光响应偶氮苯类小分子凝胶因子的合成及性能

合成了3个系列各6类的偶氮苯衍生物1a~6a, 1b~6b和1c~6c. 凝胶性能测试结果表明, 这些化合物均能在多种极性或非极性有机溶剂中形成凝胶. 运用扫描电子显微镜和核磁共振波谱仪对代表性化合物4b形成的凝胶结构和成胶驱动力进行了分析. 化合物4a~4c形成的凝胶在紫外光和可见光照射下, 能够发生凝胶-溶胶的相互转化. 计算了溶剂和凝胶因子的梯氏参数, 利用梯氏三角图分析了凝胶测试结果, 发现凝胶因子在溶剂中的4种行为(溶液、 半凝胶、 凝胶和沉淀)分别分布在三角图的不同区域; 在凝胶区域, 溶剂与凝胶因子之间的距离反映了凝胶的热稳定性, 距离越远表示凝胶的热稳定性越好.     

Viscoelastic and photoresponsive properties of microparticle/liquid-crystal composite gels: tunable mechanical strength along with rapid-recovery nature and photochemical surface healing using an azobenzene dopant

We investigated viscoelastic and photoresponsive properties of the microparticle/liquid-crystal (LC) composite gels. The mechanical strength of the colloidal gels can be widely tuned by varying particle concentrations. With increasing particle concentration, a storage modulus of the particle/LC composite gels increased and reached over 10(4) Pa, showing good self-supporting ability. We demonstrated for the first time that the particle/LC composite gels exhibited rapid and repetitive recovery of the mechanical strength after large-amplitude oscillatory breakdown. In addition, photoresponsive properties of the composite gels were investigated by the cis-trans photoisomerization of the azobenzene compound doped into the host LCs. The photochemical gel-sol transition could be repeatedly induced by changing the phase structure of the host LCs between nematic and isotropic, using the photoisomerization. The particle/LC composite gels can be applied to optically healable materials by the site-selective gel-sol transition based on the photochemical modulation of the phase structures of the host LCs.     

The remarkable role of hydrogen bond,halogen, and solvent effect on self-healing supramolecular gel

Self-healing supramolecular gels of low-molecular-weight (LMW) molecules are smart soft materials; however, the development of self-healing LMW gelator is still a challenging task because of the lack of in-depth studies about self-healing mechanisms of LMW gels and the solvent effect on gel properties. Therefore, herein a different perspective was used to study a family of D-gluconic acetal-based gelators with variable structural fragments in 14 different solvents, and a more detailed understanding of self-assembly and self-healing mechanism of supramolecular gels was attained. Based on the critical gelation concentration, phase transition temperature, and rheological data, A8 bearing an amide group in side chain and two chlorine atoms linked to benzene ring was found to be an outstanding gelator, which could form gels with good self-healing ability in a variety of solvents. Interestingly, A8 gel formed in n-BuOH demonstrates high transparency, good mechanical strength, self-supporting behavior, and great self-healing ability from mechanical damage. Based on the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and theoretical calculation analysis, the self-assembly and self-healing mechanisms of A8 gel were proposed, indicating that a combination of hydrogen bonding and halogen effect was responsible for the efficient self-healing behavior of supramolecular gel. Furthermore, the analysis of solvent parameters indicated that the dispersion force of solvent favored gelators to self-assemble, hydrogen bonding donor ability of solvent mainly affected the formation of one-dimensional assembly, and hydrogen bonding receptor ability and polarity of solvent mainly influenced the supramolecular interactions among assemblies, significantly intervening the self-healing ability of gels. Overall, this study provides a new perspective to the understanding of gelator structure–property correlation in solvents and sheds light for future development of self-healing supramolecular gels.     

Switchable sol-gel transition controlled by ultrasound and body temperature

Herein, we reported a new kind of naphthalimide-based derivative (N1), which could undergo direct sol–gel transition accelerated by ultrasound in 2-methoxyethanol. The gels are very sensitive to the body temperature in the range from 35 to 42 °C, which is the scope range of clinical thermometer. The gel-to-sol transition temperatures enhanced with the increased concentrations of the gels. The reversible gel-sol transition, together with emission intensity and morphological changes, controlled by body temperature and ultrasound could be repeated by many circles without fatigue. Therefore, the gel could be developed to an ideal sensor for detecting human body temperature.     

Properties of carrageenan gels with immobilized lysozyme

Absract  Rheological properties of 3% carrageenan gels formed in 0.4 M sodium chloride solution in the presence of lysozyme are studied in detail. It is shown that the addition of protein results in an increase in the gel-sol transition temperature by 2°C (transition temperature of 3% gel is 48°C, lysozyme concentration is 0.5 mg/ml). Based on the frequency dependences of dynamic moduli at various temperatures, it is revealed that systems possess viscoelastic properties at low frequencies. Within a wide frequency range up to gel-sol transition temperature, systems become elastoviscous and, at higher frequencies, they demonstrate forced transition to glassy state. It is shown that carrageenan inhibits enzyme activity of lysozyme. The interaction between enzyme and carrageenan leads to changes in lysozyme conformations, i.e., the content of α-helices increases and that of turns decreases. It is demonstrated for the first time that, in the presence of a so-called nonspecific (for the gelation of carrageenan) sodium ion, it is possible to prepare gels with the necessary structure and rheological properties and gel-sol transition temperature. These gels can release a lysozyme under the conditions of transmucosal prolonged delivery. Original Russian Text ? G.P. Yampol’skaya, A.A. Elenskii, N.V. Pan’kina, B.N. Tarasevich, V.G. Kulichikhin, 2009, published in Kolloidnyi Zhurnal, 2009, Vol. 71, No. 2, pp. 275–284.     

含偶氮苯基元联酰胺衍生物的有机凝胶和光响应性质

设计合成了具有不同末端烷基链长度的偶氮苯类联酰胺衍生物N-(3,4-n-氧基苯基)-N'-4-(偶氮苯基)苯甲酰肼(Dn,n=7,8,10).Dn可以形成稳定的有机凝胶,末端烷基链增加有利于提高凝胶能力和热力学稳定性.凝胶形成的驱动力主要为联酰胺基团间的分子间氢键以及偶氮苯基团间的π-π相互作用和烷基链间的范德华力.在紫外光照射下,Dn中的反式偶氮苯向顺式转化,并且在溶液中的光响应性非常显著,但凝胶态下偶氮苯的光致顺反异构不能诱导凝胶-溶胶的转变.     

Synthesis and properties of amphiphilic photoresponsive gelators for aromatic solvents

A sugar-based photoresponsive supergelator, N-glycosylazobenzene that shows selective gelation of aromatic solvents is described. The partial trans-cis isomerization of the azobenzene moiety allows photoinduced chopping of the entangled gel fibers to short fibers, resulting in controlled fiber length and gel-sol transition. The gelator is useful for the selective removal of toxic aromatic solvents from water.     

A Natural Glycyrrhizic Acid‐Tailored Light‐Responsive Gelator

The construction of stimuli‐responsive materials by using naturally occurring molecules as building blocks has received increasing attention owing to their bioavailability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Herein, a symmetrical azobenzene‐functionalized natural glycyrrhizic acid (trans‐ GAG ) was synthesized and could form stable supramolecular gels in DMSO/H₂O and MeOH/H₂O. Owing to trans–cis isomerization, this gel exhibited typical light‐responsive behavior that led to a reversible gel–sol transition accompanied by a variation in morphology and rheology. Additionally, this trans‐ GAG gel displayed a distinct injectable self‐healing property and outstanding biocompatibility. This work provides a simple yet rational strategy to fabricate stimuli‐responsive materials from naturally occurring, eco‐friendly molecules.     

Thermoresponsive hydrogels from symmetrical triblock copolymers poly(styrene-block-(methoxy diethylene glycol acrylate)-block-styrene)

A series of symmetrical, thermo-responsive triblock copolymers was prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, and studied in aqueous solution with respect to their ability to form hydrogels. Triblock copolymers were composed of two identical, permanently hydrophobic outer blocks, made of low molar mass polystyrene, and of a hydrophilic inner block of variable length, consisting of poly(methoxy diethylene glycol acrylate) PMDEGA. The polymers exhibited a LCST-type phase transition in the range of 20-40 °C, which markedly depended on molar mass and concentration. Accordingly, the triblock copolymers behaved as amphiphiles at low temperatures, but became water-insoluble at high temperatures. The temperature dependent self-assembly of the amphiphilic block copolymers in aqueous solution was studied by turbidimetry and rheology at concentrations up to 30 wt %, to elucidate the impact of the inner thermoresponsive block on the gel properties. Additionally, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was performed to access the structural changes in the gel with temperature. For all polymers a gel phase was obtained at low temperatures, which underwent a gel-sol transition at intermediate temperatures, well below the cloud point where phase separation occurred. With increasing length of the PMDEGA inner block, the gel-sol transition shifts to markedly lower concentrations, as well as to higher transition temperatures. For the longest PMDEGA block studied (DP(n) about 450), gels had already formed at 3.5 wt % at low temperatures. The gel-sol transition of the hydrogels and the LCST-type phase transition of the hydrophilic inner block were found to be independent of each other.     

氧化石墨烯/聚合物复合水凝胶的研究进展

氧化石墨烯是一种具有单原子厚度的二维材料, 具有优异的力学性能和良好的水分散性, 其表面有大量的含氧官能团. 将氧化石墨烯引入水凝胶体系中可以提高水凝胶的机械性能, 丰富其刺激响应的类型. 目前, 氧化石墨烯水凝胶在高强度、 吸附、 自愈合及智能材料等很多领域均有出色的表现. 氧化石墨烯水凝胶的研究已有10年的历史. 本文总结了氧化石墨烯水凝胶的制备方法, 归纳了智能氧化石墨烯水凝胶在光热响应、 pH响应和自愈合3个方面的响应机理和研究进展, 并综合评述了其在高强度水凝胶、 生物医学、 智能材料和污水处理等方面的应用前景.     

Synthesis and photoresponsive behavior of azobenzene-functionalized polythiophene films

In this paper, two kinds of azobenzene-functionalized polythiophene liquid-crystalline (LC) polymers with different spacer lengths (n = 6 and 11) were synthesized. The photochromic behaviors and photoresponsive property of these polymer films were investigated by means of spectrofluorophotometer, polarized optical microscope and ARC UV lamp. The results have shown that these liquid-crystalline polythiophene films exhibit a quite fast photochemical phase transition speed and a better opticalswitching property. Furthermore, the existence of the azobenzene moiety in the side chain has also rendered the polythiophene some interesting optical properties that can be modulated by UV light irradiation, e.g., the intensity of photoluminescent emission associated with the conjugated polythiophene main chain was found to decrease upon UV irradiation and the effect becomes more prominent when shorter spacers are used in between the azobenzene group and the main chain.     

自组装分子凝胶的原位光聚合及其聚合物研究

合成了一种以二胺为基础的可聚合凝胶因子4,4’-二（α-甲基丙烯酰氧基- 1,3-亚乙氧基羰基丙酰氨基）二苯甲烷（BMDM）,利用在特定结构区域的非共价 键相互作用自组装形成有序的三维纤维网络,使有机溶剂凝胶化。并利用紫外光引 发聚合,“锁定”凝胶网络,形成稳定的有序高级结构。光聚合后,分子凝胶的稳 定时间超过1年;而光聚合前,分子凝胶的稳定时间一般只有几天到几十天。由电 镜和偏光显微镜研究的凝胶形态学表明,凝胶中存在由相互缠结的三维纤维网络构 成的球晶。DSC研究表明,未聚合的分子凝胶中球晶结构的解缔（peak 1）须克服 一个势垒,势能为ΔH = 0.8 kJ·mol~(-1),这主要是一种范德华弱相互作用。而 发生的凝胶-溶胶相转变（peak 2）,则说明了自组装纤维中BMDM分子间存在氢键 等次价键相互作用。这种次价键能即为凝胶-溶胶相转变热焓ΔH = 22.3 kJ· mol~(-1)。聚合凝胶只有体积相变而无凝胶-溶胶相转变,且聚合凝胶的体积相变 温度要比光聚合前的凝胶-溶胶相转变温度高出约为110 ～ 120 ℃。研究干聚合凝 胶在丙酮中的溶胀特性发现,其溶胀过程遵循二级溶胀动力学,影响该凝胶溶胀行 为的因素主要是交联程度。     

甲壳素类液晶高分子的研究Ⅷ. N-邻苯二甲酰化壳聚糖/DMSO液晶溶液的热致相转变

合成了氮上完全取代的邻苯二甲酰化壳聚糖 (PhthCS) .用DSC研究了PhthCS DMSO液晶溶液的热致相转变 .偏光显微镜和DSC测定都表明临界浓度为 43wt% .在浓度高于 43wt%的溶液的DSC曲线中观察到了除了液晶 各向同性液体转变 (清亮点 )外还有一个明显的凝胶 溶胶转变 .凝胶 溶胶转变温度和转变焓均比文献报道的不规则取代的N 邻苯二甲酰化 O 乙酰化壳聚糖大得多 ,可见取代的规整性对凝胶 溶较转变有很大的影响 .根据DSC研究结果绘制了PhthCS DMSO体系的相图     

光致变形型高分子材料

光致变形型高分子材料以光为激发源,在没有机械接触的情况下,能够快速改变尺寸和形状。本文介绍了光致变形的高分子凝胶、无定形高分子、液晶弹性体和光致形状记忆高分子材料,并对各种材料的光致变形机理进行解释。无定形高分子的光致变形较小,目前研究重点是具有各向异性的液晶弹性体。文中着重介绍了具有偶氮苯介晶基元的液晶弹性体的光致变形研究,在光照下这类材料只要有1%的偶氮苯介晶基元发生顺反异构,就会发生光致变形。     

Photochemical control of network structure in gels and photo-induced changes in their viscoelastic properties

Poly(amide acid) gels containing photosensitive azobenzene groups in the main chain have been synthesized and their viscoelastic properties before and after light irradiation have been investigated by dynamic viscoelasticity measurements. It was found that 405 nm light induced a local volume change and a two-fold increase in the storage modulus of the gels. We discuss the change in storage modulus upon light irradiation quite simply in terms of classical rubber elasticity theory, which cannot explain this large increase in storage modulus. The photo-induced increase in storage modulus may result from an increase in entanglement interactions of topological constraints fixed in the network structure, caused by photoisomerization of the azobenzene moieties. We suggest that topological constraints in the network structure of the gels were realized by light irradiation and calculate the resulting slip link ratio (index of the topological constraints) in the gel network.     

偶氮苯功能化的光响应共价有机框架材料

通过后修饰的方法, 在共价有机框架(COFs)材料JUC-500的孔道中引入光敏性的偶氮苯小分子, 合成了具有光热刺激响应的共价有机框架材料JUC-501. 在紫外线和加热作用下, 孔道中的偶氮苯会发生可逆的顺-反异构变化, 对染料污染物甲基橙(MO)表现出优异的可逆吸附与释放性能.     

1,2-O-(1-Ethylpropylidene)-α-d-glucofuranose, a low molecular mass organogelator: benzene gel formation and their thermal stabilities

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has demonstrated that hydrogen bonds are responsible for the aggregation of 1,2-O-(1-ethylpropylidene)-α-d-glucofuranose molecules in solid and benzene gels. The thermal stability of the studied gel is described by its melting temperature T_GS and thermal parameters. The deduced value of the gel-sol transition enthalpy is 50 kJ/mol. Viscosity is the major factor which influences the dynamics of the benzene molecules in the gels, as proved by the relaxation measurements.     

Deformation of cross-linked liquid crystal polymers by light – from ultraviolet to visible and infrared

ABSTRACT

Collecting and amplifying the nanoscopic molecular motions into macroscopic deformation is the unique property of cross-linked liquid crystal polymers (CLCPs). These materials can directly transfer input light energy into mechanical work when combined with photochromophores, thus fascinating many scientists. This article reviews the macroscopic and microscopic deformation of photoresponsive azobenzene-containing CLCPs and analyses the influence of mesogen alignment and chemical structure on shape change behaviour. We highlight some new methods to trigger the deformation by visible and infrared light instead of ultraviolet one, such as chemical modification of azobenzene and addition of upconversion materials.     

Harvesting Light To Produce Heat: Photothermal Nanoparticles for Technological Applications and Biomedical Devices

The photothermal properties of nanoparticles (NPs), that is, their ability to convert absorbed light into heat, have been studied since the end of the last century, mainly on gold NPs. In the new millennium, these studies have developed into a burst of research dedicated to the photothermal ablation of tumors. However, beside this strictly medical theme, research has also flourished in the connected areas of photothermal antibacterial surface coatings, gels and polymers, of photothermal surfaces for cell stimulation, as well as in purely technological areas that do not involve medical biotechnology. These include the direct conversion of solar light into heat, a more efficient sun-powered generation of steam and the use of inkjet-printed patterns of photothermal NPs for anticounterfeit printing based on temperature reading, to cite but a few. After an analysis of the photothermal effect (PTE) and its mechanism, this minireview briefly considers the antitumor-therapy theme and takes an in-depth look at all the other technological and biomedical applications of the PTE, paying particular attention to photothermal materials whose NPs have joined those based on Au.     

Multiresponsive self-assembled liquid crystals with azobenzene groups

An optical and electric field-responsive self-assembled complex containing nitril azobenzene groups and 1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine was obtained and characterized. Both the azobenzene precursor and the complex form a liquid-crystalline phase in a certain temperature range. The transition temperature from crystalline phase to liquid-crystalline mesophase was obviously decreased in the complex by the self-assembling. The self-assembled liquid crystals revealed good response to both stimuli of light irradiation and electric field, and the induced molecular orientation could be held even after the removal of the stimuli. The structural and mechanical investigation proved that the formation of hydrogen bonds and assembly-induced molecular dipolar change contributed to the multiresponding action. This kind of self-assembled complex thus has potential applications in imaging and data storage.