Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Qing Hao, Jinghong Wang, Jie Shen, Rong Gu, Yu Rao, Jian Feng, Huanhuan Wang, John L. Brash, Hong Chen
Summary: A family of 2D nanofilms composed of poly(N-vinyl caprolactam-co-vinylimidazole) (PNVCL) nanogels was fabricated for various applications. The nanofilms had adjustable swelling ratio and mechanical properties, and exhibited excellent adhesion, light transmission, and anti-biofouling properties.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kai Wang, Lei Zhang, Xiancai Jiang
Summary: In this study, a freezing-resistant smart window with solar and thermal radiation regulation (STR) was developed by assembling poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N, N-dimethylacrylamide)/ethylene glycol (PNDE) hydrogels with tunable and excellent freezing resistance and other materials. The STR window showed high solar regulation performance, tunable phase change temperature, and freezing resistance, making it a promising energy-saving device for reducing building energy consumption.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Migle Babelyte, Laura Peciulyte, Vesta Navikaite-Snipaitiene, Joana Bendoraitiene, Volodymyr Samaryk, Ramune Rutkaite
Summary: Thermoresponsive chitosan-graft-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) copolymers with different compositions were synthesized. The chemical structure of the copolymers was confirmed and their lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior was assessed. Copolymers with a certain content of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) side chains demonstrated LCST behavior and could potentially be used in drug delivery systems or tissue engineering.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jian-Wei Guo, Chih-Feng Wang, Juin-Yih Lai, Chien-Hsing Lu, Jem-Kun Chen
Summary: A novel thermo-responsive polyNIPAAm-gelatin hybrid hydrogel membrane with excellent water gating efficiency was prepared and utilized as a biological selective valve for protein separation.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
E. M. Abdelfattah, H. Elzanaty, W. B. Elsharkawy, M. A. Azzam, Z. M. Elqahtani, S. Alotibi, M. Alyami, T. Fahmy
Summary: Poly (vinyl alcohol)/chitosan/ZnO (PVA/Cs/ZnO) nanocomposite films were prepared through an environmentally friendly approach and characterized using various techniques. The results showed that the PVA/Cs blend matrix encapsulated the ZnO nanoparticles. The addition of ZnO NPs increased the glass transition and melting temperature values of the PVA/Cs blend. The ATR-FTIR spectra indicated the existence of hydrogen bonding between the OH groups of PVA/Cs and ZnO nanoparticles. The nanocomposites exhibited better thermal stability and enhanced optical properties with increasing concentration of ZnO nanoparticles. Moreover, PVA/Cs/ZnO nanocomposites showed significant antibacterial activity.
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Lin Tang, Ling Wang, Xiao Yang, Yiyu Fen, Yu Li, Wei Feng
Summary: PNIPAM-based smart hydrogels are important smart materials with unique thermo-responsive properties and promising applications. This review summarizes the development, fundamental design, synthetic strategies, and potential applications of these materials in various fields.
PROGRESS IN MATERIALS SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Isaac J. Gresham, Ben A. Humphreys, Joshua D. Willott, Edwin C. Johnson, Timothy J. Murdoch, Grant B. Webber, Erica J. Wanless, Andrew R. J. Nelson, Stuart W. Prescott
Summary: The structure of grafted-from poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brushes under confinement shows a uniform internal structure and specific volume fraction distribution, eliminating the critical transition point in their thermal response. Different experimental methods find qualitative agreement, but variations exist due to path-dependent behavior.
Article
Polymer Science
Chia-Hsin Ko, Cristiane Henschel, Geethu P. Meledam, Martin A. Schroer, Peter Mueller-Buschbaum, Andre Laschewsky, Christine M. Papadakis
Summary: The temperature-dependent phase behavior and self-assembly behavior of a thermoresponsive amphiphilic diblock copolymer in aqueous solution were studied, revealing a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior at 31.1 degrees Celsius and the formation of different structures of micelles.
Article
Polymer Science
Chia-Hsin Ko, Cristiane Henschel, Geethu P. Meledam, Martin A. Schroer, Renjun Guo, Luka Gaetani, Peter Mueller-Buschbaum, Andre Laschewsky, Christine M. Papadakis
Summary: The self-assembly of the thermoresponsive amphiphilic diblock copolymer PMMA(21)-b-PNIPAM(283) in various water/methanol mixtures was studied. It was found that the solvent composition significantly affected the internal morphology of micelles and the conformation of dissolved chains.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhibin Zhang, Xi Wang, Hongyan Li, Gengchen Liu, Kaiying Zhao, Yajun Wang, Zheng Li, Jianying Huang, Zhiwei Xu, Yuekun Lai, Xiaoming Qian, Songnan Zhang
Summary: In this study, an innovative atmospheric water harvester combining hydrogel and 3D raised-fabric was developed, which exhibited excellent photothermal conversion performance and adsorption capacity, making it effective for water collection and storage.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Zhuoqiong Zhang, Yabing Tang, Yunfan Wang, Zixin Zeng, Run Shi, Han Yan, Sai-Wing Tsang, Chun Cheng, Shu Kong So
Summary: The thermal transport efficiency of organic semiconductors is lower compared to crystalline inorganic semiconductors. This study demonstrates that blending with an insulator, such as polystyrene, can enhance the heat conduction of organic semiconductors. The improved heat transfer is attributed to better intimate mixing and bridging between the host material and the insulator.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Fang Yin, Pascale Laborie, Barbara Lonetti, Yannick Coppel, Nancy Lauth-de Viguerie, Jean-Daniel Marty, Stephane Gineste
Summary: Doubly thermo-and pH-responsive PNIPAM-b-PDEAEAM polymers were synthesized by RAFT polymerization. The properties of these polymers and corresponding homopolymers in solution depend on pH and the protonation degree of the diethylamino moiety. The behavior of the polymers is also influenced by the nature of the polymer chain ends. At pH 10, both PNIPAM and PDEAEAM blocks contribute to phase transition and form stable spherical nanoobjects. At pH 4, PNIPAM-b-PDEAEAM with longer PDEAEAM length exhibits a two-step thermoresponsive behavior and forms large aggregates with a positively charged shell.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ye -Lim Han, Hye-Ran Kim, Hyun-Kyung Kim, Jae -Woo Park
Summary: A series of thermosensitive and magneto-responsive dendrimers were synthesized and their properties at different temperatures were studied. The results showed that PNIPAM-g-MCD could encapsulate and fix benzene molecules below the critical solution temperature, while it could disrupt oil-water emulsions above the critical solution temperature.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jung Gi Choi, Hocheol Gwac, Yongwoo Jang, Christopher Richards, Holly Warren, Geoffrey Spinks, Seon Jeong Kim
Summary: The diving and surfacing device fabricated from thermo-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) or a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-containing hydrogel can exhibit fast and reversible diving/surfacing cycles in response to changing temperature. Modulation of the interaction between poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) chains and water molecules at different temperatures allows for control of gel density through swelling and de-swelling, enabling the gel to surface in water when heated and sink when cooled. Reversible diving/surfacing cycles of the device can also be achieved when exposed to electrical and ultrasonic stimuli.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ana Dinic, Vesna Nikolic, Ljubisa Nikolic, Snezana Ilic-Stojanovic, Stevo Najman, Maja Urosevic, Ivana Gajic
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate p(NIPAM) hydrogels cross-linked with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as carriers for sulfanilamide. The structural characterization before and after sulfanilamide incorporation was done using FTIR, XRD and SEM. The swelling behavior of p(NIPAM) hydrogels of various cross-linking degrees was monitored with respect to temperature and pH, and the release of sulfanilamide was examined. The results showed that p(NIPAM) hydrogels are promising carriers for sulfanilamide due to their thermosensitivity, volume phase transition temperature close to physiological temperature, and satisfactory results for sulfanilamide incorporation and release.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yuecheng Cui, Ronghua Jin, Yang Zhou, Meirong Yu, Yun Ling, Li-Qun Wang
Summary: Temperature-sensitive hydrogels with enhanced mechanical strength were synthesized by introducing crystallization between blocks, leading to improved printability and mechanical properties. The resulting hydrogels demonstrated temperature-responsive behavior and the ability to maintain a high cell survival rate after 3D printing.
BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Fei Xu, Wenhua Jing, Gaojian Chen, Zexin Zhang
Summary: The study presents a simple and effective method for synthesizing composite bowl-shaped colloidal particles, with bowl-shape determined by stirring and centrifugal force. Bowl size, thickness, and functional groups can be tuned by varying stirring speed, TPM monomer amount, and adding initiators and functional monomers during synthesis. The resulting particles exhibit biological activity and can be further modified to produce micromotors with controlled motions.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Ruyan Feng, Lijuan Zhu, Xingyu Heng, Gaojian Chen, Hong Chen
Summary: Research has shown that short-chain glycopolymers demonstrate better binding ability to immune-related proteins and enhanced promotion of dendritic cell maturation compared to long-chain glycopolymers. By combining experimental characterization and theoretical simulation, a deeper understanding of the interaction between glycopolymers with different chain lengths and immune-related proteins is achieved, providing a solid theoretical basis for the design of new glycopolymer-based immune drugs.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Lijuan Zhu, Ruyan Feng, Gaojian Chen, Chao Wang, Zhuang Liu, Zexin Zhang, Hong Chen
Summary: Cancer cell migration is a crucial step in cancer metastasis. Cell surface engineering can modify cell interactions with the microenvironment and has been shown to affect cell migration. This study demonstrates that modifying the surface of melanoma cells can alter their migration direction and velocity, and suppress the collective migration of unmodified cells.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jun Hu, Kunyan Lu, Chuan Gu, Xingyu Heng, Fangjian Shan, Gaojian Chen
Summary: The search for novel fluorescent materials has attracted the attention of many researchers. In recent years, nonconventional fluorescence emitters have been developed as promising bioimaging candidates due to their enhanced biodegradability and relatively low cost, and their luminescent mechanism is similar to clustering-triggered emission (CTE). Our contribution involves the preparation of a series of glycopolymers with designed components using nonaromatic sugar as a monomer through sunlight-induced reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization, which can be utilized in bioimaging fields due to their bioactivity and CTE capacity.
Article
Polymer Science
Yue Zhou, Chuan Gu, Lifang Zheng, Fangjian Shan, Gaojian Chen
Summary: This study presents a green and efficient approach for broadband photopolymerization in aqueous media using open-to-air sunlight polymerization (OSP) catalyzed by microreactor arrays combining a semiconductor metal oxide (ZnO) and conductive polymer (polyaniline). Controlled polymerization was achieved, demonstrating the potential of this green technology in various applications.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Chuan Gu, Fangjian Shan, Lifang Zheng, Yue Zhou, Jun Hu, Gaojian Chen
Summary: Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a widely used technique in the biological field, which allows non-destructive detection and molecular-level detection of biomolecules. In this study, a glycopolymer-based composite surface was fabricated using a specific interaction between a carbohydrate and protein, enabling specific SERS detection of proteins.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ruifang Gao, Linzhu Su, Tianrong Yu, Jian Liu, Henny C. van der Mei, Yijin Ren, Gaojian Chen, Linqi Shi, Brandon W. Peterson, Henk J. Busscher
Summary: To prevent collateral tissue damage, photothermal nanoparticles were encapsulated in specific shell polymeric micelles, allowing for successful accumulation and eradication in infectious biofilms without observed cytotoxicity. Encapsulated nanoparticles demonstrated faster infection eradication and reduced staphylococcal counts in surrounding tissue in mice, promoting faster wound healing.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ruoyao Mei, Xingyu Heng, Xiaoli Liu, Gaojian Chen
Summary: Diseases caused by bacterial and viral infections are common in daily life. Vaccination and antibacterial/antiviral drugs are the main prevention and treatment strategies. However, vaccines are specific to certain viruses, and the misuse of drugs can lead to multi-drug-resistant bacteria and viruses. Therefore, it is necessary to develop more targeted methods for prevention and treatment. Glycopolymers, which can specifically bind to the proteins on the surface of bacteria and viruses, can be used as potential antibacterial and antiviral drugs.
Article
Polymer Science
Yingying Li, Xiaoliang Ma, Jiandong Zhang, Xiangqiang Pan, Na Li, Gaojian Chen, Jian Zhu
Summary: Developing biodegradable cationic polymers with high antibacterial efficiency and low cytotoxicity is essential for biological applications. This study successfully combined selenium with biodegradability, synthesizing selenide-functionalized polycaprolactones with excellent antibacterial activity and biocompatibility. Films with good antibacterial activity were also prepared.
Article
Polymer Science
Xiaoliang Ma, Yan Luo, Ping Zhang, Jun Hu, Gaojian Chen, Hong Chen
Summary: In this study, a novel, versatile, and effective method was developed to obtain cell-specific glycosurfaces by surface-initiated Cu-mediated reversible deactivation radical polymerization in an open to air fashion. Mammalian cells were used as live templates to produce cell-specific glycosurfaces, which could distinguish template cells from others. The strategy was effective and convenient without the need for fixative pretreatment of cells.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Xingyu Heng, Fangjian Shan, He Yang, Jun Hu, Ruyan Feng, Wende Tian, Gaojian Chen, Hong Chen
Summary: A new strategy is proposed in this study to regulate the efficacy of polysaccharides in promoting dendritic cells (DCs) maturation through the spatial dimension. An anchoring molecule (DMA) is introduced to enhance the confinement effect, which can be turned off by oxidation of DMA. The study reveals that the turn-on and off of confinement effect can regulate DCs maturation by polysaccharides.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
He Yang, Lihua Yao, Yichen Wang, Gaojian Chen, Hong Chen
Summary: Biological cells are complex living machines, and the manipulation of their surfaces using synthetic molecules has proven to be an effective means of introducing innovative functionalities or manipulating cells. This review offers a comprehensive survey of recent advancements in the modification of mammalian cell surfaces through the use of synthetic molecules. It explores a range of strategies, including chemical covalent modifications, physical alterations, and bioorthogonal approaches. The review also addresses the present challenges and potential future opportunities in this rapidly expanding field.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fangjian Shan, Jun Hu, Chuan Gu, Yue Zhou, Zexin Zhang, Gaojian Chen
Summary: Glyco-micromotors were successfully synthesized in situ directed by multifunctional glycopolymers, capable of loading and guiding bacteria with different individual and group motions.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yuecheng Cui, Ronghua Jin, Yifan Zhang, Meirong Yu, Yang Zhou, Li-Qun Wang
Summary: The study introduced cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) to enhance hydrogels for extrusion 3D printing. The addition of CNC significantly improved the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the hydrogels, allowing for high resolution printing with maintained structure and good biocompatibility. This simple and effective strategy enables soft hydrogels to meet the requirements of 3D bioprinting.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOPRINTING
(2021)