Characterization of hydrogels using luminescence spectroscopy

Time-resolved fluorescence and fluorescence anisotropy of fluorescein-labeled poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) incorporated in polymersomes

The phase behavior of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) incorporated in polymersomes (Ps) was studied by monitoring the fluorescence lifetime (FL) and the time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy (TRFA) as a function of temperature at pH 7.4. Ps containing FITC-labeled PNIPAAm with a diameter less than 200 nm were prepared by injecting a THF solution of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(d,l-lactide) (mPEG-PDLLA) and FITC tagged PNIPAAm (FITC-N) into phosphate buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4). Solutions of free FITC (2 μM) and FITC-N (2 μM) in PBS were used as controls. The polarized fluorescence decay curves of FITC were fitted with one rotational correlation time (θ(1)) and the corresponding amplitude (β(1)), while those for FITC-N were fitted with two rotational correlation times (θ(1,2)) and their corresponding amplitudes (β(1,2)). Short rotational correlation times, θ(1), correspond with the rotation of the FITC molecule itself, whereas θ(2) corresponds to FITC-segmental rotation. FITC-N encapsulated in Ps (FITC-N/Ps) showed a decrease of the rotational motion upon increasing the temperature. The long rotational correlation time (θ(2)) of FITC-N increased 3 fold, going from 15 to 40 °C, reflecting a reduced rotational mobility. The residual anisotropy (β(∞)) of FITC-N/Ps at pH 7.4 showed a gradual increase, going from 15 to 25 °C followed by a gradual decrease at higher temperatures. These results are explained by a transition from coil to globule, a gradual increase of intermolecular aggregation, and possibly phase separation and hydrogel formation.

Brightly phosphorescent, environmentally responsive hydrogels containing a water-soluble three-coordinate gold(I) complex

Stimuli-responsive phosphorescent hydrogel microspheres have been synthesized by incorporating a water-soluble phosphorescent Au(I) complex, Na(8)[Au(TPPTS)(3)], TPPTS = tris(3,3',3''-trisulfonatophenyl)phosphine, into the polymer network of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM). Remarkable sensitization of the Au-centered emission takes place in the resulting phosphorescent hydrogels (by up to 2 orders of magnitude!) compared to that of the gold complex alone in pure water. Results of pH- and temperature-dependent luminescence titrations show that the sensitization is further magnified at physiological conditions, which is desirable for biomedical applications that will include bioimaging and drug delivery. The physical properties of PNIPAM microgels are not negatively impacted by the presence of the gold luminophore, as the colloidal crystallinity and phase transition properties remain intact. Phosphorescent microspheres have been further cross-linked by covalently bonding to neighboring particles, leading to brightly phosphorescent/high-water-content crystalline hydrogel networks with more stable crystallinity vs microgel soft crystals. These gel networks exhibit the same green phosphorescence seen in the hydrogel microspheres and pure Na(8)[Au(TPPTS)(3)] aqueous solutions with a broad unstructured profile and peak maximum at ∼525 nm. Dehydration leads to further emission sensitization and gradual blue shifts that can be fine-tuned to ultimately reach a turquoise emission at ∼490 nm in the freeze-dried form of the gel, corresponding to the emission of single crystals of Na(8)[Au(TPPTS)(3)], in agreement with the photoinduced Jahn-Teller distorted excited state model we reported earlier. Remarkable sensitivity to temperature and pH takes place in the emission enhancement with particularly favorable results at physiological conditions. The work herein represents a unique example of a stimulus-responsive phosphorescent hydrogel from a transition metal-based as opposed to lanthanide-based phosphor in an aqueous medium.

Supramolecular complex induced by the binding of sodium dodecyl sulfate to PAMAM dendrimers

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were employed to study the spontaneous supramolecular complexation of amine terminated PAMAM dendrimer (G3[EDA] PAMAM-NH2) induced by the binding of an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). At pH<or=2, SDS molecules bound to protonated amines on the outer rims of G3[EDA] PAMAM-NH2 driven by electrostatic interaction, which induced the formation of PAMAM/SDS supramolecular complex via hydrophobic association between bound SDS molecules. The complex with radius of approximately 37 nm was observed at SDS concentration as low as 0.02 mM (in 0.2 mM PAMAM). The size of the complex increased progressively with increasing SDS concentration and precipitated when the SDS concentration exceeded 15 mM. At pH of approximately 7.4, the formation of PAMAM/SDS complex was observed at higher SDS concentration (0.1 mM in 0.2 mM PAMAM), and it resolubilized with further increase of SDS concentration to approximately 18 mM due to weaker electrostatic interaction at higher pH. At pH>or=10, the electrostatic binding ceased because the deprotonated PAMAM dendrimer was uncharged, and hence the surfactant-induced supramolecular assembly could not be formed.

pH Effects on the Complexation, Miscibility and Radiation-Induced Crosslinking in Poly(acrylic acid)-Poly(vinyl alcohol) Blends

The effect of pH on the complexation of poly(acrylic acid) with poly(vinyl alcohol) in aqueous solution, the miscibility of these polymers in the solid state and the possibility for crosslinking the blends using gamma radiation has been studied. It is demonstrated that the complexation ability of poly(vinyl alcohol) with respect to poly(acrylic acid) is relatively low in comparison with some other synthetic non-ionic polymers. The precipitation of interpolymer complexes was observed below the critical pH of complexation (pH(crit1)), which characterizes the transition between a compact hydrophobic polycomplex and an extended hydrophilic interpolymer associate. Films prepared by casting from aqueous solutions at different pH values exhibited a transition from miscibility to immiscibility at a certain critical pH, pH(crit2), above which hydrogen bonding is prevented. It is shown here that gamma radiation crosslinking of solid blends is efficient and only results in the formation of hydrogel films for blends prepared between pH(crit1) and pH(crit2). The yield of the gel fraction and the swelling properties of the films depended on the absorbed radiation dose and the polymer ratio. [Diagram: see text] SEM image of an equimolar PAA-PVA blend cast from a pH 4.6 solution.

PH effects in the complex formation and blending of poly(acrylic acid) with poly(ethylene oxide)

The effect of pH on the complex formation between poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) has been studied in aqueous solutions by turbidimetric and fluorescent methods. It was shown that the formation of insoluble interpolymer complexes is observed below a certain critical pH of complexation (pH(crit1)). The formation of hydrophilic interpolymer associates is possible above pH(crit1) and below a certain pH(crit2). The effects of polymer concentrations in solution and PEO molecular weight as well as inorganic salt addition on these critical pH values were studied. The polymeric films based on blends of PAA and PEO were prepared by casting from aqueous solutions with different pHs. These films were characterized by light transmittance measurements and differential scanning calorimetry. The existence of the pH value above which the polymers form an immiscible blend was demonstrated. The transitions between the interpolymer complex, miscible blend, and immiscible blend caused by pH changes are discussed. The recommendations for preparation of homogeneous miscible films based on compositions of poly(carboxylic acids) and various nonionic water-soluble polymers are presented.

Fate of excited probes in micellar systems

This article presents studies on the photophysical and photochemical behavior of probes within micellar systems: organized emulsifier/polymer aggregates; the intra- and interpolymer association of amphiphilic polymers; monomer-swollen micelles (microdroplets); and the interfacial layer. Pyrene (Py) as a probe is particularly attractive because of its ability to measure the polarity of its microenvironment. Dipyme yields information on the microviscosity of micellar systems. Probes such as laurdan and prodan can be used to explore the surface characteristics of micelles or microdroplets. The dansyl group has a special photophysical property that gives information about the local polarity and mobility (viscosity) of the microenvironment. The organized association of amphiphilic polymer and emulsifier introduces a heterogeneity in the local concentration of the reactants. This heterogeneity also results from the attractive interaction between hydrophilic monomer and emulsifier in the case when the monomer carries a positive charge and the counterpart a negative one, and vice versa. Some emulsifiers can bind to the amphiphilic copolymers by simple partitioning between the aqueous phase and the polymer--non-cooperative association. The interaction between micelles (microdroplets) and charged polymers leads to the formation of mixed micelles. Binding emulsifiers to these polymers was detected at emulsifier concentrations much below the critical micellar concentration (CMC). Emulsifiers often interact cooperatively with polymers at the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) below the CMC, forming micelle-like aggregates within the polymer. The CAC can be taken as a measure of interaction between the emulsifier and polymer. A decrease in the monomer fluorescence intensity of probe-labeled polymer results from increased excimer formation, or higher aggregates within the unimolecular polymeric micelles. An increase in the monomer fluorescence intensity of probe-labeled polymer within the micellar system can be ascribed to shielding of the probe chromophores by emulsifier micelles. The quenching of probe emission by (un)charged hydrophilic monomer depends on partitioning of the monomer between the aqueous phase and the micelles. Penetration of reactants into the interfacial layer determines the quenching of the hydrophobic probe by hydrophilic quencher, or vice versa. Quenching depends on the thickness, density and charge of the interfacial layer. Compartmentalization prevents the carbonyl compound and unsaturated monomer from coming into sufficiently close contact to allow singlet or triplet-monomer interaction. All negatively charged carbonyl probe molecules are quenched with significantly lower rates than the parent neutral hydrophobic benzophenone molecules, which were located further inside the aggregates. This results from the different conformation and allocation of reactants within the micellar system. In the reverse micelles, quenching depends on the amount of water in the interfacial layer and the total area of the water/oil interface.