Stably dispersible P3HT/ZnO nanocomposites with tunable luminescence by in-situ hydrolysis and copolymerization of zinc methacrylate

In this paper, the copolymer shell with the internal hydrophobic polymethacrylate layer and the external hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether groups was successfully bonded on the surface of ZnO nanocrystals through a simple sol–gel method, i.e., radical polymerization of zinc methacrylate (Zn(MA)₂) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEMA) and hydrolysis. The prepared ZnO@poly(methacrylate-co-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (ZnO@PPEGMA) nanocrystals showed good dispersion and smaller particle size, due to the presence of copolymer shell. The optical properties of ZnO@PPEGMA nanocrystals were characterized by ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The results indicated that the absorption edge and PL emission in the UV region of ZnO@PPEGMA nanocrystals appeared obvious blue-shift, due to the smaller particle size. Incorporation of ZnO@PPEGMA nanocrystals into poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) matrix, the dispersion of P3HT/ZnO@PPEGMA nanocomposites was greatly improved and the nanocomposites possessed excellent photoluminescence stability. Meanwhile, it was observed that the PL emission of P3HT/ZnO@PPEGMA nanocomposites was enhanced significantly, due to the presence of copolymer shell and the improvement of compatibility of ZnO@PPEGMA in the P3HT matrix. The results showed that the P3HT/ZnO@PPEGMA nanocomposites could be potential candidates for optical applications.     

Emulsion Polymerized Polystyrene/Montmorillonite Nanocomposite and its Viscoelastic Characteristics

A novel polystyrene (PS)/clay nanocomposite was synthesized using a simple emulsion polymerization method in the presence of sodium ion exchanged montmorillonite (Na‐MMT). Prior to the radical polymerization procedure with potassium persulfate (KPS) as an initiator, the hydrophobic styrene monomer was intercalated into hydrophilic clay layers using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a surfactant. The FTIR spectra of the products showed the characteristic absorbance peaks of both the synthesized PS and Na‐MMT. The x‐ray diffraction patterns of the products exhibited an increase in the d ₀₀₁‐spacing, pointing to the intercalation of the PS chains into the intergalleries of the Na‐MMT. The enhancement of the thermal properties of the nanocomposite materials, such as the increase in the glass transition temperature of the PS, was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Furthermore, based on the viscoelastic properties of the products examined using a rotational rheometer with a parallel plate geometry, the nanocomposites were found to exhibit more rapid shear thinning and increased storage (G′) and loss (G″) moduli with increasing clay content.     

Water‐Responsive Shape Memory Polyurethane Block Copolymer Modified with Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane

Nanostructured polyurethane block copolymers with shape memory were synthesized by using polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) molecules and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), which acted as the hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups, respectively. The hard segment domains appeared to be dominantly governed by POSS molecules according to X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform‐infrared (FT‐IR) measurements. As the POSS content increased, the phase separation between hard and soft segments gradually developed, followed by the crystallization of POSS molecules, and the melting temperature and heat of fusion for POSS crystals increased. The water‐responsive shape memory behavior which resulted from the dissolution of soft segments was demonstrated at 30°C. More than 70% shape recovery was achieved in the water‐responsive shape recovery test, which depended on the POSS content.     

Immobilization of poly(?-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(?-caprolactone) triblock copolymer on poly(lactide-co-glycolide) surface and dual biofunctional effects

Poly(?-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL-PEG-PCL) triblock copolymer was covalently immobilized onto poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) surface with the precursor of photopolymerizable and biodegradable PCL-PEG-PCL diacrylates. Argon plasma technique was exploited to obtain hydrophilic PLGA surface (HPLGA). The surface properties were characterized by Water contact angle and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. PCL-PEG-PCL surface modified hydrophobic PLGA and hydrophilic PLGA results in different surface physicochemical properties. PCL-PEG-PCL modified hydrophobic PLGA surface (PLGA-PCL-PEG-PCL) demonstrates excellent inhibition of platelet adhesion and activation; while PCL-PEG-PCL modified hydrophilic PLGA surface (HPLGA-PCL-PEG-PCL) results in good cytocompatibility. The possible mechanism was discussed and the driven force was ascribed to the different assembly behavior of PCL-PEG-PCL on PLGA surface dependant on the hydrophilic/hydrophobic property of PLGA. This simple and effective surface engineering method is also suitable for the other biomaterials such as polyurethane (PU), silicon rubber and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) to obtain the enhanced biocompatibility.     

Probing Chemical and Mechanical Nanodomains in Copolymer Nanorods with Correlative Atomic Force Microscopy—Nano‐correscopy

The interplay between size, shape, mechanical properties, and surface chemistry of nanoparticles orchestrates cellular internalization, toxicity, circulation time, and biodistribution. Therefore, the safety of nanoparticles hinges on our ability to quantify nanoscale physicochemical characteristics. Current characterization tools, due to their limited resolution, are unable to map these properties correlatively at nanoscale. An innovative use of atomic force microscopy‐based techniques, namely nano‐correscopy, overcomes this limitation and offers multiprobe capability to map mechanical (viscous and elastic) and chemical domains of nanoparticles correlatively. The strengths of this approach are demonstrated using polymer composite nanorods: m‐PEG‐PLGA ((m‐PEG–methoxy‐poly (ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly (lactic‐co‐glycolic) acid). Precise distribution of PLGA (monomers of lactide and glycolide) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) polymer across nanorods is identified. The hydrophobic lactide component is found predominantly at the apex, while hydrophilic glycolide and PEG assembled at the body of the nanorods and correlate with a gradient of nanomechanical properties. New knowledge of how both nanochemical domains and nanomechanical properties are distributed across the nanorod will allow elucidating the interactions of nanorods with the proteins and biomolecules in the future, which will directly influence the fate of nanorods in vivo and will guide new synthesis methods.     

衰减全反射傅里叶红外光谱在聚丙烯的表面改性的应用

应用衰减全反射傅里叶变换红外光谱法(ATR-FTIR)对聚丙烯共混薄膜的表面组成进行了测试.通过比尔定律的验证,确认1 103和1 733 cm-1可以分别用于含聚乙二醇和含羰基结构单元的改性剂共混体系的定量计算.利用ATR校正程序,以相应的特征峰峰面积比作为定量测定的基准,可以减少测试误差.通过工作曲线法,定量地分析了聚丙烯共混物薄膜表层中改性剂的含量.此外,利用变角全反射,通过改变入射光线的角度,可以测定不同深度的改性剂含量,剖析改性剂在PP共混薄膜的表层分布.     

Solvation and Solvent Relaxation in Swellable Copolymers as Studied by Time-Resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy

The fluorescent probe dimethylaminonaphthylsulfonamide is covalently bound to the ends of the pol(ethylene glycol) chains of the swellable block copolymers poly(ethylene glycol)–polystyrene (PEG-PS) and poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(ethylene imine) (PEG-PEI) to investigate the molecular mobility inside the polymers, swollen by different liquids. Steady-state and time-resolved studies of the Stokes shift between absorption and fluorescence spectra reveal that the probe is solvated by both the polymer matrix and the liquid phase. The extent of solvation by the liquid and the mobility of the microenvironment of the probe depend on both the swelling volume of the polymer and the solubility of the probe in this liquid. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence depolarisation measurements show that the polymer matrix forms a very rigid solvent cage, which almost completely immobilizes the probe. Upon solvation of the probe by the liquid, the mobility of the probe increases. In PEG-PEI swollen by polar solvents, the mobilities of the probe itself and of its microenvironment, although not reaching the values observed in homogeneous solution, are significantly higher than in PEG-PS, due to the hydrophilic nature of the polymeric backbone in PEG-PEI.     

Dispersion of Nano TiO2 in Ethylene Glycol and Poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Nano TiO₂ was dispersed in ethylene glycol (EG) by the replacement of dispersion medium from water sol. EG/TiO₂ suspension was well stabilized by the electrostatic repulsive force when pH value of suspension was less than 4.3. In situ polymerization starting from bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) and EG/TiO₂ suspension was carried out to prepare a series of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/TiO₂ nanocomposites. Under highly acidic conditions, 97% particles dispersed in PET matrix had the size less than 100 nm. With the increase of pH value, aggregation occurred and larger size particles appeared. A tensile test showed that Young's modulus of PET was increased by the addition of nano TiO₂     

Clustering of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles with Amphiphilic Invertible Polymer Enhances Uptake and Release of Drugs and MRI Properties

A functionalization of iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) of different diameters by the amphiphilic invertible polymer, (PEG600‐alt‐PTHF650)_k (PEG and PTHF stand for poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(tetrahydrofuran), respectively), leads to different NP/polymer architectures for dye/drug uptake and release, as is reported here for the first time. It is demonstrated that 18.6 ± 1.4 and 11.9 ± 0.6 nm NPs are individually coated by this polymer, while 5.9 ± 0.6 nm NPs form nanoparticle clusters (NPCs) which could be isolated by either ultracentrifugation or magnetic separation. This phenomenon is most likely due to the character of the (PEG600‐alt‐PTHF650)_k macromolecule with alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic fragments and its dimensions sufficient to cause NP clustering. Utilizing Rhodamine B base (RBB) and doxorubicin (DOX), the data on uptake upon mixing and further release via inversion into octanol (mimicking the penetration of the cell biomembrane) are presented. The magnetic NPCs display enhanced uptake and release of both RBB and DOX most likely due to the higher retained polymer amount. The NPCs also display exceptional magnetic resonance imaging properties. This and the high uptake/release efficiency of the NPCs combined with easy magnetic separation make them promising for theranostic probes for magnetically targeted drug delivery.     

Dielectric Dispersion Study of Poly(vinyl Pyrrolidone)–Polar Solvent Solutions in the Frequency Range 20 Hz–1 MHz

Influence of polar solvents environment and polymer concentrations on the electrical properties (complex dielectric constant, ac electrical conductivity, complex electric modulus and complex impedance) of the solutions of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) in polar solvents, namely water, ethyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, poly(ethylene glycol), glycerol, dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethyl formamide, have been investigated in the frequency range 20 Hz–1 MHz at 25°C. Comparative analysis of the dielectric dispersion curves confirms that the solvent molecular size and number of its hydroxyl groups, and the solutions viscosity, are the major factors which governs the PVP chain segmental motion. The ionic conduction and electrode polarization phenomena has a dominant influence on the large increase of complex dielectric constant values of the solutions of PVP‐polar solvent in the lower frequency region. The values of relaxation times corresponding to these phenomena are also reported.     

Effect of Morphology and Composition of Organic Montmorillonite on the Structure and Properties of Poly(Butylene Terephthalate) Nanocomposites

The morphology and composition of organic montmorillonites are critical for their dispersion in polymer matrixes. In the current study, the pristine montmorillonite (MMT) was first surface modified with silane and then intercalated using two kinds of intercalating agents in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂). The obtained OMMTs with tunable morphology and composition, together with pristine MMT and commercial MMT, were introduced into poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) to investigate the MMTs dispersion in the PBT matrix and the final properties of the PBT/MMT nanocomposites. The structure of the different MMTs and their dispersion in the PBT matrix were characterized by SEM and TEM, respectively. The crystallization behavior, storage moduli and loss factors of the PBT/MMT nanocomposites were also investigated.     

Microphase separation behavior on the surfaces of PEG-MDI-PDMS multiblock copolymer coatings

A series of poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG)-4,4′-diphenylmethanediisocyanate(MDI)-poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) multiblock copolymers were synthesized by employing two-step growth polymerization technique. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) observed nanoscopically well-organized phase-separated surfaces consisting of hydrophilic domain from PEG and MDI segments and hydrophobic domain from PDMS segments even with 50 wt.% PDMS in the copolymer, and the multiblock copolymer coatings presented a surface free energy of as low as 6-8 mN m⁻¹.     

Ultrasonic treatment and synthesis of sugar alcohol modified Na+-montmorillonite clay

Na⁺-montmorillonite clay (generally referred to as MMT) is very useful for reinforcing polymeric matrix at very low concentrations (typically, 2–5% wt). These clay particles are typically exfoliated before they can demonstrate the significant gains in heat deflection temperature, modulus, and elongation properties. In the case of hydrophilic biopolymer based matrices, such as carbohydrates and chitosan, exfoliating these nanoclay particles needs greater attention because the exfoliation is typically carried out using hydrophobic oligomers through ion-exchange. This study reports a new method of synthesizing completely hydrophilic MMT-assemblages using hydrophilic plasticizers for biopolymers. We used sugar alcohols (glycerol, xylitol with 3 and 5 hydroxyl groups) and polysaccharide maltodextrin to exfoliate the MMT. Sonication was conducted for MMT nanoclay and plasticizers at different weight ratios. It was confirmed that all plasticizer/modifier led to expansion of MMT gallery spacing (d-spacing) and the change in d-spacing could be related to the molecular structure of the plasticizer. Meanwhile, the extent of exfoliation was maximum with maltodextrin (fully exfoliation with 1:10 and 1:20 ratio of MMT:plasticizer) across all test samples and interestingly, glycerol and xylitol samples quickly established within the MMT galleries and exhibited minimal influence with further increase in relative concentrations.     

Crystallization Behavior of PEO in Nano‐Structured PEO‐b‐PS/PPO Blends

Blends of poly (ethylene oxide)‐b‐polystyrene (PEO‐b‐PS) diblock copolymer and poly (2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO) homopolymer were obtained by solution blending, and the morphologies of PEO dispersed nanoparticles in PPO/PS matrix were observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The isothermal crystallization kinetics was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM). Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics was studied using DSC. The results showed that PEO segments were easier to crystallize in the blend than in the copolymer probably due to the interfaces of PPO acting as nucleation sites to promote the crystallization of PEO. The crystallization of PEO blocks destroyed the pre‐existing microdomain structure even though the glass transition temperature of the matrix was much higher than the crystallization temperature.     

Systemic Administration of Polymer‐Coated Nano‐Graphene to Deliver Drugs to Glioblastoma

Graphene—2D carbon—has received significant attention thanks to its electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties. Recently, nano‐graphene (nGr) has been investigated as a possible platform for biomedical applications. Here, a polymer‐coated nGr to deliver drugs to glioblastoma after systemic administration is reported. A biodegradable, biocompatible poly(lactide) (PLA) coating enables encapsulation and controlled release of the hydrophobic anticancer drug paclitaxel (PTX), and a hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) shell increases the solubility of the nGr drug delivery system. Importantly, the polymer coating mediates the interaction of nGr with U‐138 glioblastoma cells and decreases cytotoxicity compared with pristine untreated nGr. PLA‐PEG‐coated nGr is also able to encapsulate PTX at 4.15 wt% and sustains prolonged PTX release for at least 19 d. PTX‐loaded nGr‐PLA‐PEGs are shown to kill up to 20% of U‐138 glioblastoma cells in vitro. Furthermore, nGr‐PLA‐PEG and CNT‐PLA‐PEG, two carbon nanomaterials with different shapes, are able to kill U‐138 in vitro as well as free PTX at significantly lower doses of drug. Finally, in vivo biodistribution of nGr‐PLA‐PEG shows accumulation of nGr in intracranial U‐138 glioblastoma xenografts and organs of the reticuloendothelial system.     

Effect of plasticizer on surface of free films prepared from aqueous solutions of salts of cationic polymers with different plasticizers

Acquisition of a more detailed understanding of all technological processes is currently a relevant tendency in pharmaceutical technology and hence in industry. A knowledge of film formation from dispersion of polymers is very important during the coating of solid dosage forms. This process and the structure of the film can be influenced by different additives. In the present study, taste-masking films were prepared from aqueous citric acid solutions of a cationic polymer (Eudragit^® E PO) with various hydrophilic plasticizers (glycerol, propylene glycol and different poly(ethylene glycols)). The mechanical properties, film thickness, wetting properties and surface free energy of the free films were studied. The aim was to evaluate the properties of surface of free films to predict the arrangement of macromolecules in films formed from aqueous solutions of salts of cationic polymers. A high molecular weight of the plasticizer decreased the work of deformation. The surface free energy and the polarity were highest for the film without plasticizer; the hydrophilic additives decreased these parameters. The direction of the change in polarity (a hydrophilic component caused a decrease in the polarity) was unexpected. It can be explained by the change in orientation of the macromolecules, a hydrophobic surface being formed. Examination of the mechanical properties and film thickness can furnish additional results towards a knowledge of film formation by this not frequently applied type of polymer from aqueous solution.     

Lipase-ultrasound assisted synthesis of polyesters

Poly (ethylene glutarate), poly (ethylene malonate) and poly (ethylene phthalate), were enzymatically synthesized by immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B in solvent free conditions. The synthesis of these polyesters was based on the ester-ester exchange reaction between ethylene glycol diacetate and di-ethyl glutarate, di-benzyl malonate, di-n-octyl phthalate to produce poly (ethylene glutarate), poly (ethylene malonate) and poly (ethylene phthalate), respectively. The effect of ultrasound and PET polymeric beads was evaluated and showed to improve the synthesis of all polyesters. Ultrasound, as a green solvent-free technology, showed high potentiality for the polyester synthesis intensification.     

Gold‐Nanoparticle‐Assisted Self‐Assembly of Chemical Gradients with Tunable Sub‐50 nm Molecular Domains

A simple and efficient principle for nanopatterning with wide applicability in the sub‐50 nanometer regime is chemisorption of nanoparticles; at homogeneous substrates, particles carrying surface charge may spontaneously self‐organize due to the electrostatic repulsion between adjacent particles. Guided by this principle, a method is presented to design, self‐assemble, and chemically functionalize gradient nanopatterns where the size of molecular domains can be tuned to match the level corresponding to single protein binding events. To modulate the binding of negatively charged gold nanoparticles both locally (<100 nm) and globally (>100 μm) onto a single modified gold substrate, ion diffusion is used to achieve spatial control of the particles’ mutual electrostatic interactions. By subsequent tailoring of different molecules to surface‐immobilized particles and the void areas surrounding them, nanopatterns are obtained with variable chemical domains along the gradient surface. Fimbriated Escherichia coli bacteria are bound to gradient nanopatterns with similar molecular composition and macroscopic contact angle, but different sizes of nanoscopic presentation of adhesive (hydrophobic) and repellent poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) domains. It is shown that small hydrophobic domains, similar in size to the diameter of the bacterial fimbriae, supported firmly attached bacteria resembling catch‐bond binding, whereas a high number of loosely adhered bacteria are observed on larger hydrophobic domains.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Poly(1‐Naphthylamine)‐Montmorillonite Nanocomposites Intercalated by Emulsion Polymerization

Nanocomposites of montmorillonite (MMT) with poly(1‐naphthylamine) (PNA) is investigated for the first time by emulsion polymerization using three different oxidants. Polymerization of PNA was confirmed by Fourier transformation infrared (FT‐IR) as well as UV‐visible spectra. The in situ intercalative polymerization of PNA within MMT layers was confirmed by FT‐IR, X‐ray diffraction, conductivity; scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as transmission electron microscopy studies. X‐ray diffraction revealed intercalated as well as exfoliated structures of PNA/MMT nanocomposites, which were compared with the reported polyaniline‐MMT nanocomposites. It was found that the increase in the concentration of PNA in the interlayer galleries of MMT led to destruction of the layered clay structure resulting in exfoliation of the nanocomposite. Conductivity of the nanocomposites was found to be in the range of 10^?3 to 10^?2 S cm^?1 which was found to be higher than the ones reported for polyaniline‐clay nanocomposites as well as PEOA‐OMMT nanocomposites at similar concentrations of intercalated species. The morphology of PNA/MMT nanocomposites was found to be governed by the nature of the oxidant used.     

A Study on Compatibility and Properties of POE/PS/SEBS Ternary Blends

Ethylene‐α‐olefin copolymer (POE)/polystyrene (PS)/poly(styrene‐b‐ethylene‐co‐butylene‐b‐styrene) (SEBS) blends were prepared via melt blending in a co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder. The effects of SEBS copolymer on the morphology and rheological and mechanical properties of the blends were studied. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photos showed that the addition of SEBS copolymer resulted in finer dispersion of PS particles in the POE matrix and better interfacial adhesion between POE and PS compared with POE/PS blends, which exhibited a very coarse morphology due to the immiscibility between them. Interestingly, the tensile strength increased from 12.5 MPa for neat POE to 23.5 MPa for the POE/PS/SEBS (60/10/30) blend, whereas the tensile strengths of POE/PS (85.7/14.3) blend and POE/SEBS (66.7/33.3) blend were only 10.5 and 16.5 MPa, respectively. This indicates that both SEBS copolymer and PS have a synergistic reinforcing effect on POE. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and dynamic rheological property measurement also revealed that there existed some interactions between POE and SEBS as well as between SEBS and PS. DMTA results also showed that the storage modulus of POE increased when PS and SEBS were incorporated, especially at high temperature, which means that the service temperature of POE was improved.