Metal nanocrystals incorporated within pH-responsive microgel particles

Cross-linked sterically stabilized latexes of approximately 250 nm diameter were synthesized by emulsion polymerization of 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate using a bifunctional oligo(propylene oxide)-based diacrylate cross-linker and a poly(ethylene oxide)-based macromonomer as the stabilizer at pH 9. These particles exhibit reversible swelling properties in water by adjusting the solution pH. At low pH, they exist as swollen microgels as a result of protonation of the tertiary amine units. Deswelling occurs above pH 7 [the effective pK(a) of poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)], leading to the formation of the original compact latex particles. The swollen microgels can be used as nanoreactors: efficient impregnation with Pt nanoparticles can be achieved by incorporating precursor platinum compounds, followed by metal reduction. Dynamic light scattering was used to compare two methods of Pt nanoparticle impregnation with respect to the size and stability of the final Pt-loaded microgel particles. In the first method, the H2PtCl6 precursor was added to hydrophobic latex particles at high pH, followed by metal reduction. In the second method, H2PtCl6 was added to hydrophilic swollen microgel particles at low pH, and then this metal salt was reduced in situ using NaBH4 and the pH was raised by the addition of base. Both the Pt salt-loaded (metalated) microgels and the final Pt nanoparticle-loaded microgels had well-defined structures that were independent of the synthesis route. Polymer-metal interactions were investigated by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, which confirmed that the Pt salt was completely reduced to zero-valent Pt. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction studies verified the formation of nanometer-sized Pt nanoparticles within these microgels, which can be used as recoverable colloidal catalyst supports for various organic reactions.     

pH-responsive aqueous foams stabilized by ionizable latex particles

We have designed a type of colloidal particle whose surface characteristics are sensitive to the pH of the aqueous phase in which they are dispersed. Particles of polystyrene latex stabilized by poly(acrylic acid) can act as stabilizers of aqueous foams by adsorbing at the air-water surface. Foams can be prepared and stabilized only at pH values below the isoelectric point where particles are either uncharged and flocculated or acquire a positive charge. At high pH where particles are anionic, no foam forms. This influence of pH on foamability and stability applies to both pH-dependent and pH-responsive systems.     

pH-responsive aqueous foams stabilized by hairy latex particles

Polystyrene (PS) latex particles carrying pH-responsive poly[2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDEA) hair (PDEA-PS particles) were synthesized by dispersion polymerization and characterized in terms of diameter, diameter distribution, morphology, chemical composition, surface chemistry, and pH-response using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental microanalysis, (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the laser diffraction method, and zeta potential measurements. The hairy particles can act as pH-responsive stabilizers of aqueous foams by adsorption at the air-water surface. Above pH 8.0, where particles have nonprotonated PDEA hair, which is relatively hydrophobic, particle-stabilized foams are stable for at least 1 month. Optical microscopy and SEM confirmed that flocculated PDEA-PS latex particles were adsorbed at the air-water interface and stabilized the aqueous foams. At pH 6.1 and 7.1, relatively stable foams can be prepared that remain stable for at least 24 h. SEM studies indicated that the PDEA-PS particles were adsorbed at the air-water interface as a monolayer at pH 6.1. At pH 5.1 and 3.1, where the particles have cationic water-soluble PDEA hairs with hydrophilic character, no foam was formed. Rapid defoamation can be induced by lowering the solution pH; the addition of acid caused the in situ protonation of 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate residues, which impart water-soluble hydrophilic character to the PDEA hair, and the PDEA-PS particles desorbed from the air-water interface. The foaming and defoaming cycles could be repeated at least five times.     

Liquid marbles prepared from pH-responsive sterically stabilized latex particles

Submicrometer-sized pH-responsive sterically stabilized polystyrene (PS) latex particles were synthesized by dispersion polymerization in isopropyl alcohol with a poly[2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate]- (PDEA-) based macroinitiator. These PDEA-PS latexes were extensively characterized with respect to their particle size distribution, morphology, chemical composition, and pH-responsive behavior. Millimeter- and centimeter-sized "liquid marbles" with aqueous volumes varying between 15 μL and 2.0 mL were readily prepared by rolling water droplets on the dried PDEA-PS latex powder. The larger liquid marbles adopted nonspherical shapes due to gravitational forces; analysis of this deformation enabled the surface tension to be estimated. Scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy studies indicated that flocs of the PDEA-PS particles were adsorbed at the surface of these water droplets, leading to stable liquid marbles. The relative mechanical integrity of the liquid marbles prepared from alkaline aqueous solution (pH 10) was higher than those prepared from acidic aqueous solution (pH 2) as judged by droplet roller experiments. These liquid marbles exhibited long-term stability (over 1 h) when transferred onto the surface of liquid water, provided that the solution pH of the subphase was above pH 8. In contrast, the use of acidic solutions led to immediate disintegration of these liquid marbles within 10 min, with dispersal of the PDEA-PS latex particles in the aqueous solution. Thus the critical minimum solution pH required for long-term liquid marble stability correlates closely with the known pK(a) value of 7.3 for the PDEA stabilizer chains. Stable liquid marbles were also successfully prepared from aqueous Gellan gum solution and glycerol.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel zwitterionic lipids with pH-responsive biophysical properties

We report the synthesis and biophysical characterization of a novel class of zwitterionic lipids (ZL) with head groups containing a 3° or 4° amine and carboxylate. ZL form stable liposomes that exhibit head group dependent, pH-responsive biophysical characteristics. These lipids may be suitable components for drug delivery applications due to their ease of synthesis and unique pH-dependent properties.     

Synthesis and characterization of pH-responsive diblock copolymers with cadaverine side groups

In this paper, we report the synthesis and characterization of a new pH-responsive diblock copolymer, methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly[N¹-(4-vinylbenzyl) pentane-1,5-diamine dihydrochloride] (mPEG-b-PVBPDA). The monomer with cadaverine side group (N¹-(4-vinylbenzyl)pentane-1,5-diamine dihydrochloride, VBPDA) and the macroinitiator (mPEG-ACVA) were synthesized, respectively, and mPEG-b-PVBPDA was then obtained by free radical polymerization. The structure and molecular weight of mPEG-b-PVBPDA was confirmed by FTIR, ¹H NMR, and GPC-MALLS measurements. At low pH, it is hydrophilic due to the protonation of the amine groups. With increasing pH, deprotonation occurs, and the hydrophobicity of PVBPDA block increases. This molecular feature leads to interesting aggregation behavior of mPEG-b-PVBPDA in aqueous solutions at different pH as revealed by DLS measurements, TEM observations, and fluorescence spectrometry. This polymer was further subjected to gene delivery evaluations, and promising DNA transfection capacity has been found.     

pH-responsive core-shell particles and hollow spheres attained by macromolecular self-assembly

According to our "block-copolymer-free" strategy for self-assembly of polymers, noncovalently connected micelles (NCCM) with poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) as the core and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as the shell in aqueous solutions were attained due to specific interactions between the component polymers. The micellar structure was then locked in by the reaction of PAA with diamine. Afterward, hollow spheres based on PAA network were obtained by either core degradation with lipase or core dissolution with dimethylformamide of the cross-linked micelles. The cavitation process was monitored by dynamic light scattering, which indicated a mass decrease and size expansion. The hollow structure is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy observations. The resultant hollow spheres are pH- and salt-responsive: there is a substantial volume increase when pH changes from acid to base, and vice versa. The volume change takes place dramatically over the pH-range from 5.8 to 7.5. Furthermore, this volume-pH-dependence is found to be completely reversible provided the effect of ionic strength is excluded. The volume change can be adjusted by changing the shell thickness and the cross-linking degree of the hollow spheres. The salt effect on the hollow sphere size depends on pH: with increasing salt concentration the size shows an increase, a decrease, and a little change in acidic, basic, and neutral media, respectively.     

Synthesis and swelling behavior of pH-responsive polybase brushes

We synthesize polybase brushes and investigate their swelling behavior. Poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)) (PDMAEMA) brushes are prepared by the "grafting from" method using surface-initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization to obtain dense brushes with relatively monodisperse chains (PDI = 1.35). In situ quaternization reaction can be performed to obtain poly(2-(trimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)) (PTMAEMA) brushes. We determine the swollen thickness of the brushes using ellipsometry and neutron reflectivity techniques. Brushes are submitted to different solvent conditions to be investigated as neutral brushes and weak and strong polyelectrolyte brushes. The swelling of the brushes is systematically compared to scaling models. It should be pointed out that the scaling analysis of different types of brushes (neutral polymer and weak and strong polyelectrolyte brushes) is performed with identical samples. The scaling behavior of the PDMAEMA brush in methanol and the PTMAEMA brush in water is in good agreement with the predicted scaling laws for a neutral polymer brush in a good solvent and a polyelectrolyte brush in the osmotic regime. The salt-induced contraction of the quaternized brush is observed for high salt concentration, in agreement with the predicted transition between the regimes of the osmotic brush and the salted brush. From the crossover concentration, we calculate the effective charge ratio of the brush following the Manning counterion condensation. We also use PDMAEMA brushes as pH-responsive polybase brushes. The swelling behavior of the polybase brush is intermediate with respect to the behavior of the neutral polymer brush in a good solvent and the behavior of the quenched polyelectrolyte brush, as expected. The effective charge ratio of the PDMAEMA brush is determined as a function of pH using the scaling law of the polyelectrolyte brush in the osmotic regime.     

Synthesis of pH-responsive mesoporous silica nanotubes for controlled release

A novel mesoporous silica tubes (MMT) which possessed pH-sensitive controlled release ability had been fabricated and synthesized by using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as template. The sample replicated the morphologies of the CNTs successfully. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of the materials can reach 1,017 m² g^?1 with the pore size of 3.8 nm. As a model drug, metformin HCl was applied to study the drug loading and control release ability of the materials. MMT possesses higher drug loading ratio (36 %) than that of MCM-41 (27.5 %). The release kinetics were studied in simulated gastric fluid (pH = 1.2) and in simulated proximal intestine fluid (pH = 7. 4), respectively. The result shows that the delivery systems exhibit well pH-sensitive control release ability and the as-synthesized materials have potential application in biomedical field.     

Cluster shape anisotropy in irreversibly aggregating particulate systems

The results for cluster shape anisotropy over a broad range (10)(-3)-10(-1)) of monomer volume fractions, fv values, are presented for both two- (2d) and three-dimensional (3d) simulations of diffusion-limited (DLCA), ballistic-limited (BLCA), and reaction-limited (RLCA) cluster-cluster aggregation classes. We find that all three aggregation classes have different dilute-limit shape anisotropies, with the diffusion-limited model having the largest value of anisotropy and the reaction-limited model having the smallest. The simulation result for the cluster shape anisotropy for each of the three aggregation classes is slightly less than the corresponding prediction of the hierarchial model. In addition, we find excellent agreement between the 2d DLCA simulation results and experimental measurements of shape anisotropy. At late times, shape anisotropy decreases from the dilute-limit value.     

pH响应性ABC型共聚物的合成与溶液自组装

用单氨基聚乙二醇(m PEG-NH2)引发ε-三氟乙酰基-L-赖氨酸-N-羧酸酐(Lys(TFA)-NCA)开环聚合,得到了聚乙二醇-b-聚(ε-三氟乙酰基-L-赖氨酸)(PEG-b-PTLL)两嵌段共聚物.将PTLL链段末端的NH2与2-溴异丁酰溴反应得到了大分子引发剂,通过原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)的方法分别分别引发苯乙烯(St)和N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(NIPAM)聚合,制备了结构明确、聚合度可控的聚乙二醇-b-聚(ε-三氟乙酰基-L-赖氨酸)-b-聚苯乙烯(PEG-b-PTLL-b-PS)和聚乙二醇-b-聚(ε-三氟乙酰基-L-赖氨酸)-b-聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)(PEG-b-PTLL-b-PNIPAM)三嵌段杂化共聚肽.将PEG-b-PTLL-b-PNIPAM去保护后得到温度和p H响应三嵌段共聚物;将PEG-b-PTLL-b-PS去保护后得到p H响应的两亲性三嵌段共聚物.研究了PEG45-b-PLL106-b-PS20在混合溶剂H2O/DMF中的p H诱导胶束化行为.TEM结果表明,当水溶液p H小于PLL的p Ka时,PEG45-bPLL106-b-PS20形成球状胶束,当水溶液p H大于PLL的p Ka时,PLL转变成α-螺旋,PEG45-b-PLL106-b-PS20组装成盘状胶束.     

Synthesis of an azobenzene-linker-conjugate with tetrahedrical shape

The synthesis of a tripodal linker system with an adamantane core unit and an azobenzene headgroup is reported for the preparation of photochromic SAMs on gold surfaces. For the final Sonogashira-coupling of the ethynylene-linker precursor 4 with the p-iodo substituted azobenzene 6 model studies were required to optimize the coupling step in the presence of a diazene functionality. The photochromic properties of the photoswitch-linker-conjugate 1 were investigated in solution, and compared to the behavior of the precursor 6.     

原子转移自由基法一锅合成具有pH响应性的新型糖聚合物

本文利用原子转移自由基聚合法(ATRP),通过连续投料法在室温下一步合成了具有pH响应性质的糖聚合物,并且简单地通过控制甲基丙烯酸-2-二甲氨基乙酯(DMAEMA)、甲基丙烯酸-2-二乙氨基乙酯(DEAEMA)单体投料比即实现了对糖聚合物胶束的临界pH转变点在人体生理pH值附近的调节,这对于设计新型的药物控释系统具有重要意义.此外,糖聚合物中的P(DMAEMA-co-DEAEMA)嵌段在一定条件下为带正电荷的聚电解质.因此,本文中合成的糖聚合物不但可以用作传统憎水药物的载体,还可望成为带有负电荷的新型药物例如单链DNA(ssDNA) 等的载体.     

The size and shape of silica particles

Negatively charged silica particles were investigated at pH 10.0. They were found to be rod-shaped (cylinder) with a diameter of 5–5.5 nm and a full length of 44–67 nm depending on the rod model used. Moreover, the particles were found to be stable against aggregation in the region 0.4–50 mM NaCl. Received: 2 December 1998 Accepted in revised form: 2 February 1999     

肿瘤靶向pH响应药物递送-成像体系的合成与控制释放研究

对聚烯丙基胺修饰合成了一种苯硼酸靶向的聚合物配体:聚烯丙基胺/马来酸酐-聚乙二醇-硫辛酸-苯硼酸(PAH/SA-PEG-LA-PBA),共轭作用在ZnO、CdTe/CdS量子点表面,连接抗癌药物阿霉素后形成苯硼酸靶向-示踪诊疗一体体系:ZnO、CdTe/CdS@(PAH/SA-PEG-LA-PBA)-DOX(量子点的荧光可示踪/显像药物递送过程),核磁共振(~1H-NMR)测试表明成功合成了(PAH/SA-PEG-LA-PBA)聚合物,透射电镜(TEM)测得该体系呈规整球形且分布均匀,平均粒径约30 nm;紫外-可见光谱(UV-Vis)和荧光谱图显示该体系具有ZnO、CdTe/CdS量子点的吸收峰,还出现了较强的荧光发射峰,由此说明了苯硼酸靶向的诊疗示踪一体体系的成功制得,负载阿霉素的纳米粒子的载药量为80%.体外释放研究表明,pH 5.0时药物释放速度比pH 7.4时快,48 h后累计释放率达87.1%.因此,该pH响应性纳米颗粒作为抗癌药物载体具有潜在的应用价值.     

One-pot facile synthesis of Janus particles with tailored shape and functionality

This communication describes a novel strategy for the synthesis of silica Janus particles with controlled shape and functionality using a facile wet-chemical approach.     

Synthesis of cyclopentyloxy terphenyl liquid crystals with negative dielectric anisotropy

Liquid crystalline materials possessing negative dielectric anisotropy (Δε) have attracted considerable attention because they can be used to formulate eutectic mixture for several display applications. The negative Δε can be achieved by introducing a lateral polar substituent onto the mesogen core of a liquid crystalline material, and fluorine atoms are usually used because of the small size and high electronegativity. 2,3-ortho-Difluoro substituent liquid crystals exhibit stable and profound physical properties such as the low viscosity, strong negative Δε, and high solubility. To avoid the decrease of the mesophase range, 2,3-ortho-difluorophenyl is often placed next to the terminal chain. In this paper, we have synthesised a new series of 2,3-ortho-difluoroterphenyl liquid crystals with a negative dielectric anisotropy. Ether oxygen is introduced to the structure because it can further increase the lateral dipole moment. 3-Alkylcyclopentane end group decreases both the melting point and the viscosity, which makes it an appropriate substituent for negative Δε 2,3-ortho-difluoroterphenyl liquid crystals. The mesomorphic properties as well as the optical anisotropies of the synthesised liquid crystals are discussed in this paper. All compounds in the series are found to possess highly negative dielectric anisotropy, wide mesophase ranges; therefore, they have a great potential to formulate eutectic mixture for liquid crystal displays.     

Nanoparticle shape anisotropy dictates the collective behavior of surface-bound ligands

We report on the modification of the properties of surface-confined ligands in nanoparticle systems through the introduction of shape anisotropy. Specifically, triangular gold nanoprisms, densely functionalized with oligonucleotide ligands, hybridize to complementary particles with an affinity that is several million times higher than that of spherical nanoparticle conjugates functionalized with the same amount of DNA. In addition, they exhibit association rates that are 2 orders of magnitude greater than those of their spherical counterparts. This phenomenon stems from the ability of the flat, extended facets of nonspherical nanoparticles to (1) support more numerous ligand interactions through greater surface contact with complementary particles, (2) increase the effective local concentration of terminal DNA nucleotides that mediate hybridization, and (3) relieve the conformational stresses imposed on nanoparticle-bound ligands participating in interactions between curved surfaces. Finally, these same trends are observed for the pH-mediated association of nanoparticles functionalized with carboxylate ligands, demonstrating the generality of these findings.     

Symmetric and asymmetric adsorption of pH-responsive gold nanoparticles onto microgel particles and dispersion characterisation

The interaction between carboxylic acid-stabilised gold nanoparticles (AuNP) and pH-responsive microgels is shown. The microgel particles are a copolymer of N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide (DMAPMA) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM). The microgel properties are presented by their hydrodynamic diameter and electrophoretic mobility in response to pH. These microgel particles are pH-responsive under neutral conditions decreasing in diameter beyond pH 7. The dispersion characteristics of AuNP adsorbed onto the microgel network are shown with respect to adsorbed amount and the pH-responsive properties of the AuNP. This data is presented between pH 3 and 6 where the microgel properties remain constant. Asymmetric adsorption of AuNP onto poly(DMAPMA-co-NIPAM) microgels is achieved by adsorption of nanoparticles, from the aqueous phase, onto microgel-stabilised oil-in-water emulsions. These asymmetrically modified microgels display very different dispersion behaviour, in response to pH, due to their dipolar nature.     

Synthesis and aqueous solution properties of sterically stabilized pH-responsive polyampholyte microgels

Emulsion copolymerization of poly(methacrylic acid) and poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PMAA/PDEA) yielded pH-responsive polyampholyte microgels of 200-300 nm in diameter. These microgels showed enhanced hydrophilic behavior in aqueous medium at low and high pH, but formed large aggregates of approximately 2500 nm at intermediate pH. To achieve colloidal stability at intermediate pH, a second batch of microgels of identical monomer composition were synthesized, where monomethoxy-capped poly(ethylene glycol)methacrylate (PEGMA) was grafted onto the surface of these particles. Dynamic light-scattering measurements showed that the hydrodynamic radius, Rh, of sterically stabilized microgels was approximately 100 nm at intermediate pH and increased to 120 and 200 nm at pH 2 and 10, respectively. Between pH 4 and 6, these microgels possessed mobility close to zero and a negative second virial coefficient, A2, due to overall charge neutralization near the isoelectric pH. From the Rh, mobility, and A2, cross-linked MAA-DEA microgels with and without PEGMA retained their polyampholytic properties in solution. By varying the composition of MAA and DEA in the microgel, it is possible to vary the isoelectric point of the colloidal particles. These new microgels are being explored for use in the delivery of DNA and proteins.