Temperature‐dependent phase‐segregation behavior and antifouling performance of UV‐curable methacrylated PDMS/PEG coatings

Controllable phase segregation adjustment for immiscible polymer blends has always been tough, which hinders the development of amphiphilic antifouling coatings from more accessible blends. Herein, methacrylated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS‐MA) was synthesized and mixed with poly(ethylene glycol)methylether methacrylate (PEG‐MA). It was interestingly discovered that these PDMS‐MA/PEG‐MA blends displayed upper critical solution temperatures (UCST) due to thermo‐induced conformational change of PEG‐MA and the UCST changed with PDMS‐MA/PEG‐MA mass ratios. Micro‐/nano‐phase segregation, nanophase segregation, or homogenous morphology were therefore achieved. These PDMS‐MA/PEG‐MA blends with different mass ratios were UV‐cured under varying temperatures to fabricate coatings. Their surface morphology and wettability are readily adjusted by phase segregation. For the first time, highly hydrophilic surface was achieved for coatings with microphase segregation because of the exposure of PEG‐rich domains, which exhibited an enhanced protein resistance against bovine serum albumin (BSA). Anti‐bacterial performance (Shewanella loihica) was also observed for these PDMS/PEG coatings. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 1612–1623     

Crosslinked poly(ethylene oxide) containing siloxanes fabricated through thiol‐ene photochemistry

Homogenous amphiphilic crosslinked polymer films comprising of poly(ethylene oxide) and polysiloxane were synthesized utilizing thiol‐ene “ click ” photochemistry. A systematic variation in polymer composition was Carried out to obtain high quality films with varied amount of siloxane and poly(ethylene oxide). These films showed improved gas separation performance with high gas permeabilities with good CO₂/N₂ selectivity. Furthermore, the resulting films were also tested for its biocompatibility, as a carrier media which allow human adult mesenchymal stem cells to retain their capacity for osteoblastic differentiation after transplantation. The obtained crosslinked films were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, FTIR, Raman‐IR , and small angle X‐ray scattering. The synthesis ease and commercial availability of the starting materials suggests that these new crosslinked polymer networks could find applications in wide range of applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1548–1557     

Amphiphilic thermoset elastomers from metal‐free,click crosslinking of PEG‐grafted silicone surfactants

The hydrophobicity of silicone elastomers can compromise their utility in some biomaterials applications. Few effective processes exist to introduce hydrophilic groups onto a polysiloxane backbone and subsequently crosslink the material into elastomers. This problem can be overcome through the utilization of metal‐free click reactions between azidoalkylsilicones and alkynyl‐modified silicones and/or PEGs to both functionalize and crosslink silicone elastomers. Alkynyl‐functional PEG was clicked onto a fraction of the available azido groups of a functional polysiloxane, yielding azido reactive PDMS‐g‐PEG rake surfactants. The reactive polymers were then used to crosslink alkynyl‐terminated PDMS of different molecular weights. Using simple starting materials, this generic yet versatile method permits the preparation and characterization of a library of amphiphilic thermoset elastomers that vary in their composition, crosslink density, elasticity, hydrogel formation, and wettability. An appropriate balance of PEG length and crosslink density leads to a permanently highly wettable silicone elastomer that demonstrated very low levels of protein adsorption. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1082–1093     

Inhibition of cold-welding and adhesive wear occurring on surface of the 6061 aluminum alloy by graphene oxide/polyethylene glycol composite water-based lubricant

In this paper, graphene oxide/polyethylene glycol (GO/PEG) composite water-based lubricant was prepared by an ultrasonic dispersion method, and characterized and analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The suspension performance of GO/PEG composite water-based lubricant in water was verified by static sedimentation and centrifugation, and then, the prepared GO/PEG composite water-based lubricant was added into 304 stainless steel and 6061 aluminum alloy, and the coefficient of friction (COF) curve, average COF value, average wear rate, corresponding photomicrographs of balls and disks after wear, and energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS) elemental analysis were used to illustrate the lubrication effect and lubrication mechanism. The results show that the GO/PEG composite water-based lubricant possesses excellent suspension ability in water, and the average COF value and wear rate of GO/PEG composite water-based lubricant are reduced by 78.8% and 88.8%, respectively, compared with water lubrication. The excellent lubrication effect of GO/PEG composite water-based lubricant can effectively reduce the cold-welding and adhesive wear phenomenon, mainly because GO/PEG composite water-based lubricant first fills the uneven surface of friction mating to form a high-quality lubricating film and then because of the special space structure of GO and the low shear between GO layers and the synergistic lubrication effect of GO/PEG.     

Production and characterization of elastomeric cardiac tissue-like patches for Myocardial Tissue Engineering

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death. Damaged heart muscle is the etiology of heart failure. Heart failure is the most frequent cause of hospital and emergency room admissions. As a differentiated organ, current therapeutics and techniques can not repair or replace the damaged myocardial tissue. Myocardial tissue engineering is one of the promising treatment modalities for repairing damaged heart tissue in patients with heart failure. In this work, random Polylactic acid (PLA), Polylactic acid/Polyethylene glycol (PLA/PEG) and random and aligned Polylactic acid/Polyethylene glycol/Collagen (PLA/PEG/COL) nanofiber patches were successfully produced by the electrospinning technique. In vitro cytotoxic test (MTT), morphological (SEM), molecular interactions between the components (FT-IR), thermal analysis (DSC), tensile strength and physical analysis were carried out after production. The resulting nanofiber patches exhibited beadless and smooth structures. When the fiber diameters were examined, it was observed that the collagen doped random nanofiber patches had the lowest fiber diameter value (755 nm). Mechanical characterization results showed that aligned nanofiber patches had maximum tensile strength (5.90 MPa) values compared to PLA, PLA/PEG, and PLA/PEG/COL (random). In vitro degradation test reported that aligned patch had the highest degradation ratio. The produced patches displayed good alignment with tissue on cardiomyocyte cell morphology studies. In conclusion, newly produced patches have noticeable potential as a tissue-like cardiac patch for regeneration efforts after myocardial infarction.     

导热增强聚乙二醇相变复合材料的制备及其性能

本文以聚乙二醇(PEG)为相变材料,通过添加不同的无机填料,采用熔融共混浇筑方式制备了导热增强型相变复合材料。 通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、热常数分析仪、差示扫描量热仪(DSC)、红外热成像和热重分析仪研究了所制备复合材料的微观结构、导热性能与相变过程。 研究结果表明,相比于碳酸钙和氧化铝,在相同添加含量下,氮化硼(BN)可有效提高PEG的导热系数,当BN质量分数为40%时,导热系数可达到3.40 W/(m·K);当填料添加量相同时,片状BN和不规则纳米碳酸钙(CaCO₃)比球形氧化铝(Al₂O₃)对PEG具有更加优良的定型效果,在相变过程中,能够更加有效阻隔PEG的流动,保持复合材料的形状稳定性。     

绿色双溶剂法制备高效稳定钙钛矿太阳能电池

采用毒性小、环境友好的乙二醇甲醚(ethylene glycol monomethyl ether,EGME)与水混合的双溶剂(体积比为1∶1)溶解CsBr,通过提高CsBr的溶解度,减少了后续CsBr的甲醇溶液的旋涂遍数,简化了电池制备流程。通过优化CsBr的甲醇溶液的旋涂遍数发现,在旋涂1遍200 mg·mL^-1 CsBr的水/EGME溶液的基础上旋涂2遍15 mg·mL^-1 CsBr的甲醇溶液,所制备的CsPb-Br₃钙钛矿太阳能电池(perovskite solar cells,PSCs)拥有最佳的性能,实现了1.44 V的开路电压(open-circuit voltage,V_OC),6.26mA·cm^-2的短路电流密度(short circuit current density,J_SC),74.57%的填充因子(fill factor,FF)及最高6.72%的光电转换效率(pho-toelectric conversion efficiency,PCE)。     

Surface modification of polycarbonate urethane by grafting polyethylene glycol and bivalirudin drug for improving hemocompatibility

As the clinical demand for blood-contacting materials increases, higher requirements are placed on their physicochemical properties, durability and hemocompatibility in vivo. In this work, a multiple functionalized material was developed through a facile modification process. Herein, polycarbonate urethane (PCU) surface was co-modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and bivalirudin (BVLD). PCU provides excellent physical and mechanical properties, PEG and BVLD, especially BVLD, enable the surface with outstanding anticoagulant capacity. Specifically, PCU surface was first treated with hexamethylene diisocyanate to introduce active isocyanate groups onto the surface, followed by hydroxy-PEG grafting to improve the hydrophilicity. Finally, BVLD was immobilized on the surface via Michael addition reaction to improve antithrombotic properties. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy and UV spectrophotometers were used to confirm the modified surfaces. The hydrophilicity was characterized by static water contact angle measurement, the morphology of the modified surfaces was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Blood compatibility of the modified surfaces was characterized by the hemolysis rate, platelet adhesion assay and cell culture test. The results showed that the BVLD immobilized surface has excellent anticoagulant properties, good fibrin-bound thrombin inhibition, and good resistance against non-specific adhesion of proteins. Hence, the co-modification with PEG and BVLD was proved an encouraging strategy for improving hemocompatibility.     

A Robust Metal-Organic Framework with Scalable Synthesis and Optimal Adsorption and Desorption for Energy-Efficient Ethylene Purification

Adsorptive separation is an energy-efficient alternative, but its advancement has been hindered by the challenge of industrially potential adsorbents development. Herein, a novel ultra-microporous metal-organic framework ZU-901 is designed that satisfies the basic criteria raised by ethylene/ethane (C₂H₄/C₂H₆) pressure swing adsorption (PSA). ZU-901 exhibits an “S” shaped C₂H₄ curve with high sorbent selection parameter (65) and could be mildly regenerated. Through green aqueous-phase synthesis, ZU-901 is easily scalable with 99 % yield, and it is stable in water, acid, basic solutions and cycling breakthrough experiments. Polymer-grade C₂H₄ (99.51 %) could be obtained via a simulating two-bed PSA process, and the corresponding energy consumption is only 1/10 of that of simulating cryogenic distillation. Our work has demonstrated the great potential of pore engineering in designing porous materials with desired adsorption and desorption behavior to implement an efficient PSA process.