Recent advances in the use of the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation for the study of the collapse of polyelectrolyte brushes

The combination of Quartz Crystal Microbalance and ellipsometry to quantify polyelectrolyte brush hydration and how this impacts on the study of brush collapse is discussed here. Recent articles study collapse after quantifying hydration of poly (2-methacryloyloxy ethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride) (PMETAC) and poly(potassium sulfo propyl methacrylate). Water lost increases with ionic strength but only a 50% of their water content is lost at 1 M NaCl. For PMETAC brushes the exchange of Cl⁻ by ClO₄⁻ is more effective, causing 50% lost at 0.05 M. The hydration and water lost for PMETAC brushes synthesized from thiol monolayers with variable density of initiators from 1 to 100% show that the freely entrapped water of the brushes is around a 10%. Irrespectively of initiator percentage the brush does not lose at 1 M NaCl more than 50% of the original water content. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 1068–1072     

Responsive Polyelectrolyte Multilayers Assembled at High Ionic Strength with an Unusual Collapse at Low Ionic Strength

Responsive polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) of poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and poly(styrene sodium sulfonate) (PSS) with thicknesses between 350 and 400 nm for 11 deposited polyelectrolyte layers were fabricated assembling the polyelectrolytes at 3 M NaCl. When the 3 M NaCl bulk solution is replaced by water, the PEMs release water, approximately a 46% of the total mass, and experience a thickness reduction of more than 200 nm. Changes in thickness and water content are fully reversible. The film recovers its original thickness and water content when it is exposed again to a 3 M NaCl solution. A responsive polymer film is achieved with the capability of swelling at high ionic strength and collapsing in water with variations in thickness of hundred of nanometers.     

Coating electrospun chitosan nanofibers with polyelectrolyte multilayers using the polysaccharides heparin and N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan

A new method is presented for functionalizing electrospun nanofibers with GAGs and growth factors by PEM deposition. Electrospun chitosan nanofibers, spun from trifluoroacetic acid and dichloromethane, were coated with PEMs, using the polysaccharides heparin and N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan. FGF-2 was adsorbed on the PEM-coated nanofibers. Nanofiber neutralization, PEM construction, and FGF-2 adsorption were monitored using FT-IR spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Alcian blue staining was used to confirm the presence of heparin. SEM was used to study nanofiber morphology.     

Recent developments in the properties and applications of polyelectrolyte multilayers

Complexity and innovation in the application of layer-by-layer adsorbed polyelectrolyte systems continues to grow. In this review, we will recap recent findings on the application of multilayers at the biological interface, and as thin films for controlling wetting properties. We also review recent experiments on determining the mechanical properties of polyelectrolyte multilayers.     

Microgel-based engineered nanostructures and their applicability with template-directed layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte assembly in protein encapsulation

A novel strategy for the fabrication of microcapsules is elaborated by employing biomacromolecules and a dissolvable template. Calcium carbonate (CaCO(3)) microparticles were used as sacrificial templates for the two-step deposition of polyelectrolyte coatings by surface controlled precipitation (SCP) followed by the layer-by-layer (LbL) adsorption technique to form capsule shells. When sodium alginate was used for inner shell assembly, template decomposition with an acid resulted in simultaneous formation of microgel-like structures due to calcium ion-induced gelation. An extraction of the calcium after further LbL treatment resulted in microcapsules filled with the biopolymer. The hollow as well as the polymer-filled polyelectrolyte capsules were characterized using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and scanning force microscopy (SFM). The results demonstrated multiple functionalities of the CaCO(3) core - as supporting template, porous core for increased polymer accommodation/immobilization, and as a source of shell-hardening material. The LbL treatment of the core-inner shell assembly resulted in further surface stabilization of the capsule wall and supplementation of a nanostructured diffusion barrier for encapsulated material. The polymer forming the inner shell governs the chemistry of the capsule interior and could be engineered to obtain a matrix for protein/drug encapsulation or immobilization. The outer shell could be used to precisely tune the properties of the capsule wall and exterior. [Diagram: see text] Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) image of microcapsules (insert is after treating with rhodamine 6G to stain the capsule wall).     

Nanoencapsulation of stem cells within polyelectrolyte multilayer shells

Mouse mesenchymal stem cells have been individually encased by polyelectrolyte layers of poly (L-lysine) and hyaluronic acid using the electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly technique, resulting in a shell consisting of nanolayers of thickness around 6-9 nm. Maintenance of cell morphology and viability were demonstrated for up to one week. Further adjustments to shell permeability and flexibility will facilitate the use of these encapsulated cells in tissue engineering and targeted-delivery applications.     

The change in thickness of the solidified liquid layer rather than the immobilized mass determines the frequency response of a quartz crystal microbalance

The "solidified liquid layer" model has been examined using a quartz crystal microbalance(QCM) with a polymeric matrix.The model is shown to give a reasonable explanation for the following experimental observations:(i) The opposite response of the QCM and surface plasmon resonance(SPR) for the activation process;(ii) the marked difference in the responses for IgG/anti-IgG interaction between QCM and SPR.Theoretical analysis and experimental results indicated that QCM is sensitive to the thickness change of the "solidified liquid layer" but not the mass of captured biomolecules(i.e.,the immobilized mass),implying caution must be taken in interpreting QCM results.     

Effect of the diffuse double layer on the interpretation of EQCM results in dilute NaClO4 solutions

The response of the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) in dilute NaClO₄ solutions was studied with gold and iron electrodes during a stepwise increase of the perchlorate concentration. In the range from 10⁻⁴ M to 7.8×10⁻² M, the quartz resonant frequency of the 10 MHz AT cut crystals increased by about 700 Hz, indicating a mass loss on the electrode. A model was developed in which the diffuse double layer and the oscillating bulk electrolyte layer, characterised by the velocity decay length of the damped shear wave in solution, are treated as two independent, superimposed sheets. By assuming a characteristic thickness of the diffuse double layer according to the Gouy–Chapman theory and by treating the diffuse double layer as a rigid sheet, the measured mass loss could be simulated qualitatively. The viscosity changes in the diffuse double layer as well as in the sensed electrolyte bulk layer were found to be negligible in the concentration range investigated. In dilute solutions, the frequency shift following a concentration change is entirely due to thinning of the diffuse double layer with increasing concentration. The results demonstrate the importance of diffuse double layer effects for EQCM measurements in dilute electrolytes.     

Vaporization enthalpies of imidazolium based ionic liquids: dependence on alkyl chain length

Vaporization enthalpies of a series of ten 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ionic liquids (ILs) [C(n) mim][NTf(2) ] with alkyl chain lengths of n=2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 are determined by using a recently developed quartz crystal microbalance method. Due to the high sensitivity of the microbalance vapor studies can be extended to temperatures 60-100 K lower than those available with other methods. The results reveal a remarkably linear dependence of the vaporization enthalpies on the chain length at the reference temperature of 298 K.     

Swelling and shrinking of polyelectrolyte microcapsules in response to changes in temperature and ionic strength

Swelling and shrinking of polyelectrolyte microcapsules consisting of poly(styrene sulfonate, sodium salt) (PSS) and poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium) chloride (PDADMAC) multilayers have been observed in response to temperature and electrolyte exposure, respectively. Heat-induced capsule swelling and capsule wall volume reduction were observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning force microscopy (SFM). On the other hand, pronounced shrinking in diameter induced by exposure to an electrolyte was observed in parallel to increases in the thickness of the capsule wall. The estimated wall volume was reduced to two thirds of the control for the salt-exposed capsules and one half for the salt-exposed and simultaneously annealed capsules. This reduction in volume was supposedly mainly caused by the compression of the capsule wall due to the ionic screening from the electrolyte. The highly porous microstructure of the multilayers and loosely bound PSS/PDADMAC complex are thought to be responsible for the structure of the PSS/PDADMAC capsules being easily modulated upon annealing and salt-exposure.     

Palladium and the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance: a new method for the in situ analysis of the precious metal in aqueous solutions

A new method for the quantitative determination of palladium(II) by the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) technique has been developed. Using a bare carbon-coated quartz crystal, Pd(II) ions are directly deposited from aqueous solution as palladium metal onto the crystal surface, and the Pd(II) concentration is determined with a detection limit of 0.0156 mM, or 1.66 ppm. No complexing agent or preconcentration of palladium is required for the analysis. The palladium is stripped from the crystal through its electrochemical oxidation, regenerating the crystal for subsequent multi-cycle palladium analyses. A conventional gold-coated quartz crystal was incapable of carrying out the same measurements. The EQCM technique presented is simple, sensitive, and reproducible for the detection of this widely used precious metal.     

Effect of ionic strength and type of ions on the structure of water swollen polyelectrolyte multilayers

This study addresses the effect of ionic strength and type of ions on the structure and water content of polyelectrolyte multilayers. Polyelectrolyte multilayers of poly(sodium-4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) prepared at different NaF, NaCl and NaBr concentrations have been investigated by neutron reflectometry against vacuum, H(2)O and D(2)O. Both thickness and water content of the multilayers increase with increasing ionic strength and increasing ion size. Two types of water were identified, "void water" which fills the voids of the multilayers and does not contribute to swelling but to a change in scattering length density and "swelling water" which directly contributes to swelling of the multilayers. The amount of void water decreases with increasing salt concentration and anion radius while the amount of swelling water increases with salt concentration and anion radius. This is interpreted as a denser structure in the dry state and larger ability to swell in water (sponge) for multilayers prepared from high ionic strengths and/or salt solution of large anions. No exchange of hydration water or replacement of H by D was detected even after eight hours incubation time in water of opposing isotopic composition.     

Structure-property relationships in ILs: A study of the alkyl chain length dependence in vaporisation enthalpies of pyridinium based ionic liquids

The enthalpies of vaporization for the series of pyridinium-based ionic liquids with bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anion [CnPy][NTf2] (n = 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) have been determined with the quartz crystal microbalance technique combined with the Langmuir evaporation. The linear dependence of vaporization enthalpies on the chain length has been revealed. New approach based on volumetric, surface tension, and speed of sound measurements has been developed for estimation of heat capacity differences between gas and liquid phase, which were required for adjustment of measured vaporization enthalpies to the ref- erence temperature 298 K.     

Water Content of Hydrated Polymer Brushes Measured by an In Situ Combination of a Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring and Spectroscopic Ellipsometry

Poly(methacryloyloxy ethyltrimethylammonium chloride) (PMETAC), poly(sulfopropylmethacrylate potassium salt), or poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) brushes are synthesized by means of the atom transfer radical polymerization technique from gold surfaces coated with a monolayer of the initiator ω‐mercaptoundecyl bromo isobutyrate. The brush growth is followed in situ and in real time by the combination of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation technique (QCM‐D) and spectroscopic ellipsometry in a single device. The combination of QCM‐D and ellipsometry allows for the simultaneous determination of both the acoustic mass, m_acous, comprising the mass of the polymer and the solvent, and the optical mass, m_opt, which corresponds to the polymer mass alone. Brush hydration is calculated from the difference between the values obtained for m_acous and m_opt for each polymer synthesized. Brush hydration is then used to quantify the percentage of water released in the brush during collapse; a 30–40% release of water for PMETAC and PSPM brushes in 1 M NaCl and 80% for PNIPAM brushes when the temperature is increased to values above the lower critical solution temperature is observed.     

纳米金增效微重量法核酸检测的研究

用纳米金增效以提高微重量法检测核酸的灵敏度。实验研究了纳米金粒径大小对核酸探针固定的表面密度的影响以及探针密度对靶核酸杂交效率的影响。研究表明,核酸检测灵敏度与纳米金的粒径大小有密切关系。与粒径为5、15 nm的纳米金相比,用粒径25 nm的纳米金可以获得较高的杂交效率,检测的灵敏度也较高。本实验方法检测核酸的线性范围为0.05~1.2×10-6mol/L;检出限为1.0×10-8mol/L。     

Surface interactions during polyelectrolyte multilayer build-up. 2. The effect of ionic strength on the structure of preformed multilayers

Interactions between surfaces bearing multilayer films of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(styrenesulfonate sodium salt) (PSS) were investigated across a range of aqueous KBr solutions. Three layer films (PAH/PSS/PAH) were preassembled on mica surfaces, and the resulting interactions were measured with the interferometric surface force apparatus (SFA). Increasing the ionic strength of the medium resulted in a progressive swelling of the multilayer films. Interactions in solutions containing more than 10(-3) M KBr were dominated by a long-ranged steric repulsion originating from compression of polyelectrolyte segments extending into solution. In 10(-1) M KBr, repeated measurements at the same contact position showed a considerable reduction of the range and the strength of the steric force, indicating a flattening of the film during initial approach. Furthermore, this flattening was irreversible on the time scale of the experiments, and measurements performed up to 72 h after the initial compression showed no signs of relaxation. These studies aid in understanding the dominant interactions between polyelectrolyte multilayers, including polyelectrolyte films deposited on colloidal particles, which is important for the preparation of colloidally stable nanoengineered particles.     

对硫磷分子印迹石英压电微天平的构建条件考察及应用

采用对硫磷为模板,甲基丙烯酸为功能单体,乙二醇二甲基丙烯酸酯为交联剂,偶氮二异丁腈为引发剂,乙腈为溶剂,热引发沉淀聚合制备对硫磷分子印迹聚合物微球.用包埋法将该印迹物固定在电极表面构建石英压电微天平传感器,并对电极上包埋的印迹物用量、pH等影响因素进行分析.最后将传感器应用于蔬菜中对硫磷的检测.结果显示,方法构建的分子印迹压电石英传感器对对硫磷有良好的响应特性.当用该传感器对蔬菜中对硫磷残留进行检测时,前处理过程中无需除去蔬菜的色素,且检测时间短.石英压电微天平传感器可以用于蔬菜中对硫磷的快速检测.     

Preparation of solid surfaces for native chemical ligation in the quartz crystal microbalance

The preparation of a nonporous solid surface for native chemical ligation is described. A cysteine residue is covalently attached to the surface by means of a series of reactions. In a reaction analogous to that used for native chemical ligation, the surface‐attached cysteine residue reacts with a thioester to form an amide linkage. All of the reaction steps except the derivatization of the nonporous solid surface with amino‐ended silane are conducted within the flow cell of a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring. This sensitive instrument allows each reaction step to be followed in real time, with simultaneous quantification of the mass added and removed in different steps. The number of protected cysteine residues attached per square nanometer is consistent with the number of protecting groups removed in each deprotection step and also with the number of thioesters reacting with the deprotected cysteine. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance analysis of the cathodic process in a lithium-ion battery

The surface processes at carbon and platinum electrodes have been studied using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance technique in organic electrolyte solutions for lithium ion batteries. The changes in resonance frequency were analyzed as a function of the electrode potential, indicating that the process depended not only on the electrode material but also on the cathode potential. In the solution containing LiBF₄ as the electrolyte, the main product at the platinum surface was Li₂CO₃ and LiF, whereas formation of lithium alkylcarbonates was the primary process at the platinum and carbon electrodes in LiPF₆ solution.