1
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Rhamnolipid Self-Aggregation in Aqueous Media: A Long Journey toward the Definition of Structure–Property Relationships. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065395. [PMID: 36982468 PMCID: PMC10048978 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The need to protect human and environmental health and avoid the widespread use of substances obtained from nonrenewable sources is steering research toward the discovery and development of new molecules characterized by high biocompatibility and biodegradability. Due to their very widespread use, a class of substances for which this need is particularly urgent is that of surfactants. In this respect, an attractive and promising alternative to commonly used synthetic surfactants is represented by so-called biosurfactants, amphiphiles naturally derived from microorganisms. One of the best-known families of biosurfactants is that of rhamnolipids, which are glycolipids with a headgroup formed by one or two rhamnose units. Great scientific and technological effort has been devoted to optimization of their production processes, as well as their physicochemical characterization. However, a conclusive structure–function relationship is far from being defined. In this review, we aim to move a step forward in this direction, by presenting a comprehensive and unified discussion of physicochemical properties of rhamnolipids as a function of solution conditions and rhamnolipid structure. We also discuss still unresolved issues that deserve further investigation in the future, to allow the replacement of conventional surfactants with rhamnolipids.
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2
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Lin W, Zhang J, Zhang F, Wu W, Chen F, Zhang Z, Lin X, Yang C, Yi G. Mesoscopic Simulations of Diselenide-Containing Crosslinked Doxorubicin-Loaded Micelles and Their Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Release Behaviors. J Pharm Sci 2022; 112:1388-1400. [PMID: 36566929 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2022.12.015] [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: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
There is currently limited research on the structure-property relationship of reduction stimuli-responsive polymeric crosslinked micelles using mesoscopic simulations. Herein, dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations were used to simulate the self-assembly process of the blank non-crosslinked micelle, the structure and doxorubicin (DOX) distribution of diselenide crosslinked micelle with different crosslinker contents (CCs) based on the nearest-neighbor bonding principle. The results revealed that the formation of a three-layer spherical micelle and the loaded DOX mainly distributed in the polycaprolactone (PCL) core and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) mesosphere. The larger the dosage of DOX, the more DOX encapsulated, but the encapsulation of DOX in the hydrophobic domain would reach saturation when the dosage increased to 6.0 %. In micelles with lower CCs or crosslinking levels (CLs), DOX entered the middle layer and the inner core faster. Then, based on the nearest media-bead bond breaking principle and subsequently DPD simulation, the effects of different CCs on the micelle structure and DOX release properties were investigated. Low CC could cause fast drug release. With the increase of CCs, the micelle showed a slower DOX release trend. The multilayer crosslinked network system also affected the DOX release rate. Hence, this work can provide some mesoscale guidance for the structural design and structure-property relationship of stimuli-responsive reversible crosslinked micelles for drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Lin
- School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Jieheng Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Fusheng Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China
| | - Wensheng Wu
- College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, 526061, PR China
| | - Feihua Chen
- School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Zikang Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Xiaofeng Lin
- School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Chufen Yang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China.
| | - Guobin Yi
- School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China.
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3
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Sałek K, Euston SR, Janek T. Phase Behaviour, Functionality, and Physicochemical Characteristics of Glycolipid Surfactants of Microbial Origin. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:816613. [PMID: 35155390 PMCID: PMC8830654 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.816613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Growing demand for biosurfactants as environmentally friendly counterparts of chemically derived surfactants enhances the extensive search for surface-active compounds of biological (microbial) origin. The understanding of the physicochemical properties of biosurfactants such as surface tension reduction, dispersion, emulsifying, foaming or micelle formation is essential for the successful application of biosurfactants in many branches of industry. Glycolipids, which belong to the class of low molecular weight surfactants are currently gaining a lot of interest for industrial applications. For this reason, we focus mainly on this class of biosurfactants with particular emphasis on rhamnolipids and sophorolipids, the most studied of the glycolipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Sałek
- Institute for Life and Earth Sciences, School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Karina Sałek,
| | - Stephen R. Euston
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Tomasz Janek
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
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4
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Okada K, Brumby PE, Yasuoka K. An Efficient Random Number Generation Method for Molecular Simulation. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 62:71-78. [PMID: 34951306 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c01206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We propose a new random number generation method, which is the fastest and the simplest of its kind, for use with molecular simulation. We also discuss the possibility of using this method with various other numerical calculations. To demonstrate the significant increases in calculation speeds that can be gained by using our method, we present a comparison with prior methods for dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations. The DPD method uses random numbers to reproduce thermal fluctuations of molecules. As such, an efficient method to generate random numbers in parallel computing environments has been widely sought after. Several random number generation methods have been developed that use encryption. In this study, we establish for the first time that random numbers with desirable properties exist in the particle coordinates used in DPD calculations. We propose a method for generating random numbers without encryption that utilizes this source of randomness. This is an innovative method with minimal computational cost, since it is not dependent on a complicated random number generation algorithm or an encryption process. Furthermore, our method may lead to faster random number generation for many other physical and chemical simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyoshiro Okada
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, 223-8522, Japan
| | - Paul E Brumby
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, 223-8522, Japan
| | - Kenji Yasuoka
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, 223-8522, Japan
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5
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Guo WX, Hu LF, Feng YH, Chen BZ, Guo XD. Advances in self-assembling of pH-sensitive polymers: A mini review on dissipative particle dynamics. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2021; 210:112202. [PMID: 34840030 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.112202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) is a mesoscopic simulation program used to simulate the behavior of complex fluids. This work systematically reviews the use of DPD to simulate the self-assembly process of pH-sensitive drug-loaded nanoparticles. pH-sensitive drug-loaded nanoparticles have the characteristics of good targeting and slow release in the body, which is an ideal method for treating cancer and other diseases. As an excellent simulation method, DPD can help people explore the loading and release laws of drugs with complex molecular structures and has extensive applications in other medical fields. This article reviews the self-assembly process of pH-sensitive polymers under neutral conditions and explores the factors that affect the self-assembly structure. It points out that different hydrophilic-hydrophobic ratios, molecular structures, and component distributions will affect the morphology, stability and drug carrying capacity of micelles. This article also introduces the release mechanism of the drug in detail and introduces the factors that affect the release. This article can help relevant researchers to follow the latest advances in the DPD simulation and pH-sensitive drug nano-carrier and insight people to investigate the further application of DPD simulation in biomedical science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Xin Guo
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China
| | - Liu Fu Hu
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China
| | - Yun Hao Feng
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China
| | - Bo Zhi Chen
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China.
| | - Xin Dong Guo
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China.
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6
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Zeng S, Zhang LZ, Zhou J. A coarse-grained simulation of heat and mass transfer through a graphene oxide-based composite membrane. Chem Eng Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2021.116692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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7
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Feng YH, Zhang XP, Hu LF, Chen BZ, Guo XD. Mesoscopic Simulation for the Effect of Cross-Linking Reactions on the Drug Diffusion Properties in Microneedles. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:4000-4010. [PMID: 34319097 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The drug diffusion issue in microneedles is the focus of its medical application. It will not only affect the distribution of drugs in the needle body but will also have an impact on the drug release performance of the microneedle. The utilization of cross-linked polymer materials to obtain the drug diffusion control has been experimentally verified as a feasible method. However, the mechanism research on the molecular level is still incomplete. In this study, the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation has been applied to study the effect of the cross-linking reaction on drug diffusion in hyaluronic acid microneedles. We have discovered that when the cross-linking degree reaches 90%, the diffusion coefficient of the drug is 6.45 times lower than that of the uncross-linked system. The main reason for the decline in drug diffusion ability is that the cross-linking reaction varies the conformation of the polymer. The amplification in the cross-linking degree makes the polymer coils more compact and approach each other, finally forming a continuously distributed cross-linked network, which reduces its degradation rate in the body. Simultaneously, these cross-linked networks can also hinder the interaction of soluble drugs with water, thereby preventing the premature release of drugs. The simulation results are consistent with the data collected in the previous microneedle experiment. This work will be an extension of DPD simulation in the application of biological materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Hao Feng
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Xiao Peng Zhang
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Liu Fu Hu
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Bo Zhi Chen
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Xin Dong Guo
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
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8
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Okada K, Brumby PE, Yasuoka K. The influence of random number generation in dissipative particle dynamics simulations using a cryptographic hash function. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250593. [PMID: 33905444 PMCID: PMC8078758 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The tiny encryption algorithm (TEA) is widely used when performing dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) calculations in parallel, usually on distributed memory systems. In this research, we reduced the computational cost of the TEA hash function and investigated the influence of the quality of the random numbers generated on the results of DPD calculations. It has already been established that the randomness, or quality, of the random numbers depend on the number of processes from internal functions such as SHIFT, XOR and ADD, which are commonly referred to as “rounds”. Surprisingly, if we choose seed numbers from high entropy sources, with a minimum number of rounds, the quality of the random numbers generated is sufficient to successfully perform accurate DPD simulations. Although it is well known that using a minimal number of rounds is insufficient for generating high-quality random numbers, the combination of selecting good seed numbers and the robustness of DPD simulations means that we can reduce the random number generation cost without reducing the accuracy of the simulation results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyoshiro Okada
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Keio University,Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Paul E. Brumby
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Keio University,Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kenji Yasuoka
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Keio University,Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
- * E-mail:
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9
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Xu J, Wen L, Zhang F, Lin W, Zhang L. Self-assembly of cyclic grafted copolymers with rigid rings and their potential as drug nanocarriers. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 597:114-125. [PMID: 33892419 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.03.139] [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: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Enhancing the performance of polymer micelles by purposeful regulation of their structures is a challenging topic that receives widespread attention. In this study, we systematically conduct a comparative study between cyclic grafted copolymers with rigid and flexible rings in the self-assembly behavior via dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation. With a focus on the possible stacking ways of rigid rings, we propose the energy-driven packing mechanism of cyclic grafted copolymers with rigid rings. For cyclic grafted copolymers with large ring size (14 and 21-membered rings), rigid rings present a novel channel-layer-combination layout, which is determined by the balance between the potential energy of micelles (Emicelle) and the interaction energy between water and micelles (Eint). Based on this mechanism, we further regulate a series of complex self-assembling structures, including curved rod-like, T-shape, annular and helical micelles. Compared with flexible copolymers, cyclic grafted copolymers with rigid rings provide a larger and loose hydrophobic core and higher structural stability with micelles due to the unique packing way of rigid rings. Therefore, their micelles have a great potential as drug nanocarriers. They possess a better drug loading capacity and disassemble more quickly than flexible counterparts under acidic tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, the endocytosis kinetics of rigid micelles is faster than the flexible counterparts for the adsorption and wrapping process. This study may provide a reasonable idea of structural design for polymer micelles to enhance their performance in biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianchang Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Liyang Wen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Fusheng Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Wenjing Lin
- School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Lijuan Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China.
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10
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Feng YH, Zhang XP, Zhao ZQ, Guo XD. Dissipative Particle Dynamics Aided Design of Drug Delivery Systems: A Review. Mol Pharm 2020; 17:1778-1799. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c00175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Hao Feng
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P.R. China
- Key Lab of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Beijing University of Chemical Technology), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Xiao Peng Zhang
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P.R. China
- Key Lab of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Beijing University of Chemical Technology), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Ze Qiang Zhao
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P.R. China
- Key Lab of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Beijing University of Chemical Technology), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Xin Dong Guo
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P.R. China
- Key Lab of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Beijing University of Chemical Technology), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100029, China
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11
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de Souza RM, Ratochinski RH, Karttunen M, Dias LG. Self-Assembly of Phosphocholine Derivatives Using the ELBA Coarse-Grained Model: Micelles, Bicelles, and Reverse Micelles. J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:522-536. [PMID: 31714768 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.9b00790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The ELBA coarse-grained force field was originally developed for lipids, and its water model is described as a single-site Lennard-Jones particle with electrostatics modeled by an embedded point-dipole, while other molecules in this force field have a three (or four)-to-one mapping scheme. Here, ELBA was applied to investigate the self-assembly processes of dodecyl-phosphocholine (DPC) micelle, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/1,2-dihexaoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC/DHPC) bicelles, and DPPC/cyclohexane/water reverse micelles through coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. New parameters were obtained using a simplex algorithm-based calibration procedure to determine the Lennard-Jones parameters for cyclohexane, dodecane, and cyclohexane-dodecane cross-interactions. Density, self-diffusion coefficient, surface tension, and mixture excess volume were found to be in fair agreement with experimental data. These new parameters were used in the simulations, and the obtained structures were analyzed for shape, size, volume, and surface area. Except for the shape of DPC micelles, all other properties match well with available experimental data and all-atom simulations. Remarkably, in agreement with experiments the rodlike shape of the DPPC reverse micelle is well described by ELBA, while all-atom data in the literature predicts a disclike shape. To further check the consistency of the force field in reproducing the correct shapes of reverse micelles, additional simulations were performed doubling the system size. Two distinct reverse micelles were obtained both presenting the rodlike shape and correct aggregation number.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M de Souza
- Department of Chemistry , The University of Western Ontario , London , Ontario , Canada N6A 3K7.,Departamento de Química, FFCLRP , Universidade de São Paulo , Avenida Bandeirantes 3900 , 14040-901 Ribeirão Preto , SP , Brazil.,The Center for Advanced Materials and Biomaterials Research , The University of Western Ontario , London , Ontario , Canada N6K 3K7
| | - R H Ratochinski
- Departamento de Química, FFCLRP , Universidade de São Paulo , Avenida Bandeirantes 3900 , 14040-901 Ribeirão Preto , SP , Brazil
| | - Mikko Karttunen
- Department of Chemistry , The University of Western Ontario , London , Ontario , Canada N6A 3K7.,The Center for Advanced Materials and Biomaterials Research , The University of Western Ontario , London , Ontario , Canada N6K 3K7.,Department of Applied Mathematics , The University of Western Ontario , London , Ontario , Canada N6A 5B7
| | - L G Dias
- Departamento de Química, FFCLRP , Universidade de São Paulo , Avenida Bandeirantes 3900 , 14040-901 Ribeirão Preto , SP , Brazil
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12
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Zhang J, Xu J, Wen L, Zhang F, Zhang L. The self-assembly behavior of polymer brushes induced by the orientational ordering of rod backbones: a dissipative particle dynamics study. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:5229-5241. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cp00235f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This work proposed the “rod–coil competitive mechanism” for the self-assembly of polymer brushes with rod–coil backbones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology
- Guangzhou 510640
- China
| | - Jianchang Xu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology
- Guangzhou 510640
- China
| | - Liyang Wen
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology
- Guangzhou 510640
- China
| | - Fusheng Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology
- Guangzhou 510640
- China
| | - Lijuan Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology
- Guangzhou 510640
- China
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13
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Wang Z, Sun S, Lyu Q, Cheng M, Wang H, Li C, Sha H, Faller R, Hu S. Harnessed Dopant Block Copolymers Assist Decorating Membrane Pores: A Dissipative Particle Dynamics Study. Macromol Rapid Commun 2019; 41:e1900561. [PMID: 31859398 DOI: 10.1002/marc.201900561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Self-assembly of asymmetric block copolymers (BCPs) around active pore edges has emerged as an important strategy to produce smart membranes with tunable pathways for solute transport. However, thus far, it is still challenging to manipulate pore shape and functionality for directional transformation under external stimuli. Here, a versatile strategy by mesoscale simulations to design stimuli-responsive pores with various edge decorations in hybrid membranes is reported. Dopant BCPs are used as decorators to stabilize pore edges and extend their function in reconfiguring pores in response to repeated membrane stretching/shrinking caused by external stimuli. The decoration morphologies are predictable since the assemblies of dopant BCPs around pore edges are closely related to their self-assemblies in solution. The coassembly between different BCPs in the hybrid membrane for the control of pore morphology is featured, and the parameter settings, including block incompatibility and molecular architecture for the construction of a specific pore, are determined. Results show that harnessed dopant BCPs in the hybrid membrane can enhance pore formation and induce directional pore shape and functionality transformation. Diversified pore decorations exhibit potential that can be further explored in selective solute transport and the design of stimuli-responsive smart nanodevices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhikun Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
| | - Shuangqing Sun
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China.,Institute of Advanced Materials, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
| | - Qiang Lyu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
| | - Meng Cheng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
| | - Hongbing Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
| | - Chunling Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China.,Institute of Advanced Materials, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
| | - Haoyan Sha
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Roland Faller
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Songqing Hu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China.,Institute of Advanced Materials, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
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14
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Xu J, Wang Z, Zhang F, Peng S, Zhang J, Zhang L. Directed Self-Assembly of Patchy Microgels into Anisotropic Nanostructures. Macromol Rapid Commun 2019; 41:e1900505. [PMID: 31793720 DOI: 10.1002/marc.201900505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 10/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Multi-geometry nanostructures with high-order, complex, and controllable geometries have attracted extensive attention in the development of functional nanomaterials. A simple and versatile strategy is proposed to construct various anisotropic nanostructures through the directed self-assembly (DSA) of patchy microgels. A general criterion for interaction parameters is developed by the variance analysis method to achieve the formation of 1D nanorods by the single directional DSA process, and 2D or 3D polymorphs including V/T/h/cross shapes, multiple arms, multi-directional bending, single/multiple rings, nanocages, etc., by the multi-directional DSA process of binary microgel blends. At the optimum interaction parameters, the nanorods exhibit the quickest formation process and the most thermodynamically stable geometry, while the various 2D or 3D assemblies exhibit controlled jointing behaviors for versatile assembly geometries. The number of recognition sites on the patchy microgel surface guides the aggregation modes of microgels during the DSA process. These assemblies can bear large curvature variance with the increase of shear rates due to the high flexibility and the ability of adjusting orientation spontaneously. The DSA behavior of patchy microgels differs from the traditional self-assembly process of block copolymers, which may open a new route for guiding the formation of controllable nanoparticle architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianchang Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Zhikun Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
| | - Fusheng Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Shiyuan Peng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Lijuan Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
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15
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Mamusa M, Tempesti P, Bartolini A, Carretti E, Ghobadi AF, Smets J, Aouad YG, Baglioni P. Associative properties of poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(vinyl acetate) comb-like graft copolymers in water. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:6635-6643. [PMID: 30895975 DOI: 10.1039/c8nr10453k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The self-assembly of amphiphilic graft copolymers is generally reported for polymer melts or polymers deposited onto surfaces, while a small number of cases deal with binary mixtures with water. We report on the associative properties of poly(ethylene glycol)-graft-poly(vinyl acetate) (PEG-g-PVAc) comb-like copolymers in water, demonstrating the existence of a percolative behaviour when increasing the PEG-g-PVAc content. Rheology, light- and small-angle X-ray scattering experiments, together with dissipative particle dynamics simulations, reveal a progressive transition from spherical polymer single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) towards hierarchically complex structures as the weight fraction of the polymer in water increases. The ability of PEG-g-PVAc to attain different nano- and microstructures is of great importance in numerous applications such as in the fields of cosmetics, detergency and drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Mamusa
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff" and CSGI, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy.
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16
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Xu J, Zhang J, Xiong D, Lin W, Wen L, Zhang L. Enhanced stability of crosslinked and charged unimolecular micelles from multigeometry triblock copolymers with short hydrophilic segments: dissipative particle dynamics simulation. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:546-558. [PMID: 30644512 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm01941j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
High micellar stability and well-performed drug loading and release are two conflicting factors for unimolecular micelles as an ideal drug delivery system. Achieving the formation of unimolecular micelles with short hydrophilic blocks is a challenging and promising approach to solve this bottleneck and limitation of current unimolecular micelle systems. In this work, dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation is used to study the synergetic effect of crosslinking and electrostatic repulsion on stability of unimolecular micelles and to analyze the micro-mechanism and factors influencing this synergetic stabilization strategy. The strategy can generate unimolecular micelles with extremely high stability for various supramolecular polymers with short hydrophilic chains. Protonation of DEAEMA blocks leads to a large improvement in micellar hydrophilicity. The protonated middle layer further shrinks through crosslinking to produce the largest charge density, enlarging the electrostatic repulsion between colloidal particles. Additionally, the crosslinking and protonation treatment maximizes the extension degree of hydrophilic EO segments due to the increasing steric hindrance and poor compatibility between DEAHEMA and EO blocks. In this study, the relation between shrinkage degree of hydrophobic cores and stability of unimolecular micelles is first reported. The above-mentioned transition of micellar structures and properties results in the maximum degree of core shrinkage (Rg of MMA blocks) corresponding to the high stability of unimolecular micelles. Further study shows that the increasing cyclization degree, the mode of end cyclization, and the crosslinking and electrostatic repulsion of the middle layer all exert favorable effects on the stability of unimolecular micelles due to controlled shrinkage of hydrophobic cores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianchang Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China.
| | - Jing Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China.
| | - Di Xiong
- School of Chemical Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China
| | - Wenjing Lin
- School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Liyang Wen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China.
| | - Lijuan Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China.
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17
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Wu W, Yi P, Zhang J, Cheng Y, Li Z, Hao X, Chen Q. 4/6-Herto-arm and 4/6-mikto-arm star-shaped block polymeric drug-loaded micelles and their pH-responsive controlled release properties: a dissipative particle dynamics simulation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:15222-15232. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cp02411e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Star-shaped polymers have received significant attention and have been widely developed for prospective applications in drug delivery owing to their topological structure and unique physiochemical characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wensheng Wu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering
- Zhaoqing University
- Zhaoqing
- China
| | - Peng Yi
- Faculty of Environmental Science & Engineering
- Kunming University of Science & Technology
- Kunming
- China
- Yunnan Provincial Key Lab of Soil Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control in Soils
| | - Jing Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- South China University of Technology
- Guangzhou
- China
| | - Yingchao Cheng
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering
- Zhaoqing University
- Zhaoqing
- China
| | - Zhiwei Li
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering
- Zhaoqing University
- Zhaoqing
- China
| | - Xiangying Hao
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering
- Zhaoqing University
- Zhaoqing
- China
| | - Quan Chen
- Faculty of Environmental Science & Engineering
- Kunming University of Science & Technology
- Kunming
- China
- Yunnan Provincial Key Lab of Soil Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control in Soils
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