1
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Amini N, Fan B, Hsia T, Moon EM, Hapgood K, Thang SH. RAFT Polymer-Based Surfactants for Minerals Recovery. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:40532-40546. [PMID: 37929102 PMCID: PMC10620920 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Reagent consumption is an ongoing sustainability challenge for the mineral processing industry. There is a need to recover, regenerate, and reuse as many of the chemical inputs as possible. This study investigated the design and synthesis via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of a novel polymer for use as a surfactant in a water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion system for ultrafine minerals recovery. The polymers were designed to hold a thermoresponsive moiety to allow for future recovery. The performance of the novel emulsion was tested for agglomeration of ultrafine talc mineral particles. A traditional emulsion containing sorbitan monooleate as the surfactant was used as a research benchmark to compare against the novel emulsion's stability and performance in minerals recovery. The novel RAFT polymer-based emulsions formed large and stable water droplets surrounded by a halo of smaller water droplets. Over time, the smaller droplets coalesced and a more uniform size distribution of droplets was formed, keeping the emulsion stable. Rheological testing of freshly made and aged emulsions showed both traditional and novel emulsions to have a high viscosity at a low shear rate. RAFT polymer B with a hydrophilic-lipophilic block ratio of 5:10 performed adequately as a surfactant replacement to stabilize w/o emulsions. The mineral recovery using the novel emulsion was on par with the traditional emulsions. The novel RAFT emulsion containing 2.5 wt % polymer B achieved 90% minerals recovery, a similar yield to the traditional emulsions. This study demonstrates that surfactants containing stimuli-responsive moieties can be synthesized via RAFT polymerization and successfully used in mineral processing applications to recover ultrafine particles. Work is ongoing to exploit the stimuli responsiveness to recover the polymer surfactant for reuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Negin Amini
- School
of Engineering, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3216, Australia
- ARC
Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-efficient Beneficiation of Minerals
| | - Bo Fan
- School
of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton Campus, VIC 3800, Australia
- ARC
Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-efficient Beneficiation of Minerals
| | - Tina Hsia
- School
of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton Campus, VIC 3800, Australia
- ARC
Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-efficient Beneficiation of Minerals
| | - Ellen M. Moon
- School
of Engineering, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3216, Australia
- ARC
Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-efficient Beneficiation of Minerals
| | - Karen Hapgood
- Swinburne
University, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
- ARC
Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-efficient Beneficiation of Minerals
| | - San H. Thang
- School
of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton Campus, VIC 3800, Australia
- ARC
Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-efficient Beneficiation of Minerals
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2
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Double Stimuli-Responsive di- and Triblock Copolymers of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and Poly(1-vinylimidazole): Synthesis and Self-Assembly. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24010879. [PMID: 36614322 PMCID: PMC9820948 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
For the first time, double stimuli-responsive properties of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) and poly(1-vinylimidazole) (PVIM) block copolymers in aqueous solutions were studied. The synthesis of PNIPA60-b-PVIM90 and PNIPA28-b-PVIM62-b-PNIPA29 was performed using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The polymers were characterized by size exclusion chromatography and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The conformational behavior of the polymers was studied using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and fluorescence spectroscopy (FS). It was found that PNIPA and block copolymers conformation and ability for self-assembly in aqueous medium below and above cloud point temperature depend on the locus of hydrophobic groups derived from the RAFT agent within the chain. Additionally, the length of PVIM block, its locus in the chain and charge perform an important role in the stabilization of macromolecular micelles and aggregates below and above cloud point temperature. At 25 °C the average hydrodynamic radius (Rh) of the block copolymer particles at pH 3 is lower than at pH 9 implying the self-assembling of macromolecules in the latter case. Cloud points of PNIPA60-b-PVIM90 are ~43 °C and ~37 °C at a pH of 3 and 9 and of PNIPA28-b-PVIM62-b-PNIPA29 they are ~35 °C and 31 °C at a pH of 3 and 9. Around cloud point independently of pH, the Rh value for triblock copolymer rises sharply, achieves the maximum value, then falls and reaches the constant value, while for diblock copolymer, it steadily grows after reaching cloud point. The information about polarity of microenvironment around polymer obtained by FS accords with DLS data.
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3
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Zaharani L, Johan MRB, Khaligh NG. Cost and Energy Saving Process for the Laboratory-Scale Production of Chloroform- d. Org Process Res Dev 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.oprd.2c00260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lia Zaharani
- Nanotechnology and Catalysis Research Center, 3rd Floor, Block A, Institute of Postgraduate Studies, University of Malaya, 50603Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Rafie Bin Johan
- Nanotechnology and Catalysis Research Center, 3rd Floor, Block A, Institute of Postgraduate Studies, University of Malaya, 50603Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nader Ghaffari Khaligh
- Nanotechnology and Catalysis Research Center, 3rd Floor, Block A, Institute of Postgraduate Studies, University of Malaya, 50603Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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4
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Xu K, Fan B, Putera K, Wawryk M, Wan J, Peng B, Banaszak Holl MM, Patti AF, Thang SH. Nanoparticle Surface Cross-Linking: A Universal Strategy to Enhance the Mechanical Properties of Latex Films. Macromolecules 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c00688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ke Xu
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Bo Fan
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals, Monash Node, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Kevin Putera
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Michaela Wawryk
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Jing Wan
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Bo Peng
- BASF Advanced Chemicals Co., Ltd., R&D I, No. 300, Jiangxinsha Road, 200137 Shanghai, China
| | - Mark M. Banaszak Holl
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Antonio F. Patti
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- ARC-Industrial Transformation Training Centre - Green Chemistry in Manufacturing, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - San H. Thang
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals, Monash Node, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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5
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Toms RV, Gervald AY, Prokopov NI, Osipova NI, Plutalova AV, Chernikova EV. Thermal Behavior of Poly(acrylonitrile-co-1-vinyl imidazole) During Stabilization. POLYMER SCIENCE SERIES B 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1560090422700099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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6
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Liu Y, Perera T, Shi Q, Yong Z, Mallawaarachchi S, Fan B, Walker JAT, Lupton CJ, Thang SH, Premaratne M, Cheng W. Thermoresponsive chiral plasmonic nanoparticles. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:4292-4303. [PMID: 35244653 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr08343k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Chiral metallic nanoparticles can exhibit novel plasmonic circular dichroism (PCD) in the ultraviolet and visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Here, we investigate how thermoresponsive dielectric nanoenvironments will influence such PCD responses through poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) modified chiral gold nanorods (AuNRs). We observed the temperature-dependent chiral plasmonic responses distinctly from unmodified counterparts. As for the modified systems, the PCD peaks for both L-AuNRs and D-AuNRs at 50 °C red shifted simultaneously with enhanced intensities compared to the results at 20 °C. In contrast, the unmodified L-AuNRs and D-AuNRs exhibited no peak shift with reduced intensities. Subsequent simulation and experimental studies demonstrated that the enhanced PCD was attributed to PNIPAM chain collapse causing the increase of the refractive index by expelling minute water out of the corona surrounding chiral plasmonic AuNRs. Notably, such thermoresponsive chiral plasmonic responses are reversible, general, and extendable to other types of chiral plasmonic nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyi Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - Tharaka Perera
- Advanced Computing and Simulation Laboratory (AχL), Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Qianqian Shi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - Zijun Yong
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - Sudaraka Mallawaarachchi
- Advanced Computing and Simulation Laboratory (AχL), Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Bo Fan
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Julia Ann-Therese Walker
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamic, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Christopher J Lupton
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - San H Thang
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Malin Premaratne
- Advanced Computing and Simulation Laboratory (AχL), Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Wenlong Cheng
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
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7
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Tilottama B, Manojkumar K, Haribabu PM, Vijayakrishna K. A short review on RAFT polymerization of less activated monomers. JOURNAL OF MACROMOLECULAR SCIENCE PART A-PURE AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/10601325.2021.2024076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Baisakhi Tilottama
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Kasina Manojkumar
- Dolcera Information Technology Services Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - P. M. Haribabu
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Kari Vijayakrishna
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
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8
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Fan B, Wan J, Zhai J, Teo NKS, Huynh A, Thang SH. Photoluminescent polymer cubosomes prepared by RAFT-mediated polymerization-induced self-assembly. Polym Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2py00701k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The preparation of photoluminescent polymer assemblies with a wide range of morphologies, including spongosomes and cubosomes, via an efficient RAFT-mediated polymerization-induced self-assembly (RAFT-PISA) process, was demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Fan
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals, Monash Node, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Jing Wan
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Jiali Zhai
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | | | - Andy Huynh
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - San H. Thang
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals, Monash Node, VIC 3800, Australia
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9
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Migliore N, Araya‐Hermosilla E, Scheutz GM, Sumerlin BS, Pucci A, Raffa P. Synthesis of poly(
1‐vinylimidazole
)‐
block
‐poly
(
9‐vinylcarbazole
) copolymers via
RAFT
and their use in chemically responsive graphitic composites. JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pol.20210736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Migliore
- Department of Chemical Engineering ENTEG Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
| | | | - Georg M. Scheutz
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
| | - Brent S. Sumerlin
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
| | - Andrea Pucci
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry University of Pisa Pisa Italy
- CISUP, Centro per l'Integrazione della Strumentazione dell'Università di Pisa Pisa Italy
| | - Patrizio Raffa
- Department of Chemical Engineering ENTEG Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
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10
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Hsia T, Wan J, Fan B, Thang SH. Bifunctional RAFT Agent Directed Preparation of Polymer/Graphene Oxide Composites. Macromol Rapid Commun 2021; 42:e2100460. [PMID: 34505728 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202100460] [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: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Polymer/graphene oxide (GO) composites, which combine the physical properties of GO and the processability of polymers, are of increasing interest in a variety of applications ranging from conductive foams, sensors, to bioelectronics. However, the preparation of these composites through physical blending demands the polymers with functional groups that interact strongly with the GO. Here the design and synthesis of a new bifunctional reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent are demonstrated, which allows the synthesis of polymers with predetermined molecular weights and low dispersibilities (Ð), while having functionalities at both polymer termini that allow strong binding to GO. To access polymers with diverse thermal and mechanical properties, acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA) copolymers with different types of acrylates, both short and long side chains, are synthesized under the control of the bifunctional RAFT agent. Furthermore, the strong binding between GO and the synthesized polymers is verified and explored to prepare polymer/GO composites with diverse tensile strengths and conductivity in the range of semiconductors. Overall, this novel RAFT agent is expected to expand the utility of polymer/GO composites by providing well-defined polymers with tunable properties and strong binding with GO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Hsia
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Jing Wan
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Bo Fan
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - San H Thang
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
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11
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Wan J, Fan B, Putera K, Kim J, Banaszak Holl MM, Thang SH. Polymerization-Induced Hierarchical Self-Assembly: From Monomer to Complex Colloidal Molecules and Beyond. ACS NANO 2021; 15:13721-13731. [PMID: 34375086 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c05089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The nanoscale hierarchical design that draws inspiration from nature's biomaterials allows the enhancement of material performance and enables multifarious applications. Self-assembly of block copolymers represents one of these artificial techniques that provide an elegant bottom-up strategy for the synthesis of soft colloidal hierarchies. Fast-growing polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) renders a one-step process for the polymer synthesis and in situ self-assembly at high concentrations. Nevertheless, it is exceedingly challenging for the fabrication of hierarchical colloids via aqueous PISA, simply because most monomers produce kinetically trapped spheres except for a few PISA-suitable monomers. We demonstrate here a sequential one-pot synthesis of hierarchically self-assembled polymer colloids with diverse morphologies via aqueous PISA that overcomes the limitation. Complex formation of water-immiscible monomers with cyclodextrin via "host-guest" inclusion, followed by sequential aqueous polymerization, provides a linear triblock terpolymer that can in situ self-assemble into hierarchical nanostructures. To access polymer colloids with different morphologies, three types of linear triblock terpolymers were synthesized through this methodology, which allows the preparation of AXn-type colloidal molecules (CMs), core-shell-corona micelles, and raspberry-like nanoparticles. Furthermore, the phase separations between polymer blocks in nanostructures were revealed by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy-infrared spectroscopy. The proposed mechanism explained how the interfacial tensions and glass transition temperatures of the core-forming blocks affect the morphologies. Overall, this study provides a scalable method of the production of CMs and other hierarchical structures. It can be applied to different block copolymer formulations to enrich the complexity of morphology and enable diverse functions of nano-objects.
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12
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Zhai J, Fan B, Thang SH, Drummond CJ. Novel Amphiphilic Block Copolymers for the Formation of Stimuli-Responsive Non-Lamellar Lipid Nanoparticles. Molecules 2021; 26:3648. [PMID: 34203820 PMCID: PMC8232580 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26123648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-lamellar lyotropic liquid crystalline (LLC) lipid nanoparticles contain internal multidimensional nanostructures such as the inverse bicontinuous cubic and the inverse hexagonal mesophases, which can respond to external stimuli and have the potential of controlling drug release. To date, the internal LLC mesophase responsiveness of these lipid nanoparticles is largely achieved by adding ionizable small molecules to the parent lipid such as monoolein (MO), the mixture of which is then dispersed into nanoparticle suspensions by commercially available poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) block copolymers. In this study, the Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT) technique was used to synthesize a series of novel amphiphilic block copolymers (ABCs) containing a hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) block, a hydrophobic block and one or two responsive blocks, i.e., poly(4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)benzyl acrylate) (PTBA) and/or poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA). High throughput small angle X-ray scattering studies demonstrated that the synthesized ABCs could simultaneously stabilize a range of LLC MO nanoparticles (vesicles, cubosomes, hexosomes, inverse micelles) and provide internal particle nanostructure responsiveness to changes of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentrations, pH and temperature. It was found that the novel functional ABCs can substitute for the commercial polymer stabilizer and the ionizable additive in the formation of next generation non-lamellar lipid nanoparticles. These novel formulations have the potential to control drug release in the tumor microenvironment with endogenous H2O2 and acidic pH conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Zhai
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Bo Fan
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; (B.F.); (S.H.T.)
| | - San H. Thang
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; (B.F.); (S.H.T.)
| | - Calum J. Drummond
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
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13
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Wan J, Fan B, Thang SH. Sonochemical preparation of polymer-metal nanocomposites with catalytic and plasmonic properties. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2021; 3:3306-3315. [PMID: 36133657 PMCID: PMC9418413 DOI: 10.1039/d1na00120e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Polymer-metal nanocomposites are of increasing interest for a wide range of applications; however, the preparation of these nanocomposites often requires the addition of external initiation and reducing agents for the synthesis of polymer and metal nanoparticles, respectively. Herein, we demonstrate the preparation of polymer-metal nanocomposites for improved catalytic performance by utilizing ultrasound as both the initiation and reducing source. Specifically, synthesis of the macro-RAFT agent containing poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate], followed by ultrasound-initiated polymerization-induced self-assembly (sono-PISA), provides triblock copolymer nanoparticles containing tertiary amine groups. These polymer nanoparticles were further used as the scaffold for the in situ reduction of metal ions (Au and Pd ions) by radicals generated via sonolysis of water without additional reducing agents. The immobilization of metal nanoparticles has been confirmed by TEM and electron diffraction patterns. Polymer-Au nanocomposites with stepwise-grown AuNPs can be applied as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates for 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) detection. Furthermore, the catalytic performances of these prepared polymer-Au and polymer-Pd nanocomposites were examined for aerobic alcohol oxidation and the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction, respectively. Overall, this strategy is expected to greatly expand the utility of ultrasound in the preparation of polymer-metal nanocomposites and promote the catalytic applications of these nanocomposites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wan
- School of Chemistry, Monash University Clayton VIC 3800 Australia
| | - Bo Fan
- School of Chemistry, Monash University Clayton VIC 3800 Australia
| | - San H Thang
- School of Chemistry, Monash University Clayton VIC 3800 Australia
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14
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Fan B, Wan J, Zhai J, Chen X, Thang SH. Triggered Degradable Colloidal Particles with Ordered Inverse Bicontinuous Cubic and Hexagonal Mesophases. ACS NANO 2021; 15:4688-4698. [PMID: 33646766 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c09166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We herein report a facile strategy to prepare triggered degradable block copolymer nano/macro-objects, ranging from typical micelles, worms, jellyfish, and vesicles to rarely achieved spongosomes, cubosomes, and hexosomes via RAFT-mediated polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA). The morphological transitions from a simple spherical micelle to a spongosome, ordered Im3¯m cubosome, and p6mm hexosome were captured and demonstrated by TEM, SEM, and synchrotron SAXS. In addition, morphological phase diagrams including important factors, such as solid contents, degree of polymerization (DP), and stabilizer block chain length, were constructed to unveil the formation mechanism and guide the scalable preparation of complex morphologies with packing parameter (P) > 1. This study not only represents an example that achieved inverse mesophases via acrylate-based monomers with high conversion but also reports a triggered degradable system in the most extended morphological range via PISA. The facile synthesis and stimuli-responsiveness of our system should greatly expand the utility of polymer inverse mesophases for triggered releasing, templating, and many other applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jiali Zhai
- School of Science, College of Science, Engineering and Health, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
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15
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Fan B, Wan J, Liu Y, Tian WW, Thang SH. Functionalization of liquid metal nanoparticles via the RAFT process. Polym Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1py00257k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The proper design and selection of RAFT agents allow the preparation of eutectic gallium–indium (EGaIn) based liquid metal nanoparticles with grafted polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Fan
- School of Chemistry
- Monash University
- Clayton
- Australia
| | - Jing Wan
- School of Chemistry
- Monash University
- Clayton
- Australia
| | - Yiyi Liu
- Department of Material Science and Engineering
- Monash University
- Clayton
- Australia
| | | | - San H. Thang
- School of Chemistry
- Monash University
- Clayton
- Australia
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