Microfluidic networks for surface plasmon resonance imaging real-time kinetics experiments

The coupling of microfluidic devices with surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRI) has emerged in recent years as a novel approach for the simultaneous monitoring of interactions of biomolecules arrayed onto gold substrates. In order to minimize a variety of effects which affect the final determination of kinetic parameters (non-specific interactions above all), difficult choices of appropriate references are often encountered in carrying out SPRI investigations. A common solution to these problems consists of laborious experimental setup involving the use of specially designed microchannels and tedious manipulation of the gold substrate that often produces surface degradation.In this work, a discussion about appropriate choice of references in SPRI measurements is opened and the use of alternative microfluidic patterns coupled to the SPRI system is proposed as a solution to the above mentioned problems. Specifically, a Y-shaped SPRI flow cell has been constructed from masters in polyvinyl chloride and it has been identified as one of the most suitable experimental approach for obtaining appropriate referencing during SPRI experiments. The experimental set up has been tested in a real time study of the interaction between the Datura Stramonium Agglutinin and the asialofetuin and the obtained results demonstrate the suitability of such microfluidic network in SPRI investigations.     

Preparation of thin surface layers by grafting of PEO

We have developed a two‐stage process to graft poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) onto a silica surface. In the first stage the adsorption of an anchor reactive polymer to the surface is carried out, and in the second stage the grafting of compatibilizing macromolecular tails is performed via the reactions of functional groups of the polymer anchored. Random copolymers of styrene and maleic anhydride (SM) were chosen as reactive anchoring polymers. The kinetics of adsorption of SM from dilute solutions onto the silica surface as well as the grafting of PEO to SM macromolecules adsorbed was experimentally investigated by null ellipsometry. A model of the structure at the surface is proposed.     

Rapid microarray detection of DNA and proteins in microliter volumes with surface plasmon resonance imaging measurements

A four-chamber microfluidic biochip is fabricated for the rapid detection of multiple proteins and nucleic acids from microliter volume samples with the technique of surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRI). The 18 mm × 18 mm biochip consists of four 3 μL microfluidic chambers attached to an SF10 glass substrate, each of which contains three individually addressable SPRI gold thin film microarray elements. The 12-element (4 × 3) SPRI microarray consists of gold thin film spots (1 mm(2) area; 45 nm thickness), each in individually addressable 0.5 μL volume microchannels. Microarrays of single-stranded DNA and RNA (ssDNA and ssRNA, respectively) are fabricated by either chemical and/or enzymatic attachment reactions in these microchannels; the SPRI microarrays are then used to detect femtomole amounts (nanomolar concentrations) of DNA and proteins (ssDNA binding protein and thrombin via aptamer-protein bioaffinity interactions). Microarrays of ssRNA microarray elements are also used for the ultrasensitive detection of zeptomole amounts (femtomolar concentrations) of DNA via the technique of RNase H-amplified SPRI. Enzymatic removal of ssRNA from the surface due to the hybridization adsorption of target ssDNA is detected as a reflectivity decrease in the SPR imaging measurements. The observed reflectivity loss is proportional to the log of the target ssDNA concentration with a detection limit of 10 fM or 30 zeptomoles (18?000 molecules). This enzymatic amplified ssDNA detection method is not limited by diffusion of ssDNA to the interface, and thus is extremely fast, requiring only 200 s in the microliter volume format.     

Magnetic hydrophilic methacrylate-based polymer microspheres for genomic DNA isolation

Carboxyl groups containing magnetic and non-magnetic microspheres were used in solid-phase reversible immobilization (SPRI) of genomic DNA. Magnetic non-porous poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate)--P(HEMA-co-EDMA), poly(glycidyl methacrylate)--PGMA and P(HEMA-co-GMA) microspheres with hydrophilic properties were prepared by dispersion copolymerization of the respective monomers in the presence of colloidal iron oxides. DNA from chicken erythrocytes and DNA isolated from bacterial cells of Bifidobacterium longum was used for testing of adsorption/desorption properties of magnetic microspheres. The occurrence of false negative results in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) caused by the presence of extracellular inhibitors in DNA samples has been solved using SPRI. The P(HEMA-co-EDMA) and P(HEMA-co-GMA) microspheres were used for isolation of DNA from different dairy products followed by PCR identification of Bifidobacterium strains.     

Protection/Deprotection of surface activity and its applications in the controlled release of liposomal contents

The micelles of two tripropargylammonium-functionalized cationic surfactants were cross-linked by a disulfide-containing diazido cross-linker in the presence of Cu(I) catalysts. With multiple residual alkyne groups on the surface, the resulting surface cross-linked micelles (SCMs) were postfunctionalized by reaction with 2-azidoethanol and an azido-terminated poly(ethylene glycol), respectively, via the alkyne-azide click reaction. The water-soluble nanoparticles obtained had low surface activity due to the buried hydrophobic tails. Cleavage of the disulfide cross-links by dithiothreitol (DTT) exposed the hydrophobic tails and resumed surface activity of the "caged" surfactants within 2 min after DTT addition. The controlled breakage of the SCMs was used to lower the surface tension of aqueous solutions and trigger the release of liposomal contents on demand.     

Formation of a supramolecular gel between alpha-cyclodextrin and free and adsorbed PEO on the surface of colloidal silica: effect of temperature, solvent, and particle size

Aqueous solutions of alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) complex spontaneously with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), forming a supramolecular structure known as pseudopolyrotaxane. We have studied the formation of the complex obtained from the threading of alpha-CD onto PEO, both free in solution and adsorbed on colloidal silica. The kinetics of the reaction were studied by gravimetric methods and determined as a function of temperature and solvent composition for the PEO free in solution. PEO was then adsorbed on the surface of colloidal silica particles, and the monomers were displaced by systematically varying the degree of complexation, the concentration of particles, and the molecular weight of the polymer. The effect of the size of the silica particles on the yield of the reaction was also studied. With the adsorbed PEO, the complexation was found to be partial and to take place from the tails of the polymer. The formation of a gel network containing silica at high degrees of complexation was observed. Small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering experiments were performed to study the configuration of the polymeric chains and confirmed the partial desorption of the polymer from the surface of the silica upon complexation.     

Surface-grafting onto aramid powder: reaction of acyl chloride groups on the surface with functional polymers having terminal hydroxyl or amino groups

The surface-grafting of polymers onto aramid, poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide), powder surface by the reaction of acyl chloride groups on the surface with functional polymers having terminal hydroxyl and amino groups was investigated. The introduction of acyl chloride groups onto the aramid powder surface was achieved by the reaction of the aramid powder with adipoyl dichloride: the acyl chloride group content of the surface was estimated to be 1.14 mmol/g (0.17 mmol/m²) by elemental analysis. It was found that by the reaction of acyl chloride groups on the surface with functional polymers, such as terminal diol-type poly(propylene oxide) (PPG) and terminal diamine-type poly(dimethylsiloxane) (SDA), these polymers were grafted onto the aramid powder surface; the percentage of surface grafting of PPG and SDA onto the aramid powder was 16.7 and 22.4%, respectively. The thermogravimetric curve of PPG surface-grafted aramid powder exhibited an initial weight loss at about 250°C and a second weight loss at about 500°C. This indicated that the grafting of PPG is limited to the powder surface. The wettability of the aramid powder surface turned from hydrophobic to hydrophilic by the surface-grafting of PPG onto the surface.     

Scale‐up synthesis of hyperbranched poly(amidoamine)‐grafted ultrafine silica using dendrimer synthesis methodology in solvent‐free dry‐system

Scale‐up synthesis of hyperbranched poly(amidoamine)‐grafted ultrafine silica was successfully achieved by using dendrimer synthesis methodology in solvent‐free dry‐system. The poly(amidoamine) was allowed to grow from silica surface by repeating two steps: (1) Michael addition of methyl acrylate (MA) to amino group on the surface and (2) amidation of terminal ester group with ethylenediamine (EDA). MA was sprayed onto silica having amino group and the silica agitated at 300 rpm at 50 °C. After the reaction, unreacted MA was removed under vacuum. Then EDA was sprayed and the reaction was conducted at 50 °C with agitation. After the reaction, unreacted EDA was also removed under vacuum at 50 °C and MA was sprayed again. The percentage of poly(amidoamine) grafting onto the surface was determined to be 141% with repeated reaction cycles of eight‐times. However, the value was considerably smaller than that of the theoretical value. This indicates that the propagation of poly(amidoamine) dendron from silica surface was not achieved theoretically and hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) was grafted onto the surface because of steric hindrance of grafted polymer. In addition, the effect of initial amino group content on the growth of poly(amidoamine) from the surface was investigated. It was concluded that the method is suitable for the scale‐up synthesis of hyperbranched poly(amidoamine)‐grafted silica. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Heat-Resistant Polymer-Grafted Carbon Black: Grafting of Poly(Organophosphazenes) onto Carbon Black Surface

Abstract

The grafting of poly(organophosphazenes) onto carbon black surface by the reaction of poly(dichlorophosphazene) (PDCP) with carbon black having sodium phenoxide groups was investigated. PDCP was prepared by the ring-opening polymerization of hexachlorocyclotriphos-phazene in solution using sulfamic acid as a catalyst. The introduction of sodium phenoxide groups onto carbon black was achieved by treatment of phenolic hydroxyl groups on the surface with sodium hydroxide in methanol. Poly(diphenoxyphosphazene) (PDPP) was successfully grafted onto carbon black by the reaction of PDCP with sodium phenoxide groups introduced onto the surface followed by the replacement of chlorine atoms in PDCP with phenoxy groups. The percentage of grafting onto carbon black increased to 206% at 30°C after 12 h. It was found that only 1.4% of sodium phenoxide groups on carbon black surface was used for the grafting of PDCP because of the blocking of the surface by grafted polymer chains. Poly(diaminophenylphosphazene) and poly-(diethoxyphosphazene) were also grafted onto carbon black surface by the treatment of PDCP-grafted carbon black with aniline and sodium ethoxide, respectively. Poly(organophosphazenes)-grafted carbon blacks produced stable colloidal dispersions in good solvents for grafted polymers. Furthermore, thermogravimetric analysis indicated that poly-(organophosphazenes)-grafted carbon blacks were stable in air about 300°C.     

Improving the hydrophilic and antifouling properties of poly(vinyl chloride) membranes by atom transfer radical polymerization grafting of poly(ionic liquid) brushes

In this study, poly(1‐butyl‐3‐vinylimidazolium bromide) (PBVIm‐Br) was grafted onto the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane surface via a 2‐step atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) reaction. Poly(2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PHEMA) was grafted onto the membrane surface by aqueous ATRP reaction; then, BVIm‐Br was introduced onto the surface of the PHEMA‐modified PVC membrane through traditional ATRP reaction. The analysis of surface chemistry confirmed the successful grafting of PHEMA and PBVIm‐Br on PVC membrane surface, and the grafting density (GD) of PBVIm‐Br gradually increased as the grafting time was prolonged. The modified membrane exhibited a positive charge and significantly enhanced surface hydrophilicity. The static water contact angle of the membrane surface decreased from 92.3° to 51.6° as the GD of the PBVIm‐Br brushes increased. Filtration experiments indicated that the water flux of the modified membrane increased with increasing GD, and their recovered fluxes were more than twice than the original. In addition, the total fouling ratio of the membranes decreased from 89% in M0 to 67% in M5, and most of the fouling was reversible as the GD of PBVIm‐Br brushes increased. These results indicated that the positive charged poly(ionic liquid) brushes featuring hydrophilic properties would have potential applications in membrane separation.     

Grafting of polymers onto a carbon‐fiber surface by ligand‐exchange reaction of poly(vinyl ferrocene‐co‐vinyl monomer) with polycondensed aromatic rings of the surface

To improve the surface of carbon fiber, the grafting reaction of copolymer containing vinyl ferrocene (VFE) onto a carbon‐fiber surface by a ligand‐exchange reaction between ferrocene moieties of the copolymer and polycondensed aromatic rings of carbon fiber was investigated. The copolymer containing VFE was prepared by the radical copolymerization of VFE with vinyl monomers, such as methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene, using 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. By heating the carbon fiber with poly(VFE‐co‐MMA) (number‐average molecular weight: 2.1 × 10⁴) in the presence of aluminum chloride and aluminum powder, the copolymer was grafted onto the surface. The percentage of grafting reached 46.1%. On the contrary, in the absence of aluminum chloride, no grafting of the copolymer was observed. Therefore, it is considered that the copolymer was grafted onto the carbon‐fiber surface by a ligand‐exchange reaction between ferrocene moieties of the copolymer and polycondensed aromatic rings of carbon fiber. The molar number of grafted polymer chain on the carbon‐fiber surface decreased with increasing molecular weight of poly(VFE‐co‐MMA) because the steric hindrance of grafted copolymer on the carbon‐fiber surface increases with increasing molecular weight of poly(VFE‐co‐MMA). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1868–1875, 2002     

通过RAFT聚合制备SiO2/接枝共聚物纳米杂化粒子

以二氧化硅(SiO2)纳米粒子表面键接的二硫代苯甲酸酯作为可逆加成-断裂-链转移(RAFT)聚合反应的链转移剂, 在室温下引发苯乙烯和马来酸酐进行表面RAFT交替共聚反应, 制得了SiO2/苯乙烯-alt-马来酸酐杂化材料. 通过聚氧化乙烯(PEO)的羟基与马来酸酐的酯化反应, 将PEO接枝到SiO2纳米粒子的表面, 增加了硅粒子的生物相容性. 用FTIR, TGA和TEM对杂化材料的结构、组成和形貌进行了表征.     

Conducting polymer films fabricated by oxidative graft copolymerization of aniline on poly(acrylic acid) grafted poly(ethylene terephthalate) surfaces

A conductive polyaniline/poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PANI/PET) composite film was fabricated via the oxidative graft copolymerization of aniline (ANI) onto the plasma-induced poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) grafted PET surface. The attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results confirmed that PANI was successfully grafted onto the surface of the PAAc-g-PET films. The effects of the experimental conditions on the percentage of PANI grafted onto the PAAc-g-PET films were extensively investigated. A very high grafting percentage of ANI can be obtained through the acid-base reaction between the aniline monomer and PAAc on the PAAc-g-PET surface at high temperature. As a result, the grafting percentage of PANI can be increased to as high as 12.18 wt %, which causes the surface resistance of the PANI-g-PAAc-g-PET film to be reduced to about 1000 Omega/sq. We predicted that this is because of the high flexibility of the PAAc molecular chains and high solubility of aniline, both of which facilitate the binding of aniline to PAAc during this high temperature acid-base reaction. It was observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) that the PANI-modified PET surface exhibits higher size irregularity and surface roughness, which further indicated that a much greater number of aniline molecules can be reactively bonded to and distributed along the grafted AAc chains and that the PANI-g-PAAc-g-PET surface resulting from the sequential oxidative graft copolymerization can possess higher electrical conductivity.     

Grafting of poly(acrylic acid) onto nonporous glass bead surfaces

The surface of glass beads were modified with covalently bonded poly(acrylic acid). The optimum reaction conditions were determined to graft poly(acrylic acid) effectively onto the glass surface. The dependence of the graft polymer molecular weight, grafting percentage and monomer weight conversion based on these reaction conditions were consistent with free radical kinetics. Grafting efficiency for azobisisobutyronitrile was more complex compared with the benzyl peroxide initiator system © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Radical grafting from glass fiber surface: Graft polymerization of vinyl monomers initiated by azo groups introduced onto the surface

This paper describes the radical graft polymerization of vinyl monomers from glass fiber surface initiated by alkylazo groups introduced onto the fiber surface. The introduction of azo groups onto the glass fiber surface was achieved by reaction of isocyanate groups which were previously attached onto the surface with two kinds of azo initiators, 4,4′-azobis(4-cyanopentanoic acid) (ACPA) and 2,2′-azobis(2-cyanopropanol) (ACP). The amounts of surface azo groups introduced by ACPA and ACP were both determined to be 1.3 × 10⁻⁵ mol g⁻¹ by nitrogen analysis. The radical graft polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was found to be initiated in the presence of the glass fiber having surface azo groups. During the polymerization, part of resultant poly(MMA) grafted onto the fiber surface through propagation of the polymer from the surface radicals produced by the decomposition of the azo groups. The percentage of grafting of poly(MMA) reached 48.1% after 24 h. The graft polymerizations of other monomers, such as styrene, N-vinylcarbazole, and acrylic acid, were also initiated by the surface azo groups, and the corresponding polymer effectively grafted onto the surface. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2121–2128, 1999     

Synthesis of soluble single‐walled carbon nanotubes with poly (1,3‐cyclohexadiene): Grafting poly(1,3‐cyclohexadienyl)lithium onto a solid surface

The first‐ever grafting of poly(1,3‐cyclohexadiene) (PCHD) onto single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) was accomplished by reaction with poly(1,3‐cyclohexadienyl)lithium. The rate of this reaction was especially slow due to the heterogeneous nature of the reaction system. The concentration of active carbons available for reaction with PCHDLi on the solid surface of the SWNTs was found to be approximately 2.0 mol %. The mass of PCHD attached to the SWNTs was effectively controlled by varying the molecular weight of the PCHD. The resulting PCHD‐grafted SWNTs exhibited excellent solubility in organic solvent, maintaining a highly stable homogeneous dispersion even after 3 months. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Surface grafting polyethylene glycol (PEG) onto poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) films

Two reaction schemes were developed to covalently graft poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains on poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) (EAA) surfaces. The schemes involved surface grafting of linker molecules L-lysine or polypropyleneamine dendrimer (AM64), with subsequent covalent bonding of PEG chains to the linker molecules. NHS and EDC were used to activate the carboxylic acid groups of the EAA in the outermost region of the film, estimated to be 20 nm by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. XPS demonstrated that the conversion of this activation step was almost 100% in the detected region. After activation, L-lysine or dendrimer was grafted onto the EAA surface, followed by PEG grafting. Combining the data from ATR-FTIR, XPS, and contact angle goniometry, it was found that the PEG chains were grafted on the surface of the EAA film and larger surface coverage was achieved when the dendrimer was used as the intermediate layer. This surface also had the lowest water contact angle.     

An approach for the surface functionalized gold nanoparticles with pH-responsive polymer by combination of RAFT and click chemistry

In this report, we demonstrated a novel efficient post-modification route for preparation of smart hybrid gold nanoparticles with poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) based on RAFT and click chemistry. A new azide terminated ligand was first synthesized to modify gold nanoparticles by ligand exchange reaction, and then click reaction was used to graft alkyne terminated P4VP which was prepared by RAFT onto the surface of gold nanoparticles. The functionalized hybrid gold nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, FTIR, and XPS etc. The results indicated that the P4VP was successfully grafted onto the surface of gold nanoparticles by click reaction. The surface grafting density was calculated to be about 6 chains/nm²_. In addition, the hybrid gold nanoparticles showed a pH responsive phenomenon as the pH value changed around 5.