Layer-by-Layer Assemblies in Nanoporous Templates: Nano-Organized Design and Applications of Soft Nanotechnology

Protein Nanotubes as Advanced Material Platforms and Delivery Systems

Protein nanotubes (PNTs) as state-of-the-art nanocarriers are promising for various potential applications both in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Derived from edible starting sources like α-lactalbumin, lysozyme, and ovalbumin, PNTs bear properties of biocompatibility and biodegradability. Their large specific surface area and hydrophobic core facilitate chemical modification and loading of bioactive substances, respectively. Moreover, their enhanced permeability and penetration ability across biological barriers such as intestinal mucus, extracellular matrix, and thrombus clot, make it promising platforms for health-related applications. Most importantly, their simple preparation processes enable large-scale production, supporting applications in the biomedical and nanotechnological fields. Understanding the self-assembly principles is crucial for controlling their morphology, size, and shape, and thus provides the ground to a multitude of applications. Here, the current state-of-the-art of PNTs including their building materials, physicochemical properties, and self-assembly mechanisms are comprehensively reviewed. The advantages and limitations, as well as challenges and prospects for their successful applications in biomaterial and pharmaceutical sectors are then discussed and highlighted. Potential cytotoxicity of PNTs and the need of regulations as critical factors for enabling in vivo applications are also highlighted. In the end, a brief summary and future prospects for PNTs as advanced platforms and delivery systems are included.

Field-effect transistors engineered via solution-based layer-by-layer nanoarchitectonics

The layer-by-layer (LbL) technique has been proven to be one of the most versatile approaches in order to fabricate functional nanofilms. The use of simple and inexpensive procedures as well as the possibility to incorporate a very wide range of materials through different interactions have driven its application in a wide range of fields. On the other hand, field-effect transistors (FETs) are certainly among the most important elements in electronics. The ability to modulate the flowing current between a source and a drain electrode via the voltage applied to the gate electrode endow these devices to switch or amplify electronic signals, being vital in all of our everyday electronic devices. In this topical review, we highlight different research efforts to engineer field-effect transistors using the LbL assembly approach. We firstly discuss on the engineering of the channel material of transistors via the LbL technique. Next, the deposition of dielectric materials through this approach is reviewed, allowing the development of high-performance electronic components. Finally, the application of the LbL approach to fabricate FETs-based biosensing devices is also discussed, as well as the improvement of the transistor's interfacial sensitivity by the engineering of the semiconductor with polyelectrolyte multilayers.

Nanoparticle-Embedded Polymers and Their Applications: A Review

There has been increasing interest in the study and development of nanoparticle-embedded polymeric materials and their applications to special membranes. Nanoparticle-embedded polymeric materials have been observed to have a desirable compatibility with commonly used membrane matrices, a wide range of functionalities, and tunable physicochemical properties. The development of nanoparticle-embedded polymeric materials has shown great potential to overcome the longstanding challenges faced by the membrane separation industry. One major challenge that has been a bottleneck to the progress and use of membranes is the balance between the selectivity and the permeability of the membranes. Recent developments in the fabrication of nanoparticle-embedded polymeric materials have focused on how to further tune the properties of the nanoparticles and membranes to improve the performance of the membranes even further. Techniques for improving the performance of nanoparticle-embedded membranes by exploiting their surface characteristics and internal pore and channel structures to a significant degree have been incorporated into the fabrication processes. Several fabrication techniques are discussed in this paper and used to produce both mixed-matrix membranes and homogenous nanoparticle-embedded polymeric materials. The discussed fabrication techniques include interfacial polymerization, self-assembly, surface coating, and phase inversion. With the current interest shown in the field of nanoparticle-embedded polymeric materials, it is expected that better-performing membranes will be developed soon.

Advancing bone tissue engineering one layer at a time: a layer-by-layer assembly approach to 3D bone scaffold materials

The layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technique has shown excellent potential in tissue engineering applications. The technique is mainly based on electrostatic attraction and involves the sequential adsorption of oppositely charged electrolyte complexes onto a substrate, resulting in uniform single layers that can be rapidly deposited to form nanolayer films. LbL has attracted significant attention as a coating technique due to it being a convenient and affordable fabrication method capable of achieving a wide range of biomaterial coatings while keeping the main biofunctionality of the substrate materials. One promising application is the use of nanolayer films fabricated by LbL assembly in the development of 3-dimensional (3D) bone scaffolds for bone repair and regeneration. Due to their versatility, nanoscale films offer an exciting opportunity for tailoring surface and bulk property modification of implants for osseous defect therapies. This review article discusses the state of the art of the LbL assembly technique, and the properties and functions of LbL-assembled films for engineered bone scaffold application, combination of multilayers for multifunctional coatings and recent advancements in the application of LbL assembly in bone tissue engineering. The recent decade has seen tremendous advances in the promising developments of LbL film systems and their impact on cell interaction and tissue repair. A deep understanding of the cell behaviour and biomaterial interaction for the further development of new generations of LbL films for tissue engineering are the most important targets for biomaterial research in the field. While there is still much to learn about the biological and physicochemical interactions at the interface of nano-surface coated scaffolds and biological systems, we provide a conceptual review to further progress in the LbL approach to 3D bone scaffold materials and inform the future of LbL development in bone tissue engineering.

Pushing the limits of nanopore transport performance by polymer functionalization

Inspired by the design and performance of biological pores, polymer functionalization of nanopores has emerged as an evolving field to advance transport performance within the last few years. This feature article outlines developments in nanopore functionalization and the resulting transport performance including gating based on electrostatic interaction, wettability and ligand binding, gradual transport controlled by polymerization as well as functionalization-based asymmetric nanopore and nanoporous material design going towards the transport direction. Pushing the limits of nanopore transport performance and thus reducing the performance gap between biological and technological pores is strongly related to advances in polymerization chemistry and their translation into nanopore functionalization. Thereby, the effect of the spatial confinement has to be considered for polymer functionalization as well as for transport regulation, and mechanistic understanding is strongly increased by combining experiment and theory. A full mechanistic understanding together with highly precise nanopore structure design and polymer functionalization is not only expected to improve existing application of nanoporous materials but also opens the door to new technologies. The latter might include out of equilibrium devices, ionic circuits, or machine learning based sensors.

Anisotropic Particles through Multilayer Assembly

The anisotropy in the shape of polymeric particles has been demonstrated to have many advantages over spherical particulates, including bio-mimetic behavior, shaped-directed flow, deformation, surface adhesion, targeting, motion, and permeability. The layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly is uniquely suited for synthesizing anisotropic particles as this method allows for simple and versatile replication of diverse colloid geometries with precise control over their chemical and physical properties. This review highlights recent progress in anisotropic particles of micrometer and nanometer sizes produced by a templated multilayer assembly of synthetic and biological macromolecules. Synthetic approaches to produce capsules and hydrogels utilizing anisotropic templates such as biological, polymeric, bulk hydrogel, inorganic colloids, and metal-organic framework crystals as sacrificial templates are overviewed. Structure-property relationships controlled by the anisotropy in particle shape and surface are discussed and compared with their spherical counterparts. Advances and challenges in controlling particle properties through varying shape anisotropy and surface asymmetry are outlined. The perspective applications of anisotropic colloids in biomedicine, including programmed behavior in the blood and tissues as artificial cells, nano-motors/sensors, and intelligent drug carriers are also discussed.

On the Segmental Dynamics and the Glass Transition Behavior of Poly(2-vinylpyridine) in One- and Two-Dimensional Nanometric Confinement

Geometric nanoconfinement, in one and two dimensions, has a fundamental influence on the segmental dynamics of polymer glass-formers and can be markedly different from that observed in the bulk state. In this work, with the use of dielectric spectroscopy, we have investigated the glass transition behavior of poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) confined within alumina nanopores and prepared as a thin film supported on a silicon substrate. P2VP is known to exhibit strong, attractive interactions with confining surfaces due to the ability to form hydrogen bonds. Obtained results show no changes in the temperature evolution of the α-relaxation time in nanopores down to 20 nm size and 24 nm thin film. There is also no evidence of an out-of-equilibrium behavior observed for other glass-forming systems confined at the nanoscale. Nevertheless, in both cases, the confinement effect is seen as a substantial broadening of the α-relaxation time distribution. We discussed the results in terms of the importance of the interfacial energy between the polymer and various substrates, the sensitivity of the glass-transition temperature to density fluctuations, and the density scaling concept.

Defect Repair of Polyelectrolyte Bilayers Using SDS: The Action of Micelles Versus Monomers

Defects within single, double, and triple polyelectrolyte bilayers derived from poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and poly(diallyldimethyammonium chloride) (PDDA) have been repaired using aqueous solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), as evidenced by a reduction in their permeability and an increase in their permeation selectivity. In contrast to the use of monomer solutions of SDS, which were moderately effective in repairing only double and triple bilayers, micellar solutions proved highly effective for all three assemblies. Evidence for intact micelles or micellar fragments being deposited on the surface of single bilayers of PSS/PDDA has been obtained from a combination of atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ellipsometry, and contact angle measurements. Observed CO₂ permeances of ca. 200 GPU and CO₂/N₂ selectivities of ca. 30 for SDS-repaired, single bilayers of PSS/PDDA suggest that further development of such assemblies could have the practical potential for the separation of CO₂ from N₂ in the flue gas.

Layer-by-layer assembly in nanochannels: assembly mechanism and applications

Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly is a versatile technology to construct multifunctional nanomaterials using various supporting substrates, enabled by the large selection freedom of building materials and diversity of possible driving forces. The fine regulation over the film thickness and structure provides an elegant way to tune the physical/chemical properties by mild assembly conditions (e.g. pH, ion strength). In this review, we focus on LbL in nanochannels, which exhibit a different growth mechanism compared to "open", convex substrates. The assembly mechanism in nanochannels is discussed in detail, followed by the summary of applications of LbL assemblies liberated from nanochannel templates which can be used as nanoreactors, drug carriers and transporting channels across cell membranes. For fluidic applications, robust membrane substrates are required to keep in place nanotube arrays for membrane-based separation, purification, biosensing and energy harvesting, which are also discussed. The good compatibility of LbL with crossover technologies from other fields allows researchers to further extend this technology to a broader range of research fields, which is expected to result in an increased number of applications of LbL technology in the future.

A closer physico-chemical look to the Layer-by-Layer electrostatic self-assembly of polyelectrolyte multilayers

The fabrication of polyelectrolyte multilayer films (PEMs) using the Layer-by-Layer (LbL) method is one of the most versatile approaches for manufacturing functional surfaces. This is the result of the possibility to control the assembly process of the LbL films almost at will, by changing the nature of the assembled materials (building blocks), the assembly conditions (pH, ionic strength, temperature, etc.) or even by changing some other operational parameters which may impact in the structure and physico-chemical properties of the obtained multi-layered films. Therefore, the understanding of the impact of the above mentioned parameters on the assembly process of LbL materials plays a critical role in the potential use of the LbL method for the fabrication of new functional materials with technological interest. This review tries to provide a broad physico-chemical perspective to the study of the fabrication process of PEMs by the LbL method, which allows one to take advantage of the many possibilities offered for this approach on the fabrication of new functional nanomaterials.

Effect of Surface Chemistry on the Glass-Transition Dynamics of Poly(phenyl methyl siloxane) Confined in Alumina Nanopores

Broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) are combined to study the effect of changes in the surface chemistry on the segmental dynamics of glass-forming polymer, poly(methylphenylsiloxane) (PMPS), confined in anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) nanopores. Measurements were carried for native and silanized nanopores of the same pore sizes. Nanopore surfaces are modified with the use of two silanizing agents, chlorotrimethylsilane (ClTMS) and (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMOS), of much different properties. The results of the dielectric studies have demonstrated that for the studied polymer located in 55 nm pores, changes in the surface chemistry and thermal treatment allows the confinement effect seen in temperature evolution of the segmental relaxation time, τα(T) to be removed. The bulk-like evolution of the segmental relaxation time can also be restored upon long-time annealing. Interestingly, the time scale of such equilibration process was found to be independent of the surface conditions. The calorimetric measurements reveal the presence of two glass-transition events in DSC thermograms of all considered systems, implying that the changes in the interfacial interactions introduced by silanization are not strong enough to inhibit the formation of the interfacial layer. Although DSC traces confirmed the two-glass-transition scenario, there is no clear evidence that vitrification of the interfacial layer affects τα(T) for nanopore-confined polymer.

Mesostructured Electroactive Thin Films Through Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Redox Surfactants and Polyelectrolytes

Electroactive thin films are an important element in the devices devoted to energy conversion, actuators, and molecular electronics, among others. Their build-up by the layer-by-layer technique is an attractive choice since a fine control over the thickness and composition can be achieved. However, most of the assemblies described in the literature show a lack of internal order, and their thicknesses change upon oxidation-state alterations. In this work, we describe the formation of layer-by-layer assemblies of redox surfactants and polyelectrolytes that leads to the construction of mesoscale organized electroactive films. In contrast to thin films prepared with traditional redox polymers, here, the redox surfactant does not only allow the control of the film meso-organization (from 2D hexagonal to circular hexagonal phases) but it also allows the control of the number and position of the redox centers. Finally, these films show high stability and a negligible structural deformation under redox-state changes.

In Situ Study of Layer-by-Layer Polyelectrolyte Deposition in Nanopores of Anodic Aluminum Oxide by Reflectometric Interference Spectroscopy

The modification of cylindrical anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) nanopores by alternating layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition of poly(sodium-4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) was studied in situ by reflectometric interference spectroscopy (RIfS). In particular, the kinetics of polyelectrolyte deposition inside the pores with a diameter of 37 ± 3 nm and a length of 3.7 ± 0.3 μm were unraveled, and potential differences in the LBL multilayer growth compared to flat silicon substrates as well as the effect of different ionic strengths and different types of ions were investigated. RIfS measures the effective optical thicknesses, which is-for a constant pore length-proportional to the effective refractive index of the AAO sample, from which, in turn, the deposited mass of the polymer or the corresponding layer thickness can be estimated. Compared to the multilayer growth by the LBL deposition on the flat aminosilane-primed silicon wafers, which was assessed by spectroscopic ellipsometry, the thickness increment per deposited bilayer, as well as the dependence of this increment on the ionic strength (0.01-0.15) and the counterion type (Na⁺ vs Ca²⁺) inside the aminosilane-primed nanopores, was for the first bilayers to within the experimental error identical. For thicker multilayers, the pore diameter became smaller, which led to reduced thickness increments and eventually virtually completely filled the pores. The observed kinetics is consistent with the mass-transport-limited adsorption of the polyelectrolyte to the charged surface according to a Langmuir isotherm with a negligible desorption rate. In addition to fundamental insights into the buildup of polyelectrolyte multilayers inside the AAO nanopores, our results highlight the sensitivity of RIfS and its use as an analytical tool for probing processes inside the nanopores and for the development of biosensors.

Self-Templated Assembly of AuI /AgI -Thiolate Sheets with Central Holes

Composite crystalline sheets of Au^I /Ag^I -thiolate with central holes are achieved by co-assembly of Ag^I -thiolate and Au^I -thiolate in one-pot without sacrificial template. Both Ag^I -thiolate and Au^I -thiolate can separately assemble to lamellar sheets with similar structures, which makes their co-assembly possible, while the differences in their assembly pathways make the co-assembly processes highly dynamic and complex. First, a core@shell structure with Ag^I -thiolate at the core was formed upon the mixing of the two, then the core@shell structure transformed to a hole@shell structure by dissociation of the core. Finally, some instable hole@shell structures further dissociated and grew on stable ones to generate holed Au^I /Ag^I -thiolate composite sheets, in which the two components neither have severe phase separation nor blend uniformly at atomic level. By tuning the feeding ratios, the average diameter of the holes can be controlled. Therefore, the work demonstrates the advantage of co-assembly technique in obtaining complex structurers. The holed sheets can further assemble to porous macroscopic materials and transform to composite metal nanoparticles by pyrolysis.

Molecular Design of Solid-State Nanopores: Fundamental Concepts and Applications

Solid-state nanopores are fascinating objects that enable the development of specific and efficient chemical and biological sensors, as well as the investigation of the physicochemical principles ruling the behavior of biological channels. The great variety of biological nanopores that nature provides regulates not only the most critical processes in the human body, including neuronal communication and sensory perception, but also the most important bioenergetic process on earth: photosynthesis. This makes them an exhaustless source of inspiration toward the development of more efficient, selective, and sophisticated nanopore-based nanofluidic devices. The key point responsible for the vibrant and exciting advance of solid nanopore research in the last decade has been the simultaneous combination of advanced fabrication nanotechnologies to tailor the size, geometry, and application of novel and creative approaches to confer the nanopore surface specific functionalities and responsiveness. Here, the state of the art is described in the following critical areas: i) theory, ii) nanofabrication techniques, iii) (bio)chemical functionalization, iv) construction of nanofluidic actuators, v) nanopore (bio)sensors, and vi) commercial aspects. The plethora of potential applications once envisioned for solid-state nanochannels is progressively and quickly materializing into new technologies that hold promise to revolutionize the everyday life.

Polymeric Co-Delivery Systems in Cancer Treatment: An Overview on Component Drugs' Dosage Ratio Effect

Multiple factors are involved in the development of cancers and their effects on survival rate. Many are related to chemo-resistance of tumor cells. Thus, treatment with a single therapeutic agent is often inadequate for successful cancer therapy. Ideally, combination therapy inhibits tumor growth through multiple pathways by enhancing the performance of each individual therapy, often resulting in a synergistic effect. Polymeric nanoparticles prepared from block co-polymers have been a popular platform for co-delivery of combinations of drugs associated with the multiple functional compartments within such nanoparticles. Various polymeric nanoparticles have been applied to achieve enhanced therapeutic efficacy in cancer therapy. However, reported drug ratios used in such systems often vary widely. Thus, the same combination of drugs may result in very different therapeutic outcomes. In this review, we investigated polymeric co-delivery systems used in cancer treatment and the drug combinations used in these systems for synergistic anti-cancer effect. Development of polymeric co-delivery systems for a maximized therapeutic effect requires a deeper understanding of the optimal ratio among therapeutic agents and the natural heterogenicity of tumors.

A review on versatile applications of blends and composites of CNC with natural and synthetic polymers with mathematical modeling

Cellulose is world's most abundant, renewable and recyclable polysaccharide on earth. Cellulose is composed of both amorphous and crystalline regions. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are extracted from crystalline region of cellulose. The most attractive feature of CNC is that it can be used as nanofiller to reinforce several synthetic and natural polymers. In this article, a comprehensive overview of modification of several natural and synthetic polymers using CNCs as reinforcer in respective polymer matrix is given. The immense activities of CNCs are successfully utilized to enhance the mechanical properties and to broaden the field of application of respective polymer. All the technical scientific issues have been discussed highlighting the recent advancement in biomedical and packaging field.

Continuous assembly of supramolecular polyamine-phosphate networks on surfaces: preparation and permeability properties of nanofilms

Supramolecular self-assembly of molecular building blocks represents a powerful "nanoarchitectonic" tool to create new functional materials with molecular-level feature control. Here, we propose a simple method to create tunable phosphate/polyamine-based films on surfaces by successive assembly of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH)/phosphate anions (Pi) supramolecular networks. The growth of the films showed a great linearity and regularity with the number of steps. The coating thickness can be easily modulated by the bulk concentration of PAH and the deposition cycles. The PAH/Pi networks showed chemical stability between pH 4 and 10. The transport properties of the surface assemblies formed from different deposition cycles were evaluated electrochemically by using different redox probes in aqueous solution. The results revealed that either highly permeable films or efficient anion transport selectivity can be created by simply varying the concentration of PAH. This experimental evidence indicates that this new strategy of supramolecular self-assembly can be useful for the rational construction of single polyelectrolyte nanoarchitectures with multiple functionalities.

Covalent layer-by-layer films: chemistry, design, and multidisciplinary applications

Covalent layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly is a powerful method used to construct functional ultrathin films that enables nanoscopic structural precision, componential diversity, and flexible design. Compared with conventional LbL films built using multiple noncovalent interactions, LbL films prepared using covalent crosslinking offer the following distinctive characteristics: (i) enhanced film endurance or rigidity; (ii) improved componential diversity when uncharged species or small molecules are stably built into the films by forming covalent bonds; and (iii) increased structural diversity when covalent crosslinking is employed in componential, spacial, or temporal (labile bonds) selective manners. In this review, we document the chemical methods used to build covalent LbL films as well as the film properties and applications achievable using various film design strategies. We expect to translate the achievement in the discipline of chemistry (film-building methods) into readily available techniques for materials engineers and thus provide diverse functional material design protocols to address the energy, biomedical, and environmental challenges faced by the entire scientific community.

Polymer platforms for micro- and nanomotor fabrication

Artificial, self-propelled micro- and nanomotors are small devices capable of autonomous movement, which are a powerful scientific innovation for solving various medical and environmental issues. Their design is frequently inspired by complex biological structures which are composed of biopolymers and their composites. The choice of materials for nano- and micromachines is crucial for their shape, mechanism and efficiency of propulsion. In this review, we discuss the utilization and fabrication of polymers as soft components of micro- and nanomotors.

Mimicking pH-Gated Ionic Channels by Polyelectrolyte Complex Confinement Inside a Single Nanopore

Biological channels have served as inspiration to design stimuli-response artificial nanopores. Here we propose an original approach to design a pH-gate nanopore based on polyethylenimine and chondroitin-4-sulfate (ChS) layer-by-layer self-assembly. This approach is interesting because it is rapid and permits monitoring in real time of functionalization. The study of ionic transport through these single nanopores reveals a selectivity on anions and pH-gate properties at low salt concentration. It is open at pH below 4 or 5 depending on salt concentration. These properties are explained by the modification of both charge and conformation of ChS as well as swelling of the polyelectrolyte complex.

Nanoporous ionic organic networks: from synthesis to materials applications

This review highlights the recent progress made in the study of the synthesis of nanoporous ionic organic networks (NIONs) and their promising applications.

Nanopapers of layer-by-layer nanotubes

A straightforward filtration methodology of templated layer-by-layer (LbL) nanotubes leads to new multifunctional nanopapers over centimeter square surfaces.

Universal Method to Transfer Membrane-Templated Nano-Objects to Aqueous Solutions

A wide range of nano-objects are synthesized by combining template synthesis, using polycarbonate membrane as template, with different material deposition methods. The resulting nanostructures varied from robust inorganic gold nanowires grown by electrodeposition to rigid polypyrrole nanotubes synthesized by chemical polymerization and softer nanotubes made of different combinations of synthetic and natural polyelectrolytes fabricated by layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. The morphology of these various nano-objects is characterized prior to and after their immersion in water, revealing that the rigidity degree of LbL nanotubes strongly decreases after being in contact with water, leading to highly swollen and flexible nanotubes in aqueous solution that tend to stick to any surface and are very difficult to collect and disperse quantitatively in aqueous solution. Different processes to collect these nano-objects and disperse them in aqueous medium for further analysis and application were then studied. Among them, a method based on simple filtration of nanotubes in the presence of a powdered dextran adjuvant leads to the quantitative collection and dispersion in water of all types of tested cylindrical nano-objects. This universal method to efficiently collect membrane templated nano-objects paves the way to further characterization of a large variety of nanotubes in aqueous solution and to their potential use as cargo nanocarriers or as nanoreactors.

Reversibly pH-Responsive Nanoporous Layer-by-Layer Microtubes

Nanoporous layer-by-layer (LbL) microtubes consisting of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) are prepared by LbL deposition in porous templates followed by postassembly acid treatment. The formation of the nanoporous structure is studied as a function of solution pH, treatment time, and number of layers. Pore formation is most effective at pH 1.8, requiring only 5 min to achieve a complete transition, and is shown to be reversible. Whereas the inner surface of the porous microtubes is rough, the outer surface is smoother and exhibited isolated pores, suggestive of an asymmetric porous structure.

pH-responsive ion transport in polyelectrolyte multilayers of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) (PSS-MA) bearing strong- and weak anionic groups

We describe the creation of interfacial architectures displaying pH-dependent ionic transport properties which until now have not been observed in polyelectrolyte multilayers.

Rational design of a degradable polyanion for layer-by-layer assembly for encapsulation and release of cationic functional biomolecules

We designed and synthesized a novel degradable polyanion, poly(phthalic ethylene glycol ester), that assembles with various polycationic biomolecules to form layer-by-layer films to encapsulate and release physiologically active biomolecules.

Label-free specific detection of femtomolar cardiac troponin using an integrated nanoslit array fluidic diode

We demonstrate here for the first time the utility of an integrated nanofluidic diode for detecting and quantifying physiologically relevant macromolecules. Troponin T, a key human cardiac protein biomarker, was selectively and rapidly detected free of labels for concentrations down to 10 fg/mL (∼ 0.3 fM) in buffer as well as 10 pg/mL (∼ 300 fM) in untreated human serum. This ultrasensitive detection arises from monolithic integration of a unique nanofluidic diode structure that is highly robust and amenable to site-specific surface modification. The structure features a planar nanoslit array where each nanoslit is defined at a nominal width of 70 nm over a micrometer-scale silicon trench without the use of high-resolution patterning techniques. Through vapor deposition, a glass layer is placed at a nonuniform thickness, tapering the trench profile upward and contributing to the triangular nanoslit structure. This asymmetric profile is essential for ionic current rectification noted here at various pH values, ionic strengths, and captured target species, which modulate the surface-charge density within the sensitive region of the nanoslit. The nanoslit, unlike nanopores, offers only 1D confinement, which appears to be adequate for reasonable rectification. The measurements are found in quantitative agreement with the diode simulations for the first time based on a pH- and salt-dependent surface-charge model.

Over-limiting current and control of dendritic growth by surface conduction in nanopores

Understanding over-limiting current (faster than diffusion) is a long-standing challenge in electrochemistry with applications in desalination and energy storage. Known mechanisms involve either chemical or hydrodynamic instabilities in unconfined electrolytes. Here, it is shown that over-limiting current can be sustained by surface conduction in nanopores, without any such instabilities, and used to control dendritic growth during electrodeposition. Copper electrodeposits are grown in anodized aluminum oxide membranes with polyelectrolyte coatings to modify the surface charge. At low currents, uniform electroplating occurs, unaffected by surface modification due to thin electric double layers, but the morphology changes dramatically above the limiting current. With negative surface charge, growth is enhanced along the nanopore surfaces, forming surface dendrites and nanotubes behind a deionization shock. With positive surface charge, dendrites avoid the surfaces and are either guided along the nanopore centers or blocked from penetrating the membrane.

Spherical and tubule nanocarriers for sustained drug release

We discuss new trends in Layer-by-Layer (LbL) encapsulation of spherical and tubular cores of 50-150 nm diameter and loaded with drugs. This core size decrease (from few micrometers to a hundred of nanometers) for LbL encapsulation required development of sonication assistant non-washing technique and shell PEGylation to reach high colloidal stability of drug nanocarriers at 2-3mg/mL concentration in isotonic buffers and serum. For 120-170 nm spherical LbL nanocapsules of low soluble anticancer drugs, polyelectrolyte shell thickness controls drug dissolution. As for nanotube carriers, we concentrated on natural halloysite clay nanotubes as cores for LbL encapsulation that allows high drug loading and sustains its release over tens and hundreds hours. Further drug release prolongation was reached with formation of the tube-end stoppers.

Layer-by-layer assembly of polymersomes and polyelectrolytes on planar surfaces and microsized colloidal particles

Hybrid polyelectrolyte multilayer systems were fabricated on top of planar surfaces and colloidal particles via layer by layer (LbL) assembly of polystyrene sulphonate (PSS) and polybenzyl methacrylate-block-poly(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (PBzMA-b-PDMAEMA) polymersomes. Polymersomes were prepared by self assembly of PBzMA-b-PDMAEMA copolymer, synthesised by group transfer polymerisation. Polymersomes display a diameter of 270 nm and a shell thickness of 11nm. Assembly on planar surfaces was followed by means of the Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Detailed information on the assembly mechanism and surface topology of the polymersome/polyelectrolyte films was thereby obtained. The assembly of polymersomes and PSS on top of silica particles of 500 nm in diameter was confirmed by ζ-potential measurements. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that polymersome/PSS coated silica particles increase in total diameter up to 3-5μm. This hints toward the formation of densely packed polymersome layers. In addition, CLSM showed that polymersome/PSS films exhibit a high loading capacity that could potentially be used for encapsulation and delivery of diverse chemical species. These results provide an insight into the formation of multilayered films with compartmentalised hydrophilic/hydrophobic domains and may lead to the successful application of polymersomes in surface-engineered colloidal systems.

Temperature-triggered shape-transformations in layer-by-layer microtubes

Freely released microtubes in water transform to ellipsoids and spheres at high temperatures, while microtubes bound to the template surface showed periodic voids suggestive of Rayleigh instabilities.

Redox responsive nanotubes from organometallic polymers by template assisted layer by layer fabrication

Redox responsive nanotubes were fabricated by the template assisted layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly method and employed as platforms for molecular payload release. Positively and negatively charged organometallic poly(ferrocenylsilane)s (PFS) were used to construct the nanotubes, in combination with other polyions. During fabrication, multilayers of these polyions were deposited onto the inner pores of template porous membranes, followed by subsequent removal of the template. Anodized porous alumina and track-etched polycarbonate membranes were used as templates. The morphology, electrochemistry, composition and other properties of the obtained tubular structure were characterized by fluorescence microscopy, scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Composite nanotubes, consisting of poly(acrylic acid) anions with PFS(+) and nanoparticles including fluorophore labelled dextran and decorated quantum dots, with PFS polyelectrolytes were also fabricated, broadening the scope of the structures. Cyclic voltammograms of PFS containing nanotubes showed similar redox responsive behaviour to thin LbL assembled films. Redox triggered release of labelled macromolecules from these tubular structures demonstrated application potential in controlled molecular delivery.

Layer-by-layer assembled multilayers of polyethylenimine-stabilized platinum nanoparticles and PEDOT:PSS as anodes for the methanol oxidation reaction

Polyethylenimine-capped platinum nanoparticles (PEI-capped Pt NPs) are synthesized by photoreduction and qualified as a component for electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly and subsequent electrocatalysis. The PEI-capped Pt NPs are characterized for size and charge using scanning force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and zetapotential. Well-defined multilayers are produced via thin film electrostatic assembly of PEI-capped Pt NPs with the conducting polymer: poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(p-styrenesulfonate) [(PEDOT:PSS)(-)Na(+)]. The composite thin films are subsequently characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, scanning force microscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The layer-by-layer deposition process was found to proceed in a controlled manner which permits the fabrication of stable and uniform multilayer thin films. [PEI-capped Pt NPs/(PEDOT:PSS)] multilayers were found to be an active catalyst coating for the oxidation of methanol and a 20 bilayer film proceeds with a stable level of catalyst activity for over 1000 oxidation cycles.