Influence of the Degree of Ionization on Weak Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Assembly

3D Printing of Aqueous Two-Phase Systems with Linear and Bottlebrush Polyelectrolytes

We formed core-shell-like polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) from an anionic bottlebrush polymer with poly (acrylic acid) side chains with a cationic linear poly (allylamine hydrochloride). By varying the pH, the number of side chains of the polyanionic BB polymers (Nbb), the charge density of the polyelectrolytes, and the salt concentration, the phase separation behavior and salt resistance of the complexes could be tuned by the conformation of the BBs. By combining the linear/bottlebrush polyelectrolyte complexation with all-liquid 3D printing, flow-through tubular constructs were produced that showed selective transport across the PEC membrane comprising the walls of the tubules. These tubular constructs afford a new platform for flow-through delivery systems.

Charge Regulation Triggers Condensation of Short Oligopeptides to Polyelectrolytes

Electrostatic interactions between charged macromolecules are ubiquitous in biological systems, and they are important also in materials design. Attraction between oppositely charged molecules is often interpreted as if the molecules had a fixed charge, which is not affected by their interaction. Less commonly, charge regulation is invoked to interpret such interactions, i.e., a change of the charge state in response to a change of the local environment. Although some theoretical and simulation studies suggest that charge regulation plays an important role in intermolecular interactions, experimental evidence supporting such a view is very scarce. In the current study, we used a model system, composed of a long polyanion interacting with cationic oligolysines, containing up to 8 lysine residues. We showed using both simulations and experiments that while these lysines are only weakly charged in the absence of the polyanion, they charge up and condense on the polycations if the pH is close to the pKa of the lysine side chains. We show that the lysines coexist in two distinct populations within the same solution: (1) practically nonionized and free in solution; (2) highly ionized and condensed on the polyanion. Using this model system, we demonstrate under what conditions charge regulation plays a significant role in the interactions of oppositely charged macromolecules and generalize our findings beyond the specific system used here.

Peculiarities of Emulsions Stabilized by Stimuli-Responsive Interpenetrating Polymeric Network Microgels

Emulsions have become a crucial product form in various industries in modern times. Expanding the class of substances used to stabilize emulsions can improve their stability or introduce new properties. Particularly, the use of stimuli-responsive microgels makes it possible to create "smart" emulsions whose stability can be controlled by changing any of the specified stimuli. Thus, finding new ways to stabilize emulsions may broaden their application. In this work, for the first time, we applied microgels based on interpenetrating polymeric networks (IPNs) of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as stabilizing agents for "oil-in-water" emulsions. We have demonstrated that emulsions stabilized by such soft particles can remain colloidally stable for an extended period, even after being heated up to 40 °C, which is above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAM. On the contrary, the emulsions stabilized by PNIPAM homopolymer microgels were broken upon heating. To understand the stabilization mechanism of the emulsions, mesoscopic computer simulations were performed to study the IPN microgels at the liquid-liquid interface. The simulations demonstrated that when the first subnetwork (PNIPAM) collapses, the particle adopts a flattened core-shell morphology with a highly swollen PAA-rich shell and a collapsed PNIPAM-rich core. Unlike its PNIPAM homopolymer counterpart, the IPN microgel maintains its three-dimensional shape, which provides stability to the microgel-based emulsions over a wide range of temperatures. Our combined findings could be useful in developing new approaches to emulsions' storage, biphasic catalysis, and lubrication of mechanisms in various operating and climatic conditions.

Solid-Liquid-Solution Phases in Poly(diallyldimethylammonium)/Poly(acrylic acid) Polyelectrolyte Complexes at Varying Temperatures

The coacervation and complexation of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes are dependent on numerous environmental and preparatory factors, but temperature is often overlooked. Temperature effects remain unclear because the temperature dependence of both the dielectric constant and polymer-solvent interaction parameter can yield lower and/or upper critical solution phase behaviors for PECs. Further, secondary interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, can affect the temperature response of a PEC. That is, mixtures of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes can exhibit phase separation upon lowering and/or increasing the mixture's temperature. Here, the phase behavior of poly(diallylmethylammonium)/poly(acrylic acid) (PDADMA/PAA) complexes under varying KBr ionic strengths, mixing ratios, and temperatures at a fixed pH (in which PAA hydrogen bonding can occur) is examined. At room temperature, the PDADMA/PAA PECs exhibit four different phase states: precipitate, coexisting precipitate and coacervate, solid-like gel, and coacervate. Variable-temperature optical microscopy reveals the upper critical solution temperature (UCST) at which each phase transitioned to a solution state. Interestingly, the UCST value is highly dependent on the original phase of the PEC, in which solid-like precipitates exhibit higher UCST values. Large-scale all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations support that precipitates exhibit kinetic trapping, which may contribute to the higher UCST values observed in the experiment. Taken together, this study highlights the significance of temperature on the phase behavior of PECs, which may play a larger role in stimuli-responsive materials, membraneless organelles, and separations applications.

Organic micropollutant removal and phosphate recovery by polyelectrolyte multilayer membranes: Impact of buildup interactions

Polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) deposition conditions can favorably or adversely affect the membrane filtration performance of various pollutants. Although pH and ionic strength have been proven to alter the characteristics of PEM, their role in determining the buildup interactions that control filtration efficacy has not yet been conclusively proved. A PEM constructed using electrostatic or non-electrostatic interactions from controlled deposition of a weak polyelectrolyte could retain both charged and uncharged pollutants from water. The fundamental relationship between polyelectrolyte charge density, PEM buildup interaction, and filtration performance was explored using a weak-strong electrolyte pair consisting of branching poly (ethyleneimine) and poly (styrene sulfonate) (PSS) across pH ranges of 4-10 and NaCl concentrations of 0 M-0.5 M. PEI/PSS multilayers at acidic pH were dominated by electrostatic interactions, which favored the selective removal of a charged solute, phosphate over chloride, while at alkaline pH, non-electrostatic interactions dominated, which favored the removal of oxybenzone (OXY), a neutral hydrophobic solute. The key factor determining these interactions was the charge density of PEI, which is controlled by pH and ionic strength of the deposition solutions. These findings indicate that the control of buildup interactions can largely influence the physico-chemical and transport characteristics of PEM membranes.

A Perspective on the Glass Transition and the Dynamics of Polyelectrolyte Multilayers and Complexes

Polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) or polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs), formed by layer-by-layer assembly or the mixing of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes (PEs) in aqueous solution, respectively, have potential applications in health, energy, and the environment. PEMs and PECs are very tunable because their structure and properties are influenced by factors such as pH, ionic strength, salt type, humidity, and temperature. Therefore, it is increasingly important to understand how these factors affect PECs and PEMs on a molecular level. In this Feature Article, we summarize our contributions to the field in the development of approaches to quantify the swelling, thermal properties, and dynamic mechanical properties of PEMs and PECs. First, the role of water as a plasticizer and in the glass-transition temperature (Tg) in both strong poly(diallyldimethylammonium)/poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PDADMA/PSS) and weak poly(allylamine hydrochloride)/poly(acrylic acid) (PAH/PAA) systems is presented. Then, factors influencing the dynamics of PECs and PEMs are discussed. We also reflect on the swelling of PEMs in response to different salts and solvent additives. Last, the nature of water's microenvironment in PEMs/PECs is discussed. A special emphasis is placed on experimental techniques, along with molecular simulations. Taken together, this review presents an outlook and offers recommendations for future research directions, such as studying the additional effects of hydrogen-bonding hydrophobic interactions.

A three-dimensional composite film-modified electrode based on polyoxometalates and ionic liquid-decorated carbon nanotubes for the determination of L-tyrosine in food

A stable and innovative composite film-modified electrode based on Dawson polyoxometalates H8P2Mo16V2O62 (P2Mo16V2) and ionic liquid (BMIMBr)-decorated carbon nanotubes, annotated as PEI/(P2Mo16V2/BMIMBr-CNTs)8, has been constructed by using the layer-by-layer self-assembly (LBL) method for the determination of L-tyrosine. The combination of three active components not only offers higher conductivity to facilitate rapid electron transfer, but also avoids the accumulation of P2Mo16V2 to expand the contact area and increase the reactive active sites. The modified electrode exhibits outstanding sensing performance for determination of Tyr with wide linear determination range of 5.8×10-7 M ~ 1.2×10-4 M, low determination limit of 1.7×10-7M (S/N=3), high selectivity for common interferences, and excellent stability at the potential of +0.78 V (vs. Ag/AgCl (3 M KCl)). The relative standard deviation (RSD) of 4.3% for five groups of parallel experiments shows the satisfactory repeatability of PEI/(P2Mo16V2/BMIMBr-CNTs)8. In addition, for determination of Tyr, the PEI/(P2Mo16V2/BMIMBr-CNTs)8 shows good recoveries of 98.8-99.8% in meat floss, which can be feasible in practical application.

Phase Behavior and Electrochemical Properties of Highly Asymmetric Redox Coacervates

This work reports the phase behavior and electrochemical properties of liquid coacervates made of ferricyanide and poly(ethylenimine). In contrast to the typical polyanion/polycation pairs used in liquid coacervates, the ferricyanide/poly(ethylenimine) system is highly asymmetric because poly(ethylenimine) has approximately 170 charges per molecule, while ferricyanide has only 3. Two types of phase diagrams were measured and fitted with a theoretical model. In the first type of diagram, the stability of the coacervate was studied in the plane given by the concentration of poly(ethylenimine) versus the concentration of ferricyanide for a fixed concentration of added monovalent salt (NaCl). The second type of diagram involved the plane given by the concentration of poly(ethylenimine) vs the concentration of the added monovalent salt for a fixed poly(ethyleneimine)/ferricyanide ratio. Interestingly, these phase diagrams displayed qualitative similarities to those of symmetric polyanion/polycation systems, suggesting that coacervates formed by a polyelectrolyte and a small multivalent ion can be treated as a specific case of polyelectrolyte coacervate. The characterization of the electrochemical properties of the coacervate revealed that the addition of monovalent salt greatly enhances charge transport, presumably by breaking ion pairs between ferricyanide and poly(ethylenimine). This finding highlights the significant influence of added salt on the transport properties of coacervates. This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of the phase behavior and transport properties of asymmetric coacervates and places these results within the broader context of the better-known symmetric polyelectrolyte coacervates.

Salt-Induced Diffusion of Star and Linear Polyelectrolytes within Multilayer Films

This study explores the effect of salt on the diffusivity of polyelectrolytes of varied molecular architecture in layer-by-layer (LbL) films in directions parallel and perpendicular to the substrate using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and neutron reflectivity (NR) techniques, respectively. A family of linear, 4-arm, 6-arm, and 8-arm poly(methacrylic acids) (LPMAA, 4PMAA, 6PMAA, and 8PMAA, respectively) of matched molecular weights were synthesized using atom transfer radical polymerization and assembled with a linear polycation, poly[2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl methacrylate chloride] (QPC). NR studies involving deuterated QPC revealed ∼10-fold higher polycation mobility for the 8PMAA/QPC system compared to all-linear LbL films upon exposure to 0.25 M NaCl solutions at pH 6. FRAP experiments showed, however, that lateral diffusion of star PMAAs was lower than LPMAA at NaCl concentrations below ∼0.22 M NaCl, with a crossover to higher mobility of star polymers in more concentrated salt solutions. The stronger response of diffusion of star PMAA to salt is discussed in the context of several theories previously suggested for diffusivity of polyelectrolyte chains in multilayer films and coacervates.

Dynamic electrostatic assembly of polyelectrolytes and perfluorosurfactants into environmentally Adaptable, freestanding membranes with ultralow surface energy and surface adhesion

HYPOTHESIS

Integration of ultralow surface energy and surface functionality on one surface coatings is highly desirable in chemical and biomedical applications. However, it is a fundamental challenge to reduce surface energy without cost of surface functionality and vice versa. To address this challenge, the present work made use of the rapid and reversible change of surface orientation conformations of weak polyelectrolyte multilayers to create ionic, perfluorinated surfaces.

EXPERIMENTS

Poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) chains and the micelles of sodium perfluorooctanoate (SPFO) were layer-by-layer (LbL) assembled into (SPFO/PAH)_n multilayer films, which readily exfoliated to freestanding membranes. The static and dynamic surface wetting behaviors of the resulting membranes were studied by sessile drop technique and their surface charge behaviors in water by electrokinetic analysis.

FINDINGS

As-prepared (SPFO/PAH)_n membranes exhibited ultralow surface energy in air; the lowest surface energy is 2.6 ± 0.5 mJ/m² for PAH-capped surfaces and 7.0 ± 0.9 mJ/m² for SPFO-capped surfaces. They readily became positively charged in water, which allowed not only effective adsorption of ionic species for further functionalization with subtle change in surface energy, but effective adhesion onto various solid substrates such as glass, stainless steel, and polytetrafluoroethylene to endorse the wide applicability of (SPFO/PAH)_n membranes.

Effects of Feed Solution pH on Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Nanofiltration Membranes

Over the past decade polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM)-based membranes have gained a lot of interest in the field of nanofiltration (NF) as an alternative to conventional polyamide-based thin film composite membranes. With great variety in fabrication conditions, these membranes can achieve superior properties such as high chemical resistance and excellent filtration performance. Some of the most common polyelectrolytes used to prepare NF membranes are weak, meaning that their charge density depends on pH within the normal window of operation relevant for potential applications (pH 0-14). This might cause a dependency of membrane properties on the pH of filtered solutions, as indicated by other applications of PEMs. In this work, the susceptibility of membrane structure (swelling and surface charge) and performance (permeability, molecular weight cutoff, and salt retention) toward the pH of the filtration solution was studied for four fundamentally different PEM systems: poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC)/poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) (strong/strong), poly(allylamine hydrochloric acid) (PAH)/poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) (weak/weak), and PAH/PSS (weak/strong) and PAH/PSS+PAH/PAA (asymmetric). Slight variations in structure and performance of the PDADMAC/PSS-based membranes were observed. On the contrary, structure and performance of PAH/PAA-based membranes are very susceptible to feed solution pH. A continuous change in charge density with variation in pH significantly affects salt retention. An increased swelling at pH 9 translates to variation in permeability and molecular weight cutoff of the membrane. The susceptibility of PAH/PSS-based membranes to pH is less pronounced compared to the PAH/PAA-based membranes since only one of the polyelectrolytes involved is weak. No structural changes were observed, indicating additional specific interactions between the polyelectrolytes other than electrostatic forces that stabilize film structure. A combination of the PAH/PSS and PAH/PAA system (8 + 2 bilayers) also displays a clear dependency of both membrane structure and performance on solution pH, where PAH/PSS is dominating due to a higher bilayer number.

Liquid-liquid and liquid-solid separation in self-assembled chitosan-alginate and chitosan-pectin complexes

The complexation between two oppositely charged polyelectrolytes (PE) can lead liquid-liquid (complex coacervates, CC) or liquid-solid (solid precipitates, SP) phase separations. Herein, the effect of pH (2-11) and ionic strength (I, 0.05-1.0 M KCl) on the associative interactions between chitosan (QL)-alginate (SA) and QL-Pectin (Pec), polysaccharides widely used in biotechnology field, is described. pH and I, exhibited significant effect on the structure and phase transitions by modifying the ionization degree (α), pk_a, and associative interactions between PE. Onset of binding was established at pH_c 9, while continued acidification (pH_τ 5.8) led to simultaneous CC and SP exhibiting a maximum turbidity in both systems. At pH_δ 4.0, QL-Pec showed preferably CC structures whereas QL-SA maintained the CC and SP structures. At pH_ω 2, the associative interactions were suppressed due to the low ionization of Pec and SA. I (1.0 M) significantly diminished the interactions in QL-Pec due to charge screening. Molecular weight, second virial coefficient, hydrodynamic size, ionizable groups, and persistence length of polyion, influenced on the phase behavior of QL-Pec and QL-SA systems. Therefore, CC and SP are found simultaneously in both systems, their transitions can be modulated by intrinsic and environmental conditions, expanding the functional properties of complexed polysaccharides.

Controlling the Formation of Polyelectrolyte Complex Nanoparticles Using Programmable pH Reactions

Enabling complexation of weak polyelectrolytes, in the presence of a programmable pH-modulation, offers a means to achieve temporal control over polyelectrolyte coassembly. Here, by mixing oppositely charged poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and poly(sodium methacrylate) in a (bi)sulfite buffer, nanoscopic complex coacervates are formed. Addition of formaldehyde initiates the formaldehyde-sulfite clock reaction, affecting the polyelectrolyte assembly in two ways. First, the abrupt pH increase from the reaction changes the charge density of the polyelectrolytes and thus the ratio of cationic and anionic species. Simultaneously, reactions between the polyamine and formaldehyde lead to chemical modifications on the polymer. Interestingly, core-shell polymeric nanoparticles are produced, which remain colloidally stable for months. Contrastingly, in the same system, in the absence of the clock reaction, aggregation and phase separation occur within minutes to days after mixing. Introducing an acid-producing reaction enables further temporal control over the coassembly, generating transient nanoparticles with nanoscopic dimensions and an adjustable lifetime of tens of minutes.

Chemical Strategies for Dendritic Magneto-plasmonic Nanostructures Applied to Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Chemical analyses in the field using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) protocols are expected to be part of several analytical procedures applied to water quality monitoring. To date, these endeavors have been supported by developments in SERS substrate nanofabrication, instrumentation portability, and the internet of things. Here, we report distinct chemical strategies for preparing magneto-plasmonic (Fe₃ O₄  : Au) colloids, which are relevant in the context of trace-level detection of water contaminants due to their inherent multifunctionality. The main objective of this research is to investigate the role of poly(amidoamine) dendrimers (PAMAMs) in the preparation of SERS substrates integrating both functionalities into single nanostructures. Three chemical routes were investigated to design magneto-plasmonic nanostructures that translate into different ways for assessing SERS detection by using distinct interfaces. Hence, a series of magneto-plasmonic colloids have been characterized and then assessed for their SERS activity by using a model pesticide (thiram) dissolved in aqueous samples.

Tuning the Self-Assembled Morphology of Ti3C2Tx MXene-Based Hybrids for High-Performance Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Hybrid materials based on transition metal carbide and nitride (MXene) nanosheets have great potential for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding due to their excellent electrical conductivity. However, the performance of final products depends not only on the properties of constituent components but also on the morphology of the assembly. Here, via the controlled diffusion of positively charged poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) chains into the negatively charged Ti₃C₂T_x MXene suspension, MXene/PAH hybrids in the forms of thin films, porous structures, and fibers with distinguished internal morphologies are obtained. Our results confirm that PAH chains could effectively enhance the oxidation stability and integrity of wet and dry MXene structures. The flexibility to tune the structures allows for a thorough discussion of the relations between the morphology, electrical conductivity, and EMI shielding mechanism of the hybrids in a wide range of electrical conductivity (2.5 to 3347 S·cm^-1) and thickness (7.7 to 1900 μm) values. The analysis of thin films shows the direct impact of the polymer content on the alignment and compactness of MXene nanosheets regulating the films' electrical conductivity/EMI shielding effectiveness. The colloidal behavior of the initial MXene suspension determines the interconnection of MXene nanosheets in MXene/PAH porous assemblies and the final electrical properties. In addition to the internal morphology, examining the laminated MXene/PAH fibers with geometrically different arrangements demonstrates the role of conductive network configuration on EMI shielding performance. These findings provide insights into tuning the EMI shielding effectiveness via the charge-driven bottom-up assembly of electrically conductive MXene/polyelectrolyte hybrids.

Suppressing the Hofmeister Anion Effect by Thermal Annealing of Thin-Film Multilayers Made of Weak Polyelectrolytes

Thin films made of weak polyelectrolytes poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) have been fabricated on silicon wafers using the layer-by-layer (LbL) method. To study the influence of counteranion type on the growth and properties of PAH/PAA multilayers, the nature of the supporting sodium salt was varied from cosmotropic to chaotropic anions (F^–, Cl^–, and ClO₄^–). Results of ellipsometry and AFM measurements indicate that the film thickness and surface roughness systematically increase on the order F^– < Cl^– < ClO₄^–. Furthermore, we found that the hydrophobicity of the PAH/PAA multilayer also follows the described trend when a polycation is the terminating layer. However, the heating of PAH/PAA multilayers to 60 °C during the LbL assembly suppressed the influence of background anions on the multilayer formation and properties. On the basis of the obtained results, it could be concluded that thermal annealing induces changes at the polymer–air interface in the sense of reorientation and migration of polymer chains.

Molecular Organization in Exponentially Growing Multilayer Thin Films Assembled with Polyelectrolytes and Clay

Multilayer thin film assembly by the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique offers an inexpensive and versatile route for the synthesis of functional nanomaterials. In the case of polymer-clay systems, however, the technique faces the challenges of low clay loading and lack of tunability of the film characteristics. This is addressed in the present work that achieves exponential growth in clay-containing polyelectrolyte films having high clay loading and tailored properties. Our approach involves the incorporation of a weak polyelectrolyte and a clay with relatively high charge density and small particle size. The system of investigation comprises poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) as the polycation and laponite clay and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) or poly(sodium-4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS) as polyanions that are used alternately to create multilayers. Successful high clay loading and exponential growth were achieved by two different approaches of polyanion incorporation in the multilayers. A progressive increase in the degree of ionization of PAA was shown to contribute to the exponential growth. Our findings also include novel pathways to manipulate thickness, surface topography, and clay content. The strategy presented here can lead to novel approaches to fabricate tailor-made nanomaterials for distinct applications.

Polyelectrolyte Multilayers Composed of Polyethyleneimine-Grafted Chitosan and Polyacrylic Acid for Controlled-Drug-Delivery Applications

In this work, polyethyleneimine (PEI)-grafted chitosan (Chi-g-PEI) was prepared for the fabrication of layer-by-layer (LBL) films for use in sustained-drug-delivery applications. Chi-g-PEI and polyacrylic acid (PAA) multilayer films were formed using the LBL technique. Methylene blue (MB) was used as a model drug for the investigation of loading and release capabilities of the LBL films. Characterizations of the synthesized copolymer were performed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD) techniques, and the thickness of the LBL films was measured using Atomic force microscopy (AFM). The drug-loading and -release behaviors of the LBL films were assessed using a UV–visible spectrophotometer. The results showed that the loading capacity and release rate of MB were affected by ionic strength and pH. In addition, it was demonstrated that PEI-grafted chitosan is a good candidate for the assembling of LBL films for drug-delivery applications.

Role of Substrate Type in the Process of Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Formation

Polyelectrolyte multilayers are coatings formed by the alternate deposition of polycations and polyanions on a charged surface. In this study we examined how the type of substrate affects a multilayer prepared from poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and poly(acrylic acid). Silicon and titanium wafers were used as substrates. Their properties were systematically studied using ellipsometry, tensiometry, atomic force microscopy and streaming potential measurements. Multilayers were built up at pH = 7 with tetramethylammonium chloride as the background salt. The growth of films was monitored by ellipsometry, while the morphology and surface roughness were determined by atomic force microscopy. It was found that the thickness of multilayers containing 10 layers on silicon is 10 nm, whereas the thickness of the same film on titanium is three times higher. It was shown that multilayers formed on silicon display a grain-like structure, which was not the case for a film formed on titanium. Such morphological properties are also reflected in the surface roughness. Finally, it was shown that, in addition to the electrostatic interactions, the hydrophobicity of the substrate also plays an important role in the polyelectrolyte multilayer formation process and influences its thickness and properties.

Design of Photocatalytic Functional Coatings Based on the Immobilization of Metal Oxide Particles by the Combination of Electrospinning and Layer-by-Layer Deposition Techniques

This work reports the design and characterization of functional photocatalytic coatings based on the combination of two different deposition techniques. In a first step, a poly(acrylic acid) + β-Cyclodextrin (denoted as PAA+ β-CD) electrospun fiber mat was deposited by using the electrospinning technique followed by a thermal treatment in order to provide an enhancement in the resultant adhesion and mechanical resistance. In a second step, a layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly process was performed in order to immobilize the metal oxide particles onto the previously electrospun fiber mat. In this context, titanium dioxide (TiO2) was used as the main photocatalytic element, acting as the cationic element in the multilayer LbL structure. In addition, two different metal oxides, such as tungsten oxide (WO3) and iron oxide (Fe2O3), were added into PAA anionic polyelectrolyte solution with the objective of optimizing the photocatalytic efficiency of the coating. All of the coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images, showing an increase in the original fiber diameter and a decrease in roughness of the mats because of the LbL second step. The variation in the wettability properties from a superhydrophilic surface to a less wettable surface as a function of the incorporation of the metal oxides was also observed by means of water contact angle (WCA) measurements. With the aim of analyzing the photocatalytic efficiency of the samples, degradation of methyl blue (MB) azo-dye was studied, showing an almost complete discoloration of the dye in the irradiated area. This study reports a novel combination method of two deposition techniques in order to obtain a functional, homogeneous and efficient photocatalytic coating.

Layer-by-Layer Nanoarchitectonics Using Protein-Polyelectrolyte Complexes toward a Generalizable Tool for Protein Surface Immobilization

Layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly is an attractive method for the immobilization of macromolecules at interfaces. Integrating proteins in LbL thin films is however challenging due to their polyampholyte nature. Recently, we developed a method to integrate lysozyme into multilayers using protein-polyelectrolytes complexes (PPCs). In this work, we extended this method to a wide range of protein-polyelectrolyte combinations. We demonstrated the robustness and versatility of PPCs as building blocks. LL-37, insulin, lysozyme, and glucose oxidase were complexed with alginate, poly(styrenesulfonate), heparin, and poly(allylamine hydrochloride). The resulting PPCs were then LbL self-assembled with chitosan, PAH, and heparin. We demonstrated that multilayers built with PPCs are thicker compared to the LbL self-assembly of bare protein molecules. This is attributed to the higher mass of protein in the multilayers and/or the more hydrated state of the assemblies. PPCs enabled the self-assembly of proteins that could otherwise not be LbL assembled with a PE or with another protein. Furthermore, the results also show that LbL with PPCs enabled the construction of multilayers combining different proteins, highlighting the formation of multifunctional films. Importantly, we show that the adsorption behavior and thus the multilayer growth strongly depend on the nature of the protein and polyelectrolyte used. In this work, we elaborated a rationale to help and guide the use of PPCs for protein LbL assembly. It will therefore be beneficial to the many scientific communities willing to modify interfaces with hard-to-immobilize proteins and peptides.

Polyallylamine assisted synthesis of 3D branched AuNPs with plasmon tunability in the vis-NIR region as refractive index sensitivity probes

This paper describes the synthesis of highly branched gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) through a facile seeded growth approach using poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) as shape inducing agent. The obtained branched AuNPs present highly tunable optical properties in the Vis-NIR region from ca. 560 nm to 1260 nm. We controlled the morphology, and therefore the optical response, of the NPs by either changing the gold salt to seeds ratio or by fine-tuning the solution pH. We proposed that the formation of size-dependent PAH-AuCl₄^- aggregates as demonstrated by dynamic light scattering measurements, together with pH-dependent gold salt speciation might be responsible for the branched morphology. Advanced electron microscopy techniques demonstrated the polycrystalline nature of the AuNPs and facilitated a better understanding of branched morphology. Additionally, the refractive index sensitivity estimated by the inflection point of the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) band can be controlled by tuning the nanoparticle branching. Furthermore, the versatility of the PAH chemistry allowed the easy functionalization of the synthesized NPs.

Origin of Ultrahigh Rectification in Polyelectrolyte Bilayers Modified Conical Nanopores

The switching of "ON" and "OFF" states of an ionic diode is investigated by considering a conical nanopore partially functionalized two polyelectrolyte (PE) layers via layer-by-layer deposition. Through observing the inversion of its rectification behavior, we demonstrate the function of the PE bilayers in ionic transport regulation. The ionic diode exhibits an ultrahigh ion rectification at a low level of pH. In an aqueous NaCl solution at pH 2, for example, the ratio of the current at "ON" state and that at "OFF" state can be about 800 and 200 for 1 and 100 mM, respectively. This remarkable gating behavior can be explained by the anion-pump-induced ion accumulation in the neutral region as well as the depletion zone at the interface. Our results further demonstrate the possibility of achieving an ultrahigh rectification in an ionic diode having a unipolar-like configuration.

A design approach for layer-by-layer surface-mediated siRNA delivery

The ability to coat scaffolds and wound dressings with therapeutic short interfering RNA (siRNA) holds much potential for applications in wound healing, cancer treatment, and regenerative medicine. Layer-by-layer (LbL) technology is an effective method to formulate polyelectrolyte thin films for local delivery of siRNA; however, the formation and efficacy of LbL coatings as drug delivery systems are highly contingent on the assembly conditions. Here, we investigate the effects of LbL assembly parameters on film composition and consequent siRNA-mediated gene knockdown efficiency in vitro. Films comprising poly(β-amino ester) (PBAE) and siRNA were built on polyglactin 910 (Vicryl) sutures consisting of poly(10% L-lactide, 90% glycolide). A fractional factorial design was employed, varying the following LbL assembly conditions: pH, ionic strength, PBAE concentration, and siRNA concentration. Effects of these parameters on PBAE loading, siRNA loading, their respective weight ratios, and in vitro siRNA-mediated knockdown were elucidated. The parameter effects were leveraged to create a rationally designed set of solution conditions that was predicted to give effective siRNA-mediated knockdown, but not included in any of the original experimental conditions. This level of knockdown with our rationally designed loading conditions (47%) is comparable to previous formulations from our lab while being simpler in construction and requiring fewer film layers, which could save time and cost in manufacturing. This study highlights the importance of LbL solution conditions in the preparation of surface-mediated siRNA delivery systems and presents an adaptable methodology for extending these electrostatically-assembled coatings to the delivery of other therapeutic nucleic acids. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Short interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutics are powerful tools to silence aberrant gene expression in the diseased state; however, the clinical utility of these therapies relies on effective controlled delivery approaches. Electrostatic self-assembly through the layer-by-layer (LbL) process enables direct siRNA release from surfaces, but this method is highly dependent upon the specific solution conditions used. Here, we use a fractional factorial design to illustrate how these assembly conditions impact composition of siRNA-eluting LbL thin films. We then elucidate how these properties mediate in vitro transfection efficacy. Ultimately, this work presents a significant step towards understanding how optimization of assembly conditions for surface-mediated LbL delivery can promote transfection efficacy while reducing the processing and material required.

Polyelectrolyte-Assisted Dispersions of Reduced Graphite Oxide Nanoplates in Water and Their Gas-Barrier Application

Dispersion of graphene and related materials in water is needed to enable sustainable processing of these 2D materials. In this work, we demonstrate the capability of branched polyethylenimine (BPEI) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) to stabilize reduced graphite oxide (rGO) dispersions in water. Atomic force microscopy colloidal probe measurements were carried out to investigate the interaction mechanisms between rGO and the polyelectrolytes (PEs). Our results show that for positive PEs, the interaction appears electrostatic, originating from the weak negative charge of graphene in water. For negative PEs, however, van der Waals forces may result in the formation of a PE shell on rGO. The PE-stabilized rGO dispersions were then used for the preparation of coatings to enhance gas barrier properties of polyethylene terephthalate films using the layer-by-layer self-assembly. Ten bilayers of rGO_BPEI/rGO_PAA resulted in coatings with excellent barrier properties as demonstrated by oxygen transmission rates below detection limits [<0.005 cm³/(m² day atm)]. The observed excellent performance is ascribed to both the high density of the deposited coating and its efficient stratification. These results can enable the design of highly efficient gas barrier solutions for demanding applications, including oxygen-sensitive pharmaceutical products or flexible electronic devices.