@article{SharmaBekirLomadzeetal.2022, author = {Sharma, Anjali and Bekir, Marek and Lomadze, Nino and Jung, Se-Hyeong and Pich, Andrij and Santer, Svetlana}, title = {Generation of local diffusioosmotic flow by light responsive microgels}, series = {Langmuir}, volume = {38}, journal = {Langmuir}, number = {20}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0743-7463}, doi = {10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00259}, pages = {6343 -- 6351}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Here we show that microgels trapped at a solid wall can issue liquid flow and transport over distances several times larger than the particle size. The microgel consists of cross-linked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PNIPAM-AA) polymer chains loaded with cationic azobenzene-containing surfactant, which can assume either a trans-or a cis-state depending on the wavelength of the applied irradiation. The microgel, being a selective absorber of trans-isomers, responds by changing its volume under irradiation with light of appropriate wavelength at which the cis-isomers of the surfactant molecules diffuse out of the particle interior. Together with the change in particle size, the expelled cis-isomers form an excess of the concentration and subsequent gradient in osmotic pressure generating a halo of local light-driven diffusioosmotic (l-LDDO) flow. The direction and the strength of the l-LDDO depends on the intensity and irradiation wavelength, as well as on the amount of surfactant absorbed by the microgel. The flow pattern around a microgel is directed radially outward and can be maintained quasi-indefinitely under exposure to blue light when the trans-/cis-ratio is 2/1, establishing a photostationary state. Irradiation with UV light, on the other hand, generates a radially transient flow pattern, which inverts from inward to outward over time at low intensities. By measuring the displacement of tracer particles around neutral microgels during a temperature-induced collapse, we can exclude that a change in particle shape itself causes the flow, i.e., just by expulsion or uptake of water. Ultimately, it is its ability to selectively absorb two isomers of photosensitive surfactant under different irradiation conditions that leads to an effective pumping caused by a self-induced diffusioosmotic flow.}, language = {en} } @article{BekirJelkenJungetal.2021, author = {Bekir, Marek and Jelken, Joachim and Jung, Se-Hyeong and Pich, Andrij and Pacholski, Claudia and Kopyshev, Alexey and Santer, Svetlana}, title = {Dual responsiveness of microgels induced by single light stimulus}, series = {Applied physics letters}, volume = {118}, journal = {Applied physics letters}, number = {9}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0003-6951}, doi = {10.1063/5.0036376}, pages = {6}, year = {2021}, abstract = {We report on the multiple response of microgels triggered by a single optical stimulus. Under irradiation, the volume of the microgels is reversibly switched by more than 20 times. The irradiation initiates two different processes: photo-isomerization of the photo-sensitive surfactant, which forms a complex with the anionic microgel, rendering it photo-responsive; and local heating due to a thermo-plasmonic effect within the structured gold layer on which the microgel is deposited. The photo-responsivity is related to the reversible accommodation/release of the photo-sensitive surfactant depending on its photo-isomerization state, while the thermo-sensitivity is intrinsically built in. We show that under exposure to green light, the thermo-plasmonic effect generates a local hot spot in the gold layer, resulting in the shrinkage of the microgel. This process competes with the simultaneous photo-induced swelling. Depending on the position of the laser spot, the spatiotemporal control of reversible particle shrinking/swelling with a predefined extent on a per-second base can be implemented.}, language = {en} } @article{SilantevaKomolkinMamontovaetal.2021, author = {Silanteva, Irina A. and Komolkin, Andrei and Mamontova, Veronika V. and Gabrusenok, Pavel and Vorontsov-Velyaminov, Pavel N. and Santer, Svetlana and Kasyanenko, Nina A.}, title = {Cis-isomers of photosensitive cationic azobenzene surfactants in DNA solutions at different NaCl concentrations}, series = {The journal of physical chemistry : B, Condensed matter, materials, surfaces, interfaces \& biophysical chemistry}, volume = {125}, journal = {The journal of physical chemistry : B, Condensed matter, materials, surfaces, interfaces \& biophysical chemistry}, number = {40}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1520-6106}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c07864}, pages = {11197 -- 11207}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The DNA interaction with cis-isomers of photosensitive azobenzene-containing surfactants was studied by both experimental methods and computer simulation. It was shown that before the organization of micelles, such surfactants in the cis-conformation form associates of only a single type with a disordered orientation of molecules. In contrast, for trans-isomers, there exist two types of associates with head-to-head or head-to-tail orientations of molecules in dependence on salt concentration in a solution. The comparison of cis- and trans-isomer binding to DNA and the influence of salt concentration on the formation of their complexes with DNA were studied. It was shown that cis-isomers interact with phosphate groups of DNA and that their molecules were also located along the minor groove of DNA.}, language = {en} } @article{LoebnerYadavLomadzeetal.2022, author = {Loebner, Sarah and Yadav, Bharti and Lomadze, Nino and Tverdokhleb, Nina and Donner, Hendrik and Saphiannikova, Marina and Santer, Svetlana}, title = {Local direction of optomechanical stress in azobenzene containing polymers during surface relief grating formation}, series = {Macromolecular materials and engineering}, volume = {307}, journal = {Macromolecular materials and engineering}, number = {8}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1438-7492}, doi = {10.1002/mame.202100990}, pages = {10}, year = {2022}, abstract = {In this work, it is revealed how the photoinduced deformation of azobenzene containing polymers relates to the local direction of optomechanical stresses generated during irradiation with interference patterns (IPs). It can be substantiated by the modeling approach proposed by Saphiannikova et al., which describes the directional photodeformations in glassy side-chain azobenzene polymers, and proves that these deformations arise from the reorientation of rigid backbone segments along the light polarization direction. In experiments and modeling, surface relief gratings in pre-elongated photosensitive colloids of few micrometers length are inscribed using different IPs such as SS, PP, +/- 45, SP, RL, and LR. The deformation of colloidal particles is studied in situ, whereby the local variation of polymer topography is assigned to the local distribution of the electrical field vector for all IPs. Experimentally observed shapes are reproduced exactly with modeling azopolymer samples as visco-plastic bodies in the finite element software ANSYS. Orientation approach correctly predicts local variations of the main axis of light-induced stress in each interference pattern for both initially isotropic and highly oriented materials. With this work, it is suggested that the orientation approach implements a self-sufficient and convincing mechanism to describe photoinduced deformation in azopolymer films that in principle does not require auxiliary assumptions.}, language = {en} } @article{ReifarthBekirBapolisietal.2022, author = {Reifarth, Martin and Bekir, Marek and Bapolisi, Alain M. and Titov, Evgenii and Nusshardt, Fabian and Nowaczyk, Julius and Grigoriev, Dmitry and Sharma, Anjali and Saalfrank, Peter and Santer, Svetlana and Hartlieb, Matthias and B{\"o}ker, Alexander}, title = {A dual pH- and light-responsive spiropyrane-based surfactant}, series = {Angewandte Chemie : a journal of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker ; International edition}, volume = {61}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie : a journal of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker ; International edition}, number = {21}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1433-7851}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202114687}, pages = {10}, year = {2022}, abstract = {A cationic surfactant containing a spiropyrane unit is prepared exhibiting a dual-responsive adjustability of its surface-active characteristics. The switching mechanism of the system relies on the reversible conversion of the non-ionic spiropyrane (SP) to a zwitterionic merocyanine (MC) and can be controlled by adjusting the pH value and via light, resulting in a pH-dependent photoactivity: While the compound possesses a pronounced difference in surface activity between both forms under acidic conditions, this behavior is suppressed at a neutral pH level. The underlying switching processes are investigated in detail, and a thermodynamic explanation based on a combination of theoretical and experimental results is provided. This complex stimuli-responsive behavior enables remote-control of colloidal systems. To demonstrate its applicability, the surfactant is utilized for the pH-dependent manipulation of oil-in-water emulsions.}, language = {en} } @article{FrenkelAryaBormashenḳoetal.2021, author = {Frenkel, Mark and Arya, Pooja and Bormashenḳo, Edṿard and Santer, Svetlana}, title = {Quantification of ordering in active light driven colloids}, series = {Journal of colloid and interface science}, volume = {586}, journal = {Journal of colloid and interface science}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {San Diego}, issn = {0021-9797}, doi = {10.1016/j.jcis.2020.10.053}, pages = {866 -- 875}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Hypothesis: Light driven diffusioosmosis allows for the controlled self-assembly of colloidal particles. Illuminating of colloidal suspensions built of nanoporous silica microspheres dispersed in aqueous solution containing photosensitive azobenzene cationic surfactant enables manufacturing self-assembled well-ordered 2D colloidal patterns. We conjectured that ordering in this patterns may be quantified with the Voronoi entropy. Experiments: Depending on the isomerization state the surfactant either tends to absorb (trans-state) into negatively charged pores or diffuse out (cis-isomer) of the particles generating an excess concentration near the colloids outer surface and thus resulting in the initiation of diffusioosmotic flow. The direction of the flow can be controlled by the wavelength and intensity of irradiation. Under irradiations with blue light the colloids separate within a few seconds forming equidistant particle ensemble where long range diffusioosmotic repulsion acts over distances exceeding several times the particle diameter. Hierarchy of ordering in the studied colloidal systems is distinguished, namely: i) ordering of individual separated colloidal particles; ii) ordering of clusters built of colloidal particles; iii) ordering within clusters of individual colloidal particles. Findings: The study of the temporal change in the Voronoi entropy for the light illuminated colloidal dispersions allowed quantification of ordering evolution on different lateral scales and under different irradiation conditions. Fourier analysis of the time evolution of the Voronoi entropy is presented. Fourier spectrum of the "small-area" (100 x 100 mu m) reveals the pronounced peak at f = 1.125 Hz reflecting the oscillations of individual particles at this frequency. Ordering in hierarchical colloidal system emerging on different lateral scales is addressed. The minimal Voronoi entropy is intrinsic for the close packed 2D clusters. (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier Inc.}, language = {en} } @article{UmlandtFeldmannSchnecketal.2020, author = {Umlandt, Maren and Feldmann, David and Schneck, Emanuel and Santer, Svetlana and Bekir, Marek}, title = {Adsorption of photoresponsive surfactants at solid-liquid interfaces}, series = {Langmuir}, volume = {36}, journal = {Langmuir}, number = {46}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0743-7463}, doi = {10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c02545}, pages = {14009 -- 14018}, year = {2020}, abstract = {We report on the adsorption kinetics of azoben-zene-containing surfactants on solid surfaces of different hydrophobicity. The understanding of this processes is of great importance for many interfacial phenomena that can be actuated and triggered by light, since the surfactant molecules contain a photoresponsive azobenzene group in their hydrophobic tail. Three surfactant types are studied, differing in the spacer connecting the headgroup and the azobenzene unit by between 6 and 10 CH2 groups. Under irradiation with light of a suitable wavelength, the azobenzene undergoes reversible photoisomerization between two states, a nonpolar trans-state and a highly polar cis-state. Consequently, the surfactant molecule changes its hydrophobicity and thus affinity to a surface depending on the photoisomerization state of the azobenzene. The adsorption behavior on hydrophilic (glass) and hydrophobic (TeflonAF) surfaces is analyzed using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) and zeta-potential measurements. At equilibrium, the adsorbed surfactant amount is almost twice as large on glass compared to TeflonAF for both isomers. The adsorption rate for the trans-isomers on both surfaces is similar, but the desorption rate of the trans-isomers is faster at the glass-water interface than at the Teflon-water interface. This result demonstrates that the trans-isomers have higher affinity for the glass surface, so the trans-to-cis ratios on glass and TeflonAF are 80/1 and 2/1, respectively, with similar trends for all three surfactant types.}, language = {en} } @article{SimonovaIvanovMeleshkoetal.2020, author = {Simonova, Maria and Ivanov, Ivan and Meleshko, Tamara and Kopyshev, Alexey and Santer, Svetlana and Yakimansky, Alexander and Filippov, Alexander}, title = {Self-assembly of molecular brushes with polyimide backbone and amphiphilic block copolymer side chains in selective solvents}, series = {Polymers}, volume = {12}, journal = {Polymers}, number = {12}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {2073-4360}, doi = {10.3390/polym12122922}, pages = {15}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Three-component molecular brushes with a polyimide backbone and amphiphilic block copolymer side chains with different contents of the "inner" hydrophilic (poly(methacrylic acid)) and "outer" hydrophobic (poly(methyl methacrylate)) blocks were synthesized and characterized by molecular hydrodynamics and optics methods in solutions of chloroform, dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran and ethanol. The peculiarity of the studied polymers is the amphiphilic structure of the grafted chains. The molar masses of the molecular brushes were determined by static and dynamic light scattering in chloroform in which polymers form molecularly disperse solutions. Spontaneous self-assembly of macromolecules was detected in dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran and ethanol. The aggregates size depended on the thermodynamic quality of the solvent as well as on the macromolecular architectural parameters. In dimethylformamide and tetrahydrofuran, the distribution of hydrodynamic radii of aggregates was bimodal, while in ethanol, it was unimodal. Moreover, in ethanol, an increase in the poly(methyl methacrylate) content caused a decrease in the hydrodynamic radius of aggregates. A significant difference in the nature of the blocks included in the brushes determines the selectivity of the used solvents, since their thermodynamic quality with respect to the blocks is different. The macromolecules of the studied graft copolymers tend to self-organization in selective solvents with formation of a core-shell structure with an insoluble solvophobic core surrounded by the solvophilic shell of side chains.}, language = {en} } @article{AryaJelkenFeldmannetal.2020, author = {Arya, Pooja and Jelken, Joachim and Feldmann, David and Lomadze, Nino and Santer, Svetlana}, title = {Light driven diffusioosmotic repulsion and attraction of colloidal particles}, series = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistr}, volume = {152}, journal = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistr}, number = {19}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville, NY}, issn = {0021-9606}, doi = {10.1063/5.0007556}, pages = {10}, year = {2020}, abstract = {In this paper, we introduce the phenomenon of light driven diffusioosmotic long-range attraction and repulsion of porous particles under irradiation with UV light. The change in the inter-particle interaction potential is governed by flow patterns generated around single colloids and results in reversible aggregation or separation of the mesoporous silica particles that are trapped at a solid surface. The range of the interaction potential extends to several times the diameter of the particle and can be adjusted by varying the light intensity. The "fuel" of the process is a photosensitive surfactant undergoing photo-isomerization from a more hydrophobic trans-state to a rather hydrophilic cis-state. The surfactant has different adsorption affinities to the particles depending on the isomerization state. The trans-isomer, for example, tends to accumulate in the negatively charged pores of the particles, while the cis-isomer prefers to remain in the solution. This implies that when under UV irradiation cis-isomers are being formed within the pores, they tend to diffuse out readily and generate an excess concentration near the colloid's outer surface, ultimately resulting in the initiation of diffusioosmotic flow. The direction of the flow depends strongly on the dynamic redistribution of the fraction of trans- and cis-isomers near the colloids due to different kinetics of photo-isomerization within the pores as compared to the bulk. The unique feature of the mechanism discussed in the paper is that the long-range mutual repulsion but also the attraction can be tuned by convenient external optical stimuli such as intensity so that a broad variety of experimental situations for manipulation of a particle ensemble can be realized.}, language = {en} } @article{SilantevaKomolkinMamontovaetal.2020, author = {Silanteva, Irina A. and Komolkin, Andrei and Mamontova, Veronika V. and Vorontsov-Velyaminov, Pavel N. and Santer, Svetlana and Kasyanenko, Nina A.}, title = {Some features of surfactant organization in DNA solutions at various NaCl concentrations}, series = {ACS omega / American Chemical Society}, volume = {5}, journal = {ACS omega / American Chemical Society}, number = {29}, publisher = {ACS Publications}, address = {Washington}, issn = {2470-1343}, doi = {10.1021/acsomega.0c01850}, pages = {18234 -- 18243}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The photosensitive azobenzene-containing surfactant C-4-Azo-OC(6)TMAB is a promising agent for reversible DNA packaging in a solution. The simulation of the trans-isomer surfactant organization into associates in a solution with and without salt as well as its binding to DNA at different NaCl concentrations was carried out by molecular dynamics. Experimental data obtained by spectral and hydrodynamic methods were used to verify the results of simulation. It was shown that head-to-tail aggregates with close to antiparallel orientation of surfactant molecules were formed at certain NaCl and surfactant concentrations (below critical micelle concentration). Such aggregates have two positively charged ends, and therefore, they can be attracted to negatively charged DNA phosphates far located along the chain, as well as those that belong to different molecules. This contributes to the formation of intermolecular DNA-DNA contacts, and this way, the experimentally observed precipitation of DNA can be explained.}, language = {en} }