Sequence‐Defined Oligomers from Hydroxyproline Building Blocks for Parallel Synthesis Applications

The functionality of natural biopolymers has inspired significant effort to develop sequence‐defined synthetic polymers for applications including molecular recognition, self‐assembly, and catalysis. Conjugation of synthetic materials to biomacromolecules has played an increasingly important role in drug delivery and biomaterials. We developed a controlled synthesis of novel oligomers from hydroxyproline‐based building blocks and conjugated these materials to siRNA. Hydroxyproline‐based monomers enable the incorporation of broad structural diversity into defined polymer chains. Using a perfluorocarbon purification handle, we were able to purify diverse oligomers through a single solid‐phase extraction method. The efficiency of synthesis was demonstrated by building 14 unique trimers and 4 hexamers from 6 diverse building blocks. We then adapted this method to the parallel synthesis of hundreds of materials in 96‐well plates. This strategy provides a platform for the screening of libraries of modified biomolecules.     

Imprinted nanomaterials: a new class of synthetic receptors

The molecular imprinting approach provides a unique opportunity for the creation of three-dimensional cavities with tailored recognition properties. Over the last decade this field has expanded considerably, across a variety of disciplines, leading to novel approaches and many potential applications. Progress in the field of materials science has led to significant breakthroughs and the application of the imprinting approach to novel polymeric formats offers new insights and attractive methods for the preparation of synthetic receptors. In particular, nanomaterials have received considerable attention in the developing field of nanotechnology. With a large number of recent developments in the field of molecular imprinting available, this article is focused on a selection of new systems, in particular the different formats of nanomaterials, such as nanogels, nanofibres, nanowires and nanotubes.     

Dendrimers and DNA: combinations of two special topologies for nanomaterials and biology

Interactions between two precisely defined three-dimensional architectures (DNA and dendrimers) are described. Highly synergetic effects occur, as illustrated in two cases: dendrimers can be used as three-dimensional linkers for oligonucleotides, affording highly sensitive microarrays (biochips), and positively charged dendrimers strongly interact with DNA, allowing penetration inside cells (genetic transfection).     

A Water-Soluble Peptoid that Can Extract Cu2+ from Metallothionein via Selective Recognition

Selective binding of Cu²⁺ in water medium by a synthetic chelator is a promising therapeutic approach towards the treatment of various diseases including cancer. Chelation of Cu²⁺ is well exercised, however water-soluble synthetic chelators that can selectively bind Cu²⁺ from a pool of competing metal ions at very high excess and/or can extract Cu²⁺ from a protein are hardly reported. Herein we describe the design and synthesis of an acetylated peptoid—N-substituted glycine trimer—that incorporates a picolyl group at the N-terminal, a non-coordinating but structurally directing bulky chiral phenylethyl group at the C-terminus and a modified 2,2′-bipyridine group ( PCA-Nspe ), which selectively binds Cu²⁺ to form a water-soluble complex. We further demonstrate that the selectivity of PCA-Nspe to Cu²⁺ is thermodynamically driven, leading to specific binding of Cu²⁺ in an aqueous solution containing up to 60-fold excess of other biologically relevant metal ions such as Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺ and Na⁺. Based on spectroscopic data and DFT calculations of PCA-Nspe as well as of a control peptoid having an achiral benzyl group instead of the phenylethyl side chain, we could suggest that the chiral and bulkier phenylethyl group at the C-terminus controls the preorganization of the two ligands, and this might play a role in the selectivity of PCA-Nspe . Significantly, we show that PCA-Nspe can extract Cu²⁺ from the natural copper binding protein metallothionein.     

Hydrogels from the Assembly of SAA/Elastin-Inspired Peptides Reveal Non-Canonical Nanotopologies

Peptide-based hydrogels are of great interest in the biomedical field according to their biocompatibility, simple structure and tunable properties via sequence modification. In recent years, multicomponent assembly of peptides have expanded the possibilities to produce more versatile hydrogels, by blending gelating peptides with different type of peptides to add new features. In the present study, the assembly of gelating P5 peptide SFFSF blended with P21 peptide, SFFSFGVPGVGVPGVGSFFSF, an elastin-inspired peptides or, alternatively, with FF dipeptide, was investigated by oscillatory rheology and different microscopy techniques in order to shed light on the nanotopologies formed by the self-assembled peptide mixtures. Our data show that, depending on the added peptides, cooperative or disruptive assembly can be observed giving rise to distinct nanotopologies to which correspond different mechanical properties that could be exploited to fabricate materials with desired properties.     

Water treatment: functional nanomaterials and applications from adsorption to photodegradation

Global efforts for engineering desired materials which are able to treat the water sources still are ongoing in the bench level methods. Considering adsorbent and photocatalytic materials as the main reliable candidates still are encountering with struggles because of many challenges that restrict their large-scale application. This review comprehensively considered the recent advanced materials water treatment methods which involve to magnetic, activated carbon, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene (G), graphene oxide (GO), (Graphene) quantum dots, carbon nanorods, carbon nano-onions, and reduced graphene oxide (RGO), zeolite, silica and clay-based nanomaterials. The adsorption and photocatalytic properties of these nanomaterials introduced them as highly potent option for heavy metal ions and organic dyes removal and photocatalytic degradation. High specific surface area in conjugation with presenting higher kinetics of adsorption and decomposition are the main characteristics of these materials which make them appropriate to treat wastewater even in ultralow concentration of the pollutants. Considering the mechanistic aspects of the adsorption and photocatalytic decomposition process, challenges and opportunities were other subjects that have been highlighted for the discussed nanomaterials. In term of the adsorption approaches, the mechanism of adsorptions and their influence on the maximum adsorption capacity were discussed and also for photocatalyst approach the radical active spices and their role in kinetic and efficiency of the organic pollutant decomposition were provided a deep discussion.     

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) combined with nanomaterials as electrochemical sensing applications for environmental pollutants

It is known that environmental pollution, which is the result of human-induced industrial, domestic, and agricultural practices, poses a threat to our planet. The increasing human population caused several problems such as water and air pollution, which have reached levels threatening human health. There are many different hazardous chemical and biological environmental pollutants in soil, air, and wastewater. It is extremely important to evaluate these health risks and detect these pollutants. The use of electrochemical methods for the detection of environmental pollutants comes to the forefront recently with advantages such as sensitivity, fast response, low cost, and practical use by miniaturization. The molecular imprinting technique is a popular method used for substance analysis by creating a cavity specific to the substance to be analyzed with the polymer used. The use of molecularly imprinted polymer in electrochemical methods and its modification with various nanomaterials bring advantages such as high selectivity, robustness, and sensitivity to electrochemical sensors. Here, the sensitive determination of environmental pollutants with different nanomaterial-modified molecularly imprinted polymer-based electrochemical sensors, the use of different polymerization techniques, and nano-sized modification agents in sensors are evaluated by reviewing recent studies in the literature.     

DNA cleavage activities of two dinuclear copper coordination polymers

The DNA cleavage activities of two coordination polymers of Robson-type macrocycles, {[Cu₄L¹(4,4′-bipy)₂](ClO₄)₄·H₂O}_∞ (1) and {[Cu₄L²(4,4′-bipy)₄](ClO₄)₄·2CH₃CN·2H₂O}_∞ (2) (where H₂L¹ and H₂L² are the [2 + 2] condensation products of 1,3-diaminopropane with 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol and 2,6-diformyl-4-fluorophenol, respectively), have been studied. The interactions of the complexes with calf thymus-DNA were investigated by UV–vis spectroscopy, CD spectroscopy, and gel electrophoresis. The binding constants of 1 and 2 are 7.2 × 10⁴ and 2.1 × 10⁵ M^?1, respectively. The complexes exhibit DNA cleavage activity, with the cleavage process involving oxidative cleavage of DNA.     

Imprinted polymers displaying high affinity for sulfated protein fragments

Leaving a lasting impression: Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) featuring neutral binding sites for phosphotyrosine (P) is also shown to have affinity for sulfotyrosine (S) and a sulfotyrosine-containing peptide. The MIPs were capable of selectively capturing both a phosphorylated and a sulfated peptide in a mixture and could release the peptides separately based on elution conditions.     

Organosoluble star polymers from a cyclodextrin core

Well‐defined star polymers were synthesized with a combination of the core‐first method and atom transfer radical polymerization. The control of the architecture of the macroinitiator based on β‐cyclodextrin bearing functional bromide groups was determined by ¹³C NMR, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. In a second step, the polymerization of the tert‐butyl acrylate monomer was optimized to avoid a star–star coupling reaction and allowed the synthesis of a well‐defined organosoluble polymer star. The determination of the macromolecular dimensions of these new star polymers by size exclusion chromatography/light scattering was in agreement with the structure of armed star polymers in a large range of predicted molecular weights. This article describes a new approach to polyelectrolyte star polymers by postmodification of poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) by acrylic arm hydrolysis in a water‐soluble system. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5186–5194, 2005     

Supramolecular polymers: from scientific curiosity to technological reality

Supramolecular polymers^[1] are introduced as a new approach to come to materials in which the repeating units are not connected by covalent bonds but by specific secondary interactions. Self-complementary quadruple hydrogen bonded structures with high association constants are presented as easy to synthesize fragments in supramolecular polymers. Some of the many possibilities of equilibrium polymers are discussed, while it is shown that these supramolecular polymers can obtain materials properties normally only obtained with macromolecules.     

Novel carbamoyl phosphonate monomers and polymers from unsaturated isocyanates

Carbamoyl phosphonate derivatives of methacrylic acid and α-methyl styrene were synthesized in good yield by reacting dimethyl and diethylphosphite with isocyanato ethylmethacrylate (IEM) or with meta-isopropenyl-α,α-dimethylbenzylisocyanate (m-TMI). The IEM derivatives yield soluble homopolymers with common radical initiators. The m-TMI carbamoyl phosphonates were copolymerized with styrene and with acrylates yielding soluble materials with better than 50 mol % incorporation of the phosphonate monomer. The side chain carbamoyl phosphonate group drastically lowers the T_g relative to those of the parent polymers. Thermogravimetric studies suggest the NHC(O)? P(O)(OR)₂ bond to be stable to about 225°C. The radiopacifying salt UO₂(NO₃)₂6 H₂O yields transparent films with the phosphonate-containing polymers. The T_g increases with uranyl content. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Mass spectrometry imaging of small molecules from live cells and tissues using nanomaterials

We review recently developed methods for analyzing live cells and tissues in ambient conditions without the use of harsh chemical fixation or physical freezing and drying. The first method is based on laser ablation in atmospheric pressure assisted by atmospheric pressure plasma and nanomaterials such as nanoparticles and graphene to enhance laser ablation. The second method is based on secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging of live cells in solution capped with single-layer graphene to preserve intact and hydrated biological samples even under ultrahigh vacuum for secondary ion mass spectrometry bio-imaging in solution with subcellular spatial resolution. Mass spectrometry imaging of small molecules from live cells and tissues can provide an innovative molecular imaging methodology for several biomedical and material research applications.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of glycoconjugate polymers starting from nonreducing disaccharides

Here we report the chemoenzymatic synthesis and recognition function of glycoconjugate polymers carrying nonreducing disaccharides [α-D -glucopyranosyl-(1-1)-α-D -glucopyranoside (trehalose) and α-D -galactopyranosyl-(1-1)-α-D -glucopyranoside (Gal-type trehalose)]. The lipase-catalyzed esterification of the disaccharides with divinyl sebacate is completely selective at the primary Glc 6-OH position of trehalose and at the Gal 6-OH position of Gal-type trehalose. The resultant vinyl esters can be polymerized to yield glycoconjugate polymers with poly(vinyl alcohol) backbones. The interactions of the glycoconjugate polymers with lectins (concanavalin A and Bandeiraera simplicifolia) are amplified because of the glycocluster effect. The polymer carrying pendant α-D -galactopyranosyl-(1-1)-α-D -glucopyranoside shows inhibition activity against Shiga toxin-1 based on a stereochemical structure similar to that of globosyl Gb2 disaccharide. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4598–4606, 2004     

Heat-resistant polymers from melt-processable bisimido-bisphthalonitriles

Heat-resistant polymers which are processable into void-free components and suitable for composite applications have been synthesized by thermal/chemical polymerization of four newly developed bisimido-bisphthalonitriles containing silicon, ether, carbonyl, and hexafluoroisopropylidene groups. Thermal polymerization involving addition reactions was performed at 200–275°C for 2–10 h and then post-curing at 310°C for 10 h. Polymers VI, VII, VIII , and IX were obtained. The thermal polymerization was monitored using infrared spectroscopy. Thermal polymerization was also carried out in the presence of an aromatic diamine. A polyhexasocyclane ( V ) was synthesized by condensation polymerization of ether containing bisimido-bisphthalonitrile with 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether in solvent phenol. The synthesized polymers were evaluated for thermal stability using dynamic thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Polymers VII, VIII, IX , and X showed thermal decomposition temperature in the range of 475–500°C in nitrogen and air atmosphere. The char yield of the polymers was in the range of 60–69% in nitrogen at 800°C. This study indicated that synthesized thermosetting polymers from ether and keto containing bisimido-bisphthalo-nitrile are potential candidates for development of graphite composites. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.