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Nacke P, Manabe A, Klasen-Memmer M, Chen X, Martinez V, Freychet G, Zhernenkov M, Maclennan JE, Clark NA, Bremer M, Giesselmann F. New examples of ferroelectric nematic materials showing evidence for the antiferroelectric smectic-Z phase. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4473. [PMID: 38396051 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54832-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
We present a new ferroelectric nematic material, 4-((4'-((trans)-5-ethyloxan-2-yl)-2',3,5,6'-tetrafluoro-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)difluoromethoxy)-2,6-difluorobenzonitrile (AUUQU-2-N) and its higher homologues, the molecular structures of which include fluorinated building blocks, an oxane ring, and a terminal cyano group, all contributing to a large molecular dipole moment of about 12.5 D. We observed that AUUQU-2-N has three distinct liquid crystal phases, two of which were found to be polar phases with a spontaneous electric polarization Ps of up to 6 µC cm-2. The highest temperature phase is a common enantiotropic nematic (N) exhibiting only field-induced polarization. The lowest-temperature, monotropic phase proved to be a new example of the ferroelectric nematic phase (NF), evidenced by a single-peak polarization reversal current response, a giant imaginary dielectric permittivity on the order of 103, and the absence of any smectic layer X-ray diffraction peaks. The ordinary nematic phase N and the ferroelectric nematic phase NF are separated by an antiferroelectric liquid crystal phase which has low permittivity and a polarization reversal current exhibiting a characteristic double-peak response. In the polarizing light microscope, this antiferroelectric phase shows characteristic zig-zag defects, evidence of a layered structure. These observations suggest that this is another example of the recently discovered smectic ZA (SmZA) phase, having smectic layers with the molecular director parallel to the layer planes. The diffraction peaks from the smectic layering have not been observed to date but detailed 2D X-ray studies indicate the presence of additional short-range structures including smectic C-type correlations in all three phases-N, SmZA and NF-which may shed new light on the understanding of polar and antipolar order in these phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Nacke
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Atsutaka Manabe
- Display Solutions, Merck Electronics KGaA, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany
- Individual researcher (Since 01.01.22), 64625, Bensheim, Germany
| | | | - Xi Chen
- Department of Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Vikina Martinez
- Department of Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Guillaume Freychet
- Brookhaven National Laboratory, National Synchrotron Light Source-II, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Mikhail Zhernenkov
- Brookhaven National Laboratory, National Synchrotron Light Source-II, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Joseph E Maclennan
- Department of Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Noel A Clark
- Department of Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Matthias Bremer
- Display Solutions, Merck Electronics KGaA, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Frank Giesselmann
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
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Chen D, Tenopala‐Carmona F, Knöller JA, Mischok A, Hall D, Madayanad Suresh S, Matulaitis T, Olivier Y, Nacke P, Gießelmann F, Laschat S, Gather MC, Zysman‐Colman E. Mesogenic Groups Control the Emitter Orientation in Multi-Resonance TADF Emitter Films. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202218911. [PMID: 36760211 PMCID: PMC10947294 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202218911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
The use of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters and emitters that show preferential horizontal orientation of their transition dipole moment (TDM) are two emerging strategies to enhance the efficiency of OLEDs. We present the first example of a liquid crystalline multi-resonance TADF (MR-TADF) emitter, DiKTa-LC. The compound possesses a nematic liquid crystalline phase between 80 °C and 110 °C. Importantly, the TDM of the spin-coated film shows preferential horizontal orientation, with an anisotropy factor, a, of 0.28, which is preserved in doped poly(vinylcarbazole) films. Green-emitting (λEL =492 nm) solution-processed OLEDs based on DiKTa-LC showed an EQEmax of 13.6 %. We thus demonstrate for the first time how self-assembly of a liquid crystalline TADF emitter can lead to the so-far elusive control of the orientation of the transition dipole in solution-processed films, which will be of relevance for high-performance solution-processed OLEDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyang Chen
- Organic Semiconductor CentreEaStCHEM School of ChemistryUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsFifeKY16 9STUK
| | - Francisco Tenopala‐Carmona
- Humboldt Centre for Nano- and BiophotonicsDepartment of ChemistryUniversity of CologneGreinstr. 4-650939KölnGermany
| | - Julius A. Knöller
- Institut für Organische ChemieUniversität StuttgartPfaffenwaldring 5570569StuttgartGermany
| | - Andreas Mischok
- Humboldt Centre for Nano- and BiophotonicsDepartment of ChemistryUniversity of CologneGreinstr. 4-650939KölnGermany
| | - David Hall
- Organic Semiconductor CentreEaStCHEM School of ChemistryUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsFifeKY16 9STUK
- Laboratory for Chemistry of Novel MaterialsUniversity of MonsMonsBelgium
| | - Subeesh Madayanad Suresh
- Organic Semiconductor CentreEaStCHEM School of ChemistryUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsFifeKY16 9STUK
| | - Tomas Matulaitis
- Organic Semiconductor CentreEaStCHEM School of ChemistryUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsFifeKY16 9STUK
| | - Yoann Olivier
- Laboratory for Computational Modeling of Functional MaterialsNamur Institute of Structured MatterUniversité de NamurRue de Bruxelles 615000NamurBelgium
| | - Pierre Nacke
- Institut für Physikalische ChemieUniversität StuttgartPfaffenwaldring 5570569StuttgartGermany
| | - Frank Gießelmann
- Institut für Physikalische ChemieUniversität StuttgartPfaffenwaldring 5570569StuttgartGermany
| | - Sabine Laschat
- Institut für Organische ChemieUniversität StuttgartPfaffenwaldring 5570569StuttgartGermany
| | - Malte C. Gather
- Humboldt Centre for Nano- and BiophotonicsDepartment of ChemistryUniversity of CologneGreinstr. 4-650939KölnGermany
| | - Eli Zysman‐Colman
- Organic Semiconductor CentreEaStCHEM School of ChemistryUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsFifeKY16 9STUK
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Chen D, Tenopala-Carmona F, Knöller JA, Mischok A, Hall D, Suresh SM, Matulaitis T, Olivier Y, Nacke P, Gießelmann F, Laschat S, Gather MC, Zysman-Colman E. Mesogenic Groups Control the Emitter Orientation in Multi‐Resonance TADF Emitter Films. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202218911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - David Hall
- University of St Andrews Chemistry UNITED KINGDOM
| | | | | | | | - Pierre Nacke
- University of Stuttgart: Universitat Stuttgart Chemistry GERMANY
| | - Frank Gießelmann
- University of Stuttgart: Universitat Stuttgart Chemistry GERMANY
| | - Sabine Laschat
- University of Stuttgart: Universitat Stuttgart Chemistry UNITED KINGDOM
| | | | - Eli Zysman-Colman
- University of St Andrews School of Chemistry Purdie BuildingNorth Haugh KY16 9ST St Andrews UNITED KINGDOM
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pierre Nacke
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Paulina Rybak
- Laboratory of Physicochemistry of Dielectrics and Magnetics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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Knapp J, Bokník P, Deng MC, Huke S, Lüss I, Klein-Wiele O, Linck B, Lüss H, Müller FU, Nacke P, Scheld HH, Schmitz W, Vahlensieck U, Neumann J. On the contractile function of protein phosphatases in isolated human coronary arteries. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 1999; 360:464-72. [PMID: 10551284 DOI: 10.1007/s002109900124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
It is unknown whether protein phosphatases types 1 and 2A are present in and can regulate the tone of human vascular tissue. The expression and possible function of serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PP) type 1 (PP1) and type 2A (PP2A) were studied in isolated human coronary arteries. Catalytic subunits of PPI and PP2A were identified by means of phosphatase activity measurement in tissue homogenates, by separation of enriched extracts through affinity column chromatography, by immunoblotting with specific antibodies, by hybridization of mRNA with specific DNA probes and PCR of reverse transcribed mRNA. Based on these methods, the catalytic subunits of PP1(alpha,beta,gamma) and PP2A(alpha,beta) were identified. Appropriately, cantharidin, an inhibitor of PP1 and PP2A, increased basal tone of human isolated coronary artery rings with an EC50 of about 16 micromol/l by increasing the phosphorylation state of the regulatory light chains of myosin. In summary, PP1 and PP2A are expressed in human coronary arteries and they can alter vascular tone.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Knapp
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany.
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Knapp J, Bokník P, Lüss I, Huke S, Linck B, Lüss H, Müller FU, Müller T, Nacke P, Noll T, Piper HM, Schmitz W, Vahlensieck U, Neumann J. The protein phosphatase inhibitor cantharidin alters vascular endothelial cell permeability. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1999; 289:1480-6. [PMID: 10336542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we characterized the effects of the protein phosphatases type 1 (PP 1) and type 2A (PP 2A) inhibitor cantharidin in endothelial cells. We identified catalytic subunits of PP 1alpha, PP 2Aalpha, and PP 2Abeta immunologically in bovine aortic endothelial cells. Moreover, we detected mRNAs coding for catalytic subunits of PP 1alpha, PP 1beta, and PP 2Aalpha by hybridization with specific DNA probes in total RNA from these cells. Okadaic acid and cantharidin inhibited the activities of catalytic subunits of PP 1 (okadaic acid, 0.01-1 microM; cantharidin, 1-100 microM) and PP 2A (okadaic acid, 0.1 nM to 1 microM; cantharidin, 0.1-100 microM) separated by column chromatography in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, cantharidin (1 microM to 1 mM) increased the phosphorylation state of endothelial proteins including the regulatory light chains of myosin without affecting cytosolic calcium concentrations. Cantharidin (5-100 microM) increased the permeability of cultured endothelial cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. We suggest that inhibition of PP 1 and PP 2A activities by cantharidin increases endothelial permeability by enhancing the phosphorylation state of endothelial regulatory proteins. Thus, cantharidin might be a useful tool to study the function of protein phosphatases in endothelial barrier function.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Knapp
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany.
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Knapp J, Bokník P, Huke S, Gombosová I, Linck B, Lüss H, Müller FU, Müller T, Nacke P, Schmitz W, Vahlensieck U, Neumann J. Contractility and inhibition of protein phosphatases by cantharidin. Gen Pharmacol 1998; 31:729-33. [PMID: 9809469 DOI: 10.1016/s0306-3623(98)00053-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
1. Cantharidin is a natural defensive toxicant produced by blister beetles. 2. Cantharidin shares structural similarity with highly toxic commercial herbicides (e.g., endothall, endothall anhydride and endothall thioanhydride). 3. Cantharidin inhibits the activity of purified catalytic subunits of serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PP) type 1 and type 2A. 4. Cantharidin increases force of contraction in isolated myocardial and vascular preparations. 5. Cantharidin enhances the phosphorylation state of myocardial and vascular regulatory proteins. 6. Cantharidin is a valuable tool for studying the function of PP in regulatory phosphorylation-dephosphorylation events.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Knapp
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany
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Knapp J, Bokník P, Huke S, Lüss H, Müller FU, Müller T, Nacke P, Schmitz W, Vahlensieck U, Neumann J. The mechanism of action of cantharidin in smooth muscle. Br J Pharmacol 1998; 123:911-9. [PMID: 9535020 PMCID: PMC1565226 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0701668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
1. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism(s) of the vasoconstrictor effect of cantharidin in bovine preparations. 2. Catalytic subunits of protein phosphatase type 1 (PP 1) and type 2A (PP 2A) were immunologically identified in coronary arteries, isolated smooth muscle cells and ventricular myocardium. 3. The mRNAs coding for catalytic subunits of PP 1alpha, PP 1beta and PP 2Aalpha were identified by hybridization with specific cDNA-probes in total RNA from coronary arteries, isolated smooth muscle cells and ventricles. 4. The activities of catalytic subunits of PP 1 and PP 2A separated by column chromatography from coronary arteries, isolated smooth muscle cells and ventricles were inhibited by cantharidin in a concentration-dependent manner. 5. Cantharidin increased the phosphorylation state of smooth muscle proteins including the regulatory light chains of myosin in 32P-labelled intact smooth muscle cells in a concentration-dependent manner. 6. Cantharidin did not affect cytosolic calcium concentrations in aortic smooth muscle cells. 7. It is suggested that cantharidin contracts smooth muscle preparations by increasing the phosphorylation state of regulatory proteins due to inhibition of phosphatase activities. Thus, cantharidin might be a useful tool to study the function of phosphatases in smooth muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Knapp
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, FRG
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Knapp J, Bokník P, Linck B, Lüss H, Müller FU, Nacke P, Neumann J, Vahlensieck U, Schmitz W. The effect of the protein phosphatases inhibitor cantharidin on beta-adrenoceptor-mediated vasorelaxation. Br J Pharmacol 1997; 120:421-8. [PMID: 9031745 PMCID: PMC1564485 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0700929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
1. Cantharidin, an inhibitor of protein phosphatase types 1 (PP1) and 2A (PP2A), increased basal tone of bovine isolated coronary artery rings (CARs) with and without endothelium in a time- and concentration-dependent manner with pEC50 values of about 5.1 and 5.2, respectively, for both preparations. 2. Beta-Adrenoceptor stimulation with isoprenaline (Iso; 0.03-100 microM) or inhibition of phosphodiesterase activity by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX; 10-1000 microM), respectively, relaxed CARs precontracted with KCl (75 mM). CARs with and without endothelium showed no difference in the relaxing response to Iso and IBMX, respectively. 3. Cantharidin (3 microM) attenuated vasorelaxation induced by Iso (0.03-100 microM) in CARs with and without endothelium in a time-dependent manner, whereas vasorelaxation induced by IBMX (10-1000 microM) was not attenuated by 3 microM cantharidin. 4. Cantharidin (3 microM) did not affect cyclic AMP content in bovine cultured vascular cells, i.e. coronary artery smooth muscle cells (BCs), aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) and aortic smooth muscle cells (BASMCs), either under basal conditions, after beta-adrenoceptor stimulation (Iso) or inhibition of phosphodiesterase activity (IBMX), respectively. 5. Cantharidin inhibited protein phosphatase activity in homogenates from bovine coronary artery rings with a pIC50 of about 6.0. In homogenates of bovine cultured vascular cells pIC50 values of cantharidin amounted to about 6.5 for BCs, 6.7 for BAECs and 6.7 for BASMCs, respectively. 6. It was concluded that cantharidin differently affects vasorelaxation due to stimulation of beta-adrenoceptors (Iso) or inhibition of phosphodiesterase activity (IBMX), respectively. The attenuation of beta-adrenoceptor-mediated vasorelaxation by phosphatase inhibition is not due to diminished adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) generation but could be evidence for different subcellular compartments of cyclic AMP.
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MESH Headings
- 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine/pharmacology
- Adrenergic beta-Agonists/pharmacology
- Animals
- Cantharidin/pharmacology
- Cattle
- Cells, Cultured
- Coronary Vessels/drug effects
- Coronary Vessels/metabolism
- Cyclic AMP/metabolism
- Endothelium, Vascular/cytology
- Endothelium, Vascular/drug effects
- Endothelium, Vascular/metabolism
- Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology
- In Vitro Techniques
- Isoproterenol/pharmacology
- Muscle Contraction/drug effects
- Muscle Relaxation/drug effects
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Phosphoprotein Phosphatases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta/drug effects
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta/metabolism
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta/physiology
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Affiliation(s)
- J Knapp
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany
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Yeung CH, Spier B, Cooper TG, Nacke P, Nieschlag E. The effect of bradykinin and the bradykinin antagonist Hoe 140 on kinematic parameters of human spermatozoa. Int J Androl 1996; 19:143-9. [PMID: 8876263 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.1996.tb00453.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Bradykinin (BK) has been suggested to be an active substance in the disputed therapeutic use of kallikrein to improve semen quality. The effects of exogenous BK and its antagonist Hoe 140, which acts on one of the bradykinin receptors (BK2), were examined in two groups of patients attending the fertility clinic: those with asthenozoospermia (group I) and normozoospermia (group II). Bradykinin (10nM-1 microM) added to washed human spermatozoa had no effect on most kinematic parameters and caused only a marginal increase (7%) in curvilinear velocity at 50 nM in group I patients; however, this increase was not suppressed by concomitant addition of the BK antagonist. The bradykinin antagonist itself had no effect on the percentage motility or kinematic motility parameters of washed human spermatozoa in either group of patients. The motility of spermatozoa in semen was also unaffected by the presence of the bradykinin antagonist. It is concluded that bradykinin does not act exogenously on washed spermatozoa nor endogenously on spermatozoa in semen to stimulate motility via BK2 receptors, regardless of the initial quality of the sperm motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Yeung
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Münster, Germany
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