1
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Robles-Hernández B, González-Burgos M, Malo de Molina P, Asenjo-Sanz I, Radulescu A, Pomposo JA, Arbe A, Colmenero J. Structure of Single-Chain Nanoparticles under Crowding Conditions: A Random Phase Approximation Approach. Macromolecules 2023; 56:8971-8979. [PMID: 38024156 PMCID: PMC10654932 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c01333] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
The conformation of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) and their corresponding linear precursors in the presence of deuterated linear PMMA in deuterated dimethylformamide (DMF) solutions has been studied by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The SANS profiles were analyzed in terms of a three-component random phase approximation (RPA) model. The RPA approach described well the scattering profiles in dilute and crowded solutions. Considering all the contributions of the RPA leads to an accurate estimation of the single chain form factor parameters and the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter between PMMA and DMF. The value of the latter in the dilute regime indicates that the precursors and the SCNPs are in good solvent conditions, while in crowding conditions, the polymer becomes less soluble.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marina González-Burgos
- Centro
de Física de Materiales/Materials Physics Center (CFM/MPC), 20018 Donostia-San
Sebastián, Spain
| | - Paula Malo de Molina
- Centro
de Física de Materiales/Materials Physics Center (CFM/MPC), 20018 Donostia-San
Sebastián, Spain
- IKERBASQUE—Basque
Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Isabel Asenjo-Sanz
- Centro
de Física de Materiales/Materials Physics Center (CFM/MPC), 20018 Donostia-San
Sebastián, Spain
| | - Aurel Radulescu
- Jülich
Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) at Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum
(MLZ), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - José A. Pomposo
- Centro
de Física de Materiales/Materials Physics Center (CFM/MPC), 20018 Donostia-San
Sebastián, Spain
- IKERBASQUE—Basque
Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
- Department
of Polymers and Advanced Materials: Physics, Chemistry and Technology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 20018 Donostia-San
Sebastián, Spain
| | - Arantxa Arbe
- Centro
de Física de Materiales/Materials Physics Center (CFM/MPC), 20018 Donostia-San
Sebastián, Spain
| | - Juan Colmenero
- Donostia
International Physics Center (DIPC), 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Centro
de Física de Materiales/Materials Physics Center (CFM/MPC), 20018 Donostia-San
Sebastián, Spain
- Department
of Polymers and Advanced Materials: Physics, Chemistry and Technology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 20018 Donostia-San
Sebastián, Spain
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2
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Malo de Molina P, Le TP, Iturrospe A, Gasser U, Arbe A, Colmenero J, Pomposo JA. Neat Protein Single-Chain Nanoparticles from Partially Denatured BSA. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:42163-42169. [PMID: 36440132 PMCID: PMC9685756 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c04805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The main challenge for the preparation of protein single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) is the natural complexity of these macromolecules. Herein, we report the suitable conditions to produce "neat" bovine serum albumin (BSA) single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) from partially denatured BSA, which involves denaturation in urea and intramolecular cross-linking below the overlap concentration. We use two disuccinimide ester linkers containing three and six methylene spacer groups: disuccinimidyl glutarate (DSG) and disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS), respectively. Remarkably, the degree of internal cross-linking can be followed simply and efficiently via 1H NMR spectroscopy. The associated structural changes-as probed by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS)-reveal that the denatured protein has a random-like coil conformation, which progressively shrinks with the addition of DSG or DSS, thus allowing for size control of the BSA-SCNPs with radii of gyration down to 5.4 nm. The longer cross-linker exhibits slightly more efficiency in chain compaction with a somewhat stronger size reduction but similar reactivity at a given cross-linker concentration. This reliable method is applicable to a wide range of compact proteins since most proteins have appropriate reactive amino acids and denature in urea. Critically, this work paves the way to the synthesis of "neat", biodegradable protein SCNPs for a range of applications including nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Malo de Molina
- Materials
Physics Center (MPC), Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM)
(CSIC-UPV/EHU), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 Donostia, Spain
- IKERBASQUE—Basque
Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 5, E-48009 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Thu Phuong Le
- Materials
Physics Center (MPC), Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM)
(CSIC-UPV/EHU), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 Donostia, Spain
| | - Amaia Iturrospe
- Materials
Physics Center (MPC), Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM)
(CSIC-UPV/EHU), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 Donostia, Spain
| | - Urs Gasser
- Laboratory
for Neutron Scattering and Imaging, Paul
Scherrer Institut, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Arantxa Arbe
- Materials
Physics Center (MPC), Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM)
(CSIC-UPV/EHU), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 Donostia, Spain
| | - Juan Colmenero
- Materials
Physics Center (MPC), Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM)
(CSIC-UPV/EHU), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 Donostia, Spain
- Departamento
de Polímeros y Materiales Avanzados: Física, Química
y Tecnología, University of the Basque
Country (UPV/EHU) P.O. Box 1072, E-20018 Donostia, Spain
- Donostia
International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, E-20018 Donostia, Spain
| | - José A. Pomposo
- Materials
Physics Center (MPC), Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM)
(CSIC-UPV/EHU), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 Donostia, Spain
- IKERBASQUE—Basque
Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 5, E-48009 Bilbao, Spain
- Departamento
de Polímeros y Materiales Avanzados: Física, Química
y Tecnología, University of the Basque
Country (UPV/EHU) P.O. Box 1072, E-20018 Donostia, Spain
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3
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Stars, combs and bottlebrushes of elastic single-chain nanoparticles. POLYMER 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2022.125315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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4
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Paciolla M, Likos CN, Moreno AJ. Validity of Effective Potentials in Crowded Solutions of Linear and Ring Polymers with Reversible Bonds. Macromolecules 2022; 55:2659-2674. [PMID: 35444345 PMCID: PMC9011144 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c02610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
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We perform simulations
to compute the effective potential between
the centers-of-mass of two polymers with reversible bonds. We investigate
the influence of the topology on the potential by employing linear
and ring backbones for the precursor (unbonded) polymer, finding that
it leads to qualitatively different effective potentials. In the linear
and ring cases the potentials can be described by Gaussians and generalized
exponentials, respectively. The interactions are more repulsive for
the ring topology, in analogy with known results in the absence of
bonding. We also investigate the effect of the specific sequence of
the reactive groups along the backbone (periodic or with different
degrees of randomness), establishing that it has a significant impact
on the effective potentials. When the reactive sites of both polymers
are chemically orthogonal so that only intramolecular bonds are possible,
the interactions become more repulsive the closer to periodic the
sequence is. The opposite effect is found if both polymers have the
same types of reactive sites and intermolecular bonds can be formed.
We test the validity of the effective potentials in solution, in a
broad range of concentrations from high dilution to far above the
overlap concentration. For this purpose, we compare simulations of
the effective fluid and test particle route calculations with simulations
of the real all-monomer system. Very good agreement is found for the
reversible linear polymers, indicating that unlike in their nonbonding
counterparts many-body effects are minor even far above the overlap
concentration. The agreement for the reversible rings is less satisfactory,
and at high concentration the real system does not show the clustering
behavior predicted by the effective potential. Results similar to
the former ones are found for the partial self-correlations in ring/linear
mixtures. Finally, we investigate the possibility of creating, at
high concentrations, a gel of two interpenetrated reversible networks.
For this purpose we simulate a 50/50 two-component mixture of reversible
polymers with orthogonal chemistry for the reactive sites, so that
intermolecular bonds are only formed between polymers of the same
component. As predicted by both the theoretical phase diagram and
the simulations of the effective fluid, the two networks in the all-monomer
mixture do not interpenetrate, and phase separation (demixing) is
observed instead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariarita Paciolla
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Christos N. Likos
- Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 5, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Angel J. Moreno
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
- Donostia International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
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5
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Liao S, Wei L, Abriata LA, Stellacci F. Control and Characterization of the Compactness of Single-Chain Nanoparticles. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c02071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Suiyang Liao
- Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Station 12, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lixia Wei
- Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Station 12, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Luciano A. Abriata
- Protein Production and Structure Core Facility, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Stellacci
- Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Station 12, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Interfaculty Bioengineering Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Station 12, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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6
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Characterization of Monte Carlo Dynamic/Kinetic Properties of Local Structure in Bond Fluctuation Model of Polymer System. MATERIALS 2021; 14:ma14174962. [PMID: 34501051 PMCID: PMC8433752 DOI: 10.3390/ma14174962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We report the results of the characterization of local Monte Carlo (MC) dynamics of an equilibrium bond fluctuation model polymer matrix (BFM), in time interval typical for MC simulations of non-linear optical phenomena in host-guest systems. The study contributes to the physical picture of the dynamical aspects of quasi-binary mosaic states characterized previously in the static regime. The polymer dynamics was studied at three temperatures (below, above and close to the glass transition), using time-dependent generalization of the static parameters which characterize local free volume and local mobility of the matrix. Those parameters play the central role in the kinetic MC model of host-guest systems. The analysis was done in terms of the probability distributions of instantaneous and time-averaged local parameters. The main result is the characterization of time scales characteristic of various local structural processes. Slowing down effects close to the glass transition are clearly marked. The approach yields an elegant geometric criterion for the glass transition temperature. A simplified quantitative physical picture of the dynamics of guest molecules dispersed in BFM matrix at low temperatures offers a starting point for stochastic modeling of host-guest systems.
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7
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Mitus AC, Saphiannikova M, Radosz W, Toshchevikov V, Pawlik G. Modeling of Nonlinear Optical Phenomena in Host-Guest Systems Using Bond Fluctuation Monte Carlo Model: A Review. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 14:1454. [PMID: 33809785 PMCID: PMC8002275 DOI: 10.3390/ma14061454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We review the results of Monte Carlo studies of chosen nonlinear optical effects in host-guest systems, using methods based on the bond-fluctuation model (BFM) for a polymer matrix. In particular, we simulate the inscription of various types of diffraction gratings in degenerate two wave mixing (DTWM) experiments (surface relief gratings (SRG), gratings in polymers doped with azo-dye molecules and gratings in biopolymers), poling effects (electric field poling of dipolar molecules and all-optical poling) and photomechanical effect. All these processes are characterized in terms of parameters measured in experiments, such as diffraction efficiency, nonlinear susceptibilities, density profiles or loading parameters. Local free volume in the BFM matrix, characterized by probabilistic distributions and correlation functions, displays a complex mosaic-like structure of scale-free clusters, which are thought to be responsible for heterogeneous dynamics of nonlinear optical processes. The photoinduced dynamics of single azopolymer chains, studied in two and three dimensions, displays complex sub-diffusive, diffusive and super-diffusive dynamical regimes. A directly related mathematical model of SRG inscription, based on the continuous time random walk (CTRW) formalism, is formulated and studied. Theoretical part of the review is devoted to the justification of the a priori assumptions made in the BFM modeling of photoinduced motion of the azo-polymer chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoni C. Mitus
- Department of Theoretical Physics, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland; (A.C.M.); (W.R.)
| | - Marina Saphiannikova
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Strasse 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Wojciech Radosz
- Department of Theoretical Physics, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland; (A.C.M.); (W.R.)
| | - Vladimir Toshchevikov
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bolshoi Prospect 31, 199004 Saint Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Grzegorz Pawlik
- Department of Theoretical Physics, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland; (A.C.M.); (W.R.)
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8
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Formanek M, Moreno AJ. Crowded solutions of single-chain nanoparticles under shear flow. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:2223-2233. [PMID: 33465214 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01978j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) are ultrasoft objects obtained through purely intramolecular cross-linking of single polymer chains. By means of computer simulations with implemented hydrodynamic interactions, we investigate for the first time the effect of the shear flow on the structural and dynamic properties of SCNPs in semidilute and concentrated solutions. We characterize the dependence of several conformational and dynamic observables on the shear rate and the concentration, obtaining a set of power-law scaling laws. The concentration has a very different effect on the shear rate dependence of the former observables in SCNPs than in simple linear chains. Whereas for the latter the scaling behaviour is marginally dependent on the concentration, two clearly different scaling regimes are found for the SCNPs below and above the overlap concentration. At fixed shear rate SCNPs and linear chains also respond very differently to crowding. Whereas, at moderate and high Weissenberg numbers the linear chains swell, the SCNPs exhibit a complex non-monotonic behaviour. We suggest that these findings are inherently related to the topological interactions preventing concatenation of the SCNPs, which lead to less interpenetration than for linear chains, and to the limitation to stretching imposed by the permanent cross-links in the SCNPs, which itself limits the ways to spatially arrange in the shear flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maud Formanek
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain. and Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman Street, Cambridge CB2 1LR, UK
| | - Angel J Moreno
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain. and Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain
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9
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Blazquez-Martín A, Verde-Sesto E, Moreno AJ, Arbe A, Colmenero J, Pomposo JA. Advances in the Multi-Orthogonal Folding of Single Polymer Chains into Single-Chain Nanoparticles. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:293. [PMID: 33477597 PMCID: PMC7831314 DOI: 10.3390/polym13020293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The folding of certain proteins (e.g., enzymes) into perfectly defined 3D conformations via multi-orthogonal interactions is critical to their function. Concerning synthetic polymers chains, the "folding" of individual polymer chains at high dilution via intra-chain interactions leads to so-called single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs). This review article describes the advances carried out in recent years in the folding of single polymer chains into discrete SCNPs via multi-orthogonal interactions using different reactive chemical species where intra-chain bonding only occurs between groups of the same species. First, we summarize results from computer simulations of multi-orthogonally folded SCNPs. Next, we comprehensively review multi-orthogonally folded SCNPs synthesized via either non-covalent bonds or covalent interactions. Finally, we conclude by summarizing recent research about multi-orthogonally folded SCNPs prepared through both reversible (dynamic) and permanent bonds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Blazquez-Martín
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain; (A.B.-M.); (E.V.-S.); (A.J.M.); (A.A.); (J.C.)
| | - Ester Verde-Sesto
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain; (A.B.-M.); (E.V.-S.); (A.J.M.); (A.A.); (J.C.)
| | - Angel J. Moreno
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain; (A.B.-M.); (E.V.-S.); (A.J.M.); (A.A.); (J.C.)
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Arantxa Arbe
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain; (A.B.-M.); (E.V.-S.); (A.J.M.); (A.A.); (J.C.)
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Juan Colmenero
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain; (A.B.-M.); (E.V.-S.); (A.J.M.); (A.A.); (J.C.)
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain
- Departamento de Polímeros y Materiales Avanzados: Física, Química y Tecnología, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), PO Box 1072, E-20800 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - José A. Pomposo
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain; (A.B.-M.); (E.V.-S.); (A.J.M.); (A.A.); (J.C.)
- Departamento de Polímeros y Materiales Avanzados: Física, Química y Tecnología, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), PO Box 1072, E-20800 San Sebastián, Spain
- IKERBASQUE—Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 5, E-48009 Bilbao, Spain
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10
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Scheutz GM, Elgoyhen J, Bentz KC, Xia Y, Sun H, Zhao J, Savin DA, Sumerlin BS. Mediating covalent crosslinking of single-chain nanoparticles through solvophobicity in organic solvents. Polym Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1py00780g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The photoinduced intrachain crosslinking of coumarin-containing copolymers in various organic solvents was mediated through the solvophobic effect, providing control over the reaction rate and the compaction of the final single-chain nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg M. Scheutz
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory
- Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Florida
- Gainesville
| | - Justine Elgoyhen
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory
- Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Florida
- Gainesville
| | - Kyle C. Bentz
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory
- Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Florida
- Gainesville
| | - Yening Xia
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory
- Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Florida
- Gainesville
| | - Hao Sun
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory
- Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Florida
- Gainesville
| | - Junpeng Zhao
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering
- South China University of Technology
- Guangzhou 510640
- People's Republic of China
| | - Daniel A. Savin
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory
- Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Florida
- Gainesville
| | - Brent S. Sumerlin
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory
- Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Florida
- Gainesville
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11
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Kalasin S, Sangnuang P, Surareungchai W. Satellite-Based Sensor for Environmental Heat-Stress Sweat Creatinine Monitoring: The Remote Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Epidermal Wearable Sensing for Health Evaluation. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020; 7:322-334. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Surachate Kalasin
- Faculty of Science and Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Graduate Program, King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thonburi 10140, Thailand
| | - Pantawan Sangnuang
- Pilot Plant Research and Development Laboratory, King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thonburi 10150, Thailand
| | - Werasak Surareungchai
- Pilot Plant Research and Development Laboratory, King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thonburi 10150, Thailand
- School of Bioresource and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thonburi 10150, Thailand
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12
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Saha D, Kumar S, Ray D, Kohlbrecher J, Aswal VK. Role of physicochemical parameters associated with the hydrophobic vs. amphiphilic biodegradable polymer nanoparticles formation. J Mol Liq 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2020.113977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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13
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Frisch H, Tuten BT, Barner‐Kowollik C. Macromolecular Superstructures: A Future Beyond Single Chain Nanoparticles. Isr J Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ijch.201900145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Frisch
- Centre for Materials Science, School of Chemistry and Physics Queensland University of Technology (QUT) 2 George Street Brisbane, QLD 4000 Australia
| | - Bryan T. Tuten
- Centre for Materials Science, School of Chemistry and Physics Queensland University of Technology (QUT) 2 George Street Brisbane, QLD 4000 Australia
| | - Christopher Barner‐Kowollik
- Centre for Materials Science, School of Chemistry and Physics Queensland University of Technology (QUT) 2 George Street Brisbane, QLD 4000 Australia
- Macromolecular Architectures Institut für Technische Chemie und Polymerchemie KarlsruheInstitute of Technology (KIT) Engesserstr.18 76131 Karlsruhe Germany
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14
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Lang M, Müller T. Analysis of the Gel Point of Polymer Model Networks by Computer Simulations. Macromolecules 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.9b02217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Lang
- Leibniz Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Hohe Straße 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - T. Müller
- Leibniz Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Hohe Straße 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany
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15
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Engelke J, Tuten BT, Schweins R, Komber H, Barner L, Plüschke L, Barner-Kowollik C, Lederer A. An in-depth analysis approach enabling precision single chain nanoparticle design. Polym Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/d0py01045f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The synthesis of single chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) is a vibrant field in macromolecular science. However, to achieve an in-depth understanding of the nature of intramolecular polymer folding, a step-change in the methodologies for SCNP analysis is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Engelke
- School of Chemistry and Physics
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- Brisbane
- Australia
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden
| | - Bryan T. Tuten
- School of Chemistry and Physics
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- Brisbane
- Australia
- Centre for Materials Science
| | - Ralf Schweins
- Institut Laue-Langevin
- DS/LSS
- CS 20 156
- 38042 Grenoble CEDEX 9
- France
| | - Hartmut Komber
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden
- 01069 Dresden
- Germany
| | - Leonie Barner
- School of Chemistry and Physics
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- Brisbane
- Australia
- Centre for Materials Science
| | - Laura Plüschke
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden
- 01069 Dresden
- Germany
- School of Science
- Technische Universität Dresden
| | - Christopher Barner-Kowollik
- School of Chemistry and Physics
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- Brisbane
- Australia
- Centre for Materials Science
| | - Albena Lederer
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden
- 01069 Dresden
- Germany
- School of Science
- Technische Universität Dresden
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16
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Guo Y, Werner M, Li W, Sommer JU, Baulin VA. Shape-Adaptive Single-Chain Nanoparticles Interacting with Lipid Membranes. Macromolecules 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.9b02102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yachong Guo
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- Kuang Yaming Honors School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Marco Werner
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Strasse 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Wenfei Li
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Jens-Uwe Sommer
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Strasse 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany
- Institute of Theoretical Physics, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Vladimir A. Baulin
- Departament d’Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 26 Av. dels Paisos Catalans, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
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17
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Upadhya R, Murthy NS, Hoop CL, Kosuri S, Nanda V, Kohn J, Baum J, Gormley AJ. PET-RAFT and SAXS: High Throughput Tools to Study Compactness and Flexibility of Single-Chain Polymer Nanoparticles. Macromolecules 2019; 52:8295-8304. [PMID: 33814613 PMCID: PMC8018520 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.9b01923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
From protein science, it is well understood that ordered folding and 3D structure mainly arises from balanced and noncovalent polar and nonpolar interactions, such as hydrogen bonding. Similarly, it is understood that single-chain polymer nanoparticles (SCNPs) will also compact and become more rigid with greater hydrophobicity and intrachain hydrogen bonding. Here, we couple high throughput photoinduced electron/energy transfer reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (PET-RAFT) polymerization with high throughput small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to characterize a large combinatorial library (>450) of several homopolymers, random heteropolymers, block copolymers, PEG-conjugated polymers, and other polymer-functionalized polymers. Coupling these two high throughput tools enables us to study the major influence(s) for compactness and flexibility in higher breadth than ever before possible. Not surprisingly, we found that many were either highly disordered in solution, in the case of a highly hydrophilic polymer, or insoluble if too hydrophobic. Remarkably, we also found a small group (9/457) of PEG-functionalized random heteropolymers and block copolymers that exhibited compactness and flexibility similar to that of bovine serum albumin (BSA) by dynamic light scattering (DLS), NMR, and SAXS. In general, we found that describing a rough association between compactness and flexibility parameters (R g /R h and Porod Exponent, respectively) with logP, a quantity that describes hydrophobicity, helps to demonstrate and predict material parameters that lead to SCNPs with greater compactness, rigidity, and stability. Future implementation of this combinatorial and high throughput approach for characterizing SCNPs will allow for the creation of detailed design parameters for well-defined macromolecular chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Upadhya
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - N. Sanjeeva Murthy
- New Jersey Center for Biomaterials, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Cody L. Hoop
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Shashank Kosuri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Vikas Nanda
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Joachim Kohn
- New Jersey Center for Biomaterials, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Jean Baum
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Adam J. Gormley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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18
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Müller T, Sommer JU, Lang M. Tendomers - force sensitive bis-rotaxanes with jump-like deformation behavior. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:3671-3679. [PMID: 30950476 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm00292h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We consider tendomers, which are formed by pairs of rotaxane molecules where each one consists of a linear chain with N Kuhn segments that are threaded through m + 1 small rings. These rings can slide freely along the chains but cannot pass through each other or detach from the chain. By crosslinking the first slide rings of the two rotaxanes a slip-link between the two polymer backbones is formed. The remaining m slide rings form a one-dimensional real gas confined between the slip-link and the other chain end. When pulling the two ends of the chains which are next to the slip-link, an applied external force causes a compression of the slide rings. We consider the exact partition function of this model taking into account the repulsion between the slide rings and the finite extensibility of the polymer chains which is compared with Monte-Carlo simulation data for the tendomer under external force. To understand the underlying physics of the tendomer, we discuss also a simplified thermodynamic approach by taking into account the interplay between chain deformation and compression of the gas of slide rings. We show that tendomers exhibit a jump like mechanical response at a critical pulling force ∝ (m/N)1/2, where the compression of the gas of slide rings sets is. While the tendomer deforms at low forces similar to a short chain of about 2(N - m)/(m + 2) segments, it displays a jump-like decrease in elasticity beyond the critical force and deforms then like a chain of about 2(N - m) segments, before the finite extensibility of the chains sets in. This results in a strong peak of the mechanical susceptibility of the tendomer as a function of the applied force. Thus, tendomers are molecular-elastic elements with a jump-like strain-softening behavior. Our results are generalized to asymmetric tendomers that differ in the number of slide rings per rotaxane, which allows to design multi-step force extension curves with defined critical forces. Finally, we discuss some aspects of gels formed by tendomers, which are promising candidates for tailor-made stress sensitive elastomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toni Müller
- Institut Theorie der Polymere, Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Hohe Straße 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
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19
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Affiliation(s)
- Maud Formanek
- Centro de Física
de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Angel J. Moreno
- Centro de Física
de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain
- Donostia International
Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain
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20
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Guazzelli E, Martinelli E, Galli G, Cupellini L, Jurinovich S, Mennucci B. Single-chain self-folding in an amphiphilic copolymer: An integrated experimental and computational study. POLYMER 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2018.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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21
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Engelke J, Brandt J, Barner-Kowollik C, Lederer A. Strengths and limitations of size exclusion chromatography for investigating single chain folding – current status and future perspectives. Polym Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1039/c9py00336c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic approaches for Single-Chain Nanoparticles (SCNPs) developed rapidly during the last decade, opening a multitude of avenues for the design of functional macromolecular chains able to collapse into defined nanoparticles. However, the analytical evaluation of the SCNP formation process still requires critical improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Engelke
- Polymer Separation Group
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V
- 01069 Dresden
- Germany
- Technische Universität Dresden
| | - Josef Brandt
- Polymer Separation Group
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V
- 01069 Dresden
- Germany
| | - Christopher Barner-Kowollik
- School of Chemistry
- Physics and Mechanical Engineering
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- Brisbane
- Australia
| | - Albena Lederer
- Polymer Separation Group
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V
- 01069 Dresden
- Germany
- Technische Universität Dresden
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22
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Aharonovich S, Diesendruck CE. Single chain polymer nanoparticles as shear-resilient viscosity modifiers for lubricating oils. REACT FUNCT POLYM 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2018.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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23
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Pomposo JA, Moreno AJ, Arbe A, Colmenero J. Local Domain Size in Single-Chain Polymer Nanoparticles. ACS OMEGA 2018; 3:8648-8654. [PMID: 31458995 PMCID: PMC6644443 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b01331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Single-chain polymer nanoparticles (SCNPs) obtained through chain collapse via intramolecular cross-linking are attracting significant interest for nanomedicine and biomimetic catalysis applications, among other fields. This interest arises from the possibility to bind active species (e.g., drugs and catalysts)-either temporally or permanently-to the SCNP local pockets formed upon chain collapse. However, direct quantification of the size and number of such local domains in solution-even if highly desirable-is currently highly demanding from an experimental point of view because of the small size involved (<5 nm). On the basis of a scaling analysis, we establish herein a connection between the global compaction degree (R/R 0) and the size (ξ) and number (n) of the "collapsed domains" generated upon SCNP formation at high dilution from a linear semiflexible precursor polymer. Results from molecular dynamics simulations and experimental data are used to validate this scaling analysis and to estimate the size and number of local domains in polystyrene SCNPs synthesized through a "click" chemistry procedure, as a representative system, as well as for relevant catalytic SCNPs containing Cu, Pt, and Ni atoms. Remarkably, the present work is a first step toward tuning the local domain size of the next generation of SCNPs for nanomedicine and bioinspired catalysis applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A. Pomposo
- Centro
de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics
Center MPC, Paseo Manuel
de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain
- Departamento
de Física de Materiales, Universidad
del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Apartado 1072, E-20800 San Sebastián, Spain
- IKERBASQUE—Basque
Foundation for Science, María Díaz de Haro 3, E-48013 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Angel J. Moreno
- Centro
de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics
Center MPC, Paseo Manuel
de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain
- Donostia
International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Arantxa Arbe
- Centro
de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics
Center MPC, Paseo Manuel
de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Juan Colmenero
- Centro
de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics
Center MPC, Paseo Manuel
de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain
- Departamento
de Física de Materiales, Universidad
del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Apartado 1072, E-20800 San Sebastián, Spain
- Donostia
International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain
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24
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Galant O, Davidovich-Pinhas M, Diesendruck CE. The Effect of Intramolecular Cross-Linking on Polymer Interactions in Solution. Macromol Rapid Commun 2018; 39:e1800407. [PMID: 29984465 DOI: 10.1002/marc.201800407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2018] [Revised: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The conformation of a polymer in a solvent is typically defined by the solvent quality, which is a consequence of the solvent and macromolecule's chemistry. Yet, additional factors can affect the polymer conformation, such as non-covalent interactions to surfaces or other macromolecules, affecting the amount of polymer-solvent interactions. Herein, chemically folded polymers with protein-like architectures are studied and compared to their unfolded linear precursor in good solvents using rheology measurements. The current research reveals that permanent folding by intramolecular chemical cross-linking limits the chain mobility and therefore causes a reduction in polymer-solvent interactions, making a good solvent become theta. This change not only affects the "solvent quality" but also leads to a change in particle-particle interactions as a function of concentration. These findings provide crucial insight into the effects of intramolecular cross-links on macromolecule solubility and self-assembly, which are critical for mimicking structurally similar biological materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Or Galant
- The Interdepartmental Program in Polymer Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel
| | - Maya Davidovich-Pinhas
- Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200008, Israel
| | - Charles E Diesendruck
- Schulich Faculty of Chemistry, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel
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25
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González-Burgos M, Arbe A, Moreno AJ, Pomposo JA, Radulescu A, Colmenero J. Crowding the Environment of Single-Chain Nanoparticles: A Combined Study by SANS and Simulations. Macromolecules 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.7b02438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marina González-Burgos
- Materials
Physics Center (MPC), Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM) (CSIC-UPV/EHU), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Arantxa Arbe
- Materials
Physics Center (MPC), Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM) (CSIC-UPV/EHU), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Angel J. Moreno
- Materials
Physics Center (MPC), Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM) (CSIC-UPV/EHU), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - José A. Pomposo
- Materials
Physics Center (MPC), Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM) (CSIC-UPV/EHU), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
- IKERBASQUE
- Basque
Foundation for Science, María
Díaz de Haro 3, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
- Departamento
de Física de Materiales, UPV/EHU, Apartado 1072, 20080 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Aurel Radulescu
- Jülich
Centre for Neutron Science, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Outstation
at Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum, Lichtenbergstr.1, 85747 Garching, Germany
| | - Juan Colmenero
- Materials
Physics Center (MPC), Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM) (CSIC-UPV/EHU), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
- Departamento
de Física de Materiales, UPV/EHU, Apartado 1072, 20080 San Sebastián, Spain
- Donostia International
Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal
4, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
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26
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Moreno AJ, Bacova P, Lo Verso F, Arbe A, Colmenero J, Pomposo JA. Effect of chain stiffness on the structure of single-chain polymer nanoparticles. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2018; 30:034001. [PMID: 29206106 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/aa9f5c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Polymeric single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) are soft nano-objects synthesized by purely intramolecular cross-linking of single polymer chains. By means of computer simulations, we investigate the conformational properties of SCNPs as a function of the bending stiffness of their linear polymer precursors. We investigate a broad range of characteristic ratios from the fully flexible case to those typical of bulky synthetic polymers. Increasing stiffness hinders bonding of groups separated by short contour distances and increases looping over longer distances, leading to more compact nanoparticles with a structure of highly interconnected loops. This feature is reflected in a crossover in the scaling behaviour of several structural observables. The scaling exponents change from those characteristic for Gaussian chains or rings in θ-solvents in the fully flexible limit, to values resembling fractal or 'crumpled' globular behaviour for very stiff SCNPs. We characterize domains in the SCNPs. These are weakly deformable regions that can be seen as disordered analogues of domains in disordered proteins. Increasing stiffness leads to bigger and less deformable domains. Surprisingly, the scaling behaviour of the domains is in all cases similar to that of Gaussian chains or rings, irrespective of the stiffness and degree of cross-linking. It is the spatial arrangement of the domains which determines the global structure of the SCNP (sparse Gaussian-like object or crumpled globule). Since intramolecular stiffness can be varied through the specific chemistry of the precursor or by introducing bulky side groups in its backbone, our results propose a new strategy to tune the global structure of SCNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel J Moreno
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain. Donostia International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
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