Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chaemin Lim, Jacob D. Ramsey, Duhyeong Hwang, Susana C. M. Teixeira, Chi-Duen Poon, Joshua D. Strauss, Elias P. Rosen, Marina Sokolsky-Papkov, Alexander Kabanov
Summary: The study found that the morphology of polymeric micelles significantly affects pharmacological efficacy, with spherical micelles accumulating rapidly in tumor tissue while retaining large amounts of drug, and worm-like micelles accumulating more slowly and only upon releasing significant amounts of drug.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Yu. A. Eroshkin, L. Ts. Adzhemyan, A. K. Shchekin
Summary: A new statistical thermodynamic model is proposed to describe the inverse nonionic aggregates of surfactant molecules in nonpolar solvents. This model considers the coexistence of inverse spherical, globular, and spherocylindrical aggregates without activation barriers between them. It introduces the concept of uniform bulk density and two independent geometric parameters to characterize the transformation of aggregates into different forms. The model shows good agreement with experimental data and predicts the degrees of surfactant micellization in various forms of inverse aggregates.
PHYSICA A-STATISTICAL MECHANICS AND ITS APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Mathematics
Lingxiao Li, Mingliang Wang
Summary: The study investigates the general variable coefficient cylindrical/spherical KdV equation using the simplified homogeneous balance method. It is proven that if the coefficients satisfy certain constraint conditions, the equation can be transformed into a quadratic form equation and obtain exact soliton-like solutions of the cylindrical/spherical KdV equation.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Jia-Tong Xu, Xiao-Quan Chen, Wen-Hao Shen, Zheng Li
Summary: In this study, cellulose nanocrystallines (CNCs) with different morphologies were isolated and used to prepare flexible and transparent nanocomposite films with PVA matrix. The effects of rod-shaped cellulose nanocrystallines (RCNCs) and spherical cellulose nanocrystallines (SCNCs) on the properties of the PVA composite films were systematically compared. It was found that SCNCs improved thermal stability, while RCNCs exhibited significantly higher mechanical properties, especially in terms of Young's modulus.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Isabella K. R. Dias, Bruna K. Lacerda, Valdeir Arantes
Summary: In this study, a mechanical pretreatment method was evaluated for enhancing cellulose fiber accessibility and improving the efficiency of cellulose nanoparticle production. The combination of mechanical pretreatment and specific enzymatic hydrolysis conditions significantly improved CN production yield, reaching up to 83%. This production approach shows promise in producing tailored CNs with high yield and adjustable properties.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Yitong Wang, Chuanshuang Hu, Litao Guan, Hong Yun, Wei Qi, Jin Gu
Summary: In this study, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were successfully produced through the treatment of cellulose with formic acid-acidified lithium bromide molten salt hydrate (LiBr MSH). The resulting CNCs exhibited tunable morphologies and high yield. The concentration of LiBr had a significant influence on the structure of CNCs, leading to a transition from cellulose I to a mixture of cellulose I and II and eventually to cellulose II. The rod-like CNCs transformed into sphere-like nanoparticles with the increase of LiBr concentration. The resulting CNCs showed high crystallinity, thermal stability, and suspension stability.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
F. M. Sanakousar, C. C. Vidyasagar, D. B. Shikandar, Victor. M. Jimenez-Perez, Mounesh, C. C. Viswanath, K. Prakash
Summary: This paper presents a thermal decomposition method to synthesize MoO3 and Ag2MoO4 nanocrystals. The properties of the nanocrystals were characterized using various techniques. Ag2MoO4 showed a redshift in the optical band gap compared to MoO3. MoO3/MWCNTs/CPE exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity, while Ag2MoO4 showed high photocatalytic degradation efficiency for dyes. The mechanisms of both electrochemical and photocatalytic processes were elucidated.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Nuclear Science & Technology
Xu Liu, Nan Gui, Xingtuan Yang, Jiyuan Tu, Shengyao Jiang, Houjun Gong
Summary: The study compared the heat transfer performance between spherical particles and cylindrical rods, as well as the effects of different stacking modes on flows and heat transfers in the pebble bed.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Krittin Korkerd, Chaiwat Soanuch, Zongyan Zhou, Pornpote Piumsomboon, Benjapon Chalermsinsuwan
Summary: This study investigated the mixing behavior of rod-like particles and spherical particles in a bubbling fluidized bed using CFD-DEM simulation. The results showed that the rod diameter was the most crucial factor for the mixing index, followed by the sphere diameter. The rod weight and interaction of parameters had a slight effect on the mixing index. These findings highlight the importance of using inert spherical particles to improve the hydrodynamics properties of non-spherical particles.
Article
Physics, Applied
Saeid Baghshahi, Fataneh Yousefi
Summary: In this study, spherical, cubic, and rod-shaped magnetite nanoparticles were successfully synthesized showing superparamagnetic properties without detectable impurities by XRD. Cubic particles exhibited the highest M-s value, while rod-like particles showed the lowest M-s value. This study provides a new systematic approach to investigate the effect of morphology on the magnetic properties of magnetite nanoparticles.
JOURNAL OF SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND NOVEL MAGNETISM
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
A. Sabarinathan, R. Jayaprakash, S. Gopi, R. Robert
Summary: The addition of Sn in Zinc Oxide nanoparticles resulted in changes in morphology and increased agglomeration levels, leading to the formation of particles with different phases. The average particle size increased and bandgap energy decreased with the addition of Sn concentration, while the photocatalytic activity was enhanced.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC AND ORGANOMETALLIC POLYMERS AND MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Afshin Anssari-Benam, Andrea Bucchi, Giuseppe Saccomandi
Summary: This study demonstrates the application of a newly proposed generalised neo-Hookean strain energy function to the inflation of incompressible rubber-like spherical and cylindrical shells, analyzing the predicted inflation curve characteristics and the manifestation of limit-point instability. The model shows favorable agreement with experimental data across different centuries, capturing both limit-point and inflation-jump instabilities in rubber-like materials.
JOURNAL OF ELASTICITY
(2022)
Article
Mechanics
Akiomi Ushida, Terumitsu Sugiyama, Taisuke Sato, Ryuichi Kayaba, Takatsune Narumi, Tomiichi Hasegawa
Summary: This study investigated the flow properties of rod-like micellar solutions passing through circular orifices with different molar concentration ratios, revealing diverse non-Newtonian behaviors. In certain molar concentration ratios, the micellar solutions exhibited Newtonian viscosity similar to water. The relationship between experimental results and molar concentration ratios was discussed to deepen the understanding of rheological properties.
NIHON REOROJI GAKKAISHI
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Najmeh Najmoddin, Fatemeh Behrouz, Fatemeh Hajihashemi, Rana Mohammady-Shodja, Behafarid Ghalandari
Summary: This study investigates the binding of human serum albumin to spherical and rod-like mesoporous silica. Hydrophobic interaction is found to be the main driving force for the binding. The complex between rod-like mesoporous silica and albumin is more stable.
INORGANIC AND NANO-METAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Huan Li, Yingying Li, Yudan Wang, Lijia Liu, Hongxing Dong, Chunhong Zhang, Toshifumi Satoh
Summary: Flexible and self-healing conductive hydrogel, called PVA/PDA/Tyr-PEAm, was developed to improve the antibacterial properties of electronic skin. The hydrogel exhibited long-term antibacterial activity, low hemolysis activity, good conductivity, and rapid self-healing ability. It could be used for detecting normal and wound skin in real-time, as well as detecting macro and micro movements of the human body.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Kai Chen, Chun -Yu Chen, Hsin-Lung Chen, Ryoya Komaki, Nao Kawakami, Takuya Isono, Toshifumi Satoh, Du -Yuan Hung, Ying-Ling Liu
Summary: This study reveals the strong effects of molecular architecture and configuration on the self-assembly behavior of sugar-based block copolymers. The configuration prescribed by the substituted positions of the block chains exerts a significant influence on the formation of hydrogen bonding and the resistance against bending. These findings provide insights into the controlled fabrication of ordered structures in green materials.
Article
Polymer Science
Xiaochao Xia, Tianle Gao, Feng Li, Ryota Suzuki, Takuya Isono, Toshifumi Satoh
Summary: Switchable polymerization has potential for synthesizing sequence-controlled macromolecules similar to natural biopolymers, but is limited to three-and four-component systems. We expanded its scope to five-component systems using a reactivity gradient among 12 monomers. Different copolymerizations were achieved using a catalyst, allowing for the synthesis of gradient and block copolymers. Anhydride reactivity was predicted using 13C NMR chemical shifts. This comonomer library allows for the prediction and preparation of more complex copolymer structures.
Article
Polymer Science
Huan Li, Yingying Li, Yudan Wang, Lijia Liu, Hongxing Dong, Chunhong Zhang, Toshifumi Satoh
Summary: In this study, a Lys-BPEA crosslinker was synthesized using primary amines rich in lysine end groups. An antibacterial self-healing hydrogel (PAA/Lys-BPEA) was prepared by introducing polyamine Lys-BPEA into PAA via ionic bonding and electrostatic interaction. The PAA/Lys-BPEA hydrogel exhibited excellent antibacterial and self-healing properties, making it an ideal choice for the design of smart self-healing devices and antibacterial surface coatings.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Erika Terada, Takuya Isono, Toshifumi Satoh, Takuya Yamamoto, Toyoji Kakuchi, Shinichiro Sato
Summary: Recently, temperature-responsive polymers tethered to oligooxyethylene side chains terminated with alkyl groups were experimentally investigated. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to study aqueous solutions of poly(glycidyl ether)s with different numbers of oxyethylene units. The thermal responses of chain extensions, hydrogen bond recombination, and water-solvation shells were analyzed. The phase-transition temperature was not directly related to the polymer-chain extensions, but the temperature response of the water-solvation shell around the alkyl group showed a noticeable correlation. The relationship between TCRP and TCLP was found to be affected by polymer-chain fluctuation.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Chun-Kai Chen, Jin-Chieh Ho, Chih-Chien Hung, Wei-Cheng Chen, Toshifumi Satoh, Wen-Chang Chen
Summary: In this study, an environmentally friendly floating-gate electret made entirely from biomass-derived materials was designed for photonic memories. The photosensitive hemin and its derivative protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) were successfully embedded in a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix, affecting the photosensitivity and charge-trapping capacity of the prepared electrets. The device exhibited a memory ratio of up to 2.5 x 10(7) with photo-writing-electrical-erasing characteristics, and sustained memory performance for at least 10(4) s after light removal was observed on a bio-derived dielectric flexible substrate.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mahmoud M. Abd Elwakil, Ryota Suzuki, Alaa M. Khalifa, Rania M. Elshami, Takuya Isono, Yaser H. A. Elewa, Yusuke Sato, Takashi Nakamura, Toshifumi Satoh, Hideyoshi Harashima
Summary: mRNA lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been successfully developed to deliver mRNA to immune cells in the spleen, showing great potential for precision therapies. The design of ligand-free glycidylamine (GA) derivatives containing LNPs (GA-LNPs) with specific characteristics have significantly improved their self-assembly and RNA delivery efficiency. The top-performing estriol-GA05-30 LNPs exhibited strong antitumor activity and promising results in therapeutic and prophylactic cancer models, highlighting the importance of ionizable lipids for extrahepatic RNA delivery.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Minami Ebe, Asuka Soga, Kaiyu Fujiwara, Brian J. Ree, Hironori Marubayashi, Katsumi Hagita, Atsushi Imasaki, Miru Baba, Takuya Yamamoto, Kenji Tajima, Tetsuo Deguchi, Hiroshi Jinnai, Takuya Isono, Toshifumi Satoh
Summary: In this study, the synthesis of macro-rotaxanes consisting of high-molecular-weight axle and wheel components (macro-rotaxanes) was achieved by the topological trapping of multicyclic polydimethylsiloxanes (mc-PDMSs) in silicone networks. mc-PDMSs with more cyclic units and larger ring sizes can be quantitatively trapped in the network as macro-rotaxanes, compared to monocyclic PDMS. The damping performance of a 60 wt % mc-PDMS-blended silicone network was found to be higher than the bare PDMS network, suggesting the potential application of macro-rotaxanes as non-leaching additives for network polymers.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Feng Li, Ryota Suzuki, Tianle Gao, Xiaochao Xia, Takuya Isono, Toshifumi Satoh
Summary: Polymer materials are crucial in shaping modern society. The development of new catalysts, such as alkali metal carboxylates, plays an important role in the continuous advancement of polymer materials. These simple compounds have demonstrated their potential as catalysts in various polymerization reactions.
BULLETIN OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Satoshi Katsuhara, Naoki Sunagawa, Kiyohiko Igarashi, Yutaka Takeuchi, Kenji Takahashi, Takuya Yamamoto, Feng Li, Kenji Tajima, Takuya Isono, Toshifumi Satoh
Summary: This study synthesized cellulose acetate-based TPEs with different degrees of substitution (DS) and investigated the impact of DS on their structure and properties. The results showed that decreasing DS led to the formation of a more ordered microphase-separated structure, improved toughness, suppressed stress relaxation, and enhanced biodegradability potential. This work demonstrates the potential of cellulose acetate-based TPEs as next-generation sustainable materials.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yuanyuan Gu, Lijia Liu, Yudan Wang, Chunhong Zhang, Toshifumi Satoh
Summary: Hierarchical chiral self-assembly of an amphiphilic helical poly(phe-nylacetylene) homopolymer containing bi-valine pendants was achieved by adding a polar solvent into the polymer solution. The influences of solvent components and temperature on the supramolecular chirality and morphologies of ordered nanostructures were investigated. Various morphologies including spheres, beads-string micelles, vesicles, nanorods, flower-like, and blocky nanostructures were obtained. The chiral property endowed by bi-valine pendants in the polyphenylacetylene backbone was transferred and enhanced in high-ordered supramolecular self-assemblies. The increase of polar solvent fraction significantly promoted the aggregation of multi micelles.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hien Thi Phan, Shoko Furukawa, Koto Imai, Hiroya Tomita, Takuya Isono, Toshifumi Satoh, Ken'ichiro Matsumoto
Summary: Bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase PhaC(AR) and its mutated variants were used to synthesize block copolymers with poly(d-lactate) (PDLA) segments. Beneficial mutations N149D and F314H increased the incorporation of D-lactate (LA) units, resulting in the synthesis of P(3HB)-b-PDLA and P(3HHx)-b-PDLA. This study demonstrates a new method for the synthesis of block copolyesters with isotactic PDLA segments from renewable resources using engineered polyester synthase.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Yamato Ebii, Yoshinobu Mato, Feng Li, Kenji Tajima, Takuya Yamamoto, Takuya Isono, Toshifumi Satoh
Summary: In this study, multicyclic polystyrene (mc-PS) was successfully synthesized through the cyclopolymerization of alpha,omega-dinorbornenyl end-functionalized PS macromonomers mediated by the Grubbs third-generation catalyst. The number of cyclic units in the obtained mc-PS was controlled by adjusting the macromonomer-to-G3 ratio, with a maximum of 239 units achieved. The developed cyclopolymerization strategy provides a new approach for the synthesis of multicyclic polymers and has significant implications for fundamental studies and material applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yaodong Wang, Yudan Wang, Lijia Liu, Kexiao Sang, Chunhong Zhang, Toshifumi Satoh
Summary: Metal-free catalysts have emerged as an important research focus in catalysis due to the growing concern over heavy metal pollution. In this study, a heterogeneous catalyst, l-Pro-l-Pro-l-Phe-l-Phe-OMe, was synthesized by connecting an aromatic amino acid dipeptide (l-Phe-l-Phe-OMe) with a proline dipeptide (l-Pro-l-Pro) through solid phase synthesis. The catalyst's structure was characterized using SEM, XRD, NMR, and FTIR spectroscopy, with X-ray diffractometry revealing a rod crystal structure. Furthermore, l-Pro-l-Pro-l-Phe-l-Phe-OMe exhibited superior catalytic activity compared to a homogeneous small molecule catalyst (high enantioselectivity, ee > 97%) in heterogeneous asymmetric aldol reactions and demonstrated good recyclability.
REACTION CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Kai Chen, Chun -Yu Chen, Hsin-Lung Chen, Ryoya Komaki, Nao Kawakami, Takuya Isono, Toshifumi Satoh, Du -Yuan Hung, Ying-Ling Liu
Summary: The molecular architecture and configuration of sugar-based block copolymers have significant effects on their self-assembly behavior. In this study, we observed the formation of double gyroid and hexagonal perforated layer structures in monodisperse maltose-solanesol block copolymers with different architectural configurations. The oligomeric nature of the copolymers amplified the role of the configuration prescribed by the substituted positions of the block chains.