Synthesis and Structural Insight into poly(dimethylsiloxane)-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) Copolymers

In this study, the use of anionic polymerization for the synthesis of living poly(dimethylsiloxane) or PDMS-Li+, as well as poly(2-vinylpyridine) or P2VP-Li+ homopolymers, and the subsequent use of chlorosilane chemistry in order for the two blocks to be covalently joined leading to PDMS-b-P2VP copolymers is proposed. High vacuum manipulations enabled the synthesis of well-defined materials with different molecular weights (Μ¯n, from 9.8 to 36.0 kg/mol) and volume fraction ratios (φ, from 0.15 to 0.67). The Μ¯n values, dispersity indices, and composition were determined through membrane/vapor pressure osmometry (MO/VPO), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), respectively, while the thermal transitions were determined via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The morphological characterization results suggested that for common composition ratios, lamellar, cylindrical, and spherical phases with domain periodicities ranging from approximately 15 to 39 nm are formed. A post-polymerization chemical modification reaction to quaternize the nitrogen atom in some of the P2VP monomeric units in the copolymer with the highest P2VP content, and the additional characterizations through 1H NMR, infrared spectroscopy, DSC, and contact angle are reported. The synthesis, characterization, and quaternization of the copolymer structure are important findings toward the preparation of functional materials with enhanced properties suitable for various nanotechnology applications.

Synthesis and Characterization of Hybrid Materials Derived from Conjugated Copolymers and Reduced Graphene Oxide

In this study the preparation of hybrid materials based on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and conjugated copolymers is reported. By tuning the number and arrangement of thiophenes in the main chain (indacenothiophene or indacenothienothiophene) and the nature of the polymer acceptor (difluoro benzothiadiazole or diketopyrrolopyrrole) semiconducting copolymers were synthesized through Stille aromatic coupling and characterized to determine their molecular characteristics. The graphene oxide was synthesized using the Staudenmaier method and was further modified to reduced graphene oxide prior to structural characterization. Various mixtures with different rGO quantities and conjugated copolymers were prepared to determine the optoelectronic, thermal and morphological properties. An increase in the maximum absorbance ranging from 3 to 6 nm for all hybrid materials irrespective of the rGO concentration, when compared to the pristine conjugated copolymers, was estimated through the UV-Vis spectroscopy indicating a differentiation on the optical properties. Through voltammetric experiments the oxidation and reduction potentials were determined and the calculated HOMO and LUMO levels revealed a decrease on the electrochemical energy gap for low rGO concentrations. The study indicates the potential of the hybrid materials consisting of graphene oxide and high band gap conjugated copolymers for applications related to organic solar cells.

Smartphone paired SIM card-type integrated creatinine biosensor

Medical diagnostic sector is relying on affordable, handheld devices integrating smart biosensing and transducing interfaces that enable clinical analysis with minimal end-user intervention and resource requirements. In response, we propose here, a SIM card-type pH responsive polymer-modified paper-based biosensing device, coupled to a smartphone, for the determination of urinary creatinine. A vertical microfluidic channel was fabricated on a paper strip by wax printing. The hydrophilic area was coated by a poly(methylmethacrylate)/poly(methacrylic acid) random copolymer, PMMA-co-PMAA, and on top of it, creatinine deiminase (CD) was immobilized. Data demonstrated, on the one hand, zero vertical flow of urine through the enzyme-free PMMA-co-PMAA-modified paper strip, i.e., a high selectivity against the components of the matrix, and on the other hand, in the presence of CD, a creatinine -concentration dependent commence of sample's downward flow due to the selective, creatinine-triggered degradation of the copolymer by the enzymatically produced ammonia. This CD/PMMA-co-PMAA paper-based biosensing smart assembly is coupled with three conductive strips, which enable the automatic on/off (sample addition/measurement end) measurement of the copolymer degradation time, through electric resistance measurements. It also features an in-built sample well and wireless communication support through the integration of a Bluetooth® microprocessor incorporated with time and resistance measuring circuits. Using newly synthesized pH responsive PMMA-co-PMAA at different molecular weights and volume fraction ratios offering tunable dissolution properties, the detection range was adjusted over 3-30 mM creatinine to overspread the normal range of creatinine in urine. The device was successfully applied to the determination of urinary creatinine.

Synthesis, Characterization and Structure Properties of Biobased Hybrid Copolymers Consisting of Polydiene and Polypeptide Segments

Novel hybrid materials of the PB-b-P(o-Bn-L-Tyr) and PI-b-P(o-Bn-L-Tyr) type (where PB: 1,4/1,2-poly(butadiene), PI: 3,4/1,2/1,4-poly(isoprene) and P(o-Bn-L-Tyr): poly(ortho-benzyl-L-tyrosine)) were synthesized through anionic and ring-opening polymerization under high-vacuum techniques. All final materials were molecularly characterized through infrared spectroscopy (IR) and proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR) in order to confirm the successful synthesis and the polydiene microstructure content. The stereochemical behavior of secondary structures (α-helices and β-sheets) of the polypeptide segments combined with the different polydiene microstructures was also studied. The influence of the α-helices and β-sheets, as well as the polydiene chain conformations on the thermal properties (glass transition temperatures, thermal stability, α- and β-relaxation) of the present biobased hybrid copolymers, was investigated through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dielectric spectroscopy (DS). The obtained morphologies in thin films for all the synthesized materials via atomic force microscopy (AFM) indicated the formation of polypeptide fibrils in the polydiene matrix.

Synthesis, characterization and self-assembly of linear and miktoarm star copolymers of exclusively immiscible polydienes

Model linear PB_1,4-b-PI_3,4 and the corresponding miktoarm star copolymers PB_1,4(PI_3,4)_n=2,3 were synthesized by anionic polymerization/selective chlorosilane chemistry, molecularly characterized and the morphological/thermal properties were reported.

Dendrons and Dendritic Terpolymers: Synthesis, Characterization and Self-Assembly Comparison

To the best of our knowledge, this is the very first time that a thorough study of the synthetic procedures, molecular and thermal characterization, followed by structure/properties relationship for symmetric and non-symmetric second generation (2-G) dendritic terpolymers is reported. Actually, the synthesis of the non-symmetric materials is reported for the first time in the literature. Anionic polymerization enables the synthesis of well-defined polymers that, despite the architecture complexity, absolute control over the average molecular weight, as well as block composition, is achieved. The dendritic type macromolecular architecture affects the microphase separation, because different morphologies are obtained, which do not exhibit long range order, and various defects or dislocations are evident attributed to the increased number of junction points of the final material despite the satisfactory thermal annealing at temperatures above the highest glass transition temperature of all blocks. For comparison reasons, the initial dendrons (miktoarm star terpolymer precursors) which are connected to each other in order to synthesize the final dendritic terpolymers are characterized in solution and in bulk and their self-assembly is also studied. A major conclusion is that specific structures are adopted which depend on the type of the core connection between the ligand and the active sites of the dendrons.

Self-Assembly of Low-Molecular-Weight Asymmetric Linear Triblock Terpolymers: How Low Can We Go?

The synthesis of two (2) novel triblock terpolymers of the ABC type and one (1) of the BAC type, where A, B and C are chemically different segments, such as polystyrene (PS), poly(butadiene) (PB1,4) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), is reported; moreover, their corresponding molecular and bulk characterizations were performed. Very low dimensions are evident from the characterization in bulk from transmission electron microscopy studies, verified by small-angle X-ray data, since sub-16 nm domains are evident in all three cases. The self-assembly results justify the assumptions that the high Flory-Huggins parameter, χ, even in low molecular weights, leads to significantly well-ordered structures, despite the complexity of the systems studied. Furthermore, it is the first time that a structure/properties relationship was studied for such systems in bulk, potentially leading to prominent applications in nanotechnology and nanopatterning, for as low as sub-10 nm thin-film manipulations.

Dipyridamole-loaded biodegradable PLA nanoplatforms as coatings for cardiovascular stents

Cardiovascular stents are commonly used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases that in developed societies are the most frequent causes of mortality and morbidity. In recent years, thorough research and development of drug-eluting stents has been done, with emphasis on coronary stenting to avoid the most common complication, in-stent thrombosis. Dipyridamole (DPM) is a medication that inhibits blood clot formation. Drug delivery nanoplatforms consisting of biodegradable polymers can be fabricated via electrospinning deposition, known for its cost-effective and versatile advantages, that produces fibrous scaffolds that are able to sustain and control drug release. A novel drug delivery nanosystem of polylactic acid fibrous scaffold loaded with the anti-platelet drug DPM was fabricated by electrospinning as coating for cardiovascular stents. The surface morphology and topography that were evaluated via atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy, were found to be good and suitable for tissue engineering. Contact angle measurements established the hydrophobic behavior of these fibrous nanoplatforms. Drug-release kinetics and degradation studies were conducted and revealed a sustained and controllable release of DPM, through this fibrous matrix over time. Finally, cytotoxicity studies took place to evaluate the cytocompatibility of the scaffold that confirmed its compatible behavior. The successful performance of this nanoplatform can lead to it being a valuable tool for atherosclerosis treatment.