scholarly journals Mimosa Origami: A nanostructure-enabled directional self-organization regime of materials

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. e1600417 ◽  
Author(s):  
William S. Y. Wong ◽  
Minfei Li ◽  
David R. Nisbet ◽  
Vincent S. J. Craig ◽  
Zuankai Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Soft Materials ◽  
Inorganic Materials ◽  
Living Systems ◽  
Self Organization ◽  
Mimosa Pudica ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Immense Potential ◽  
Spontaneous Motion

One of the innate fundamentals of living systems is their ability to respond toward distinct stimuli by various self-organization behaviors. Despite extensive progress, the engineering of spontaneous motion in man-made inorganic materials still lacks the directionality and scale observed in nature. We report the directional self-organization of soft materials into three-dimensional geometries by the rapid propagation of a folding stimulus along a predetermined path. We engineer a unique Janus bilayer architecture with superior chemical and mechanical properties that enables the efficient transformation of surface energy into directional kinetic and elastic energies. This Janus bilayer can respond to pinpoint water stimuli by a rapid, several-centimeters-long self-assembly that is reminiscent of the Mimosa pudica’s leaflet folding. The Janus bilayers also shuttle water at flow rates up to two orders of magnitude higher than traditional wicking-based devices, reaching velocities of 8 cm/s and flow rates of 4.7 μl/s. This self-organization regime enables the ease of fabricating curved, bent, and split flexible channels with lengths greater than 10 cm, demonstrating immense potential for microfluidics, biosensors, and water purification applications.

Constructive Molecular Dynamics Lattice Gases: Three-Dimensional Molecular Self-Assembly

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Nilsson ◽  
Steen Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Lattice Gas ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Special Kind ◽  
Lattice Gases ◽  
Living Systems ◽  
Self Organization ◽  
Assembly Systems ◽  
Formal Systems

Realistic molecular dynamics and self-assembly is represented in a lattice simulation where water, water-hydrocarbons, and water-amphiphilic systems are investigated. The details of the phase separation dynamics and the constructive self-assembly dynamics are discussed and compared to the corresponding experimental systems. The method used to represent the different molecular types can easily be expended to include additional molecules and thus allow the assembly of more complex structures. This molecular dynamics (MD) lattice gas fills a modeling gap between traditional MD and lattice gas methods. Both molecular objects and force fields are represented by propagating information particles and all microscopic interactions are reversible. Living systems, perhaps the ultimate constructive dynamical systems, is the motivation for this work and our focus is a study of the dynamics of molecular self-assembly and self-organization. In living systems, matter is organized such that it spontaneously constructs intricate functionalities at all levels from the molecules up to the organism and beyond. At the lower levels of description, chemical reactions, molecular selfassembly and self-organization are the drivers of this complexity. We shall, in this chapter, demonstrate how molecular self-assembly and selforganization processes can be represented in formal systems. The formal systems are to be denned as a special kind of lattice gas and they are in a form where an obvious correspondence exists between the observables in the lattice gases and the experimentally observed properties in the molecular self-assembly systems. This has the clear advantage that by using these formal systems, theory, simulation, and experiment can be conducted in concert and can mutually support each other. However, a disadvantage also exists because analytical results are difficult to obtain for these formal systems due to their inherent complexity dictated by their necessary realism. The key to novelt simpler molecules (from lower levels), dynamical hierarchies are formed [2, 3]. Dynamical hierarchies are characterized by distinct observable functionalities at multiple levels of description. Since these higher-order structures are generated spontaneously due to the physico-chemical properties of their building blocks, complexity can come for free in molecular self-assembly systems. Through such processes, matter apparently can program itself into structures that constitute living systems [11, 27, 30].

Ansatz for Dynamical Hierarchies

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steen Rasmussen ◽  
Nils A. Baas ◽  
Bernd Mayer ◽  
Martin Nilsson
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Lattice Gas ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Self Organization ◽  
Emergent Properties ◽  
Simulation Framework ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Polymer Aggregates ◽  
Physicochemical Simulation ◽  
Different Levels

Complex, robust functionalities can be generated naturally in at least two ways: by the assembly of structures and by the evolution of structures. This work is concerned with spontaneous formation of structures. We define the notion of dynamical hierarchies in natural systems and show the importance of this particular kind of organization for living systems. We then define a framework that enables us to formulate, investigate, and manipulate such dynamical hierarchies. This framework allows us to simultaneously investigate different levels of description together with their interrelationship, which is necessary to understand the nature of dynamical hierarchies. Our framework is then applied to a concrete and very simple formal, physicochemical, dynamical hierarchy involving water and monomers at level one, polymers and water at level two, and micelles (polymer aggregates) and water at level three. Formulating this system as a simple two-dimensional molecular dynamics (MD) lattice gas allows us within one dynamical system to demonstrate the successive emergence of two higher levels (three levels all together) of robust structures with associated properties. Second, we demonstrate how the framework for dynamical hierarchies can be used for realistic (predictive) physicochemical simulation of molecular self-assembly and self-organization processes. We discuss the detailed process of micellation using the three-dimensional MD lattice gas. Finally, from these examples we can infer principles about formal dynamical hierarchies. We present an ansatz for how to generate robust, higher-order emergent properties in formal dynamical systems that is based on a conjecture of a necessary minimal complexity within the fundamental interacting structures once a particular simulation framework is chosen.

scholarly journals Designed peptides for biomineral polymorph recognition: a case study for calcium carbonate

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (22) ◽  
pp. 3511-3518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timo Schüler ◽  
Jochen Renkel ◽  
Stephan Hobe ◽  
Moritz Susewind ◽  
Dorrit E. Jacob ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Substrate Recognition ◽  
Soft Materials ◽  
Inorganic Materials ◽  
Pivotal Role ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Unique Ability

Peptides possess a unique ability for substrate recognition and sequence-specific self-assembly properties, and thus play a pivotal role in soft materials assembly and the mineralization of inorganic materials in natural systems.

scholarly journals Gamma Radiation- and Ultraviolet-Induced Polymerization of Bis(amino acid)fumaramide Gel Assemblies

Polymers ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 214
Author(s):  
Tomislav Gregorić ◽  
Janja Makarević ◽  
Zoran Štefanić ◽  
Mladen Žinić ◽  
Leo Frkanec
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Ultraviolet Radiation ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Methyl Esters ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Soft Materials ◽  
Polymerization Reaction ◽  
Vinyl Esters ◽  
Gel Network

Controlling the polymerization of supramolecular self-assembly through external stimuli holds great potential for the development of responsive soft materials and manipulation at the nanoscale. Vinyl esters of bis(leu or val)fumaramide (1a and 2a) have been found to be gelators of various organic solvents and were applied in this investigation of the influence of organogelators’ self-assembly on solid-state polymerization induced by gamma and ultraviolet irradiation. Here, we report our investigation into the influences of self-assemblies of bis(amino acid vinyl ester)fumaramides on gamma-ray- and ultraviolet-induced polymerization. The gelator molecules self-assembled by non-covalent interactions, mainly through hydrogen bonds between the amide group (CONH) and the carboxyl group (COO), thus forming a gel network. NMR and FTIR spectroscopy were used to investigate and characterize supramolecular gels. TEM and SEM microscopy were used to investigate the morphology of gels and polymers. Morphology studies showed that the gels contained a filamentous structure of nanometer dimensions that was exhaustive in a three-dimensional network. The prepared derivatives contained reactive alkyl groups suitable for carrying out the polymerization reaction initiated by gamma or ultraviolet radiation in the supramolecular aggregates of selected gels. It was found that the polymerization reaction occurred only in the network of the gel and was dependent on the structure of aggregates or the proximity and orientation of double bonds in the gel network. Polymers were formed by the gels exposure to gamma and ultraviolet radiation in toluene, and water/DMF gels with transcripts of their gel structure into polymers. The polymeric material was able to immobilize various solvents by swelling. Furthermore, methyl esters of bis(leu and val)fumaramide (1b and 2b) were synthesized; these compounds showed no gelling properties, and the crystal structure of the valine derivative 2b was determined.

scholarly journals Graphene Oxide-Chitosan Aerogels: Synthesis, Characterization, and Use as Adsorbent Material for Water Contaminants

Gels ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Filippo Pinelli ◽  
Tommaso Nespoli ◽  
Filippo Rossi
Keyword(s):  
Graphene Oxide ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Soft Materials ◽  
Complete Removal ◽  
Mechanical Analysis ◽  
Anionic Dyes ◽  
Water Contaminants ◽  
High Sorption ◽  
The Stability

Porous aerogels, formed by subjecting precursor hydrogels using a freeze-drying process, are certainly one of the most studied and synthetized soft materials, thanks to their important features such as elasticity, swelling behavior, softness, and micro and nanosized pores, which guarantee their applicability in various fields. Typically, these systems are synthetized working with natural or synthetic polymers, but in the last years great interest has been given to proper formulated aerogels able to combine polymeric structures with other moieties such as graphene or graphene oxide. This working strategy can be pivotal in many cases to tune important properties of the final system such as toughness, porosity, elasticity, electrical conductivity, or responsive behavior. In this work we propose the synthesis of chitosan graphene oxide aerogels obtained through self-assembly of graphene oxide sheets and chitosan chains. These three-dimensional systems were chemically characterized with IR and XRD technique and their inner structure was investigated through the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, we mechanically characterized the material through dynamic mechanical analysis, showing the stability of these systems. Finally, the adsorption ability of these soft materials has been demonstrated using model molecules to simulate water contaminants showing the efficacy of those graphene-based systems even for the removal of anionic dyes. Complete removal of contaminants was obtained at low concentration of dyes in solution (100 mg/L), while with a higher amount of pollutant in the solution (350 mg/L) high sorption capacity (q > 200 mg/g) was observed.

scholarly journals Controlled molecular self-assembly of complex three-dimensional structures in soft materials

2017 ◽  
Vol 115 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changjin Huang ◽  
David Quinn ◽  
Subra Suresh ◽  
K. Jimmy Hsia
Keyword(s):  
Flexible Electronics ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Polymer Network ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Soft Materials ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Tissue Morphogenesis ◽  
Material Transport ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
Living Tissues

Many applications in tissue engineering, flexible electronics, and soft robotics call for approaches that are capable of producing complex 3D architectures in soft materials. Here we present a method using molecular self-assembly to generate hydrogel-based 3D architectures that resembles the appealing features of the bottom-up process in morphogenesis of living tissues. Our strategy effectively utilizes the three essential components dictating living tissue morphogenesis to produce complex 3D architectures: modulation of local chemistry, material transport, and mechanics, which can be engineered by controlling the local distribution of polymerization inhibitor (i.e., oxygen), diffusion of monomers/cross-linkers through the porous structures of cross-linked polymer network, and mechanical constraints, respectively. We show that oxygen plays a role in hydrogel polymerization which is mechanistically similar to the role of growth factors in tissue growth, and the continued growth of hydrogel enabled by diffusion of monomers/cross-linkers into the porous hydrogel similar to the mechanisms of tissue growth enabled by material transport. The capability and versatility of our strategy are demonstrated through biomimetics of tissue morphogenesis for both plants and animals, and its application to generate other complex 3D architectures. Our technique opens avenues to studying many growth phenomena found in nature and generating complex 3D structures to benefit diverse applications.

In vitro and in vivo polysaccharides assembly: ultrastructural and cytochemical study of growing plant cell wall components.

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 434-435
Author(s):  
D. Reis ◽  
B. Vian ◽  
J. C. Roland
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Plant Cell Wall ◽  
Higher Plants ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cytochemical Study ◽  
Wall Components

Wall morphogenesis in higher plants is a problem still open to controversy. Until now the possibility of a transmembrane control and the involvement of microtubules were mostly envisaged. Self-assembly processes have been observed in the case of walls of Chlamydomonas and bacteria. Spontaneous gelling interactions between xanthan and galactomannan from Ceratonia have been analyzed very recently. The present work provides indications that some processes of spontaneous aggregation could occur in higher plants during the formation and expansion of cell wall.Observations were performed on hypocotyl of mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) for which growth characteristics and wall composition have been previously defined.In situ, the walls of actively growing cells (primary walls) show an ordered three-dimensional organization (fig. 1). The wall is typically polylamellate with multifibrillar layers alternately transverse and longitudinal. Between these layers intermediate strata exist in which the orientation of microfibrils progressively rotates. Thus a progressive change in the morphogenetic activity occurs.

Nanoscale Self-Assembly Using Ion and Electron Beam Techniques: A Rapid Review

MRS Advances ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (64) ◽  
pp. 3507-3520
Author(s):  
Chunhui Dai ◽  
Kriti Agarwal ◽  
Jeong-Hyun Cho
Keyword(s):  
Electron Beam ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
The Self ◽  
Stress Generation ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
High Yield ◽  
3D Nanostructures ◽  
Self Assembled

AbstractNanoscale self-assembly, as a technique to transform two-dimensional (2D) planar patterns into three-dimensional (3D) nanoscale architectures, has achieved tremendous success in the past decade. However, an assembly process at nanoscale is easily affected by small unavoidable variations in sample conditions and reaction environment, resulting in a low yield. Recently, in-situ monitored self-assembly based on ion and electron irradiation has stood out as a promising candidate to overcome this limitation. The usage of ion and electron beam allows stress generation and real-time observation simultaneously, which significantly enhances the controllability of self-assembly. This enables the realization of various complex 3D nanostructures with a high yield. The additional dimension of the self-assembled 3D nanostructures opens the possibility to explore novel properties that cannot be demonstrated in 2D planar patterns. Here, we present a rapid review on the recent achievements and challenges in nanoscale self-assembly using electron and ion beam techniques, followed by a discussion of the novel optical properties achieved in the self-assembled 3D nanostructures.

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