Polyelectrolyte networks: elasticity,swelling, and the violation of the Flory-Rehner Hypothesis

This paper discusses the elastic behaviour of polyelectrolyte networks. The deformation behaviour of single polyelectrolyte chains is discussed. It is shown that a strong coupling between interactions and chain elasticity exists. The theory of the complete crosslinked networks shows that the Flory-Rehner Hypothesis (FRH) does not hold. The modulus contains contributions from the classical rubber elasticity and from the electrostatic interactions. The equilibrium degree of swelling is estimated by the assumption of a c1-network.     

Concentration fluctuations in polymer gel investigated by neutron scattering: static inhomogeneity in swollen gel

By using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and neutron spin echo (NSE), we have quantitatively investigated the static inhomogeneity in poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide) gel (PNIPA) in microscopic length scales of 0.015相似文献   

Effect of charge inhomogeneity and mobility on colloid aggregation

The aggregation of inhomogeneously charged colloids with the same average charge is analyzed using Monte Carlo simulations. We find aggregation of colloids for sizes in the range 10-200 nm, which is similar to the range in which aggregation is observed in several experiments. The attraction arises from the strongly correlated electrostatic interactions associated with the increase in the counterion density in the region between the particles; this effect is enhanced by the discreteness and mobility of the surface charges. Larger colloids attract more strongly when their surface charges are discrete. We study the aggregation as functions of the surface charge density, counterion valence, and volume fraction.     

Polyelectrolyte effects on the charge transfer complex formation between FMN and indole derivatives

The complex formation of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) with tryptamine, indoleacetate, and trytophan was investigated in the presence of polyelectrolytes; that is, sodium polyethylene sulfonate (NaPES), sodium polystyrene sulfonate (NaPSS), and a copolymer of diethyldiallylammonium chloride and sulfur dioxide (DECS). The complexation of FMN and tryptamine was strongly retarded by the macrocations and macroanions, whereas that of FMN and indoleacetate was enhanced by the macrocations. Furthermore, the equilibrium constants of FMN-tryptophan complex were insensitive to the addition of polyelectrolytes. These results suggest that the complexation of FMN was strongly influenced by the electrostatic interactions between the reactant ions and macroions, in addition to those between the reactant ions, in conformity with the secondary salt effect.     

Current trends and future challenges in the experimental, theoretical and computational analysis of intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) transitions

Mixed-valence chemistry has a long and rich history which is characterised by a strong interplay of experimental, theoretical and computational studies. The intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) transitions generated in dinuclear mixed-valence species (particularly of ruthenium and osmium) have received considerable attention in this context, as they provide a powerful and sensitive probe of the factors which govern electronic delocalisation and the activation barrier to intramolecular electron transfer. This tutorial review discusses classical, semi-classical and quantum mechanical theoretical treatments which have been developed over the past 35 years for the analysis of IVCT absorption bands. Particular attention is drawn to the applicability of these models for the analysis of mixed-valence complexes which lie between the fully localised (Class II) and delocalised (Class III) limits in the "localised-to-delocalised" (Class II-III) regime. A clear understanding of the complex interplay of inter- and intramolecular factors which influence the IVCT process is crucial for the design of experimental studies to probe the localised-to-delocalised regime and in guidance of the development of appropriate theoretical models.     

Melting and swelling behaviors of UV-irradiated gelatin gel microcapsules

Gelatin gel microcapsules with a narrow size distribution have been prepared for the use of regenerative therapy by means of SPG (Shirasu porous glass) emulsification and UV-induced cross linking, and the melting and swelling behaviors of the gel membrane of the microcapsules were observed. The gel melting temperature was proportional to the 2/3 power of UV irradiation time t for tor=1 h. The average cross-sectional area of the microcapsules that remains insoluble normalized by that at 25 degrees C monotonically increased with temperature for tor=1 h. Repeated quenching of the gel microcapsules between two temperatures (25 and 40 degrees C) induced a reversible size change, which was attributed to the helix-coil transition of collagen molecules locally. From a theoretical consideration of gel particles, the observed gel melting behavior was explained well, and the scaled volume of the microcapsules was expressed as a function of scaled temperature with four fitting parameters for t相似文献   

Influence of the counterion size on swelling and collapse of polyelectrolyte gel

A theory that predicts the effect of the counterion size on the swelling and collapse of a weakly charged polyelectrolyte gel was developed. In addition to excluded-volume interactions between monomer units of the gel, the theory involves the counterion-monomer unit and counterion-counterion interactions in terms of the virial approximation. The character of interactions between different units in the system varies from repulsion to attraction depending on the type of solvent, counterion, and dielectric permittivity of the solvent. For solvents with a low permittivity, the effect of condensation of counterions resulting in the formation of ion pairs is taken into account.     

Optical charge transfer transitions in supramolecular fullerene and porphyrin compounds

By the DFT method with the planar wave basis set and in the PAW approximation the geometric and electronic structures of four supramolecular compounds of porphyrin and fullerene molecules in the crystalline state are performed: H₂TPP·C₆₀·3 toluene, H₂T_pivPP·C₆₀, H₂T_3,5-dimethylPP·C₇₀·4 toluene, and NiT_4-methylPP·2C₇₀·2 toluene. The geometry is optimized using the PBE functional and the Grimme DFT-D2 dispersion interaction correction. The electronic structure and absorbance spectra are calculated using the HSE functional. It is shown that the H₂TPP·C₆₀·3 toluene structure having a sufficiently wide absorbance wavelength range, which results in a photoinduced electron transition from the higher occupied states formed by porphyrin molecules to the lower unoccupied states formed by fullerene molecules, is most promising for the design of photogalvanic elements.     

Thermodynamic aspects of conformational transitions in synthetic polypeptides

The helix-coil transition of organic solvent soluble homopolypeptides has been discussed from a largely thermodynamic view-point. The present state and the future prospects are considered.

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Zusammenfassung Der Helix-Ungeordnete Übergang von in organischen Lösungsmitteln löslichen Homopolypeptiden wurde aus einem breiten Gesichtspunkt diskutiert, gegenwärtige Lage und zukünftige Entwicklungsaussichten erörtert.

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R'esumé On a discuté d'une pointe de vue thermodynamique large la transition helix—non helix des homopolypeptides solubles dans des solvants organiques et considéré la situation actuelle ainsi que les perspectives futures.

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The present paper was supported by NSF Grant GB 33484.     

Novel swelling/shrinking behaviors of glucose-binding hydrogels and their potential use in a microfluidic insulin delivery system

Hydrogels based on lightly crosslinked poly(methacrylamidophenylboronic acid-co-acylamide) swell monototically at pH 7.4 with exposure to increasing concentrations of glucose. At pH 10 these hydrogels first shrink and then reswell with increasing glucose concentration. A mechanism for these disctinct behaviors is proposed and preliminary results validating this mechanism are presented. A simple microfabricated glucose-sensitive valve based on this hydrogel is described.     

Double proton transfer and charge transfer transitions in hydrogen-bonded systems: formic acid dimer

The barriers for double proton transfer in the ground and lowest Π-Π^* and Π-Π^* excited states of the formic acid dimer have been calculated within a modified INDO scheme. Analysis of the nature of the excited electronic states, with emphasis on charge-transfer transitions, has been performed. The results indicate a lower barrier in the excited Π-Π^* states than in the ground state.     

The effect of solvent composition on swelling and shrinking properties of poly(acrylamide-co-itaconic acid) hydrogels

The peculiarities of the equilibrium swelling ratio and swelling-shrinking kinetics of polyelectrolyte copolymeric hydrogels consisting of acrylamide and itaconic acid (AAm/IA) have been studied in water/nonsolvent (acetone, methanol, ethanol and 1-butanol) mixtures as a function of solvent composition and IA content in the hydrogel. The phase transition of these hydrogels was generated by changing the solvent composition by progressive substitution of water by the nonsolvent. For all P(AAm/IA) hydrogels, the form of the shrinking curves was determined to be strongly dependent on the type of the nonsolvent used. The rate of shrinking of these hydrogels increased in the order 1-butanol < ethanol < methanol < acetone.     

Modeling of swelling by the fast transient fluorescence technique in a polymeric gel

The time‐resolved, fast transient fluorescence technique, which uses a strobe master system, was employed for studying the swelling of a disc‐shaped poly(methyl methacrylate) gel. The disc‐shaped gel was prepared by free‐radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. Pyrene (Py) was introduced as a fluorescence probe during polymerization. After this gel was dried, swelling and slow‐release experiments were performed in chloroform at room temperature. Lifetimes of Py were measured during in situ swelling and slow‐release experiments. An equation was derived for low‐quenching efficiencies to interpret the behavior of lifetimes in and out of the gel during swelling. Py lifetimes in the gel decreased as swelling proceeded, but Py lifetimes out of the gel stayed constant during the slow‐release experiments. The Li–Tanaka equation was used to determine the cooperative and mutual diffusion coefficients, which were around 10⁻⁵ and 10⁻⁷ cm²s⁻¹, respectively. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 739–746, 2000     

Chemical oscillation induced periodic swelling and shrinking of a polymeric multilayer investigated with a quartz crystal microbalance

Poly(acrylic acid- co-3-azidopropyl acrylate) and poly(acrylic acid- co-propargyl acrylate) have been alternately fabricated into a multilayer via the click reaction. The layer-by-layer deposition was monitored with a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) in real time. The response of the multilayer under continuous flow of a bromate-sulfite-ferrocyanide solution with pH oscillation has also been investigated by use of QCM-D. As the pH oscillates between 3.1 and 6.6, either the frequency shift (Delta f) or the dissipation shift (Delta D) periodically varies with a constant amplitude, clearly indicating that the multilayer swells and shrinks oscillatedly. The changes of thickness, shear viscosity, and elastic shear modulus further indicate the oscillation.     

The gel swelling properties of alginate fibers and their applications in wound management

Calcium alginate fibers have a novel gel‐forming capability in that, upon the ion exchange between sodium ions in the contact solution and calcium ions in the fiber, the fiber slowly transforms into a fibrous gel. This paper reviews the principles of the gel‐forming process for alginate fibers and analyzed the gelling behavior of various types of alginate fibers. The absorption characteristics of alginate wound dressings were analyzed and it was found that alginate wound dressings absorb a large quantity of liquid into the fiber structure, in addition to those held between the fibers in the textile structure. This gives rise to the unique gel blocking properties of alginate wound dressings. In addition, alginate wound dressings also have novel hemostatic and antimicrobial properties as well as the ability to promote wound healing. They are now widely used in the management of highly exuding wounds such as leg ulcers, pressure sores, and surgical wounds. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Amphiphilic urethane acrylate hydrogels having heterophasic gel structure: swelling behaviors and mechanical properties

 Amphiphilic urethane acrylate hydrogels containing ionic group (dimethylopropionic acid, DMPA) were prepared by varying the molecular weight of the soft segment (polyether type, PTMG) and type of diisocyanate, and their swelling behaviors and mechanical properties were examined. They showed amphiphilic property due to the hydrophilic ionic groups and hydrophobic polyethers comprising the urethane acrylate network. Heterophasic gel structure could be found for the hydrogels prepared in water, but not for the hydrogels in organic solvent (1,4-dioxane), through scanning electron microscopy. Because of this heterophasic gel structure, they were able to take in a large amount of water as well. The hydrophobic interaction generated by the polyether soft segments between urethane acrylate network chains decreased the degree of swelling, however, increased reversibly the tensile strengths at equilibrium swelling state. MDI-based hydrogel showed low swelling ratio and high tensile strength because of its ordered hard domain structure. These amphiphilic urethane acrylate hydrogels showed salt- and pH-dependent swelling behaviors. Received: 26 September 1997 Accepted: 24 December 1997     

Critical fluctuations and static inhomogeneities in polymer gel volume phase transitions

Thermoresponsive polymer gels exhibit pronounced swelling and deswelling upon changes in temperature, accompanied by dynamic concentration fluctuations that have been interpreted as critical opalescence. These fluctuations span lengthscales similar to that of static structures in the gels, such as the gel polymer‐network meshsize (1–10 nm) and static polymer‐network crosslinking inhomogeneities (10–1000 nm). To systematically investigate this overlay, we use droplet‐based microfluidics and fabricate submillimeter‐sized gel particles with varying static heterogeneity, as revealed on a molecular scale by proton NMR. When these microgels are probed by small‐angle neutron scattering, the detection of dynamic fluctuations during the volume phase transitions is strongly perturbed by the co‐existing static inhomogeneity. Depending of the type of data analysis employed, the temperature‐dependent evolution of the correlation length associated to the dynamic fluctuations does or does not agree with predictions by the critical scaling theory. Only the most homogeneous sample of this study, prepared by controlled polymer crosslinking in droplet microfluidics, shows a diverging correlation length in agreement to the critical scaling theory independent of the specific approach of data analysis. These findings suggest that care must be taken about polymer‐network heterogeneity when gel volume phase transitions are evaluated as critical phenomena. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 1112–1122     

Molecular thermodynamics for swelling of a mesoscopic ionomer gel in 1 : 1 salt solutions

For a microphase-separated diblock copolymer ionic gel swollen in salt solution, a molecular-thermodynamic model is based on the self-consistent field theory in the limit of strongly segregated copolymer subchains. The geometry of microdomains is described using the Milner generic wedge construction neglecting the packing frustration. A geometry-dependent generalized analytical solution for the linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation is obtained. This generalized solution not only reduces to those known previously for planar, cylindrical and spherical geometries, but is also applicable to saddle-like structures. Thermodynamic functions are expressed analytically for gels of lamellar, bicontinuous, cylindrical and spherical morphologies. Molecules are characterized by chain composition, length, rigidity, degree of ionization, and by effective polymer-polymer and polymer-solvent interaction parameters. The model predicts equilibrium solvent uptakes and the equilibrium microdomain spacing for gels swollen in salt solutions. Results are given for details of the gel structure: distribution of mobile ions and polymer segments, and the electric potential across microdomains. Apart from effects obtained by coupling the classical Flory-Rehner theory with Donnan equilibria, viz. increased swelling with polyelectrolyte charge and shrinking of gel upon addition of salt, the model predicts the effects of microphase morphology on swelling.     

Static and dynamic aspects of DNA charge transfer: a theoretical perspective

In this work, we approach the impact of dynamic and static disorder on DNA charge transfer from a theoretical and numerical perspective. Disordered or defect geometries are either realized via molecular dynamics simulations using a classical force field or by experimentally determined DNA bulge structures. We apply a chemically specific, atomically resolved extended Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model to compute the energy parameters relevant to DNA charge transfer. For both models studied here, the effective donor-acceptor couplings--and hence the charge transfer rates--significantly depend upon the geometry. Dynamic disorder leads to a correlation time in this quantity of the order of 30 fs, and the transfer rates universally exhibit a broad, yet well-defined, exponential distribution. For DNA bulges, the angle characterizing the defect controls the charge transfer efficiency. The results are discussed and extensively compared to experimental findings and other calculations.