Effect of colloidal substrate curvature on pH-responsive polyelectrolyte brush growth

BMP-Binding Polysulfonate Brushes to Control Growth Factor Presentation and Regulate Matrix Remodelling

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are important targets to incorporate in biomaterial scaffolds to orchestrate tissue repair. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as heparin allow the capture of BMPs and their retention at the surface of biomaterials at safe concentrations. Although heparin has strong affinities for BMP2 and BMP4, two important types of growth factors regulating bone and tissue repair, it remains difficult to embed stably at the surface of a broad range of biomaterials and degrades rapidly in vitro and in vivo. In this report, biomimetic poly(sulfopropyl methacrylate) (PSPMA) brushes are proposed as sulfated GAG mimetic interfaces for the stable capture of BMPs. The growth of PSPMA brushes via a surface-initiated activator regenerated by electron transfer polymerization is investigated via ellipsometry, prior to characterization of swelling and surface chemistry via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared. The capacity of PSPMA brushes to bind BMP2 and BMP4 is then characterized via surface plasmon resonance. BMP2 is found to anchor particularly stably and at high density at the surface of PSPMA brushes, and a strong impact of the brush architecture on binding capacity is observed. These results are further confirmed using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, providing some insights into the mode of adsorption of BMPs at the surface of PSPMA brushes. Primary adsorption of BMP2, with relatively little infiltration, is observed on thick dense brushes, implying that this growth factor should be accessible for further binding of corresponding cell membrane receptors. Finally, to demonstrate the impact of PSPMA brushes for BMP2 capture, dermal fibroblasts were then cultured at the surface of functionalized PSPMA brushes. The presence of BMP2 and the architecture of the brush are found to have a significant impact on matrix deposition at the corresponding interfaces. Therefore, PSPMA brushes emerge as attractive coatings for scaffold engineering and stable capture of BMP2 for regenerative medicine applications.

Analysis of Adsorbed Polyphosphate Changes on Milled Titanium Dioxide, Using Low-Field Relaxation NMR and Photoelectron Spectroscopy

In this study, changes in the adsorbed amount and surface structure of sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) were investigated for aluminum-doped TiO₂ pigment undergoing milling. Relaxation NMR was utilized as a potential at-line technique to monitor the effect of milling on surface area and surface chemistry, while XPS was used primarily to consider the dispersant structure. Results showed that considerable amounts of weakly adsorbed SHMP could be removed with washing, and the level of dispersant removal increased with time, highlighting destructive effects of sustained high-energy milling. Nonetheless, there were no significant chemical changes to the dispersant, although increases to the bridging oxygen (BO) peak full width at half-maximum (FWHM) suggested some chemical degradation was occurring with excess milling. Relaxation NMR revealed a number of important features. Results with unmilled material indicated that dispersant adsorption could be tracked with pseudo-isotherms using the relative enhancement rate (R_sp), where the R_sp decreased with dispersant coverage, owing to partial blocking of the quadrupolar surface aluminum. Milled samples were also tracked, with very accurate calibrations of surface area possible from either T₁ or T₂ relaxation data for systems without dispersant. Behavior was considerably more complicated with SHMP, as there appeared to be an interplay between the dispersant surface coverage and relaxation enhancement from the surface aluminum. Nevertheless, findings highlight that relaxation NMR could be used as a real-time technique to monitor the extent of milling processes, so long as appropriate industrial calibrations can be achieved.

Surface-Charged Zirconia Nanoparticles Prepared by Organophosphorus Surface Functionalization with Ammonium or Sulfonate Groups

Organophosphorus coupling agents bearing permanently charged functional groups (either cationic quaternary ammonium or anionic sulfonates) were synthesized and used for the modification of zirconia nanoparticles with a diameter <10 nm. Surface functionalization was confirmed by FTIR and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Surface coverages up to 2.3-2.4 molecules/nm² were achieved for modification with these charged coupling agents. The pH-dependent charge measurements of homogeneously modified particles showed stable surface charges over a wide range of pH for both ammonium- and sulfonate-functionalized particles. Surface charge measurements of particles co-functionalized with charged coupling molecules and uncharged methyl phosphonic acid revealed a decreasing charge density with increasing amount of uncharged coupling agent. Thus, an adjustment of charges by co-functionalization was obtained on the particle surface. The thus-formed surface-charged colloids were used in a second step for electrostatic-driven aggregation phenomena necessary for layer-by-layer processes. Sulfonate-modified negatively charged SiO₂ submicrometer particles of 506 nm in diameter were decorated with ammonium-modified ZrO₂ nanoparticles. In addition, a layer-by-layer deposition of alternating charge-modified TiO₂ nanoparticles was proven by optical spectroscopy. Due to the broad applicability of organophosphorus coupling agents for surface modification, particularly for transition-metal oxides, the shown route represents a general method for the creation of almost pH-independent charges on the surface of nanoparticles.

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Response to Salt Concentration and Anion Identity: A Brush-on-Brush Study

The stability of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) brush-modified colloidal silica particles was compared to asymmetric and symmetric PNIPAM brush direct force measurements in the presence of 1, 10, and 500 mM aqueous salt solution of KCl, KNO₃, and KSCN between 10 and 45 °C. Dynamic light scattering measurements highlighted subtle variations in the salt-mediated thermoresponse, while atomic force microscopy (AFM) force curves between a bare silica or PNIPAM brush-modified colloid probe and a planar PNIPAM brush elucidated differences in brush interactions. The AFM force curves in the presence of KCl primarily revealed steric interactions between the surfaces, while KNO₃ and KSCN solutions exhibited electrosteric interactions on approach as a function of the chaotropic nature of the ion and the solution concentration. The symmetric PNIPAM brush interaction highlighted significant variations between KCl and KSCN at 1 and 500 mM concentrations, while the approach and retraction force curves were relatively similar at 10 mM concentration. The combination of these techniques enabled the stability of PNIPAM brush-modified colloidal dispersions in the presence of electrolyte to be better understood with specific ion binding and the solution Debye length playing a significant role.

Revisiting the strong stretching theory for pH-responsive polyelectrolyte brushes: effects of consideration of excluded volume interactions and an expanded form of the mass action law

In this paper, we develop a theory to account for the effect of excluded volume (EV) interactions in the strong stretching theory (SST) based description of pH-responsive polyelectrolyte (PE) brushes. The existing studies have considered the PE brushes to be present in a θ-solvent and hence have neglected the EV interactions; however, such a consideration cannot describe the situations where the pH-responsive brushes are in a "good" solvent. Secondly, we consider a more expanded form of the mass action law, governing the pH-dependent ionization of the PE molecules, in the SST description of the PE brushes. This expanded form of the mass action law considers different values of γa³ (γ is the density of chargeable sites on the PE molecule and a is the PE Kuhn length) and therefore is an improvement over the existing SST models of PE brushes as well as other theories involving pH-responsive PE molecules that always consider γa³ = 1. Our results demonstrate that the EV effects enhance the brush height by inducing additional PE inter-segmental repulsion. Similarly, the consideration of the expanded form of the mass action law would lead to a reduced (enhanced) brush height for γa³ < 1 (γa³ > 1). We also quantify variables such as the monomer density distribution, the distribution of the ends of the PE brush, and the EDL electrostatic potential and explain their differences with respect to those obtained with no EV interactions or γa³ = 1.

Influence of molecular weight on PNIPAM brush modified colloidal silica particles

The effect of molecular weight and temperature on the phase transition and internal structure of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brush modified colloidal silica particles was investigated using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) between 15 and 45 °C. Dry particle analysis utilising transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) all confirmed the thickness of the polymer brush shell increased as a function of polymerisation time. Hydrodynamic diameter and electrophoretic mobility results revealed that the brush modified particles transitioned from swollen shells to a collapsed conformation between 15 and 35 °C. The dispersions were electrosterically stabilised over the entire temperature range investigated, with minimal thermal hysteresis recorded. Modelling of the hydrodynamic diameter enabled the calculation of a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) which increased as a function of brush thickness. The internal structure determined via SANS showed a swollen brush at low temperatures (18 and 25 °C) which decayed radially away from the substrate, while a collapsed block-like conformation with 60% polymer volume fraction was present at 40 °C. Radial phase separation was evident at intermediate temperatures (30 and 32.5 °C) with the lower molecular weight sample having a greater volume fraction of polymer in the dense inner region at these temperatures.

Structure and Functionality of Polyelectrolyte Brushes: A Surface Force Perspective

The unique functionality of polyelectrolyte brushes depends on several types of specific interactions, including solvent structure effects, hydrophobic forces, electrostatic interactions, and specific ion interactions. Subtle variations in the solution environment can lead to conformational and surface structural changes of the polyelectrolyte brushes, which are mainly discussed from a surface-interaction perspective in this Focus Review. A brief overview is given of recent theoretical and experimental progress in the structure of polyelectrolyte brushes in various environments. Two important techniques for surface-force measurements are described, the surface forces apparatus (SFA) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), and some recent results on polyelectrolyte brushes are shown. Lastly, this Focus Review highlights the use of these surface-grafted polyelectrolyte brushes in the creation of functional surfaces for various applications, including nonfouling surfaces, boundary lubricants, and stimuli-responsive surfaces.

Effect of ionic strength and salt identity on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brush modified colloidal silica particles

HYPOTHESIS

The thermoresponse of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) stabilised particles is influenced by the presence of salt and is dependent on the concentration, and ions present. The conformation and electrophoretic mobility of core/shell PNIPAM brush modified silica particles is expected to vary as a function of these specific ion effects.

EXPERIMENTS

The thermoresponse of PNIPAM brush modified silica particles was investigated via dynamic light scattering and electrophoretic mobility measurements between 5 and 45 °C in the presence of 11 different salt solutions.

FINDINGS

Specific ion effects were observed in the presence of salt solutions for concentrations between 50 and 1000 mM. The temperature response could be mapped to a master curve unlike PNIPAM brush behaviour on planar substrates. The magnitude of brush layer lower critical solution temperature reduction was found to follow the order F^- > CH₃CO₂^- > Cl^- > NO₃^- ∼ Br^- > I^- > SCN^- for the potassium series and Na⁺ > K⁺ > Cs⁺ > Li⁺ ∼ NH₄⁺ for the chloride salts. The electrophoretic mobility of the modified particles in the presence of 100 mM potassium salts increased in magnitude as the brush layer collapsed and also with the chaotropic nature of the anion.

Optimisation of grafting of low fouling polymers from three-dimensional scaffolds via surface-initiated Cu(0) mediated polymerisation

Well-controlled low fouling polymers brushes were grafted from the surface of biodegradable electrospun fibres for advanced tissue engineering applications.

Surface-Initiated Controlled Radical Polymerization: State-of-the-Art, Opportunities, and Challenges in Surface and Interface Engineering with Polymer Brushes

The generation of polymer brushes by surface-initiated controlled radical polymerization (SI-CRP) techniques has become a powerful approach to tailor the chemical and physical properties of interfaces and has given rise to great advances in surface and interface engineering. Polymer brushes are defined as thin polymer films in which the individual polymer chains are tethered by one chain end to a solid interface. Significant advances have been made over the past years in the field of polymer brushes. This includes novel developments in SI-CRP, as well as the emergence of novel applications such as catalysis, electronics, nanomaterial synthesis and biosensing. Additionally, polymer brushes prepared via SI-CRP have been utilized to modify the surface of novel substrates such as natural fibers, polymer nanofibers, mesoporous materials, graphene, viruses and protein nanoparticles. The last years have also seen exciting advances in the chemical and physical characterization of polymer brushes, as well as an ever increasing set of computational and simulation tools that allow understanding and predictions of these surface-grafted polymer architectures. The aim of this contribution is to provide a comprehensive review that critically assesses recent advances in the field and highlights the opportunities and challenges for future work.

Tuning the electro-chemical properties by selectively substituting transition metals on carbon in Ni/Co oxide–carbon composite electrodes for supercapacitor devices

Carbon embedded Ni/Co oxide composite electrodes with different carbon percentages were fabricated through SILAR method, which tuned Ni substitution to give improved electro-chemical properties for low-cost supercapacitor devices.

Critical salt effects in the swelling behavior of a weak polybasic brush

The swelling behavior of poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDEA) brushes in response to changes in solution pH and ionic strength has been investigated. The brushes were synthesized by ARGET ATRP methodology at the silica-aqueous solution interface via two different surface-bound initiator approaches: electrostatically adsorbed cationic macroinitiator and covalently anchored silane-based ATRP initiator moieties. The pH-response of these brushes is studied as a function of the solvated brush thickness in a constant flow regime that elucidates the intrinsic behavior of polymer brushes. In situ ellipsometry equilibrium measurements show the pH-induced brush swelling and collapse transitions are hysteretic in nature. Furthermore, high temporal resolution kinetic studies demonstrate that protonation and solvent ingress during swelling occur much faster than the brush charge neutralization and solvent expulsion during collapse. This hysteresis is attributed to the formation of a dense outer region or skin during collapse that retards solvent egress. Moreover, at a constant pH below its pKa, the PDEA brush exhibited a critical conformational change in the range 0.5-1 mM electrolyte, a range much narrower than predicted by the theory of the osmotic brush regime. This behavior is attributed to the hydrophobicity of the collapsed brush. The swelling and collapse kinetics for this salt-induced transition are nearly identical. This is in contrast to the asymmetry in the rate of the pH-induced response, suggesting an alternative mechanism for the two processes dependent on the nature of the environmental trigger.