Chemical Design of Non‐Ionic Polymer Brushes as Biointerfaces: Poly(2‐oxazine)s Outperform Both Poly(2‐oxazoline)s and PEG

AbstractWe investigated the interplay between different mechanisms of the lateral and vertical segregation in the synthesized via “grafting from” approach symmetric A/B (where A and B are poly(styrene-co-2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorostyrene) and poly(methylmethacrylate), respectively) polymer brushes upon exposure to different solvents. We used X-ray photoemission electron spectroscopy and microscopy (X-PEEM), AFM, water contact angle measurements, and oxygen plasma etching to study morphology of the brushes. The ripple morphology after toluene (nonselective solvent) revealed elongated lamellar-like domains of A and B polymers alternating across the surface. The dimple-A morphology consisting of round clusters of the polymer A was observed after acetone (selective solvent for B). The top layer was enriched with the polymer B showing that the brush underwent both the lateral and vertical phase segregation. A qualitative agreement with predictions of SCF theory was found.

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Precision position control of ionic polymer metal composite

Proceedings of the 2004 American Control Conference ◽

10.23919/acc.2004.1383693 ◽

2004 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

N.D. Bhat ◽

Won-jong Kim

Keyword(s):

Position Control ◽

Metal Composite ◽

Ionic Polymer Metal Composite ◽

Ionic Polymer ◽

Polymer Metal

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Multi-Stimuli-Responsive Mesoporous Membranes and Effect of Molecular Architecture on Thermo- and pH-Responsive Behavior of the grafted Block Copolymer brushes

10.26434/chemrxiv.7037699 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Yanchun Tang ◽

Kohzo Ito ◽

Hideaki Yokoyama

Keyword(s):

Polymer Brushes ◽

Diblock Copolymers ◽

Neutron Reflectivity ◽

Molecular Architecture ◽

Stimuli Responsive ◽

Responsive Polymer ◽

The Matrix ◽

Stable Part ◽

Copolymer Brushes ◽

Mesoporous Membranes

In this study, we prepared ultrafiltration membranes with a decoupled responses of filtration property to temperature and pH. The membrane preparation method was developed based on our previous work. We utilized methanol-supercritical carbon dioxide (methanol-scCO2) selective swelling method to introduce nanopores to block copolymers containing poly(diethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PMEO2MA), poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) and polystyrene (PS) blocks. Formation of the mesoporous barrier layer with PS being the mechanically stable part of the matrix was driven by selective swelling of the PMEO2MA-b-PDMAEMA domains. Due to the selective swelling of PMEO2MA or PDMAEMA domains to introduce pores, the interior of the pores are covered with PMEO2MA or PDMAEMA blocks after pore formation. The PMEO2MA-b-PDMAEMA polymer brushes are naturally attached on the pore walls and worked as functional gates. PMEO2MA is a non-toxic, neutral thermo-responsive polymer with LCST at 26 ᴼC. PDMAEMA is a typical weak polyelectrolyte with pKa value at 7.0-7.5 and also a thermo-responsive polymer revealed a LCST of 20-80 °C in aqueous solution. Therefore, these membranes were expected to have multi dimensions as function of the combination of temperature and pH. Moreover, to understand the detail of the temperature and pH depended conformation transitions of PMEO2MA-b-PDMAEMA brushes, those diblock copolymers were end-tethered on flat substrates and analyzed via neutron reflectivity (NR).

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Development of Cheap Coatings for Nafion-117 based Ionic Polymer Metallic Compounds. A Review

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3587294 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shara Khursheed

Keyword(s):

Ionic Polymer ◽

Metallic Compounds

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Self-regenerating giant hyaluronan polymer brushes

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-019-13440-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Wenbin Wei ◽

Jessica L. Faubel ◽

Hemaa Selvakumar ◽

Daniel T. Kovari ◽

Joanna Tsao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Polymer Brushes ◽

Functional Materials ◽

Polymer Physics ◽

High Density ◽

Hyaluronan Synthase ◽

Dynamic Interface ◽

Continuous Source

AbstractTailoring interfaces with polymer brushes is a commonly used strategy to create functional materials for numerous applications. Existing methods are limited in brush thickness, the ability to generate high-density brushes of biopolymers, and the potential for regeneration. Here we introduce a scheme to synthesize ultra-thick regenerating hyaluronan polymer brushes using hyaluronan synthase. The platform provides a dynamic interface with tunable brush heights that extend up to 20 microns – two orders of magnitude thicker than standard brushes. The brushes are easily sculpted into micropatterned landscapes by photo-deactivation of the enzyme. Further, they provide a continuous source of megadalton hyaluronan or they can be covalently-stabilized to the surface. Stabilized brushes exhibit superb resistance to biofilms, yet are locally digested by fibroblasts. This brush technology provides opportunities in a range of arenas including regenerating tailorable biointerfaces for implants, wound healing or lubrication as well as fundamental studies of the glycocalyx and polymer physics.

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Supramolecular ionic polymer/carbon nanotube composite hydrogels with enhanced electromechanical performance

Nanotechnology Reviews ◽

10.1515/ntrev-2020-0039 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 478-488 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yun-Fei Zhang ◽

Fei-Peng Du ◽

Ling Chen ◽

Ka-Wai Yeung ◽

Yuqing Dong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Nanotube ◽

Ion Mobility ◽

Artificial Muscles ◽

Ionic Polymer ◽

Composite Hydrogels ◽

The Matrix ◽

Electromechanical Performance ◽

Carbon Nanotube Composite ◽

Robotic Devices

AbstractElectroactive hydrogels have received increasing attention due to the possibility of being used in biomimetics, such as for soft robotics and artificial muscles. However, the applications are hindered by the poor mechanical properties and slow response time. To address these issues, in this study, supramolecular ionic polymer–carbon nanotube (SIPC) composite hydrogels were fabricated via in situ free radical polymerization. The polymer matrix consisted of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), styrene sulfonic sodium (SSNa), β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)-grafted acrylamide, and ferrocene (Fc)-grafted acrylamide, with the incorporation of SSNa serving as the ionic source. On applying an external voltage, the ions accumulate on one side of the matrix, leading to localized swelling and bending of the structure. Therefore, a controllable and reversible actuation can be achieved by changing the applied voltage. The tensile strength of the SIPC was improved by over 300%, from 12 to 49 kPa, due to the reinforcement effect of the CNTs and the supramolecular host–guest interactions between the β-CD and Fc moieties. The inclusion of CNTs not only improved the tensile properties but also enhanced the ion mobility, which lead to a faster electromechanical response. The presented electro-responsive composite hydrogel shows a high potential for the development of robotic devices and soft smart components for sensing and actuating applications.

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