利用微悬臂梁表面应力研究聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺分子的构象转变

提出了一种基于微悬臂梁传感技术研究大分子折叠/构象转变的新方法.通过分子自组装的方法将热敏性的聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(PNIPAM)分子链修饰到微悬臂梁的单侧表面，用光杠杆技术检测温度在20—40℃之间变化时由于微悬臂梁上的PNIPAM分子在水中的构象转变所引起的微悬臂梁变形.实验结果显示：在升温过程中，微悬臂梁的表面应力发生了变化并且导致微悬臂梁产生了弯曲变形，这个过程对应着微悬臂梁上的PNIPAM分子从无规线团构象到塌缩小球构象的构象转变.在降温过程中，微悬臂梁发生了反方向的弯曲变形，这对应着PNIPA 关键词： 构象转变 聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺分子链 表面应力 微悬臂梁     

利用微悬臂梁研究聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺在金表面的自组装

利用微悬臂梁传感技术研究了巯基化的聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺（HS-PNIPAM）在微悬臂梁金面上的自组装过程.由于大分子的构象变化改变了分子间的相互作用,导致微悬臂梁的表面应力改变,使微悬臂梁发生弯曲.通过光学方法实时读出微悬臂梁的弯曲信号,得到HS-PNIPAM的自组装动力学曲线.通过对不同分子量HS-PNIPAM的实验结果分析表明：HS-PNIPAM在自组装过程中存在三个阶段,分别对应不同的分子构象.第一阶段为物理吸附阶段,第二、三阶段为伴随着分子构象变化的化学吸附阶段.吸附曲线符合Langmuir等温吸附.分析结果还显示HS-PNIPAM的表面吸附速率κ远小于小分子的吸附速率,并与分子量成负指数关系;HS-PNIPAM的自组装时间远大于小分子的自组装时间,并与分子量成正比;底物表面应力的改变与HS-PNIPAM的分子量成线性关系. 关键词： 微悬臂梁 聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺 自组装 构象转变     

Mn2+与聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺相互作用的光谱研究

合成了聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺（PNIPAAm）与Mn^2＋的配合物,并用荧光光谱、紫外-可见光谱及FTIR进行了初步表征。光谱数据说明Mn^2＋与PNIPAAm羰基氧发生了配位键合作用。由于Mn^2＋的发射光谱与PNIPAAm激发光谱部分重叠及Mn^2＋位于561nm的发射峰在Mn^2＋-PNIPAAm体系发射光谱中消失,说明发生了较好的Foerster能量传递。Mn^2＋-PNIPAAm配合物体系在307nm紫外区荧光强度比PNIPAAm增强了314％。     

聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)模板法制备二氧化硅中空微球

以在50 oC水溶液中析出的聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺) (PNI-PAM)聚集体作为软模板,使正硅酸乙酯吸附在PNIPAM聚集体表面进行水解缩合,原位生成二氧化硅包裹PNIPAM的核壳结构微球;进一步冷却至室温使PNIPAM溶解在水中除去内核,从而成功合成出SiO₂中空微球．实验表明,只有在足够的PNIPAM和正硅酸乙酯含量以及正硅酸乙酯水解时间下,才能形成稳定的SiO₂中空微球．用TEM、SEM和FTIR对合成的SiO₂中空微球进行了表征,结果表明,微球尺寸为150 nm左右,并且由于PNIPAM上酰胺基团和正硅酸乙酯水解出来的硅醇间具有静电相互作用,使得SiO₂壳层上依然有PNIPAM残留.     

量子化学计算辅助聚（N-异丙基丙烯酰胺）溶液碳谱的归属

测定了聚（N-异丙基丙烯酰胺）（PNIPAAM）的溶液高分辨定量¹³C NMR谱,使用γ-gauche效应和Gaussian98从头计算GIAO-CHF两种方法分别计算了各立构序列的化学位移. 结果表明在计算结果与实验数据之间的符合程度方面,从头计算方法明显优于γ-gauche效应方法.利用从头计算的结果对谱图作了相应归属,并分析了PNIPAAM的立构规整度. 结果表明PNIPAAM链的增长服从Bernoulli过程,立构序列满足无规分布.这说明量化计算和NMR相结合是研究高分子高级链结构的有效方法.     

水蒸气诱导聚电解质刷的构象转变

我们把Flory-Huggins模型(association models)推广应用到暴露于水蒸气中的聚电解质刷体系,考虑聚电解质-水氢键(P-W氢键)与水-水氢键(W-W氢键)、形成氢键与聚电解质链构象的耦合特性,研究水蒸气诱导的聚电解质刷构象转变的机理.研究发现,当P-W氢键效应起主导作用时,随着水蒸气浓度的增加,聚电解质刷会单调溶胀;P-W和W-W两种氢键效应,则会导致随着水蒸气浓度的增加,聚电解质刷的构象首先塌缩,然后开始溶胀的反常转变行为.基于本文的分析,可以预言,由于P-W氢键效应,聚电解质刷可以吸附水蒸气,吸附能力随聚电解质链长的增加而增强;当聚电解质链接枝密度足够高时,由于P-W和W-W两种氢键效应,增加体系中的水蒸气,会在聚电解质刷体系中形成由P-W氢键和W-W氢键交错链接的三维网络状凝胶结构.     

水蒸气诱导聚电解质刷的构象转变

我们把 Flory−Huggins 模型(association models)推广应用暴露于水蒸气中的聚电解质刷体系,考虑聚电解质-水氢键(P-W氢键)与水-水氢键(W-W氢键)、形成氢键与聚电解质链构象的耦合特性,研究水蒸气诱导的聚电解质刷构象转变的机理.研究发现,当 P-W 氢键效应起主导作用时,随着水蒸气浓度的增加,聚电解质刷会单调溶胀;P-W 和 W-W 两种氢键效应,则会导致随着水蒸气浓度的增加,聚电解质刷的构象首先塌缩,然后开始溶胀的反常转变行为。基于本文的分析,可以预言,由于 P-W 氢键效应,聚电解质刷可以吸附水蒸气,吸附能力随聚电解质链长的增加而增强;当聚电解质链接枝密度足够高时,由于 P-W 和 W-W 两种氢键效应,增加体系中的水蒸气,会在聚电解质刷体系中形成由 P-W 氢键和 W-W 氢键交错链接的三维网络状凝胶结构。     

水合作用与pH调控聚电解质刷的构象转变

我们基于Flory-Huggins理论,建立理论模型研究水合作用与pH调控聚电解质刷的构象转变.理论模型考虑聚电解质链与水分子间的作用(聚电解质链的水合作用)、体系中的静电作用.研究发现,随着水合作用的改变,聚电解质刷出现由溶胀到塌缩的构象转变.由此表明了水合作用可在很大程度调节聚电解质刷的相变.通过分析pH的调控效应我们还发现,在碱性环境中(pH=8),聚电解质链单体的解离度增大,静电排斥会使得聚电解质刷溶胀.由此表明,聚电解质刷内水合作用与静电效应的耦合,将会共同决定聚电解质刷的构象转变特性.理论结果深刻揭示了水合作用的改变,会使得聚电解质刷体系发生相变,pH可在很大程度上改变其相变特性.     

多价抗衡离子诱导聚甲基丙烯酸N,N-二甲基氨基乙酯(PDMAEMA)刷构象转变的UCST行为

本文应用分子场理论,研究pH、[Fe(CN)_6]~(3-)诱导聚甲基丙烯酸N,N-二甲基氨基乙酯(PDMAEMA)刷的上临界溶解温度(UCST)构象转变与结构特性.理论模型考虑p H和[Fe(CN)_6]~(3-)对PDMAEMA刷体系的静电调控作用.研究发现,在不同[Fe(CN)_6]~(3-)浓度、不同p H条件下,PDMAEMA刷呈现了UCST构象转变行为.由于p H调节PDMAEMA单体质子化,[Fe(CN)_6]~(3-)通过与PDMAEMA带正电荷的单体结合,形成了在PDMAEMA链内以[Fe(CN)_6]~(3-)为中介的带电单体间的静电吸引结合.随着温度升高,[Fe(CN)_6]~(3-)与PDMAEMA带正电荷的单体结合被破坏,[Fe(CN)_6]~(3-)在链内凝聚导致的静电屏蔽效应减弱,PDMAEMA链内带电单体间的静电排斥增强,PDMAEMA刷的构象呈现了从塌缩到溶胀的UCST转变行为,并且在较高[Fe(CN)_6]~(3-)浓度条件下,PDMAEMA刷构象转变的UCST增高.在较低p H值条件下,较多的PDMAEMA单体被质子化,[Fe(CN)_6]~(3-)与PDMAEMA带正电单体的结合增强,PDMAEMA刷构象转变的UCST增大.基于pH和[Fe(CN)_6]~(3-)对PDMAEMA刷体系中的静电调控效应,可以预言,在较小p H和较大[Fe(CN)_6]~(3-)浓度条件下,PDMAEMA链在垂直培基表面沿着链方向形成结节状结构.这是由于以[Fe(CN)_6]~(3-)为中介的链内带电单体间的静电吸引作用增强,导致临近单体间汇聚结节.我们的理论结果符合实验观测,由此表明,pH调节PDMAEMA单体的带电状态,以及[Fe(CN)_6]~(3-)在PDMAEMA链内凝聚导致的静电屏蔽效应,决定着PDMAEMA刷的UCST构象转变和结构特性.     

丙烯酰胺在反向微乳液中聚合反应的研究

在水－ＡＯＴ－甲苯反向微乳液体系中，选用了四种引发剂ＡＩＢＮ，（ＮＨ４）２Ｓ２Ｏ３，ＮａＨＳＯ３，ＭｎＳＯ４－Ｏ２－ＮａＨＳＯ３，开展丙烯酰胺的聚合反应的研究，其中着重研究引发剂的浓度，反应温度等因素对聚合分子量的影响。     

Glass transition of the two distinct single-chain particles of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

Two distinct single-chain particles of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) in the state of loose coil and compact globule, have been prepared successfully below and above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in extreme dilute aqueous solution by the freeze-drying method, respectively. During the preparation of the compact globular single-chain sample, the surfactant of sodium n-dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was added into the system to prevent aggregation of globular single chains formed at a temperature above the LCST. After all the coil has been transformed into the compact globular particle, the SDS molecules were removed by dialysis. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the two single-chain samples has been measured by differential scanning calorimetery (DSC) in comparison with that of bulk polymer. It was found that the T_g of the single-chain sample in compact-globule state was very near to that of the bulk polymer, whereas the T_g of the single-chain sample in loose-coil state was approximately 6 K lower than that of the bulk polymer. After treating the sample with repeated DSC cycles, the T_g of the single-chain sample in loose-coil state rose up successively near to that of the bulk polymer. These results have been explained in terms of the effect of entanglement on the mobility of the polymer segments in the two distinct single-chain samples.     

The phase transition of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide): the effect of aging

We study the effect of temporal and thermal aging of linear and hydrogel samples of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM). For this purpose, we designed a simple and inexpensive experimental device able to measure the optical density as a function of temperature. The samples were aged from 4 to 14 days at two temperatures: 24 and 37°C. We found that the phase transitions of linear PNIPAM samples shift to lower or higher temperatures, depending on the storage conditions, while the phase transitions of hydrogels always shift to higher temperatures. Structural differences between linear and hydrogel PNIPAMs and the formation of additional hydrogen bonds are behind these shifts.     

Analysis of dynamic light scattering of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) across the collapse transition

Summary We analyse data from the dynamic light scattering of poly(N-isopropylacrilamide) in water solution as we cross the collapse transition. Experimental data are interpreted by the Gaussian self-consistent Zimm model that takes into account two- and three-body excluded-volume effects, and Oseen hydrodynamic interactions, as well as by the standard cumulant and Contin analyses. By fitting the dynamic structure factor we extract the temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficientD and the first relaxation time τ₁ across the collapse transition for a range of scattering angles. The relaxation time τ₁ possesses a characteristic peak at about 32.4 °C due to slowing of the internal motions of the polymer at the theta-point, and a minimum at 33.4 °C. We interpret this as a combination of collapse closely followed by the growth of critical correlations. At large scattering angles we reach the universalk ³ regime, and observe that this behaviour vanishes at the onset of collapse transition. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling Concepts and Complex Fluids, Copanello, Italy, July 4–8, 1994.     

Cytotoxic evaluation of N-isopropylacrylamide monomers and temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanoparticles

The objective of this research project is to investigate the biocompatibility of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) monomers and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) nanoparticles in vitro. PNIPAAm nanoparticles of different sizes were synthesized and characterized by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Cytotoxicity studies using MTS assays were conducted on fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells. In addition, the concentration of NIPAAm monomers remaining on PNIPAAm nanoparticles was determined using bromination and spectrophotometry. The cytotoxicity results did not show a significant difference in cell survival when cells were exposed to different particle sizes (100, 300, and 500 nm). Dose studies showed that all three cell types exposed to 100 nm PNIPAAm nanoparticles at concentrations less than or equal to 5 mg/mL were compatible, while cells exposed to NIPAAm monomers exhibited toxicity even at very low concentrations. We also found that 1 mg/mL concentration of 100 nm PNIPAAm nanoparticles was cytocompatible for 4 days, whereas NIPAAm monomers were cytotoxic after 24 h of exposure. Photomicrographs showed altered morphology in cells exposed to NIPAAm monomers, while cells exposed to PNIPAAm nanoparticles maintained their normal morphology. Finally, a very low concentration of NIPAAm monomers remained on the PNIPAAm nanoparticles after synthesis and dialysis. Our results demonstrate that NIPAAm monomers are cytotoxic, whereas PNIPAAm nanoparticles are compatible at 5 mg/mL concentration or below for fibrobasts, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells.     

Synthesis and spectral-luminescent properties of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

The spectral-luminescent characteristics of water and methanol solutions of polymers containing tetraphenylporphyrin substituents were investigated. The water-soluble polymer was obtained by the interaction of poly(N-isopropylamide) containing N-oxysuccinimide substituents with 5-(4-aminophenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin. From the synthesized polymer its analog with Zn-porphyrin substituents was obtained. This phenomenon is attributed to the specific features of the conformational behavior of polymeric chains in water solutions. Water solutions of polymers experience a thermally reversible phase transition upon heating, which is accompanied by a considerable enhancement of light scattering. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 67, No. 4, pp. 483–487, July–August, 2000.     

Temperature-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gels containing polymeric surfactants

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) gel containing polymer surfactant poly(2-(methacryloyloxyl)decylphosphate) (PMDP) was synthesized and was found to show rapid volume phase transition above its transition temperature. Interestingly, the phase transition temperature of the PNIPA–PMDP gel was equal to that of the PNIPA gels alone. The concentration gradient of PMDP within the PNIPA gel can be obtained by applying an electric field on the gel, similar to the gel electrophoretic technique. The PMDP-gradient PNIPA gel clearly demonstrated the prevention of skin formation and the acceleration of the phase transition rate of the PNIPA gel by PMDP. The rapid volume phase transition allows potential applications of the PNPA–PMDP gel to soft actuators and drug delivery systems. Recently we also succeeded in synthesizing cylindrical microgels (0.8 μm in diameter, 5 μm in length) by a novel strategy where template-guiding synthesis and photochemical polymerization are combined. The obtained microgels can be characterized in individual level by a laser-trapping/Raman spectroscopy. In this article we also briefly described a famous gel system containing ionic surfactant capable of electrically driven actuators although it is not PNIPA gel.     

Anomalous temperature dependence of speed of sound of bulk poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels near the phase transition

Bulk Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) hydrogels are thermally responsive polymers that undergo a sharp volumetric phase transition around its lower critical solution temperature of 33 °C. The physical characteristics of bulk, micro-, and nano-form PNIPAm hydrogel have been well-studied, and have applications ranging from biomedical devices to mechanical actuators. An important physical characteristics which reveals lack of available information is speed of sound. Prior studies have utilized Brillouin scattering, multi-echo reflection ultrasound spectroscopy, the sing-around method, and others in measuring the speed of sound. We use a planar resonant cavity with bulk PNIPAm hydrogel in aqueous solution to determine the temperature dependent speed of sound around the lower critical solution temperature. The results show sharp nonmonotonic behavior of the sound velocity in vicinity of the phase transition.