1
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Carden P, Ge S, Li B, Samanta S, Sokolov AP. Dynamics in polymers with phase separated dynamic bonds: the case of a peculiar temperature dependence. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:3868-3876. [PMID: 38651737 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00115j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The topic of polymers with dynamic bonds (stickers) appears as an exciting and promising area of materials science, thanks to their attractive self-healable, recyclable, extremely tough, and super extensible properties. Polymers with phase separated dynamic bonds revealed several unique properties, but mechanisms controlling their viscoelastic properties remain poorly understood. In this work, we present a dynamic analysis of a model polymer system with phase separated hydrogen bonding functionalities. The results confirm that terminal relaxation in these systems is independent of polymer segmental dynamics and is instead controlled by structural relaxations in clusters of stickers. Detailed analysis revealed a surprising result: terminal relaxation time of these systems has weaker temperature dependence than that of structural relaxation in clusters, although the former is slower than the latter. Borrowing ideas from the field of block copolymers, we ascribed this unusual result to an LCST-like behavior for the miscibility of the stickers in the polymer matrix. The presented results and ideas deepen the understanding of the viscoelasticity for polymers with dynamic bonds, enabling intelligent design of functional materials with desired macroscopic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peyton Carden
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
| | - Sirui Ge
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA
| | - Bingrui Li
- The Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA
| | - Subarna Samanta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
| | - Alexei P Sokolov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, USA
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2
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Heo TY, Audus DJ, Choi SH. Scaling Relationship of Complex Coacervate Core Micelles: Role of Core Block Stretching. ACS Macro Lett 2023; 12:1396-1402. [PMID: 37782013 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
The scaling relationship of complex coacervate core micelles (C3Ms) has been investigated experimentally and theoretically. The C3Ms are formed by mixing two oppositely charged block copolyelectrolyte solutions (i.e., AB + AC system) and are characterized by small-angle neutron (SANS) and X-ray scattering (SAXS). Scaling relationships for micellar structure parameters, including core radius, total radius, corona thickness, and aggregation number, all with respect to the core block length, are determined. A scaling theory is also proposed by minimizing the free energy per chain, leading to four regimes depending on the core and corona chain conformations. Although the corona block is significantly longer than the core block, the structure of our C3Ms is consistent with that of the crew-cut I regime. A highly swollen core by water enables the core blocks to be stretched significantly and corona chains to be minimally overlapped.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae-Young Heo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul, 04066, Republic of Korea
| | - Debra J Audus
- Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Soo-Hyung Choi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul, 04066, Republic of Korea
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3
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Gupta S, Lodge TP. Effect of Changing Interfacial Tension on Fragmentation Kinetics of Block Copolymer Micelles. Macromolecules 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c02158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Supriya Gupta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455-0431, United States
| | - Timothy P. Lodge
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455-0431, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455-0431, United States
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4
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Lodge TP, Seitzinger CL, Seeger SC, Yang S, Gupta S, Dorfman KD. Dynamics and Equilibration Mechanisms in Block Copolymer Particles. ACS POLYMERS AU 2022; 2:397-416. [PMID: 36536887 PMCID: PMC9756915 DOI: 10.1021/acspolymersau.2c00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembly of block copolymers into interesting and useful nanostructures, in both solution and bulk, is a vibrant research arena. While much attention has been paid to characterization and prediction of equilibrium phases, the associated dynamic processes are far from fully understood. Here, we explore what is known and not known about the equilibration of particle phases in the bulk, and spherical micelles in solution. The presumed primary equilibration mechanisms are chain exchange, fusion, and fragmentation. These processes have been extensively studied in surfactants and lipids, where they occur on subsecond time scales. In contrast, increased chain lengths in block copolymers create much larger barriers, and time scales can become prohibitively slow. In practice, equilibration of block copolymers is achievable only in proximity to the critical micelle temperature (in solution) or the order-disorder transition (in the bulk). Detailed theories for these processes in block copolymers are few. In the bulk, the rate of chain exchange can be quantified by tracer diffusion measurements. Often the rate of equilibration, in terms of number density and aggregation number of particles, is much slower than chain exchange, and consequently observed particle phases are often metastable. This is particularly true in regions of the phase diagram where Frank-Kasper phases occur. Chain exchange in solution has been explored quantitatively by time-resolved SANS, but the results are not well captured by theory. Computer simulations, particularly via dissipative particle dynamics, are beginning to shed light on the chain escape mechanism at the molecular level. The rate of fragmentation has been quantified in a few experimental systems, and TEM images support a mechanism akin to the anaphase stage of mitosis in cells, via a thin neck that pinches off to produce two smaller micelles. Direct measurements of micelle fusion are quite rare. Suggestions for future theoretical, computational, and experimental efforts are offered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy P. Lodge
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Minnesota 207 Pleasant St SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
- Department
of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Minnesota 451 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Claire L. Seitzinger
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Minnesota 207 Pleasant St SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Sarah C. Seeger
- Department
of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Minnesota 451 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Sanghee Yang
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Minnesota 207 Pleasant St SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Supriya Gupta
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Minnesota 207 Pleasant St SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Kevin D. Dorfman
- Department
of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Minnesota 451 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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5
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Seeger SC, Lodge TP, Dorfman KD. Mechanism of Escape of a Single Chain from a Diblock Copolymer Micelle. Macromolecules 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c01742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C. Seeger
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota─Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota55455, United States
| | - Timothy P. Lodge
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota─Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota55455, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota─Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota55455, United States
| | - Kevin D. Dorfman
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota─Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota55455, United States
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6
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Williams ER, van den Bergh W, Stefik M. High- χ, low- N micelles from partially perfluorinated block polymers. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:7917-7930. [PMID: 36017726 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00513a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Kinetically trapped ("persistent") micelles enable emerging applications requiring a constant core diameter. Preserving a χN barrier to chain exchange with low-N requires a commensurately higher χcore-solvent for micelle persistence. Low-N, high-χ micelles containing fluorophobic interactions were studied using poly(ethylene oxide-b-perfluorooctyl acrylate)s (O45FX, x = 8, 11) in methanolic solutions. DLS analysis of micelles revealed chain exchange only for O45F8 while SAXS analysis suggested elongated core block conformations commensurate with the contour lengths. Micelle chain exchange from solution perturbations were examined by characterizing their behavior as templates for inorganic materials via SAXS and SEM. In contrast to the F8 analog, the larger χN barrier for the O45F11 enabled persistent micelle behavior in both thin films and bulk samples despite the low Tg micelle core. Careful measures of micelle core diameters and pore sizes revealed that the nanoparticle distribution extended through the corona and 0.52 ± 0.15 nm into the core-corona interface, highlighting thermodynamics favoring both locations simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric R Williams
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
| | - Wessel van den Bergh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
| | - Morgan Stefik
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
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7
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Ge S, Samanta S, Li B, Carden GP, Cao PF, Sokolov AP. Unravelling the Mechanism of Viscoelasticity in Polymers with Phase-Separated Dynamic Bonds. ACS NANO 2022; 16:4746-4755. [PMID: 35234439 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Incorporation of dynamic (reversible) bonds within polymer structure enables properties such as self-healing, shape transformation, and recyclability. These dynamic bonds, sometimes refer as stickers, can form clusters by phase-segregation from the polymer matrix. These systems can exhibit interesting viscoelastic properties with an unusually high and extremely long rubbery plateau. Understanding how viscoelastic properties of these materials are controlled by the hierarchical structure is crucial for engineering of recyclable materials for various future applications. Here we studied such systems made from short telechelic polydimethylsiloxane chains by employing a broad range of experimental techniques. We demonstrate that formation of a percolated network of interfacial layers surrounding clusters enhances mechanical modulus in these phase-separated systems, whereas single chain hopping between the clusters results in macroscopic flow. On the basis of the results, we formulated a general scenario describing viscoelastic properties of phase-separated dynamic polymers, which will foster development of recyclable materials with tunable rheological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirui Ge
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Subarna Samanta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Bingrui Li
- The Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - G Peyton Carden
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Peng-Fei Cao
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, United States
| | - Alexei P Sokolov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, United States
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8
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Li P, Davis JL, Mays JW, Wang X, Kilbey SM. Architecture- and Composition-Controlled Self-Assembly of Block Copolymers and Binary Mixtures With Crosslinkable Components: Chain Exchange Between Block Copolymer Nanoparticles. Front Chem 2022; 10:833307. [PMID: 35281559 PMCID: PMC8906501 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.833307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chain exchange behaviors in self-assembled block copolymer (BCP) nanoparticles (NPs) at room temperature are investigated through observations of structural differences between parent and binary systems of BCP NPs with and without crosslinked domains. Pairs of linear diblock or triblock, and branched star-like polystyrene-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS-PVP) copolymers that self-assemble in a PVP-selective mixed solvent into BCP NPs with definite differences in size and self-assembled morphology are combined by diverse mixing protocols and at different crosslinking densities to reveal the impact of chain exchange between BCP NPs. Clear structural evolution is observed by dynamic light scattering and AFM and TEM imaging, especially in a blend of triblock + star copolymer BCP NPs. The changes are ascribed to the chain motion inherent in the dynamic equilibrium, which drives the system to a new structure, even at room temperature. Chemical crosslinking of PVP corona blocks suppresses chain exchange between the BCP NPs and freezes the nanostructures at a copolymer crosslinking density (CLD) of ∼9%. This investigation of chain exchange behaviors in BCP NPs having architectural and compositional complexity and the ability to moderate chain motion through tailoring the CLD is expected to be valuable for understanding the dynamic nature of BCP self-assemblies and diversifying the self-assembled structures adopted by these systems. These efforts may guide the rational construction of novel polymer NPs for potential use, for example, as drug delivery platforms and nanoreactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panpan Li
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Shandong University, Shenzhen, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Colloidal Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jesse L. Davis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Jimmy W. Mays
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Xu Wang
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Shandong University, Shenzhen, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Colloidal Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- *Correspondence: Xu Wang, ; S. Michael Kilbey II,
| | - S. Michael Kilbey
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- *Correspondence: Xu Wang, ; S. Michael Kilbey II,
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9
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Seeger SC, Dorfman KD, Lodge TP. Free Energy Trajectory for Escape of a Single Chain from a Diblock Copolymer Micelle. ACS Macro Lett 2021; 10:1570-1575. [PMID: 35549128 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.1c00508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We use umbrella sampling to compute the free energy trajectory of a single chain undergoing expulsion from an isolated diblock copolymer micelle. This approach elucidates the experimentally unobservable transition state, identifies the spatial position of the maximum free energy, and reveals the chain conformation of a single chain as it undergoes expulsion. Combining umbrella sampling with dissipative particle dynamics simulations of A4B8 micelles reveals that the core block (A) of the expelled chain remains partially stretched at the transition state, in contrast with the collapsed state assumed in some previous models. The free energy barrier increases linearly with the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter χ up to large interaction energies, where the structure of the otherwise spherical core apparently deforms near the transition state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C. Seeger
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota − Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Kevin D. Dorfman
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota − Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Timothy P. Lodge
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota − Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota − Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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10
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Heo TY, Kim S, Chen L, Sokolova A, Lee S, Choi SH. Molecular Exchange Kinetics in Complex Coacervate Core Micelles: Role of Associative Interaction. ACS Macro Lett 2021; 10:1138-1144. [PMID: 35549078 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.1c00482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Molecular exchange dynamics between spherical complex coacervate core micelles (C3Ms) are documented using time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering measurements (TR-SANS), and the effects of salt concentration, type of charges, and core block polydispersity to the chain exchange are quantified. Isotopically labeled block copolyelectrolytes were prepared by postpolymerization modification of two nearly identical poly(ethylene oxide-b-allyl glycidyl ether), one with normal and the other with deuterated PEO blocks (i.e., hPEO-PAGE and dPEO-PAGE). The observed rates at multiple salt concentrations are consolidated using time-salt superposition shift factors representing chain exchange rates and analyzed. Our comprehensive analytical relaxation function based on the sticky-Rouse model and the thermodynamic barrier for core block extraction successfully describes the molecular exchange kinetics between the isotopically labeled C3Ms. We believe this work provides fundamental design criteria for C3Ms with engineered chain exchange dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae-Young Heo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul, 04066, Republic of Korea
| | - Sojeong Kim
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Liwen Chen
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, United States
| | - Anna Sokolova
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, New South Wales 2234, Australia
| | - Sangwoo Lee
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, United States
| | - Soo-Hyung Choi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul, 04066, Republic of Korea
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11
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Kim S, Lee S, Choi SH, Char K. Chain Exchange Kinetics of Bottlebrush Block Copolymer Micelles. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Seyoung Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangho Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo-Hyung Choi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, Republic of Korea
| | - Kookheon Char
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- The National Creative Research Initiative Center for Intelligent Hybrids, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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12
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Sun J, Rijpkema SJ, Luan J, Zhang S, Wilson DA. Generating biomembrane-like local curvature in polymersomes via dynamic polymer insertion. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2235. [PMID: 33854061 PMCID: PMC8046815 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22563-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomembrane curvature formation has long been observed to be essential in the change of membrane morphology and intracellular processes. The significant importance of curvature formation has attracted scientists from different backgrounds to study it. Although magnificent progress has been achieved using liposome models, the instability of these models restrict further exploration. Here, we report a new approach to mimic biomembrane curvature formation using polymersomes as a model, and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) to induce the local curvature based on its co-nonsolvency phenomenon. Curvatures form when poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) becomes hydrophobic and inserts into the membrane through solvent addition. The insertion area can be fine-tuned by adjusting the poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) concentration, accompanied by the formation of new polymersome-based non-axisymmetric shapes. Moreover, a systematic view of curvature formation is provided through investigation of the segregation, local distribution and dissociation of inserted poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). This strategy successfully mimicks biomembrane curvature formation in polymersomes and a detailed observation of the insertion can be beneficial for a further understanding of the curvature formation process. Furthermore, polymer insertion induced shape changing could open up new routes for the design of non-axisymmetric nanocarriers and nanomachines to enrich the boundless possibilities of nanotechnology. Investigating biomembrane curvature formation is important for studying intracellular processes, but the instability of liposome models mimicking these membranes restricts exploration of membrane processes. Here, the authors demonstrate control over the curvature formation in polymersome membranes by insertion of PNIPAm as stimuli responsive polymer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Sun
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd J Rijpkema
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jiabin Luan
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Shaohua Zhang
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Daniela A Wilson
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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13
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Ianiro A, Hendrix MMRM, Hurst PJ, Patterson JP, Vis M, Sztucki M, Esteves ACC, Tuinier R. Solvent Selectivity Governs the Emergence of Temperature Responsiveness in Block Copolymer Self-Assembly. Macromolecules 2021; 54:2912-2920. [PMID: 33867580 PMCID: PMC8042846 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c02759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
In highly selective
solvents, block copolymers (BCPs) form association
colloids, while in solvents with poor selectivity, they exhibit a
temperature-controlled (de)mixing behavior. Herein, it is shown that
a temperature-responsive self-assembly behavior emerges in solvent
mixtures of intermediate selectivity. A biocompatible poly-ethylene(oxide)-block-poly-ε-caprolactone (PEO-PCL) BCP is used as
a model system. The polymer is dissolved in solvent mixtures containing
water (a strongly selective solvent for PEO) and ethanol (a poorly
selective solvent for PEO) to tune the solvency conditions. Using
synchrotron X-ray scattering, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy,
and scanning probe microscopy, it is shown that a rich temperature-responsive
behavior can be achieved in certain solvent mixtures. Crystallization
of the PCL block enriches the phase behavior of the BCP by promoting
sphere-to-cylinder morphology transitions at low temperatures. Increasing
the water fraction in the solvent causes a suppression of the sphere-to-cylinder
morphology transition. These results open up the possibility to induce
temperature-responsive properties on demand in a wide range of BCP
systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Ianiro
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Marco M R M Hendrix
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Laboratory of Self-Organizing Soft Matter, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Paul Joshua Hurst
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Joseph P Patterson
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Mark Vis
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Sztucki
- ESRF, The European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - A Catarina C Esteves
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Remco Tuinier
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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14
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Lee JY, Song Y, Wessels MG, Jayaraman A, Wooley KL, Pochan DJ. Hierarchical Self-Assembly of Poly(d-glucose carbonate) Amphiphilic Block Copolymers in Mixed Solvents. Macromolecules 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c01575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jee Young Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Yue Song
- Departments of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Materials Science & Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77842, United States
| | - Michiel G. Wessels
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Arthi Jayaraman
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Karen L. Wooley
- Departments of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Materials Science & Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77842, United States
| | - Darrin J. Pochan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
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15
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