Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Emily Olson, Jonathan Blisko, Chuanshen Du, Yi Liu, Yifan Li, Henry Thurber, Greg Curtzwiler, Juan Ren, Martin Thuo, Xin Yong, Shan Jiang
Summary: This study investigates the correlation between the assembly structures of biobased nanocomposites and their performance, revealing new opportunities for developing high-performance sustainable materials using biobased polymers. The unique fractal assembly structures observed in silica nanoparticle assemblies with hydroxyethyl cellulose greatly improve adhesion and hydrophobicity of coatings, showcasing the potential for waterborne superhydrophobic formulations. These findings highlight the importance of molecular conformation in biobased polymers in influencing nanoscale assembly structures and macroscopic coating performance.
NANOSCALE ADVANCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ikuya Matsumoto, Ryo Sekiya, Takeharu Haino
Summary: By decorating nanographenes with alkyl chains and controlling concentration, solvent polarity, temperature, and sonication, it is possible to achieve self-assembly and formation of stacked structures. Optical measurements and AFM images confirm the presence of stacked structures, while molecular mechanics calculations model the interactions within the aggregates. The nanographenes exhibit concentration-dependent morphologies, forming stacked structures at low concentrations and polymer-like network structures at higher concentrations on mica.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mitsuaki Yamauchi, Seiya Yamamoto, Sadahiro Masuo
Summary: The study demonstrates a novel supramolecular coassembly system that forms highly ordered QD arrangement structures via self-assembly, enabling photocontrollable photoluminescence properties. The assembled system undergoes structural changes under light, but recovers its original structure and properties over time.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jing Wei, Liwen Long, Bairong Ye, Yiguo Li, Zongbao Wang
Summary: Sustainable polymer blends of biobased PBF and biodegradable PCL were prepared by melt-compounding, and displayed unexpectedly enhanced thermal and mechanical properties. The compound containing 5 wt% PCL exhibited the best mechanical performance.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Youting Fang, Ting Liu, Longxin Chen, Duobin Chao
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between morphology and catalytic performance of metallo-supramolecular assemblies in photocatalytic CO2 reduction. It is found that the fibrous-like gel assembly exhibits the best catalytic performance with a yield of 6.3 mmol g-1 h-1 and 94.7% selectivity for CO generation. Photoelectrochemical measurements, photo-luminescence quenching experiments, and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy studies suggest that the ligand-based electron transfer of the gel is more efficient compared to the other two assemblies.
Article
Polymer Science
Heng Li, Liang Han, Qing Li, Hanjian Lai, Paco Fernandez-Trillo, Leilei Tian, Feng He
Summary: By introducing molecular chirality based on amino acid derivatives (TDAP), the morphological transformation from microspheres to helical supramolecular nanofibers with controllable handedness is achieved. The chirality of the supramolecular architectures is nullified through the coassembly of the equivalent TDAP enantiomers. The molecular detection of achiral melamine based on the R-TDAP-COOH supramolecular system is achieved through the appearance of helicity and inversion.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Selvaraj Nagarajan, Eamor M. Woo
Summary: The unique zig-zag banded morphology of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), crystallized at high temperatures and confined in thin films, is found to be assembled of two different crystal entities: edge-on dendritic lamellar protrusions and flat-on pyramidal single crystals. These alternating PCL optical bands create straight dendrites and ridge bands, leading to a unique assembly mechanism of periodic optical rings. By utilizing melt crystallization techniques, PCL single crystals can be prepared and customized for various nanopattern applications.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Xiaofeng Sun, Hui Wang, Jinpeng Qi, Shengju Zhou, Hongguang Li
Summary: This study investigated the co-assembly behavior and morphological evolution of carbon dots (CDs) and tannic acid (TA) in aqueous solutions. The research revealed the mechanism of aggregate formation, as well as the impact of TA on the fluorescence properties of CDs, providing a theoretical basis for the expansion of CDs in biology and life sciences.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ahmed Abd El-Fattah, Elizabeth Grillo Fernandes, Federica Chiellini, Emo Chiellini
Summary: Amphiphilic copolymers with interesting architecture and tunable properties are promising materials for biomedical applications. Enzymatic catalysis provides a suitable alternative for the preparation of these materials without the use of toxic catalysts. The structure-property relationship of copolymers was studied by varying the molecular weight of Pluronic (EPE) and the molar ratios between ε-caprolactone monomer and EPE macro-initiator (M/In). The obtained copolymers were chemically characterized and their morphologies evaluated. The results showed a correlation between the differential scanning calorimetry data and X-ray diffraction data, suggesting the importance of the central block length in crystal formation. Preliminary cytotoxicity experiments confirmed the non-toxic nature of the copolymers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xinpei Li, Xiaofeng He, Dongrong He, Yuan Liu, Kun Chen, Panchao Yin
Summary: By co-assembling {Mo72Fe30} with Mycobacterium bovis antigens, enhanced humoral and cellular immune responses in mice post-vaccination can be achieved. The anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 gradually increases after 2 weeks and returns to normal levels by the 5th week. The balance between proinflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory factors indicates that the immune system can be activated early in infection, secreting acute inflammatory factors for host defense and anti-inflammatory factors for immune protection through antigens carried by supra-particles.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Sumangala Devi Sreeja, Gopalakrishnanchettiyar Sivakamiammal Sailaja
Summary: This study introduces a regenerative construct that mimics the natural bone tissue microenvironment and improves the cell-material interface. By phosphorylating poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), the hydrophilicity is enhanced, triggering biomimetic mineralization and osteogenesis. Blends of PHBV with poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) complement each other, and the combination of p-PHBV/PCL37 exhibits the best features. It can serve as an efficient bone regenerative platform, promoting the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells towards osteogenesis.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Si Sun, Hong-Wen Liang, Hao Wang, Quanming Zou
Summary: Controlled self-assembly is of great interest in biological and nanotechnological applications. We have demonstrated a light-triggered platform that allows precise control of self-assembly from nanoparticles into nanofibers in living cells. The process is biocompatible, fast, and can be applied for regulating molecular assembly in living cells.
Article
Polymer Science
Yunfeng Shi, Mengyue Wang, Linzhu Zhou, Xueqi Shen, Jinhao Wang, Nannan Mo, Guo Zhao, Su Yang, Xinyuan Zhu, Andrew M. Smith
Summary: A new strategy based on supramolecular self-assembly has been described for constructing fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) responsive to triethylamine. The encapsulation of QDs in a supramolecular self-assembly system shows promising prospects in bioimaging applications.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gobinda Das, Thirumurugan Prakasam, Nour Alkhatib, Rasha G. G. AbdulHalim, Falguni Chandra, Sudhir Kumar Sharma, Bikash Garai, Sabu Varghese, Matthew A. A. Addicoat, Florent Ravaux, Renu Pasricha, Ramesh Jagannathan, Na'il Saleh, Serdal Kirmizialtin, Mark A. A. Olson, Ali Trabolsi
Summary: Controlling the number and positioning of molecular switches in porous materials is crucial for their functionality and properties. In this study, a synthetic strategy involving mixed linkers was used to control the distribution of spiropyran-functionalized linkers in a covalent organic framework. The resulting spiropyran-COF exhibited excellent reversible photoswitching behavior and morphological transitions in response to UV light. The merocyanine-equipped COFs were stable and had a more ordered structure with enhanced photoluminescence.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dinabandhu Sar, Fatemeh Ostadhossein, Parikshit Moitra, Maha Alafeef, Dipanjan Pan
Summary: This study reports the design and synthesis of three new small molecular NIR-II dyes with large stokes shifts. The dyes exhibit enhanced fluorescence emission intensity upon self-assembly with CB, but this fluorescence can be quenched by the addition of rCDots, allowing for flexibility in photoluminescence tuning. The aqueous dispersibility, cellular and blood compatibility, and NIR-II bioimaging capability of the inclusion complexes are also explored.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ximena Lopez-Lorenzo, Heba Asem, Arne Stamm, Sathiyaraj Subramaniyan, Minna Hakkarainen, Per-Olof Syren
Summary: This study presents a sustainable method for the synthesis of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) through whole-cell mediated synthesis. By introducing the gene of P. thermopropionicum HmfF (PtHmfF) into E. coli, the UbiD-UbiX system is utilized to produce FDCA from 2-furoic acid (FA). The resulting whole-cell system enables the carboxylation of FA under mild conditions for the production of FDCA. Furthermore, enzymatic polycondensation catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) is employed to generate FDCA-based biopolymers using enzymatically produced FDCA.
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Jenevieve Yao, Minna Hakkarainen
Summary: This study demonstrates a microwave-assisted strategy to rapidly hydrophobize and functionalize wood flour in order to enhance its compatibility with novel wood-monomer derived photopolymer resins, allowing for complex and high resolution 3D printing of wood-polymer composites.
COMPOSITES COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xinyu Li, Guiying Zhu, Mengke Tang, Tian Li, Cunmin Wang, Xinyi Song, Shenghui Zhang, Jintuo Zhu, Xinjian He, Minna Hakkarainen, Huan Xu
Summary: High-performance air filtration materials are proposed by growing zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) crystals on the surface of biodegradable poly-(lactic acid) (PLA) membranes. The aligned dipoles in PLA chains and ZIF-8, achieved by mechanical polarization, contribute to exceptional filtering performance and antibacterial activity. These PLA-based MOFilters exhibit excellent tensile properties, high dielectric constant, enhanced surface potential, and significantly improved PM0.3 filtration efficiency compared to pure PLA counterparts.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Naba Kumar Kalita, Minna Hakkarainen
Summary: A green strategy was demonstrated to accelerate the biodegradation rate of cellulose acetate (CA) through deacetylation. The immobilization of lipase from Candida rugosa on CA particles resulted in significant deacetylation, as evidenced by changes in molecular weight and water contact angle. This approach showed promising potential for developing modified lignocellulose materials with retained biodegradability.
Article
Polymer Science
Linnea Cederholm, Peter Olsen, Minna Hakkarainen, Karin Odelius
Summary: This study demonstrates the design of recyclable A-B-A block copolymers with different material properties using a thermodynamic toolkit based on cyclic monomer structure and solvent properties.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Blaise L. Tardy, Erlantz Lizundia, Chamseddine Guizani, Minna Hakkarainen, Mika H. Sipponen
Summary: Lignin is a natural polyphenol that provides trees with resistance and height. There is growing interest in using industrial lignin as a beneficial material. However, most of the industrially produced lignin is currently used as an energy source. To redirect its use towards material applications and avoid environmental issues, circularity needs to be considered.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Nejib Kasmi, Eva Backstrom, Minna Hakkarainen
Summary: Intriguing high-performance polyimines (PI) were designed by recovering diamines from postconsumer PET bottles through microwave-assisted aminolysis. These PIs exhibited excellent thermal properties, super-high toughness and strength, and demonstrated recyclability to original building blocks or direct repolymerization under mild conditions. With easily tunable properties and closed-loop recyclability, these high performance thermoplastics have great potential as next-generation circular materials from recycled plastics waste.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sathiyaraj Subramaniyan, Nasim Najjarzadeh, Sudarsana Reddy Vanga, Anna Liguori, Per-Olof Syren, Minna Hakkarainen
Summary: Bio-based plastics have the potential to positively impact the environment, but to make a difference, they need to be managed and sustainably recycled. Chemical, mechanical, and/or organic recycling should be considered from the start. In this study, we synthesized vanillin-derived Schiff base monomers and corresponding polymers, which showed potential for chemical recycling and enzymatic degradation by PETase.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Naba Kumar Kalita, Minna Hakkarainen
Summary: This review provides an overview of recent scientific advancements and innovations in integrating biodegradable polyesters into the circular economy. The focus is on different end-of-life management options for biodegradable polyesters, including mechanical, chemical, and organic recycling. It emphasizes the importance of rethinking and redesigning polymer materials to align with circular material flows and highlights the potential of biodegradable polyesters to be fully compatible with the principles of the circular economy. The development of polyesters with balanced material properties and appropriate disposal methods is a crucial step towards reducing and eliminating plastic waste accumulation.
CURRENT OPINION IN GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Boyang Guo, Ximena Lopez-Lorenzo, Yuan Fang, Eva Backstrom, Antonio Jose Capezza, Sudarsan Reddy Vanga, Istvan Furo, Minna Hakkarainen, Per-Olof Syren
Summary: Recycling plastics is crucial for achieving a sustainable materials economy. Biocatalytic degradation of plastics using microwave irradiation as a pre-treatment process, followed by enzymatic reaction, shows promising results in improving substrate accessibility and increasing conversion yield.
Article
Polymer Science
Jenevieve Yao, Mohammad Morsali, Adrian Moreno, Mika H. Sipponen, Minna Hakkarainen
Summary: The researchers developed a biobased lignin-derivable resin for photopolymerization-based 3D printing by using methacrylated derivatives of vanillin, vanillyl alcohol, and eugenol as aromatic monomers. Lignin nanoparticles were incorporated as functional fillers to improve print resolution and material properties. The resin formulation allowed for control of the mechanical properties and the fabrication of multi-material models suitable for high-resolution and multi-material 3D printing.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Alessio Truncali, Iuliana Ribca, Jenevieve Yao, Minna Hakkarainen, Mats Johansson
Summary: In this study, lignin was refined into narrow-dispersity and low molar mass fractions by microwave-assisted processing, followed by chemical modification and application in lignin-based thermosets. The chemically modified lignin showed successful allylation and could be cross-linked to produce thermosets.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anna Liguori, Eugenia Oliva, Marco Sangermano, Minna Hakkarainen
Summary: Four isosorbide-based photocurable resins were designed and their correlations with composition, chemical structure, DLP 3D printability, thermoset properties, and recyclability were investigated. The study revealed the significant impact of resin composition on printability and physical properties of the resulting thermosets. The research also highlighted the successful reprocessing or chemical recycling of ester-imine thermosets with preserved elastic modulus, emphasizing the role of ester functionality concentration in recycling.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Anna Liguori, Huan Xu, Doli Hazarika, Minna Hakkarainen
Summary: A non-equilibrium atmospheric plasma post-treatment method has been developed to enhance the surface coating of three-dimensional structures produced by digital light processing 3D printing. Compared to traditional UV-light post-treatment, the plasma post-treatment does not contribute to the curing process of the material, but increases its hydrophilicity and improves the uniformity of the coating.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Linnea Cederholm, Peter Olsen, Minna Hakkarainen, Karin Odelius
Summary: The influence of monomer structure on the solvent effect and the selective ring-closing depolymerization of polymer blends using catalyst selectivity have been investigated in this study. The results show that the chemical structure of the monomer affects the ability of the solvent to suppress the ceiling temperature. This study demonstrates the potential for chemical recycling and selective depolymerization in polymer blends.
