Glucosamine Hydrochloride Functionalized Water‐Soluble Conjugated Polyfluorene: Synthesis,Characterization, and Interactions with DNA

Novel glucosamine hydrochloride functionalized water‐soluble conjugated polyfluorene was easily synthesized through Cu(I)‐catalyzed azide/alkyne “click” ligation and Suzuki coupling polymerization. The water‐solubility and biocompatibility of the polymer were improved after grafting glucosamine hydrochloride to the side chains of the conjugated polymer. As a fluorescent model system of chitosan, its interaction with single‐stranded DNA was studied by spectrofluorometric titration.

     

Kinetic Study of the Thermopolymerization of Furfuryl Methacrylate (FM) by Mathematical Modeling, 2–Moments of Molecular Size Distribution of the Primary Chains in the Networks

The formation kinetics and structure of three‐dimensional networks in free radical polymerization of FM thermally initiated at high temperature are studied by analysis of zero and first‐order moments of molecular size distribution of primary chains (MSDPC) in the networks. Zero‐order moment values of MSDPC reveal that the system elapses as a living radical polymerization. Also, by means of the analysis of these moments and the first‐order ones of MSDPC, the sigmoidal shape of polymerization kinetic curves can be explained. On the other hand, the results of average crosslink density obtained using moment values of MSDPC suggest that this parameter does not change with polymerization temperature.

     

Order and Phase Behavior of a Cylinder Forming Diblock Copolymers and Nano‐Particles Mixture in Confinement: A Molecular Dynamics Study

We study a coarse grained model of cylinder forming diblock copolymers and nano‐particles (NPs) mixture confined between Lennard–Jones hard walls. Two models for non‐selective interactions between monomers and NPs are applied. In the case of purely repulsive interactions between NPs and monomers (athermal case) strong segregation of NPs at the film surfaces and the formation of droplets of particles inside the copolymer film can be observed. For weakly attractive interactions between NPs and monomers (thermal case) formation of droplets of particles disappears and segregation on the film surfaces depend on temperature. The uptake of NPs by the copolymer film in the thermal case displays a non‐monotonic dependence on temperature which can be qualitatively explained by a mean‐field model. In both cases of non‐selective interactions NPs are preferentially localized at the interface between the microphase domains.

     

pH Dependent Elasticity of Polystyrene‐block‐poly(acrylic acid) Vesicle Shell Membranes by Atomic Force Microscopy

We assess the elastic properties of PS‐b‐PAA vesicle membranes under different pH values by AFM force measurements. We find that based on the shell deformation theory, the values of the estimated apparent Young's modulus of the vesicle membranes decrease as the pH of the solution increases. The onset of the decrease of E coincides with the surface pK_a determined from ζ‐potential measurements. This decrease of E at higher pH is attributed to electrostatic repulsion between the deprotonated PAA chains resulting in the thinning of the vesicle membrane.

     

Antistatic Epoxy Coatings With Carbon Nanotubes Obtained by Cationic Photopolymerization

Antistatic epoxy coatings are obtained, for the first time, by cationic UV curing of an epoxy resin in the presence of a very low content of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). It is shown that the addition of only 0.025 wt.‐% of CNTs into the resin is sufficient to obtain a composite suitable for applications that require electrostatic discharge. An extended percolative structure that forms a conductive CNT network is clearly evidenced within the polymeric matrix, notwithstanding the very small CNT content. The use of such UV‐cured epoxy material systems for antistatic coatings is quite realistic and promising.

     

Combining RAFT Radical Polymerization and Click/Highly Efficient Coupling Chemistries: A Powerful Strategy for the Preparation of Novel Materials

This paper highlights the powerful combination of reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) radical polymerization and various click/coupling chemistries. This is not an exhaustive review but rather an overview demonstrating the impressive possibilities that the “marriage” of these two synthetic approaches offers in modern macromolecular design and synthesis.

     

Access to Intrinsically Glucoside‐Based Microspheres with Boron Affinity

Intrinsically glucoside‐based microspheres are prepared in olive oil via a water in oil inverse suspension polymerization. The microspheres are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), evidencing the intrinsic glucose character of the spheres. A novel boronic acid fluorescent molecule was subsequently conjugated to the microspheres in an aqueous environment, exhibiting the spatial and uniform distribution of glucoside as well as the affinity of the microspheres to bind with boron, evidenced via fluorescence spectroscopy measurements.

     

Investigation of the Variation of Unit Cell Dimensions of Crystalline Polymers with High‐Resolution FT‐IR Spectroscopy

Summary: High‐resolution FT‐IR spectroscopy has been used for the first time to characterize the variation of the unit cell dimensions of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE). In combination with the unit cell parameters of HDPE measured at different temperatures by Swan using wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, the relationship between the rocking band shift (730 cm⁻¹) and the change of the unit cell volume of HDPE has been established.

High‐resolution variable‐temperature FT‐IR spectra of HDPE rocking bands with decreasing temperature.     

Acrylic,Elastomeric, Particle‐Dispersed Epoxy‐Clay Hybrid Nanocomposites: Mechanical Properties

Summary: Nanocomposites were formulated by curing a sonicated mixture of epoxy resin, C18 clay, and acrylic rubber dispersants. At 5.5 phr (parts per hundred) organoclay loading and a rubber concentration of 15 phr, the tensile‐failure strain of the nanocomposite was found to be higher than that of epoxy nanocomposite, rubber‐dispersed epoxy, and pristine epoxy. A plausible mechanism for improvement of the failure strain of nanocomposites is proposed.

Stress strain curves of filled and unfilled epoxy specimen.     

On the Importance of the Principle of Microscopic Reversibility in Copolymerization Systems

The importance of taking into account the principle of microscopic reversibility in the analysis of complex copolymerization systems is demonstrated. The analysis of a reversible copolymerization system in which segmental exchange is possible from the point of view of the reaction microreversibility proves that hetero‐reshuffling rate constants depend on homo‐reshuffling rate constants and copolymerization thermodynamics.

     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Calix[4]arene‐Based Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica

Summary: A new calix[4]arene‐based periodic mesoporous organosilica has been synthesized using tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and a calix[4]arene‐based silane monomer as the precursors and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant as the structure‐directing template, and is shown to be capable of visual detection and entrapment of NO₂.

Synthesis of the novel mesoporous organosilica material containing covalently bound tetra‐O‐alkylated calix[4]arene hosts.     

Deformation of methylenecyclopropane in solution: NMR study in the nematic phase at 240 and 400 MHz

The NMR spectrum of methylenecyclopropane oriented in two nematic phases has been measured at 240 and 400 MHz. Ratios of the proton-proton distances have been obtained. These values are compared with those deduced from the structure of the molecule in the gaseous state; they suggest an increase of the ethylenic angle in the nematic phase.     

Characterization of Chlorine‐, Amine‐ and Acrylate‐Functionalized TEMPO‐Capped and Bis‐TEMPO‐Capped Polystyrenes Using MALDI‐TOF MS

Chlorine‐functionalized TEMPO‐capped polystyrenes were investigated using the matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) technique. Amine‐ and acrylate‐functionalized agents and bifunctional TEMPO‐capped polystyrene were also analyzed to demonstrate the applicability of this method. Using this technique allowed to analyze the conversion of the chlorine function to an acrylate function, which was previously difficult to detect with other methods.

MALDI‐TOF mass spectrum of a polystyrene described in this article, as obtained with DHB as the matrix.