1
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Vialetto J, Ramakrishna SN, Isa L, Laurati M. Effect of particle stiffness and surface properties on the non-linear viscoelasticity of dense microgel suspensions. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 672:814-823. [PMID: 38878623 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.05.214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Particle surface chemistry and internal softness are two fundamental parameters in governing the mechanical properties of dense colloidal suspensions, dictating structure and flow, therefore of interest from materials fabrication to processing. EXPERIMENTS Here, we modulate softness by tuning the crosslinker content of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgels, and we adjust their surface properties by co-polymerization with polyethylene glycol chains, controlling adhesion, friction and fuzziness. We investigate the distinct effects of these parameters on the entire mechanical response from restructuring to complete fluidization of jammed samples at varying packing fractions under large-amplitude oscillatory shear experiments, and we complement rheological data with colloidal-probe atomic force microscopy to unravel variations in the particles' surface properties. FINDINGS Our results indicate that surface properties play a fundamental role at smaller packings; decreasing adhesion and friction at contact causes the samples to yield and fluidify in a lower deformation range. Instead, increasing softness or fuzziness has a similar effect at ultra-high densities, making suspensions able to better adapt to the applied shear and reach complete fluidization over a larger deformation range. These findings shed new light on the single-particle parameters governing the mechanical response of dense suspensions subjected to deformation, offering synthetic approaches to design materials with tailored mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Vialetto
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy; Laboratory for Soft Materials and Interfaces, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland; Consorzio interuniversitario per lo sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase (CSGI), via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy.
| | - Shivaprakash N Ramakrishna
- Laboratory for Soft Materials and Interfaces, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lucio Isa
- Laboratory for Soft Materials and Interfaces, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Laurati
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy; Consorzio interuniversitario per lo sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase (CSGI), via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy.
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2
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Schmidt MM, Ruiz-Franco J, Bochenek S, Camerin F, Zaccarelli E, Scotti A. Interfacial Fluid Rheology of Soft Particles. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 131:258202. [PMID: 38181345 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.131.258202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
In situ interfacial rheology and numerical simulations are used to investigate microgel monolayers in a wide range of packing fractions, ζ_{2D}. The heterogeneous particle compressibility determines two flow regimes characterized by distinct master curves. To mimic the microgel architecture and reproduce experiments, an interaction potential combining a soft shoulder with the Hertzian model is introduced. In contrast to bulk conditions, the elastic moduli vary nonmonotonically with ζ_{2D} at the interface, confirming long-sought predictions of reentrant behavior for Hertzian-like systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian M Schmidt
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - José Ruiz-Franco
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Steffen Bochenek
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Fabrizio Camerin
- Soft Condensed Matter & Biophysics, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Emanuela Zaccarelli
- Italian National Research Council-Institute for Complex Systems (CNR-ISC), Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Scotti
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, SE-205 06 Malmö, Sweden
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3
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van Westerveld L, Es Sayed J, de Graaf M, Hofman AH, Kamperman M, Parisi D. Hydrophobically modified complex coacervates for designing aqueous pressure-sensitive adhesives. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:8832-8848. [PMID: 37947361 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01114c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The rheology of complex coacervates can be elegantly tuned via the design and control of specific non-covalent hydrophobic interactions between the complexed polymer chains. The well-controlled balance between elasticity and energy dissipation makes complex coacervates perfect candidates for pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs). In this work, the polyanion poly(3-sulfopropyl methacrylate) (PSPMA) and the polycation quaternized poly(4-vinylpyridine) (QP4VP) were used to prepare complex coacervates in water. Progressive increase of hydrophobicity is introduced to the polyanion via partial deprotection of the protected precursor. Hence, the polymer chains in the complex coacervates can interact via both electrostatic (controlled by the amount of salt) and hydrophobic (controlled by the deprotection degree) interactions. It was observed that: (i) a rheological time-salt-hydrophobicity superposition principle is applicable, and can be used as a predictive tool for rheology, (ii) the slowdown of the stress relaxation dynamics, due to the increase of hydrophobic stickers (lower deprotection degree), can be captured by the sticky-Rouse model, and (iii) the systematic variation of hydrophobic stickers, amount of salt, and molecular weight of the polymers, enables the identification of optimizing parameters to design aqueous PSA systems. The presented results offer new pathways to control the rheology of complex coacervates and their applicability as PSAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa van Westerveld
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Julien Es Sayed
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Marijn de Graaf
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Anton H Hofman
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Marleen Kamperman
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Daniele Parisi
- Engineering and Technology Institute Groningen (ENTEG), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
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4
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Akgonullu DZ, Murray BS, Connell SD, Fang Y, Linter B, Sarkar A. Synthetic and biopolymeric microgels: Review of similarities and difference in behaviour in bulk phases and at interfaces. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 320:102983. [PMID: 37690329 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2023.102983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
This review discusses the current knowledge of interfacial and bulk interactions of biopolymeric microgels in relation to the well-established properties of synthetic microgels for applications as viscosity modifiers and Pickering stabilisers. We present a timeline showing the key milestones in designing microgels and their bulk/ interfacial performance. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) microgels have remained as the protagonist in the synthetic microgel domain whilst proteins or polysaccharides have been primarily used to fabricate biopolymeric microgels. Bulk properties of microgel dispersions are dominated by the volume fraction (ϕ) of the microgel particles, but ϕ is difficult to pinpoint, as addressed by many theoretical models. By evaluating recent experimental studies over the last five years, we find an increasing focus on the analysis of microgel elasticity as a key parameter in modulating their packing at the interfaces, within the provinces of both synthetic and biopolymeric systems. Production methods and physiochemical factors shown to influence microgel swelling in the aqueous phase can have a significant impact on their bulk as well as interfacial performance. Compared to synthetic microgels, biopolymer microgels show a greater tendency for polydispersity and aggregation and do not appear to have a core-corona structure. Comprehensive studies of biopolymeric microgels are still lacking, for example, to accurately determine their inter- and intra- particle interactions, whilst a wider variety of techniques need to be applied in order to allow comparisons to real systems of practical usage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisy Z Akgonullu
- Food Colloids and Bioprocessing Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, UK
| | - Brent S Murray
- Food Colloids and Bioprocessing Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, UK
| | - Simon D Connell
- Molecular and Nanoscale Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, UK
| | - Yuan Fang
- PepsiCo, Valhalla, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Anwesha Sarkar
- Food Colloids and Bioprocessing Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, UK.
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5
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Hildebrandt M, Pham Thuy D, Kippenberger J, Wigger TL, Houston JE, Scotti A, Karg M. Fluid-solid transitions in photonic crystals of soft, thermoresponsive microgels. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:7122-7135. [PMID: 37695048 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01062g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Microgels are often discussed as well-suited model system for soft colloids. In contrast to rigid spheres, the microgel volume and, coupled to this, the volume fraction in dispersion can be manipulated by external stimuli. This behavior is particularly interesting at high packings where phase transitions can be induced by external triggers such as temperature in the case of thermoresponsive microgels. A challenge, however, is the determination of the real volume occupied by these deformable, soft objects and consequently, to determine the boundaries of the phase transitions. Here we propose core-shell microgels with a rigid silica core and a crosslinked, thermoresponsive poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM) shell with a carefully chosen shell-to-core size ratio as ideal model colloids to study fluid-solid transitions that are inducible by millikelvin changes in temperature. Specifically, we identify the temperature ranges where crystallization and melting occur using absorbance spectroscopy in a range of concentrations. Slow annealing from the fluid to the crystalline state leads to photonic crystals with Bragg peaks in the visible wavelength range and very narrow linewidths. Small-angle X-ray scattering is then used to confirm the structure of the fluid phase as well as the long-range order, crystal structure and microgel volume fraction in the solid phase. Thanks to the scattering contrasts and volume ratio of the cores with respect to the shells, the scattering data do allow for form factor analysis revealing osmotic deswelling at volume fractions approaching and also exceeding the hard sphere packing limit.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Hildebrandt
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie I: Kolloide und Nanooptik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - D Pham Thuy
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie I: Kolloide und Nanooptik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - J Kippenberger
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie I: Kolloide und Nanooptik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - T L Wigger
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie I: Kolloide und Nanooptik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - J E Houston
- European Spallation Source ERIC, Box 176, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - A Scotti
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52056 Aachen, Germany
| | - M Karg
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie I: Kolloide und Nanooptik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
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6
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Es Sayed J, Caïto C, Arunachalam A, Amirsadeghi A, van Westerveld L, Maret D, Mohamed Yunus RA, Calicchia E, Dittberner O, Portale G, Parisi D, Kamperman M. Effect of Dynamically Arrested Domains on the Phase Behavior, Linear Viscoelasticity and Microstructure of Hyaluronic Acid - Chitosan Complex Coacervates. Macromolecules 2023; 56:5891-5904. [PMID: 37576476 PMCID: PMC10413963 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c00269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Complex coacervates make up a class of versatile materials formed as a result of the electrostatic associations between oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. It is well-known that the viscoelastic properties of these materials can be easily altered with the ionic strength of the medium, resulting in a range of materials from free-flowing liquids to gel-like solids. However, in addition to electrostatics, several other noncovalent interactions could influence the formation of the coacervate phase depending on the chemical nature of the polymers involved. Here, the importance of intermolecular hydrogen bonds on the phase behavior, microstructure, and viscoelasticity of hyaluronic acid (HA)-chitosan (CHI) complex coacervates is revealed. The density of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between CHI units increases with increasing pH of coacervation, which results in dynamically arrested regions within the complex coacervate, leading to elastic gel-like behavior. This pH-dependent behavior may be very relevant for the controlled solidification of complex coacervates and thus for polyelectrolyte material design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Es Sayed
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Clément Caïto
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Abinaya Arunachalam
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Armin Amirsadeghi
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Larissa van Westerveld
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Denise Maret
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Roshan Akdar Mohamed Yunus
- Engineering
and Technology Institute Groningen (ENTEG), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Eleonora Calicchia
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department
of Nanomedicine & Drug Targeting, Groningen Research Institute
of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Olivia Dittberner
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Giuseppe Portale
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Daniele Parisi
- Engineering
and Technology Institute Groningen (ENTEG), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marleen Kamperman
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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7
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Petrunin AV, Schmidt MM, Schweins R, Houston JE, Scotti A. Self-Healing of Charged Microgels in Neutral and Charged Environments. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023. [PMID: 37220302 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The softness of microgels depends on many aspects, such as particle characteristic lengths, sample concentration, chemical composition of the sample, and elastic moduli of the particle. Here, the response to crowding of ionic microgels is studied. Charged and uncharged ionic microgels are studied in concentrated suspensions of both neutral and ionic microgels with the same swollen size. The combination of small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering with contrast variation allows us to probe both the particle-to-particle arrangement and the response of individual ionic microgels to crowding. When the ionic microgels are uncharged, initial isotropic deswelling followed by faceting is observed. Therefore, the ionizable groups in the polymeric network do not affect the response of the ionic microgel to crowding, which is similar to what has been reported for neutral microgels. In contrast, the kind of microgels composing the matrix plays a key role once the ionic microgels are charged. If the matrix is composed of neutral microgels, a pronounced faceting and negligible deswelling is observed. When only charged ionic microgels are present in the suspension, isotropic deswelling without faceting is dominant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander V Petrunin
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Maximilian M Schmidt
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Ralf Schweins
- Institut Laue-Langevin ILL, DS/LSS, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Judith E Houston
- European Spallation Source ERIC, Box 176, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Andrea Scotti
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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8
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Nickel AC, Denton AR, Houston JE, Schweins R, Plivelic TS, Richtering W, Scotti A. Beyond simple self-healing: How anisotropic nanogels adapt their shape to their environment. J Chem Phys 2022; 157:194901. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0119527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The response of soft colloids to crowding depends sensitively on the particles’ compressibility. Nanogel suspensions provide model systems that are often studied to better understand the properties of soft materials and complex fluids from the formation of colloidal crystals to the flow of viruses, blood, or platelet cells in the body. Large spherical nanogels, when embedded in a matrix of smaller nanogels, have the unique ability to spontaneously deswell to match their size to that of the nanogel composing the matrix. In contrast to hard colloids, this self-healing mechanism allows for crystal formation without giving rise to point defects or dislocations. Here, we show that anisotropic ellipsoidal nanogels adapt both their size and their shape depending on the nature of the particles composing the matrix in which they are embedded. Using small-angle neutron scattering with contrast variation, we show that ellipsoidal nanogels become spherical when embedded in a matrix of spherical nanogels. In contrast, the anisotropy of the ellipsoid is enhanced when they are embedded in a matrix of anisotropic nanogels. Our experimental data are supported by Monte Carlo simulations that reproduce the trend of decreasing aspect ratio of ellipsoidal nanogels with increasing crowding by a matrix of spherical nanogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne C. Nickel
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52056 Aachen, Germany
| | - Alan R. Denton
- Department of Physics, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58108-6050, USA
| | | | - Ralf Schweins
- Institut Laue-Langevin ILL DS/LSS, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Tomàs S. Plivelic
- MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Walter Richtering
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52056 Aachen, Germany
| | - Andrea Scotti
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52056 Aachen, Germany
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9
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Scotti A, Schulte MF, Lopez CG, Crassous JJ, Bochenek S, Richtering W. How Softness Matters in Soft Nanogels and Nanogel Assemblies. Chem Rev 2022; 122:11675-11700. [PMID: 35671377 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Softness plays a key role in determining the macroscopic properties of colloidal systems, from synthetic nanogels to biological macromolecules, from viruses to star polymers. However, we are missing a way to quantify what the term "softness" means in nanoscience. Having quantitative parameters is fundamental to compare different systems and understand what the consequences of softness on the macroscopic properties are. Here, we propose different quantities that can be measured using scattering methods and microscopy experiments. On the basis of these quantities, we review the recent literature on micro- and nanogels, i.e. cross-linked polymer networks swollen in water, a widely used model system for soft colloids. Applying our criteria, we address the question what makes a nanomaterial soft? We discuss and introduce general criteria to quantify the different definitions of softness for an individual compressible colloid. This is done in terms of the energetic cost associated with the deformation and the capability of the colloid to isotropically deswell. Then, concentrated solutions of soft colloids are considered. New definitions of softness and new parameters, which depend on the particle-to-particle interactions, are introduced in terms of faceting and interpenetration. The influence of the different synthetic routes on the softness of nanogels is discussed. Concentrated solutions of nanogels are considered and we review the recent results in the literature concerning the phase behavior and flow properties of nanogels both in three and two dimensions, in the light of the different parameters we defined. The aim of this review is to look at the results on micro- and nanogels in a more quantitative way that allow us to explain the reported properties in terms of differences in colloidal softness. Furthermore, this review can give researchers dealing with soft colloids quantitative methods to define unambiguously which softness matters in their compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Scotti
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52056 Aachen, Germany, European Union
| | - M Friederike Schulte
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52056 Aachen, Germany, European Union
| | - Carlos G Lopez
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52056 Aachen, Germany, European Union
| | - Jérôme J Crassous
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52056 Aachen, Germany, European Union
| | - Steffen Bochenek
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52056 Aachen, Germany, European Union
| | - Walter Richtering
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52056 Aachen, Germany, European Union
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10
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Charlet A, Bono F, Amstad E. Mechanical reinforcement of granular hydrogels. Chem Sci 2022; 13:3082-3093. [PMID: 35414870 PMCID: PMC8926196 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc06231j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Granular hydrogels are composed of hydrogel-based microparticles, so-called microgels, that are densely packed to form an ink that can be 3D printed, injected or cast into macroscopic structures. They are frequently used as tissue engineering scaffolds because microgels can be made biocompatible and the porosity of the granular hydrogels enables a fast exchange of reagents, waste products, and if properly designed even the infiltration of cells. Most of these granular hydrogels can be shaped into appropriate macroscopic structures, yet, these structures are mechanically rather weak. The poor mechanical properties prevent the use of these structures as load-bearing materials and hence, limit their field of applications. The mechanical properties of granular hydrogels depend on the composition of microgels and the interparticle interactions. In this review, we discuss different strategies to assemble microparticles into granular hydrogels and highlight the influence of inter-particle connections on the stiffness and toughness of the resulting materials. Mechanically strong and tough granular hydrogels have the potential to open up new fields of their use and thereby to contribute to fast advances in these fields. In particular, we envisage them to be well-suited as soft actuators and robots, tissue replacements, and adaptive sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Charlet
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, EPFL Lausanne Lausanne 1015 Switzerland
| | - Francesca Bono
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, EPFL Lausanne Lausanne 1015 Switzerland
| | - Esther Amstad
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, EPFL Lausanne Lausanne 1015 Switzerland
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11
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12
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Patel P, Thareja P. Hydrogels differentiated by length scales: A review of biopolymer-based hydrogel preparation methods, characterization techniques, and targeted applications. Eur Polym J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2021.110935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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13
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Mahmoudabadbozchelou M, Karniadakis GE, Jamali S. nn-PINNs: Non-Newtonian physics-informed neural networks for complex fluid modeling. SOFT MATTER 2021; 18:172-185. [PMID: 34859251 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01298c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Time- and rate-dependent material functions in non-Newtonian fluids in response to different deformation fields pose a challenge in integrating different constitutive models into conventional computational fluid dynamic platforms. Considering their relevance in many industrial and natural settings alike, robust data-driven frameworks that enable accurate modeling of these complex fluids are of great interest. The main goal is to solve the coupled Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) consisting of the constitutive equations that relate the shear stress to the deformation and fully capture the behavior of the fluid under various flow protocols with different boundary conditions. In this work, we present non-Newtonian physics-informed neural networks (nn-PINNs) for solving systems of coupled PDEs adopted for complex fluid flow modeling. The proposed nn-PINN method is employed to solve the constitutive models in conjunction with conservation of mass and momentum by benefiting from Automatic Differentiation (AD) in neural networks, hence avoiding the mesh generation step. nn-PINNs are tested for a number of different complex fluids with different constitutive models and for several flow protocols. These include a range of Generalized Newtonian Fluid (GNF) empirical constitutive models, as well as some phenomenological models with memory effects and thixotropic timescales. nn-PINNs are found to obtain the correct solution of complex fluids in spatiotemporal domains with good accuracy compared to the ground truth solution. We also present applications of nn-PINNs for complex fluid modeling problems with unknown boundary conditions on the surface, and show that our approach can successfully recover the velocity and stress fields across the domain, including the boundaries, given some sparse velocity measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - George Em Karniadakis
- Division of Applied Mathematics, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
| | - Safa Jamali
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
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14
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Xie ZT, Kang DH, Matsusaki M. Resolution of 3D bioprinting inside bulk gel and granular gel baths. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:8769-8785. [PMID: 34604877 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00926e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has rapidly developed in the last decade, playing an increasingly important role in applications including pharmacokinetics research, tissue engineering, and organ regeneration. As a cutting-edge technology in 3D printing, gel bath-supported 3D bioprinting enables the freeform construction of complex structures with soft and water-containing materials, facilitating the in vitro fabrication of live tissue or organ models. To realize in vivo-like organs or tissues in terms of biological functions and complex structures by 3D printing, high resolution and fidelity are prerequisites. Although a wide range of gel matrices have recently been developed as supporting materials, the effect of bath properties and printing parameters on the print resolution is still not clearly understood. This review systematically introduces the decisive factors for resolution in both bulk gel bath systems and granular microgel bath systems, providing guidelines for high-resolution 3D bioprinting based on bath properties and printing parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Tian Xie
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
| | - Dong-Hee Kang
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
| | - Michiya Matsusaki
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
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15
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Frenzel L, Dartsch M, Balaguer GM, Westermeier F, Grübel G, Lehmkühler F. Glass-liquid and glass-gel transitions of soft-shell particles. Phys Rev E 2021; 104:L012602. [PMID: 34412357 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.104.l012602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
We study the structure and dynamics of colloidal particles with a spherical hard core and a thermo-responsive soft shell over the whole phase diagram by means of small-angle x-ray scattering and x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy. By changing the effective volume fraction by temperature and particle concentration, liquid, repulsive glass. and attractive gel phases are observed. The dynamics slow down with increasing volume fraction in the liquid phase and reflect a Vogel-Fulcher-Tamann behavior known for fragile glass formers. We find a liquid-glass transition above 50 vol.% that is independent of the particles' concentration and temperature. In an overpacked state at effective volume fractions above 1, the dispersion does not show a liquid phase but undergoes a gel-glass transition at an effective volume fraction of 34 vol.%. At the same concentration, extrema of subdiffusive dynamics are found in the liquid phase at lower weight fractions. We interpret this as dynamic precursors of the glass-gel transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Frenzel
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany.,The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Dartsch
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany.,The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Fabian Westermeier
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Grübel
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany.,The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Felix Lehmkühler
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany.,The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
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16
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Goujard S, Suau JM, Chaub A, Guigner JM, Bizien T, Cloitre M. Glassy states in adsorbing surfactant-microgel soft nanocomposites. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2021; 33:404003. [PMID: 34237714 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ac1282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mixtures of polymer-colloid hybrids such as star polymers and microgels with non-adsorbing polymeric additives have received a lot of attention. In these materials, the interplay between entropic forces and softness is responsible for a wealth of phenomena. By contrast, binary mixtures where one component can adsorb onto the other one have been far less studied. Yet real formulations in applications often contain low molecular weight additives that can adsorb onto soft colloids. Here we study the microstructure and rheology of soft nanocomposites made of surfactants and microgels using linear and nonlinear rheology, SAXS experiments, and cryo-TEM techniques. The results are used to build a dynamical state diagram encompassing various liquid, glassy, jammed, metastable, and reentrant liquid states, which results from a subtle interplay between enthalpic, entropic, and kinetic effects. We rationalize the rheological properties of the nanocomposites in each domain of the state diagram, thus providing exquisite solutions for designing new rheology modifiers at will.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Goujard
- Molecular, Macromolecular Chemistry and Materials, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL University, 10 Rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France
| | | | - Arnaud Chaub
- Molecular, Macromolecular Chemistry and Materials, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL University, 10 Rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Michel Guigner
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 7590 Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC)-IRD-MNHN, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Thomas Bizien
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin BP 48, Gif-sur-Yvette 91190, France
| | - Michel Cloitre
- Molecular, Macromolecular Chemistry and Materials, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL University, 10 Rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France
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17
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Parisi D, Camargo M, Makri K, Gauthier M, Likos CN, Vlassopoulos D. Effect of softness on glass melting and re-entrant solidification in mixtures of soft and hard colloids. J Chem Phys 2021; 155:034901. [PMID: 34293891 DOI: 10.1063/5.0055381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a systematic investigation of the structure and dynamic properties of model soft-hard colloidal mixtures. Results of a coarse-grained theoretical model are contrasted with rheological data, where the soft and hard colloids are mimicked by large star polymers with high functionality as the soft component and smaller stars with ultrahigh functionality as the hard one. Previous work by us revealed the recovery of the ergodicity of glassy soft star solutions and subsequent arrested phase separation and re-entrant solid transition upon progressive addition of small hard depletants. Here, we use different components to show that a small variation in softness has a significant impact on the state diagram of such mixtures. In particular, we establish that rendering the soft component more penetrable and modifying the size ratio bring about a remarkable shift in both the phase separation region and the glass-melting line so that the region of restored ergodicity can be notably enhanced and extended to much higher star polymer concentrations than for pure systems. We further rationalize our findings by analyzing the features of the depletion interaction induced by the smaller component that result from the interplay between the size ratio and the softness of the large component. These results demonstrate the great sensitivity of the phase behavior of entropic mixtures to small changes in the molecular architecture of the soft stars and point to the importance of accounting for details of the internal microstructure of soft colloidal particles for tailoring the flow properties of soft composites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Parisi
- FORTH, Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Manuel Camargo
- CICBA & FIMEB, Universidad Antonio Nariño-Campus Farallones, Km 18 via Cali-Jamundi, 760030 Cali, Colombia
| | - Kalliopi Makri
- FORTH, Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Mario Gauthier
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Christos N Likos
- Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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18
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Roullet M, Clegg PS, Frith WJ. Rheology of protein-stabilised emulsion gels envisioned as composite networks. 2 - Framework for the study of emulsion gels. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 594:92-100. [PMID: 33756372 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.02.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS The aggregation of protein-stabilised emulsions leads to the formation of emulsion gels. These soft solids may be envisioned as droplet-filled matrices. Here however, it is assumed that protein-coated sub-micron droplets contribute to the network formation in a similar way to proteins. Emulsion gels are thus envisioned as composite networks made of proteins and droplets. EXPERIMENTS Emulsion gels with a wide range of composition are prepared and their viscoelasticity and frequency dependence are measured. Their rheological behaviours are then analysed and compared with the properties of pure gels presented in the first part of this study. FINDINGS When the concentrations of droplets and protein are expressed as an effective volume fraction, the rheological behaviour of emulsion gels is shown to depend mostly on the total volume fraction, while the composition of the gel indicates its level of similarity with either pure droplet gels or pure protein gels. These results help to form an emerging picture of protein-stabilised emulsion gel as intermediate between droplet and protein gels. This justifies a posteriori the hypothesis of composite networks, and opens the road for the formulation of emulsion gels with fine-tuned rheology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Roullet
- Unilever R& D Colworth, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1LQ, UK; School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK.
| | - Paul S Clegg
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK.
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19
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Scotti A. Characterization of the volume fraction of soft deformable microgels by means of small-angle neutron scattering with contrast variation. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:5548-5559. [PMID: 33978056 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00277e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The volume occupied by colloids in a suspension - namely the volume fraction - is the thermodynamic variable that determines the phase behavior of these systems. While for hard incompressible spheres this quantity is well defined, for soft compressible colloids such as microgels - polymeric crosslinked networks swollen in a good solvent - the determination of the real volume occupied by these particles in solution is particularly challenging. This fact depends on two aspects: first the surface and, therefore, the volume of the microgels is hard to define properly given their external fuzziness; second, microgels can osmotically deswell, deform or interpenetrate their neighbors, i.e. change their shape and size depending on the solution concentration. Here, the form factors of few hydrogenated microgels embedded in a matrix of deuterated but otherwise identical microgels are measured using small-angle neutron scattering with contrast variation. From the analysis of the scattering data, the variation of the volume of the microgels as a function of concentration is obtained and used to calculate the real microgel volume fraction in solution. Soft neutral microgels are shown to facet already at low concentrations while in contrast, harder microgels maintain their shape and change their volume.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Scotti
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52056, Aachen, Germany.
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20
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Kamani K, Donley GJ, Rogers SA. Unification of the Rheological Physics of Yield Stress Fluids. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2021; 126:218002. [PMID: 34114843 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.126.218002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The physics above and below the yield stress is unified by a simple model for viscoplasticity that accounts for the nonlinear rheology of multiple yield stress fluids. The model has a rate-dependent relaxation time, allows for plastic deformation below the yield stress, and indicates that rapid elastic deformation aids yielding. A range of commonly observed rheological behaviors are predicted, including the smooth overshoot in the loss modulus and the recently discovered contributions from recoverable and unrecoverable strains in amplitude sweeps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krutarth Kamani
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Gavin J Donley
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Simon A Rogers
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois 61801, USA
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21
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Chaudhary G, Ghosh A, Kang JG, Braun PV, Ewoldt RH, Schweizer KS. Linear and nonlinear viscoelasticity of concentrated thermoresponsive microgel suspensions. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 601:886-898. [PMID: 34186277 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.05.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We present an integrated experimental and theoretical study of the dynamics and rheology of self-crosslinked, slightly charged, temperature responsive soft poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) microgels over a wide range of concentration and temperature spanning the sharp change in particle size and intermolecular interactions across the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). Dramatic, non-monotonic changes in viscoelasticity are observed as a function of temperature, with distinct concentration dependence in the dense fluid, glassy, and soft-jammed regimes. Motivated by our experimental observations, we formulate a minimalistic model for the size dependence of a single microgel particle and the change of the interparticle interaction from purely repulsive to attractive upon heating. Using microscopic equilibrium and time-dependent statistical mechanical theories, theoretical predictions are quantitatively compared with experimental measurements of the shear modulus. Good agreement is found for the nonmonotonic temperature behavior that originates as a consequence of the competition between reduced microgel packing fraction and increasing interparticle attractions. Testable predictions are made for nonlinear rheological properties such as the yield stress and strain. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to quantitatively understand in a unified manner the viscoelasticity of dense, temperature-responsive microgel suspensions spanning a wide range of temperatures and concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Chaudhary
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Ashesh Ghosh
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Jin Gu Kang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Paul V Braun
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Randy H Ewoldt
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| | - Kenneth S Schweizer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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22
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Saha P, Ganguly R, Li X, Das R, Singha NK, Pich A. Zwitterionic Nanogels and Microgels: An Overview on Their Synthesis and Applications. Macromol Rapid Commun 2021; 42:e2100112. [PMID: 34021658 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202100112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Zwitterionic polymers by virtue of their unique chemical and physical attributes have attracted researchers in recent years. The simultaneous presence of positive and negative charges in the same repeat unit renders them of various interesting properties such as superhydrophilicity, which has significantly broadened their scope for being used in different applications. Among polyzwitterions of different architectures, micro- and/or nano-gels have started receiving attention only until recently. These 3D cross-linked colloidal structures show peculiar characteristics in context to their solution properties, which are attributable either to the comonomers present or the presence of different electrolytes and biological specimens. In this review, a concise yet detailed account is provided of the different synthetic techniques and application domains of zwitterion-based micro- and/or nanogels that have been explored in recent years. Here, the focus is kept solely on the "polybetaines," which have garnered maximum research interest and remain the extensively studied polyzwitterions in literature. While their vast application potential in the biomedical sector is being detailed here, some other areas of scope such as using them as microreactors for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles or making smart membranes for water-treatment are discussed in this minireview as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pabitra Saha
- DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, 52074, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52062, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ritabrata Ganguly
- Rubber Technology Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, Kharagpur, 721302, India
| | - Xin Li
- DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, 52074, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52062, Aachen, Germany
| | - Rohan Das
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, Esch-sur-Alzette, 4362, Luxembourg
| | - Nikhil K Singha
- Rubber Technology Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, Kharagpur, 721302, India
| | - Andrij Pich
- DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, 52074, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52062, Aachen, Germany.,Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Maastricht University, Geleen, 6167, The Netherlands
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23
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Shewan HM, Yakubov GE, Bonilla MR, Stokes JR. Viscoelasticity of non-colloidal hydrogel particle suspensions at the liquid-solid transition. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:5073-5083. [PMID: 33929481 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01624a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Suspensions of soft particles transition from a viscous fluid to a soft material upon increases in phase volume. The criteria defining the transition to this jammed state are difficult to define due to the porous and deformable nature of soft particles. Here, we characterise the rheology of aqueous suspensions of industrially relevant non-colloidal, polydisperse, frictional agarose microgels and evaluate shear and viscoelastic behaviour across a range of phase volumes from the dilute regime to the highly concentrated regime. In order to model the viscoelastic response of suspensions without free fitting parameters, the random close packing volume fraction (φrcp) and the particle modulus are determined, respectively, from particle size distribution measurements and direct measurements of reduced elastic modulus of individual particles (Erp) using Atomic Force Microscopy. It is found that at φrcp, previously shown to correspond to divergence of the viscosity, also corresponds to the suspension transition from a viscous to viscoelastic fluid. However, the transition to a jammed solid-like state (φj) occurs at phase volumes exceeding this value (i.e. φj > φrcp). The suspension modulus and its sudden growth at φj are well-predicted by the Evans and Lips model that incorporates the Erp of the hydrogel particles. This rheological behaviour showing a dual transition is reminiscent of two families of systems: (i) colloidal suspensions and (ii) frictional-adhesive non-colloidal suspensions. However, it does not strictly follow either case. We propose that the width of the transition region is dictated by frictional contact, particle size distribution and particle modulus, and plan to further probe this in future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M Shewan
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Gleb E Yakubov
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Mauricio R Bonilla
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Jason R Stokes
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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24
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Dhand AP, Poling-Skutvik R, Osuji CO. Simple production of cellulose nanofibril microcapsules and the rheology of their suspensions. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:4517-4524. [PMID: 33710229 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00225b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microcapsules are commonly used in applications ranging from therapeutics to personal care products due to their ability to deliver encapsulated species through their porous shells. Here, we demonstrate a simple and scalable approach to fabricate microcapsules with porous shells by interfacial complexation of cellulose nanofibrils and oleylamine, and investigate the rheological properties of suspensions of the resulting microcapsules. The suspensions of neat capsules are viscous liquids whose viscosity increases with volume fraction according to a modified Kreiger-Dougherty relation with a maximum packing fraction of 0.74 and an intrinsic viscosity of 4.1. When polyacrylic acid (PAA) is added to the internal phase of the microcapsules, however, the suspensions become elastic and display yield stresses with power-law dependencies on capsule volume fraction and PAA concentration. The elasticity appears to originate from associative microcapsule interactions induced by PAA that is contained within and incorporated into the microcapsule shell. These results demonstrate that it is possible to tune the rheological properties of microcapsule suspensions by changing only the composition of the internal phase, thereby providing a novel method to tailor complex fluid rheology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek P Dhand
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Ryan Poling-Skutvik
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA.
| | - Chinedum O Osuji
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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25
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Glass and Jamming Rheology in Soft Particles Made of PNIPAM and Polyacrylic Acid. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084032. [PMID: 33919803 PMCID: PMC8070831 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The phase behaviour of soft colloids has attracted great attention due to the large variety of new phenomenologies emerging from their ability to pack at very high volume fractions. Here we report rheological measurements on interpenetrated polymer network microgels composed of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and polyacrylic acid (PAAc) at fixed PAAc content as a function of weight concentration. We found three different rheological regimes characteristic of three different states: a Newtonian shear-thinning fluid, an attractive glass characterized by a yield stress, and a jamming state. We discuss the possible molecular mechanisms driving the formation of these states.
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26
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O'Bryan CS, Brady-Miné A, Tessmann CJ, Spotz AM, Angelini TE. Capillary forces drive buckling, plastic deformation, and break-up of 3D printed beams. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:3886-3894. [PMID: 33683242 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01971b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Capillary forces acting at the interfaces of soft materials lead to deformations over the scale of the elastocapillary length. When surface stresses exceed a material's yield stress, a plastocapillary effect is expected to arise, resulting in yielding and plastic deformation. Here, we explore the interfacial instabilities of 3D-printed fluid and elastic beams embedded within viscoelastic fluids and elastic solid support materials. Interfacial instabilities are driven by the immiscibility between the paired phases or their solvents. We find that the stability of an embedded structure is predicted from the balance between the yield stress of the elastic solid, τy, the apparent interfacial tension between the materials, γ', and the radius of the beam, r, such that τy > γ'/r. When the capillary forces are sufficiently large, we observe yielding and failure of the 3D printed beams. Furthermore, we observe new coiling and buckling instabilities emerging when elastic beams are embedded within viscous fluid support materials. The coiling behavior appear analogous to elastic rope coiling whereas the buckling instability follows the scaling behavior predicted from Euler-Bernoulli beam theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher S O'Bryan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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27
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Shangwei L, Urakawa O, Inoue T. Rheo-Optical Study on the Viscoelastic Relaxation Modes of a Microgel Particle Suspension around the Liquid–Solid Transition Regime. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c02205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Li Shangwei
- Department of Macromolecular Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Osamu Urakawa
- Department of Macromolecular Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Tadashi Inoue
- Department of Macromolecular Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
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28
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Effect of D-Mannitol on the Microstructure and Rheology of Non-Aqueous Carbopol Microgels. MATERIALS 2021; 14:ma14071782. [PMID: 33916550 PMCID: PMC8038445 DOI: 10.3390/ma14071782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
D-mannitol is a common polyol that is used as additive in pharmaceutical and personal care product formulations. We investigated its effect on the microstructure and rheology of novel non-aqueous Carbopol dispersions employing traditional and time-resolved rheological analysis. We considered two types of sample, (i) fresh (i.e., mannitol completely dissolved in solution) and aged (i.e., visible in crystalline form). The analysis of the intracycle rheological transitions that were observed for different samples revealed that, when completely dissolved in solution, mannitol does not alter the rheological behaviour of the Carbopol dispersions. This highlights that the chemical similarity of the additive with the molecules of the surrounding solvent allows preserving the swollen dimension and interparticle interactions of the Carbopol molecules. Conversely, when crystals are present, a hierarchical structure forms, consisting of a small dispersed phase (Carbopol) agglomerated around a big dispersed phase (crystals). In keeping with this microstructural picture, as the concentration of Carbopol reduces, the local dynamics of the crystals gradually start to control the integrity of the microstructure. Rheologically, this results in a higher elasticity of the suspensions at infinitesimal deformations, but a fragile yielding process at intermediate strains.
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29
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Colloidal and polymeric contributions to the yielding of dense microgel suspensions. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 587:437-445. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.11.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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30
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Li J, Desam GP, Narsimhan V, Narsimhan G. Methodology to predict the time-dependent storage modulus of starch suspensions during heating. Food Hydrocoll 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2020.106463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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31
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Najafi M, Habibi M, Fokkink R, Hennink WE, Vermonden T. LCST polymers with UCST behavior. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:2132-2141. [PMID: 33439188 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01505a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In this study, temperature dependent behavior of dense dispersions of core crosslinked flower-like micelles is investigated. Micelles were prepared by mixing aqueous solutions of two ABA block copolymers with PEG B-blocks and thermosensitive A-blocks containing PNIPAM and crosslinkable moieties. At a temperature above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), self-assembly of the polymers resulted in the formation of flower-like micelles with a hydrophilic PEG shell and a hydrophobic core. The micellar core was stabilized by native chemical ligation (NCL). Above the LCST, micelles displayed a radius of ∼35 nm, while a radius of ∼48 nm was found below the LCST due to hydration of the PNIPAM core. Concentrated dispersions of these micelles (≥7.5 wt%) showed glassy state behavior below a critical temperature (Tc: 28 °C) which is close to the LCST of the polymers. Below this Tc, the increase in the micelle volume resulted in compression of micelles together above a certain concentration and formation of a glass. We quantified and compared micelle packing at different concentrations and temperatures. The storage moduli (G') of the dispersions showed a universal dependence on the effective volume fraction, which increased substantially above a certain effective volume fraction of φ = 1.2. Furthermore, a disordered lattice model describing this behavior fitted the experimental data and revealed a critical volume fraction of φc = 1.31 close to the experimental value of φ = 1.2. The findings reported provide insights for the molecular design of novel thermosensitive PNIPAM nanoparticles with tunable structural and mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzieh Najafi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Science for Life, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, P. O. Box 80082, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Mehdi Habibi
- Physics and Physical Chemistry of Foods, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WG Wageningen, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Remco Fokkink
- Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Wim E Hennink
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Science for Life, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, P. O. Box 80082, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Tina Vermonden
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Science for Life, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, P. O. Box 80082, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Yu AC, Lian H, Kong X, Lopez Hernandez H, Qin J, Appel EA. Physical networks from entropy-driven non-covalent interactions. Nat Commun 2021; 12:746. [PMID: 33531475 PMCID: PMC7854746 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21024-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Physical networks typically employ enthalpy-dominated crosslinking interactions that become more dynamic at elevated temperatures, leading to network softening. Moreover, standard mathematical frameworks such as time-temperature superposition assume network softening and faster dynamics at elevated temperatures. Yet, deriving a mathematical framework connecting the crosslinking thermodynamics to the temperature-dependent viscoelasticity of physical networks suggests the possibility for entropy-driven crosslinking interactions to provide alternative temperature dependencies. This framework illustrates that temperature negligibly affects crosslink density in reported systems, but drastically influences crosslink dynamics. While the dissociation rate of enthalpy-driven crosslinks is accelerated at elevated temperatures, the dissociation rate of entropy-driven crosslinks is negligibly affected or even slowed under these conditions. Here we report an entropy-driven physical network based on polymer-nanoparticle interactions that exhibits mechanical properties that are invariant with temperature. These studies provide a foundation for designing and characterizing entropy-driven physical crosslinking motifs and demonstrate how these physical networks access thermal properties that are not observed in current physical networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C Yu
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Huada Lian
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Xian Kong
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Jian Qin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Eric A Appel
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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33
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Scotti A, Pelaez-Fernandez M, Gasser U, Fernandez-Nieves A. Osmotic pressure of suspensions comprised of charged microgels. Phys Rev E 2021; 103:012609. [PMID: 33601513 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.103.012609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We determine the osmotic pressure of microgel suspensions using membrane osmometry and dialysis, for microgels with different softnesses. Our measurements reveal that the osmotic pressure of solutions of both ionic and neutral microgels is determined by the free ions that leave the microgel periphery to maximize their entropy and not by the translational degrees of freedom of the microgels themselves. Furthermore, up to a given concentration it is energetically favorable for the microgels to maintain a constant volume without appreciable deswelling. The concentration where deswelling starts weakly depends on the crosslinker concentration, which affects the microgel dimension; we explain this by considering the dependence of the osmotic pressure and the microgel bulk modulus on the particle size.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Scotti
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52056 Aachen, Germany
| | - M Pelaez-Fernandez
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - U Gasser
- Laboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - A Fernandez-Nieves
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA-Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avancats, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, 30332 Georgia, USA
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34
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Migliozzi S, Meridiano G, Angeli P, Mazzei L. Investigation of the swollen state of Carbopol molecules in non-aqueous solvents through rheological characterization. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:9799-9815. [PMID: 33005911 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01196g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We explore how different types of solvent influence the rheological properties of non-aqueous Carbopol dispersions from the dilute to the jammed state. In novel non-aqueous formulations, polar solvents are used more and more frequently, because they can form Carbopol microgels without the need of any neutralizing agents. However, the swelling behaviour of Carbopol molecules in the absence of water, when ionic forces are weak, is still poorly understood. To this end, we study the swelling behaviour of Carbopol 974P NF in different polar solvents, i.e. glycerol, PEG400 and mixtures of the two solvents, by mapping the rheological behaviour of Carbopol suspensions from very dilute to highly concentrated conditions. The rheological study reveals that the onset of the jamming transition occurs at different critical polymer concentrations depending on the solvents used. Nevertheless, once the jammed state is reached, both elastic and yielding behaviours are scalable with the particle volume fraction. These results suggest that the type of solvent influences the final volume of the single Carbopol particles but does not alter the interactions between the particles. The final radius of the swollen particles is estimated from shear rheology measurements in dilute conditions, showing a decrease of the final swelling ratio of Carbopol molecules of almost 50% for PEG400 solutions, a result that confirms the shift to higher values of the critical jamming concentration obtained from linear viscoelasticity for the same solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Migliozzi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK.
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35
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Scheffold F. Pathways and challenges towards a complete characterization of microgels. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4315. [PMID: 32887886 PMCID: PMC7473851 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17774-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to their controlled size, sensitivity to external stimuli, and ease-of-use, microgel colloids are unique building blocks for soft materials made by crosslinking polymers on the micrometer scale. Despite the plethora of work published, many questions about their internal structure, interactions, and phase behavior are still open. The reasons for this lack of understanding are the challenges arising from the small size of the microgel particles, complex pairwise interactions, and their solvent permeability. Here we describe pathways toward a complete understanding of microgel colloids based on recent experimental advances in nanoscale characterization, such as super-resolution microscopy, scattering methods, and modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Scheffold
- Department of Physics, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 3, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland.
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36
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Sinjari S, Freitag JS, Herold C, Otto O, Smith DM, Stöver HDH. Tunable polymer microgel particles and their study using microscopy and
real‐time
deformability cytometry. JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/pol.20200274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sheilan Sinjari
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology McMaster University Hamilton Ontario Canada
| | | | | | - Oliver Otto
- ZellMechanik Dresden Dresden Germany
- Centre for Innovation Competence—Humoral Immune Reactions in Cardiovascular Disorders University of Greifswald Greifswald Germany
| | - David M. Smith
- Fraunhofer Institut für Zelltherapie und Immunologie Leipzig Germany
- University of Leipzig, Peter Debye Institute for Soft Matter Physics Leipzig Germany
- University of Leipzig Medical Faculty, Institute of Clinical Immunology Leipzig Germany
| | - Harald D. H. Stöver
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology McMaster University Hamilton Ontario Canada
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37
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Minami S, Watanabe T, Sasaki Y, Minato H, Yamamoto A, Suzuki D, Urayama K. Two-step yielding behavior of densely packed microgel mixtures with chemically dissimilar surfaces and largely different sizes. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:7400-7413. [PMID: 32699868 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm00366b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Steady-state flow and elastic behavior is investigated for the moderately concentrated binary suspensions of soft microgels (pastes) with chemically dissimilar surfaces, and various degrees of size- and stiffness disparities. The pastes of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (N) and poly(N-isopropyl methacrylamide) (NM) microgels with different values of yield strain γc (γNc > γNMc) are employed as the components. For the single microgel pastes (φ ≈ 1 where φ is apparent volume fraction), the values of γc are governed by the chemical species of constituent polymer in microgel surface whereas γc is insensitive to cross-link density and particle size. We demonstrate that the binary N/NM pastes with large size disparity (RN/NM = DN/DNM < 0.26 where D is the microgel diameter) at low φN (φN: weight fraction of small N microgels) exhibit the peculiarities in several rheological aspects, i.e., the two-step yielding in steady-state flow, and their values of γc and equilibrium shear modulus (G0) being equivalent to those of the single large NM microgel paste. These peculiarities are attributed to the characteristic packing resulting from large size disparity in which all or almost of the small N microgels tend to be accommodated in the gap between the large NM microgels even in moderately concentrated state. This characteristic packing substantially masks the contribution of the small N microgels at low φN, explaining the φN-independent G0 and γc as well as the first yielding governed solely by the large NM microgels. The second yielding results from the emerged contribution of the small N microgels expelled out from the gap by the positional rearrangements after the first yielding. The binary homo-N/N pastes with the similarly large size disparity at low φsmall also exhibit the φsmall-independent values of G0, but they show one-step yielding, indicating that the two-step yielding requires not only sufficiently large size disparity but also chemical dissimilarity (different values of γc) between the two components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saori Minami
- Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan.
| | - Takumi Watanabe
- Graduate School of Textile Science & Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda 386-8567, Japan.
| | - Yuma Sasaki
- Graduate School of Textile Science & Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda 386-8567, Japan.
| | - Haruka Minato
- Graduate School of Textile Science & Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda 386-8567, Japan.
| | - Atsushi Yamamoto
- Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan.
| | - Daisuke Suzuki
- Graduate School of Textile Science & Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda 386-8567, Japan. and Research Initiative for Supra-Materials, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Shinshu University, Ueda 386-8567, Japan
| | - Kenji Urayama
- Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan.
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38
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Roullet M, Clegg PS, Frith WJ. Rheology of protein-stabilised emulsion gels envisioned as composite networks 1- Comparison of pure droplet gels and protein gels. J Colloid Interface Sci 2020; 579:878-887. [PMID: 32679385 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Protein-stabilised emulsion gels can be studied in the theoretical framework of colloidal gels, because both protein assemblies and droplets may be considered as soft colloids. These particles differ in their nature, size and softness, and these differences may have an influence on the rheological properties of the gels they form. EXPERIMENTS Pure gels made of milk proteins (sodium caseinate), or of sub-micron protein-stabilised droplets, were prepared by slow acidification of suspensions at various concentrations. Their microstructure was characterised, their viscoelasticity, both in the linear and non-linear regime, and their frequency dependence were measured, and the behaviour of the two types of gels was compared. FINDINGS Protein gels and droplet gels were found to have broadly similar microstructure and rheological properties when compared at fixed volume fraction, a parameter derived from the study of the viscosity of the suspensions formed by proteins and by droplets. The viscoelasticity displayed a power law behaviour in concentration, as did the storage modulus in frequency. Additionally, strain hardening was found to occur at low concentration. These behaviours differed slightly between protein gels and droplet gels, showing that some specific properties of the primary colloidal particles play a role in the development of the rheological properties of the gels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Roullet
- Unilever R&D Colworth, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1LQ, UK; School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK.
| | - Paul S Clegg
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK.
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39
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Minami S, Yamamoto A, Oura S, Watanabe T, Suzuki D, Urayama K. Criteria for colloidal gelation of thermo-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) based microgels. J Colloid Interface Sci 2020; 568:165-175. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.02.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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40
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Poling-Skutvik R, Di X, Osuji CO. Correlation of droplet elasticity and volume fraction effects on emulsion dynamics. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:2574-2580. [PMID: 32083258 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm02394a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The rheological properties of emulsions are of considerable importance in a diverse range of scenarios. Here we describe a superposition of the effects of droplet elasticity and volume fraction on the dynamics of emulsions. The superposition is governed by physical interactions between droplets, and provides a new mechanism for modifying the flow behavior of emulsions, by controlling the elasticity of the dispersed phase. We investigate the properties of suspensions of emulsified wormlike micelles (WLM). Dense suspensions of the emulsified WLM droplets exhibit thermally responsive properties in which the viscoelastic moduli decrease by an order of magnitude over a temperature range of 0 °C to 25 °C. Surprisingly, the dependence of modulus on volume fraction is independent of droplet stiffness. Instead, the emulsion modulus scales as a power-law with volume fraction with a constant exponent across all temperatures even as the droplet properties change from elastic to viscous. Nevertheless, the underlying droplet dynamics depend strongly on temperature. From stress relaxation experiments, we quantify droplet dynamics across the cage breaking time scale below which the droplets are locally caged by neighbors and above which the droplets escape their cages to fully relax. For elastic droplets and high volume fractions, droplets relax less stress on short time scales and the terminal relaxations are slower than for viscous droplets and lower volume fractions. Characteristic measures of the short and long-time dynamics are highly correlated for variations in both temperature and emulsion concentration, suggesting that thermal and volume fraction effects represent independent parameters to control emulsion properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Poling-Skutvik
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
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41
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Scotti A, Brugnoni M, G Lopez C, Bochenek S, Crassous JJ, Richtering W. Flow properties reveal the particle-to-polymer transition of ultra-low crosslinked microgels. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:668-678. [PMID: 31815271 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01451a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Exploiting soft, adaptive microgels as building blocks for soft materials with controlled and predictable viscoelastic properties is of great interest for both industry and fundamental research. Here the flow properties of different poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) microgels are compared: regularly crosslinked versus ultra-low crosslinked (ULC) microgels. The latter are the softest microgels that can be produced via precipitation polymerization. The viscosity of ULC microgel suspensions at low concentrations can be described with models typically used for hard spheres and regularly crosslinked microgels. In contrast, at higher concentrations, ULC microgels show a much softer behavior compared to regularly crosslinked microgels. The increase of the storage modulus with concentration discloses that while for regularly crosslinked microgels the flow properties are mainly determined by the more crosslinked core, for ULC microgels the brush-like interaction is dominant at high packing fractions. Both the flow curves and the increase of the storage modulus with concentration indicates that ULC microgels can form glass and even reach an apparent jammed state despite their extreme softness. In contrast, the analysis of oscillatory frequency sweep measurements show that when approaching the glass transition the ultra-low crosslinked microgels behave as the regularly crosslinked microgels. This is consistent with a recent study showing that in this concentration range the equilibrium phase behavior of these ULC microgels is the one expected for regularly crosslinked microgels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Scotti
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52056 Aachen, Germany.
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42
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Parisi D, Ruan Y, Ochbaum G, Silmore KS, Cullari LL, Liu CY, Bitton R, Regev O, Swan JW, Loppinet B, Vlassopoulos D. Short and Soft: Multidomain Organization, Tunable Dynamics, and Jamming in Suspensions of Grafted Colloidal Cylinders with a Small Aspect Ratio. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:17103-17113. [PMID: 31793788 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b03025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The yet virtually unexplored class of soft colloidal rods with a small aspect ratio is investigated and shown to exhibit a very rich phase and dynamic behavior, spanning from liquid to nearly melt state. Instead of the nematic order, these short and soft nanocylinders alter their organization with increasing concentration from isotropic liquid with random orientation to small domains with preferred local orientation and eventually a multidomain arrangement with a local orientational order. The latter gives rise to a kinetically suppressed state akin to structural glass with detectable terminal relaxation, which, on further increasing concentration, reveals features of hexagonally packed order as in ordered block copolymers. The respective dynamic response comprises four regimes, all above the overlapping concentration of 0.02 g/mL:(I) from 0.03 to 0.1 g/mol, the system undergoes a liquid-to-solidlike transition with a structural relaxation time that grows by 4 orders of magnitude. (II) From 0.1 to 0.2 g/mL, a dramatic slowing-down is observed and is accompanied by an evolution from isotropic to a multidomain structure. (III) Between 0.2 and 0.6 g/mol, the suspensions exhibit signatures of shell interpenetration and jamming, with the colloidal plateau modulus depending linearly on concentration. (IV) At 0.74 g/mL, in the densely jammed state, the viscoelastic signature of hexagonally packed cylinders from microphase-separated block copolymers is detected. These properties set short and soft nanocylinders apart from long colloidal rods (with a large aspect ratio) and provide insights for fundamentally understanding the physics in this intermediate soft colloidal regime and for tailoring the flow properties of nonspherical soft colloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Parisi
- Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser, FORTH , Heraklion 71110 , Crete , Greece
- Department of Materials Science & Technology , University of Crete , Heraklion 71003 , Crete , Greece
| | - Yingbo Ruan
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory of Engineering Plastics, Institute of Chemistry , The Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
| | - Guy Ochbaum
- Department of Chemical Engineering and the Ilze Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva 84105 , Israel
| | - Kevin S Silmore
- Department of Chemical Engineering , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge 02139 , Massachusetts , United States
| | - Lucas L Cullari
- Department of Chemical Engineering and the Ilze Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva 84105 , Israel
| | - Chen-Yang Liu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory of Engineering Plastics, Institute of Chemistry , The Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
| | - Ronit Bitton
- Department of Chemical Engineering and the Ilze Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva 84105 , Israel
| | - Oren Regev
- Department of Chemical Engineering and the Ilze Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva 84105 , Israel
| | - James W Swan
- Department of Chemical Engineering , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge 02139 , Massachusetts , United States
| | - Benoit Loppinet
- Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser, FORTH , Heraklion 71110 , Crete , Greece
| | - Dimitris Vlassopoulos
- Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser, FORTH , Heraklion 71110 , Crete , Greece
- Department of Materials Science & Technology , University of Crete , Heraklion 71003 , Crete , Greece
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43
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Schulte MF, Scotti A, Brugnoni M, Bochenek S, Mourran A, Richtering W. Tuning the Structure and Properties of Ultra-Low Cross-Linked Temperature-Sensitive Microgels at Interfaces via the Adsorption Pathway. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:14769-14781. [PMID: 31638406 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b02478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The structure of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microgels adsorbed onto a solid substrate is investigated in the dry and hydrated states by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM). We compare two different systems: a regularly cross-linked microgel containing 5 mol % cross-linker and ultra-low cross-linked microgels (ULC) prepared without a dedicated cross-linker. Furthermore, we compare three different adsorption processes: (i) in situ adsorption from solution, (ii) spin-coating, and (iii) Langmuir-Blodgett deposition from an oil-water interface. The results demonstrate that the morphology and the temperature-induced collapse of microgels adsorbed onto a solid substrate are very different for ultra-low cross-linked microgels as compared to regularly cross-linked microgels, despite the fact that their general behavior in solution is very similar. Furthermore, the morphology of ULC microgels can be controlled by the adsorption pathway onto the substrate. Absorbed ULC microgels are strongly deformed when being prepared either by spin-coating or by Langmuir-Blodgett deposition from an oil-water interface. After rehydration, the ULC microgels cannot collapse as entire objects, instead small globules are formed. Such a strong deformation can be avoided by in situ adsorption onto the substrate. Then, the ULC microgels exhibit half-ellipsoidal shapes with a smooth surface in the collapsed state similar to the more cross-linked microgels. As ULC microgels can be selectively trapped either in a more particle-like or in a more polymer-like behavior, coatings with strongly different topographies and properties can be prepared by one and the same ultra-low cross-linked microgel. This provides new opportunities for the development of smart polymeric coatings.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Friederike Schulte
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 2 , 52056 Aachen , Germany
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials , Forckenbeckstr. 50 , 52056 Aachen , Germany
| | - Andrea Scotti
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 2 , 52056 Aachen , Germany
| | - Monia Brugnoni
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 2 , 52056 Aachen , Germany
| | - Steffen Bochenek
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 2 , 52056 Aachen , Germany
| | - Ahmed Mourran
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials , Forckenbeckstr. 50 , 52056 Aachen , Germany
| | - Walter Richtering
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 2 , 52056 Aachen , Germany
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials , Forckenbeckstr. 50 , 52056 Aachen , Germany
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44
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Minami S, Suzuki D, Urayama K. Rheological aspects of colloidal gels in thermoresponsive microgel suspensions: formation, structure, and linear and nonlinear viscoelasticity. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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45
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Parisi D, Truzzolillo D, Deepak VD, Gauthier M, Vlassopoulos D. Transition from Confined to Bulk Dynamics in Symmetric Star–Linear Polymer Mixtures. Macromolecules 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.9b00188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Domenico Truzzolillo
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), UMR 5221 CNRS Université de Montpellier, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Vishnu D. Deepak
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, N2L 3G1 Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mario Gauthier
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, N2L 3G1 Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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46
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Kureha T, Minato H, Suzuki D, Urayama K, Shibayama M. Concentration dependence of the dynamics of microgel suspensions investigated by dynamic light scattering. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:5390-5399. [PMID: 31204747 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01030k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The dynamics of colloidal gel particle suspensions, i.e., microgel suspensions, has been investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) over a wide concentration range from the (I) dilute (φ < φcp) to the (II) intermediate (φ ≈ φcp) and (III) high concentration regions (φ ≫ φcp), where φ and φcp are the volume fraction of the gel particles in the suspension and the random close packing fraction, φcp ≈ 0.64, respectively. The time-intensity correlation function exhibited a distinct change with increasing φ, i.e., from ergodic behaviour (region I and II) to nonergodic behaviour (region III). A mode transition from translational (region I) to cooperative diffusion (the so-called gel mode) (region II) was also observed due to the soft and deformable nature of the microgels. Different from the dynamics of hard colloidal glass suspensions, the gel mode remained even at φ ≫ φcp. By using the ensemble-averaged time-correlation function, IE, we quantify the relationship between φ and their dynamics, and show that the soft microgels are deswollen in the densely packed state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuma Kureha
- Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa 277-8581, Japan.
| | - Haruka Minato
- Graduate School of Textile Science & Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda 386-8567, Japan
| | - Daisuke Suzuki
- Graduate School of Textile Science & Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda 386-8567, Japan and Division of Smart Textile, Institute for Fiber Engineering, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Shinshu University, Ueda 386-8567, Japan
| | - Kenji Urayama
- Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Shibayama
- Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa 277-8581, Japan.
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47
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Gury L, Gauthier M, Cloitre M, Vlassopoulos D. Colloidal Jamming in Multiarm Star Polymer Melts. Macromolecules 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.9b00674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Léo Gury
- Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser, Nikolaou Plastira 100, Vassilika Vouton, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Department of Materials Science & Technology, University of Crete, Vassilika Vouton, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Mario Gauthier
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Polymer Research, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Michel Cloitre
- Molecular, Macromolecular Chemistry and Materials, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL University, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Dimitris Vlassopoulos
- Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser, Nikolaou Plastira 100, Vassilika Vouton, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Department of Materials Science & Technology, University of Crete, Vassilika Vouton, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
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48
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Conley GM, Zhang C, Aebischer P, Harden JL, Scheffold F. Relationship between rheology and structure of interpenetrating, deforming and compressing microgels. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2436. [PMID: 31164639 PMCID: PMC6547648 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10181-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Thermosensitive microgels are widely studied hybrid systems combining properties of polymers and colloidal particles in a unique way. Due to their complex morphology, their interactions and packing, and consequentially the viscoelasticity of suspensions made from microgels, are still not fully understood, in particular under dense packing conditions. Here we study the frequency-dependent linear viscoelastic properties of dense suspensions of micron sized soft particles in conjunction with an analysis of the local particle structure and morphology based on superresolution microscopy. By identifying the dominating mechanisms that control the elastic and dissipative response, we can explain the rheology of these widely studied soft particle assemblies from the onset of elasticity deep into the overpacked regime. Interestingly, our results suggest that the friction between the microgels is reduced due to lubrification mediated by the polymer brush-like corona before the onset of interpenetration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurasundar M Conley
- Department of Physics, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 3, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Chi Zhang
- Department of Physics, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 3, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Aebischer
- Department of Physics, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 3, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - James L Harden
- Department of Physics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Frank Scheffold
- Department of Physics, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 3, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland.
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49
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Karg M, Pich A, Hellweg T, Hoare T, Lyon LA, Crassous JJ, Suzuki D, Gumerov RA, Schneider S, Potemkin II, Richtering W. Nanogels and Microgels: From Model Colloids to Applications, Recent Developments, and Future Trends. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:6231-6255. [PMID: 30998365 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b04304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 310] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Nanogels and microgels are soft, deformable, and penetrable objects with an internal gel-like structure that is swollen by the dispersing solvent. Their softness and the potential to respond to external stimuli like temperature, pressure, pH, ionic strength, and different analytes make them interesting as soft model systems in fundamental research as well as for a broad range of applications, in particular in the field of biological applications. Recent tremendous developments in their synthesis open access to systems with complex architectures and compositions allowing for tailoring microgels with specific properties. At the same time state-of-the-art theoretical and simulation approaches offer deeper understanding of the behavior and structure of nano- and microgels under external influences and confinement at interfaces or at high volume fractions. Developments in the experimental analysis of nano- and microgels have become particularly important for structural investigations covering a broad range of length scales relevant to the internal structure, the overall size and shape, and interparticle interactions in concentrated samples. Here we provide an overview of the state-of-the-art, recent developments as well as emerging trends in the field of nano- and microgels. The following aspects build the focus of our discussion: tailoring (multi)functionality through synthesis; the role in biological and biomedical applications; the structure and properties as a model system, e.g., for densely packed arrangements in bulk and at interfaces; as well as the theory and computer simulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Karg
- Physical Chemistry I , Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf , 40204 Duesseldorf , Germany
| | - Andrij Pich
- DWI-Leibnitz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. , 52056 Aachen , Germany
- Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , 52056 Aachen , Germany
| | - Thomas Hellweg
- Physical and Biophysical Chemistry , Bielefeld University , 33615 Bielefeld , Germany
| | - Todd Hoare
- Department of Chemical Engineering , McMaster University , Hamilton , Ontario L8S 4L8 , Canada
| | - L Andrew Lyon
- Schmid College of Science and Technology , Chapman University , Orange , California 92866 , United States
| | - J J Crassous
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , 52056 Aachen , Germany
| | | | - Rustam A Gumerov
- DWI-Leibnitz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. , 52056 Aachen , Germany
- Physics Department , Lomonosov Moscow State University , Moscow 119991 , Russian Federation
| | - Stefanie Schneider
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , 52056 Aachen , Germany
| | - Igor I Potemkin
- DWI-Leibnitz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. , 52056 Aachen , Germany
- Physics Department , Lomonosov Moscow State University , Moscow 119991 , Russian Federation
- National Research South Ural State University , Chelyabinsk 454080 , Russian Federation
| | - Walter Richtering
- Institute of Physical Chemistry , RWTH Aachen University , 52056 Aachen , Germany
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50
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Chaudhary G, Ghosh A, Bharadwaj NA, Kang JG, Braun PV, Schweizer KS, Ewoldt RH. Thermoresponsive Stiffening with Microgel Particles in a Semiflexible Fibrin Network. Macromolecules 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.9b00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jin Gu Kang
- Nanophotonics Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea
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