Microdevice-based measurements of diffusion and dispersion in cross-linked and linear polyacrylamide DNA sequencing gels

We use microfabricated gel electrophoresis devices incorporating integrated on-chip electrodes, heaters, and temperature sensors to measure diffusion and dispersion of single-stranded DNA fragments in cross-linked and uncross-linked polyacrylamide gels. The microdevice format allows a complete set of diffusion and dispersion data to be collected in approximately one hour. These results are compared with corresponding data obtained in a macroscale DNA sequencer, and the effects of gel composition and initiation chemistry are explored. Although the diffusion and dispersion data exhibit similar qualitative trends both on chip and on the macroscale, the magnitudes of the coefficients measured in the microdevice are somewhat higher. This discrepancy is likely due to altered polymerization kinetics arising as a consequence of using a UV-initiated polymerization chemistry to cast the on-chip gels as opposed to the standard chemical polymerization employed on the macroscale. We also find that reductions in the magnitudes of diffusion and dispersion coefficients are achieved at higher polymer concentrations and at operating temperatures in the vicinity of 50 degrees C. Finally, we find that cross-linked polyacrylamide gels yield significantly lower diffusion and dispersion coefficients than linear polyacrylamide. These findings can be used to identify rational strategies to improve separation performance in both micro- and macroscale gel electrophoresis systems.     

Characterization of the pore structure of aqueous three-dimensional polyacrylamide gels with a novel cross-linker

The properties of polyacrylamide hydrogels synthesized with a novel hexafunctional (three double bonds) cross-linker, hexahydro-1,3,5-triacryloyl-s-triazine (1a), was evaluated and compared to the currently used tetrafunctional (two double bonds) cross-linker N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (Bis). A variety of characterization techniques that require very little sample preparation and data handling were chosen and include polymerization temperature profiles and conversions, water swelling, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), Gradiflow electrophoretic separation process and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The alternative use of 1a compared to Bis results in polyacrylamide gels with larger pore sizes and a broad pore size distribution.     

2,2′-二邻甲氧基苯基-4,4′,5,5′-四苯基-1,2′-二咪唑复合光引发体系的光聚合动力学研究

本文研究了对2,2′-二邻甲氧基苯基-4,4′,5,5′-四苯基-1,2′-二咪唑(BMOIM)复合光引发体系引发聚合动力学过程.采用紫外光谱仪对引发剂、供氢体、增感剂在紫外区的吸收谱图进行了表征.利用实时红外光谱仪对复合光引发体系引发聚合动力学过程进行实时监测,考察了不同光强、引发剂浓度以及不同官能度单体对反应速率及最终双键转化率的影响.结果表明,在引发剂浓度为0.6%(质量分数)时,20s内双键转换率达到96%,随着引发剂浓度的提高,聚合速率增大.聚合速率以及最终双键转化率随着光强增大而增大;双官能团单体的最终双键转化率比三官能团单体的最终双键转化率要高.     

Monitoring photopolymerization of trimethylolpropane triacrylate using a quartz crystal resonator

The UV photopolymerization of trimethylolpropane triacrylate with a photoinitiator of 2‐ethylanthraquinone is monitored using the variation of resonant resistance of a quartz crystal resonator to investigate the polymerization kinetics. The roles of initiator concentration and irradiation time are experimentally examined, and it is found that two different kinetics are involved in the photopolymerization. The initiator radicals produced by the UV light proceed the polymerization as long as the monomer remains even after the UV illumination has stopped. The experimental results indicate that the photopolymerization has the first‐order kinetics at the first‐ and the zeroth‐order kinetics followed. With the high concentration of initiator the polymerization occurs in the first‐order kinetics only, and so does with long irradiation time. The polymerization constants of the first and zeroth‐order kinetics are estimated from monitoring monomer amounts at different polymerization conditions. The photopolymerization is characterized with the FTIR spectroscopy. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Nanotube-grafted polyacrylamide hydrogels for electrophoretic protein separation

Multiwalled carbon nanotube-modified polyacrylamide gels have been employed for the electrophoretic separation of proteins. Two approaches are compared in this investigation, one using nanotubes only as fillers inside the gel matrix and the other using nanotubes as catalyst for polymerization of acrylamide. In both the cases, polymerization of acryl-amide/bisacrylamide has been carried out in situ in the presence of nanotubes dispersed in the gel buffer containing monomer and cross-linker. In the former case, initiator and catalyst have been added after ultrasonication of nanotubes in the gel buffer mixture where the nanotubes play the role of filler. On the other hand, the second approach precludes use of catalyst and involves addition of initiator alone during ultrasonication of nanotubes in the gel buffer containing monomer and cross-linker, which leads to the formation of nanotube-grafted gel after 25 min. When nanotubes are used as a catalyst instead of N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine, pore size distribution of the gel matrix and linearity of molecular weight calibration plots are found to be improved. In addition, other issues associated with the use of an external catalyst like handling the moisture-sensitive and corrosive reagent and associated irreproducibility are addressed in this approach.     

An investigation of patterning anisotropic gels for switchable recordings

A new kind of anisotropic gel has been produced by photopolymerization of liquid crystal (LC) mixtures composed of monoacrylates, diacrylates and non-reactive conventional LC molecules. After polymerization, lightly cross-linked anisotropic polymer networks swollen by the non-reactive molecules are produced. These systems showed a gel-point associated with the onset of the formation of a three dimensional network. Above this point, a rapid increase in the threshold voltage was observed. Various factors, such as the photoinitiator concentration and the monoacrylate and diacrylate concentrations, as well as the intensity of the light used for the polymerization, have a strong influence on the gel-point. The switching kinetics of the materials are also strongly influenced by the aforementioned parameters. Two relaxation processes were found to occur within the gels above the gel-point. Using dielectric spectroscopy, this behaviour was found to be associated with an inhomogeneous phase structure within the gels. Patterned irradiation was used to produce regions with different threshold voltages for switching. In this way, patterns were created in the gels, which become visible, by the application of an electric field. It was demonstrated that this technique can be used to produce switchable gratings, Fresnel lenses, and photographs.     

An investigation of patterning anisotropic gels for switchable recordings

A new kind of anisotropic gel has been produced by photopolymerization of liquid crystal (LC) mixtures composed of monoacrylates, diacrylates and non-reactive conventional LC molecules. After polymerization, lightly cross-linked anisotropic polymer networks swollen by the non-reactive molecules are produced. These systems showed a gel-point associated with the onset of the formation of a three dimensional network. Above this point, a rapid increase in the threshold voltage was observed. Various factors, such as the photoinitiator concentration and the monoacrylate and diacrylate concentrations, as well as the intensity of the light used for the polymerization, have a strong influence on the gel-point. The switching kinetics of the materials are also strongly influenced by the aforementioned parameters. Two relaxation processes were found to occur within the gels above the gel-point. Using dielectric spectroscopy, this behaviour was found to be associated with an inhomogeneous phase structure within the gels. Patterned irradiation was used to produce regions with different threshold voltages for switching. In this way, patterns were created in the gels, which become visible, by the application of an electric field. It was demonstrated that this technique can be used to produce switchable gratings, Fresnel lenses, and photographs.     

Sesamin as a co-initiator for UV photopolymerization

Sesamin, a nature compound from sesame seed, which contains two cyclic acetal structures, was used as a co-initiator for UV polymerization initiator system, and 1,6-Hexanedioldiacrylate was used as the photopolymerization monomer. Photopolymerization kinetics was recorded by real-time infrared spectroscopy. For BP/Sesamin initiator system, the double bond conversion increased with the increase of Sesamin concentration and light intensity. Combination of p-chlorobenzophenone and Sesamin had the highest initiating reactivity. The polymerization rate and final double bond conversion of acrylate monomer were higher than that of methacrylate monomer.     

Polymer nanostructure development of fluorinated and aliphatic monoacrylates in smectic liquid crystals via photopolymerization

To develop viable polymer stabilized liquid crystal systems, it is crucial to understand the factors that affect polymer nanostructure evolution. This work examines the influence of the photopolymerization of aliphatic and fluorinated monoacrylate monomer within a room temperature smectic liquid crystal (LC). Additionally, the effect of LC order on polymerization kinetics, monomer and polymer organization, and the effect of the polymer on LC properties have been examined. Through this work, insight has been gained regarding the impact that the introduction of a fluorinated monoacrylate monomer has on polymerization kinetics, LC organization, and monomer/polymer segregation and organization within a polymer/LC system. Fluorinated moieties lower the surface energy of the monomer to enhance segregation between the smectic layers of the LC as compared with an analogous aliphatic monomer. Additionally, the enhanced segregation significantly increases the polymerization rate in the smectic phase and drives the continued segregation of the fluorinated polymer during and after polymerization. Fluorination also leads to the formation of an ordered polymer nanostructure if polymerized in ordered LC phases. This ordering is particularly evident when the fluorinated monomer is polymerized in the smectic phase in which the monomer is organized between the smectic layers of the LC. In addition, the ordered polymer structure found with the fluorinated monomer in the smectic phase leads to continued birefringence above the clearing point of the LC due to surface interactions between the LC and the ordered fluorinated polymer. The continued birefringence offers an exceptional opportunity to examine how factors such as polymer molecular mass and UV light intensity affect the overall polymer morphology of these polymer/LC systems. As the initiator concentration and UV light intensity are decreased, longer polymer chains form lattice-type morphologies; whereas, shorter polymer chains form smoother morphologies that more closely mirror the texture of the LC smectic phase.     

Polymer nanostructure development of fluorinated and aliphatic monoacrylates in smectic liquid crystals via photopolymerization

To develop viable polymer stabilized liquid crystal systems, it is crucial to understand the factors that affect polymer nanostructure evolution. This work examines the influence of the photopolymerization of aliphatic and fluorinated monoacrylate monomer within a room temperature smectic liquid crystal (LC). Additionally, the effect of LC order on polymerization kinetics, monomer and polymer organization, and the effect of the polymer on LC properties have been examined. Through this work, insight has been gained regarding the impact that the introduction of a fluorinated monoacrylate monomer has on polymerization kinetics, LC organization, and monomer/polymer segregation and organization within a polymer/LC system. Fluorinated moieties lower the surface energy of the monomer to enhance segregation between the smectic layers of the LC as compared with an analogous aliphatic monomer. Additionally, the enhanced segregation significantly increases the polymerization rate in the smectic phase and drives the continued segregation of the fluorinated polymer during and after polymerization. Fluorination also leads to the formation of an ordered polymer nanostructure if polymerized in ordered LC phases. This ordering is particularly evident when the fluorinated monomer is polymerized in the smectic phase in which the monomer is organized between the smectic layers of the LC. In addition, the ordered polymer structure found with the fluorinated monomer in the smectic phase leads to continued birefringence above the clearing point of the LC due to surface interactions between the LC and the ordered fluorinated polymer. The continued birefringence offers an exceptional opportunity to examine how factors such as polymer molecular mass and UV light intensity affect the overall polymer morphology of these polymer/LC systems. As the initiator concentration and UV light intensity are decreased, longer polymer chains form lattice-type morphologies; whereas, shorter polymer chains form smoother morphologies that more closely mirror the texture of the LC smectic phase.     

Free mobility determination by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide containing agarose at a nonrestrictive concentration

In the determination of the free mobility, related to the surface net charge, by quantitative gel electrophoresis, the previous arbitrary extrapolation of Ferguson plots from the lowest gel concentrations that give a mechanically stable gel to 0% T has recently been replaced by measurement of mobilities across that concentration range, using the addition of 0.5% agarose to polyacrylamide at the various low concentrations in application to a DNA fragment 155 bp in size (Orbán, L. et al., in preparation). The present study applies that approach to several proteins and DNA fragments smaller than 1300 bp, using 0.4% agarose in polyacrylamide gels of varying concentration. The intercepts of the plots with the mobility axis provide experimental data by which the free mobility in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis can be estimated for molecules not significantly retarded in their migration at the agarose concentration admixed to polyacrylamide. Across the gel concentration range below 3% T, in the presence of agarose, the Ferguson plots of proteins and DNA fragments are convex. It was shown by mass spectrometry that this convex curvature of the plots in the mixed polymer is not significantly due to low polymerization efficiency in the concentration range of liquid polyacrylamide (below 3%T).     

Preparation and characterization of a water soluble methylated β‐cyclodextrin/camphorquinone complex

A water soluble methylated β‐cyclodextrin/camphorquinone (MCD/CQ) complex, based on methylated β‐cyclodextrin (MCD) and camphorquinone (CQ), was prepared and its structure was characterized by FTIR, ¹H‐NMR, and UV–vis spectra. The photopolymerization kinetics of MCD/CQ in the water soluble monomer system was studied by Real‐time Infrared spectroscopy (RT‐IR). Compared to the photopolymerization carried out under nearly identical conditions but without MCD, the polymerization rate and final conversion initiated by a CQ‐triethanolamine photoinitiator system were slightly lower. The effects of different MCD/CQ concentration, triethanolamine concentration, and light intensity were also studied. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Real space structure of opaque gel

The structure of the opaque poly(acrylamide) gels is studied by using a confocal laser scanning microscope. The polymer network of the gel consists of the fractal aggregate of the colloidal particles in the higher concentration region of the cross-linker. The diameter of the colloidal particle, which formed in the gel, increases from 180 to 420 nm with an increase of the concentration of cross-linker. On the other hand, the fractal dimensions of the aggregate remain constant, ranging from 1.5 to 1.7. The densities of the particle are calculated to be 0.7 and 1.2 x 103 kg/m3, which are >10 times larger than the average density of the polymer network of the gel. The results indicate that the monomer and the cross-linker are densely cross-linked into the particles.     

Upconversion Nanoparticle-Assisted Photopolymerization

Near-infrared (NIR) laser has deeper penetration and lower thermal effect compared with ultraviolet–visible (UV/vis) laser. NIR laser can stimulate upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) to emit UV/vis light efficiently. Therefore, the UCNPs become an important kind of materials to produce upconversion luminescence through NIR laser. Compared with photopolymerization induced with UV/vis laser, the UV/vis light from UCNP-assisted photopolymerization presents some unique characters. This review focuses on the research progress of UCNP-assisted photopolymerization and its potential applications. We will discuss the influencing factors of UCNP-assisted polymerization, illustrate the relation between the gel size and monomer concentration and propose the development prospects of UCNP-assisted polymerization in the biological field.     

Investigation of termination reactions in free radical photopolymerization of UV powder formulations

The termination mechanisms occurring in a UV powder coating system during photopolymerization process are investigated and compared to a conventional acrylate monomer system. The influence of the photoinitiator concentration, viscosity and conversion percentage of the monomer are assessed leading to the study of curing kinetics of a UV powder urethane diacrylate based system. It is shown that termination occurs mainly by bimolecular termination (PRT). This mechanism is related to low reactive double bonds concentration and high photoinitiator concentration in the UV powder system. Moreover, the effect of surrounding atmosphere points out the role of the oxygen on polymerization mechanisms.     

A versatile microfabricated platform for electrophoresis of double- and single-stranded DNA

We demonstrate a versatile microfabricated electrophoresis platform, incorporating arrays of integrated on-chip electrodes, heaters, and temperature sensors. This design allows a range of different sieving gels to be used within the same device to perform separations involving both single- and double-stranded DNA over distances on the order of 1 cm. We use this device to compare linear and cross-linked polyacrylamide, agarose, and thermo-reversible Pluronic-F127 gels on the basis of gel casting ease, reusability, and overall separation performance using a 100 base pair double-stranded DNA ladder as a standard sample. While cross-linked polyacrylamide matrices provide consistently high-quality separations in our system over a wide range of DNA fragment sizes, Pluronic gels also offer compelling advantages in terms of the ability to remove and reload the gel. Agarose gels offer good separation performance, however, additional care must be exercised to ensure consistent gel properties as a consequence of the need for elevated gel loading temperatures. We also demonstrate the use of denaturing cross-linked polyacrylamide gels at concentrations up to 19% to separate single-stranded DNA fragments ranging in size from 18 to 400 bases in length. Primers differing by 4 bases at a read length of 30 bases can be separated with a resolution of 0.9-1.0 in under 20 min. This level of performance is sufficient to conduct a variety of genotyping assays including the rapid detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a microfabricated platform. The ability to use a single microelectrophoresis system to satisfy a wide range of separation applications offers molecular biologists an unprecedented level of flexibility in a portable and inexpensive format.     

Curved DNA molecules migrate anomalously slowly in polyacrylamide gels even at zero gel concentration

The electrophoretic mobilities of curved and normal DNA molecules of the same size have been measured in polyacrylamide gels containing various acrylamide concentrations and cross-linker ratios. Ferguson plots were constructed to extrapolate the observed mobilities to zero gel concentration. The DNA samples were two 147-bp restriction fragments, called 12A and 12B, obtained from the MspI digestion of plasmid pBR322, and head-to-tail multimers of each fragment. Fragment 12A is stably curved and migrates anomalously slowly in polyacrylamide gels; fragment 12B has the conformation of normal DNA and migrates with normal electrophoretic mobilities. The extrapolated mobilities of the curved fragment 12A and its multimers at zero gel concentration are lower than the extrapolated mobilities of the normal fragment 12B and its multimers. The free solution mobility of the curved fragment 12A, measured by CE, is also lower than that of the normal fragment 12B. The combined results indicate that the extrapolated mobilities observed for curved DNA molecules at zero polyacrylamide gel concentration reflect the intrinsic differences in their free solution mobilities.     

Preparation of monodisperse poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgel particles with homogenous cross-link density distribution

Monodisperse microgel latex with homogeneous cross-link density distribution within the particles was prepared by feeding the monomer and cross-linker into the reaction mixture in a regulated way during the polymerization. To determine the appropriate monomer feeding parameters, the kinetics of the particle formation was investigated by HPLC. The swelling and optical characteristics of the prepared homogenously cross-linked microgel particles were compared to the properties of inhomogenously cross-linked microgels prepared by the normal precipitation polymerization method. The distribution of the cross-link density within the particles inserts a great influence on the characteristics of the system. The degree of swelling of the homogeneous particles is significantly higher than that of the heterogeneous microgel particles. Furthermore, at room temperature the pNIPAm latex containing the homogeneously cross-linked particles is transparent, while the heterogeneously cross-linked particles form a highly turbid system at the same 0.1 wt% concentration.     

4-乙烯基-1-环己烯二环氧化物阳离子单体光聚合性能研究

本文用实时红外光谱研究了4-乙烯基-1-环己烯二环氧化物(TTA22)单体的光聚合性能。分别考察了光引发剂浓度、光源、光强及增感剂浓度对其光聚合性能的影响。选用3,4-环氧环己基甲酸-3′,4′-环氧环己基甲酯(TTA21)作为参照,比较了不同单体的光固化性能。结果表明,随着引发剂浓度以及光强的增加,环氧基转化率及转化速率随之增加。LED光源下单体的转化率和转化速率低于UV汞灯。对TTA22和TTA21光固化后材料的热稳定性进行分析,结果显示TTA21的热稳定性优于TTA22的。     

Kinetics and mechanism of the benzoin isobutyl ether photoinitiated polymerization of styrene

The kinetics of the photopolymerization of styrene in bulk and in dilute systems in the presence of benzoin isobutyl ether as photoinitiator have been examined. The values of the intensity exponent, calculated at different temperatures or at different styrene concentrations, and the monomer exponent, calculated at various intensities, showed significant departure from those predicted by the ideal kinetic scheme, particularly at high intensity, at low temperature, or at low styrene concentrations. Low molecular weight polymer was the dominant product when high light intensity or low polymerization temperature was used. As the temperature was raised, however, or as the intensity was reduced, a high molecular weight polymer became progressively more important. Kinetic and molecular weight data suggest that at low temperature, high intensity, and/or at low monomer concentration, the benzoyl radical is the dominant initiating species; and the benzyl ether radical was consumed mainly in the termination step. At low intensity, high temperature and/or high monomer concentration, however, it appears that both benzoyl and benzyl ether radicals initiated polymerization.