Article
Polymer Science
Jun Zhang, Bixin Jin, Gang Tang, Yunjun Luo, Xiaoyu Li
Summary: A series of core-shell copolymers with brush-on-hyperbranched arm architecture were synthesized using a combination of polymerization techniques and click chemistry. These copolymers exhibited specific temperature-responsive behavior in aqueous solutions and a unique solution temperature transition behavior in THF. The amphiphilic core-shell structure made these copolymers effective nanocarriers.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anna Jancik-Prochazkova, Martin Pumera
Summary: Microrobots, made from phoretic Sb2S3 material, demonstrated swarming behavior under light illumination without the need for chemical fuel. These environmentally friendly microrobots were prepared by reacting precursors with bio-originated templates in an aqueous solution in a microwave reactor. The photocatalytic abilities of the microrobots were showcased by degrading industrially used dyes, quinoline yellow and tartrazine, in the on-the-fly mode. This proof-of-concept work highlights the suitability of Sb2S3 photoactive material for designing swarming microrobots for environmental remediation applications.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Svitlana Tymetska, Yana Shymborska, Yurij Stetsyshyn, Andrzej Budkowski, Andrzej Bernasik, Kamil Awsiuk, Volodymyr Donchak, Joanna Raczkowska
Summary: In this study, novel smart copolymer brush coatings were prepared using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), and their ability to control cell morphology and adhesion was demonstrated through experiments and tests.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Nicole M. Warne, John R. Finnegan, Orlagh M. Feeney, Kristian Kempe
Summary: Poly(cyclic imino ether)s (PCIE) such as poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazine) (PiPrOz) have shown excellent biocompatibility and a cloud point temperature below physiological temperature. The effect of monomer sequence and polymer architecture is important in designing thermoresponsive polymers.
JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Koosha Ehtiati, Saeed Z. Moghaddam, Anders E. Daugaard, Esben Thormann
Summary: This study systematically investigated how nonelectrostatic interactions dramatically affect the swelling behavior of polyelectrolyte brushes, revealing fundamentally different swelling behaviors depending on the relative contributions of ion osmotic and nonelectrostatic effects. The results provide new opportunities for applications of polyelectrolyte brushes based on their tunable hydrophobicity and suggest new ideas for fundamental investigations of these systems.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lucas W. Teunissen, Andriy R. Kuzmyn, Francesco S. Ruggeri, Maarten M. J. Smulders, Han Zuilhof
Summary: In this study, thermoresponsive poly(N-(2-methacryloyloxyethyl)pyrrolidone) brushes were synthesized and polymerized on silicon oxide substrates via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. The reversible thermoresponsive behavior of the brushes was demonstrated, and their antifouling properties were tested in aqueous media.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yasuhito Suzuki, Ayuka Matsunami, Hina Morito, Yusuke Kanaoka, Kazuo Satoh, Akikazu Matsumoto
Summary: The fabrication of functional surfaces with different hydrophilicity patterns has potential applications in water droplet control and water harvesting. We report a simple chemical transformation method to change the hydrophilicity of a polymer brush, enabling the manipulation of water droplet shape on a designed surface.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Anna S. Ivanova, Alexey A. Polotsky, Alexander M. Skvortsov, Leonid I. Klushin, Friederike Schmid
Summary: A novel class of responsive uncharged polymer brushes has been proposed, where the chains forming the brush have an affinity to the substrate. Numerical calculations reveal that shorter chains are preferentially adsorbed, resulting in a reduction in the surface grafting density of the residual brush and a change in the shape of its molecular mass distribution. The effect of preferential adsorption is believed to be a fundamental property of polydisperse brushes.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Neng Hu, Chen Chen, Ezzeldin Metwalli, Lorenz Biessmann, Christian Herold, Jun Fu, Robert Cubitt, Qi Zhong, Peter Mueller-Buschbaum
Summary: The hydration and thermal response kinetics of the cross-linked thermoresponsive copolymer P(MEO(2)MA-co-OEGMA(300)) on a PAN substrate coating were studied using in situ neutron reflectivity. The presence of internal cross-linking points in the film resulted in a slower hydration and thermal response compared to spin-coated films. The two-layer structure of the film, composed of a substrate-near layer and a main layer, influenced the hydration process and thermal transition behavior.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Christine Fiedler, Christoph Ulbricht, Tia Truglas, Dominik Wielend, Mateusz Bednorz, Heiko Groiss, Oliver Brueggemann, Ian Teasdale, Yolanda Salinas
Summary: This study presents a reversible braking system for micromotors that can be controlled by small temperature changes. By using metal catalysts and thermosensitive polymers, the system controls bubble formation rate to regulate deceleration and acceleration for micromotors, providing a versatile and modular platform for external velocity control.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hayden Robertson, Edwin C. Johnson, Isaac J. Gresham, Stuart W. Prescott, Andrew Nelson, Erica J. Wanless, Grant B. Webber
Summary: This study investigates the thermoresponse of POEGMA brushes in the presence of different ions, revealing complex behaviors such as non-additive and competitive effects in mixtures of same-type anions. A new term, delta, is introduced to quantitatively describe the synergistic or antagonistic interactions between these anions. The specific ion effects of salting-out ions are dependent on solvent molecules, while those of salting-in ions are influenced by the interactions between anions and polymer chains.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Yuming Huang, Hai Tran, Christopher K. Ober
Summary: In this study, nanopatterned helical poly(benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG) brushes were fabricated using high-resolution lithography and surface-initiated vapor deposition polymerization (SI-VDP). The resulting nanospikes of polymer brushes with spacings of less than 100 nm were analyzed and compared with coil-type brushes. It was observed that rod-like polypeptide brushes are capable of self-segregation and can form well-defined nanostructures without external support.
Article
Polymer Science
Naoki Ozawa, Shunji Kosaka, Shota Fujii, Tomoki Nishimura
Summary: Researchers report on the nanostructures of polymers incorporated in phospholipid membranes and their permeability to water-soluble molecules. Neutron-scattering experiments reveal that polymers form disk-like bilayer domains on the membranes, whose thickness is almost equivalent to that of the bilayer membranes when the polymers alone are self-assembled into vesicles. These domains act as synthetic molecular channels for low-molecular-weight poly(ethylene glycol), and their permeability can be regulated by changing the molecular weight of the poly(propylene oxide).
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kristyna Kolouchova, Ondrej Groborz, Miroslav Slouf, Vit Herynek, Laurens Parmentier, David Babuka, Zulfiya Cernochova, Filip Koucky, Ondrej Sedlacek, Martin Hruby, Richard Hoogenboom, Sandra Van Vlierberghe
Summary: In this study, we report on a polymeric system based on thermoresponsive polymers for 19F MRI. These polymers can form nanoparticles and hydrogels, showing potential in a wide range of biomedical applications, with tunability and biocompatibility.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Michael Kuepfert, Eman Ahmed, Marcus Weck
Summary: This study reports on thermoresponsive core-shell micelles as catalyst supports, which exhibit different lower critical solution temperature behavior and nanostructure size in water, demonstrating the efficiency by which the molecular brushes self-assemble into micelles. It was also found that molecular brushes with an extended backbone show higher activity and selectivity.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tonghui Wang, Jinbo Fei, Zhenzhen Dong, Xia Xu, Weiguang Dong, Junbai Li
Summary: In this study, a synthetic electrozyme was coupled with a supramolecule-assembled nanoarchitecture to mimic mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and achieve enhanced bioenergy transformation. The metal-free electrozyme, a semiconducting polymer deposited on an electrode, exhibited a well-matched electrocatalytic property that allowed the oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) to release protons at a much lower electric potential. As a result, a proton gradient was generated and drove the rotary catalysis of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) synthase in a lipid membrane, resulting in the production of ATP. Significantly, the electrochemical bioenergy conversion of NADH to ATP in this bio-like system was much more efficient compared to natural mitochondria. This work integrates synthetic and natural catalytic chemistry, facilitating enhanced bioenergy transformation and greatly improving prospects in ATP-fueled bioapplications.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Jinbo Fei, Junbai Li
Summary: Molecular assembly is a promising strategy for constructing active systems using biomolecules as building blocks. These assembled systems simulate or regulate important biological activities and have great potential in various bioapplications. This review focuses on recent progress in ATP-involved active self-assembled systems, which are constructed with hierarchical structures and generate ATP using external influences to create proton gradients. Additionally, active supermolecular systems driven by ATP as chemical fuel are highlighted. Finally, key challenges and future research perspectives are discussed.
CURRENT OPINION IN COLLOID & INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xianbao Li, Qi Li, Aoli Wu, Junbai Li
Summary: Symmetry of layered dipeptide crystals can be broken by utilizing CO2, which induces adjacent monomolecular layers to stack in the same direction. CO2 covers the interlayer interaction sites, forcing the dipeptides to adsorb asymmetrically. The dipeptide crystals exhibit enhanced piezoelectricity and the piezoelectric voltage generated from dipeptide-based generators is increased by more than 500% after symmetry breaking. This work provides a potential route to engineer structures and properties of layered materials, and offers insights into the control of non-covalent interactions.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Aoli Wu, Yongxian Guo, Xianbao Li, Qi Li, Guixin Chen, Hengchang Zang, Junbai Li
Summary: The development of peptide-based supramolecular materials with hierarchical morphology and tunable guest loading shows great potential as a drug carrier due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this study, a facile Schiff base nanoarchitectonic was reported for the supramolecular assembly of diphenylalanine (FF) metastable gel. The competitive assembly between FF-H2O and FF-GA oligomer resulted in the formation of FF nanoparticles and hierarchical beaded nanofibers. These assembled particles can easily load various guest molecules and release them under weak alkaline conditions, demonstrating their potential application as drug carriers.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xuemin Zhang, Jian Wu, Xiankun Lin, Xiujuan Fan, Xiaofeng Zhang
Summary: In this research, a dual-phase nanostructured coating with high hydrophobic structure was proposed to mimic the lotus leaf surface. The surface structure was created using plasma spray-physical vapor deposition technology, showing a contact angle greater than 130 degrees, which has great potential in waterproofing and hydrophobicity.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yamei Liu, Ruirui Xing, Junbai Li, Xuehai Yan
Summary: Covalently triggered peptide self-assembly has been developed for cancer theranostics, providing enhanced stability and functionality compared to noncovalent interactions. The review summarizes the design principles for constructing various peptide-based assemblies and discusses representative covalently assembled peptide-based nanodrugs, along with their challenges and potential in clinical applications for cancer diagnosis and therapeutics. This review offers new insights into the construction of peptide-based nanodrugs through covalent reaction and noncovalent self-assembly.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nan Sun, Yi Jia, Shiwei Bai, Qi Li, Luru Dai, Junbai Li
Summary: Super-resolution microscopy (SRM) technology has revolutionized the field of cell biology by breaking the diffraction limit, enabling researchers to visualize cellular structures with nanometric resolution, multiple colors, and single-molecule sensitivity. SRM has also extended its impact to other fields such as nanomedicine, material science, and nanotechnology, greatly contributing to breakthroughs in these areas.
ADVANCES IN COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xin Li, Honglei Jian, Qingquan Han, Anhe Wang, Jieling Li, Ningyuan Man, Qi Li, Shuo Bai, Junbai Li
Summary: Short peptide self-assembled hydrogels have excellent biocompatibility and functional expansion, making them promising in cell culture and tissue engineering. However, the preparation of bio-inks with adjustable mechanical strength and controlled degradation for 3D bioprinting is challenging.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhenzhen Dong, Jinbo Fei, Tonghui Wang, Junbai Li
Summary: A strategy of matched spectral and temporal light management is developed to improve photosynthetic efficiency by co-assembling natural thylakoid membrane (TM) with artificial long afterglow particle (LAP). LAP with excellent stability and biocompatibility is optically-matched with the absorption of TM, serving as an additional light source for photosynthesis. Enhanced photosynthesis is achieved after co-assembly, with boosted electron transfer, oxygen yield, and ATP production due to down-conversion fluorescence emission from LAP. This proof-of-concept work opens a new route to augment the photosynthetic efficiency of green plants by utilizing precise light-managed materials.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yilin Liu, Junbai Li
Summary: This study reports, for the first time, that Celastrol can self-assemble into size-controllable nanoparticles via the anti-solvent method using different solvents or varying Celastrol concentrations. In vitro experiments showed that the prepared nanoparticles can effectively kill MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the nanoparticles can accumulate efficiently in tumors after intravenous injection. Administration of a lethal dosage of Celastrol resulted in significant tumor suppression with maintained activity in mice. These findings suggest that the anti-solvent method holds promise for fabricating Celastrol nano-drugs with controlled size and reduced systemic toxicity for clinical cancer treatment.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jie Zhao, Xia Xu, Yang Yang, Junbai Li
Summary: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an efficient method for cancer treatment, but traditional photosensitizers (PSs) often have low bioavailability. This review discusses the use of molecular-assembly technique, adjusting the PS triplet state lifetime, and developing aggregation-induced emission (AIE) agents to improve the efficacy of PDT.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yilin Liu, Jie Zhao, Xia Xu, Yang Xu, Wei Cui, Yang Yang, Junbai Li
Summary: The natural anthraquinone derivative emodin (Emo) is demonstrated to be a promising photosensitizer for two-photon-excited photodynamic therapy with a large two-photon absorption cross-section and high singlet oxygen quantum yield. The co-assembled Emo/HSA nanoparticles exhibit outstanding TPE-PDT properties against cancer cells. This work is beneficial for the use of natural extracts for high-efficiency TPE-PDT.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zibo Li, Fanchen Yu, Xia Xu, Tonghui Wang, Jinbo Fei, Jingcheng Hao, Junbai Li
Summary: We demonstrate the realization of photozyme-catalyzed oxidative phosphorylation through the assembly of ATP synthase-reconstituted proteoliposome coatings on microcapsules. This is achieved through layer-by-layer deposition of semiconducting graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets and polyelectrolytes. The encapsulated g-C3N4 nanosheets act as the photozyme, accelerating the oxidation of glucose to yield protons under light illumination, establishing an outward transmembrane proton gradient to drive ATP synthesis. This artificial design enables higher energy conversion efficiency compared to conventional oxidative phosphorylation systems.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Aoli Wu, Yongxian Guo, Meiqi Li, Qin Li, Hengchang Zang, Junbai Li
Summary: The assembly pathway and chiral transformation behavior of peptides in supramolecular peptide assemblies remain largely unknown. In this study, the assembly of an N-terminal-protected phenylalanine-tyrosine dipeptide is shown to proceed through multistep structural evolution, and the chiral assembly can be controlled by introducing a bipyridine derivative and using ultrasound or enzyme catalysis.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nan Sun, Yi Jia, Shiwei Bai, Yang Yang, Luru Dai, Junbai Li
Summary: This study demonstrates the direct observation and quantification of protein corona adsorbed onto PEGylated mesoporous silica particles using direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy. The effects of PEG molecular weights and incubation time on protein penetration depth are investigated for the first time.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
