Unusual collapse of highly hydrated polyelectrolyte multilayers with the ionic strength

Highly hydrated polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) were fabricated by “layer by layer” (LBL) assembly of poly (diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and poly (sodium 4‐styrene sulfonate) (PSS) in 0.5 M NaCl. Both thickness and hydration of the film were determined in situ as the multilayer was assembled by means of the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM‐D) and the Spectroscopic Ellipsometry techniques combined in a single device. For PEMs of 17 total layers in water, a final thickness of up to 300 nm and a hydration of 69% were measured. The response towards the ionic strength was then studied by means of QCM‐D. PEMs of 17 layers, with PDADMAC as last layer, shrunk dramatically and lost water when exposed to aqueous NaCl solutions of increasing concentration. Indeed, a thickness variation up to 100 nm and reduction in the 50% of the water content were observed when the PEM was exposed to 1 M NaCl. On the contrary, PEMs where PSS appears on top showed no measurable change upon the variation in the ionic strength. This brings the possibility to control the responsive character of the PEMs simply by selecting the last polyelectrolyte layer (PDADMAC or PSS) deposited. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Effect of Poly(amine)s on the Redox Properties of Carboxymethylcellulose and Ferrocene‐modified Poly(amine) Layer‐by‐Layer Films

Multilayer films consisting of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and ferrocene‐modified poly(ethyleneimine) (Fc‐PEI) or poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (Fc‐PAH) were successfully prepared on a gold electrode to examine their redox properties. The redox current of (Fc‐PEI/CMC)_n film‐coated electrodes increased with the number of layers, while the (Fc‐PAH/CMC)_n film‐coated electrodes exhibited increased response only for the first eight bilayers. The (Fc‐PEI/CMC)_n and (Fc‐PAH/CMC)_n films deposited on the surface of Fc‐free multilayer film‐coated electrodes also showed a redox response. The (PEI/CMC)₅ film‐coated electrode showed redox responses in Fc‐PEI and Fc‐PAH solutions, confirming the uptake of the Fc‐polymers in the inner film. In contrast, the uptake of the Fc‐polymers in the (PAH/CMC)₅ film was severely suppressed, suggesting that different permeability of (PEI/CMC)₅ and (PAH/CMC)₅ films.     

伴刀豆球蛋白-糖蛋白特异性识别作用构筑的多层膜及其在生物传感器制备中的应用

研究了伴刀豆球蛋白-糖蛋白特异性分子识别作用构建的多层膜及其在葡萄糖生物传感器制备中的应用.结果表明,含有糖残基的葡萄糖氧化酶可以通过识别作用组装进入多层膜,不含糖基的过氧化氢酶经过化学修饰引入麦芽糖残基,也可以通过分子识别作用组装到多层膜中.对于多层膜厚度研究的结果表明,膜的厚度随层数的增加呈线性关系.研究了多层膜的表面形貌,并讨论了膜结构与功能的关系.伴刀豆球蛋白-酶多层膜修饰的金电极的电化学实验表明,多层膜中的酶具有催化活性.过氧化氢酶/葡萄糖氧化酶串联组装的生物传感器能够有效消除样品中过氧化氢对葡萄糖测定带来的干扰.     

Self-assembled polyelectrolyte multilayered films on Nafion with lowered methanol cross-over for DMFC applications

The paper is concerned with the deposition of self-assembled polyelectrolyte multilayer on Nafion membrane by layer-by-layer (LbL) technique with lowered methanol cross-over for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications. The formation of self-assembled multilayered film on Nafion was characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy and it was found that the polyelectrolyte layers growth on the Nafion surface regularly. Furthermore, the proton conductivity and methanol cross-over measurements were carried out for characterization of the LbL self-assembled composite membranes. The results showed that the concentration and pH of the polyelectrolytes significantly affect the proton conductivity and methanol barrier properties of the composite membranes. 10⁻¹ monomol polyelectrolyte concentration and pH 1.8 was found to be optimum deposition conditions considering proton conductivity and methanol permeation properties of the LbL self-assembled composite membranes. The methanol permeability of the 10 bi-layers of PAH1.8/PSS1.8 deposited LbL self-assembly composite membrane was significantly suppressed and found to be 4.41 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/s while the proton conductivity value is in acceptable range for fuel cell applications.     

Polyelectrolyte multilayers prepared on hydrogel surfaces

Poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels were alternately immersed in aqueous solutions of oppositely charged polymers. The adsorption of the cationic dye methylene blue to the immersed hydrogels suggested the presence of a coating on the hydrogel surfaces. Static contact angles with an air bubble in water showed layer‐by‐layer growth of the films. The films could be transferred onto solid substrates for mechanical strength after the hydrogels were placed on the solid substrates, and this resulted in an estimation of the film thickness. The number of assembly steps could regulate the film thickness. We present here coatings of hydrogels with thin polymer films prepared by layer‐by‐layer assembly. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1062–1067, 2005     

Recent advances in studies of bubble-solid interactions and wetting film stability

Research in the area of bubble-solid interactions is reviewed and highlighted, with a focus on studies of wetting film drainage using theoretical approaches and experimental (interferometric) approaches, and also studies probing the stability of wetting films, where the stability has been affected by physical and chemical modification/factors. Significant advances have been made in recent years in the area of interferometry and force measurement of bubble-surface encounters, with multiple light wavelengths used to improve accuracy and certainty with regard to thickness of wetting films, as well as high speed interferometry. These advances have been accompanied with improvements to models to describe nonequilibrium aspects of opposing interfaces. Experimental studies of the influence of air bubbles and surface roughness have highlighted the importance of dissolved gas and surface condition in determining whether wetting films are stable. Finally, many new studies on the influence of polymer layers on wetting film stability and rupture have been published, and these are described in relation to the increase in our understanding of the role of adsorbed polymers in altering surface chemistry and physics of the underlying substrate.     

Coating electrospun chitosan nanofibers with polyelectrolyte multilayers using the polysaccharides heparin and N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan

A new method is presented for functionalizing electrospun nanofibers with GAGs and growth factors by PEM deposition. Electrospun chitosan nanofibers, spun from trifluoroacetic acid and dichloromethane, were coated with PEMs, using the polysaccharides heparin and N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan. FGF-2 was adsorbed on the PEM-coated nanofibers. Nanofiber neutralization, PEM construction, and FGF-2 adsorption were monitored using FT-IR spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Alcian blue staining was used to confirm the presence of heparin. SEM was used to study nanofiber morphology.     

逐层自组装修饰金电极

巯基羧酸吸在金电极表面形成自组装置单分子层，其中巯基与金共价结合，而裸露在表面的羧基可用于进一步修饰，用逐层反应的方法，可通过乙二胺将二茂铁羧酸结合在自组装单分子层上，电极的行为用电化学表征。     

Interaction and adhesion properties of polyelectrolyte multilayers

The growth, morphology, and interaction/adhesion properties of supported poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PSS/PAH) and DNA/PAH multilayers were investigated by means of surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy, atomic force microscope (AFM) imaging, and AFM-related force measurements. Multilayers were assembled on a prelayer of poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) both with and without drying. SPR results showed a linear growth of the assembly in the case of PSS/PAH multilayers and nonlinear growth for DNA/PAH multilayers. Measurements of forces acting between a bare glass sphere and a multilayer-coated surface indicated repulsive or attractive forces, depending on surface charge, which suggests that, on approach, electrostatic forces dominate. On separation, we observed large pull-off forces in the case of positively charged multilayers and weak pull-off forces in the case negatively charged multilayers. Multiple adhesions and plateau regions observed on separation were interpreted in terms of a bridging of multiple polymer chains between the glass particle and the multilayer and a stretching of the polyelectrolyte loops. The dependence of the pull-off force on the number of deposited layers shows regular oscillations.     

Immunosensors Based on Layer‐by‐Layer Self‐Assembled Au Colloidal Electrode for the Electrochemical Detection of Antigen

Colloidal Au particles have been deposited on the gold electrode through layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly using cysteamine as cross‐linkers. Self‐assembly of colloidal Au on the gold electrode resulted in an easier attachment of antibody, larger electrode surface and ideal electrode behavior. The redox reactions of [Fe(CN)₆]^4?/[Fe(CN)₆]^3? on the gold surface were blocked due to antibody immobilization, which were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. The interaction of antigen with grafted antibody recognition layers was carried out by soaking the modified electrode into a phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 with various concentrations of antigen at 37 °C for 30 min. Further, an amplification strategy to use biotin conjugated antibody was introduced for improving the sensitivity of impedance measurements. Thus, the sensor based on this immobilization method exhibits a large linear dynamic range, from 5–400 μg/L for detection of Human IgG. The detection limit is about 0.5 μg/L.     

Preconcentration and Determination of a Phospholipid at a Surface Modified by Layer‐by‐Layer Assembly

Electrochemical oxidation of a phospholipid, phosphatidylcholine (PC), was accomplished at a 4‐aminothiophenol (ATP)‐modified gold electrode coated with a layer‐by‐layer assembly of an electrochemical catalyst (dirhodium phosphomolybdic acid), a trapping agent for PC (a cyclophane, CP, derivative, 1,4‐xylylene‐1,4‐phenylene‐diacetate), and a spacer (generation‐4 polyamidoamine dendrimer, PAMAM). The layer‐by‐layer assembly process and the trapping of PC was verified by quartz crystal microbalance measurements; Au|ATP|CP|PAMAM|CP trapped (1.5±0.4)×10^?9 mol cm^?2 of PC. The electrocatalytic oxidation of PC yielded a current that varied linearly with concentration over the range 1–50 μM; the R² value was 0.996.     

Influence of Ionic Strength on Electrochemical Responses of Myoglobin Loaded in Polysaccharide Layer‐by‐Layer Assembly Films

Two polysaccharides hydroxyethyl cellulose ethoxylate (HECE) and hyaluronic acid (HA) were assembled into {HECE/HA}_n layer‐by‐layer films on electrodes. The films were then immersed in myoglobin (Mb) solutions to load Mb into the films. The Mb‐loaded films showed a nearly reversible cyclic voltammetric (CV) peak pair at ?0.34 V vs. SCE in pH 7.0 buffers. The effect of ionic strength in Mb loading solutions and CV testing solutions on the CV response of the films was investigated. The direct electrochemistry of Mb loaded in the films could also be used to electrocatalyze the reduction of oxygen and H₂O₂ in solution.     

Fabrication of Self‐Assembled Tris(1,10‐phenanthroline) ruthenium/12‐Molybdophosphoric Acid Films with Bifunctional Electrocatalytic and Photoluminescent Properties

The thin films containing transition metal complex tris(1,10‐phenanthroline) ruthenium(II) Ru(phen)₃Cl₂ (abbr Ru(phen)₃, phen=1,10‐phenanthroline), and 12‐molybdophosphoric acid [PMo₁₂O₄₀]_3? (abbr PMo₁₂) were fabricated on quartz, silicon and ITO substrates by layer‐by‐layer (LBL) method. The LBL films were characterized by the UV‐vis spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The films can catalyze both the reduction of ClO , BrO , IO , and the oxidation of C₂O due to the presence of bifunctional composite, and the redox potentials depend on pH as a result of protonation. The photoluminescence of films were also investigated. The films exhibited photoluminescence arising from π*–t_2g ligand‐to‐metal transition of Ru(phen)₃.     

Flammability and combustion properties of ammonium polyphosphate-/poly(acrylic acid)- based layer by layer architectures deposited on cotton,polyester and their blends

Layer by layer architectures consisting of four layer repetitive unit (QL) based on poly(diallydimethylammonium chloride)/poly(acrylic acid)/poly(diallydimethylammonium chloride)/ammonium polyphosphate have been deposited on cotton, polyester and their blends in order to promote the formation of an aromatic and stable carbonaceous structure (char) during combustion. The LbL-treated fabrics have been subjected to flammability (reaction to flame application) and combustion (reaction to different external heat fluxes) tests. The coatings were able to remarkably enhance the char formation of each substrate just after 1QL deposition; furthermore, 5 and 10QL assemblies have favoured the formation of intumescent-like structures with further improvement of the final residue. As a consequence, the treated fabrics have shown a strong reduction of the flammability (afterglow and incandescent melt dripping suppression) and combustion (reduced heat released). Infrared spectroscopy has pointed out the aromatic nature of the residues left after the combustion.     

LBL分子沉积法制备葡萄糖氧化酶电极

采用以静电力为主的逐层分子交替沉积技术制备葡萄糖氧化酶（GOD）电极.通过带有正电荷的聚二甲基二烯丙基铵盐酸盐（PDDA）和带有负电荷的GOD交替沉积在修饰有3-巯基-1-丙基磺酸钠（MPS）的金电极表面.以甲酸二茂铁为电子媒介体,用循环伏安法检测GOD电极对葡萄糖的响应.结果表明,当GOD电极组装层数小于4时,电流响应随着层数的增加而增大,超过4层时电流响应减小.其中4层GOD修饰电极的线性范围为0.55～6.63 mmol•L－1,当pH为7.0时,响应最大.同时电极的检测重现性能良好,相对标准偏差为2.4％.     

Simultaneous spreading and evaporation: Recent developments

The recent progress in theoretical and experimental studies of simultaneous spreading and evaporation of liquid droplets on solid substrates is discussed for pure liquids including nanodroplets, nanosuspensions of inorganic particles (nanofluids) and surfactant solutions. Evaporation of both complete wetting and partial wetting liquids into a nonsaturated vapour atmosphere are considered. However, the main attention is paid to the case of partial wetting when the hysteresis of static contact angle takes place. In the case of complete wetting the spreading/evaporation process proceeds in two stages. A theory was suggested for this case and a good agreement with available experimental data was achieved. In the case of partial wetting the spreading/evaporation of a sessile droplet of pure liquid goes through four subsequent stages: (i) the initial stage, spreading, is relatively short (1–2 min) and therefore evaporation can be neglected during this stage; during the initial stage the contact angle reaches the value of advancing contact angle and the radius of the droplet base reaches its maximum value, (ii) the first stage of evaporation is characterised by the constant value of the radius of the droplet base; the value of the contact angle during the first stage decreases from static advancing to static receding contact angle; (iii) during the second stage of evaporation the contact angle remains constant and equal to its receding value, while the radius of the droplet base decreases; and (iv) at the third stage of evaporation both the contact angle and the radius of the droplet base decrease until the drop completely disappears. It has been shown theoretically and confirmed experimentally that during the first and second stages of evaporation the volume of droplet to power 2/3 decreases linearly with time. The universal dependence of the contact angle during the first stage and of the radius of the droplet base during the second stage on the reduced time has been derived theoretically and confirmed experimentally. The theory developed for pure liquids is applicable also to nanofluids, where a good agreement with the available experimental data has been found. However, in the case of evaporation of surfactant solutions the process deviates from the theoretical predictions for pure liquids at concentration below critical wetting concentration and is in agreement with the theoretical predictions at concentrations above it.     

Electrochemical Investigation of Myoglobin in Layer‐by‐Layer Films Assembled with Sulfonated‐β‐Cyclodextrin

In this work, myoglobin (Mb) and sulfonated‐β‐cyclodextrin (S‐CD) were assembled into {S‐CD/Mb}_n layer‐by‐layer films on solid substrates. In pH 7.0 buffers, the {S‐CD/Mb}_n films assembled on electrodes showed a pair of well‐defined and nearly reversible CV peaks at about ?0.35 V vs. SCE. The stable CV response of {S‐CD/Mb}_n films could be used to electrocatalyze reduction of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide in solution. For comparison, another modified β‐cyclodextrin, carboxyethyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (C‐CD), was also assembled with Mb into {C‐CD/Mb}_n multilayer films. The driving forces of the assembly were explored and discussed.     

Layer‐by‐layer assembly of readily detachable chitosan and poly(acrylic acid) polyelectrolyte multilayer films

Free‐standing layer‐by‐layer (LbL) assembled thin films have recently found utility in a broad range of applications. Previously reported free‐standing LbL films have generally required covalent modifications to improve aqueous stability and render these films suitable for biomedical applications. Here, we engineered chitosan and poly(acrylic acid) containing polyelectrolyte multilayer films, which are readily detached from hydrophilic silicon in aqueous conditions. These films demonstrate remarkable stability over 28 days in simulated in vivo conditions (pH 7.4, phosphate buffered saline at 37 °C) without the incorporation of any covalent crosslinking modifications. These films exhibit moduli (27–420 kPa) resembling that of many biological tissues including tendon, show high visible light transmittance of greater than 50%, and prevent fibronectin adsorption. The properties of this new detachable LbL film architecture indicate its promise for use in a variety of applications, particularly in medicine and biotechnology. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 127–131     

Hydrophobically modified polyelectrolyte for improved oxygen barrier in nanobrick wall multilayer thin films

The influence of attaching hydrophobic side groups to a polyelectrolyte, used for deposition of a multilayer oxygen gas barrier thin film, was investigated. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) was labeled with pyrene and deposited in “quadlayers” of PEI, poly(acrylic acid), PEI, and sodium montmorillonite clay using layer‐by‐layer assembly. Thin films made of three repeating quadlayers using unmodified PEI had much lower density (1.24 g/cm³) than pyrene‐labeled PEI‐based films (1.45 g/cm³), which is believed to be the result of greater chain coiling from the increased hydrophobicity of pendant pyrene groups. This increased density in pyrene‐labeled PEI layers allowed three quadlayers to match the oxygen transmission rate of a four quadlayer film made with unmodified PEI. This discovery provides an additional tool for tailoring the barrier behavior of clay‐based multilayer thin films that could prove useful for a variety of packaging applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 1153–1156