Microcontainers with electrochemically reversible permeability

The present study demonstrates a novel application of polyelectrolyte microcapsules as microcontainers with electrochemically reversible flux of redox active materials into and out of the capsule volume. Incorporation of the capsules inside the conducting polymer (polypyrrole) film results in a new composite electrode combining electrocatalytic and conducting properties of the polypyrrole with the storage and release properties of the capsules. This electrode, if loaded with electrochemical fuels, can possess electrochemically controlled switching between "open/closed" states of the capsule shell and be of practical interest for a new type of chemically rechargeable batteries or fuel cells. A special explanation for the potential depending loading and unloading of the capsule inner volume may be related to the fact that the polyelectrolyte capsules experience a potential gradient in the polypyrrole matrix within which the polyions of the shell can be moved.     

Two-compartment micellar assemblies obtained via aqueous self-organization of synthetic polymer building blocks

We synthesized a symmetric linear ABCBA pentablock copolymer consisting of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(gamma-benzyl l-glutamate), and a poly(perfluoro ether) (fluorolink). The different blocks are highly immiscible with each other and form two-compartment micelles of mainly cylindrical shape in aqueous solution with lengths in the range of 100 to 200 nm and diameters of about 24 nm. The poly(perfluoro ether) (C blocks) forms the liquidlike center of the micelles (d = 6 nm). This is surrounded by a first shell of ca. 2 nm thickness consisting of beta-sheets of poly(gamma-benzyl l-glutamate) (B blocks) and a second 7 nm shell of poly(ethylene oxide) (A blocks). The A blocks provide water solubility, and the B and C blocks form separated hydrophobic compartments. This work is a contribution to the development of multicompartment micelles devoted to mimic transport proteins such as serum albumins in long-term development.     

Ultrasonically induced opening of polyelectrolyte microcontainers

The effect of ultrasonic treatments of different intensity and duration on the integrity and permeability of polyelectrolyte capsules was investigated both in poly(allylamine)/poly(styrene sulfonate) and Fe(3)O(4)/poly(allylamine)/poly(styrene sulfonate) polyelectrolyte capsules. Ultrasonic treatment of polyelectrolyte capsules induces the destruction of the polyelectrolyte shell and the release of the encapsulated material even at short (5 s) sonification times. The presence of magnetite nanoparticles significantly improves the efficiency of the ultrasonically stimulated release of the encapsulated compounds and enables magnetically controlled delivery to the desired site before ultrasonic treatment. Release of the encapsulated compound induced at ultrasonic power comparable to those of ultrasonic generators applied in medicine, demonstrating practical application of the ultrasonically triggered capsule opening in medicine.     

Micelles‐Encapsulated Microcapsules for Sequential Loading of Hydrophobic and Water‐Soluble Drugs

Layer‐by‐layer (LbL) assembly was conducted on CaCO₃ microparticles pre‐doped with polystyrene‐block‐poly(acrylic acid) (PS‐b‐PAA) micelles, and resulted in micelles encapsulation in the microcapsules after core removal. Distribution of the micelles in the templates and capsules was characterized by transmission electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The micelles inside the capsules connected with each other to form a chain and network‐like structure with a higher density near the capsule walls. The hydrophobic PS cores were then able to load small uncharged hydrophobic drugs while the negatively charged PAA corona could induce spontaneous deposition of water‐soluble positively charged drugs such as doxorubicin.

     

Sonochemical Synthesis of Magnetic Protein Container for Targeted Delivery

A new targeted delivery system was developed in this paper by depositing magnetic NPs on protein containers which were prepared by sonicating oil in a protein solution. The deposition was conducted by layer‐by‐layer technique and monitored by zeta potential measurement. Such prepared samples can be targeted delivery in an external magnetic field. The hydrophobic dye TPP, as a model of drug, was loaded in the containers by dissolution in the oil phase before sonication. The containers loaded with dye are stable and can sustain the deposition treatment without loss of dye due to the protection of protein nanoshells.

     

Single particle light-scattering photometry--some fields of application

Present developments in the field of bioscience will profit from the fabrication of multilayer films of polyelectrolytes on colloids as well as of nano- and microsized capsules. The single particle light-scattering technique is suitable for process control. This paper describes the mode of operation and efficiency of a laboratory-built single particle light-scattering photometer, which opens up new possibilities in applications, especially in the field of bioscience. This has been achieved by improving the measurement capabilities of organic particle sizes near 100 nm and precision of thickness changes of about 0.5 nm. Besides the classic applications, such as particle size distribution measurements at high resolution and the coagulation kinetics of colloids, the measurement of the layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte adsorption at colloid particle surfaces and the fabrication of colloidal carriers is introduced. The described method is also a precise method for controlling the removal of the latex core to obtain multilayer microcapsules.     

Temperature-dependent formation of octadecylsiloxane self-assembled monolayers on mica as studied by atomic force microscopy

We have investigated the growth of octadecylsiloxane (ODS) self-assembled monolayers on mica. Freshly cleaved muscovite mica and octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) dissolved in toluene (c = 1.0 mmol/L) have been used as substrate and precursor, respectively. The water content of the adsorption solution was between 14.6 and 16.6 mmol/L. Adsorption experiments were carried out in a temperature range between 5 and 45 degrees C, and the obtained submonolayer ODS films were characterized with atomic force microscopy (AFM). Besides the morphology of the films, also information on the surface coverage has been obtained by quantitative evaluation of the AFM images. Depending on the temperature, evidence for both ordered and disordered expanded ODS phases has been found. The pronounced maximum in surface coverage--in contrast to adsorption on silicon substrates--at a temperature of about 27 degrees C and the different morphology of the submonolayer films as compared to silicon substrates could be explained in terms of a deposition, diffusion, and aggregation (DDA) model.