Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ningdong Huang, Weiheng Huang, Zhenlin Luo, Wangsheng Chu, Goran Ungar
Summary: 3D crystalline order with 1 nm resolution is observed in aqueous solutions of supramolecular nanotubes containing 94% water, at concentrations as low as 6 wt%. The nanotubes are formed by supramolecular rings of star-like organic ions, which stack on top of each other to form long hollow tubes with 15 nm outer diameter. The high 3D order is attributed to long-range attraction between like-charged tubes and amplified charge modulation by the extremely high intra-tube correlation length.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Prabir K. Mukherjee
Summary: This article describes the lyotropic chiral nematic and columnar liquid crystal phases in RNA solutions based on Landau theory, focusing on the isotropic to columnar phase transition. The existence of this transition in RNA solutions has been confirmed experimentally.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Vivek P. Chavda, Shilpa Dawre, Anjali Pandya, Lalitkumar K. Vora, Dharti H. Modh, Vidhi Shah, Divyang J. Dave, Vandana Patravale
Summary: The development of novel long-acting parenteral formulations based on lipid-based liquid crystals has been encouraged by the need for long-term treatments of chronic diseases. These liquid crystal systems, formed by amphiphilic molecules, spontaneously form liquid crystal nanoparticles in aqueous tissue environments, creating an in-situ long-acting sustained-release depot for extended treatment efficacy. This manuscript summarizes the different types of liquid crystals, recent formulation advancements, analytical evaluation, and therapeutic application of lyotropic liquid crystals in the field of parenteral sustained release drug delivery.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Vivek P. Chavda, Sathish Dyawanapelly, Shilpa Dawre, Ines Ferreira-Faria, Rajashri Bezbaruah, Niva Rani Gogoi, Praveen Kolimi, Divyang J. Dave, Ana Claudia Paiva-Santos, Lalitkumar K. Vora
Summary: Liquid crystal-based nanoformulations are efficient in delivering drugs and therapeutics to specific biological sites. Lyotropic liquid crystalline phases (LLCPs) have unique characteristics that make them promising drug delivery systems, offering improved drug loading, stability, and controlled release. Factors such as molecule shape, microsegregation, and chirality play important roles in the formation of these liquid crystalline phases. Additionally, due to their similarity to biological membranes, liquid crystals demonstrate higher bioadhesivity and biocompatibility, making them more effective for targeted drug delivery.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sonja Dieterich, Friedrich Stemmler, Natalie Preisig, Frank Giesselmann
Summary: The use of non-amphiphilic gelators in lyotropic nematic phases allows for the creation of lyotropic nematic gels with preserved micellar aggregate size and shape. These new gels combine the optical properties of a liquid crystal phase with the mechanical stability of a gel, showing promise for applications in stimuli-responsive actuators and sensors.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Mechanics
Zhaowu Lin, Sheng Chen, Tong Gao
Summary: This study constructs a computational model to investigate the undulatory swimming mechanisms of microswimmers in a solution of rigid, rodlike liquid crystal polymers, revealing non-Newtonian behaviors with both enhanced and retarded swimming motions. By analyzing near-body flow fields and polymeric force distributions, together with asymptotic analysis for an idealized model of Taylor's swimming sheet, the propulsion mechanism is revealed.
JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
D. Langevin
Summary: The surface light scattering technique is introduced with recent technical improvements and applications in various surface studies. While non-invasive, delicate to handle, and lacking commercial instruments, the technique provides interesting information that is difficult to obtain otherwise. Challenges such as negative surface viscosities call for further investigation to achieve a satisfactory description of surfactant or polymer laden surface motion.
ADVANCES IN COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
P. A. N. S. Priyadharshana, Ju-Young Park, Seung-Ho Hong, Jang-Kun Song
Summary: This study reports a facile method to prepare multiresponsive colloidal materials that can be controlled by electric fields and temperature. The materials exhibit a solid gel phase and a liquid sol phase, and are used for designing display devices and temperature maintenance indication.
Article
Biophysics
Annija Stepulane, Kajsa Ahlgren, Adrian Rodriguez-Palomo, Anand Kumar Rajasekharan, Martin Andersson
Summary: In this study, silicone-based lyotropic liquid crystal elastomers with drug-eluting functionality were developed using PDMS and triblock copolymer (DA-F127). Various compositions were explored and evaluated, and three compositions with specific properties of interest were further investigated. The materials demonstrated the ability to encapsulate and release polar and nonpolar substances, with sustained release profiles for up to 6 and 5 days for vancomycin and ibuprofen, respectively. This research presents a lyotropic liquid crystal, silicone-based elastomer with tailorable mechanical properties, water retention capacity, and the ability to host and release active substances.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Peng Bao, Daniel A. Paterson, Sally A. Peyman, J. Cliff Jones, Jonathan A. T. Sandoe, Helen F. Gleeson, Stephen D. Evans, Richard J. Bushby
Summary: This study presents a modified microfluidic method for creating Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs) containing lyotropic nematic liquid crystals. By combining spontaneous de-wetting and buoyancy, octanol droplets and GUVs can be separated effectively. The simplified device and increased formation rate make it easier to produce larger quantities of GUVs, but the phase behavior of lyotropic liquid crystals is sensitive to concentration.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Guillermo Blanco-Fernandez, Barbara Blanco-Fernandez, Anxo Fernandez-Ferreiro, Francisco J. Otero-Espinar
Summary: Liquid crystals possess unique physicochemical properties that make them applicable in various fields. This article provides an overview of the current landscape of lipidic liquid crystals in biomedical applications, with a focus on drug delivery, tissue engineering, and molecular imaging. The limitations and future prospects of lipidic liquid crystals in these applications are also discussed.
ADVANCES IN COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kang Wang, Zhi Li, Yiming Huang, YaotianTao, Xiao Liang, Xiaoqin Chu, Ning He, Shuangying Gui, Zhenbao Li
Summary: This study investigates the influence of additives on lyotropic liquid crystal architecture using alkanes and sucrose esters. Through molecular dynamic simulations and experiments, it was shown that additives can control the structure of LLCs by changing their polarity. It was found that the polarity of additives is a key factor in determining the structure of LLCs, with a certain regularity observed in their effects on the liquid crystal structure.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Adrian Rodriguez-Palomo, Viviane Lutz-Bueno, Xiaobao Cao, Roland Kadar, Martin Andersson, Marianne Liebi
Summary: The study shows that in regions with high extensional flow, the material is oriented perpendicular to the flow, while in regions with high enough shear rate, the material is oriented in the flow direction. A flow-induced morphological transition from aligned lamellae toward multilamellar vesicles is observed in the lamellar phase with different shear rates.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Younes Saadat, Kyungtae Kim, Reza Foudazi
Summary: In this study, a two-step thermoresponsive ultrafiltration membrane was fabricated using a polymerized liquid crystal material. The membrane exhibited reversible thermoresponsive behavior at specific temperatures, enhancing cleaning efficiency and extending product lifespan.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Vera Tchakalova, Cristiano Luis Pinto Oliveira, Antonio Martins Figueiredo Neto
Summary: A new lyotropic, fragranced, viscoelastic fluid with a complex structure is obtained from fragranced microemulsions by adding a fatty acid. The formation of anisotropically shaped and highly oriented micelles in aqueous solution is achieved by nonhomogeneous mixing of an appropriate nonionic surfactant, a fatty acid, and a fragrance oil. The viscosity and nano- and microstructures of the fluid are controlled by the balance of fatty acids and fragrance molecules, which behave as a cosurfactant and segregate in the micelles. X-ray scattering and rheological methods characterize the transition from isotropic microemulsion to a more structured viscoelastic solution. With the ability to solubilize and retain fragrance, this complex structured fluid can be used as a 2-in-1 fragrance-solubilizing liquid product compatible with various consumer products for home and body care.