Multiple self-assembled nanostructures from an oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene) containing rod-coil-rod triblock copolymer

Induced by systematic variation of the initial polymer concentration in toluene, various morphologies of aggregates including vesicles, spheres, onion-like structures, and worm-like fibers from a rod-coil-rod triblock copolymer, oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene)-polystyrene-oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene), were observed by transmission electron microscopy.     

树枝状聚(醚-酰胺)基胶束的制备及其形貌研究

采用ε-己内酯(CL)开环聚合的方法首先合成树枝状聚(醚-酰胺)基(DPEA)星形聚合物star-PCL,再与异氰酸基封端的PEG(PEG-NCO)偶合制备了两亲性树枝状聚(醚-酰胺)基星形嵌段聚合物star-PCL-b-PEG.利用FT-IR、1H-NMR和GPC分析测试手段对star-PCL-b-PEG的结构进行了表征.通过滴加选择性溶剂的方法,制备了star-PCL-b-PEG以水为介质的类似"平头"聚集体胶束溶液.采用荧光光谱法测得star-PCL-b-PEG水溶液的临界胶束浓度(CMC)为1.623mg/L;采用激光光散射仪测得其在浓度0.15mg/mL和0.5mg/mL的流体力学半径分别为86.2nm和224.6nm,其多分散指数分别为0.115和0.197.透射电镜(TEM)观察发现胶束的形貌受共溶剂的特性,初始聚合物浓度,水含量等因素的影响.     

两亲性含糖嵌段共聚物在水中分子聚集形态的转变

两亲性嵌段共聚物在不同的介质中可形成不同形态的有序分子聚集体［１～３］．当其亲水段长度远大于亲油段时,在水中主要形成球形胶束［１］;但当亲水段长度远小于亲油段时,则形成多种形态的分子聚集体,即所谓的“ｃｒｅｗ－ｃｕｔ”聚集体,如球形、柱状、层状、囊泡和管状等［４］．Ｅｉｓｅｎｂｅｒｇ等［４～６］详细研究了聚苯乙烯－ｂ－聚丙烯酸在水中的“ｃｒｅｗ－ｃｕｔ”聚集体,发现聚集体的形态和多种因素有关,如共聚物组成、溶剂、ｐＨ值和金属离子等．以两亲分子形成的囊泡不但可以用来模拟生物膜的结构,而且在药物载体…     

Multilayer onion-like vesicles self-assembled from amphiphilic hyperbranched multiarm copolymers via simulation

Multilayer onion-like vesicles are valuable in cell mimics and biomedicine fields. However, as an excellent self-assembly precursor, the formation of multilayer onion-like vesicles by the self-assembly of hyperbranched multiarm copolymers (HMCs) were not reported due to the complex self-assembly dynamics. In this article, the self-assembly behavior of multilayer onion-like vesicles from HMCs was systematically investigated using dissipative particle dynamics simulation. The formation conditions for different kinds of vesicles were disclosed through the construction of the morphological phase diagram. Moreover, the formation mechanisms of the onion-like vesicles with different layers were revealed. We observed that it is the fusion mechanism in low concentrations and the molecular rearrangement mechanism in high concentrations. For low concentration, the law between the number of the membrane layers and the morphology of the aggregates in the fusion process was disclosed. Meanwhile, the membrane of the onion-like vesicles self-assembled from HMCs is monolayer structure and the thickness of each layer is decreased in sequence from inside to outside. The current observations have important guiding significance for its application in drug delivery systems.     

Aggregation phenomena on the ternary ionic-nonionic surfactant system: didodecyldimethylammonium bromide/octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside/water. Mixed microaggregates, vesicles, and micelles

The formation of a variety of mixed colloidal aggregates has been investigated on a ternary ionic-nonionic system constituted by (i) a double-chain cationic surfactant with a 12-carbon atom hydrophobic tail, didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (di-C(12)DMAB), (ii) a nonionic single-chain surfactant, octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (OBG), and (iii) water. The study has been carried out by means of conductivity, zeta-potential, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) experiments on the highly diluted, very diluted, and moderately diluted regions. The formation of mixed microaggregates, prior to the appearance of mixed vesicles, has been undoubtly confirmed by conductivity, TEM, and zeta-potential results. The concentrations at which these mixed colloidal aggregates form, i.e., the mixed critical microaggregate concentration (CAC), the mixed critical vesicle concentration (CVC), and the mixed critical micelle concentration (CMC), have been determined from conductivity data, while the zeta-potential experiments allow for the characterization of the aggregate/solution interface. The shape and size of the microaggregates and vesicles have been evaluated from TEM and cryo-TEM micrographs, respectively. All of the experimental evidence has been also analyzed in terms of the theoretical packing parameter, P.     

Crystallization-driven self-assembly of isotactic polystyrene in N,N-dimethylformamide

Herein we demonstrate crystallization-driven self-assembly of isotactic polystyrene(i PS) with high isotacticity and narrow molecular weight distribution and crystallization-induced switching of the morphology of i PS aggregates in N, N-dimethylformamide(DMF). The formation and morphology switching of the self-assembled aggregates of i PS are investigated by means of dynamic light scattering(DLS), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and wide angle X-ray diffraction(WXRD). The results reveal that cooling DMF solution of i PS promotes i PS chains to self-assemble into spherical aggregates with a gelled core cross-linked by microcrystals, which is surrounded by solvent-swollen corona. Furthermore, crystallization induces the deformation of i PS aggregates from spherical to plate-like or nest-like.     

MORPHOLOGICAL TRANSITION BETWEEN VESICLES AND TUBULES FOR A GLYCOPOLYMER-CONTAINING AMPHIPHILIC DIBLOCK COPOLYMER IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS*

The morphological transition of molecular assemblies in aqueous solutions for a new amphiphilic diblockcopolymer induced by changing the initial solvent conditions was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Thecopolymer was polystyrene(77)-b-poly [2 -(β-D-glucopyranosyloxy) ethyl acrylate (6)] (PSt_(77)-b-PGEA_6) and the solvent was amixture of DMF and THF. PSt_(77)-b-PGEA_6 yields vesicles and tubules when it is initially dissolved in THF and DMFrespectively. The morphological transition between vesicles and tubules can be achieved by simply varying the amounts ofTHF and DMF, or changing the temperature at which the aggregates were prepared.     

Morphological evolution of aggregates induced by the hydrophobic effect and hydrogen bonding interaction

The aggregation behavior of poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(methylmethacrylate) (PEO-b-PMMA) in toluene without and with the addition of polar small-molecules has been characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The preparation method involved copolymer dissolution in toluene which is a selective solvent for polymethylmethacrylate at room temperature, followed by the addition of polar small-molecules. By increasing polarity of the small-molecules at the same copolymer concentrations, these aggregates were found to undergo morphological transformations from spherical aggregates to multiple morphologies, including bean-pod liked structures (the morphologies are biomimetic), spheres and vesicles. A possible mechanism for the formation of this aggregate is proposed.     

聚苯乙烯-b-聚氧乙烯-b-聚苯乙烯三嵌段共聚物的自组装

小分子表面活性剂、磷脂、接枝及嵌段共聚物等两亲分子在选择性介质中能够自组装形成特定的分子聚集体 [1,2 ] .嵌段共聚物自组装的某些行为具有生物膜模拟性 ,如最近发现的嵌段共聚物自组装囊泡 [3～ 5] .诸多因素影响着嵌段共聚物在稀溶液中的自组装行为 [6] .对于 ABA型三嵌     

Self-assembling of biocompatible BAB amphiphilic triblock copolymers PLL(Z)-PEG-PLL(Z) in aqueous medium

A novel biocompatible BAB amphiphilic triblock copolymers which consist of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(ε-benzyloxycarbonyl l-Lysine) (PLL(Z)) were synthesized by anion ring opening polymerization of N-carboxyanhydride of ε-benzyloxycarbonyl-l-Lysine (l-Lys(z)-NCA) using α-amino-ω-amino-poly(ethylene glycol) as initiator in DMF. The block copolymers were characterized by IR, ¹H-NMR, GPC, DSC. The results showed that the block copolymers were of narrow molecular distribution and well defined structure. The self-assembled behaviors of block copolymers in aqueous medium were investigated. The effects of various factors, such as cosolvents, initial concentration, temperature, annealing time and times of frozen-thaw cycle etc., on the aggregate morphologies were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Different morphological aggregates such as sphere, rod and vesicle etc. could be obtained at controlled conditions, at the same time, a novel helical aggregate was observed. These regular nanometer structures have potential applications in biomedicine due to the biocompatibility of two blocks.     

Solvent induced ordered-supramolecular assembly of highly branched protoporphyrin IX derivative

Protoporphyrin IX species bearing highly branched alkyl chains were self-assembled into well-defined nanostructures such as rod-like in CHCl₃–cylcohexane (1:9, v/v) and a honeycomb-like morphology in a polar solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The rod-like morphologies observed in the atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) suggest that the lamellar phase self-organises into multilamellar vesicles. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicate molecular arrangements resulting from longitudinal and transverse stacking of the porphyrin head groups in the lamellar structure. The typical nanostructures were derived from a high level of cooperativity between the porphyrin cores via π–σ interactions and supported by hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions. The nanostructures were characterised by means of UV–vis, fluorescence, AFM, TEM and XRD analysis. Our methodology confirms the potential of protoporphyrin IX derivatives in supramolecular chemistry.     

光敏共聚物P(St/VM-co-MA)自组装胶体粒子及其性能

以苯乙烯类光敏单体7-(4-乙烯基苄氧基)-4-甲基香豆素(VM)、苯乙烯(St)、马来酸酐(MA)为共聚单体,采用自由基聚合法制备了光敏性双亲共聚物P(St/VM-co-MA).在选择性溶剂(N,N-二甲基甲酰胺(DMF)/H2O)中对P(St/VM-co-MA)进行自组装,用透射电镜(TEM)和动态激光光散射(DLS)表征了自组装胶体粒子的形态、粒径大小及其分布.利用紫外光照使胶体粒子中香豆素基元发生光二聚反应,形成交联胶体粒子,并用紫外-可见光分光光度计(UV-Vis)跟踪其交联过程.用DLS研究了交联和未经交联胶体粒子的粒径和结构稳定性,用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜(LSCM)和光学显微镜考察了胶体粒子的乳化、包覆性能.结果表明:交联和未经交联胶体粒子均具有乳化性,且在乳化过程中可实现对油溶性染料的包覆.胶体粒子交联后,粒径有所减小,结构稳定性、乳化性能、包覆性能均有所提高.     

Effect of alkyl chain asymmetry on catanionic mixtures of hydrogenated and fluorinated surfactants

In this work we studied and compared the physicochemical properties of the catanionic mixtures cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide–sodium dodecanoate, cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide–sodium perfluorodacanoate, octyltrimethylammonium bromide–sodium perfluorodacanoate and cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide–sodium octanoate by a combination of rheological, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and polarized optical microscopy measurements. The binary mixtures of the surfactants have been analyzed at different mixed ratios and total concentration of the mixture. Mixtures containing a perfluorinated surfactant are able to form lamellar liquid crystals and stable spontaneous vesicles. Meanwhile, system containing just hydrogenated surfactants form hexagonal phases or they are arranged in elongated aggregates.     

The aggregation behavior between anionic carboxymethylchitosan and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide: MesoDyn simulation and experiments

The aggregation behavior between carboxymethylchitosan (CMCHS) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) is investigated by MesoDyn simulation and experimental techniques, for increasing CTAB concentrations. Mixed CMCHS/CTAB bulk aggregates are formed in the solution. Simulation results give the morphologies of aggregates clearly and illustrate the two stages for the formation of aggregates: the first stage is CTAB molecules aggregating on the CMCHS chain and the second stage is the equilibrium stage. A viscosity maximum and a hydrodynamic radius minimum at a certain CTAB concentration reveal the bridging structure of the polymer chains by the micelles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images give the bridging structure clearly. At higher surfactant concentrations, light scattering and TEM show the existence of larger structures, whose size increases with CTAB concentration. According to the simulation and experimental results, the process of aggregate formation and aggregation mechanism are analyzed. Initially CMCHS and CTAB form network structure due to the bridge action of CTAB micelles, while the network structure disappears gradually and is replaced by ellipsoidal CMCHS/CTAB aggregate structure with CTAB concentration increasing.     

Transitions of organized assemblies in mixed systems of cationic bolaamphiphile and anionic conventional surfactants

The transition from vesicles to tubelike structures has been studied in mixed systems of cationic bolaamphiphile BPHTAB [biphenyl-4,4'-bis(oxyhexamethylenetrimethylammonium bromide)] and its oppositely charged conventional surfactants with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). This transition can be attributed to the fact that tube-like structures are more stable aggregates than vesicles because of the special molecular packing in the aggregates of the mixed systems. The effects of temperature and salt addition on this transition have also been investigated, and the rate of the transition was found to be strongly dependent on temperature. Addition of the appropriate amount of NaBr will accelerate the transition from vesicles to tube-like structures, but the vesicles will transform into micelles at higher salt concentration. Moreover, the micelle-vesicle transition can be realized by addition of n-octanol in the mixed system of BPHTAB/sodium caprate (SC) at higher salt concentrations.     

剪切作用对PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO三嵌段共聚物多节状蠕虫胶束形成的影响

实验研究了剪切(搅拌)对ABC三嵌段共聚物PS720-b-P2VP200-b-PEO375在溶液中自组装形成的胶束形态的影响,研究结果表明剪切对多节状蠕虫胶束的生成和结构有着重要作用.在1500 r/min剪切速率时,嵌段共聚物自组装形成的球形胶束首先聚集形成蠕虫胶束的梭状轮廓,然后再经过不断地融合与调整形成蠕虫胶束节状部分的盘状结构,同时球的融合趋于沿着垂直于梭状结构的主轴方向(即流场方向).溶剂THF对PS嵌段充分的溶胀使得球形胶束进一步调整形成盘状结构,从而使梭状胶束聚集体顺利地向多节状蠕虫胶束过渡.通过透射电镜(TEM)和扫描电镜(SEM)对胶束形态进行表征,结果表明,多节状蠕虫胶束是剪切作用下球形胶束二次自组装的结果.     

PDMS-b-PEO两亲性嵌段共聚物的合成及溶液性质

通过正丁基锂(n-BuLi)引发的六甲基环三硅氧烷(D3)阴离子开环聚合以及单硅氢封端聚二甲基硅氧烷(PDMS)与烯丙基聚氧乙烯醚(PEO)的硅氢加成反应, 合成得到了一系列分子量分布窄的PDMS-b-PEO两亲性嵌段共聚物. 利用凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)、傅里叶变换红外(FTIR)光谱、氢核磁共振谱(1H-NMR)表征了嵌段共聚物的结构组成. 通过表面张力仪测定得到了不同结构嵌段共聚物的平衡表面张力及临界胶束浓度(cmc). 结果显示, 该系列嵌段共聚物的cmc值不仅受到憎水性嵌段的影响, 同时也受嵌段共聚物的体积效应以及嵌段共聚物的几何形状(即嵌段共聚物各嵌段的比例)的影响, PDMS-b-PEO两嵌段共聚物的cmc值表现出了随憎水嵌段增加而相应增加的趋势. 通过透射电子显微镜(TEM)表征发现, PDMS-b-PEO嵌段共聚物在选择性溶剂水中会自组装形成球状、棒状以及囊泡状的聚集体.     

The synthesis of P(MAn-co-St)-b-PS-b-P(MAn-co-St) block copolymers by RAFT polymerization and the nanostructure of their self-assembly aggregates

A series of block copolymers of styrene, maleic anhydride and acrylic acid were synthesized by the reverse addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process. The structure, molecular weight and polydispersity index were determined by FTIR, ¹H NMR, SEC&MALLS and DSC analysis. The results showed that the polymerization occurred in a living and controlled manner. Multiple self-assembled nanostructures of these block copolymers were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Tetrahydrofuran (THF), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and 1,4-dioxane were used as the common solvents and twice-distilled water as the selective solvent to clarify the effects of the solvent. The results revealed that with the increase of the extension degree of the core, non-spherical aggregates were easily formed, the composition of the copolymers influences the aggregation behavior, and other factors also influence the self-assembly, such as hydrolysis, temperature, annealing time, molecular architecture etc. A mechanism is proposed to illustrate the formation of the various aggregates of P(MAn-co-St)-b-PS-b-P(MAn-co-St) copolymer, which were confirmed by TEM results.     

Multi-responsive cyclodextrin vesicles assembled by ‘supramolecular bola-amphiphiles’

Multi-responsive cyclodextrin vesicles (CDVs) self-assembled by ‘supramolecular bola-amphiphiles’, consisting of a guest (N,N′-bis(ferrocenylmethylene)-diaminohexane, 1) and a host (γ-hydroxybutyric-β-cyclodextrin, γ-HB-β-CD), were prepared and investigated for the first time. The morphologies and sizes of these novel vesicles in water were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The effects of the host–guest ratio, the concentration and the solvent composition are also discussed. The host–guest interactions, complex stoichiometry and structures of 1·γ-HB-β-CD in water were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, UV and NMR spectroscopy. According to the complex stoichiometry, TEM observations and Chem3D estimation, the ‘supramolecular bola-amphiphiles’, made from 1·γ-HB-β-CD and assumed for the first time, formed the membranes of the CDVs. The CDV system was responsive to an oxidising agent, which is the first report on redox-responsive systems in this field. The CDVs are also responsive to pH and the presence of metal ions, such that they disassemble upon addition of acetic acid or Cu²⁺ ions, providing possible routes to drug delivery systems.