Effect of Amorphous Crosslinker on Phase Behavior and Electro-Optic Response of Polymer-Stabilized Blue Phase Liquid Crystals

Blue phase liquid crystals (BPLCs) composed of double-twisted cholesteric helices are promising materials for use in next-generation displays, optical components, and photonics applications. However, BPLCs are only observed in a narrow temperature range of 0.5–3 °C and must be stabilized with a polymer network. Here, we report on controlling the phase behavior of BPLCs by varying the concentration of an amorphous crosslinker (pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA)). LC mixtures without amorphous crosslinker display narrow phase transition temperatures from isotropic to the blue phase-II (BP-II), blue phase-I (BP-I), and cholesteric phases, but the addition of PETA stabilizes the BP-I phase. A PETA content above 3 wt% prevents the formation of the simple cubic BP-II phase and induces a direct transition from the isotropic to the BP-I phase. PETA widens the temperature window of BP-I from ~6.8 °C for BPLC without PETA to ~15 °C for BPLC with 4 wt% PETA. The BPLCs with 3 and 4 wt% PETA are stabilized using polymer networks via in situ photopolymerization. Polymer-stabilized BPLC with 3 wt% PETA showed switching between reflective to transparent states with response times of 400–500 μs when an AC field was applied, whereas the application of a DC field induced a large color change from green to red.

In vitro release of chlorhexidine from UV-cured PEGDA drug delivery scaffolds

Drug delivery systems (DDS) are suitable for controlled local drug release in order to ensure safety and effectiveness of medical treatment. The choice and characterization of biomaterials that can be used as a DDS is a challenging step in the administration of drugs. Novel 3D printing photopolymerization-based techniques create the possibility for designing individual, patient-tailored DDS. Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate`s (PEGDA`s) chemical and biological properties make it a suitable photopolymerisable resin for the creation of DDS. This study describes the in vitro release of the antiseptic drug chlorhexidine (CHX) from UV-cured PEGDA and its copolymers (butanediol diacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate and pentaerythritol tetraacrylate) samples. A substantial decrease in CHX release with increasing concentration of the copolymers in comparison to pure PEGDA was obtained only for butanediol diacrylate. For pentaerythritol triacrylate and pentaerythritol tetraacrylate only a tendency of decreased CHX release with increasing concentration was detected. Therefore, release profiles of the low molecular drug CHX from PEGDA samples could be modified by the addition of copolymers with a different number of acrylate groups and PEGDA can be considered as a promising candidate for the preparation of novel DDS.

STED Direct Laser Writing of 45 nm Width Nanowire

Controlled fabrication of 45 nm width nanowire using simulated emission depletion (STED) direct laser writing with a rod-shape effective focus spot is presented. In conventional STED direct laser writing, normally a donut-shaped depletion focus is used, and the minimum linewidth is restricted to 55 nm. In this work, we push this limit to sub-50 nm dimension with a rod-shape effective focus spot, which is the combination of a Gaussian excitation focus and twin-oval depletion focus. Effects of photoinitiator type, excitation laser power, and depletion laser power on the width of the nanowire are explored, respectively. Single nanowire with 45 nm width is obtained, which is λ/18 of excitation wavelength and the minimum linewidth in pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA) photoresist. Our result accelerates the progress of achievable linewidth reduction in STED direct laser writing.

Thermomechanical properties of PEGDA in combination with different photo-curable comonomers

The technology of pharmaceutical drug delivery systems (DDS) as an individual and adjustable tool for drug administration has been intensively developed in the last years. Additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, such as stereolithography, are a promising approach towards DDS scaffold manufacturing. Stereolithography, by using layerby- photo-polymerisation, creates DDS scaffolds with highly controlled 3D geometry. Combined with inkjet printing it allows a very precise positioning of the drug depot in the basic scaffold and therefore also a better control of the drug release. Furthermore, this hybrid AM technique also allows for the creation of a multi-drug DDS with a several drug depots localized in desired positions within the scaffold. Determination of the scaffold and drug depot material properties is one of the initial steps for such novel DDS development. Basic characteristics, such as stiffness, elasticity or glass transition temperature (Tg), are important for designing and adapting the material for biomedical application. The photosensitive poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) can be easily formed into a desired biocompatible scaffold geometry via stereolithography. In this study we have focused on the evaluation of PEGDA (Mn=700 g/mol) as a pure and copolymer system in combination with other acrylates (butanediol diacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate) as possible materials for DDS using this novel hybrid AM technique. Irgacure 2959, a biocompatible photoinitiator (PI), was used as a radical starter for photopolymerisation. Samples varying in PI and coacrylate concentration were prepared by conventional photopolymerisation. Physico-chemical analyses of the samples were performed and several parameters, such as stiffness, elongation at break and glass transition temperatures, were determined.

Nanopore separator of cross-linked poly(propylene glycol)-co-pentaerythritol triacrylate for effectively suppressing polysulfide shuttling in Li–S batteries

A nanopore polymer separator blocks the polysulfide migration more efficiently than the Celgard separator, endowing a Li–S battery with a much better discharge performance.

A Sensitive Electrochemical Sensor for Rapid Determination of Mebeverine Hydrochloride and Metronidazole Benzoate Selective Molecular Imprinted Polymer in the PVC Membrane

By using precipitation polymerization, liquid electrodes of polymers imprinted with Mebeverine hydrochloride and metronidazole benzoate were created whereas the imprinted polymer (MIP) and non imprinted (NIP) polymers were prepared by using Mebeverine hydrochloride and Metronidazole benzoate qua a template. In the polymerization process, 2-Acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane Sulphonic acid (AMPS) or 1-Vinylimidazole (VIZ) was used qua monomer, pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETRA) or Divinylbanzene (DVB) was used qua a cross-linker while benzoyl peroxide (BPO) was used as an initiator. The MIP membranes and the membranes of NIP were created by using Dibutyl Sebacate (DBS) and Tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate(TEHP) qua plasticizers in PVC matrix. The response time of the liquid electrodes was 1min. whereas their slopes and detection limits reached to 19.62 – 57.36 mV per decade and 1.2 x 10-6 – 2.0 x 10-5 M, respectively. Filling with standard solution of drug (0.1M), the liquid electrodes response -with suitable No.( selectivity for numerous of species - was suitable No.( since pH reached to 1.5 – 12. The developed electrodes were successfully applied for the analyte determination in preparation pharmaceutical sample without any time consuming pretreatment steps.