Covalent Nanoparticle Assembly onto Random Copolymer Films

Control of particle uptake kinetics from particulate mesoporous silica films by cells through covalent linking of particles to the substrate - towards sequential drug delivery for tissue engineering applications

A sequential release of biological cues is of high interest in tissue engineering applications, as both the proliferation and the differentiation of stem cells can be drugged. In previous studies we have shown that particulate films of mesoporous silica particles can be successfully applied for influencing stem cell fates through intracellular drug delivery after particle internalisation by the cells. In this study, we develop this concept towards an enhanced control of the particle uptake kinetics through either adsorption or covalent linking of the mesoporous silica particles to the substrate. Microscopy glass slides were initially functionalized by an aminosilane to which a thin layer of hyaluronic acid was covalently attached through an amide bond. A sub-monolayer of amino-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles with a diameter of 400 nm were then adsorbed to the hyaluronic acid-functionalized surface by adsorption under high-shear conditions. Subsequently, the adsorbed particles were covalently linked to the hyaluronic acid through an amide bond. Corresponding films without the covalent coupling step were used as the control. Muscle stem cells attach and proliferate nicely on all films, and do internalize particles in all cases. However, the kinetics of particle internalization was clearly delayed for the covalently attached particles in comparison to physisorbed particles. Thus, the results imply that tuning of the particle-substrate interactions through linking chemistries is a promising means of achieving sequential particle-mediated drug release from films and that corresponding chemistries should also be applicable for 3D scaffold systems.

Hierarchical nanoparticle topography in amphiphilic copolymer films controlled by thermodynamics and dynamics

This study systematically investigates how polymer composition changes nanoparticle (NP) grafting and diffusion in solvated random copolymer thin films. By thermal annealing from 135 to 200 °C, thin films with a range of hydrophobicity are generated by varying acrylic acid content from 2% (SAA2) to 29% (SAA29). Poly(styrene-random-tert butyl acrylate) films, 100 nm thick, that are partially converted to poly(styrene-random-acrylic acid), SAA, reversibly swell in ethanol solutions containing amine-functionalized SiO2 nanoparticles with a diameter of 45 nm. The thermodynamics and kinetics of NP grafting are directly controlled by the AA content in the SAA films. At low AA content, namely SAA4, NP attachment saturates at a monolayer, consistent with a low solubility of NPs in SAA4 due to a weakly negative χ parameter. When the AA content exceeds 4%, NPs sink into the film to form multilayers. These films exhibit hierarchical surface roughness with a RMS roughness greater than the NP size. Using a quartz crystal microbalance, NP incorporation in the film is found to saturate after a mass equivalence of about 3 close-packed layers of NPs have been incorporated within the SAA. The kinetics of NP grafting is observed to scale with AA content. The surface roughness is greatest at intermediate times (5-20 min) for SAA13 films, which also exhibit superhydrophobic wetting. Because clustering and aggregation of the NPs within SAA29 films reduce film transparency, SAA13 films provide both maximum hydrophobicity and transparency. The method in this study is widely applicable because it can be applied to many substrate types, can cover large areas, and retains the amine functionality of the particles which allows for subsequent chemical modification.

Nanoscale topography mediates the adhesion of F-actin

Using a controllable nanoengineered surface that alters the dynamics of filamentous actin (F-actin) adhesion, we studied the tunability of biomolecular surface attachment. By grafting aminated nanoparticles, NPs, with diameters ranging from 12 to 85 nm to a random copolymer film, precise control over surface roughness parameters is realized. The ability to selectively generate monodisperse or polydisperse features of varying size and areal density leads to immobilized, side-on wobbly, or end-on F-actin binding as characterized by total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. The interaction between the surface and actin is explained by a worm-like chain model that balances the bending energy penalty required for actin to conform to topographical features with the electrostatic attraction engineered into the surface. A Myosin V motility assay demonstrates that electrostatically immobilized actin retains its ability to direct myosin motion, indicating that nanoengineered surfaces are attractive candidates for biomolecular device fabrication.

Transparent, superhydrophobic surfaces from one-step spin coating of hydrophobic nanoparticles

We study the nonwettability and transparency from the assembly of fluorosilane modified silica nanoparticles (F-SiO(2) NPs) via one-step spin-coating and dip-coating without any surface postpassivation steps. When spin-coating the hydrophobic NPs (100 nm in diameter) at a concentration ≥ 0.8 wt % in a fluorinated solvent, the surface exhibited superhydrophobicity with an advancing water contact angle greater than 150° and a water droplet (5 μL) roll-off angle less than 5°. In comparison, superhydrophobicity was not achieved by dip-coating the same hydrophobic NPs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images revealed that NPs formed a nearly close-packed assembly in the superhydrophobic films, which effectively minimized the exposure of the underlying substrate while offering sufficiently trapped air pockets. In the dip-coated films, however, the surface coverage was rather random and incomplete. Therefore, the underlying substrate was exposed and water was able to impregnate between the NPs, leading to smaller water contact angle and larger water contact angle hysteresis. The spin-coated superhydrophobic film was also highly transparent with greater than 95% transmittance in the visible region. Further, we demonstrated that the one-step coating strategy could be extended to different polymeric substrates, including poly(methyl methacrylate) and polyester fabrics, to achieve superhydrophobicity.

Highly transparent superhydrophobic surfaces from the coassembly of nanoparticles (≤100 nm)

We report a simple and versatile approach to creating a highly transparent superhydrophobic surface with dual-scale roughness on the nanoscale. 3-Aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTS)-functionalized silica nanoparticles of two different sizes (100 and 20 nm) were sequentially dip coated onto different substrates, followed by thermal annealing. After hydrophobilization of the nanoparticle film with (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)trichlorosilane for 30 min or longer, the surface became superhydrophobic with an advancing water contact angle of greater than 160° and a water droplet (10 μL) roll-off angle of less than 5°. The order of nanoparticles dip coated onto the silicon wafer (i.e., 100 nm first and 20 nm second or vice versa) did not seem to have a significant effect on the resulting apparent water contact angle. In contrast, when the substrate was dip coated with monoscale nanoparticles (20, 50, and 100 nm), a highly hydrophobic surface (with an advancing water contact angle of up to 143°) was obtained, and the degree of hydrophobicity was found to be dependent on the particle size and concentration of the dip-coating solution. UV-vis spectra showed nearly 100% transmission in the visible region from the glass coated with dual-scale nanoparticles, similar to the bare one. The coating strategy was versatile, and superhydrophobicity was obtained on various substrates, including Si, glass, epoxy resin, and fabrics. Thermal annealing enhanced the stability of the nanoparticle coating, and superhydrophobicity was maintained against prolonged exposure to UV light under ambient conditions.

Anisotropic particles with patchy, multicompartment and Janus architectures: preparation and application

Anisotropic particles, such as patchy, multicompartment and Janus particles, have attracted significant attention in recent years due to their novel morphologies and diverse potential applications. The non-centrosymmetric features of these particles make them a unique class of nano- or micro-colloidal materials. Patchy particles usually have different compositional patches in the corona, whereas multicompartment particles have a multi-phasic anisotropic architecture in the core domain. In contrast, Janus particles, named after the double-faced Roman god, have a strictly biphasic geometry of distinct compositions and properties in the core and/or corona. The term Janus particles, multicompartment particles and patchy particles frequently appears in the literature, however, they are sometimes misused due to their structural similarity. Therefore, in this critical review we classify the key features of these different anisotropic colloidal particles and compare structural properties as well as discuss their preparation and application. This review brings together and highlights the significant advances in the last 2 to 3 years in the fabrication and application of these novel patchy, multicompartment and Janus particles (98 references).

Labeling of fibronectin by fluorescent and paramagnetic nanoprobes for exploring the extracellular matrix: bioconjugate synthesis optimization and biochemical characterization

In this study, fibronectin-nanoparticles bioconjugates are developed and characterized. Multilabeled nanoparticles are composed of a core of the rare-earth oxide Gd(2)O(3):Tb(3+), capped with a set of Rhodamine B isothiocyanate encapsulated in a silica matrix and functionalized by a carboxylated polyethylene glycol shell. These nanoparticles are stabilized in aqueous solution and are found to contain about 400 carboxyl groups on their surface. Nanoparticle bioconjugation with highly purified human plasma fibronectin (Fn) is mediated by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide, resulting in an amide linkage between the carboxylic acid-terminated surface of the nanoparticle and the primary amine of Fn. The bioconjugation temperature and pH are optimized. The Local structure and global conformation of fibronectin-nanoparticle bioconjugates (FnNP*) are studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and enzymatic sites accessibility. Protein biochemical functionalities are globally conserved, and the protein is actually labeled. Elaboration of such complexes provides a promising bimodal contrasting agent for in vivo imaging.

Patchy and multiregion janus particles with tunable optical properties

Multiregion and patchy optically active Janus particles were synthesized via a hierarchical self-assembly process. Gold nanoparticles were assembled on the top surfaces of nano- and submicrometer silica particles, which were selectively protected on their bottom surfaces by covalent attachment to a copolymer film. The morphologies of the gold particle layer, and the resulting optical properties of the Janus particles, were tuned by changing the surface energy between the silica and gold particles, followed by annealing.

Rapid deposition of hydrophobic nanoparticle monolayers onto hydrophilic surfaces from liquid-liquid interfaces

Dense, hydrophobic coatings comprising hydrophilic nanoparticles are deposited rapidly from water/toluene emulsions. The process of deposition is driven by a subtle interplay between interfacial phenomena, electrostatic interparticle repulsions, and hydrogen bonding between the NPs and the substrate(s). The packing fractions and the plasmonic properties of the coatings can be controlled by the pH of the aqueous phase. Once formed, the coatings can be further functionalized without a loss of mechanical integrity.

Tunable wetting of nanoparticle-decorated polymer films

In this paper, amine-modified silica nanoparticles (NPs) with diameters (d) from 15 to 230 nm are covalently linked to poly(styrene-random-acrylic acid) (P(S-ran-AA)) films, and wettability is studied as a function of diameter and NP surface coverage. During attachment, films swell and exhibit long and short scale roughness, consisting of a ridged, honeycomb structure, approximately 1 mum wide and 45-50 nm deep, which encircles nanoscale features 10-15 nm high and approximately 50 nm apart. A maximum NP coverage of approximately 70% was achieved for d less than or nearly equal to the nanoscale roughness induced by surface swelling. For d several times greater than this nanoscale roughness, the maximum coverage was limited by interparticle repulsion and reached only approximately 30%. For NPs with diameters of 15-106 nm, the water contact angle increased from 75 degrees to 120 degrees as NP coverage increased from 0 to 70%. At low and high NP coverage, the Wenzel and Cassie models, respectively, accurately describe the data. However, at intermediate NP coverage, neither model is satisfactory. An increase in surface roughness alone cannot account for this discrepancy. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies show that the NPs partially embed into the swollen P(S-ran-AA) surface, suggesting that the amine-coated NPs are wet by the copolymer, exposing low surface energy styrene. These studies demonstrate that control over surface properties of coatings, such as wetting, can be achieved by selecting NP sizes that complement film roughness.