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Robertson H, Gresham IJ, Nelson ARJ, Prescott SW, Webber GB, Wanless EJ. Illuminating the nanostructure of diffuse interfaces: Recent advances and future directions in reflectometry techniques. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 331:103238. [PMID: 38917595 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2024.103238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Diffuse soft matter interfaces take many forms, from end-tethered polymer brushes or adsorbed surfactants to self-assembled layers of lipids. These interfaces play crucial roles across a multitude of fields, including materials science, biophysics, and nanotechnology. Understanding the nanostructure and properties of these interfaces is fundamental for optimising their performance and designing novel functional materials. In recent years, reflectometry techniques, in particular neutron reflectometry, have emerged as powerful tools for elucidating the intricate nanostructure of soft matter interfaces with remarkable precision and depth. This review provides an overview of selected recent developments in reflectometry and their applications for illuminating the nanostructure of diffuse interfaces. We explore various principles and methods of neutron and X-ray reflectometry, as well as ellipsometry, and discuss advances in their experimental setups and data analysis approaches. Improvements to experimental neutron reflectometry methods have enabled greater time resolution in kinetic measurements and elucidation of diffuse structure under shear or confinement, while innovation in analysis protocols has significantly reduced data processing times, facilitated co-refinement of reflectometry data from multiple instruments and provided greater-than-ever confidence in proposed structural models. Furthermore, we highlight some significant research findings enabled by these techniques, revealing the organisation, dynamics, and interfacial phenomena at the nanoscale. We also discuss future directions and potential advancements in reflectometry techniques. By shedding light on the nanostructure of diffuse interfaces, reflectometry techniques enable the rational design and tailoring of interfaces with enhanced properties and functionalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayden Robertson
- College of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Soft Matter at Interfaces, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt D-64289, Germany
| | - Isaac J Gresham
- School of Chemistry, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Andrew R J Nelson
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, ANSTO, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW 2232, Australia
| | - Stuart W Prescott
- School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Grant B Webber
- College of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Erica J Wanless
- College of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
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Wu Y, Lin T, Santos E, Ahn D, Marson R, Sarker P, Chen X, Gubbels F, Shephard NE, Mohler C, Wei T, Kuo TC, Chen Z. Molecular behavior of silicone adhesive at buried polymer interface studied by molecular dynamics simulation and sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:4765-4775. [PMID: 38841820 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00407h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Silicones have excellent material properties and are used extensively in many applications, ranging from adhesives and lubricants to electrical insulation. To ensure strong adhesion of silicone adhesives to a wide variety of substrates, silane-based adhesion promotors are typically blended into the silicone adhesive formulation. However, little is known at the molecular level about the true silane adhesion promotion mechanism, which limits the ability to develop even more effective adhesion promoters. To understand the adhesion promotion mechanism of silane molecules at the molecular level, this study has used sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG) to determine the behavior of (3-glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxy silane (γ-GPS) at the buried interface between poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and a bulk silicone adhesive. To complement and extend the SFG results, atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were applied to investigate molecular behavior and interfacial interaction of γ-GPS at the silicone/PET interface. Free energy computations were used to study the γ-GPS interaction in the sample system and determine the γ-GPS interfacial segregation mechanism. Both experiments and simulations consistently show that γ-GPS molecules prefer to segregate at the interface between PET and PDMS. The methoxy groups on γ-GPS molecules orient toward the PDMS polymer phase. The consistent picture of interfacial structure emerging from both simulation and experiment provides enhanced insight on how γ-GPS behaves in the silicone - PET system and illustrates why γ-GPS could improve the adhesion of silicone adhesive, leading to further understanding of silicone adhesion mechanisms useful in the design of silicone adhesives with improved performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Wu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, MI 48109, USA.
- Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ting Lin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, MI 48109, USA.
- Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Dongchan Ahn
- The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI 48674, USA
| | - Ryan Marson
- The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI 48674, USA
| | - Pranab Sarker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Xiaoyun Chen
- The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI 48674, USA
| | | | | | - Carol Mohler
- The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI 48674, USA
| | - Tao Wei
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Tzu-Chi Kuo
- The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI 48674, USA
| | - Zhan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, MI 48109, USA.
- Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, MI 48109, USA
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Crago M, Lee A, Hoang TP, Talebian S, Naficy S. Protein adsorption on blood-contacting surfaces: A thermodynamic perspective to guide the design of antithrombogenic polymer coatings. Acta Biomater 2024; 180:46-60. [PMID: 38615811 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Blood-contacting medical devices often succumb to thrombosis, limiting their durability and safety in clinical applications. Thrombosis is fundamentally initiated by the nonspecific adsorption of proteins to the material surface, which is strongly governed by thermodynamic factors established by the nature of the interaction between the material surface, surrounding water molecules, and the protein itself. Along these lines, different surface materials (such as polymeric, metallic, ceramic, or composite) induce different entropic and enthalpic changes at the surface-protein interface, with material wettability significantly impacting this behavior. Consequently, protein adsorption on medical devices can be modulated by altering their wettability and surface energy. A plethora of polymeric coating modifications have been utilized for this purpose; hydrophobic modifications may promote or inhibit protein adsorption determined by van der Waals forces, while hydrophilic materials achieve this by mainly relying on hydrogen bonding, or unbalanced/balanced electrostatic interactions. This review offers a cohesive understanding of the thermodynamics governing these phenomena, to specifically aid in the design and selection of hemocompatible polymeric coatings for biomedical applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Blood-contacting medical devices often succumb to thrombosis, limiting their durability and safety in clinical applications. A plethora of polymeric coating modifications have been utilized for addressing this issue. This review offers a cohesive understanding of the thermodynamics governing these phenomena, to specifically aid in the design and selection of hemocompatible polymeric coatings for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Crago
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2008, Australia
| | - Aeryne Lee
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2008, Australia
| | - Thanh Phuong Hoang
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2008, Australia
| | - Sepehr Talebian
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2008, Australia.
| | - Sina Naficy
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2008, Australia.
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Wu Y, Wang T, Fay JDB, Zhang L, Hirth S, Hankett J, Chen Z. Silane Effects on Adhesion Enhancement of 2K Polyurethane Adhesives. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:19016-19026. [PMID: 38085956 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
With excellent properties such as great flexibility, outstanding chemical resistance, and superb mechanical strength, two-part polyurethane (2K PU) adhesives have been widely applied in many applications, including those in transportation and construction. Despite the extensive use, their adhesion to nonpolar polymer substrates still needs to be improved and has been widely studied. The incorporation of silane molecules and the use of plasma treatment on substrate surfaces are two popular methods to increase the adhesion of 2K PU adhesives, but their detailed adhesion enhancement mechanisms are still largely unknown. In this research, sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy was used to probe the influence of added or coated silanes on the interfacial structure at the buried polypropylene (PP)/2K PU adhesive interface in situ. How plasma treatment on PP could improve adhesion was also investigated. To achieve maximum adhesion, two methods to involve silanes were studied. In the first method, silanes were directly mixed with the 2K PU adhesive before use. In the second method, silane molecules were spin-coated onto the PP substrate before the PU adhesive applied. It was found that the first method could not improve the 2K PU adhesion to PP, while the second method could substantially enhance such adhesion. SFG studies demonstrated that with the second method silane molecules chemically reacted at the interface to connect PP and 2K PU adhesive to improve the adhesion. With the first method, silane molecules could not effectively diffuse to the interface to enhance adhesion. In this research, plasma treatment was also found to be a useful method to improve the adhesion of the 2K PU adhesive to nonpolar polymer materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Wu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Tianle Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Jonathan D B Fay
- BASF Corporation, 1609 Biddle Avenue, Wyandotte, Michigan 48192, United States
| | - Lu Zhang
- BASF Corporation, 1609 Biddle Avenue, Wyandotte, Michigan 48192, United States
| | - Sabine Hirth
- Material Physics and Analytics - B007, BASF SE, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, 67056 Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Jeanne Hankett
- BASF Corporation, 1609 Biddle Avenue, Wyandotte, Michigan 48192, United States
| | - Zhan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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Gao J, Stengel P, Lu T, Wu Y, Hawker DD, Gutowski KE, Hankett JM, Kellermeier M, Chen Z. Antiadhesive Copolymers at Solid/Liquid Interfaces: Complementary Characterization of Polymer Adsorption and Protein Fouling by Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy and Quartz-Crystal Microbalance Measurements with Dissipation Monitoring. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:12270-12282. [PMID: 37586045 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Amphiphilic copolymers comprising hydrophilic segments of poly(ethylene glycol) and hydrophobic domains that are able to adhere to solid/liquid interfaces have proven to be versatile ingredients in formulated products for various types of applications. Recently, we have reported the successful synthesis of a copolymer designed for modifying the surface properties of polyesters as mimics for synthetic textiles. Using sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy, it was shown that the newly developed copolymer adsorbs effectively on the targeted substrates even in the presence of surfactants as supplied by common detergents. In the present work, these studies were extended to evaluate the ability of the formed copolymer adlayers to passivate polyester surfaces against undesired deposition of bio(macro)molecules, as represented by fibrinogen as model protein foulants. In addition, SFG spectroscopy was used to elucidate the structure of fibrinogen at the interface between polyester and water. To complement the obtained data with an independent technique, analogous experiments were performed using quartz-crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring for the detection of the relevant interfacial processes. Both methods give consistent results and deliver a holistic picture of brush copolymer adsorption on polyester surfaces and subsequent antiadhesive effects against proteins under different conditions representing the targeted application in home care products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinpeng Gao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Peter Stengel
- Material Science, BASF SE, RGA/BM - B007, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Tieyi Lu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Yuchen Wu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Dustin D Hawker
- BASF Corporation, 1609 Biddle Avenue, Wyandotte, Michigan 48192, United States
| | - Keith E Gutowski
- BASF Corporation, 1609 Biddle Avenue, Wyandotte, Michigan 48192, United States
| | - Jeanne M Hankett
- BASF Corporation, 1609 Biddle Avenue, Wyandotte, Michigan 48192, United States
| | - Matthias Kellermeier
- Material Science, BASF SE, RGA/BM - B007, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Zhan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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