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Imani KBC, Park J, Yoon J. 3D printable and mechanically tunable hydrogels achieved through hydrophobic and ionic interactions. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:5781-5787. [PMID: 38984593 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00602j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Thermal stiffening materials are commonly applied in the aerospace and automotive industries, among others, since their dimensional stabilities and stiffness characteristics improve at high temperatures. In this study, temperature-triggered modulus-tunable hydrogels were prepared by combining Pluronic F-127 with charged polymers. Pluronic F-127, a triblock copolymer micelle, provided three-dimensional printing capabilities of fine resolution with high viscosity, while hydrophobic and ionic interactions among polymer networks provided thermal stiffening. The hydrogel ink's printability was demonstrated by successfully creating complex 3D structures. A calcium ion carrying a hydrophobic propionate and carboxylate group in polymer chains was used to form additional physical crosslinking at high temperature, ultimately leading to the thermal stiffening effect without volume change. The thermal stiffening behavior was found to be fully reversible and repeatable. Finally, to demonstrate the versatility of this work, graphene oxide was added to produce a light-controllable modulus based on its photothermal properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kusuma Betha Cahaya Imani
- Graduate Department of Chemical Materials, Institute for Plastic Information and Energy Materials, Sustainable Utilization of Photovoltaic Energy Research Center, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jeongbin Park
- Graduate Department of Chemical Materials, Institute for Plastic Information and Energy Materials, Sustainable Utilization of Photovoltaic Energy Research Center, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jinhwan Yoon
- Graduate Department of Chemical Materials, Institute for Plastic Information and Energy Materials, Sustainable Utilization of Photovoltaic Energy Research Center, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea.
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2
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Montalbo RCK, Wu MJ, Tu HL. One-step flow synthesis of size-controlled polymer nanogels in a fluorocarbon microfluidic chip. RSC Adv 2024; 14:11258-11265. [PMID: 38590347 PMCID: PMC11000227 DOI: 10.1039/d4ra01956c] [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: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Synthetic polymer nanoparticles (NPs) with biomimetic properties are ideally suited for different biomedical applications such as drug delivery and direct therapy. However, bulk synthetic approaches can suffer from poor reproducibility and scalability when precise size control or multi-step procedures are required. Herein, we report an integrated microfluidic chip for the synthesis of polymer NPs. The chip could sequentially perform homopolymer synthesis and subsequent crosslinking into NPs without intermediate purification. This was made possible by fabrication of the chip with a fluorinated elastomer and incorporation of two microfluidic mixers. The first was a long channel with passive mixing features for the aqueous RAFT synthesis of stimuli-responsive polymers in ambient conditions. The polymers were then directly fed into a hydrodynamic flow focusing (HFF) junction that rapidly mixed them with a crosslinker solution to produce NPs. Compared to microfluidic systems made of PDMS or glass, our chip had better compatibility and facile fabrication. The polymers were synthesized with high monomer conversion and the NP size was found to be influenced by the flow rate ratio between the crosslinker solution and polymer solution. This allowed for the size to be predictably controlled by careful adjustment of the fluid flow rates. The size of the NPs and their stimuli-responses were studied using DLS and SEM imaging. This microfluidic chip design can potentially streamline and provide some automation for the bottom-up synthesis of polymer NPs while offering on-demand size control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reynaldo Carlos K Montalbo
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica Taipei 11529 Taiwan
- Nanoscience and Technology, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica Taipei 11529 Taiwan
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing-Hua University Hsinchu 300044 Taiwan
| | - Meng-Jie Wu
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica Taipei 11529 Taiwan
- Department of Chemistry, National Cheng-Kung University Tainan 70101 Taiwan
| | - Hsiung-Lin Tu
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica Taipei 11529 Taiwan
- Nanoscience and Technology, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica Taipei 11529 Taiwan
- Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan University Taiwan
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3
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Barmin RA, Moosavifar M, Dasgupta A, Herrmann A, Kiessling F, Pallares RM, Lammers T. Polymeric materials for ultrasound imaging and therapy. Chem Sci 2023; 14:11941-11954. [PMID: 37969594 PMCID: PMC10631124 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc04339h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Ultrasound (US) is routinely used for diagnostic imaging and increasingly employed for therapeutic applications. Materials that act as cavitation nuclei can improve the resolution of US imaging, and facilitate therapeutic US procedures by promoting local drug delivery or allowing temporary biological barrier opening at moderate acoustic powers. Polymeric materials offer a high degree of control over physicochemical features concerning responsiveness to US, e.g. via tuning chain composition, length and rigidity. This level of control cannot be achieved by materials made of lipids or proteins. In this perspective, we present key engineered polymeric materials that respond to US, including microbubbles, gas-stabilizing nanocups, microcapsules and gas-releasing nanoparticles, and discuss their formulation aspects as well as their principles of US responsiveness. Focusing on microbubbles as the most common US-responsive polymeric materials, we further evaluate the available chemical toolbox to engineer polymer shell properties and enhance their performance in US imaging and US-mediated drug delivery. Additionally, we summarize emerging applications of polymeric microbubbles in molecular imaging, sonopermeation, and gas and drug delivery, based on refinement of MB shell properties. Altogether, this manuscript provides new perspectives on US-responsive polymeric designs, envisaging their current and future applications in US imaging and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman A Barmin
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University Hospital Aachen 52074 Germany
| | - MirJavad Moosavifar
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University Hospital Aachen 52074 Germany
| | - Anshuman Dasgupta
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University Hospital Aachen 52074 Germany
| | - Andreas Herrmann
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Aachen 52074 Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University Aachen 52074 Germany
| | - Fabian Kiessling
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University Hospital Aachen 52074 Germany
| | - Roger M Pallares
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University Hospital Aachen 52074 Germany
| | - Twan Lammers
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University Hospital Aachen 52074 Germany
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4
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Chen J, Peng Q, Peng X, Zhang H, Zeng H. Probing and Manipulating Noncovalent Interactions in Functional Polymeric Systems. Chem Rev 2022; 122:14594-14678. [PMID: 36054924 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Noncovalent interactions, which usually feature tunable strength, reversibility, and environmental adaptability, have been recognized as driving forces in a variety of biological and chemical processes, contributing to the recognition between molecules, the formation of molecule clusters, and the establishment of complex structures of macromolecules. The marriage of noncovalent interactions and conventional covalent polymers offers the systems novel mechanical, physicochemical, and biological properties, which are highly dependent on the binding mechanisms of the noncovalent interactions that can be illuminated via quantification. This review systematically discusses the nanomechanical characterization of typical noncovalent interactions in polymeric systems, mainly through direct force measurements at microscopic, nanoscopic, and molecular levels, which provide quantitative information (e.g., ranges, strengths, and dynamics) on the binding behaviors. The fundamental understandings of intermolecular and interfacial interactions are then correlated to the macroscopic performances of a series of noncovalently bonded polymers, whose functions (e.g., stimuli-responsiveness, self-healing capacity, universal adhesiveness) can be customized through the manipulation of the noncovalent interactions, providing insights into the rational design of advanced materials with applications in biomedical, energy, environmental, and other engineering fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingsi Chen
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Qiongyao Peng
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Xuwen Peng
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Hongbo Zeng
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
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5
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Synthesis and Characterization of Conjugated Hyaluronic Acids. Application to Stability Studies of Chitosan-Hyaluronic Acid Nanogels Based on Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer. Gels 2022; 8:gels8030182. [PMID: 35323295 PMCID: PMC8949952 DOI: 10.3390/gels8030182] [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: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyaluronic acid (HA) was functionalized with a series of amino synthons (octylamine, polyethylene glycol amine, trifluoropropyl amine, rhodamine). Sodium hyaluronate (HAs) was first converted into its protonated form (HAp) and the reaction was conducted in DMSO by varying the initial ratio (−NH2 (synthon)/COOH (HAp)). HA derivatives were characterized by a combination of techniques (FTIR, 1H NMR, 1D diffusion-filtered 19F NMR, DOSY experiments), and degrees of substitution (DSHA) varying from 0.3% to 47% were determined, according to the grafted synthon. Nanohydrogels were then obtained by ionic gelation between functionalized hyaluronic acids and chitosan (CS) and tripolyphosphate (TPP) as a cross-linker. Nanohydrogels for which HA and CS were respectively labeled by rhodamine and fluorescein which are a fluorescent donor-acceptor pair were subjected to FRET experiments to evaluate the stability of these nano-assemblies.
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6
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Kozlovskaya V, Xue B, Dolmat M, Kharlampieva E. Complete pH-Dependent Shape Recovery in Cubical Hydrogel Capsules after Large Osmotic Deformations. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Kozlovskaya
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, United States
| | - Bing Xue
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, United States
| | - Maksim Dolmat
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, United States
| | - Eugenia Kharlampieva
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, United States
- Center of Nanoscale Materials and Biointegration, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, United States
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7
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Pretorius D, Kahn-Krell AM, LaBarge WC, Lou X, Kannappan R, Pollard AE, Fast VG, Berry JL, Eberhardt AW, Zhang J. Fabrication and characterization of a thick, viable bi-layered stem cell-derived surrogate for future myocardial tissue regeneration. Biomed Mater 2020; 16. [PMID: 33053512 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/abc107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac tissue surrogates show promise for restoring mechanical and electrical function in infarcted left ventricular (LV) myocardium. For these cardiac surrogates to be useful in vivo, they are required to support synchronous and forceful contraction over the infarcted region. These design requirements necessitate a thickness sufficient to produce a useful contractile force, an area large enough to cover an infarcted region, and prevascularization to overcome diffusion limitations. Attempts to meet these requirements have been hampered by diffusion limits of oxygen and nutrients (100-200 μm) leading to necrotic regions.This study demonstrates a novel layer-by-layer (LbL) fabrication method used to produce tissue surrogates that meet these requirements and mimic normal myocardium in form and function. Thick (1.5-2 mm) LbL cardiac tissues created from human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells were assessed, in vitro, over a four week period for viability (< 5.6 ± 1.4 % nectrotic cells), cell morphology, viscoelastic properties and functionality. Viscoelastic properties of the cardiac surrogates were determined via stress relaxation response modeling and compared to native murine LV tissue. Viscoelastic characterization showed that the generalized Maxwell model of order 4 described the samples well (0.7 < R2 < 0.98). Functional performance assessment showed enhanced t-tubule network development, gap junction communication as well as conduction velocity (16.9 ± 2.3 cm s-1). These results demonstrate that LbL fabrication can be utilized successfully in creating complex, functional cardiac surrogates for therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Pretorius
- Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Volker Hall Room G094, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, Alabama, 35294-2182, UNITED STATES
| | - Asher M Kahn-Krell
- Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, UNITED STATES
| | - Wesley C LaBarge
- Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, UNITED STATES
| | - Xi Lou
- Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, UNITED STATES
| | - Ramaswamy Kannappan
- Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, UNITED STATES
| | - Andrew E Pollard
- Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, UNITED STATES
| | - Vladimir G Fast
- Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, UNITED STATES
| | - Joel L Berry
- School of Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, UNITED STATES
| | - Alan W Eberhardt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, UNITED STATES
| | - Jianyi Zhang
- Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, UNITED STATES
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8
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Walker JAT, Wang X, Peter K, Kempe K, Corrie SR. Dynamic Solid-State Ultrasound Contrast Agent for Monitoring pH Fluctuations In Vivo. ACS Sens 2020; 5:1190-1197. [PMID: 32202414 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.0c00245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The key challenge for in vivo biosensing is to design biomarker-responsive contrast agents that can be readily detected and monitored by broadly available biomedical imaging modalities. While a range of biosensors have been designed for optical, photoacoustic, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities, technical challenges have hindered the development of ultrasound biosensors, even though ultrasound is widely available, portable, safe, and capable of both surface and deep tissue imaging. Typically, contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging is generated by gas-filled microbubbles. However, they suffer from short imaging times because of the diffusion of the gas into the surrounding media. This demands an alternate approach to generate nanosensors that reveal pH-specific changes in ultrasound contrast in biological environments. Silica cores were coated with pH-responsive poly(methacrylic acid) (PMASH) in a layer-by-layer (LbL) approach and subsequently covered in a porous organosilica shell. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were employed to monitor the successful fabrication of multilayered particles and prove the pH-dependent shrinkage/swelling of the PMASH layer. This demonstrates that reduction in pH below healthy physiological levels resulted in significant increases in ultrasound contrast, in gel phantoms, mouse cadaver tissue, and live mice. The future of such materials could be developed into a platform of biomarker-responsive ultrasound contrast agents for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Ann-Therese Walker
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Chemical Engineering, Monash University, 20 Research Way, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Xiaowei Wang
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
| | - Karlheinz Peter
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
| | - Kristian Kempe
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Simon R. Corrie
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Chemical Engineering, Monash University, 20 Research Way, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
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9
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Superabsorbent polymers: A review on the characteristics and applications of synthetic, polysaccharide-based, semi-synthetic and ‘smart’ derivatives. Eur Polym J 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2019.04.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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10
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Ghosh G, Barman R, Sarkar J, Ghosh S. pH-Responsive Biocompatible Supramolecular Peptide Hydrogel. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:5909-5915. [PMID: 31246033 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b02999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Peptide-based hydrogels are highly promising for various biomedical applications owing to their precise self-assembly, biocompatibility, and sensitivity toward biologically relevant external stimuli. Herein, we report pH-responsive self-assembly and gelation of a highly biocompatible amphiphilic peptide PEP-1. This is an octa-peptide and double mutant of a naturally occurring β-strand peptide fragment of the protein Galectin-1, available in bovine spleen. PEP-1 was synthesized by using the Rink amide resin as the solid support in a homemade apparatus. At pH 7.4, it exhibits spontaneous gelation with very high yield stress of 88.0 Pa and gel-to-sol temperature of 84 °C at C = 2.0 wt %. Microscopy studies revealed entangled fibrillar morphology whereas circular dichroism, Fourier tranform IR, and Thioflavin T assay indicated formation of β-sheet rich secondary structure. The assembled state was found to be stable in neutral pH whereas either decrease or increase in the pH resulted in disassembly owing to the presence of the pH responsive Asp and Lys residues. The gel network showed ability to entrap water-soluble guest molecules such as Calcein which could be selectively released at acidic pH whereas under neutral condition the release was negligible. MTT assay revealed remarkable biocompatibility of the PEP-1 gel as almost 100% cells were alive after 48 h incubation in the presence of PEP-1 (2.0 mg/mL).
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Affiliation(s)
- Goutam Ghosh
- School of Applied and Interdisciplinary Sciences , Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , 2A and 2B Raja S. C. Mullick Road , Kolkata 700032 , India
| | - Ranajit Barman
- School of Applied and Interdisciplinary Sciences , Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , 2A and 2B Raja S. C. Mullick Road , Kolkata 700032 , India
| | - Jayita Sarkar
- School of Applied and Interdisciplinary Sciences , Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , 2A and 2B Raja S. C. Mullick Road , Kolkata 700032 , India
| | - Suhrit Ghosh
- School of Applied and Interdisciplinary Sciences , Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , 2A and 2B Raja S. C. Mullick Road , Kolkata 700032 , India
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11
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Cao Z, Chen Y, Zhang C, Cheng J, Wu D, Ma W, Liu C, Fu Z. Preparation of near-infrared laser responsive hydrogels with enhanced laser marking performance. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:2950-2959. [PMID: 30724317 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm02635a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Polystyrene modified bismuth oxide particles (PS@Bi2O3) were prepared and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Using acrylamide (AM) as a monomer, and PS@Bi2O3 as laser sensitive additives, PAM/PS@Bi2O3 hydrogels were fabricated and treated by a 1064 nm near-infrared laser. The laser responsive properties of PAM/PS@Bi2O3 hydrogels were investigated at different current intensities and loading content of PS@Bi2O3 by visual observation, optical microscopy, and SEM, and the mechanism of laser response was analyzed by XRD and Raman spectroscopy. The results indicate that the PAM hydrogel with added PS@Bi2O3 particles showed excellent response to the laser, and high contrast and resolution text and pattern marks on the hydrogel surface can be obtained. The selection of suitable laser current intensity is key to the laser response of the PAM/PS@Bi2O3 composite hydrogel. Through analysis of XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and TGA data, the laser marking of the PAM/PS@Bi2O3 hydrogels originates from the generation of both bismuth metal and amorphous carbonized materials. After adding PS@Bi2O3 with a loading content from 1% to 3%, the mechanical properties of the hydrogels were improved, but the swelling properties were finally decreased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Cao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Environmentally Friendly Polymeric Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213164, China.
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12
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Meaney SP, Follink B, Tabor RF. Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications of Polymer-Silica Core-Shell Microparticle Capsules. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:43068-43079. [PMID: 30444108 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b15912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Encapsulation is a powerful method for the targeted delivery of concentrated reagents and capture of valuable materials in dilute systems. To this end, many encapsulation schemes for specific scenarios have been devised that incorporate chemospecificity or stimulus response in terms of uptake or release. However, an encapsulation platform that enables highly tailorable surface chemistry for targeting, stimulus response, and core chemistry for capture and release of reagents remains elusive. Here, we present such a system comprising composite core-shell capsule particles of hydrophilic polymers coated with thin silica layers synthesized via straightforward one-pot syntheses. Silica is found to encapsulate a range of polymer hydrogels through a mechanism independent of the specific core chemistry. The hybrid materials possess significantly enhanced rigidity while allowing surface modification through simple yet versatile silane coupling reactions without a reduction in the functionality of the core. They are shown to have applications as diverse as recyclable catalysis and controlled delivery vehicles for agrochemicals. The successful synthesis and utilization of this catalog of materials indicate the broader capability of simple composite structures in an array of high-value applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane P Meaney
- School of Chemistry , Monash University , Clayton , Victoria 3800 , Australia
| | - Bart Follink
- School of Chemistry , Monash University , Clayton , Victoria 3800 , Australia
| | - Rico F Tabor
- School of Chemistry , Monash University , Clayton , Victoria 3800 , Australia
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13
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Lantos E, Das NP, Berkesi DS, Dobó D, Kukovecz Á, Horváth D, Tóth Á. Interaction between amino-functionalized inorganic nanoshells and acid-autocatalytic reactions. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:13365-13369. [PMID: 29718059 DOI: 10.1039/c8cp01053f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Amino-functionalized inorganic silica nanoshells with a diameter of 511 ± 57 nm are efficiently used as hydrogen ion binders with a base dissociation constant of (1.2 ± 0.1) × 10-4. The hydrogen removal has been shown to produce reaction-diffusion fronts of constant propagation velocity in the autocatalytic chlorite-tetrathionate reaction when it is run in thin planar slices of nanoshell-containing agarose gel to exclude all convection related effects. By controlling the exact amount of amino-functionalized hollow nanospheres in the gel matrix it is possible to finely tune the propagation velocity of the chemical front in the 0.1-10 cm h-1 range. Remarkably, this can be achieved with very low amino-functionalized hollow inorganic nanosphere loadings between 0.1-0.01 (m V-1)%. The front width has also been determined experimentally, which increases by a factor of two with one magnitude decrease in the front velocity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emese Lantos
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Aradi vértanúk tere 1, 6720 Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Nirmali Prabha Das
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Aradi vértanúk tere 1, 6720 Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Dániel Simon Berkesi
- Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, Rerrich Béla tér 1, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Dorina Dobó
- Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, Rerrich Béla tér 1, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ákos Kukovecz
- Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, Rerrich Béla tér 1, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Dezső Horváth
- Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, Rerrich Béla tér 1, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ágota Tóth
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Aradi vértanúk tere 1, 6720 Szeged, Hungary.
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14
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Mettu S, Ye Q, Zhou M, Dagastine R, Ashokkumar M. Ultrasonically synthesized organic liquid-filled chitosan microcapsules: part 2: characterization using AFM (atomic force microscopy) and combined AFM-confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy. SOFT MATTER 2018; 14:3192-3201. [PMID: 29651482 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm00065d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is used to measure the stiffness and Young's modulus of individual microcapsules that have a chitosan cross-linked shell encapsulating tetradecane. The oil filled microcapsules were prepared using a one pot synthesis via ultrasonic emulsification of tetradecane and crosslinking of the chitosan shell in aqueous solutions of acetic acid. The concentration of acetic acid in aqueous solutions of chitosan was varied from 0.2% to 25% v/v. The effect of acetic acid concentration and size of the individual microcapsules on the strength was probed. The deformations and forces required to rupture the microcapsules were also measured. Three dimensional deformations of microcapsules under large applied loads were obtained by the combination of Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM) with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The stiffness, and hence the modulus, of the microcapsules was found to decrease with an increase in size with the average stiffness ranging from 82 to 111 mN m-1 and average Young's modulus ranging from 0.4 to 6.5 MPa. The forces required to rupture the microcapsules varied from 150 to 250 nN with deformations of the microcapsules up to 62 to 110% relative to their radius, respectively. Three dimensional images obtained using laser scanning confocal microscopy showed that the microcapsules retained their structure and shape after being subjected to large deformations and subsequent removal of the loads. Based on the above observations, the oil filled chitosan crosslinked microcapsules are an ideal choice for use in the food and pharmaceutical industries as they would be able to withstand the process conditions encountered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinivas Mettu
- School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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15
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Wang W, Staub MC, Zhou T, Smith DM, Qi H, Laird ED, Cheng S, Li CY. Polyethylene nano crystalsomes formed at a curved liquid/liquid interface. NANOSCALE 2017; 10:268-276. [PMID: 29210419 DOI: 10.1039/c7nr08106e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Crystallization is incommensurate with nanoscale curved space due to the lack of three dimensional translational symmetry of the latter. Herein, we report the formation of single-crystal-like, nanosized polyethylene (PE) capsules using a miniemulsion solution crystallization method. The miniemulsion was formed at elevated temperatures using PE organic solution as the oil phase and sodium dodecyl sulfate as the surfactant. Subsequently, cooling the system stepwisely for controlled crystallization led to the formation of hollow, nanosized PE crystalline capsules, which are named as crystalsomes since they mimic the classical self-assembled structures such as liposome, polymersome and colloidosome. We show that the formation of the nanosized PE crystalsomes is driven by controlled crystallization at the curved liquid/liquid interface of the miniemulson droplet. The morphology, structure and mechanical properties of the PE crystalsomes were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and atomic force spectroscopy. Electron diffraction showed the single-crystal-like nature of the crystalsomes. The incommensurateness between the nanocurved interface and the crystalline packing led to reduced crystallinity and crystallite size of the PE crystalsome, as observed from the X-ray diffraction measurements. Moreover, directly quenching the emulsion below the spinodal line led to the formation of hierarchical porous PE crystalsomes due to the coupling of the PE crystallization and liquid/liquid phase separation. We anticipate that this unique crystalsome represents a new type of nanostructure that might be used as nanodrug carriers and ultrasound contrast agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenda Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
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16
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Wan Y, Liu L, Yuan S, Sun J, Li Z. pH-Responsive Peptide Supramolecular Hydrogels with Antibacterial Activity. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2017; 33:3234-3240. [PMID: 28282150 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b03986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Smart hydrogels have received increasing attention for many applications. Here, we synthesized a class of cationic peptide amphiphiles that can self-assemble into hydrogels by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and post-modification strategy. The incorporation of cationic lysine residues suppresses the formation of fibril-like structure and further the gelation ability of the samples. Sodium alginate (SA) is used to enhance the rheology performance of the hydrogels. The hydrogels exhibit pH-dependent self-assembly and the gelation behavior that enables them to be ideal smart hydrogel systems for biomedical applications. Furthermore, the as-prepared hybrid peptide hydrogels show antibacterial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoming Wan
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology , Qingdao, 266042, China
- Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science , Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Libing Liu
- Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science , Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Shuaishuai Yuan
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology , Qingdao, 266042, China
| | - Jing Sun
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology , Qingdao, 266042, China
| | - Zhibo Li
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology , Qingdao, 266042, China
- Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science , Beijing, 100190, China
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17
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Sanz B, von Bilderling C, Tuninetti JS, Pietrasanta L, Mijangos C, Longo GS, Azzaroni O, Giussi JM. Thermally-induced softening of PNIPAm-based nanopillar arrays. SOFT MATTER 2017; 13:2453-2464. [PMID: 28287232 DOI: 10.1039/c7sm00206h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The surface properties of soft nanostructured hydrogels are crucial in the design of responsive materials that can be used as platforms to create adaptive devices. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of thermo-responsive hydrogels such as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) can be modified by introducing a hydrophilic monomer to create a wide range of thermo-responsive micro-/nano-structures in a large temperature range. Using surface initiation atom-transfer radical polymerization in synthesized anodized aluminum oxide templates, we designed, fabricated, and characterized thermo-responsive nanopillars based on PNIPAm hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties by incorporating acrylamide monomers (AAm). In addition to their LCST, the incorporation of a hydrophilic entity in the nanopillars based on PNIPAm has abruptly changed the topological and mechanical properties of our system. To gain an insight into the mechanical properties of the nanostructure, its hydrophilic/hydrophobic behavior and topological characteristics, atomic force microscopy, molecular dynamics simulations and water contact angle studies were combined. When changing the nanopillar composition, a significant and opposite variation was observed in their mechanical properties. As temperature increased above the LCST, the stiffness of PNIPAm nanopillars, as expected, did so too, in contrast to the stiffness of PNIPAm-AAm nanopillars that decreased significantly. The molecular dynamics simulations proposed a local molecular rearrangement in our nanosystems at the LCST. The local aggregation of NIPAm segments near the center of the nanopillars displaced the hydrophilic AAm units towards the surface of the structure leading to contact with the aqueous environment. This behavior was confirmed via contact angle measurements below and above the LCST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belén Sanz
- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Polímeros, CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Catalina von Bilderling
- Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires (IFIBA-CONICET) and Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jimena S Tuninetti
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas (INIFTA) - Departamento de Química - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas - Universidad Nacional de La Plata - CONICET, 1900 La Plata, Argentina.
| | - Lía Pietrasanta
- Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires (IFIBA-CONICET) and Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina and Centro de Microscopías Avanzadas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carmen Mijangos
- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Polímeros, CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gabriel S Longo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas (INIFTA) - Departamento de Química - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas - Universidad Nacional de La Plata - CONICET, 1900 La Plata, Argentina.
| | - Omar Azzaroni
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas (INIFTA) - Departamento de Química - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas - Universidad Nacional de La Plata - CONICET, 1900 La Plata, Argentina.
| | - Juan M Giussi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas (INIFTA) - Departamento de Química - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas - Universidad Nacional de La Plata - CONICET, 1900 La Plata, Argentina.
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18
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Mignon A, Snoeck D, Dubruel P, Van Vlierberghe S, De Belie N. Crack Mitigation in Concrete: Superabsorbent Polymers as Key to Success? MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2017; 10:E237. [PMID: 28772599 PMCID: PMC5503349 DOI: 10.3390/ma10030237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cracking is a major concern in building applications. Cracks may arise from shrinkage, freeze/thawing and/or structural stresses, amongst others. Several solutions can be found but superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) seem to be interesting to counteract these problems. At an early age, the absorbed water by the SAPs may be used to mitigate autogenous and plastic shrinkage. The formed macro pores may increase the freeze/thaw resistance. The swelling upon water ingress may seal a crack from intruding fluids and may regain the overall water-tightness. The latter water may promote autogenous healing. The use of superabsorbent polymers is thus very interesting. This review paper summarizes the current research and gives a critical note towards the use of superabsorbent polymers in cementitious materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arn Mignon
- Magnel Laboratory for Concrete Research, Department of Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 904, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium.
- Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Department of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Didier Snoeck
- Magnel Laboratory for Concrete Research, Department of Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 904, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Peter Dubruel
- Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Department of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Sandra Van Vlierberghe
- Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Department of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Nele De Belie
- Magnel Laboratory for Concrete Research, Department of Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 904, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium.
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19
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Rigaux G, Gheran CV, Callewaert M, Cadiou C, Voicu SN, Dinischiotu A, Andry MC, Vander Elst L, Laurent S, Muller RN, Berquand A, Molinari M, Huclier-Markai S, Chuburu F. Characterization of Gd loaded chitosan-TPP nanohydrogels by a multi-technique approach combining dynamic light scattering (DLS), asymetrical flow-field-flow-fractionation (AF4) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) and design of positive contrast agents for molecular resonance imaging (MRI). NANOTECHNOLOGY 2017; 28:055705. [PMID: 28029111 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/aa5188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Chitosan CS-tripolyphosphate TPP/hyaluronic acid HA nanohydrogels loaded with gadolinium chelates (GdDOTA ⊂ CS-TPP/HA NGs) synthesized by ionic gelation were designed for lymph node (LN) MRI. In order to be efficiently drained to LNs, nanogels (NGs) needed to exhibit a diameter ϕ < 100 nm. For that, formulation parameters were tuned, using (i) CS of two different molecular weights (51 and 37 kDa) and (ii) variable CS/TPP ratio (2 < CS/TPP < 8). Characterization of NG size distribution by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and asymetrical flow-field-flow-fractionation (AF4) showed discrepancies since DLS diameters were consistently above 200 nm while AF4 showed individual nano-objects with ϕ < 100 nm. Such a difference could be correlated to the presence of aggregates inherent to ionic gelation. This point was clarified by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in liquid mode which highlighted the main presence of individual nano-objects in nanosuspensions. Thus, combination of DLS, AF4 and AFM provided a more precise characterization of GdDOTA ⊂ CS-TPP/HA nanohydrogels which, in turn, allowed to select formulations leading to NGs of suitable mean sizes showing good MRI efficiency and negligible toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Rigaux
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de Reims, CNRS UMR 7312, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne URCA, F-51685 Reims Cedex 2, France
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20
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Helfricht N, Doblhofer E, Bieber V, Lommes P, Sieber V, Scheibel T, Papastavrou G. Probing the adhesion properties of alginate hydrogels: a new approach towards the preparation of soft colloidal probes for direct force measurements. SOFT MATTER 2017; 13:578-589. [PMID: 27976776 DOI: 10.1039/c6sm02326f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The adhesion of alginate hydrogels to solid surfaces was probed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the sphere/plane geometry. For this purpose a novel approach has been developed for the immobilization of soft colloidal probes onto AFM-cantilevers, which is inspired by techniques originating from cell biology. The aspiration and consecutive manipulation of hydrogel beads by micropipettes allows the entire manipulation sequence to be carried-out in situ. Hence, any alteration of the hydrogel beads upon drying can be excluded. The adhesive behaviour of alginate hydrogels was first evaluated by determining the distribution of pull-off forces on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) terminating in different functional groups (-CH3, -OH, -NH2, -COOH). It was demonstrated that solvent exclusion plays practically no role in the adhesion process, in clear difference to solid colloidal probes. The adhesion of alginate beads is dominated by chemical interactions rather than solvent exclusion, in particular in the case of amino-terminated SAMs. The data set acquired on the SAMs provided the framework to relate the adhesion of alginate beads on recombinant spider silk protein films to specific functional groups. The preparation of soft colloidal probes and the presented approach in analysing the adhesive behaviour is not limited to alginate hydrogel beads but can be generally applied for probing and understanding the adhesion behaviour of hydrogels on a wide range of substrates, which would be relevant for various applications such as biomedical surface modification or tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Helfricht
- Physical Chemistry/Physics of Polymers, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, Bayreuth 95440, Germany.
| | - Elena Doblhofer
- Biomaterials, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, Bayreuth 95440, Germany
| | - Vera Bieber
- Physical Chemistry/Physics of Polymers, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, Bayreuth 95440, Germany.
| | - Petra Lommes
- Chemistry of Biogenic Resources, Technical University Munich, Schulgasse 16, 94315 Straubing, Germany
| | - Volker Sieber
- Chemistry of Biogenic Resources, Technical University Munich, Schulgasse 16, 94315 Straubing, Germany
| | - Thomas Scheibel
- Biomaterials, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, Bayreuth 95440, Germany
| | - Georg Papastavrou
- Physical Chemistry/Physics of Polymers, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, Bayreuth 95440, Germany.
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21
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Richardson JJ, Cui J, Björnmalm M, Braunger JA, Ejima H, Caruso F. Innovation in Layer-by-Layer Assembly. Chem Rev 2016; 116:14828-14867. [PMID: 27960272 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 449] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Methods for depositing thin films are important in generating functional materials for diverse applications in a wide variety of fields. Over the last half-century, the layer-by-layer assembly of nanoscale films has received intense and growing interest. This has been fueled by innovation in the available materials and assembly technologies, as well as the film-characterization techniques. In this Review, we explore, discuss, and detail innovation in layer-by-layer assembly in terms of past and present developments, and we highlight how these might guide future advances. A particular focus is on conventional and early developments that have only recently regained interest in the layer-by-layer assembly field. We then review unconventional assemblies and approaches that have been gaining popularity, which include inorganic/organic hybrid materials, cells and tissues, and the use of stereocomplexation, patterning, and dip-pen lithography, to name a few. A relatively recent development is the use of layer-by-layer assembly materials and techniques to assemble films in a single continuous step. We name this "quasi"-layer-by-layer assembly and discuss the impacts and innovations surrounding this approach. Finally, the application of characterization methods to monitor and evaluate layer-by-layer assembly is discussed, as innovation in this area is often overlooked but is essential for development of the field. While we intend for this Review to be easily accessible and act as a guide to researchers new to layer-by-layer assembly, we also believe it will provide insight to current researchers in the field and help guide future developments and innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Richardson
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne , Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.,Manufacturing, CSIRO , Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Jiwei Cui
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne , Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Mattias Björnmalm
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne , Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Julia A Braunger
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne , Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Hirotaka Ejima
- Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo , Tokyo 153-8505, Japan
| | - Frank Caruso
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne , Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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22
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Mettu S, Zhou M, Tardy BL, Ashokkumar M, Dagastine RR. Temperature dependent mechanical properties of air, oil and water filled microcapsules studied by atomic force microscopy. POLYMER 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2016.02.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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23
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Chen X, Cui J, Sun H, Müllner M, Yan Y, Noi KF, Ping Y, Caruso F. Analysing intracellular deformation of polymer capsules using structured illumination microscopy. NANOSCALE 2016; 8:11924-31. [PMID: 27241620 DOI: 10.1039/c6nr02151d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the behaviour of therapeutic carriers is important in elucidating their mechanism of action and how they are processed inside cells. Herein we examine the intracellular deformation of layer-by-layer assembled polymer capsules using super-resolution structured illumination microscopy (SIM). Spherical- and cylindrical-shaped capsules were studied in three different cell lines, namely HeLa (human epithelial cell line), RAW264.7 (mouse macrophage cell line) and differentiated THP-1 (human monocyte-derived macrophage cell line). We observed that the deformation of capsules was dependent on cell line, but independent of capsule shape. This suggests that the mechanical forces, which induce capsule deformation during cell uptake, vary between cell lines, indicating that the capsules are exposed to higher mechanical forces in HeLa cells, followed by RAW264.7 and then differentiated THP-1 cells. Our study demonstrates the use of super-resolution SIM in analysing intracellular capsule deformation, offering important insights into the cellular processing of drug carriers in cells and providing fundamental knowledge of intracellular mechanobiology. Furthermore, this study may aid in the design of novel drug carriers that are sensitive to deformation for enhanced drug release properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Jiwei Cui
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Huanli Sun
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Markus Müllner
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Yan Yan
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Ka Fung Noi
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Yuan Ping
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Frank Caruso
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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24
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Ben Messaoud G, Sánchez-González L, Probst L, Desobry S. Influence of internal composition on physicochemical properties of alginate aqueous-core capsules. J Colloid Interface Sci 2016; 469:120-128. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2016.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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25
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Kim M, Doh J, Lee D. pH-Induced Softening of Polyelectrolyte Microcapsules without Apparent Swelling. ACS Macro Lett 2016; 5:487-492. [PMID: 35607238 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.6b00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Polyelectrolyte microcapsules represent a versatile platform to encapsulate and release active ingredients. Understanding the effect of environmental conditions on the mechanical properties of microcapsules is critically important for enabling their applications under various settings. In this report, we investigate the effect of solution pH on the mechanical properties of polyelectrolyte microcapsules made of two weak polyelectrolytes (poly(acrylic acid) and branched poly(ethylenimine)), formed via recently introduced nanoscale interfacial complexation in emulsion (NICE). Interestingly, the stiffness of the NICE microcapsule shell is reduced significantly (by 2 orders of magnitude) when the solution pH is raised from 2 to 6 even though there is little change in the size of microcapsules. These seemingly counterintuitive results suggest that the molecular structure of NICE microcapsules may be different from those of conventional polyelectrolyte microcapsules. The possibility of tuning the shell stiffness without inducing significant changes in the microcapsule size could offer unique advantages in practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miju Kim
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Gyeongbuk 790-784, Republic of Korea
| | - Junsang Doh
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Gyeongbuk 790-784, Republic of Korea
- School
of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering (I-Bio), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Gyeongbuk 790-784, Republic of Korea
| | - Daeyeon Lee
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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26
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Cui J, Hibbs B, Gunawan ST, Braunger JA, Chen X, Richardson JJ, Hanssen E, Caruso F. Immobilized Particle Imaging for Quantification of Nano- and Microparticles. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2016; 32:3532-3540. [PMID: 27032056 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b00229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The quantification of nano- and microparticles is critical for diverse applications relying on the exact knowledge of the particle concentration. Although many techniques are available for counting particles, there are some limitations in regards to counting with low-scattering materials and facile counting in harsh organic solvents. Herein, we introduce an easy and rapid particle counting technique, termed "immobilized particle imaging" (IPI), to quantify fluorescent particles with different compositions (i.e., inorganic or organic), structures (i.e., solid, porous, or hollow), and sizes (50-1000 nm) dispersed in either aqueous or organic solutions. IPI is achieved by immobilizing particles of interest in a cell matrix-like scaffold (e.g., agarose) and imaging using standard microscopy techniques. Imaging a defined volume of the immobilized particles allows for the particle concentration to be calculated from the count numbers in a fixed volume. IPI provides a general and facile approach to quantify advanced nano- and microparticles, which may be helpful to researchers to obtain new insights for different applications (e.g., nanomedicine).
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27
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Wang W, Qi H, Zhou T, Mei S, Han L, Higuchi T, Jinnai H, Li CY. Highly robust crystalsome via directed polymer crystallization at curved liquid/liquid interface. Nat Commun 2016; 7:10599. [PMID: 26837260 PMCID: PMC4742919 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipids and amphiphilic block copolymers spontaneously self-assemble in water to form a plethora of micelles and vesicles. They are typically fluidic in nature and often mechanically weak for applications such as drug delivery and gene therapeutics. Mechanical properties of polymeric materials could be improved by forming crystalline structures. However, most of the self-assembled micelles and vesicles have curved surfaces and precisely tuning crystallization within a nanoscale curved space is challenging, as the curved geometry is incommensurate with crystals having three-dimensional translational symmetry. Herein, we report using a miniemulsion crystallization method to grow nanosized, polymer single-crystal-like capsules. We coin the name crystalsome to describe this unique structure, because they are formed by polymer lamellar crystals and their structure mimics liposomes and polymersomes. Using poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) as the model polymer, we show that curved water/p-xylene interface formed by the miniemulsion process can guide the growth of PLLA single crystals. Crystalsomes with the size ranging from ∼148 nm to over 1 μm have been formed. Atomic force microscopy measurement demonstrate a two to three orders of magnitude increase in bending modulus compared with conventional polymersomes. We envisage that this novel structure could shed light on investigating spherical crystallography and drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenda Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Hao Qi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Tian Zhou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Shan Mei
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Lin Han
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Takeshi Higuchi
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials (IMRAM), Tohoku University, 2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Jinnai
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials (IMRAM), Tohoku University, 2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Christopher Y. Li
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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28
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Zhou M, Liu K, Qian X. A facile preparation of pH-temperature dual stimuli-responsive supramolecular hydrogel and its controllable drug release. J Appl Polym Sci 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/app.43279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mi Zhou
- College of Materials Science and Engineering; Zhejiang University of Technology; Hangzhou 310014 China
| | - Kaiyue Liu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering; Zhejiang University of Technology; Hangzhou 310014 China
| | - Xin Qian
- College of Materials Science and Engineering; Zhejiang University of Technology; Hangzhou 310014 China
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Development of a Microscale Red Blood Cell-Shaped Pectin-Oligochitosan Hydrogel System Using an Electrospray-Vibration Method: Preparation and Characterization. J Appl Biomater Funct Mater 2015; 13:e326-31. [DOI: 10.5301/jabfm.5000250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To develop and characterize a microscale pectin-oligochitosan hydrogel microcapsule system that could be applied in such biological fields as drug delivery, cell immobilization/encapsulation, and tissue engineering. Methods Microscale pectin-oligochitosan hydrogel microcapsules were prepared by using the vibration/electrostatic spray method. The morphology and chemistry of the hydrogel microcapsules were characterized by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. The designed hydrogel microcapsule system was then used to study the responsiveness of the microcapsules to different simulated human body fluids as well as cell encapsulation. Results The designed hydrogel microcapsule system exhibited a large surface area-to-volume ratio (red blood cell-shaped) and great pH/enzymatic responsiveness. In addition, this system showed the potential for controlled drug delivery and three-dimensional cell culture. Conclusion This system showed a significant potential not only for bioactive-agent delivery, especially to the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, but also as a three-dimensional niche for cell culture. In particular, the hydrogel microcapsule system could be used to create artificial red-blood-cells as well as blood substitutes.
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Sun H, Wong EHH, Yan Y, Cui J, Dai Q, Guo J, Qiao GG, Caruso F. The role of capsule stiffness on cellular processing. Chem Sci 2015; 6:3505-3514. [PMID: 28706710 PMCID: PMC5492901 DOI: 10.1039/c5sc00416k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Particle stiffness is emerging as an important parameter in determining the cell uptake dynamics of particles. Understanding the effects of capsule stiffness on their biological behavior is essential for the development of polymer capsules as therapeutic carriers. Herein, we report the preparation of polysaccharide capsules via atom transfer radical polymerization-mediated continuous assembly of polymers (CAPATRP) on silica templates using methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HA) as the macrocrosslinker. This approach affords HA capsules with controllable wall thickness and tunable stiffness. The influence of capsule stiffness on cellular interaction and intracellular distribution is systematically investigated using flow cytometry, imaging flow cytometry, and deconvolution microscopy. The softest HA capsules with a stiffness (γ) of 7.5 mN m-1 possess higher cell surface binding and cellular association when compared to stiffer capsules with γ of 17.6-28.9 mN m-1. Furthermore, the uptake of HA capsules is a stiffness-dependent process, with slower and less cellular internalization observed with increasing capsule stiffness. Nevertheless, regardless of the stiffness, all internalized capsules are deformed and located in the lysosomes. These findings offer insights into the influence of capsule stiffness on cellular interaction as well as intracellular fate, providing information for the design of rational polymer capsules for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanli Sun
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology , and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , The University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria 3010 , Australia .
| | - Edgar H H Wong
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , The University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria 3010 , Australia .
| | - Yan Yan
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology , and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , The University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria 3010 , Australia .
| | - Jiwei Cui
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology , and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , The University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria 3010 , Australia .
| | - Qiong Dai
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology , and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , The University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria 3010 , Australia .
| | - Junling Guo
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology , and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , The University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria 3010 , Australia .
| | - Greg G Qiao
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , The University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria 3010 , Australia .
| | - Frank Caruso
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology , and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , The University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria 3010 , Australia .
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Ma C, Shi Y, Pena DA, Peng L, Yu G. Thermally Responsive Hydrogel Blends: A General Drug Carrier Model for Controlled Drug Release. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2015; 54:7376-80. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201501705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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32
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Ma C, Shi Y, Pena DA, Peng L, Yu G. Thermally Responsive Hydrogel Blends: A General Drug Carrier Model for Controlled Drug Release. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201501705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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33
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Beretta GL, Folini M, Cavalieri F, Yan Y, Fresch E, Kaliappan S, Hasenöhrl C, Richardson JJ, Tinelli S, Fery A, Caruso F, Zaffaroni N. Unravelling "off-target" effects of redox-active polymers and polymer multilayered capsules in prostate cancer cells. NANOSCALE 2015; 7:6261-6270. [PMID: 25779724 DOI: 10.1039/c4nr07240e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Redox-active polymers and carriers are oxidizing nanoagents that can potentially trigger intracellular off-target effects. In the present study, we investigated the occurrence of off-target effects in prostate cancer cells following exposure to redox-active polymer and thin multilayer capsules with different chemical properties. We show that, depending on the intracellular antioxidant capacity, thiol-functionalized poly(methacrylic acid), PMA(SH) triggers cell defense responses/perturbations that result in off-target effects (i.e., induction of autophagy and down-regulation of survivin). Importantly, the conversion of the carboxyl groups of PMA(SH) into the neutral amides of poly(hydroxypropylmetacrylamide) (pHPMA(SH)) nullified the off-target effects and cytotoxicity in tested cell lines. This suggests that the simultaneous action of carboxyl and disulfide groups in PMA(SH) polymer or capsules may play a role in mediating the intracellular off-target effects. Our work provides evidence that the rational design of redox-active carriers for therapeutic-related application should be guided by a careful investigation on potential disturbance of the cellular machineries related to the carrier association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni L Beretta
- Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via G. Amadeo 42, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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He F, Mei L, Ju XJ, Xie R, Wang W, Liu Z, Wu F, Chu LY. pH-responsive controlled release characteristics of solutes with different molecular weights diffusing across membranes of Ca-alginate/protamine/silica hybrid capsules. J Memb Sci 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2014.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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Yeh PD, Alexeev A. Mesoscale modelling of environmentally responsive hydrogels: emerging applications. Chem Commun (Camb) 2015; 51:10083-95. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cc01027f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We review recent advances in mesoscale computational modeling, focusing on dissipative particle dynamics, used to probe stimuli-sensitive behavior of hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter D. Yeh
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- USA
| | - Alexander Alexeev
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- USA
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Cui J, Björnmalm M, Liang K, Xu C, Best JP, Zhang X, Caruso F. Super-soft hydrogel particles with tunable elasticity in a microfluidic blood capillary model. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2014; 26:7295-9. [PMID: 25209733 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201402753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2014] [Revised: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Super-soft PEG hydrogel particles with tunable elasticity are prepared via a mesoporous silica templating method. The deformability behavior of these particles, in a microfluidic blood-capillary model, can be tailored to be similar to that of human red blood cells. These results provide a new platform for the design and development of soft hydrogel particles for investigating bio-nano interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiwei Cui
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
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Müllner M, Cui J, Noi KF, Gunawan ST, Caruso F. Surface-initiated polymerization within mesoporous silica spheres for the modular design of charge-neutral polymer particles. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2014; 30:6286-6293. [PMID: 24834480 DOI: 10.1021/la501324r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We report a templating approach for the preparation of functional polymer replica particles via surface-initiated polymerization in mesoporous silica templates. Subsequent removal of the template resulted in discrete polymer particles. Furthermore, redox-responsive replica particles could be engineered to disassemble in a reducing environment. Particles, made of poly(methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) or poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] (POEGMA), exhibited very low association to human cancer cells (below 5%), which renders the reported charge-neutral polymer particles a modular and versatile class of highly functional carriers with potential applications in drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Müllner
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne , Parkville 3010, Australia
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