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Robertson H, Gresham IJ, Nelson ARJ, Prescott SW, Webber GB, Wanless EJ. Illuminating the nanostructure of diffuse interfaces: Recent advances and future directions in reflectometry techniques. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 331:103238. [PMID: 38917595 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2024.103238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Diffuse soft matter interfaces take many forms, from end-tethered polymer brushes or adsorbed surfactants to self-assembled layers of lipids. These interfaces play crucial roles across a multitude of fields, including materials science, biophysics, and nanotechnology. Understanding the nanostructure and properties of these interfaces is fundamental for optimising their performance and designing novel functional materials. In recent years, reflectometry techniques, in particular neutron reflectometry, have emerged as powerful tools for elucidating the intricate nanostructure of soft matter interfaces with remarkable precision and depth. This review provides an overview of selected recent developments in reflectometry and their applications for illuminating the nanostructure of diffuse interfaces. We explore various principles and methods of neutron and X-ray reflectometry, as well as ellipsometry, and discuss advances in their experimental setups and data analysis approaches. Improvements to experimental neutron reflectometry methods have enabled greater time resolution in kinetic measurements and elucidation of diffuse structure under shear or confinement, while innovation in analysis protocols has significantly reduced data processing times, facilitated co-refinement of reflectometry data from multiple instruments and provided greater-than-ever confidence in proposed structural models. Furthermore, we highlight some significant research findings enabled by these techniques, revealing the organisation, dynamics, and interfacial phenomena at the nanoscale. We also discuss future directions and potential advancements in reflectometry techniques. By shedding light on the nanostructure of diffuse interfaces, reflectometry techniques enable the rational design and tailoring of interfaces with enhanced properties and functionalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayden Robertson
- College of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Soft Matter at Interfaces, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt D-64289, Germany
| | - Isaac J Gresham
- School of Chemistry, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Andrew R J Nelson
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, ANSTO, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW 2232, Australia
| | - Stuart W Prescott
- School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Grant B Webber
- College of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Erica J Wanless
- College of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
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Pavón C, Benetti EM, Lorandi F. Polymer Brushes on Nanoparticles for Controlling the Interaction with Protein-Rich Physiological Media. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:11843-11857. [PMID: 38787578 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c00956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The interaction of nanoparticles (NPs) with biological environments triggers the formation of a protein corona (PC), which significantly influences their behavior in vivo. This review explores the evolving understanding of PC formation, focusing on the opportunity for decreasing or suppressing protein-NP interactions by macromolecular engineering of NP shells. The functionalization of NPs with a dense, hydrated polymer brush shell is a powerful strategy for imparting stealth properties in order to elude recognition by the immune system. While poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) has been extensively used for this purpose, concerns regarding its stability and immunogenicity have prompted the exploration of alternative polymers. The stealth properties of brush shells can be enhanced by tailoring functionalities and structural parameters, including the molar mass, grafting density, and polymer topology. Determining correlations between these parameters and biopassivity has enabled us to obtain polymer-grafted NPs with high colloidal stability and prolonged circulation time in biological media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Pavón
- Laboratory for Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry (MOC), Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Edmondo M Benetti
- Laboratory for Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry (MOC), Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Lorandi
- Laboratory for Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry (MOC), Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
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Brió Pérez M, Wurm FR, de Beer S. On the Road to Circular Polymer Brushes: Challenges and Prospects. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:7249-7256. [PMID: 38556745 PMCID: PMC11008239 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Polymer brushes are unique surface coatings that have been of high interest in research for the past decades due to their covalent tethering to surfaces and the broad spectrum of polymers that can be grafted to or grafted from various surfaces. Modification of surfaces with brushes may provide lubricious and/or antifouling properties, and they can also potentially be used in many application fields due to their high responsiveness toward certain stimuli. Generally, polymer brushes are long-lasting coatings, while their end-of-life has to date largely been neglected. Therefore, it is important to consider additional design methodologies to produce circular brushes, which will degrade after a certain period of time such that surfaces can be reused, and the potentially obtained monomers may be used again to synthesize new brushes. In this Perspective, we aim to tackle and understand the challenges to translate the knowledge on degradation and chemical recycling of bulk polymers toward circular polymer brushes. We summarized the recent developments on (bio)degradable polymer brushes and the challenges that are to be tackled toward their potential implementation as circular coatings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Brió Pérez
- Department of Molecules &
Materials, MESA+ Institute, University of
Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Frederik R. Wurm
- Department of Molecules &
Materials, MESA+ Institute, University of
Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Sissi de Beer
- Department of Molecules &
Materials, MESA+ Institute, University of
Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
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Mims JT, Tsuna L, Spangler EJ, Laradji M. Nanoparticles insertion and dimerization in polymer brushes. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:084906. [PMID: 38415837 DOI: 10.1063/5.0188915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Molecular dynamics simulations are conducted to systematically investigate the insertion of spherical nanoparticles (NPs) in polymer brushes as a function of their size, strength of their interaction with the polymers, polymer grafting density, and polymer chain length. For attractive interactions between the NPs and the polymers, the depth of NPs' penetration in the brush results from a competition between the enthalpic gain due to the favorable polymer-NP interaction and the effect of osmotic pressure resulting from displaced polymers by the NP's volume. A large number of simulations show that the average depth of the NPs increases by increasing the strength of the interaction strength. However, it decreases by increasing the NPs' diameter or increasing the polymer grafting density. While the NPs' effect on the polymer density is local, their effect on their conformations is long-ranged and extends laterally over length scales larger than the NP's size. This effect is manifested by the emergence of laterally damped oscillations in the normal component of the chains' radius of gyration. Interestingly, we found that for high enough interaction strength, two NPs dimerize in the polymer brush. The dimer is parallel to the substrate if the NPs' depth in the brush is shallow. However, the dimer is perpendicular to the substrate if the NPs' are deep in the brush. These results imply that polymer brushes can be used as a tool to localize and self-assemble NPs in polymer brushes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob T Mims
- Department of Physics and Materials Science, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee 38152, USA
| | - Lavi Tsuna
- Department of Physics and Materials Science, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee 38152, USA
| | - Eric J Spangler
- Department of Physics and Materials Science, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee 38152, USA
| | - Mohamed Laradji
- Department of Physics and Materials Science, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee 38152, USA
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Su N. Spherical Polyelectrolyte Brushes as Flocculants and Retention Aids in Wet-End Papermaking. Molecules 2023; 28:7984. [PMID: 38138474 PMCID: PMC10745445 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28247984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
As the criteria of energy conservation, emission reduction, and environmental protection become more important, and with the development of wet-end papermaking, developing excellent retention aids is of great significance. Spherical polyelectrolyte brushes (SPBs) bearing polyelectrolyte chains grafted densely to the surface of core particle have the potential to be novel retention aids in wet-end papermaking not only because of their spherical structure, but also due to controllable grafting density and molecular weight. Such characteristics are crucial in order to design multi-functional retention aids in sophisticated papermaking systems. This review presents some important recent advances with respect to retention aids, including single-component system and dual-component systems. Then, basic theory in papermaking is also briefly reviewed. Based on these advances, it emphatically describes spherical polyelectrolyte brushes, focused on their preparation methods, characterization, conformation, and applications in papermaking. This work is expected to contribute to improve a comprehensive understanding on the composition, properties, and function mechanisms of retention aids, which helps in the further investigation on the design of novel retention aids with excellent performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Su
- Department of Printing and Packaging Engineering, Shanghai Publishing and Printing College, Shanghai 200093, China
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Shimizu T, Whitfield R, Jones GR, Raji IO, Konkolewicz D, Truong NP, Anastasaki A. Controlling primary chain dispersity in network polymers: elucidating the effect of dispersity on degradation. Chem Sci 2023; 14:13419-13428. [PMID: 38033899 PMCID: PMC10685271 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc05203f] [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: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Although dispersity has been demonstrated to be instrumental in determining many polymer properties, current synthetic strategies predominantly focus on tailoring the dispersity of linear polymers. In contrast, controlling the primary chain dispersity in network polymers is much more challenging, in part due to the complex nature of the reactions, which has limited the exploration of properties and applications. Here, a one-step method to prepare networks with precisely tuned primary chain dispersity is presented. By using an acid-switchable chain transfer agent and a degradable crosslinker in PET-RAFT polymerization, the in situ crosslinking of the propagating polymer chains was achieved in a quantitative manner. The incorporation of a degradable crosslinker, not only enables the accurate quantification of the various primary chain dispersities, post-synthesis, but also allows the investigation and comparison of their respective degradation profiles. Notably, the highest dispersity networks resulted in a 40% increase in degradation time when compared to their lower dispersity analogues, demonstrating that primary chain dispersity has a substantial impact on the network degradation rate. Our experimental findings were further supported by simulations, which emphasized the importance of higher molecular weight polymer chains, found within the high dispersity materials, in extending the lifetime of the network. This methodology presents a new and promising avenue to precisely tune primary chain dispersity within networks and demonstrates that polymer dispersity is an important parameter to consider when designing degradable materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takanori Shimizu
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich Vladimir Prelog Weg 5 8093 Zurich Switzerland
- Science & Innovation Center, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation 1000 Kamoshida-cho, Aoba-ku Yokohama-shi Kanagawa 227-8502 Japan
| | - Richard Whitfield
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich Vladimir Prelog Weg 5 8093 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Glen R Jones
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich Vladimir Prelog Weg 5 8093 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Ibrahim O Raji
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University 651 E High St Oxford OH 45056 USA
| | - Dominik Konkolewicz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University 651 E High St Oxford OH 45056 USA
| | - Nghia P Truong
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich Vladimir Prelog Weg 5 8093 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Athina Anastasaki
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich Vladimir Prelog Weg 5 8093 Zurich Switzerland
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Moncure P, Millstone JE, Laaser JE. Role of Ligand Shell Density in the Diffusive Behavior of Nanoparticles in Hydrogels. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:9366-9377. [PMID: 37857360 PMCID: PMC10626584 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c03249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
The diffusion coefficients of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether thiol (PEGSH)-functionalized gold nanoparticles (NPs) with different effective grafting densities were measured in polyacrylamide hydrogels. The NP core size was held constant, and the NPs were functionalized with mixtures of short oligomeric ligands (254 Da PEGSH) and longer (either 1 or 2 kDa PEGSH) ligands. The ratio of short and long ligands was varied such that the grafting density of the high-molecular-weight (MW) ligand ranged from approximately 1 to 100 high-MW ligands/NP. The diffusion coefficients of the NPs were then measured in gels with varying average mesh sizes. The measured diffusion coefficients decreased with higher MW ligand density. Interestingly, the diffusion coefficients for NPs with high effective grafting densities were well-predicted by their hydrodynamic diameters, but the diffusion coefficients for NPs with low effective grafting densities were higher than expected from their hydrodynamic diameters. These results suggest that crowding in the NP ligand shell influences the mechanism of diffusion, with lower grafting densities allowing ligand chain relaxations that facilitate movement through the gel. This work brings new insights into the factors that dictate how NPs move through hydrogels and will inform the development of models for applications such as drug delivery in complex viscoelastic biological materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige
J. Moncure
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Jill E. Millstone
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Jennifer E. Laaser
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
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Xue Y, Cao M, Chen C, Zhong M. Design of Microstructure-Engineered Polymers for Energy and Environmental Conservation. JACS AU 2023; 3:1284-1300. [PMID: 37234122 PMCID: PMC10207122 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
With the ever-growing demand for sustainability, designing polymeric materials using readily accessible feedstocks provides potential solutions to address the challenges in energy and environmental conservation. Complementing the prevailing strategy of varying chemical composition, engineering microstructures of polymer chains by precisely controlling their chain length distribution, main chain regio-/stereoregularity, monomer or segment sequence, and architecture creates a powerful toolbox to rapidly access diversified material properties. In this Perspective, we lay out recent advances in utilizing appropriately designed polymers in a wide range of applications such as plastic recycling, water purification, and solar energy storage and conversion. With decoupled structural parameters, these studies have established various microstructure-function relationships. Given the progress outlined here, we envision that the microstructure-engineering strategy will accelerate the design and optimization of polymeric materials to meet sustainability criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazhen Xue
- Department
of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Mengxue Cao
- Department
of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Charles Chen
- Department
of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Mingjiang Zhong
- Department
of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
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