Structural rearrangement and stiffening of hydrophobically modified supramolecular hydrogels during thermal annealing

Dynamic crosslinks formed by thermoreversible associations provide an energy dissipation mechanism to toughen hydrogels. However, the details of the organization of these crosslinks impact the hydrogel properties through constraints on the network chain conformation. The physical crosslinks generated by hydrophobic association of the 2‐(N‐ethylperfluorooctane‐sulfonamido)ethyl methacrylate (FOSM) groups in a random copolymer of N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMA) and FOSM provide a simple system to investigate how the hydrogel structure (as determined from small angle neutron scattering impacts the mechanical properties of the hydrogel. The initial hydration of the copolymer at 25 °C leads to a kinetically trapped structure with large‐scale heterogeneities. Heating the hydrogel at 60 °C, which is above the glass transition temperature for the FOSM domains, allows the hydrogel structure to rearrange to reduce the density of network defects and the structural heterogeneities. That effectively increases the crosslink density of the network, which stiffens the hydrogel and decreases the swelling at equilibrium at 25 °C. The processing history determines how the hydrophobes aggregate to form the physically crosslinked network, whose structure defines the mechanical properties of these hydrogels. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 1036–1044     

Sugars‐grafted aliphatic biodegradable poly(L‐lactide‐co‐carbonate)s by click reaction and their specific interaction with lectin molecules

A novel biodegradable aliphatic poly(L ‐lactide‐co‐carbonate) bearing pendant acetylene groups was successfully prepared by ring‐opening copolymerization of L ‐lactide (LA) with 5‐methyl‐5‐propargyloxycarbonyl‐1,3‐dioxan‐2‐one (PC) in the presence of benzyl alcohol as initiator with ZnEt₂ as catalyst in bulk at 100 °C and subsequently used for grafting 2‐azidoethyl β‐D ‐glucopyranoside and 2‐azidoethyl β‐lactoside by the typical “click reaction,” that is Cu(I)‐catalyzed cycloaddition of azide and alkyne. The density of acetylene groups in the copolymer can be tailored by the molar ratio of PC to LA during the copolymerization. The aliphatic copolymers grafted with sugars showed low cytotoxicity to L929 cells, improved hydrophilic properties and specific recognition and binding ability with lectins, that is Concanavalin A (Con A) and Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA). Therefore, this kind of sugar‐grafted copolymer could be a good candidate in variety of biomedical applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3204 –3217, 2007     

Rapid identification of Candida albicans in blood by combined capillary electrophoresis and fluorescence in situ hybridization

A CE method based on whole‐cell molecular labeling via fluorescence in situ hybridization was developed for the detection of Candida albicans in whole blood. Removal of potentially interfering red blood cells (RBC) with a simple hypotonic/detergent lysis step enabled us to detect and quantitate contaminating C. albicans cells at concentrations that were orders of magnitude lower than background RBC counts (∼7.0×10⁹ RBC/mL). In the presence of the lysed blood matrix, yeast cells aggregated without the use of a blocking plug to stack the cells. Short (15 min) hybridizations yielded bright Candida‐specific fluorescence in situ hybridization signals, enabling us to detect as few as a single injected cell. The peak area response of the stacked Candida cells showed a strong linear correlation with cell concentrations determined by plate counts, up to ∼10⁷ CFU/mL (or ∼1×10⁴ injected cells). This rapid and quantitative method for detecting Candida in blood may have advantageous applications in both human and veterinary diagnostics.     

Irreversible temperature‐responsive formation of high‐strength hydrogel from an enantiomeric mixture of starburst triblock copolymers consisting of 8‐arm PEG and PLLA or PDLA

Starburst triblock copolymers consisting of 8‐arm poly(ethylene glycol) (8‐arm PEG) and biodegradable poly(L ‐lactide) (PLLA) or its enantiomer poly(D ‐lactide) (PDLA), 8‐arm PEG‐b‐PLLA‐b‐PEG ( Stri‐L ), and 8‐arm PEG‐b‐PDLA‐b‐PEG ( Stri‐D ) were synthesized. An aqueous solution of a 1:1 mixture ( Stri‐Mix ) of Stri‐L and Stri‐D assumed a sol state at room temperature, but instantaneously formed a physically crosslinked hydrogel in response to increasing temperature. The resulting hydrogel exhibited a high‐storage modulus (9.8 kPa) at 37 °C. Interestingly, once formed at the transition temperature, the hydrogel was stable even after cooling below the transition temperature. The hydrogel formation process was irreversible because of the formation of stable stereocomplexes. In aqueous solution, gradual hydrolytic erosion was observed because of degradation of the hydrogel. The combination of rapid temperature‐triggered irreversible hydrogel formation, high‐mechanical strength, and degradation behavior render this polymer mixture system suitable for use in injectable biomedical materials, for example, as a drug delivery system for bioactive reagents or a biodegradable scaffold for tissue engineering. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6317–6332, 2008     

A Butterfly‐Inspired Hierarchical Light‐Trapping Structure towards a High‐Performance Polarization‐Sensitive Perovskite Photodetector

Extensive applications for photodetectors have led to demand for high‐responsivity polarization‐sensitive light detection. Inspired by the elaborate architecture of butterfly Papilio paris, a 1D nanograting bonded porous 2D photonic crystal perovskite photodetector (G‐PC‐PD) using a commercial DVD master and 2D crystalline colloidal arrays template was fabricated. The coupling effect from grating diffraction and reflection of the PC stopband renders the enhanced light harvesting of G‐PC‐PD. The porous scaffold and nanoimprinting process afford a highly crystalline perovskite film. White light responsivity and detectivity of G‐PC‐PD are up to 12.67 A W^?1 and 3.22×10¹³ Jones (6～7 times that of a pristine perovskite photodetector). The highly ordered nanograting arrays of G‐PC‐PD enable polarization‐sensitive light detection with a rate of ?0.72 nA deg^?1. This hierarchical perovskite integrated nanograting and 2D PC architecture opens a new avenue to high‐performance optoelectronic devices.     

Photodynamic Action Mechanism Mediated by Zinc(II) 2,9,16,23‐Tetrakis[4‐(N‐methylpyridyloxy)]phthalocyanine in Candida albicans Cells

The photoreaction type I/type II pathways mediated by zinc(II) 2,9,16,23‐tetrakis[4‐(N‐methylpyridyloxy)]phthalocyanine (ZnPPc⁴⁺) was studied in Candida albicans cells. This photosensitizer was strongly bound to C. albicans cells at short times. After 30 min irradiation, 5 μM ZnPPc⁴⁺ produced ~5 log decrease in cell viability. Different probes were used to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cell suspensions (~10⁶ CFU mL^?1). Singlet molecular oxygen, O₂(¹Δ_g), was observed by the reaction with 9,10‐dimethylanthracene (DMA) and tetrasodium 2,2‐(anthracene‐9,10‐diyl)bis(methylmalonate) (ABMM), whereas the nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) method was used to sense superoxide anion radical (). Moreover, the effects produced by an anoxic atmosphere and cell suspensions in D₂O, as well as the addition of sodium azide and mannitol as ROS trapping were evaluated in the PDI of C. albicans. These investigation indicates that O₂(¹Δ_g) is generated in the cells, although a minor extension other radical species can also be involved in the PDI of C. albicans mediated by ZnPPc⁴⁺.     

D–π–A–π–A Strategy to Design Benzothiadiazole–carbazole‐based Conjugated Polymer with High Solar Cell Voltage and Enhanced Photocurrent

The theoretical calculations are used to find that D–π–A–π–A style conjugated polymer PC‐TBTBT is more efficient for solar cells application than the D–π–A analog PC‐TBT because the D–π–A–π–A structure has a narrower band gap and higher molar absorption coefficient and redshift spectrum. Motivated by the theoretical prediction, 5,6‐bis(octyloxy)‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole and 2,7‐carbazole are adopted to synthesize the D–π–A–π–A style PC‐TBTBT (M_w = 31.1 kDa) and D–π–A analog PC‐TBT (M_w = 87.5 kDa) by Suzuki coupling reaction. Experimental results confirm that D–π–A–π–A PC‐TBTBT ‐based solar cell shows a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.74% with high V_OC of 0.99 V and enhanced J_SC of 9.70 mA cm⁻². The PCE and J_SC achieve improvements of 17% and 26%, respectively, compared to the D–π–A PC‐TBT ‐based solar cell.

     

Spectral Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Some Schiff Bases Derived from 4‐Methyl‐2‐aminophenol

A series of N‐(5‐methyl‐2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐(2/3/4/5‐substituted)‐benzaldimines ( I – XIII ) were synthesized using appropriate synthetic route. Their structures were characterized by FT‐IR, UV‐Visible, ESI‐MS, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopic techniques and analytical methods. The crystal structure of N‐(5‐methyl‐2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐3,4‐dimethoxybenzaldimine ( XIII ) was determined by X‐ray diffraction at room temperature. Relationship between the melting points and the structures of the compounds were examined. Antibacterial activities of the compounds were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis. Antifungal activities were reported for Candida albicans. Some of the Schiff bases showed considerable antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and C. albicans.     

Formation of a Pillar[5]arene‐Based Two‐Dimensional Poly‐Pseudo‐Rotaxane: Threading and Crosslinking by the Same Guest Molecules

A one‐pot reaction of the A1/A2‐thiopyridyl pillar[5]arene L with silver(I) trifluoroacetate in the presence of the linear dinitrile guest C8 , [CN(CH₂)_nCN, n=8], afforded the first example of a two‐dimensional (2D) poly‐pseudo‐rotaxane {[(μ₄‐Ag)₂( C8 @ L )₂(μ ‐C8 )](CF₃CO₂)₂}_n. Surprisingly, in this structure the C8 guest not only threads into the pillar[5]arene unit but also crosslinks the 1D coordinative polymeric arrays. The formation of the 2D poly‐pseudo‐rotaxane is driven by an adaptive rearrangement of the components that minimizes the steric clashes not only between the threaded guests but also between the threaded and crosslinked guests where crosslinking occurs. A pathway for the formation of the 2D poly‐pseudo‐rotaxane is proposed.     

One‐Pot Multicomponent Synthesis of Glycopolymers through a Combination of Host–Guest Interaction,Thiol‐ene,and Copper‐Catalyzed Click Reaction in Water

There is a common phenomenon that the heterogeneity of natural oligosaccharides contains various sugar units, which can be used to enhance affinity and selectivity toward a specific receptor, so the synthesis of heterogeneous glycopolymers is always an important issue in the glycopolymer field. Herein, this study conducts a one‐pot method to prepare polyrotaxane‐based heteroglycopolymers anchored with different sugar units and fluorescent moieties via the combination of host–guest interaction, thiol‐ene, and copper‐catalyzed click chemistry in water. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, X‐ray diffraction, and Ellman's assay test are used in the paper to characterize the compounds. Quartz crystal microbalance‐dissipation (QCD‐D) experiments and bacterial adhesion assay are utilized to study the interactions of polyrotaxane‐based heteroglycopolymers with Con A and Escherichia coli . The results reveal that polyrotaxanes (PRs) with mannose and glucose present better specificity toward Con A and E. coli than PRs with glucose due to synergistic effects.     

A Double‐Imprinted Diffraction‐Grating Sensor Based on a Virus‐Responsive Super‐Aptamer Hydrogel Derived from an Impure Extract

The detection of viruses is of interest for a number of fields including biomedicine, environmental science, and biosecurity. Of particular interest are methods that do not require expensive equipment or trained personnel, especially if the results can be read by the naked eye. A new “double imprinting” method was developed whereby a virus‐bioimprinted hydrogel is further micromolded into a diffraction grating sensor by using imprint‐lithography techniques to give a “Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Gel Laser Diffraction Sensor” (MIP‐GLaDiS). A simple laser transmission apparatus was used to measure diffraction, and the system can read by the naked eye to detect the Apple Stem Pitting Virus (ASPV) at concentrations as low as 10 ng mL⁻¹, thus setting the limit of detection of these hydrogels as low as other antigen‐binding methods such as ELISA or fluorescence‐tag systems.     

Spectral Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Some Schiff Bases Derived from 4‐Chloro‐2‐aminophenol and Various Salicylaldehyde Derivatives

A series of N‐(5‐chloro‐2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐(3/4/5‐substituted)‐salicylaldimines ( I – XI ) were synthesized using appropriate synthetic route. Their structures were characterized by FT‐IR, UV‐Visible, ESI‐MS, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic techniques and analytical methods. The crystal structure of N‐(5‐chloro‐2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐5‐bromosalicylaldimine ( V ) was determined by X‐ray diffraction at room temperature. Relationship between the melting points and the structures of the compounds was examined. Antimicrobial activity of the compounds was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis. Antifungal activities were reported for Candida albicans. Schiff bases showed considerable antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, S. epidermidis and C. albicans. N‐(5‐Chloro‐2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐3‐hydroxy‐salicylaldimine ( II ) has the broadest and highest antimicrobial activity according to the others.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,Spectroscopic, Electrochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of Cu(II) Complex with the Mixed Ligands of 2,9‐Dimethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline and 4‐Hydroxypyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic Acid

A mononuclear Cu(II) complex with mixed ligands, formulated as [Cu(hypydc)(dmp)]·H₂O (hypydc=4‐hydroxypyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylate, dmp=2,9‐dimethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline), was synthesized and well characterized by single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, as well as spectroscopic (IR, UV‐Vis), and electrochemical methods. The Cu(II) atom exhibits a distorted square‐pyramidal geometry. Intermolecular O? H···O and C? H···O hydrogen bonds, π‐π stacking interactions and C? H···π interactions seem to be effective in the stabilization of the crystal structure. The complex was also evaluated for its antimicrobial activity using in vitro microdilution methods. Six standard bacteria and a strain of Candida albicans were used for the antimicrobial activities. There was a very strong activity against Candida albicans and significant activities against Enterococcus fecalis, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus, indicating important biological activities of the complex.     

Isothermal equilibrium adsorption of concanavalin A on dextran-modified poly(methyl methacrylate) latex particles

Isothermal equilibrium adsorption experiments were carried out to study the adsorption of concanavalin A (Con A) on dextran-modified poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) latex particles. Three PMMA particles with various levels of dextran modification were selected for study: 0% (designated as D0), 1.24% (D20), and 2.45% (D75) based on total polymer weight. The Langmuir model is applicable to both D0 and D20 systems, although the data for the D20 system are somewhat scattered. On the other hand, the amount of Con A adsorbed per gram polymer particles (q*) versus the Con A concentration in water (c*) curve for the D75 system cannot be described by the Langmuir model. The deviation is attributed to the formation of a crosslinked network structure, caused by specific binding of the dimeric Con A molecules onto two neighboring particles with grafted dextran. The ratio of the initial number of Con A molecules to the initial number of active binding sites on the dextran-modified particle surface plays an important role in determining the structure of flocs formed. The maximum amount of Con A adsorbed on the particle surface (q _max) is of the order of 10⁻¹ μmol per gram particles and q _max in decreasing order is D75 > D20 > D0. The dissociation constant of the Con A-D20 (or Con A-D75) pair is of the order of 10⁻¹ μmol dm⁻³ which is 1 order of magnitude smaller than that of the Con A-D0 pair. Thus, the electrostatic interaction between Con A and D0 is much weaker than the affinity interaction between Con A and D20 (or D75). An empirical model is proposed to qualitatively explain the q* versus c* data. Received: 18 June 1998 Accepted in revised form: 24 December 1998     

A new class of biodegradable hydrogels stereocomplexed by enantiomeric oligo(lactide) side chains of poly(HEMA‐g‐OLA)s

Two enantiomeric amphiphilic graft copolymers consisting of water soluble poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (HEMA) and biodegradable oligo(L ‐lactide) (OLLA) or oligo(D ‐lactide) (ODLA) were synthesized by free radical copolymerization. HEMA‐OL(D)LA macromonomers were synthesized by ring opening polymerization of L ‐ or D ‐lactide. Both HEMA‐OLA macromonomers and graft copolymers were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. Graft copolymers and their stereocomplexes were analyzed by wide angle X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Due to the formation of stereocomplex crosslinks between poly(HEMA) main chains, amphiphilic, biodegradable hydrogels prepared by blending of two enantiomeric poly(HEMA‐g‐OLLA) and poly(HEMA‐g‐ODLA) degraded more slowly in phosphate buffered saline than individual optically pure poly‐(HEMA‐g‐OL(D)LA).     

A Hydrogel Sensing Pathological Urate Concentrations

Metabolite‐responsive hydrogels that detect pathological metabolite concentrations and react by releasing a therapeutic stimulus hold high promises in treating metabolic diseases. In this study, a hydrogel is described that discriminates between physiological and pathological concentrations of urate, the causative agent of gouty arthritis. The hydrogel is synthesized by coupling a dimeric variant of the Deinococcus radiodurans‐derived urate repressor HucR to linear polyacrylamide. The protein‐grafted polymer is crosslinked to form a hydrogel by a multimeric hucO DNA sequence [hucO]_n specifically binding HucR. At elevated urate concentrations, HucR dissociates from [hucO]_n thereby weakening the hydrogel structure and resulting in its dissolution.     

Lanthanide Complexes with 2,3‐Dimethoxybenzoic Acid and Terpyridine: Crystal Structures,Thermal Properties,and Antibacterial Activities

The lanthanide coordination complexes Er(2,3‐DMOBA)₃(terpy)(H₂O) ( 1 ) and [Nd(2,3‐DMOBA)₃(terpy)(H₂O)]₂ ( 2 ) (2,3‐DMOBA = 2,3‐dimethoxybenzoate; terpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine) were synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopy, powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. Complex 1 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, and the mononuclear subunits form a 1D chain structure along the a axis by hydrogen bonds. Complex 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/c, and the dinuclear subunits are further linked via the offset face‐to‐face π ··· π weak stacking interactions to form a supramolecular 2D layered structure. Thermal analysis showed that the complexes have three decomposition steps. The first step is the loss of coordination water molecules. The neutral terpy ligands and partial 2,3‐DMOBA ligands are lost in the second step. The remaining 2,3‐DMOBA ligands are lost in the third step. The 3D stacked plots for the FT‐IR spectra of the evolved gases are recorded and the gaseous products are identified by the typical IR spectra obtained at different temperatures from the 3D stacked plots. Meanwhile, the results of the antibacterial action tests show that 1 and 2 have better antibacterial activities to Candida albicans than to Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, complex 2 has better antibacterial action to Candida albicans than complex 1 .     

Thermosensitive molecularly imprinted hydrogel cross‐linked with N‐malely chitosan for the recognition and separation of BSA

A novel temperature‐sensitive molecularly imprinted hydrogel composed of N‐isopropylacrylamide and acrylamide has been prepared by using free‐radical polymerization and was cross‐linked by modified water‐soluble N‐maley chitosan in aqueous solution. BSA (pI 4.9, MW 66.0 kDa) was used as the template protein. The produced hydrogels were characterized by environmental SEM to reveal the microcosmic morphology. A microporous structure was only found in the imprinted hydrogel, while no obvious microporous structure was found in nonimprinted hydrogels. The lower critical solution temperature of the hydrogels was 34°C, and the optimal binding conditions were tested, namely, the adsorption equilibrium time of 6 h and initial BSA concentration of 1.0 mg/mL. The adsorption capacity Q_max was determined by Langmuir isotherm plots and was 5.72 mg/g for imprinted hydrogel and 1.18 mg/g for nonimprinted hydrogels. A separation factor (β) of 4 was obtained when bovine hemoglobin (pI 6.9, MW 64.0 kDa) was selected as the particular reference protein. Molecular weights and pIs were chosen to investigate the selectivity of the hydrogels. It was shown that the shape memory and the size effect were the major factors for the recognition. This imprinted hydrogel was used to specifically adsorb the BSA from the protein mixture.     

Development of 3D Biofabricated Cell Laden Hydrogel Vessels and a Low‐Cost Desktop Printed Perfusion Chamber for In Vitro Vessel Maturation

The vascular system represents the key supply chain for nutrients and oxygen inside the human body. Engineered solutions to produce sophisticated alternatives for autologous or artificial vascular implants to sustainably replace diseased vascular tissue still remain a key challenge in tissue engineering. In this paper, cell‐laden 3D bioplotted hydrogel vessel‐like constructs made from alginate di‐aldehyde (ADA) and gelatin (GEL) are presented. The aim is to increase the mechanical stability of fibroblast‐laden ADA‐GEL vessels, tailoring them for maturation under dynamic cell culture conditions. BaCl₂ is investigated as a crosslinker for the oxidized alginate‐gelatin system. Normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF)‐laden vessel constructs are optimized successfully in terms of higher stiffness by increasing ADA concentration and using BaCl₂, with no toxic effects observed on NHDF. Contrarily, BaCl₂ crosslinking of ADA‐GEL accelerates cell attachment, viability, and growth from 7d to 24h compared to CaCl₂. Moreover, alignment of cells in the longitudinal direction of the hydrogel vessels when extruding the cell‐laden hydrogel crosslinked with Ba²⁺ is observed. It is possible to tune the stiffness of ADA‐GEL by utilizing Ba²⁺ as crosslinker. In addition, a customized, low‐cost 3D printed polycarbonate (PC) perfusion chamber for perfusion of vessel‐like constructs is introduced.     

Multichannel detection using transmissive diffraction grating sensor

We report a novel transmissive diffraction grating pH sensor made of pH‐sensitive hydrogel. The sensor provides inherently multichannels for a flexible selection of different detection ranges, without involving any additional tuning mechanisms or using multiple sensing elements. Each transmitted diffraction order from the hydrogel grating forms an individual detection channel dedicated to a specific pH range. This unique feature is achieved, simply by enabling hydrogel ridges of the grating to swell effectively in lateral directions, while inhibiting the ridges from swelling in vertical direction and keeping grating period unchanged. Thus by looking at different diffraction orders and measuring their intensity ratio, it is possible to achieve tunable dynamic detection range. Besides, this approach can lead to a high‐sensitivity sensor for detecting subtle pH variations in a narrow pH range near the volume‐phase transition point of hydrogel, with the resolution at the level of 10^?3 pH units. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011