0000000000122115
AUTHOR
Florian D. Jochum
Influence of End Groups on the Stimulus-Responsive Behavior of Poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate] in Water
The influence of the chemical structure of both end groups onto the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate] (POEGMA) in water was systematically investigated. POEGMA of Mn = 3550 g/mol and Mw/Mn = 1.14 prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization was equipped with two different functional end groups in a one-step postpolymerization reaction combining activated esters, functional amines, and functional methane thiosulfonates. As end groups, n-propyl, n-hexadecyl, di(n-octadecyl), poly(ethylene glycol)-550 (PEG), 1H,1H-perfluorononyl, azobenzene, and trimethylethylammonium groups were system…
Covalently bonded layer-by-layer assembly of multifunctional thin films based on activated esters.
We demonstrate that chemically stable, multifunctional polymer thin films can be obtained using the layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition based on covalent bonds between adsorbing chains. Poly(pentafluorophenyl-4-vinylbenzoate) (P1) or poly(pentafluorophenylacrylate) (P2) polymers were assembled with poly(allyl amine) (PAAm) to yield LbL multilayer films through amide bond formation by the reaction between activated esters of P1 or P2 and amine groups in PAAm, which was quantitatively monitored by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). It was found that the difference in the solubility of P1 and P2 against ethanol, which was used as the solvent for PAAm, during the LbL deposition yields…
UCST-type behavior of poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] (POEGMA) in aliphatic alcohols: solvent, co-solvent, molecular weight, and end group dependences
Poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] (POEGMA) is shown to possess insoluble–soluble transitions (UCST-type phase behavior) in a large variety of aliphatic alcohols. Samples of different molecular weights ranging from 5 kg mol−1 to 23 kg mol−1 prepared by the RAFT process and featuring different end groups at each end were analyzed by cloud point measurements. Transitions occurred sharply and were fully reversible. The UCST was found to increase with an increasing molecular weight. Hydrophobic (alkyl chain) end groups were found to lower the critical temperature in isopropanol, while rigid aromatic end groups raised the transition temperature. In ternary mixtures of isoprop…
Functionalization and patterning of reactive polymer brushes based on surface reversible addition and fragmentation chain transfer polymerization
We present the synthesis of reactive polymer brushes prepared by surface reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of pentafluorophenyl acrylate. The reactive ester moieties can be used to functionalize the polymer brush film with virtually any functionality by simple post-polymerization modification with amines. Dithiobenzoic acid benzyl-(4-ethyltrimethoxylsilyl) ester was used as the surface chain transfer agent (S-CTA) and the anchoring group onto the silicon substrates. Reactive polymer brushes with adjustable molecular weight, high grafting density, and conformal coverage through the grafting-from approach were obtained. Subsequently, the reactive polymer brushes …
Hydrogen peroxide sensors for cellular imaging based on horse radish peroxidase reconstituted on polymer-functionalized TiO2 nanorods
We describe the reconstitution of apo-horse radish peroxidase (apo-HRP) onto TiO2 nanorods functionalized with a multifunctional polymer. After functionalization, the horse radish peroxidase (HRP) functionalized TiO2 nanorods were well dispersible in aqueous solution, catalytically active and biocompatible, and they could be used to quantify and image H2O2 which is a harmful secondary product of cellular metabolism. The shape, size and structure of TiO2 nanorods (anatase) were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM (HRTEM), electron diffraction (ED) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The surface functionalization, HRP reconstitution and catalytic activity were con…
Temperature- and light-responsive smart polymer materials.
Stimuli-responsive polymers have been attracting great interest within the scientific community for several decades. The unique feature to respond to small changes in the environmental conditions has made this class of materials very promising for several applications in the field of nanoscience, nanotechnology and nanomedicine. So far, several different chemical, physical or biochemical stimuli have been investigated within natural or synthetic polymers. Very interesting and appealing seems to be the combination of several stimuli to tune the properties of these materials in manifold ways. Within this present review, we want to highlight the recent progress in the field of synthetic stimul…
Temperature- and Light-Responsive Polyacrylamides Prepared by a Double Polymer Analogous Reaction of Activated Ester Polymers
Two different series of polyacrylamides containing different amounts of salicylideneaniline moieties have been synthesized via a double polymer analogous reaction of poly(pentafluorophenyl acrylate) (PPFPA). All copolymers were designed to exhibit a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in aqueous solution, which was dependent on (i) the amount of incorporated chromophoric salicylideneaniline groups and (ii) the isomerization state of the respective salicylideneaniline group. Higher LCST values were measured for UV-irradiated solutions of the copolymers in comparison to the nonirradiated copolymer solutions. A maximum difference in the LCST of up to 13 °C was found for poly(N-cycloprop…
Nanotube Friendly Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide).
Poly(N-ispropylacrylamide) [PNIPAM] is a widely studied polymer for use in biological applications due to its lower critical solution temperature (LCST) being so close to the human body temperature. Unfortunately, attempts to combine carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with PNIPAM have been unsuccessful due to poor interactions between these two materials. In this work, a PNIPAM copolymer with 1 mol-% pyrene side group [p-PNIPAM] was used to produce a thermoresponsive polymer capable of stabilizing both single and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in water. The presence of pyrene in the polymer chain lowers the LCST less than 4 °C and the interaction with nanotubes does not show any influence on LC…
Improvement of solubility and biocompatibility of MnO based nanoparticles in aqueous solutions
ABSTRACTMnO nanoparticles were surface modified using two different multifunctional polymers. By introducing a PEG group, the long term stability, MRI applicability and sterile filtration could be greatly improved. Furthermore, PEGylated MnO NPs were less toxic compared to non-PEGylated NPs. The results suggest that these nanoparticles are suitable for in vivo applications.
Au@MnO-“Nanoblumen” - Hybrid-Nanokomposite zur selektiven dualen Funktionalisierung und Bildgebung
In j ngster Vergangenheit hat das Interesse f r die Entwicklung von Hybrid-Nanostrukturen, die sich aus verschiedenen Materialien zusammensetzen, in erheblichem Mase zugenommen. Es wurde berichtet, dass die Zusammenf hrung verschiedener Nanomaterialien, die ihrerseits spezifische optische, magnetische oder elektronische Eigenschaften aufweisen, zu Kompositen aus mehreren dieser Komponenten, deren individuelle Eigenschaften ver ndern oder sogar verbessern k nnen. Durch gezielte Optimierung der Struktur und der Grenzfl chenwechselwirkung innerhalb der Nanokomposite k nnte eine breite Basis f r zuk nftige Technologien geschaffen werden, beispielweise f r die synchrone Biomarkierung, Proteintre…
Chemical Mimicry: Hierarchical 1D TiO2@ZrO2 Core−Shell Structures Reminiscent of Sponge Spicules by the Synergistic Effect of Silicatein-α and Silintaphin-1
In nature, mineralization of hard tissues occurs due to the synergistic effect of components present in the organic matrix of these tissues, with templating and catalytic effects. In Suberites domuncula, a well-studied example of the class of demosponges, silica formation is mediated and templated by an axial proteinaceous filament with silicatein-α, one of the main components. But so far, the effect of other organic constituents from the proteinaceous filament on the catalytic effect of silicatein-α has not been studied in detail. Here we describe the synthesis of core-shell TiO(2)@SiO(2) and TiO(2)@ZrO(2) nanofibers via grafting of silicatein-α onto a TiO(2) nanowire backbone followed by …
Temperature and light sensitive copolymers containing azobenzene moieties prepared via a polymer analogous reaction
Abstract Four different series of polyacrylamides containing different amounts of azobenzene moieties have been synthesized via a polymer analogous reaction of poly(pentafluorophenylacrylate) (PPFPA). All copolymers were designed to exhibit a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in aqueous solution, which was dependent on (i) the amount of incorporated chromophoric azobenzene groups and (ii) the isomerization state of the respective azobenzene group. Higher LCST values were measured for UV-irradiated solutions of the copolymers in comparison to the non-irradiated copolymer solutions. A maximum difference in the LCST of up to 7 °C was found for the copolymer poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide…
Au@MnO nanoflowers: hybrid nanocomposites for selective dual functionalization and imaging.
Recently, the development of hybrid nanostructures consisting of various materials has attracted considerable interest. The assembly of different nanomaterials with specific optical, magnetic, or electronic properties to multicomponent composites can change and even enhance the properties of the individual constituents. Specifically tuning the structure and interface interactions within the nanocomposites has resulted in novel platforms of materials that may lead the way to various future technologies, such as synchronous biolabeling, protein separation and detection, heterogeneous catalysis, and multimodal imaging in biomedicine. Of the various kinds of nanomaterials, gold nanorods show an…
Double Thermoresponsive Block Copolymers Featuring a Biotin End Group
A poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate)-block-poly(N-isopropyl methacrylamide) (POEGMA-b-PNIPMAM) block copolymer with a biotin end group on the PNIPMAM block as a biotarget was synthesized as a model system for temperature-controlled polymer immobilization. The synthesis was based on RAFT polymerization followed by postpolymerization modification of an activated ester precursor block and an exchange of the dithioester end group within one step. NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and turbidimetry measurements were performed to investigate the stimulus-responsive properties. The double thermoresponsive POEGMA-b-PNIPMAM with biot…
Thermo- and Light-Responsive Polymers Containing Photoswitchable Azobenzene End Groups
Telechelic thermo- and light-responsive polymers based on poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) P(OEGMA) with azobenzene functionalities at the end groups were synthesized. In a reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using a functionalized chain transfer agent (CTA) containing a pentafluorophenyl (PFP) activated ester, oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA, Mn ∼ 300 g mol−1) could successfully be polymerized with good control over molecular weight, very high conversions, and narrow molecular weight distributions. Polymers derived from this CTA possessed an activated ester at the α-end of the polymer chain as well as a dithio…
PNIPAM Copolymers Containing Light-Responsive Chromophores: A Method Toward Molecular Logic Gates
A series of thermo-responsive PNIPAM copolymers containing different amounts of fulgimide moieties has been synthesized via a polymer analogous reaction of poly(pentafluorophenyl acrylate). All copolymers were designed to exhibit a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in water, which was only weakly dependent on the amount of incorporated chromophoric fulgimide groups. The copolymers showed a photocyclization of the fulgimide side groups upon irradiation with UV-light accompanied with a color change. The closed form of the chromophore had a halftime of 136 min for the visible reisomerization and did not affect the LCST of the polymer. This led to the realization of a logic "NOT A" for…
Multi-stimuli responsive polymers – the all-in-one talents
Stimuli-responsive polymers have gained increasing attention, which is attributed to the manifold applications they can be used for. Several years' intensive research was invested in stimuli-responsive polymers. Their stimuli-responsiveness led not only to novel responsive groups, which enabled the translation of an external physical impact into a change of a material property, but also to polymers that are equipped with more than one responsive group. The integration of several responsive moieties within one polymer yields smart polymers exhibiting complex responsive behaviour of the polymers. This review summarises recent developments in the area of multi-stimuli responsive polymers, layi…
Reactive surface coatings based on polysilsesquioxanes: universal method toward light-responsive surfaces.
Reactive surface coatings were used as an ideal precursor coating for the fabrication of three different photoswitchable surface coatings in parallel. Different light-responsive moieties, such as azobenzene, salicylideneaniline, and spiropyran, were immobilized on glass, polycarbonate, and steel surfaces. Independent from the underlying substrate, wettability could be switched reversibly by UV irradiation. The maximum switching range was obtained after functionalization of the reactive coating with spiropyran, resulting in a contact angle difference between the two isomeric states of almost 30°.
Multi-responsive copolymers: using thermo-, light- and redox stimuli as three independent inputs towards polymeric information processing
We report on triple responsive polymers, exhibiting a distinct and reversible lower critical solution temperature in water that can be altered by light and redox stimuli, and we suggest their evaluation for molecular information processing.
IF-ReS2 with Covalently Linked Porphyrin Antennae
The preparation of inorganic and organic hybrid materials, of metals or semiconductor systems which are functionalized with functional molecules to fabricate devices — nanotechnology — is currently an area of intense activity in both fundamental science and applied science on an international scale. Principally, nanotechnology aims at manipulating atoms, molecules, and nanosize particles in a precise and controlled manner in order to build materials with a fundamentally new organization and novel properties. The embryonic stage of nanotechnology is atomic assembly, whereas the mature form of nanotechnology will be molecular assembly to make nano-building blocks for the design of nanocomposi…
Thermo- and light responsive micellation of azobenzene containing block copolymers
In this communication, the synthesis and characterization of thermo- and light responsive block copolymers is reported. PEO-b-PNIPAM polymers with azobenzene moieties were prepared and analyzed by turbidimetry, fluorescence, NMR and DLS measurements. A temperature controlled reversible formation as well as a light induced disruption and reformation of micellar structures in water was found.
Tailoring Properties of Carbon Nanotube Dispersions and Nanocomposites Using Temperature-Responsive Copolymers of Pyrene-Modified Poly(N-cyclopropylacrylamide)
Despite their immense potential, the ability to control the dispersion and microstructure of carbon nanotubes remains a hurdle for their widespread use. Stimuli-responsive polymers show conformational changes with an applied external stimulus (pH, temperature, light, etc.). The dispersion of carbon nanotubes by thermoresponsive polymers is shown to enable the macroscopic properties of aqueous suspensions to be tailored as a function of temperature. This work presents the synthesis, characterization, and use of temperature-responsive poly(N-cyclopropylacrylamide) (PNCPA) polymers containing 1, 3, and 5 mol % pyrene-bearing repeat units to tailor the dispersion state of single-walled carbon n…