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Wang Z, Liu Q, Liu Q, Qi H, Li Y, Song DP. Self-Assembly and In Situ Quaternization of Triblock Bottlebrush Block Copolymers via Organized Spontaneous Emulsification for Effective Loading of DNA. Macromol Rapid Commun 2023; 44:e2300192. [PMID: 37194368 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202300192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Microspheres bearing large pores are useful in the capture and separation of biomolecules. However, pore size is typically poorly controlled, leading to disordered porous structures with limited performances. Herein, ordered porous spheres with a layer of cations on the internal surface of the nanopores are facilely fabricated in a single step for effective loading of DNA bearing negative charges. Triblock bottlebrush copolymers (BBCPs), (polynorbornene-g-polystyrene)-b-(polynorbornene-g-polyethylene oxide)-b-(polynorbornene-g-bromoethane) (PNPS-b-PNPEO-b-PNBr), are designed and synthesized for fabrication of the positively charged porous spheres through self-assembly and in situ quaternization during an organized spontaneous emulsification (OSE) process. Pore diameter as well as charge density increase with the increase of PNBr content, resulting in a significant increase of loading density from 4.79 to 22.5 ng µg-1 within the spheres. This work provides a general strategy for efficient loading and encapsulation of DNA, which may be extended to a variety of different areas for different real applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoxu Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P. R. China
| | - Qiujun Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P. R. China
| | - Qian Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
| | - Hao Qi
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
| | - Yuesheng Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P. R. China
| | - Dong-Po Song
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P. R. China
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2
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Giona RM, Vitorazi L, Loh W. Assessing the Contribution of the Neutral Blocks in DNA/Block-Copolymer Polyplexes: Poly(acrylamide) vs. Poly(ethylene Oxide). Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28010398. [PMID: 36615592 PMCID: PMC9824764 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28010398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction of DNA with different block copolymers, namely poly (trimethylammonium chloride methacryloyoxy)ethyl)-block-poly(acrylamide), i.e., (PTEA)-b-(PAm), and poly (trimethylammonium chloride methacryloyoxy)ethyl)-block-poly(ethylene oxide), i.e., (PTEA)-b-(PEO), was studied. The nature of the cationic block was maintained fixed (PTEA), whereas the neutral blocks contained varying amounts of acrylamide or (ethylene oxide) units. According to results from isothermal titration microcalorimetry measurements, the copolymers interaction with DNA is endothermic with an enthalpy around 4.0 kJ mol−1 of charges for (PTEA)-b-(PAm) and 5.5 kJ mol−1 of charges for (PTEA)-b-(PEO). The hydrodynamic diameters of (PTEA)-b-(PEO)/DNA and (PTEA)-b-(PAm)/DNA polyplexes prepared by titration were around 200 nm at charge ratio (Z+/−) < 1. At Z+/− close and above 1, the (PTEA)50-b-(PAm)50/DNA and (PTEA)50-b-(PAm)200/DNA polyplexes precipitated. Interestingly, (PTEA)50-b-(PAm)1000/DNA polyplexes remained with a size of around 300 nm even after charge neutralization, probably due to the size of the neutral block. Conversely, for (PTEA)96-b-(PEO)100/DNA polyplexes, the size distribution was broad, indicating a more heterogeneous system. Polyplexes were also prepared by direct mixture at Z+/− of 2.0, and they displayed diameters around 120−150 nm, remaining stable for more than 10 days. Direct and reverse titration experiments showed that the order of addition affects both the size and charge of the resulting polyplexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Mello Giona
- LaMaFI—Laboratório de Materiais e Fenômenos de Interface, Chemistry Department, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Medianeira, Curitiba 85884-000, Paraná (PR), Brazil
- Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Caixa Postal 6154, Campinas 13083-970, São Paulo State (SP), Brazil
| | - Letícia Vitorazi
- Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Caixa Postal 6154, Campinas 13083-970, São Paulo State (SP), Brazil
- Laboratório de Materiais Poliméricos, EEIMVR, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Volta Redonda 27255-125, Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil
| | - Watson Loh
- Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Caixa Postal 6154, Campinas 13083-970, São Paulo State (SP), Brazil
- Correspondence:
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3
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Kurt E, Segura T. Nucleic Acid Delivery from Granular Hydrogels. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2101867. [PMID: 34742164 PMCID: PMC8810690 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202101867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid delivery has applications ranging from tissue engineering to vaccine development to infectious disease. Cationic polymer condensed nucleic acids are used with surface-coated porous scaffolds and are able to promote long-term gene expression. However, due to surface loading of the scaffold, there is a limit to the amount of nucleic acid that can be loaded, resulting in decreasing expression rate over time. In addition, surface-coated scaffolds are generally non-injectable. Here, it is demonstrated that cationic polymer condensed nucleic acids can be effectively loaded into injectable granular hydrogel scaffolds by stabilizing the condensed nucleic acid into a lyophilized powder, loading the powder into a bulk hydrogel, and then fragmenting the loaded hydrogel. The resulting hydrogel microparticles contain non-aggregated nucleic acid particles, can be annealed post-injection to result in an injectable microporous hydrogel, and can effectively deliver nucleic acids to embedded cells with a constant expression rate. Due to the nature of granular hydrogels, it is demonstrated that mixtures of loaded and unloaded particles and spatially resolved gene expression can be easily achieved. The ability to express genes long term from an injectable porous hydrogel will further open the applications of nucleic acid delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Kurt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Tatiana Segura
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC
- Departments Neurology and Dermatology, Duke University, Durham, NC
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Kumar R, Santa Chalarca CF, Bockman MR, Bruggen CV, Grimme CJ, Dalal RJ, Hanson MG, Hexum JK, Reineke TM. Polymeric Delivery of Therapeutic Nucleic Acids. Chem Rev 2021; 121:11527-11652. [PMID: 33939409 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The advent of genome editing has transformed the therapeutic landscape for several debilitating diseases, and the clinical outlook for gene therapeutics has never been more promising. The therapeutic potential of nucleic acids has been limited by a reliance on engineered viral vectors for delivery. Chemically defined polymers can remediate technological, regulatory, and clinical challenges associated with viral modes of gene delivery. Because of their scalability, versatility, and exquisite tunability, polymers are ideal biomaterial platforms for delivering nucleic acid payloads efficiently while minimizing immune response and cellular toxicity. While polymeric gene delivery has progressed significantly in the past four decades, clinical translation of polymeric vehicles faces several formidable challenges. The aim of our Account is to illustrate diverse concepts in designing polymeric vectors towards meeting therapeutic goals of in vivo and ex vivo gene therapy. Here, we highlight several classes of polymers employed in gene delivery and summarize the recent work on understanding the contributions of chemical and architectural design parameters. We touch upon characterization methods used to visualize and understand events transpiring at the interfaces between polymer, nucleic acids, and the physiological environment. We conclude that interdisciplinary approaches and methodologies motivated by fundamental questions are key to designing high-performing polymeric vehicles for gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | | | - Matthew R Bockman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Craig Van Bruggen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Christian J Grimme
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Rishad J Dalal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Mckenna G Hanson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Joseph K Hexum
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Theresa M Reineke
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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Khan MA, Kiser MR, Moradipour M, Nadeau EA, Ghanim RW, Webb BA, Rankin SE, Knutson BL. Effect of Confinement in Nanopores on RNA Interactions with Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:8549-8561. [PMID: 32881500 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c06536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Amine-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPAs) are ideal carriers for oligonucleotides for gene delivery and RNA interference. This investigation examines the thermodynamic driving force of interactions of double-stranded (ds) RNA with MSNPAs as a function of RNA length (84 and 282 base pair) and particle pore diameter (nonporous, 2.7, 4.3, and 8.1 nm) using isothermal titration calorimetry, extending knowledge of solution-based nucleic acid-polycation interactions to RNA confined in nanopores. Adsorption of RNA follows a two-step process: endothermic interactions driven by entropic contribution from counterion (and water) release and an exothermic regime dominated by short-range interactions within the pores. Evidence of hindered pore loading of the longer RNA and pore size-dependent confinement of RNA in the MSPAs is provided from the relative contributions of the endothermic and exothermic regimes. Reduction of endothermic and exothermic enthalpies in both regimes in the presence of salt for both lengths of RNA indicates the significant contribution of short-range electrostatic interactions, whereas ΔH and ΔG values are consistent with conformation changes and desolvation of nucleic acids upon binding with polycations. Knowledge of the interactions between RNA and functionalized porous nanoparticles will aid in porous nanocarrier design suitable for functional RNA delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Arif Khan
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Maelyn R Kiser
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Mahsa Moradipour
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Emily A Nadeau
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
| | - Ramy W Ghanim
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Bruce A Webb
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
| | - Stephen E Rankin
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Barbara L Knutson
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
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6
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Van Bruggen C, Hexum JK, Tan Z, Dalal RJ, Reineke TM. Nonviral Gene Delivery with Cationic Glycopolymers. Acc Chem Res 2019; 52:1347-1358. [PMID: 30993967 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.8b00665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The field of gene therapy, which aims to treat patients by modulating gene expression, has come to fruition and has landed several landmark FDA approvals. Most gene therapies currently rely on viral vectors to deliver nucleic acid cargo into cells, but there is significant interest in moving toward chemical-based methods, such as polymer-based vectors, due to their low cost, immunocompatibility, and tunability. The full potential of polymer-based delivery systems has yet to be realized, however, because most polymeric transfection reagents are either too inefficient or too toxic for use in the clinic. In this Account, we describe developments in carbohydrate-based cationic polymers, termed glycopolymers, for enhanced nonviral gene delivery. As ubiquitous components of biological systems, carbohydrates are a rich class of compounds that can be harnessed to improve the biocompatibility of non-native polymers, such as linear polyamines used for promoting transfection. Reineke et al. developed a new class of carbohydrate-based polymers called poly(glycoamidoamine)s (PGAAs) by step-growth polymerization of linear monosaccharides with linear ethyleneamines. These glycopolymers were shown to be both efficient and biocompatible transfection reagents. Systematic modifications of the structural components of the PGAA system revealed structure-activity relationships important to its function, including its ability to degrade in situ. Expanding upon the development of step-growth glycopolymers, monosaccharides, such as glucose, were functionalized as vinyl-based monomers for the formation of diblock copolymers via radical addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Upon complexation with plasmid DNA, the glucose-containing block creates a hydrophilic shell that promotes colloidal stability as effectively as PEG functionalization. An N-acetyl-d-galactosamine variant of this diblock polymer yields colloidally stable particles that show increased receptor-mediated uptake by liver hepatocytes in vitro and promotes liver targeting in mice. Finally, the disaccharide trehalose was incorporated into polycationic structures using both step-growth and RAFT techniques. It was shown that these trehalose-based copolymers imparted increased colloidal stability and yielded plasmid and siRNA polyplexes that resist aggregation upon lyophilization and reconstitution in water. The aforementioned series of glycopolymers use carbohydrates to promote effective and safe delivery of nucleic acid cargo into a variety of human cells types by promoting vehicle degradation, tissue-targeting, colloidal stabilization, and stability toward lyophilization to extend shelf life. Work is currently underway to translate the use of glycopolymers for safe and efficient delivery of nucleic acid cargo for gene therapy and gene editing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Van Bruggen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 207 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Joseph K. Hexum
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 207 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Zhe Tan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 207 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Rishad J. Dalal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 207 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Theresa M. Reineke
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 207 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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7
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Tabujew I, Cokca C, Zartner L, Schubert US, Nischang I, Fischer D, Peneva K. The influence of gradient and statistical arrangements of guanidinium or primary amine groups in poly(methacrylate) copolymers on their DNA binding affinity. J Mater Chem B 2019; 7:5920-5929. [DOI: 10.1039/c9tb01269a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we report the first gradient guanidinium containing cationic copolymers and investigate their binding ability to plasmid DNA (pDNA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilja Tabujew
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena
- 07743 Jena
- Germany
| | - Ceren Cokca
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena
- 07743 Jena
- Germany
| | - Leon Zartner
- Institute of Pharmacy
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena
- 07743 Jena
- Germany
| | - Ulrich S. Schubert
- Jena Center of Soft Matter
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena
- 07743 Jena
- Germany
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC)
| | - Ivo Nischang
- Jena Center of Soft Matter
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena
- 07743 Jena
- Germany
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC)
| | - Dagmar Fischer
- Institute of Pharmacy
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena
- 07743 Jena
- Germany
- Jena Center of Soft Matter
| | - Kalina Peneva
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena
- 07743 Jena
- Germany
- Jena Center of Soft Matter
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Crooke SN, Zheng J, Ganewatta MS, Guldberg SM, Reineke TM, Finn M. Immunological Properties of Protein–Polymer Nanoparticles. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2018; 2:93-103. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.8b00418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jukuan Zheng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 207 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Mitra S. Ganewatta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 207 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | | | - Theresa M. Reineke
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 207 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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9
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Boyle WS, Twaroski K, Woska EC, Tolar J, Reineke TM. Molecular Additives Significantly Enhance Glycopolymer-Mediated Transfection of Large Plasmids and Functional CRISPR-Cas9 Transcription Activation Ex Vivo in Primary Human Fibroblasts and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Bioconjug Chem 2018; 30:418-431. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Lueckheide M, Vieregg JR, Bologna AJ, Leon L, Tirrell MV. Structure-Property Relationships of Oligonucleotide Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles. NANO LETTERS 2018; 18:7111-7117. [PMID: 30339032 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b03132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Polyelectrolyte complex micelles (PCMs), nanoparticles formed by electrostatic self-assembly of charged polymers with charged-neutral hydrophilic block copolymers, offer a potential solution to the challenging problem of delivering therapeutic nucleic acids into cells and organisms. Promising results have been reported in vitro and in animal models but basic structure-property relationships are largely lacking, and some reports have suggested that double-stranded nucleic acids cannot form PCMs due to their high bending rigidity. This letter reports a study of PCMs formed by DNA oligonucleotides of varied length and hybridization state and poly(l)lysine-poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymers with varying block lengths. We employ a multimodal characterization strategy combining small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), multiangle light scattering (MALS), and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) to simultaneously probe the morphology and internal structure of the micelles. Over a wide range of parameters, we find that nanoparticle shape is controlled primarily by the hybridization state of the oligonucleotides with single-stranded oligonucleotides forming spheroidal micelles and double-stranded oligonucleotides forming wormlike micelles. The length of the charged block controls the radius of the nanoparticle, while oligonucleotide length appears to have little impact on either size or shape. At smaller length scales, we observe parallel packing of DNA helices inside the double-stranded nanoparticles, consistent with results from condensed genomic DNA. We also describe salt- and thermal-annealing protocols for preparing PCMs with high repeatability and low polydispersity. Together, these results provide a capability to rationally design PCMs with desired sizes and shapes that should greatly assist development of this promising delivery technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Lueckheide
- Department of Chemistry , University of Chicago , Chicago , Illinois 60637 , United States
| | - Jeffrey R Vieregg
- Institute for Molecular Engineering , University of Chicago , Chicago , Illinois 60637 , United States
| | - Alex J Bologna
- Institute for Molecular Engineering , University of Chicago , Chicago , Illinois 60637 , United States
| | - Lorraine Leon
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering , University of Central Florida , Orlando , Florida 32816 , United States
| | - Matthew V Tirrell
- Institute for Molecular Engineering , University of Chicago , Chicago , Illinois 60637 , United States
- Institute for Molecular Engineering , Argonne National Laboratory , Argonne , Illinois 60439 , United States
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