Article
Polymer Science
Xuechen Yin, David R. O. Hewitt, Bingqian Zheng, Suan P. Quah, Christopher B. Stanley, Robert B. Grubbs, Surita R. Bhatia
Summary: This study presents the nanoscale assembly of PLA-PEOPLA triblock copolymers in water, with a focus on the effect of stereochemistry on micellar properties. Different L/D ratios of PLA blocks were found to impact aggregation numbers and interactions between PLA chains, demonstrating the potential for tuning micellar properties for specific applications.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Wen Guo, Dinglingge Cao, Weihan Rao, Tao Sun, Yiman Wei, Yang Wang, Lin Yu, Jiandong Ding
Summary: An intelligent copolymer hydrogel loaded with bupivacaine microcrystals was developed for long-acting analgesia therapy. The addition of calcium carbonate powder as a pH regulator enabled the dispersion of bupivacaine microcrystals in the hydrogel, resulting in sustained release of bupivacaine. Animal experiments demonstrated that this composite hydrogel significantly prolonged analgesia and exhibited biocompatibility, suggesting its potential as a long-acting analgesia therapy strategy.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mattia Tiboni, Marco Cespi, Luca Casettari, Giovanni Filippo Palmieri, Diego Romano Perinelli, Giulia Bonacucina
Summary: This study proposes a hydrogel formulation containing biodegradable nanoparticles for the vaginal delivery of SQV. The incorporation of nanoparticles into the hydrogel matrix has an impact on the consistency and drug release, potentially improving the in vivo therapeutic outcomes of SQV.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhenzhen Zhang, Md. Mushfequr Rahman, Barbara Bajer, Nico Scharnagl, Volker Abetz
Summary: In this study, a series of porous membranes with different effective pore sizes were successfully prepared using a membrane post-modification technique. The excellent separation performance was demonstrated by separating organic molecules of 1-2 nm in size.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhenzhen Zhang, Md. Mushfequr Rahman, Ivonne Ternes, Barbara Bajer, Volker Abetz
Summary: This study reports on the development of positively charged isoporous block copolymer nanofiltration membranes with designed soft nanochannels. The membranes were obtained through self-assembly and non-solvent-induced phase separation. A versatile post-modification approach was used to engineer well-defined soft nanochannels. The membranes demonstrated the capability to separate mono-/divalent cations based on their ionic size difference, charge, and energy. The selectivity of the membranes was significantly higher in binary-salt systems compared to single-salt systems. The membranes also showed potential for recovering valuable ionic species from water, such as Mg, which is classified as a critical raw material in Europe.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Daniel W. Weller, Guorong Ma, Luke A. Galuska, Song Zhang, Michael Stringer, Sophia Aracri, Weiyu Wang, Kunlun Hong, Xiaodan Gu
Summary: A new pore formation process was investigated for the manufacture of composite ultrafiltration membranes, utilizing the inherent ability of BCP to cavitate under strain for highly permeable and efficient membranes. The one-step membrane preparation process avoids tedious block removal steps. Different polymer types, molecular weights, and thicknesses influence the BCP's thin film morphology and ultimately filtration performance.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Karthika Madathil, Banafsheh Hekmatnia, Haleh Ardebili, Gila E. Stein
Summary: This study examines the impact of solvent composition and solution-casting process on the structure and properties of a lamellar sulfonated pentablock copolymer (SPC) membrane. The results show that sequential deposition of multiple layers can predict the structure of dry films and processing conditions strongly influence through-plane transport properties. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing critical transport properties.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Qin Wu, Yan Sun, Wei Wang, Shuyao Tian, Mengjie Ouyang, Kangcheng Chen, Daxin Shi, Yaoyuan Zhang, Hansheng Li, Zhiping Zhao
Summary: A series of multiblock polydimethylsiloxane-b-polyimides copolymers were successfully prepared and their physicochemical properties, pervaporation properties, and thermal stability were studied. The results showed that the mechanical properties and swelling behavior of the membranes varied with different compositions of the copolymers.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hongyun Xu, Han Xiao, Christopher J. Ellison, Mahesh K. Mahanthappa
Summary: This study successfully synthesized materials with nanoporous structures through thermal cross-linking and selective chemical etching, challenging the expectation that remaining cylinders cannot form a continuous material. Scanning electron microscopy imaging revealed the interconnected nanostructures, while permeation behavior of poly(ethylene oxide) based on hydrodynamic radius directly demonstrated the continuity and size selectivity of the material.
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Qianqian Lan, Nina Yan, Hao Yang, Yong Wang
Summary: This study explores the incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into polystyrene-block-poly (2-vinyl pyridine) (S2VP) membranes to enhance mechanical robustness and water permeance. By utilizing mild oxidation and selective swelling-induced pore generation, CNT-doped S2VP nanocomposite membranes with improved permeance and robustness were successfully prepared. The presence of CNTs in the polymer matrix resulted in membranes with excellent mechanical properties and better pressure resistance, demonstrating a simple yet efficient strategy for enhancing membrane performance.
COMPOSITES COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Hyuna Jo, Seunghyun Sim
Summary: This study reports the first programmable living materials constructed with a dynamic covalent interface between designed synthetic polymers and engineered B. subtilis cells. These living materials can exhibit various functionalities, such as biosensing and on-demand elution of recombinant proteins. Moreover, the materials can be recycled and provide a platform for understanding the biology of confined cells within materials.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Huiwen Pang, Chao Ma, Shenzhen Li, Hongguang Liu, Changlei Xia, Jianzhang Li, Shifeng Zhang, Wangqing Zhang, Liping Cai, Zhenhua Huang
Summary: A temperature-responsive adhesive hydrogel was developed based on mussel-inspired dopamine chemistry and core-shell nanoparticle-regulated dynamic cross-linking, exhibiting enhanced adhesion and mechanical properties. The use of core-shell nanoparticles greatly improved the performance of the hydrogel on low-energy surfaces, providing a novel strategy to develop high-performance stimuli-responsive adhesive hydrogels.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yan Sun, Qin Wu, Kangcheng Chen, Daxin Shi, Yaoyuan Zhang, Hansheng Li, Zhiping Zhao
Summary: Self-supported membranes based on PDMS-b-PI-b-PDMS triblock copolymers were prepared and showed good thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability. The membranes exhibited decreased water contact angle and increased microphase separation domain size with increasing PI content. The membrane with 70 wt% PI content showed excellent ethanol dehydration performance.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Monica Hwang, Kevin Nixon, Rui Sun, Carl Willis, Yossef A. Elabd
Summary: The study found that NEXAR (R) Polymers, used as membranes and ionomers in hydrogen fuel cells, exhibit better performance than Nafion under low temperature and high humidity conditions, with higher proton conductivity and improved fuel cell performance.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yu Pan, Kang Jiang, Xingrun Sun, Siyu Ma, Yat-Ming So, Hongwei Ma, Xiaoming Yan, Ning Zhang, Gaohong He
Summary: The study developed a novel strategy to fabricate AEMs with a star topological structure and block copolymers, which can effectively improve the ionic conductivity and stability of AEM.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yiping Yin, Zhe Wang, Hua Zou
Summary: This study presents a novel method for preparing dimpled polymer-silica nanocomposite particles using interfacial swelling-based seeded polymerization. The optimized conditions allow for a relatively high percentage of dimpled particles to be achieved.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Brenden D. Hoehn, Elizabeth A. Kellstedt, Marc A. Hillmyer
Summary: Porous materials with nanometer-scale pores have important applications as nanoporous membranes. In this study, ABA triblock copolymers were used as precursors to produce nanoporous polymeric membranes (NPMs) in thin film form by degrading the end blocks. Polycyclooctene (PCOE) NPMs with tunable pore sizes were successfully prepared using solvent casting technique. Oxygen plasma etching was employed to improve the surface porosity and hydrophilicity of the membranes. This study provides a straightforward method to produce tough NPMs with high porosity and hydrophilic surface properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vladislav S. Petrovskii, Stepan I. Zholudev, Igor I. Potemkin
Summary: This article investigates the behavior of linear and ring polypeptide chains in aqueous solution and explores the properties of the complexes formed by these chains with oppositely charged surfactants. The results demonstrate that the complexes of linear supercharged unfolded polypeptides and the corresponding surfactants exhibit impressive adhesive properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Merve Cevik, Serkan Dikici
Summary: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death globally, and vascular grafts are a promising treatment option. This study focuses on tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) using decellularized parsley stems as a potential biomaterial. The decellularized parsley stems showed suitable properties for TEVGs, providing a suitable environment for human endothelial cells to form a pseudo endothelium. This study showcases the potential of using parsley stems for TEVGs.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gustavo A. Vasquez-Montoya, Tadej Emersic, Noe Atzin, Antonio Tavera-Vazquez, Ali Mozaffari, Rui Zhang, Orlando Guzman, Alexey Snezhko, Paul F. Nealey, Juan J. de Pablo
Summary: The optical properties of liquid crystals are typically controlled by electric fields. In this study, we investigate the effects of microfluidic flows and acoustic fields on the molecular orientation and optical response of nematic liquid crystals. We identify several previously unknown structures and explain them through calculations and simulations. These findings hold promise for the development of new systems combining sound, flow, and confinement.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xinjun Wu, Xin Guan, Shushu Chen, Jiangpeng Jia, Chongyi Chen, Jiawei Zhang, Chuanzhuang Zhao
Summary: This research presents a novel shape memory hydrogel with a remodelable permanent shape and programmable cold-induced shape recovery behavior. The hydrogel is prepared using specific treatment methods to achieve shape fixation by heating and shape recovery by cooling. Additionally, deformable devices can be obtained by assembling hydrogel blocks with different concentrations.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rebecca Hengsbach, Gerhard Fink, Ulrich Simon
Summary: This study examines the properties of DNA functionalized pNipmam microgels and pure pNipmam microgels at different concentrations of sodium chloride and in PBS solutions using temperature dependent H-1-NMR measurements. The results show that DNA modification affects the volume phase transition temperature and the addition of salt and PBS further enhances this effect.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ningyi Li, Junhong Li, Lijingting Qing, Shicheng Ma, Yao Li, Baohui Li
Summary: This paper investigates the self-assembly behavior of colloids with competing interactions under spherical confinement and finds that different ordered structures can be formed under different sized spherical confinements. Moreover, more perforated structures are formed in smaller spheres.