Search results for "Mphi"

An Inverse Thermogelling Bioink Based on an ABA-Type Poly(2-oxazoline) Amphiphile

2021

Hydrogels are key components in several biomedical research areas such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, and biofabrication. Here, a novel ABA-type triblock copolymer comprising poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) as the hydrophilic A blocks and poly(2-phenethyl-2-oxazoline) as the aromatic and hydrophobic B block is introduced. Above the critical micelle concentration, the polymer self-assembles into small spherical polymer micelles with a hydrodynamic radius of approx 8-8.5 nm. Interestingly, this specific combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic aromatic moieties leads to rapid thermoresponsive inverse gelation at polymer concentrations above a critical gelation concentration (20 wt %) into…

Photo-switching in a hybrid material made of magnetic layered double hydroxides intercalated with azobenzene molecules.

2014

Financial support from the EU (Projects HINTS FP7-263104-2 and SpinMol Advanced Grant ERC-2009-AdG-20090325), the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (Projects with FEDER cofinancing MAT 2009-14528-C02-01, MAT2011-22785, MAT2012-38567-C02-01, CTQ-2011-26507, Consolider-Ingenio in Molecular Nanoscience CSD2007-00010, Consolider-Ingenio 2010-Multicat CSD2009-00050, and Severo Ochoa Program SEV-2012-0267), Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO and ISIC-Nano programs), and VLC/Campus Microcluster "Functional Nanomaterials and Nanodevices" is gratefully acknowledged. C. M. G. thanks the Spanish MINECO for a Ramon y Cajal Fellowship (RYC-2012-10894). We also acknowledge P. Atienzar and J. …

Elastic Properties and Line Tension of Self-Assembled Bilayer Membranes

2013

The elastic properties of a self-assembled bilayer membrane are studied using the self-consistent field theory, applied to a model system composed of flexible amphiphilic chains dissolved in hydrophilic polymeric solvents. Examining the free energy of bilayer membranes with different geometries allows us to calculate their bending modulus, Gaussian modulus, two fourth-order membrane moduli, and the line tension. The dependence of these parameters on the microscopic characteristics of the amphiphilic chain, characterized by the volume fraction of the hydrophilic component, is systematically studied. The theoretical predictions are compared with the results from a simple monolayer model, whic…

DNA Block Copolymer Micelles – A Combinatorial Tool for Cancer Nanotechnology

2008

Selective drug targeting of a specific organ or tissue is a challenging task. This holds especially true for chemotherapeutic cancer treatment because most of the available anticancer agents cannot distinguish between cancerous and healthy cells, leading to systemic toxicity and undesirable side effects. One effective approach to address this problem is the application of polymeric nanoparticles equipped with targeting units for tumor-specific delivery. For instance dendrimers, highly branched macromolecules, can be equipped with targeting units as well as with anticancer drugs because of their large number of surface functionalities. Amphiphilic block copolymers, which self-assemble in dil…

The supramolecular self-organization of an amphotropic cholesterol derivative Micelles, liposomes and liquid-crystalline phases

1993

Abstract The cholesterol derivative tetraethoxycholesteryl semisuccinate is both a mesogen and an amphiphile. This combination of both molecular prerequisites permits two types of supramolecular self-organization: the formation of a thermotropic liquid-crystalline phase and of various forms of aggregates in contact with water or other solvents. Depending on the pH of the aqueous medium the compound self organizes in micelles or liposomes. At high concentrations lyotropic liquid-crystalline phases are obtained. The formation of liposomes and lyotropic phases is not restricted to water as a solvent but can also be induced in pure organic media such as water-free diethyleneglycol. Due to the b…

Self-assembly of amphiphilic imidazolium-based hexa-peri-hexabenzo-coronenes into fibreous aggregates

2007

Imidazolium-based amphiphilic hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronenes were synthesized and shown to undergo ordered columnar self-assembly in solid-state as well as in solution to yield defined nanofibers upon solution drop casting onto solid substrate.

Interfacial Self-Assembly of Amphiphilic Dual Temperature Responsive Actuating Janus Particles

2018

Amphiphilic polyaspartamide copolymer-based micelles for rivastigmine delivery to neuronal cells

2012

A novel polysorbate-80 (PS(80))-attached amphiphilic copolymer comprising a hydrophilic α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-D,L-aspartamide (PHEA) backbone and hydrophobic squalenyl-C(17) (Sq(17)) portions was synthesized and characterized; the formation of polymeric micelles was also evaluated. Rivastigmine free-base (Riv), a hydrophobic drug employed to treat Alzheimer's disease, was chosen as model drug to investigate micelle's ability to incorporate hydrophobic molecules and target them to neuronal cells. Micelle formation was studied through analyses including fluorescence spectroscopy and 2D (1)H-NMR NOESY experiments. Finally, the capacity of Riv-loaded micelles, versus free drug, to penetrat…

Tradition and innovation in science

2006

A Commentary on the paper ”Self‐organization of substituted azacrowns based on their discoid and amphiphilic nature„, by C. Mertesdorf and H. Ringsdorf. First published in Liquid Crystals, 5, 1757‐1772 (1989).

Polyelectrolyte Brushes Grafted at the Air/Water Interface

1997

A new approach for the study of grafted polyelectrolytes is investigated:  monolayers at the air/water interface of block copolymers consisting of a liquid hydrophobic and a polyelectrolyte block. ...