@article{ThielkeSeckerSchlaadetal.2016, author = {Thielke, Michael W. and Secker, Christian and Schlaad, Helmut and Theato, Patrick}, title = {Electrospinning of Crystallizable Polypeptoid Fibers}, series = {Macromolecular rapid communications}, volume = {37}, journal = {Macromolecular rapid communications}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1022-1336}, doi = {10.1002/marc.201500502}, pages = {100 -- 104}, year = {2016}, abstract = {A unique fabrication process of low molar mass, crystalline polypeptoid fibers is described. Thermoresponsive fiber mats are prepared by electrospinning a homogeneous blend of semicrystalline poly(N-(n-propyl) glycine) (PPGly; 4.1 kDa) with high molar mass poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). Annealing of these fibers at approximate to 100 degrees C selectively removes the PEO and produces stable crystalline fiber mats of pure PPGly, which are insoluble in aqueous solution but can be redissolved in methanol or ethanol. The formation of water-stable polypeptoid fiber mats is an important step toward their utilization in biomedical applications such as tissue engineering or wound dressing.}, language = {en} } @article{ZouSchlaad2015, author = {Zou, Hua and Schlaad, Helmut}, title = {Thermoresponsive PNIPAM/Silica Nanoparticles by Direct Photopolymerization in Aqueous Media}, series = {Journal of polymer science : A, Polymer chemistry}, volume = {53}, journal = {Journal of polymer science : A, Polymer chemistry}, number = {10}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0887-624X}, doi = {10.1002/pola.27593}, pages = {1260 -- 1267}, year = {2015}, abstract = {This article presents a simple and facile method to fabricate thermoresponsive polymer-grafted silica particles by direct surface-initiated photopolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM). This method is based on silica particles bearing thiol functionalities, which are transformed into thiyl radicals by irradiation with UV light to initiate the polymerization of NIPAM in aqueous media at room temperature. The photopolymerization of NIPAM could be applied to smaller thiol-functionalized particles (approximate to 48 nm) as well as to larger particles (approximate to 692 nm). Hollow poly(NIPAM) capsules could be formed after etching away the silica cores from the composite particles. It is possible to produce tailor-made composite particles or capsules for particular applications by extending this approach to other vinyl monomers. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 2015, 53, 1260-1267}, language = {en} }