of metalloproteins and metalloenzymes are discussed, giving real meaning to an academic idea. ‘Structural and functional properties of molybdenum-contain- ing enzymes’ is a discussion on the understanding of the molyb- denum environment and how its modification can affect chemical reactivity, describing the structural information obtained from x-ray absorption spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance studies, which might ultimately lead to the design of new types of molybdenum-based catalysts with controllable properties. Each contribution is clearly written with excellent use of figures and tables. Reference to the earlier literature of the 1970s and early 1980s is comprehensive with citations to the more important works. This is a balanced text, relevant to both ISBN 0-12-023802-0 139

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Book Reviews Encyclopedia of polymer science and engineering, Volume 3 Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline I . Kroschwitz, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester and New York, 1985. pp. xxivf820, subscription price f155.00 ($205.00), single volume price 2185.00 ($240.00). ISBN 0 471 88789 7 (Volume 3)

The general scheme, and details of the subscription arrange- ments of this series were indicated in the review of Volume 1 (British Polymer Journal, 1985, 17, 321).

The present volume comprises a mixed bunch of articles including:

Cellular materials Cellulose (biosynthesis, graft polymers, microcrystalline

Cellulose esters and ethers Chain transfer polymerisation Characterisation of polymers Charge transfer polymers Chemical analysis Chemically resistant polymers Chitin Chloroprenes and chlorotrifluoroethylene polymers Chromatography Coating methods and coatings Collagen Colloids Colorants Compatibility of polymers Composites

types, structure and properties, and derivatives)

As always with this series, the overall standard of contributions is high, and each article, authoritatively written and clearly edited, will be of interest to many readers.

Like the earlier volumes in this series (and, it may be hoped, the succeeding ones), this volume is to be welcomed as an important part of the literature of polymer science.

C. A. Finch

Biological activities of polymers Edited by Charles E. Carraher Jr and Charles G. Gebelein, ACS Symposium Series No. 186, American Chemical Society, Washington D.C., 1982. pp. x+293, price $34.95 (USA & Canada), $41.95 (rest of world).

This volume is based on a Symposium of the Division of Organic Coatings and Plastics Chemistry at the ACS Meeting held in Atlanta in March 1981. The contents are intended to illustrate current research in relation to the biological activities of macromolecules. Following an introductory chapter by the Editors on ‘Perspectives in bioactive polymers’, the remainder of the text consists of three sections on Non-medical applica- tions of biological polymers; Medical applications-drug rel- ated activity; and Anticancer applications.

The first section, on non-medical applications, includes con- tributions on the biological activities of metal-containing poly- mers, on activity of organo-tin polymers in wood preservation, on polymer-bound fungicides for paints, on poly(thio- semicarbazide) copper complexes as algicides, and on poten- tial herbicides based on the polyvinyl backbone. Amongst the Medical applications, there are papers on in vitro drug-poly- mer sustained release systems (gentamycin or niridazole in silicone rubber; tetracycline in hydroxyethylmethacrylate!

BRITISH POLYMER JOURNAL, VOL. 18, NO. 2 1986

ISBN 0-8412-0719-4

methyl methacrylate copolymers), kinetics of drug release; polymeric iron chelators; covalent bonding of trypsin to hydro- gels; chitin-protein interactions; and the use of thermal analysis techniques to examine the biological activities of poly- mers. In the section on Anticancer applications, a review of antineoplastic polymeric drugs (notably polyanions and nucleic acid analogues), is followed by papers on the effects of polycarboxylic acids, on platinum-containing polymeric drugs and their controlled release, the interaction of polylysine (methotrexate) with tumour cells, and biological effects of bonding of carcinogens and antibiotics to DNA.

This volume, which is well-produced from camera-ready copy, with a good index, should be studied by anyone concerned with the biological and medical applications of polymers.

C. A. Finch

Advances in inorganic and bioinorganic mechanisms, Volume 2 Edited by A. G. Sykes, Academic Press, London, 1984. pp x+388, price f48.00, $75.00.

This volume, the second in a projected annual series, provides six reviews in the area of inorganic mechanisms and the newer, but rapidly expanding, area of bioinorganic mechanisms. Three are concerned with inorganic substitution reactions, including base hydrolysis, substitution reactions of di- and tri- valent metal ions and oxygen-18 exchange studies on 0x0 and aqua ions. Of more interest to the (bio) polymer chemist are the three reviews on bioinorganic mechanisms.

Rapid-reaction techniques, available for the study of the com- plexities of chemical reactions involved in biological systems, supplement the normal chemical study of biological processes. Whilst many biological processes are not normally considered fast reactions, study of acid-base reactions, the interactions between metalloproteins and ligands (commonly encountered in enzyme catalysis), conformational changes, protein-protein interactions and protein unfolding and refolding processes all require such techniques, whilst many other processes can be forced into the rapid time area by increasing concentrations of, for example, enzymes (which closely simulate the biological conditions).

The discussion of binucleating ligands and their relevance to nitrogen fixation is most timely, with the current interest in nitrogen fixation via biotechnological processes. It describes the concept of securing two metal ions at an appropriate dis- tance, such that the bridging position remaining is capable of binding the nitrogen molecule, and the relationship of such systems to biological molecules which contain similar types of bimetallic centres. The types of system available and their production, and their application as model compounds for study of metalloproteins and metalloenzymes are discussed, giving real meaning to an academic idea.

‘Structural and functional properties of molybdenum-contain- ing enzymes’ is a discussion on the understanding of the molyb- denum environment and how its modification can affect chemical reactivity, describing the structural information obtained from x-ray absorption spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance studies, which might ultimately lead to the design of new types of molybdenum-based catalysts with controllable properties.

Each contribution is clearly written with excellent use of figures and tables. Reference to the earlier literature of the 1970s and early 1980s is comprehensive with citations to the more important works. This is a balanced text, relevant to both

ISBN 0-12-023802-0

139