Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Masanori Nagao, Yuri Kimoto, Yu Hoshino, Yoshiko Miura
Summary: The study presents a convenient approach for preparing a glycopolymer library of GM1 mimics, which can serve as synthetic materials for critical biomolecular recognition. This method offers the advantages of one-time preparation and fast screening.
Article
Polymer Science
Koushik Bhattacharya, Moumita Kundu, Subhayan Das, Sarthik Samanta, Sib Sankar Roy, Mahitosh Mandal, Nikhil K. Singha
Summary: A functional fluorescent sensor has been developed in this study, which can distinguish cancer cells from normal cells by monitoring the pH change.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xingyu Heng, Ruyan Feng, Lijuan Zhu, Liyin Yu, Gaojian Chen, Hong Chen
Summary: Transforming immature DCs into a mature state is crucial for initiating cellular immunity. However, the clinical application of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which can promote DC maturation, is limited due to biological toxicity. In this study, a novel strategy to synthesize LPS analogues with adjustable structural units was proposed. These analogues, synthesized using monomer units similar to the key functional groups of LPS, showed a greater promoting effect on DC maturation compared to LPS. Additionally, the analogues can be applied to different scenarios due to their varying degrees of DC maturation promotion. This strategy provides a new direction for synthesizing LPS analogues and has the potential for large-scale production with tunable effects on DC maturation.
CHINESE CHEMICAL LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Gayathri Dev Ammini, Jordan P. P. Hooker, Joren Van Herck, Anil Kumar, Tanja Junkers
Summary: Continuous flow chemistry provides great operational flexibility for photochemical transformations. By using automated inline NMR monitoring with a variable DC power supply and precise control over light intensities, we conducted detailed kinetic investigations of PI-RAFT polymerizations. Our results showed increasing conversion with increasing light intensity until a saturation limit was reached, accompanied by an increase in residual polymer dispersity. However, when appropriate intensities were chosen, the reactions remained living. Additionally, quantitative study of the influence of the RAFT R-group emphasized the importance of selecting the right RAFT agent for photoRAFT polymerization.
Article
Polymer Science
Aaron Priester, Jimmy Yeng, Yuwei Zhang, Risheng Wang, Anthony J. Convertine
Summary: Polymer-Induced Self Assembly (PISA) is a technique that utilizes a macro chain transfer agent (macro-CTA) to induce phase separation during block copolymer formation, resulting in the in situ generation of nanostructures. This study focuses on developing a PISA resin for 3D printing using a difunctional macro-CTA, with the aim of maintaining the shape of printed parts without the need for a crosslinker through physical crosslinks between difunctional macro-CTAs.
Article
Polymer Science
Matthew F. I. Rix, Kyle Collins, Samuel J. Higgs, Eleanor M. Dodd, Simon J. Coles, Nathaniel M. Bingham, Peter J. Roth
Summary: This study demonstrates the various reactions of thionolactone DBT and its ability to introduce a degradable backbone. Additionally, through XRD structure analysis and DFT modeling, the higher reactivity of DBT is explained by its stabilization of the intermediate radical, increased ring strain, and better reinitiating efficiency.
Article
Polymer Science
Chengqiang Ding, Yuhan Yan, Yuhao Peng, Danming Wu, Hang Shen, Jiandong Zhang, Zhao Wang, Zhengbiao Zhang
Summary: In this study, a well-controlled piezoelectrically mediated reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization (piezoRAFT) was successfully conducted using piezoelectric ZnO nanoparticles as the mechanochemical transducer under ultrasonic agitation. The resulting polymer exhibited high end-group fidelity, low dispersity, and capacity for chain extension. The generation of alkyl radicals through electron transfer process from piezoelectric nanoparticles to alkyl bromide was confirmed by various characterization techniques.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xabier Lopez de Pariza, Tim Erdmann, Pedro L. Arrechea, Leron Perez, Charles Dausse, Nathaniel H. Park, James L. Hedrick, Haritz Sardon
Summary: Conducting polymerizations under continuous-flow conditions has advantages over batch experimentation, especially in the synthesis of polyurethanes, allowing for rapid and precise control over material properties and improving process monitoring and control to minimize batch-to-batch variations.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Zachary S. Clauss, Jessica R. Kramer
Summary: Carbohydrates play essential roles in living organisms, while glycopolymers serve as biomimetic analogs for studying carbohydrate-dependent processes. Glycopolypeptides, as closer structural mimics of natural glycoproteins, show promise as carriers for biologically active carbohydrates in biomedical applications such as therapeutic delivery and tissue engineering.
ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Georg M. Scheutz, Mollie A. Touve, Andrea S. Carlini, John B. Garrison, Karthikeyan Gnanasekaran, Brent S. Sumerlin, Nathan C. Gianneschi
Summary: The study demonstrates the initiation and visualization of polymeric nano materials using variable-temperature liquid-cell transmission electron microscopy. Temperature control in the liquid cell initiates the formation of amphiphilic block copolymers through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization, resulting in self-assembly induced by dispersion polymerization. This technique allows for in situ characterization of nanoparticles and observation of thermal phase transitions, enabling the development and characterization of self-organizing soft matter with unprecedented possibilities.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Aditya Ardana, Saikat Ghosh, Pie Huda, Nicholas L. Fletcher, Kristofer J. Thurecht, Charlotte C. Williams
Summary: Covalent conjugation of a biologically stable polymer to a therapeutic protein, such as an antibody, can enhance its stability, improve tumor targeting, and ensure reproducibility in manufacturing. By using stable reactive groups and site-selective conjugation methods, high-purity conjugates can be obtained, preserving the efficacy and specificity of the protein.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Junhao Wang, Yichuan Zhu, Shixin Zhou, Weichun Wu, Qin Tong, Jianghong Hu, Shenxi Min, Guangliang Hou, Bin Dong, Bo Song
Summary: This study reported a nano-fluorophore prepared through PISA method, with uniform size, excellent dispersion, and enhanced fluorescence emission in aqueous solution. The nano-fluorophores, covered with hydrophilic polyethylene glycol, showed excellent biocompatibility and were successfully applied in fluorescent imaging of HeLa cells. This work provides a novel approach for incorporating fluorescent dyes into polymeric nanoparticles with narrow size distribution, tunable solubility, and biocompatibility.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maki Amano, Mineto Uchiyama, Kotaro Satoh, Masami Kamigaito
Summary: This work describes the use of exo-olefin compounds as chain-transfer agents for sulfur-free reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) radical polymerization. The authors synthesized a series of exo-olefin compounds and successfully polymerized methacrylates in homogeneous solution. More electron-donating substituents were found to produce polymers with narrower molecular weight distributions. Continuous monomer addition method further improved the control of molecular weight and enabled the synthesis of sulfur-free, colorless multiblock copolymers.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Philipp Gerdt, Armido Studer
Summary: A method has been developed for the synthesis of functionalized alternating copolymers by reversible deactivation radical polymerization, allowing for the generation of a small library of novel alternating terpolymers with diverse functionalities.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yu-Xi Wang, Yang Li, Shi-Hui Qiao, Jing Kang, Zhi-Li Shen, Ning-Ning Zhang, Zesheng An, Xiaosong Wang, Kun Liu
Summary: A staged-thermal-initiation RAFT polymerization method is reported for the synthesis of polymers with high thiol end-group fidelity, which show high efficiencies for grafting to various gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Experimental proof shows that the decrease of end-group fidelity with molecular weight is caused by the gradual decomposition of the initiator. The positive correlation between end-group fidelity of polymers and grafting-to efficiency is illustrated through grafting-to assays for various GNPs.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Antonia Fruntke, Mira Behnke, Leanne M. Stafast, Tom Trader, Elisabeth Dietel, Antje Vollrath, Christine Weber, Ulrich S. Schubert, Timm Wilke
Summary: This publication presents a series of experiments in the field of nanomedicine for high school chemistry education and student laboratories, developed as a collaborative project between chemistry didactics and chemical research. In this context, polymeric nanocarriers represent a promising approach for drug delivery, acting as smart packaging material to ensure transport to the desired location in the body and a targeted release. All experiments can be performed with simple and harmless chemicals within a time frame of two school lessons.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Ekaterina Tsarenko, Ulrich S. Schubert, Ivo Nischang
Summary: Multifunctional nanoparticle formulations for medical purposes have been successfully developed, with a persistent challenge being the quantitative compositional analysis of the NPs with the polymer matrix and encapsulated drugs. In this study, PLGA NPs were formulated and their integrity and size were analyzed using DLS and SEM. Liquid chromatography on reversed-phase silica monolithic columns was used to quantitatively assess the amount of small molecule drugs and NP constituting PLGA polymer. The study demonstrates the viability of reversed-phase monolithic silica in chromatography, providing a valuable strategy for analysis of various precursor polymer systems and drug components in multifunctional drug formulations.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Katherine Gonzalez, Gauri Gangapurwala, Julien Alex, Antje Vollrath, Zoltan Cseresnyes, Christine Weber, Justyna A. Czaplewska, Stephanie Hoeppener, Carl-Magnus Svensson, Thomas Orasch, Thorsten Heinekamp, Carlos Guerrero-Sanchez, Marc Thilo Figge, Ulrich S. Schubert, Axel A. Brakhage
Summary: The study investigated whether polymeric particles (PPs) can reach Aspergillus fumigatus conidia-containing phagolysosomes in macrophages. The results showed that PPs were efficiently taken up by macrophages and co-localized with conidia in the same phagolysosomes. Fusion of phagolysosomes containing PPs with phagolysosomes containing conidia was observed. This suggests that PPs can be used as a carrier system to target intracellular pathogens.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Leanne M. Stafast, Nora Engel, Helmar Goerls, Christine Weber, Ulrich S. Schubert
Summary: In this study, 2-(4-(iodomethyl)benzyl)isoindoline-1,3-dione was used as a protected amine-functionalized initiator for the cationic ring opening-polymerization (CROP) of 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline. The polymerization was well-controlled and terminated with sodium azide. Subsequent deprotection allowed for attachment of targeting ligands to the polymer. The heterotelechelic PEtOx was then coupled to end-functionalized polylactide to form block copolymers for nanomedicine.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Nicole Ziegenbalg, Hans F. F. Ulrich, Steffi Stumpf, Philipp Mueller, Jurgen Wiethan, Janette Danner, Ulrich S. S. Schubert, Torben Adermann, Johannes C. C. Brendel
Summary: This study investigated the polymerization of VME monomer in water and found that the resulting polymer could coordinate with silver or gold ions, forming stable dispersions. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was identified as the only surfactant capable of creating stable dispersions. Exposure to sunlight led to controlled reduction of the metal ions and the formation of composite particles. Silver ion-containing dispersions demonstrated strong antibacterial properties.
MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Natalie E. Goeppert, Michael Dirauf, Phil Liebing, Christine Weber, Ulrich S. Schubert
Summary: A monomer of 3-benzylmorpholine-2,5-dione is synthesized from l-phenylalanine and characterized by various techniques. A well-defined poly(ester amide) homopolymer is then synthesized using a binary catalyst system, showing high controllability of dispersities and molar masses. The resulting polyesteramides have potential as drug delivery vehicles, especially for hydrophobic drugs.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zehan Chen, He Jia, Stephanie Hoeppener, Christian Friebe, Jiande Wang, Geraldine Chanteux, Dongjiu Xie, Yan Lu, Alexandru Vlad, Ulrich S. Schubert, Jean-Francois Gohy
Summary: We develop hollow porous silicon nanospheres with a three-dimensional carbon coating and SiC transition interlayer (C@SiC@Si@SiC@C) to address the challenges faced by Si anodes. The synthesized C@SiC@Si@SiC@C anode shows high utilization of the active substance, high measured capacity (3200 mAh g-1), and stable cycling performance (0.7% per cycle decay rate at 0.2C). The superior performances are attributed to the unique structure design and the functional features of carbon coating and SiC transition interlayer.
MATERIALS & DESIGN
(2023)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Maryam Moradi, Michael Jaeger, George R. Newkome, Ulrich S. Schubert
Summary: Plasmon-triggered modulation of fluorophores' photoluminescence brings tremendous opportunities for various applications. The distance between plasmonic components and fluorophores is crucial in plasmon-exciton coupling and the overall optical characteristics of the fluorophores. Developing novel hybrid systems with active tuning of optical properties is in high demand, and incorporating responsive materials like liquid crystals and stimuli-responsive polymers as a separating layer can achieve this.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
He Jia, Zehan Chen, Shanshan Yan, Fabio Lucaccioni, Zdravko Kochovski, Yan Lu, Christian Friebe, Ulrich S. Schubert, Jean-Francois Gohy
Summary: Nanoreactors with hydrophilic porous SiO2 shells and amphiphilic copolymer cores were prepared, which can adjust their hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance and exhibit chameleon-like behavior depending on the environment. The resulting nanoparticles showed excellent colloidal stability in solvents with different polarities. Importantly, with the help of nitroxide radicals attached to the amphiphilic copolymers, the synthesized nanoreactors exhibited high catalytic activity in both polar and nonpolar environments, and achieved high selectivity for the products of benzyl alcohol oxidation in toluene.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Patrick Endres, Timo Schuett, Julian Kimmig, Stefan Zechel, Martin D. Hager, Robert Geitner, Ulrich S. Schubert
Summary: In this study, online NMR measurements are introduced as a new analytical setup for investigating the synthesis of oxymethylene dimethyl ether (OME). The setup is validated by comparing it with state-of-the-art gas chromatographic analysis. The influence of parameters such as temperature, catalyst concentration, and catalyst type on OME fuel formation based on trioxane and dimethoxymethane is investigated, with Amberlyst(TM) 15 (A15) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH) being used as catalysts. A kinetic model is applied to describe the reaction and calculate the activation energy and catalyst order.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Erik Schroeter, Christian Stolze, Jakob Meyer, Martin D. Hager, Ulrich S. Schubert
Summary: The hydrophilic polymer PTMAm was used as a redox target material in an aqueous organic redox targeting flow battery. The polymer was processed into granules with a conductive agent and an alginate binder to obtain a hydrophilic, water-insoluble redox target. The redox target was combined with the redox mediator molecule TEMPOAmide, and electrochemical characterization and flow battery testing were conducted. In addition, in-situ characterization of the redox target was performed for the first time, providing estimates of its state-of-charge changes during cycling. A figure of merit, redox targetivity, was proposed to evaluate the efficiency of the targeting reaction and guide future optimization of materials, cell designs, and operational parameters for RTFBs.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Thomas Orasch, Gauri Gangapurwala, Antje Vollrath, Katherine Gonzalez, Julien Alex, Alicia De San Luis, Christine Weber, Stephanie Hoeppener, Zoltan Cseresnyes, Marc Thilo Figge, Carlos Guerrero-Sanchez, Ulrich S. Schubert, Axel A. Brakhage
Summary: The treatment of life-threatening fungal infections is currently limited and in urgent need of improvement. This study explores the use of polymeric particles for efficient delivery of antifungal compounds to fungal cells. The particles, made of biocompatible polymers, were able to transport hydrophobic cargos into fungal cells and reduce the minimal inhibitory concentration of the encapsulated drug. This research provides insights into improving the delivery of antifungal compounds for more effective treatment.
BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Aurelien Sokeng Djoumessi, Anastasia Sichwardt, Daria Miliaieva, Jan Cermak, Maximilian Schaal, Felix Otto, Stepan Stehlik, Jaroslav Kulicek, Vojtech Nadazdy, Torsten Fritz, Alexander Kromka, Bohuslav Rezek, Ulrich S. S. Schubert, Harald Hoppe
Summary: Diamond nanoparticles, also known as nanodiamonds, have attracted scientific interest due to their optical and electronic properties, nontoxicity, biocompatibility, and large surface area. The versatility of the surface chemistry of nanodiamonds allows for the attachment of various functional groups, providing a platform for adjusting their properties and functions. In this study, high-pressure high-temperature nanodiamonds were tested as charge extraction material in organic solar cells, and hydrogenated nanodiamonds were found to be effective for electron extraction.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Thomas Wloka, Steffen Czich, Franziska Chalupa-Gantner, Maria Sittig, Michael Dirauf, Christine Weber, Michael Gottschaldt, Klaus Liefeith, Aleksandr Ovsianikov, Benjamin Dietzek-Ivansic, Ulrich S. Schubert
Summary: Hydrogels, widely used in biomedical applications, also show great potential in other fields such as lens fabrication and electronics. The technique of two-photon polymerization (2PP) is effective in processing hydrogels due to its high spatio-temporal resolution. This study synthesized water-soluble two-photon photo-initiators (2PIs) based on benzyli-dene cyclopentanone structures, and evaluated their efficiency and cytotoxicity for 2PP. The results showed that several 2PIs exhibited low cytotoxicity and good initiation efficiency, making them suitable for 3D structuring of hydrogels.
JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY A-CHEMISTRY
(2023)
