1
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Xu Q, Wang Y, Zheng Y, Zhu Y, Li Z, Liu Y, Ding M. Polymersomes in Drug Delivery─From Experiment to Computational Modeling. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:2114-2135. [PMID: 38011222 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Polymersomes, composed of amphiphilic block copolymers, are self-assembled vesicles that have gained attention as potential drug delivery systems due to their good biocompatibility, stability, and versatility. Various experimental techniques have been employed to characterize the self-assembly behaviors and properties of polymersomes. However, they have limitations in revealing molecular details and underlying mechanisms. Computational modeling techniques have emerged as powerful tools to complement experimental studies and enabled researchers to examine drug delivery mechanisms at molecular resolution. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of the art in the field of polymersome-based drug delivery systems, with an emphasis on insights gained from both experimental and computational studies. Specifically, we focus on polymersome morphologies, self-assembly kinetics, fusion and fission, behaviors in flow, as well as drug encapsulation and release mechanisms. Furthermore, we also identify existing challenges and limitations in this rapidly evolving field and suggest possible directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianru Xu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Yiwei Wang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Yi Zheng
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Yuling Zhu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Zifen Li
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Yang Liu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Mingming Ding
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
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2
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Toujani C, Padilla LA, Alhraki N, Hur SM, Ramírez-Hernández A. Self-assembly of rod-coil-rod block copolymers in a coil-selective solvent: coarse-grained simulation results. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:3131-3142. [PMID: 38497125 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00251b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The solution self-assembly of amphiphilic polymers provides a versatile approach to design novel nanostructured materials. Multiblock polymers, particularly those composed of liquid crystalline and coil blocks, are of significant interest due to the potential display of nematic ordering in liquid crystalline domains, offering intriguing optical and mechanical properties. In this study, dissipative particle dynamics is used to investigate the solution self-assembly of rod-coil-rod copolymers in a coil-selective solvent. Extensive molecular simulations were conducted to elucidate the impact of polymer composition, concentration and flexibility on the self-assembly behavior. A quantitative analysis was performed to investigate how polymer conformations varied with changes in composition, concentration, and rigidity. Simulation results show that, at small rod compositions, rod-coil-rod polymers self-assemble into micelles at low concentrations, transitioning to network formation as concentration increases. An increase in rod composition leads to the formation of larger aggregates, resulting in cylindrical micelles and membranes. The results reported here also offer insights into the role of flexibility in shaping the self-assembly behavior of rod-coil-rod triblocks in selective solvents, thus, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the factors governing the formation of diverse structures in the solution self-assembly of triblock copolymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiraz Toujani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, USA
| | - Luis A Padilla
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, USA
| | - Nour Alhraki
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, USA
| | - Su-Mi Hur
- Department of Polymer Engineering, Graduate School, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, South Korea
| | - Abelardo Ramírez-Hernández
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, USA.
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3
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Sun H, Gao Y, Fan Y, Du J, Jiang J, Gao C. Polymeric Bowl-Shaped Nanoparticles: Hollow Structures with a Large Opening on the Surface. Macromol Rapid Commun 2023; 44:e2300196. [PMID: 37246639 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202300196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Polymeric bowl-shaped nanoparticles (BNPs) are anisotropic hollow structures with large openings on the surface, which have shown advantages such as high specific area and efficient encapsulation, delivery and release of large-sized cargoes on demand compared to solid nanoparticles or closed hollow structures. Several strategies have been developed to prepare BNPs based on either template or template-free methods. For instance, despite the widely used self-assembly strategy, alternative methods including emulsion polymerization, swelling and freeze-drying of polymeric spheres, and template-assisted approaches have also been developed. It is attractive but still challenging to fabricate BNPs due to their unique structural features. However, there is still no comprehensive summary of BNPs up to now, which significantly hinders the further development of this field. In this review, the recent progress of BNPs will be highlighted from the perspectives of design strategies, preparation methods, formation mechanisms, and emerging applications. Moreover, the future perspectives of BNPs will also be proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Sun
- State Key Laboratory of High-efficiency Coal Utilization and Green Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, China
| | - Yaning Gao
- State Key Laboratory of High-efficiency Coal Utilization and Green Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, China
| | - Yirong Fan
- State Key Laboratory of High-efficiency Coal Utilization and Green Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, China
| | - Jianzhong Du
- Department of Polymeric Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 4800 Caoan Road, Shanghai, 201804, China
| | - Jinhui Jiang
- Department of Polymeric Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 4800 Caoan Road, Shanghai, 201804, China
| | - Chenchen Gao
- State Key Laboratory of High-efficiency Coal Utilization and Green Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, China
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4
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Procházka K, Limpouchová Z, Štěpánek M, Šindelka K, Lísal M. DPD Modelling of the Self- and Co-Assembly of Polymers and Polyelectrolytes in Aqueous Media: Impact on Polymer Science. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:404. [PMID: 35160394 PMCID: PMC8838752 DOI: 10.3390/polym14030404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This review article is addressed to a broad community of polymer scientists. We outline and analyse the fundamentals of the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation method from the point of view of polymer physics and review the articles on polymer systems published in approximately the last two decades, focusing on their impact on macromolecular science. Special attention is devoted to polymer and polyelectrolyte self- and co-assembly and self-organisation and to the problems connected with the implementation of explicit electrostatics in DPD numerical machinery. Critical analysis of the results of a number of successful DPD studies of complex polymer systems published recently documents the importance and suitability of this coarse-grained method for studying polymer systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karel Procházka
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 8, 128 43 Prague, Czech Republic; (Z.L.); (M.Š.)
| | - Zuzana Limpouchová
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 8, 128 43 Prague, Czech Republic; (Z.L.); (M.Š.)
| | - Miroslav Štěpánek
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 8, 128 43 Prague, Czech Republic; (Z.L.); (M.Š.)
| | - Karel Šindelka
- Department of Molecular and Mesoscopic Modelling, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 135, 165 02 Prague, Czech Republic; (K.Š.); (M.L.)
| | - Martin Lísal
- Department of Molecular and Mesoscopic Modelling, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 135, 165 02 Prague, Czech Republic; (K.Š.); (M.L.)
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Pasteurova 3632, 400 96 Ústí n. Labem, Czech Republic
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5
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Deaton TA, Aydin F, Li NK, Chu X, Dutt M, Yingling YG. Dissipative Particle Dynamics Approaches to Modeling the Self-Assembly and Morphology of Neutral and Ionic Block Copolymers in Solution. FOUNDATIONS OF MOLECULAR MODELING AND SIMULATION 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-33-6639-8_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
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6
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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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7
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Zhao Y, Ma SM, Li B, De Nicola A, Yu NS, Dong B. Micellization of Pluronic P123 in Water/Ethanol/Turpentine Oil Mixed Solvents: Hybrid Particle-Field Molecular Dynamic Simulation. Polymers (Basel) 2019; 11:E1806. [PMID: 31684204 PMCID: PMC6918437 DOI: 10.3390/polym11111806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The hybrid particle-field molecular dynamics simulation method (MD-SCF) was applied to study the self-assembly of Pluronic PEO20-PPO70-PEO20 (P123) in water/ethanol/turpentine oil- mixed solvents. In particular, the micellization process of P123 at low concentration (less than 20%) in water/ethanol/turpentine oil-mixed solvents was investigated. The aggregation number, radius of gyration, and radial density profiles were calculated and compared with experimental data to characterize the structures of the micelles self-assembled from P123 in the mixed solvent. This study confirms that the larger-sized micelles are formed in the presence of ethanol, in addition to the turpentine oil-swollen micelles. Furthermore, the spherical micelles and vesicles were both observed in the self-assembly of P123 in the water/ethanol/turpentine oil-mixed solvent. The results of this work aid the understanding of the influence of ethanol and oil on P123 micellization, which will help with the design of effective copolymer-based formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhao
- Institute of Nano-photonics, School of Physics and Materials Engineering, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, China.
| | - Su-Min Ma
- Institute of Nano-photonics, School of Physics and Materials Engineering, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, China.
- Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
| | - Bin Li
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China.
| | - Antonio De Nicola
- Department of Organic Materials Science, Yamagata University, 4-3-16 Jonan, Yonezawa, Yamagata-ken 992-8510, Japan.
| | - Nai-Sen Yu
- Institute of Nano-photonics, School of Physics and Materials Engineering, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, China.
| | - Bin Dong
- Institute of Nano-photonics, School of Physics and Materials Engineering, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, China.
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8
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Lv Y, Wang L, Wu F, Gong S, Wei J, Lin S. Self-assembly and stimuli-responsive behaviours of side-chain liquid crystalline copolymers: a dissipative particle dynamics simulation approach. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:7645-7653. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cp00400a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Side-chain liquid crystalline copolymers are able to self-assemble into various aggregates in selective solvents, in particular, deformed structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yisheng Lv
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- East China University of Science and Technology
| | - Liquan Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- East China University of Science and Technology
| | - Fangsheng Wu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- East China University of Science and Technology
| | - Shuting Gong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- East China University of Science and Technology
| | - Jie Wei
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- East China University of Science and Technology
| | - Shaoliang Lin
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- East China University of Science and Technology
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9
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Li S, Li K, Xu Q, Wang Y, Yu C, Zhou Y. Solution self-assembly behavior of rod-alt-coil alternating copolymers via simulations. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:25148-25157. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cp05577k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The self-assembly behaviors of rod-alt-coil alternating copolymers were systematically investigated by employing dissipative particle dynamics simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanlong Li
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Shanghai 200240
| | - Ke Li
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Shanghai 200240
| | - Qingsong Xu
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Shanghai 200240
| | - Yuling Wang
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Shanghai 200240
| | - Chunyang Yu
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Shanghai 200240
| | - Yongfeng Zhou
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Shanghai 200240
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10
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Kriksin YA, Potemkin II, Khalatur PG. Chirality in Self-Assembling Rod-Coil Copolymers: Macroscopic Homochirality Versus Local Chirality. POLYMER SCIENCE SERIES C 2018. [DOI: 10.1134/s1811238218020133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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11
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Wakimoto K, Sasaki H, Arai N. Dissipative particle dynamics simulation of the relaxation behaviour of a triblock copolymer supramolecular network. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2017.1403027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Wakimoto
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kindai University, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Noriyoshi Arai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kindai University, Osaka, Japan
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12
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Ma D, DeBenedictis EP, Lund R, Keten S. Design of polymer conjugated 3-helix micelles as nanocarriers with tunable shapes. NANOSCALE 2016; 8:19334-19342. [PMID: 27841426 DOI: 10.1039/c6nr07125b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Amphiphilic peptide-polymer conjugates have the ability to form stable nanoscale micelles, which show great promise for drug delivery and other applications. A recent design has utilized the end-conjugation of alkyl chains to 3-helix coiled coils to achieve amphiphilicity, combined with the side-chain conjugation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to tune micelle size through entropic confinement forces. Here we investigate this phenomenon in depth, using coarse-grained dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations in an explicit solvent and micelle theory. We analyze the conformations of PEG chains conjugated to three different positions on 3-helix bundle peptides to ascertain the degree of confinement upon assembly, as well as the ordering of the subunits making up the micelle. We discover that the micelle size and stability is dictated by a competition between the entropy of PEG chain conformations in the assembled state, as well as intermolecular cross-interactions among PEG chains that promote cohesion between neighboring conjugates. Our analyses build on the role of PEG molecular weight and conjugation site and lead to computational phase diagrams that can be used to design 3-helix micelles. This work opens pathways for the design of multifunctional micelles with tunable size, shape and stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Ma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
| | | | - Reidar Lund
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033, Blindern, N-0315 Oslo, Norway
| | - Sinan Keten
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA. and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
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13
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Ang J, Ma D, Lund R, Keten S, Xu T. Internal Structure of 15 nm 3-Helix Micelle Revealed by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering and Coarse-Grained MD Simulation. Biomacromolecules 2016; 17:3262-3267. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b00986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Dan Ma
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Department of Mechanical
Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Reidar Lund
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033, Blindern, N-0315 Oslo, Norway
| | - Sinan Keten
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Department of Mechanical
Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Ting Xu
- Material
Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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14
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Huang F, Lv Y, Wang L, Xu P, Lin J, Lin S. An insight into polymerization-induced self-assembly by dissipative particle dynamics simulation. SOFT MATTER 2016; 12:6422-6429. [PMID: 27414465 DOI: 10.1039/c6sm00912c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Polymerization-induced self-assembly is a one-pot route to produce concentrated dispersions of block copolymer nano-objects. Herein, dissipative particle dynamics simulations with a reaction model were employed to investigate the behaviors of polymerization-induced self-assembly. The polymerization kinetics in the polymerization-induced self-assembly were analyzed by comparing with solution polymerization. It was found that the polymerization rate enhances in the initial stage and decreases in the later stage. In addition, the effects of polymerization rate, length of macromolecular initiators, and concentration on the aggregate morphologies and formation pathway were studied. The polymerization rate and the length of the macromolecular initiators are found to have a marked influence on the pathway of the aggregate formations and the final structures. Morphology diagrams were mapped correspondingly. A comparison between simulation results and experimental findings is also made and an agreement is shown. This work can enrich our knowledge about polymerization-induced self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials, Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.
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15
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16
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Huang JH, Wu JJ, Huang XW. Self-assembly of symmetric rod-coil diblock copolymers in cylindrical nanopore. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra22122j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-assembly of rod-coil (RC) symmetric diblock copolymers (DBCs) in a cylindrical nanopore is investigated by performing dissipative particle dynamics simulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Hua Huang
- Department of Chemistry
- Zhejiang Sci-Tech University
- Hangzhou 310018
- China
| | - Jia-Jun Wu
- Department of Chemistry
- Zhejiang Sci-Tech University
- Hangzhou 310018
- China
| | - Xiao-Wei Huang
- Department of Chemistry
- Zhejiang Sci-Tech University
- Hangzhou 310018
- China
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17
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Li H, Gong B, Qian CJ, Luo MB. Critical adsorption of a flexible polymer on a stripe-patterned surface. SOFT MATTER 2015; 11:3222-3231. [PMID: 25765551 DOI: 10.1039/c5sm00426h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The adsorption and dynamics of a polymer chain on a stripe-patterned surface composed of periodical attractive and neutral stripes are studied by using Monte Carlo simulation. The critical adsorption temperature Tc and pattern-recognition temperature Tr are estimated from the desorption probability, surface contact number, and bridge number. A phase diagram presenting three polymer states, including a desorbed state above Tc, a multi-stripe adsorbed state at an intermediate temperature Tr < T < Tc, and a single-stripe adsorbed state below Tr, is provided for infinitely long chains. Normal diffusion is always observed for a polymer in the direction parallel to the stripe even at low temperature. But in the direction perpendicular to the stripe, the polymer can freely diffuse above Tc, whereas the polymer is confined to one attractive stripe below Tr. However, the adsorbed polymer can hop from one attractive stripe to another at the intermediate temperature Tr < T < Tc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Li
- Department of Physics, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
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18
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Li CY, Luo MB, Huang JH, Li H. Equilibrium and dynamical properties of polymer chains in random medium filled with randomly distributed nano-sized fillers. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2015; 17:31877-86. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cp06189j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The effect of randomly distributed nano-sized fillers on the equilibrium and dynamical properties of linear polymers is studied by using off-lattice Monte Carlo simulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Yang Li
- Department of Physics
- Hangzhou Normal University
- Hangzhou 310036
- China
| | - Meng-Bo Luo
- Department of Physics
- Zhejiang University
- Hangzhou 310027
- China
| | - Jian-Hua Huang
- Department of Chemistry
- Zhejiang Sci-Tech University
- Hangzhou 310018
- China
| | - Hong Li
- Department of Physics
- Wenzhou University
- Wenzhou 325035
- China
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19
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Omar AK, Hanson B, Haws RT, Hu Z, Vanden Bout DA, Rossky PJ, Ganesan V. Aggregation behavior of rod-coil-rod triblock copolymers in a coil-selective solvent. J Phys Chem B 2014; 119:330-7. [PMID: 25513935 DOI: 10.1021/jp509016c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Recent experiments have reported that the self-assembly of conjugated polymers mimicking rod-coil-rod triblock copolymers (BCPs) in selective solvents exhibits unique aggregate morphologies. However, the nature of the arrangement of the polymers within the aggregates and the spatial organization of the aggregates remain an unresolved issue. We report the results of coarse-grained Langevin dynamics simulations, which investigated the self-assembly behavior of rod-coil-rod BCPs in a coil-selective solvent. We observe a rapid formation of cylindrically shaped multichain clusters. The initial stages of formation of the aggregates was seen to be independent of the strength of the solvent selectivity. However, for higher solvent selectivities, the clusters were seen to merge into larger units at later stages. A reduction in rod to coil block ratio was observed to decrease the size and number of clusters. In the limit of a highly concentrated solution, we observe the formation of a networked system of distinct clusters, which however retain the cylindrical arrangement observed at lower polymer concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad K Omar
- Department of Chemical Engineering and ‡Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin , Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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Zhou Y, Song S, Long XP, Zhang CY, Chen YM. Dissipative Particle Dynamics Simulation on Self-Assembly Behavior of Rod-Coil-Rod Triblock Copolymer in Solutions. MACROMOL THEOR SIMUL 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/mats.201400025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhou
- Institute of Chemical Materials; Chinese Academy of Engineering and Physics; Mianyang 621900 China
| | - Shan Song
- Institute of Chemical Materials; Chinese Academy of Engineering and Physics; Mianyang 621900 China
- Academy of Chemistry and Engineering; Chongqing University; Chongqing 400044 China
| | - Xin-Ping Long
- Chinese Academy of Engineering and Physics; Mianyang 621900 China
| | - Chao-Yang Zhang
- Institute of Chemical Materials; Chinese Academy of Engineering and Physics; Mianyang 621900 China
| | - Yang-Mei Chen
- Institute of Chemical Materials; Chinese Academy of Engineering and Physics; Mianyang 621900 China
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