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Sharma A, Rohne F, Vasquez-Muñoz D, Jung SH, Lomadze N, Pich A, Santer S, Bekir M. Selective Segregation of Thermo-Responsive Microgels via Microfluidic Technology. SMALL METHODS 2024:e2400226. [PMID: 39091063 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202400226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Separation of equally sized particles distinguished solely by material properties remains still a very challenging task. Here a simple separation of differently charged, thermo-responsive polymeric particles (for example microgels) but equal in size, via the combination of pressure-driven microfluidic flow and precise temperature control is proposed. The separation principle relies on forcing thermo-responsive microgels to undergo the volume phase transition during heating and therefore changing its size and correspondingly the change in drift along a pressure driven shear flow. Different thermo-responsive particle types such as different grades of ionizable groups inside the polymer matrix have different temperature regions of volume phase transition temperature (VPTT). This enables selective control of collapsed versus swollen microgels, and accordingly, this physical principle provides a simple method for fractioning a binary mixture with at least one thermo-responsive particle, which is achieved by elution times in the sense of particle chromatography. The concepts are visualized in experimental studies, with an intend to improve the purification strategy of the broad distribution of charged microgels into fractioning to more narrow distribution microgels distinguished solely by slight differences in net charge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Sharma
- Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Fabian Rohne
- Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Se-Hyeong Jung
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e.V., 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Nino Lomadze
- Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Andrij Pich
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e.V., 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, or, Laboratory for Soft Materials and Interfaces, Department of Materials, Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM) Maastricht University, Geleen, 6167 RD, The Netherlands
| | - Svetlana Santer
- Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Marek Bekir
- Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
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2
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Strauch C, Schneider S. Monte Carlo simulation of the ionization and uptake behavior of cationic oligomers into pH-responsive polyelectrolyte microgels of opposite charge - a model for oligopeptide uptake and release. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:1263-1274. [PMID: 38236145 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01426f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
External stimuli can tune the uptake and release of guest molecules in microgels. Especially their pH responsiveness makes microgels exciting candidates for drug delivery systems. When both microgel and guest molecules are pH-responsive, predicting the electrostatically driven uptake can be complex since the ionization depends on many parameters. In this work, we performed Metropolis Monte Carlo simulations while systematically varying the pK of the monomers, the concentrations of microgel and guest molecules to obtain a better understanding of the uptake of weak cationic oligomers as a model for oligopeptides into a weak anionic polyelectrolyte microgel. Further, we varied the chain length of the oligomers. The polyelectrolyte networks can take up oligomers when both the network and the oligomers are charged. The presence of both species in the system leads to a mutual enhancement of their ionization. The uptake induces a release of counterions and results in complex formation between the oligomers and the network, leading to the collapse of the networks. Longer oligomers enhance the ionization of the network and, therefore, the complexation. A higher microgel concentration increases the uptake only around the isoelectric point but prevents the uptake due to lower entropy gain at counterion release at higher pH. The results give an insight into the uptake of cationic oligomers into oppositely charged polyelectrolyte microgels and provide hints for the design of anionic microgels as carriers for guest molecules e.g. antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Strauch
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52056 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Stefanie Schneider
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52056 Aachen, Germany.
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3
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Engel S, Jeschenko PM, van Dongen M, Rose JC, Schäfer D, Bruns M, Herres-Pawlis S, Keul H, Möller M. Photo-cross-linked and pH-Switchable Soft Polymer Nanocapsules from Polyglycidyl Ethers. Macromolecules 2024; 57:707-718. [PMID: 38283123 PMCID: PMC10810002 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c01698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Soft polymer nanocapsules and microgels, which can adapt their shape and, at the same time, sequester and release molecular payloads in response to an external trigger, are a challenging complement to vesicular structures like polymersomes. In this work, we report the synthesis of such capsules by photo-cross-linking of coumarin-substituted polyglycidyl ethers, which we prepared by Williamson etherification of epichlorohydrin (ECH) repeating units with 7-hydroxycoumarin in copolymers with tert-butyl glycidyl ether (tBGE). To control capsule size, we employed the prepolymers in an o/w miniemulsion, where they formed a gel layer at the interface upon irradiation at 365 nm by [2π + 2π] photodimerization of the coumarin groups. Upon irradiation at 254 nm, the reaction could be reversed and the gel wall could be repeatedly disintegrated and rebuilt. We further demonstrated (i) reversible hydrophilization of the gels by hydrolysis of the lactone rings in coumarin dimers as a mechanism to manipulate the permeability of the capsules and (ii) binding functional molecules as amides. Thus, the presented nanogels are remarkably versatile and can be further used as a carrier system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Engel
- Institute
of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute
for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Pascal M. Jeschenko
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute
for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
- Max
Planck School Matter to Life, Jahnstraße 29, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcel van Dongen
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute
for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jonas C. Rose
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute
for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Dominic Schäfer
- Institute
of Inorganic Chemistry (IAC), RWTH Aachen
University, Landoltweg
1, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Michael Bruns
- Institute
for Applied Materials and Karlsruhe Nano Micro Facility, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Sonja Herres-Pawlis
- Institute
of Inorganic Chemistry (IAC), RWTH Aachen
University, Landoltweg
1, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Helmut Keul
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute
for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Martin Möller
- Institute
of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute
for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
- Max
Planck School Matter to Life, Jahnstraße 29, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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4
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Mathews HF, Pieper MI, Jung SH, Pich A. Compartmentalized Polyampholyte Microgels by Depletion Flocculation and Coacervation of Nanogels in Emulsion Droplets. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202304908. [PMID: 37387670 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202304908] [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: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
In pH-responsive drug carriers, the distribution of charges has been proven to affect delivery efficiency but is difficult to control and verify. Herein, we fabricate polyampholyte nanogel-in-microgel colloids (NiM-C) and show that the arrangement of the nanogels (NG) can easily be manipulated by adapting synthesis conditions. Positively and negatively charged pH-responsive NG are synthesized by precipitation polymerization and labelled with different fluorescent dyes. The obtained NG are integrated into microgel (MG) networks by subsequent inverse emulsion polymerization in droplet-based microfluidics. By confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), we verify that depending on NG concentration, pH value and ionic strength, NiM-C with different NG arrangements are obtained, including Janus-like phase-separation of NG, statistical distribution of NG, and core-shell arrangements. Our approach is a major step towards uptake and release of oppositely charged (drug) molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah F Mathews
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Maria I Pieper
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Se-Hyeong Jung
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Laboratory for Soft Materials and Interfaces, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Andrij Pich
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Maastricht University, 6167 RD, Geleen, The Netherlands
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5
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Strauch C, Schneider S. Ionisation and swelling behaviour of weak polyampholyte core-shell networks - a Monte Carlo study. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:938-950. [PMID: 36632835 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm01301k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The network charge of polyampholyte microgels can be tuned by varying the pH of the surrounding solution, and a charge reversal from a positively charged microgel at low pH to a negatively charged microgel at high pH can be achieved. In a titration experiment, it is difficult to tell apart the ionisation of the acidic and basic monomers in the network and to determine the distribution of charges in the network, whereas using Metropolis Monte Carlo simulations, both the degree of ionisation and the distribution of ionised monomers can be determined separately for both species. Building on our earlier work on alternating polyampholyte microgels, we now investigated the pH-dependent ionisation and the swelling behaviour of polyampholyte core-shell microgels under good solvent conditions. For this purpose, we performed Metropolis Monte Carlo simulations for a bead-spring model using the constant-pH method. As in our previous study on alternating microgels, the width of the U-shaped curve of the microgels volume as a function of pH depends on the relative dissociation constants of acid and base, and the microgel volume can be approximated by a linear function of the total network charge. Due to the spatial separation of acid and base in core-shell systems, the ionisation is less enhanced compared to a microgel with an alternating distribution of the two species. Nevertheless, we still see an influence of the presence of one species on the ionisation behaviour of the other species under good solvent conditions. Furthermore, the isoelectric point is shifted towards higher pH, which is caused by a higher charge density in the core compared to that in the shell. Added salt changes the Donnan equilibrium, which determines the counterion distribution within and outside of the microgel. At the same time, it contributes to the electrostatic screening of the network charges, leading to a narrowing of the U-shaped volume transition curve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Strauch
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Stefanie Schneider
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.
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6
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Kolahdoozan M, Rahimi T, Taghizadeh A, Aghaei H. Preparation of new hydrogels by visible light cross-linking of dextran methacrylate and poly(ethylene glycol)-maleic acid copolymer. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 227:1221-1233. [PMID: 36464196 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
In this work, a series of new biodegradable and biocompatible hydrogels were synthesized by photopolymerization of dextran-methacrylate (DXM) with poly(ethylene glycol)-maleic acid copolymer (poly(PEG-co-MA, PEGMA)) using (-)-riboflavin as a visible light photoinitiator and L-arginine as a co-photoinitiator. DXM was prepared by acylation of dextran (DX) with methacryloyl chloride (MAC), and PEGMA was synthesized by polycondensation of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and maleic acid (MA). The DXM and PEGMA were characterized by FT-IR and 1HNMR spectroscopy. Different types of hydrogels from various ratios of DXM and PEGMA were prepared and characterized by SEM. The results showed that the prepared hydrogel by photo-cross-linking of DXM (DPHG0) was transparent and flexible, and its physical shape was excellent, but it was sticky. The stickiness was reduced by increasing the PEGMA contents, and different types of DXM/PEGMA hydrogels (DPHG1-4) with various properties were prepared. For example, DPHG2 (PEGMA content was 0.25 g) was transparent and flexible, its physical shape was excellent, and it was not sticky. The prepared hydrogels showed excellent cytocompatibility, and their tensile and compressive strength were also evaluated. Additionally, the in vitro degradation and swelling ratios of the prepared hydrogels were studied in buffer solution at different pHs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Kolahdoozan
- Department of Chemistry, Shahreza Branch, Islamic Azad University, P.O. Box 311-86145, Shahreza, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Tayebeh Rahimi
- Department of Chemistry, Shahreza Branch, Islamic Azad University, P.O. Box 311-86145, Shahreza, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ameneh Taghizadeh
- Department of Chemistry, Shahreza Branch, Islamic Azad University, P.O. Box 311-86145, Shahreza, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Aghaei
- Department of Chemistry, Shahreza Branch, Islamic Azad University, P.O. Box 311-86145, Shahreza, Isfahan, Iran.
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7
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Zholudev SI, Gumerov RA, Larina AA, Potemkin II. Swelling, collapse and ordering of rod-like microgels in solution: Computer simulation studies. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 629:270-278. [PMID: 36155922 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.09.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Polymer microgels have proven to be highly promising macromolecular objects for a wide variety of applications. In particular, the soft particles of an anisotropic (rod-like) shape are of special interest because of their potential use in tissue engineering or materials design. However, a little is known about the physical behavior of such microgels in solution, which inspired us to study them using mesoscopic computer simulations. For single networks, depending on the solvent quality, the dimensional characteristics were obtained for microgels of different molecular weight, crosslinking density and aspect ratio. In particular, the conditions for the rod-to-rod (preserving the nonspherical shape) and rod-to-sphere collapse were found. In addition, the effect of the liquid-crystalline (LC) ordering was demonstrated for the ensemble of rod-like microgels at different swelling ratios, and the influence of microgel aspect ratio on the volume fraction of the LC transition was shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stepan I Zholudev
- Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-2, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Rustam A Gumerov
- Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-2, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Alexandra A Larina
- Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-2, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Igor I Potemkin
- Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-2, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation; National Research South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk 454080, Russian Federation.
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8
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Portnov IV, Larina AA, Gumerov RA, Potemkin II. Swelling and Collapse of Cylindrical Polyelectrolyte Microgels. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14225031. [PMID: 36433158 PMCID: PMC9694774 DOI: 10.3390/polym14225031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we propose computer simulations of charged cylindrical microgels. The effects of cross-linking density, aspect ratio, and fraction of charged groups on the microgel swelling and collapse with a variation in the solvent quality were studied. The results were compared with those obtained for equivalent neutral cylindrical microgels. The study demonstrated that microgels' degree of swelling strongly depends on the fraction of charged groups. Polyelectrolyte microgels under adequate solvent conditions are characterized by a larger length and thickness than their neutral analogues: the higher the fraction of charged groups, the longer their length and greater their thickness. Microgels' collapse upon solvent quality decline is characterized by a decrease in length and non-monotonous behavior of its thickness. First, the thickness decreases due to the attraction of monomer units (beads) upon collapse. The further thickness increase is related to the surface tension, which tends to reduce the anisotropy of collapsed objects (the minimum surface energy is known to be achieved for the spherical objects). This reduction is opposed by the network elasticity. The microgels with a low cross-linking density and/or a low enough aspect ratio reveal a cylinder-to-sphere collapse. Otherwise, the cylindrical shape is preserved in the course of the collapse. Aspect ratio as a function of the solvent quality (interaction parameter) demonstrates the maximum, which is solely due to the electrostatics. Finally, we plotted radial concentration profiles for network segments, their charged groups, and counterions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan V. Portnov
- Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- A. N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexandra A. Larina
- Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Rustam A. Gumerov
- Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Igor I. Potemkin
- Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- National Research South Ural State University, 454080 Chelyabinsk, Russia
- Correspondence:
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9
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Rezvan G, Esmaeili M, Sadati M, Taheri-Qazvini N. Hybrid colloidal gels with tunable elasticity formed by charge-driven assembly between spherical soft nanoparticles and discotic nanosilicates. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 627:40-52. [PMID: 35841707 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.07.039] [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: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Colloidal gels based on electrostatic interparticle attractions hold unexploited potential for tailoring their microstructure and properties. Here, we demonstrate that hetero-aggregation between oppositely charged particles with different geometries is a viable strategy for controlling their properties. Specifically, we studied hybrid colloidal gels prepared by the charge-driven assembly of oppositely charged spherical gelatin nanoparticles and two-dimensional (2D) nanosilicates. We show that the asymmetry between the building blocks and the resulting anisotropic interparticle interactions produces a variety of nanostructures and hybrid colloidal gels that exhibit high elasticity at low colloidal volume fractions. Tuning the competition between different attractive interactions in the system by varying the spatial charge heterogeneity on the 2D nanosheets, composition, and ionic strength was found to alter the mechanism of gel formation and their rheological properties. Remarkably, increasing the mass ratio of 2D nanosheets to spherical nanoparticles at a constant total mass fraction affords hybrid gels that exhibit an inverse relationship between elasticity and volume fraction. However, these hybrid gels are easily fluidized and exhibit rapid structural recovery once the stress is removed. These features allow for the engineering of versatile 3D-printable hybrid colloidal gels, whose structure and viscoelastic response are governed by parameters that have not been explored before.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gelareh Rezvan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, United States.
| | - Mohsen Esmaeili
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, United States.
| | - Monirosadat Sadati
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, United States.
| | - Nader Taheri-Qazvini
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, United States; Biomedical Engineering Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, United States.
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10
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Qin HY, Liu Z, Dan Yang X, Liu YQ, Xie R, Ju XJ, Wang W, Chu LY. Pseudo Polyampholytes with Sensitively Ion-Responsive Conformational Transition Based on Positively Charged Host-Guest Complexes. Macromol Rapid Commun 2022; 43:e2200127. [PMID: 35334130 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202200127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Biological polyampholytes are ubiquitous in living organisms with primary functions including that serving as transporters for moving chemical molecular species across the cell membranes. Synthetic amphoteric macromolecules that can change their phase states depending on the environment to simulate some properties of natural polyampholytes are of great interests. Here, we explore implementation of synthetic pseudo polymeric ampholytes with ion-recognition-triggered conformational change. The phase transition behaviors of the ion-recognition-creative polyampholytes that containing deprotonated carboxylic acid groups as negative charges and 18-crown-6 units for forming positively charged host-guest complexes are systematically investigated. The ion-recognition-triggered phase transition behaviors of pseudo polyampholytes are significantly dependent on cation species and concentrations. Only those specific ions like K+ , Ba2+ , Sr2+ and Pb2+ ions that can form 1:1 host-guest complexes with 18-crown-6 units in polymers enable to control over the conformational change like that of the traditional pH-dependent polyampholytes. By regulating the content of the carboxylic acid groups to match the content of the ion-recognized positive charges provided by the host-guest complexes, the pseudo polyampholytes are more sensitive to the recognizable cations. Such ion-recognition-triggered amphoteric characteristics make the pseudo polyampholytes acting like biological proteins, nucleic acids and enzymes as molecular transporters, genetic code storage and biocatalysts in artificial systems. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Yue Qin
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China
| | - Zhuang Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China
| | - Xue- Dan Yang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China
| | - Yu-Qiong Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China
| | - Rui Xie
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Jie Ju
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China
| | - Wei Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China
| | - Liang-Yin Chu
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China
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11
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Bley M, Hurtado PI, Dzubiella J, Moncho-Jordá A. Active interaction switching controls the dynamic heterogeneity of soft colloidal dispersions. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:397-411. [PMID: 34904609 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01507a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We employ Reactive Dynamical Density Functional Theory (R-DDFT) and Reactive Brownian Dynamics (R-BD) simulations to investigate the dynamics of a suspension of active soft Gaussian colloids with binary interaction switching, i.e., a one-component colloidal system in which every particle stochastically switches at predefined rates between two interaction states with different mobility. Using R-DDFT we extend a theory previously developed to access the dynamics of inhomogeneous liquids [Archer et al., Phys. Rev. E: Stat., Nonlinear, Soft Matter Phys., 2007, 75, 040501] to study the influence of the switching activity on the self and distinct part of the Van Hove function in bulk solution, and determine the corresponding mean squared displacement of the switching particles. Our results demonstrate that, even though the average diffusion coefficient is not affected by the switching activity, it significantly modifies the non-equilibrium dynamics and diffusion coefficients of the individual particles, leading to a crossover from short to long times, with a regime for intermediate times showing anomalous diffusion. In addition, the self-part of the van Hove function has a Gaussian form at short and long times, but becomes non-Gaussian at intermediates ones, having a crossover between short and large displacements. The corresponding self-intermediate scattering function shows the two-step relaxation patters typically observed in soft materials with heterogeneous dynamics such as glasses and gels. We also introduce a phenomenological Continuous Time Random Walk (CTRW) theory to understand the heterogeneous diffusion of this system. R-DDFT results are in excellent agreement with R-BD simulations and the analytical predictions of CTRW theory, thus confirming that R-DDFT constitutes a powerful method to investigate not only the structure and phase behavior, but also the dynamical properties of non-equilibrium active switching colloidal suspensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Bley
- Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder Straße 3, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Pablo I Hurtado
- Departamento de Electromagnetismo y Física de la Materia, Universidad de Granada, Campus Fuentenueva S/N, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Institute Carlos I for Theoretical and Computational Physics, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Campus Fuentenueva S/N, 18071 Granada, Spain.
| | - Joachim Dzubiella
- Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder Straße 3, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.
- Research Group for Simulations of Energy Materials, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, D-14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - Arturo Moncho-Jordá
- Institute Carlos I for Theoretical and Computational Physics, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Campus Fuentenueva S/N, 18071 Granada, Spain.
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Granada, Campus Fuentenueva S/N, 18071 Granada, Spain
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12
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Hofzumahaus C, Strauch C, Schneider S. Monte Carlo simulations of weak polyampholyte microgels: pH-dependence of conformation and ionization. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:6029-6043. [PMID: 34076026 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00433f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We performed Metropolis Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the impact of varying acid and base dissociation constants on the pH-dependent ionization and conformation of weak polyampholyte microgels under salt-free conditions and under explicit consideration of the chemical ionization equilibria of the acidic and basic groups and their electrostatic interaction. Irrespective of their relative acid and base dissociation constant, all of the microgels undergo a pH-dependent charge reversal from positive to negative with a neutral charge at the isoelectric point. This charge reversal is accompanied by a U-shaped swelling transition of the microgels with a minimum of their size at the point of charge neutrality. The width of the U-shaped swelling transition, however, is found to depend on the chosen relative acid and base dissociation constants through which the extent of the favorable electrostatic intramolecular interaction of the ionized acidic and basic groups is altered. The pH-dependent swelling transition of the microgels is found to become broader, the stronger the intramolecular electrostatic interaction of the oppositely charged ionized species is. In addition, the intramolecular charge compensation of the acidic and basic groups of the microgels allows their counterions to abandon the microgel and the associated gain in translational entropy further amplifies the broadening of the pH-dependent swelling transition. The analysis of the radial ionization profiles of the acidic and basic groups of the differently composed microgels reveals a variety of radial ionization patterns with a dependence on the overall charge of the microgels.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Hofzumahaus
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.
| | - C Strauch
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.
| | - S Schneider
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.
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13
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Saha P, Ganguly R, Li X, Das R, Singha NK, Pich A. Zwitterionic Nanogels and Microgels: An Overview on Their Synthesis and Applications. Macromol Rapid Commun 2021; 42:e2100112. [PMID: 34021658 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202100112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Zwitterionic polymers by virtue of their unique chemical and physical attributes have attracted researchers in recent years. The simultaneous presence of positive and negative charges in the same repeat unit renders them of various interesting properties such as superhydrophilicity, which has significantly broadened their scope for being used in different applications. Among polyzwitterions of different architectures, micro- and/or nano-gels have started receiving attention only until recently. These 3D cross-linked colloidal structures show peculiar characteristics in context to their solution properties, which are attributable either to the comonomers present or the presence of different electrolytes and biological specimens. In this review, a concise yet detailed account is provided of the different synthetic techniques and application domains of zwitterion-based micro- and/or nanogels that have been explored in recent years. Here, the focus is kept solely on the "polybetaines," which have garnered maximum research interest and remain the extensively studied polyzwitterions in literature. While their vast application potential in the biomedical sector is being detailed here, some other areas of scope such as using them as microreactors for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles or making smart membranes for water-treatment are discussed in this minireview as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pabitra Saha
- DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, 52074, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52062, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ritabrata Ganguly
- Rubber Technology Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, Kharagpur, 721302, India
| | - Xin Li
- DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, 52074, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52062, Aachen, Germany
| | - Rohan Das
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, Esch-sur-Alzette, 4362, Luxembourg
| | - Nikhil K Singha
- Rubber Technology Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, Kharagpur, 721302, India
| | - Andrij Pich
- DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, 52074, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52062, Aachen, Germany.,Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Maastricht University, Geleen, 6167, The Netherlands
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14
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Pérez-Chávez NA, Albesa AG, Longo GS. Thermodynamic Theory of Multiresponsive Microgel Swelling. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c02885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Néstor A. Pérez-Chávez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas, Teóricas y Aplicadas (INIFTA), UNLP-CONICET, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Alberto G. Albesa
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas, Teóricas y Aplicadas (INIFTA), UNLP-CONICET, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Gabriel S. Longo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas, Teóricas y Aplicadas (INIFTA), UNLP-CONICET, La Plata 1900, Argentina
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15
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Casalini T. Not only in silico drug discovery: Molecular modeling towards in silico drug delivery formulations. J Control Release 2021; 332:390-417. [PMID: 33675875 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The use of methods at molecular scale for the discovery of new potential active ligands, as well as previously unknown binding sites for target proteins, is now an established reality. Literature offers many successful stories of active compounds developed starting from insights obtained in silico and approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). One of the most famous examples is raltegravir, a HIV integrase inhibitor, which was developed after the discovery of a previously unknown transient binding area thanks to molecular dynamics simulations. Molecular simulations have the potential to also improve the design and engineering of drug delivery devices, which are still largely based on fundamental conservation equations. Although they can highlight the dominant release mechanism and quantitatively link the release rate to design parameters (size, drug loading, et cetera), their spatial resolution does not allow to fully capture how phenomena at molecular scale influence system behavior. In this scenario, the "computational microscope" offered by simulations at atomic scale can shed light on the impact of molecular interactions on crucial parameters such as release rate and the response of the drug delivery device to external stimuli, providing insights that are difficult or impossible to obtain experimentally. Moreover, the new paradigm brought by nanomedicine further underlined the importance of such computational microscope to study the interactions between nanoparticles and biological components with an unprecedented level of detail. Such knowledge is a fundamental pillar to perform device engineering and to achieve efficient and safe formulations. After a brief theoretical background, this review aims at discussing the potential of molecular simulations for the rational design of drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Casalini
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Bioscience, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, Zürich 8093, Switzerland; Polymer Engineering Laboratory, Institute for Mechanical Engineering and Materials Technology, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), Via la Santa 1, Lugano 6962, Switzerland.
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16
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Bell D, Ludwanowski S, Lüken A, Sarikaya B, Walther A, Wessling M. Hydrogel membranes made from crosslinked microgel multilayers with tunable density. J Memb Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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17
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Schmidt MM, Bochenek S, Gavrilov AA, Potemkin II, Richtering W. Influence of Charges on the Behavior of Polyelectrolyte Microgels Confined to Oil-Water Interfaces. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:11079-11093. [PMID: 32845643 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c02081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The role of electrostatics on the interfacial properties of polyelectrolyte microgels has been discussed controversially in the literature. It is not yet clear if, or how, Coulomb interactions affect their behavior under interfacial confinement. In this work, we combine compression isotherms, atomic force microscopy imaging, and computer simulations to further investigate the behavior of pH-responsive microgels at oil-water interfaces. At low compression, charged microgels can be compressed more than uncharged microgels. The in-plane effective area of charged microgels is found to be smaller in comparison to uncharged ones. Thus, the compressibility is governed by in-plane interactions of the microgels with the interface. At high compression, however, charged microgels are less compressible than uncharged microgels. Microgel fractions located in the aqueous phase interact earlier for charged than for uncharged microgels because of their different swelling perpendicular to the interface. Therefore, the compressibility at high compression is controlled by out-of-plane interactions. In addition, the size of the investigated microgels plays a pivotal role. The charge-dependent difference in compressibility at low compression is only observed for small but not for large microgels, while the behavior at high compression does not depend on the size. Our results highlight the complex nature of soft polymer microgels as compared to rigid colloidal particles. We clearly demonstrate that electrostatic interactions affect the interfacial properties of polyelectrolyte microgels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steffen Bochenek
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Alexey A Gavrilov
- Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Igor I Potemkin
- Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- National Research South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk 454080, Russian Federation
| | - Walter Richtering
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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18
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19
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Ingverud T, Erlandsson J, Wågberg L, Malkoch M. Dendritic Polyampholyte-Assisted Formation of Functional Cellulose Nanofibril Materials. Biomacromolecules 2020; 21:2856-2863. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c00573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Ingverud
- Division of Coating Technology, Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, School of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
- Wallenberg Wood Science Center, Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, School of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Erlandsson
- Division of Fibre Technology, Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, School of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Wågberg
- Wallenberg Wood Science Center, Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, School of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Fibre Technology, Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, School of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Michael Malkoch
- Division of Coating Technology, Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, School of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
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20
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Eelkema R, Pich A. Pros and Cons: Supramolecular or Macromolecular: What Is Best for Functional Hydrogels with Advanced Properties? ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e1906012. [PMID: 31919957 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201906012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogels are fascinating soft materials with unique properties. Many biological systems are based on hydrogel-like structures, underlining their versatility and relevance. The properties of hydrogels strongly depend on the structure of the building blocks they are composed of, as well as the nature of interactions between them in the network structure. Herein, gel networks made by supramolecular interactions are compared to covalent macromolecular networks, drawing conclusions about their performance and application as responsive materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rienk Eelkema
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Andrij Pich
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V., Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52056, Aachen, Germany
- Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Maastricht University, Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD, Geleen, The Netherlands
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21
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Pérez-Mas L, Martín-Molina A, Quesada-Pérez M. Coarse-grained Monte Carlo simulations of nanogel-polyelectrolyte complexes: electrostatic effects. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:3022-3028. [PMID: 32129421 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm00173b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Coarse-grained Monte-Carlo simulations of nanogel-polyelectrolyte complexes have been carried out. The results presented here capture two phenomena reported in experiments with real complexes: (i) the reduction in size after absorbing just a few chains and (ii) the charge inversion detected through electrophoretic mobility data. Our simulations reveal that charge inversion occurs if the polyelectrolyte charge is large enough. In addition, the distribution of chains inside the nanogel strongly depends on whether charge inversion takes place. It should also be stressed that the chain topology has little influence on most of the properties studied here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Pérez-Mas
- Departamento de Física, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Linares, Universidad de Jaén, 23700, Linares, Jaén, Spain.
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22
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Portnov IV, Potemkin II. Interpolyelectrolyte Complex Dissociation vs Polyelectrolyte Desorption from Oppositely Charged Surface upon Salt Addition. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:914-920. [PMID: 31935090 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b10678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The structure of complexes formed by oppositely charged polyelectrolytes and adsorbed layers on charged surfaces is sensitive to low-molecular-weight salt. Furthermore, if the concentration exceeds some threshold value, the complexes and adsorbed chains can be "dissolved". This is due to the screening of the electrostatic interactions between charged units. In the current paper, we perform a comparative analysis of "dissolution" (dissociation) of complexes and layers upon addition of salt. For this, the conventional Brownian dynamics of computer simulations is used. We demonstrate that the complex based on linear chains dissociates at lower salt concentration than that required for desorption of equivalent chains from an oppositely charged surface. The physical reason is the difference in the symmetry of the electric field, which binds the chains into the complex (layer). In the salt-free regime, the intensity of the electric field (and attractive force) between two linear chains decays with the distance R between them, like for two spherical objects, ∼R-2, if R is bigger than the characteristic size of the chain. On the contrary, the attractive force of the chain to the infinite surface does not depend on the distance to the surface (the electric field is constant). Therefore, if attractive forces in the condensed states of the two systems are equal, one needs to add more salt to screen the constant force than the decaying one. The computer simulation results on the adsorption of the chains were compared with the experimental data obtained for adsorption of cationic poly(4-vinylpyridine) on the surface of anionic liposomes. Good quantitative agreement was achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan V Portnov
- Physics Department , Lomonosov Moscow State University , Moscow 119991 , Russian Federation.,DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials , Aachen 52056 , Germany.,A. N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds , Russian Academy of Sciences , Moscow 119991 , Russian Federation
| | - Igor I Potemkin
- Physics Department , Lomonosov Moscow State University , Moscow 119991 , Russian Federation.,DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials , Aachen 52056 , Germany.,National Research South Ural State University , Chelyabinsk 454080 , Russian Federation
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23
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Silkina EF, Molotilin TY, Maduar SR, Vinogradova OI. Ionic equilibria and swelling of soft permeable particles in electrolyte solutions. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:929-938. [PMID: 31815270 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01602c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We discuss osmotic equilibria between soft permeable particles, of radius R and volume charge density ρ, and bulk electrolyte solutions of inverse Debye length κ. Existing models are based on a simplified assumption of weakly charged particles. Here we derive analytical approximations for the distribution of potentials, ions and pressure in a system, suitable even when ρ is quite large. Our theory is valid not only for "large" particles (κR≫ 1), where the central part is fully screened, but also for weakly screened "small" particles (κR≤ 1) with overlapping inner diffuse layers. Besides, we present novel coarse-grained simulations to validate the analysis and illustrate the variation of potential/ion profiles in response to changes in κR and ρ. Our simulations also allow us to argue that swelling of both "large" and "small" particles is uniform, although their inner non-uniform local pressure profiles are essentially and qualitatively different. These results are directly relevant for a variety of permeable charged objects, from polymer micro- and nanogels to more rigid porous colloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena F Silkina
- Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 31 Leninsky Prospect, 119071 Moscow, Russia.
| | - Taras Y Molotilin
- Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 31 Leninsky Prospect, 119071 Moscow, Russia.
| | - Salim R Maduar
- Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 31 Leninsky Prospect, 119071 Moscow, Russia.
| | - Olga I Vinogradova
- Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 31 Leninsky Prospect, 119071 Moscow, Russia. and Department of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia and DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52056 Aachen, Germany
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24
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Maroto-Centeno JA, Quesada-Pérez M. Coarse-grained simulations of diffusion controlled release of drugs from neutral nanogels: Effect of excluded volume interactions. J Chem Phys 2020; 152:024107. [DOI: 10.1063/1.5133900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- José Alberto Maroto-Centeno
- Departamento de Física, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Linares, Universidad de Jaén, 23700 Linares, Jaén, Spain
| | - Manuel Quesada-Pérez
- Departamento de Física, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Linares, Universidad de Jaén, 23700 Linares, Jaén, Spain
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25
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Xu W, Rudov A, Oppermann A, Wypysek S, Kather M, Schroeder R, Richtering W, Potemkin II, Wöll D, Pich A. Synthesis of Polyampholyte Janus-like Microgels by Coacervation of Reactive Precursors in Precipitation Polymerization. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:1248-1255. [PMID: 31664769 PMCID: PMC6973257 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201910450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Controlling the distribution of ionizable groups of opposite charge in microgels is an extremely challenging task, which could open new pathways to design a new generation of stimuli-responsive colloids. Herein, we report a straightforward approach for the synthesis of polyampholyte Janus-like microgels, where ionizable groups of opposite charge are located on different sides of the colloidal network. This synthesis approach is based on the controlled self-assembly of growing polyelectrolyte microgel precursors during the precipitation polymerization process. We confirmed the morphology of polyampholyte Janus-like microgels and demonstrate that they are capable of responding quickly to changes in both pH and temperature in aqueous solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Xu
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V.RWTH-Aachen UniversityForckenbeckstraße 5052074AachenGermany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityWorringerweg 252074AachenGermany
| | - Andrey Rudov
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V.RWTH-Aachen UniversityForckenbeckstraße 5052074AachenGermany
- Physics DepartmentLomonosov Moscow State UniversityMoscow119991Russian Federation
| | - Alex Oppermann
- Institute of Physical ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityLandoltweg 252074AachenGermany
| | - Sarah Wypysek
- Institute of Physical ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityLandoltweg 252074AachenGermany
| | - Michael Kather
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V.RWTH-Aachen UniversityForckenbeckstraße 5052074AachenGermany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityWorringerweg 252074AachenGermany
| | - Ricarda Schroeder
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V.RWTH-Aachen UniversityForckenbeckstraße 5052074AachenGermany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityWorringerweg 252074AachenGermany
| | - Walter Richtering
- Institute of Physical ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityLandoltweg 252074AachenGermany
| | - Igor I. Potemkin
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V.RWTH-Aachen UniversityForckenbeckstraße 5052074AachenGermany
- Physics DepartmentLomonosov Moscow State UniversityMoscow119991Russian Federation
- National Research South Ural State UniversityChelyabinsk454080Russian Federation
| | - Dominik Wöll
- Institute of Physical ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityLandoltweg 252074AachenGermany
| | - Andrij Pich
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V.RWTH-Aachen UniversityForckenbeckstraße 5052074AachenGermany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityWorringerweg 252074AachenGermany
- Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM)Maastricht UniversityBrightlands ChemelotThe Netherlands
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26
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Xu W, Rudov A, Oppermann A, Wypysek S, Kather M, Schroeder R, Richtering W, Potemkin II, Wöll D, Pich A. Synthesis of Polyampholyte Janus‐like Microgels by Coacervation of Reactive Precursors in Precipitation Polymerization. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201910450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Xu
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. RWTH-Aachen University Forckenbeckstraße 50 52074 Aachen Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 2 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Andrey Rudov
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. RWTH-Aachen University Forckenbeckstraße 50 52074 Aachen Germany
- Physics Department Lomonosov Moscow State University Moscow 119991 Russian Federation
| | - Alex Oppermann
- Institute of Physical Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Landoltweg 2 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Sarah Wypysek
- Institute of Physical Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Landoltweg 2 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Michael Kather
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. RWTH-Aachen University Forckenbeckstraße 50 52074 Aachen Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 2 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Ricarda Schroeder
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. RWTH-Aachen University Forckenbeckstraße 50 52074 Aachen Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 2 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Walter Richtering
- Institute of Physical Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Landoltweg 2 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Igor I. Potemkin
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. RWTH-Aachen University Forckenbeckstraße 50 52074 Aachen Germany
- Physics Department Lomonosov Moscow State University Moscow 119991 Russian Federation
- National Research South Ural State University Chelyabinsk 454080 Russian Federation
| | - Dominik Wöll
- Institute of Physical Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Landoltweg 2 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Andrij Pich
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. RWTH-Aachen University Forckenbeckstraße 50 52074 Aachen Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 2 52074 Aachen Germany
- Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM) Maastricht University Brightlands Chemelot The Netherlands
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27
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Xu J, Wang Z, Zhang F, Peng S, Zhang J, Zhang L. Directed Self-Assembly of Patchy Microgels into Anisotropic Nanostructures. Macromol Rapid Commun 2019; 41:e1900505. [PMID: 31793720 DOI: 10.1002/marc.201900505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 10/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Multi-geometry nanostructures with high-order, complex, and controllable geometries have attracted extensive attention in the development of functional nanomaterials. A simple and versatile strategy is proposed to construct various anisotropic nanostructures through the directed self-assembly (DSA) of patchy microgels. A general criterion for interaction parameters is developed by the variance analysis method to achieve the formation of 1D nanorods by the single directional DSA process, and 2D or 3D polymorphs including V/T/h/cross shapes, multiple arms, multi-directional bending, single/multiple rings, nanocages, etc., by the multi-directional DSA process of binary microgel blends. At the optimum interaction parameters, the nanorods exhibit the quickest formation process and the most thermodynamically stable geometry, while the various 2D or 3D assemblies exhibit controlled jointing behaviors for versatile assembly geometries. The number of recognition sites on the patchy microgel surface guides the aggregation modes of microgels during the DSA process. These assemblies can bear large curvature variance with the increase of shear rates due to the high flexibility and the ability of adjusting orientation spontaneously. The DSA behavior of patchy microgels differs from the traditional self-assembly process of block copolymers, which may open a new route for guiding the formation of controllable nanoparticle architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianchang Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Zhikun Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
| | - Fusheng Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Shiyuan Peng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Lijuan Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
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28
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Purohit A, Centeno SP, Wypysek SK, Richtering W, Wöll D. Microgel PAINT - nanoscopic polarity imaging of adaptive microgels without covalent labelling. Chem Sci 2019; 10:10336-10342. [PMID: 32110321 PMCID: PMC6984396 DOI: 10.1039/c9sc03373d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Polymer nanostructures have enormous potential for various applications in materials and life sciences. In order to exploit and understand their full capabilities, a detailed analysis of their structures and the environmental conditions in them is essential on the nanoscopic scale. With a super-resolution fluorescence microscopy technique known as PAINT (Points Accumulation for Imaging in Nanoscale Topography), we imaged colloidal hydrogel networks, so-called microgels, having a hydrodynamic radius smaller than the diffraction limit, gaining unprecedented insight into their full 3D structure which is not accessible in this much detail with any other experimental method. In addition to imaging of the microgel structure, the use of Nile Red as the solvatochromic fluorophore allowed us to resolve the polarity conditions within the investigated microgels, thus providing nanoscopic information on the x,y,z-position of labels including their polarity without the need of covalent labelling. With this imaging approach, we give a detailed insight into adapting structural and polarity properties of temperature-responsive microgels when changing the temperature beyond the volume phase transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashvini Purohit
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 2 , 52074 Aachen , Germany .
| | - Silvia P Centeno
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 2 , 52074 Aachen , Germany .
| | - Sarah K Wypysek
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 2 , 52074 Aachen , Germany .
| | - Walter Richtering
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 2 , 52074 Aachen , Germany .
| | - Dominik Wöll
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 2 , 52074 Aachen , Germany .
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29
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Bahri A, Chevalier-Lucia D, Marchesseau S, Schmitt C, Gergely C, Martin M. Effect of pH change on size and nanomechanical behavior of whey protein microgels. J Colloid Interface Sci 2019; 555:558-568. [PMID: 31404840 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2019.07.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/27/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Microgels specific structural and functional features are attracting high research interest in several applications such as bioactives and drug delivery or functional food ingredients. Whey protein microgels (WPM) are obtained by heat treatment of whey protein isolate (WPI) in order to promote intramolecular cross-linking. In the present work, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used in contact mode and in liquid to investigate WPM particles topography and mechanical properties at the nanoscale at native pH (6.5) and acid pH (5.5 and 3.0). Prior to AFM, WPM particles were captured on a gold substrate via low energy interactions by means of specific monoclonal antibodies. AFM images clearly showed an increase in the size of WPM particles induced by pH decrease. AFM in force spectroscopy mode was employed to monitor the elasticity of WPMs. The obtained effective Young's modulus data showed a significant increase in stiffness at pH 5.5 and pH 3.0, over 15-fold compared to native pH. These findings indicate that the mechanical profile of the WPM network varied with the pH decrease. The WPM topographic and nanomechanical changes induced by acidification were most likely due to substantial changes in the shape and inner structure of WPM particles. Our results suggest that internally cross-linked structures, modified by acidification could display interesting functional properties when used as a food ingredient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Bahri
- IATE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France; L2C, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Sylvie Marchesseau
- IATE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France
| | - Christophe Schmitt
- Nestlé Institute of Material Sciences, Nestlé Research, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Marta Martin
- L2C, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France.
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30
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Del Monte G, Ninarello A, Camerin F, Rovigatti L, Gnan N, Zaccarelli E. Numerical insights on ionic microgels: structure and swelling behaviour. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:8113-8128. [PMID: 31589214 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01253b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Recent progress has been made in the numerical modelling of neutral microgel particles with a realistic, disordered structure. In this work we extend this approach to the case of co-polymerised microgels where a thermoresponsive polymer is mixed with acidic groups. We compare the cases where counterions directly interact with microgel charges or are modelled implicitly through a Debye-Hückel description. We do so by performing extensive numerical simulations of single microgels across the volume phase transition (VPT) varying the temperature and the fraction of charged monomers. We find that the presence of charges considerably alters the microgel structure, quantified by the monomer density profiles and by the form factors of the microgels, particularly close to the VPT. We observe significant deviations between the implicit and explicit models, with the latter comparing more favourably to available experiments. In particular, we observe a shift of the VPT temperature to larger values as the amount of charged monomers increases. We also find that below the VPT the microgel-counterion complex is almost neutral, while it develops a net charge above the VPT. Interestingly, under these conditions the collapsed microgel still retains a large amount of counterions inside its structure. Since these interesting features cannot be captured by the implicit model, our results show that it is crucial to explicitly include the counterions in order to realistically model ionic thermoresponsive microgels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Del Monte
- Physics Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy. and CNR-ISC, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy. and Center for Life NanoScience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Ninarello
- CNR-ISC, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy. and Physics Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Camerin
- CNR-ISC, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy. and Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, via A. Scarpa 14, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Rovigatti
- Physics Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy. and CNR-ISC, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Nicoletta Gnan
- CNR-ISC, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy. and Physics Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Emanuela Zaccarelli
- CNR-ISC, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy. and Physics Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy.
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31
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Du S, Chen X, Chen X, Li S, Yuan G, Zhou T, Li J, Jia Y, Xiong D, Tan H. Covalent Chitosan‐Cellulose Hydrogels via Schiff‐Base Reaction Containing Macromolecular Microgels for pH‐Sensitive Drug Delivery and Wound Dressing. MACROMOL CHEM PHYS 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/macp.201900399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shoukang Du
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing 210094 China
| | - Xiaojin Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing 210094 China
| | - Xiaofei Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing 210094 China
| | - Shengke Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing 210094 China
| | - Guoliang Yuan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing 210094 China
| | - Tianle Zhou
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing 210094 China
| | - Jianliang Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing 210094 China
| | - Yang Jia
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing 210094 China
| | - Dangsheng Xiong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing 210094 China
| | - Huaping Tan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing 210094 China
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32
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Chimisso V, Fodor C, Meier W. Effect of Divalent Cation on Swelling Behavior of Anionic Microgels: Quantification and Dynamics of Ion Uptake and Release. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:13413-13420. [PMID: 31584278 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b02791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam-co-itaconate) (P(VCL-co-IADME) microgels were synthesized varying the molar ratio between VCL and IADME via free radical precipitation polymerization in the presence of quaternary ammonium surfactant. In order to determine the effect of the divalent metal ions on the structure and the swelling behavior of the microgel systems, both neutral and charged forms of the hydrogels after hydrolysis were investigated. The triggered gel collapse caused by the divalent metal ion together with the quantification of the metal ion uptake was studied in detail by titration and ion chromatography methods and revealed the minimum concentration around 0.1 mM to trigger gel collapse on the treated gels. Uptake and release dynamics of the gels were followed by turbidity measurements and were in the time-range of 2 and 17 s, depending on the composition and the concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Chimisso
- University of Basel , Department of Chemistry , Mattenstrasse 24a , BPR1096, 4002 Basel , Basel-Stadt , Switzerland
| | - Csaba Fodor
- University of Basel , Department of Chemistry , Mattenstrasse 24a , BPR1096, 4002 Basel , Basel-Stadt , Switzerland
| | - Wolfgang Meier
- University of Basel , Department of Chemistry , Mattenstrasse 24a , BPR1096, 4002 Basel , Basel-Stadt , Switzerland
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33
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Wang L, Xu S, Zhou H, Sun Z, Ouyang W, Wang S. Determination of Bulk Modulus for a Colloidal Crystal with Highly Charged Particles by DC Electric Field. J Phys Chem A 2019; 123:7864-7871. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.9b04329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Linwei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Microgravity, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Shenghua Xu
- Key Laboratory of Microgravity, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Engineering Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hongwei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Microgravity, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Zhiwei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Microgravity, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Wenze Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Microgravity, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Shenwei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Microgravity, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Engineering Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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34
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Rudyak VY, Kozhunova EY, Chertovich AV. Towards the realistic computer model of precipitation polymerization microgels. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13052. [PMID: 31506571 PMCID: PMC6737091 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49512-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
In this paper we propose a new method of coarse-grained computer simulations of the microgel formation in course of free radical precipitation polymerization. For the first time, we simulate the precipitation polymerization process from a dilute solution of initial components to a final microgel particle with coarse grained molecular dynamics, and compare it to the experimental data. We expect that our simulation studies of PNIPA-like microgels will be able to elucidate the subject of nucleation and growth kinetics and to describe in detail the network topology and structure. Performed computer simulations help to determine the characteristic phases of the growth process and show the necessity of prolongated synthesis for the formation of stable microgel particles. We demonstrate the important role of dangling ends in microgels, which occupy as much as 50% of its molecular mass and have previously unattended influence on the swelling behavior. The verification of the model is made by the comparison of collapse curves and structure factors between simulated and experimental systems, and high quality matching is achieved. This work could help to open new horizons in studies that require the knowledge of detailed and realistic structures of the microgel networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Yu Rudyak
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Physics, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
| | - Elena Yu Kozhunova
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Physics, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Alexander V Chertovich
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Physics, Moscow, 119991, Russia
- Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, Moscow, 119991, Russia
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35
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Grinberg VY, Burova TV, Grinberg NV, Alvarez-Lorenzo C, Khokhlov AR. Protein-like energetics of conformational transitions in a polyampholyte hydrogel. POLYMER 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2019.121617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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36
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Saha P, Kather M, Banerjee SL, Singha NK, Pich A. Aqueous solution behavior of thermoresponsive polyzwitterionic microgels based on poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) synthesized via RAFT precipitation polymerization. Eur Polym J 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2019.05.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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37
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Mertens MAS, Thomas F, Nöth M, Moegling J, El‐Awaad I, Sauer DF, Dhoke GV, Xu W, Pich A, Herres‐Pawlis S, Schwaneberg U. One‐Pot Two‐Step Chemoenzymatic Cascade for the Synthesis of a Bis‐benzofuran Derivative. European J Org Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.201900904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabian Thomas
- Aachen Institute of Inorganic Chemistry Landoltweg 1 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Maximilian Nöth
- Institute of Biotechnology RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 3 52074 Aachen Germany
- DWI Leipniz‐Institut für Interaktive Materialien e.V. Forckenbeckstr. 50 52056 Aachen Germany
| | - Julian Moegling
- Aachen Institute of Inorganic Chemistry Landoltweg 1 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Islam El‐Awaad
- Institute of Biotechnology RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 3 52074 Aachen Germany
- DWI Leipniz‐Institut für Interaktive Materialien e.V. Forckenbeckstr. 50 52056 Aachen Germany
- Department of Pharmacognosy Faculty of Pharmacy Assiut University 71526 Assiut Egypt
| | - Daniel F. Sauer
- Institute of Biotechnology RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 3 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Gaurao V. Dhoke
- Institute of Biotechnology RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 3 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Wenjing Xu
- DWI Leipniz‐Institut für Interaktive Materialien e.V. Forckenbeckstr. 50 52056 Aachen Germany
| | - Andrij Pich
- DWI Leipniz‐Institut für Interaktive Materialien e.V. Forckenbeckstr. 50 52056 Aachen Germany
| | | | - Ulrich Schwaneberg
- Institute of Biotechnology RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 3 52074 Aachen Germany
- DWI Leipniz‐Institut für Interaktive Materialien e.V. Forckenbeckstr. 50 52056 Aachen Germany
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38
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Pérez-Mas L, Martín-Molina A, Jain RK, Quesada-Pérez M. Effect of dispersion forces on the behavior of thermosensitive nanogels: A coarse-grained simulation study. J Mol Liq 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2019.111101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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39
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Li B, Kappl M, Han L, Cui J, Zhou F, Del Campo A. Goosebumps-Inspired Microgel Patterns with Switchable Adhesion and Friction. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1902376. [PMID: 31310426 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201902376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
A substrate mimicking the surface topography and temperature sensitivity of skin goosebumps is fabricated. Close-packed arrays of thermoresponsive microgel particles undergo topographical changes in response to temperature changes between 25 and 37 °C, resembling the goosebump structure that human skin develops in response to temperature changes or other circumstances. Specifically, positively charged poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyltrimethylammonium chloride] (PMETAC) brushes serve as an anchoring substrate for negatively charged poly(NIPAm-co-AA) microgels. The packing density and particle morphology can be tuned by brush layer thickness and pH of the microgel suspension. For brush layer thickness below 50 nm, particle monolayers are observed, with slightly flattened particle morphology at pH 3 and highly collapsed particles at pH above 7. Polymer brush films with thickness above 50 nm lead to the formation of particle multilayers. The temperature responsiveness of the monolayer assemblies allows reversible changes in the film morphology, which in turn affects underwater adhesion and friction at 25 and 37 °C. These results are promising for the design of new functional materials and may also serve as a model for biological structures and processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Li
- INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Campus D2 2, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Michael Kappl
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Lu Han
- INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Campus D2 2, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 610054, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiaxi Cui
- INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Campus D2 2, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 610054, Chengdu, China
| | - Feng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China
| | - Aránzazu Del Campo
- INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Campus D2 2, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Chemistry Department, Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
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40
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Rovigatti L, Gnan N, Ninarello A, Zaccarelli E. Connecting Elasticity and Effective Interactions of Neutral Microgels: The Validity of the Hertzian Model. Macromolecules 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.9b00099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Rovigatti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Roma, Italy
- CNR-ISC, Uos Sapienza, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Gnan
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Roma, Italy
- CNR-ISC, Uos Sapienza, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Andrea Ninarello
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Roma, Italy
- CNR-ISC, Uos Sapienza, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Emanuela Zaccarelli
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Roma, Italy
- CNR-ISC, Uos Sapienza, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Roma, Italy
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41
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Gumerov RA, Filippov SA, Richtering W, Pich A, Potemkin II. Amphiphilic microgels adsorbed at oil-water interfaces as mixers of two immiscible liquids. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:3978-3986. [PMID: 31025694 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm00389d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Amphiphilic microgels adsorbed at an oil-water interface were studied by means of dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations. The hydrophobic (A) and hydrophilic (B) monomer units in the polymer network are considered to be randomly distributed. Effects of the crosslinking density, interfacial tension between the liquids, their selectivity as solvents towards species A and B, and the degree of incompatibility between the A and B units on the internal microgel structure and distribution of the liquids are considered. The most important predictions are that (i) two immiscible liquids can homogeneously be mixed within the microgels and (ii) the adsorbed microgels contain a high fraction of the liquids (they are swollen at the interface). Simultaneous fulfillment of these two conditions can have a high impact on the design of new and efficient catalytic systems. In particular, such microgels can mix immiscible reactants dissolved in water and oil and trigger chemical reactions in the presence of a catalyst embedded into the microgel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rustam A Gumerov
- Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation.
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42
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Karg M, Pich A, Hellweg T, Hoare T, Lyon LA, Crassous JJ, Suzuki D, Gumerov RA, Schneider S, Potemkin II, Richtering W. Nanogels and Microgels: From Model Colloids to Applications, Recent Developments, and Future Trends. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:6231-6255. [PMID: 30998365 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b04304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 310] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Nanogels and microgels are soft, deformable, and penetrable objects with an internal gel-like structure that is swollen by the dispersing solvent. Their softness and the potential to respond to external stimuli like temperature, pressure, pH, ionic strength, and different analytes make them interesting as soft model systems in fundamental research as well as for a broad range of applications, in particular in the field of biological applications. Recent tremendous developments in their synthesis open access to systems with complex architectures and compositions allowing for tailoring microgels with specific properties. At the same time state-of-the-art theoretical and simulation approaches offer deeper understanding of the behavior and structure of nano- and microgels under external influences and confinement at interfaces or at high volume fractions. Developments in the experimental analysis of nano- and microgels have become particularly important for structural investigations covering a broad range of length scales relevant to the internal structure, the overall size and shape, and interparticle interactions in concentrated samples. Here we provide an overview of the state-of-the-art, recent developments as well as emerging trends in the field of nano- and microgels. The following aspects build the focus of our discussion: tailoring (multi)functionality through synthesis; the role in biological and biomedical applications; the structure and properties as a model system, e.g., for densely packed arrangements in bulk and at interfaces; as well as the theory and computer simulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Karg
- Physical Chemistry I , Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf , 40204 Duesseldorf , Germany
| | - Andrij Pich
- DWI-Leibnitz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. , 52056 Aachen , Germany
- Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , 52056 Aachen , Germany
| | - Thomas Hellweg
- Physical and Biophysical Chemistry , Bielefeld University , 33615 Bielefeld , Germany
| | - Todd Hoare
- Department of Chemical Engineering , McMaster University , Hamilton , Ontario L8S 4L8 , Canada
| | - L Andrew Lyon
- Schmid College of Science and Technology , Chapman University , Orange , California 92866 , United States
| | - J J Crassous
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , 52056 Aachen , Germany
| | | | - Rustam A Gumerov
- DWI-Leibnitz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. , 52056 Aachen , Germany
- Physics Department , Lomonosov Moscow State University , Moscow 119991 , Russian Federation
| | - Stefanie Schneider
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , 52056 Aachen , Germany
| | - Igor I Potemkin
- DWI-Leibnitz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. , 52056 Aachen , Germany
- Physics Department , Lomonosov Moscow State University , Moscow 119991 , Russian Federation
- National Research South Ural State University , Chelyabinsk 454080 , Russian Federation
| | - Walter Richtering
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , 52056 Aachen , Germany
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43
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Martín-Molina A, Quesada-Pérez M. A review of coarse-grained simulations of nanogel and microgel particles. J Mol Liq 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2019.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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44
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Xu W, Rudov AA, Schroeder R, Portnov IV, Richtering W, Potemkin II, Pich A. Distribution of Ionizable Groups in Polyampholyte Microgels Controls Interactions with Captured Proteins: From Blockade and "Levitation" to Accelerated Release. Biomacromolecules 2019; 20:1578-1591. [PMID: 30822384 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b01775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A striking discovery in our work is that the distribution of ionizable groups in polyampholyte microgels (random and core-shell) controls the interactions with the captured proteins. Polyampholyte microgels are capable to switch reversibly their charges from positive to negative depending on pH. In this work, we synthesized differently structured polyampholyte microgels with controlled amounts and different distribution of acidic and basic moieties as colloidal carriers to study the loading and release of the model protein cytochrome c (cyt-c). Polyampholyte microgels were first loaded with cyt-c using the electrostatic attraction under pH 8 when the microgels were oppositely charged with respect to the protein. Then the protein release was investigated under different pH (3, 6, and 8) both with experimental methods and molecular dynamics simulations. For microgels with a random distribution of ionizable groups complete and accelerated (compared to polyelectrolyte counterpart) release of cyt-c was observed due to electrostatic repulsive interactions. For core-shell structured microgels with defined ionizable groups, it was possible to entrap the protein inside the neutral core through the formation of a positively charged shell, which acts as an electrostatic potential barrier. We postulate that this discovery allows the design of functional colloidal carriers with programmed release kinetics for applications in drug delivery, catalysis, and biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Xu
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. , Forckenbeckstraße 50 , 52074 Aachen , Germany.,Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University , Forckenbeckstraße 50 , 52074 Aachen , Germany
| | - Andrey A Rudov
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. , Forckenbeckstraße 50 , 52074 Aachen , Germany.,Physics Department , Lomonosov Moscow State University , GSP-1, 1-2 Leninskiye Gory 119991 Moscow , Russian Federation
| | - Ricarda Schroeder
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. , Forckenbeckstraße 50 , 52074 Aachen , Germany.,Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University , Forckenbeckstraße 50 , 52074 Aachen , Germany
| | - Ivan V Portnov
- Physics Department , Lomonosov Moscow State University , GSP-1, 1-2 Leninskiye Gory 119991 Moscow , Russian Federation
| | - Walter Richtering
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 2 52056 Aachen , Germany
| | - Igor I Potemkin
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. , Forckenbeckstraße 50 , 52074 Aachen , Germany.,Physics Department , Lomonosov Moscow State University , GSP-1, 1-2 Leninskiye Gory 119991 Moscow , Russian Federation.,National Research South Ural State University , Chelyabinsk 454080 , Russian Federation
| | - Andrij Pich
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. , Forckenbeckstraße 50 , 52074 Aachen , Germany.,Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University , Forckenbeckstraße 50 , 52074 Aachen , Germany.,Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Maastricht University , Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Urmonderbaan22 , 6167 RD Geleen , The Netherlands
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45
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Ramos-Tejada MDM, Quesada-Pérez M. Coarse-Grained Simulations of Nanogel Composites: Electrostatic and Steric Effects. Macromolecules 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.8b02657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- María del Mar Ramos-Tejada
- Departamento de Física, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Linares, Campus Científico-Tecnológico, 23700 Linares, Jaén, Spain
| | - Manuel Quesada-Pérez
- Departamento de Física, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Linares, Campus Científico-Tecnológico, 23700 Linares, Jaén, Spain
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46
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Swain P, Ronghe A, Bhutani U, Majumdar S. Physicochemical Response of Gelatin in a Coulombic Soup of Monovalent Salt: A Molecular Simulation and Experimental Study. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:1186-1194. [PMID: 30640463 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b11379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The effect of salt on the static properties of aqueous solution of gelatin is studied by molecular dynamics simulation at pH = 1.2, 7, and 10. At the isoelectric point (pH = 7), a monotonic increase in size of the polymer is obtained with the addition of sodium chloride ions. In the positive polyelectrolyte regime (pH = 1.2), collapse of gelatin is observed with increase in salt concentration. In the negative polyelectrolyte regime, we observe an interesting collapse-reexpansion behavior. This is due to the screening of repulsion between the excess charges followed by the screening of attraction of oppositely charged ions as the salt concentration is increased. This mechanism is very different from the charge inversion mechanism which causes the reexpansion in the presence of multivalent ions. The location of salt concentration corresponding to the minimum size of the chain is comparable to the theoretical estimate. The shift in the peak of radial distribution function calculated between monomers and salt ions confirms this spatial reorganization. The predictions from the simulation are verified by dynamic light scattering(DLS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments. The size of the hydrodynamic "clusters" obtained from DLS confirms the simulation predictions. Persistence length of the gelatin is calculated from SAXS to get single chain statistics, which also agrees well with the simulation results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinaki Swain
- Department of Chemical Engineering , Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad , Hyderabad 502205 , India
| | - Anshaj Ronghe
- Department of Chemical Engineering , Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad , Hyderabad 502205 , India
| | - Utkarsh Bhutani
- Department of Chemical Engineering , Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad , Hyderabad 502205 , India
| | - Saptarshi Majumdar
- Department of Chemical Engineering , Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad , Hyderabad 502205 , India
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47
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Landsgesell J, Nová L, Rud O, Uhlík F, Sean D, Hebbeker P, Holm C, Košovan P. Simulations of ionization equilibria in weak polyelectrolyte solutions and gels. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:1155-1185. [PMID: 30706070 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm02085j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
This article recapitulates the state of the art regarding simulations of ionization equilibria of weak polyelectrolyte solutions and gels. We start out by reviewing the essential thermodynamics of ionization and show how the weak polyelectrolyte ionization differs from the ionization of simple weak acids and bases. Next, we describe simulation methods for ionization reactions, focusing on two methods: the constant-pH ensemble and the reaction ensemble. After discussing the advantages and limitations of both methods, we review the existing simulation literature. We discuss coarse-grained simulations of weak polyelectrolytes with respect to ionization equilibria, conformational properties, and the effects of salt, both in good and poor solvent conditions. This is followed by a discussion of branched star-like weak polyelectrolytes and weak polyelectrolyte gels. At the end we touch upon the interactions of weak polyelectrolytes with other polymers, surfaces, nanoparticles and proteins. Although proteins are an important class of weak polyelectrolytes, we explicitly exclude simulations of protein ionization equilibria, unless they involve protein-polyelectrolyte interactions. Finally, we try to identify gaps and open problems in the existing simulation literature, and propose challenges for future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Landsgesell
- Institute for Computational Physics, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 3, Stuttgart, Germany.
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48
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Sean D, Landsgesell J, Holm C. Influence of weak groups on polyelectrolyte mobilities. Electrophoresis 2019; 40:799-809. [PMID: 30645004 DOI: 10.1002/elps.201800346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The ionization of dissociable groups in weak polyelectrolytes does not occur in a homogenous fashion. Monomer connectivity imposes constraints on the localization of the dissociated (charged) monomers that affect the local electric potential. As a result, the mean bare charge along a weak polyelectrolyte can vary depending on the proximity to topological features (e.g. presence of crosslinks or dangling ends). Using reaction-ensemble Monte-Carlo simulations we calculate the dissociation inhomogeneities for a few selected PE configurations, linear, rod-like, flexible four-arm star, and a star with stiff arms. An ensemble preaverage is used to obtain the annealed bare charge profile for these different polymer configurations. Using molecular dynamics simulations within a Lattice-Boltzman fluid, we investigate how the electrophoretic mobility is affected by the bare charge inhomogeneities arising from the annealed weak polyelectrolytes. Surprisingly, the mobility obtained for the situations corresponding to the predicted charge profile for annealed weak polyelectrolytes are not significantly different than the mobility obtained when all the monomers have an identical charge (under the constraint that the total polyelectrolyte bare charge is the same). This is also true for the stiff rod-like variants where conformational changes induced from the localization of the monomer charges are negligible. In salty solutions, we find that counterions are affected by the electric potential modulations induced by the topological features. Since the counterions crowd in regions where the electric potential caused by the dissociated monomers is highest, they wash-out the bare charge inhomogeneities and contribute to a more uniform effective backbone charge.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Sean
- Institute for Computational Physics, Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jonas Landsgesell
- Institute for Computational Physics, Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Christian Holm
- Institute for Computational Physics, Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
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49
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Bryan WW, Medhi R, Marquez MD, Rittikulsittichai S, Tran M, Lee TR. Porous silver-coated pNIPAM- co-AAc hydrogel nanocapsules. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2019; 10:1973-1982. [PMID: 31667045 PMCID: PMC6808198 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.10.194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
This paper describes the preparation and characterization of a new type of core-shell nanoparticle in which the structure consists of a hydrogel core encapsulated within a porous silver shell. The thermo-responsive hydrogel cores were prepared by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization of a selected mixture of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and acrylic acid (AAc). The hydrogel cores were then encased within either a porous or complete silver shell for which the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) extends from visible to near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths (i.e., λmax varies from 550 to 1050 nm, depending on the porosity), allowing for reversible contraction and swelling of the hydrogel via photothermal heating of the surrounding silver shell. Given that NIR light can pass through tissue, and the silver shell is porous, this system can serve as a platform for the smart delivery of payloads stored within the hydrogel core. The morphology and composition of the composite nanoparticles were characterized by SEM, TEM, and FTIR, respectively. UV-vis spectroscopy was used to characterize the optical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- William W Bryan
- Department of Chemistry and the Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77204-5003, United States
| | - Riddhiman Medhi
- Department of Chemistry and the Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77204-5003, United States
| | - Maria D Marquez
- Department of Chemistry and the Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77204-5003, United States
| | - Supparesk Rittikulsittichai
- Department of Chemistry and the Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77204-5003, United States
| | - Michael Tran
- Department of Chemistry and the Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77204-5003, United States
| | - T Randall Lee
- Department of Chemistry and the Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77204-5003, United States
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50
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Portnov IV, Möller M, Richtering W, Potemkin II. Microgel in a Pore: Intraparticle Segregation or Snail-like Behavior Caused by Collapse and Swelling. Macromolecules 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.8b01569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ivan V. Portnov
- Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
- DWI − Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen 52056, Germany
| | - Martin Möller
- DWI − Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen 52056, Germany
| | - Walter Richtering
- DWI − Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen 52056, Germany
| | - Igor I. Potemkin
- Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
- DWI − Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen 52056, Germany
- National Research
South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk 454080, Russian Federation
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