TY  - JOUR
A1  - Zhao, Qiang
A1  - Dunlop, John William Chapman
A1  - Qiu, Xunlin
A1  - Huang, Feihe
A1  - Zhang, Zibin
A1  - Heyda, Jan
A1  - Dzubiella, Joachim
A1  - Antonietti, Markus
A1  - Yuan, Jiayin
T1  - An instant multi-responsive porous polymer actuator driven by solvent molecule sorption
JF  - Nature Communications
N2  - Fast actuation speed, large-shape deformation and robust responsiveness are critical to synthetic soft actuators. A simultaneous optimization of all these aspects without trade-offs remains unresolved. Here we describe porous polymer actuators that bend in response to acetone vapour (24 kPa, 20 degrees C) at a speed of an order of magnitude faster than the state-of-the-art, coupled with a large-scale locomotion. They are meanwhile multi-responsive towards a variety of organic vapours in both the dry and wet states, thus distinctive from the traditional gel actuation systems that become inactive when dried. The actuator is easy-to-make and survives even after hydrothermal processing (200 degrees C, 24 h) and pressing-pressure (100 MPa) treatments. In addition, the beneficial responsiveness is transferable, being able to turn 'inert' objects into actuators through surface coating. This advanced actuator arises from the unique combination of porous morphology, gradient structure and the interaction between solvent molecules and actuator materials.
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms5293
SN  - 2041-1723
VL  - 5
PB  - Nature Publ. Group
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Mai, Tobias
A1  - Rakhmatullina, Ekaterina
A1  - Bleek, Katrin
A1  - Boye, Susanne
A1  - Yuan, Jiayin
A1  - Voelkel, Antje
A1  - Graewert, Marlies
A1  - Cheaib, Zeinab
A1  - Eick, Sigrun
A1  - Günter, Christina
A1  - Lederer, Albena
A1  - Lussi, Adrian
A1  - Taubert, Andreas
T1  - Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(3-sulfopropyl methacrylate) block copolymers for calcium phosphate mineralization and biofilm inhibition
JF  - Biomacromolecules : an interdisciplinary journal focused at the interface of polymer science and the biological sciences
N2  - Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) has long been used as an additive in toothpaste, partly because it reduces biofilm formation on teeth. It does not, however, reduce the formation of dental calculus or support the remineralization of dental enamel or dentine. The present article describes the synthesis of new block copolymers on the basis of PEO and poly(3-sulfopropyl methacrylate) blocks using atom transfer radical polymerization. The polymers have very large molecular weights (over 10(6) g/mol) and are highly water-soluble. They delay the precipitation of calcium phosphate from aqueous solution but, upon precipitation, lead to relatively monodisperse hydroxyapatite (HAP) spheres. Moreover, the polymers inhibit the bacterial colonization of human enamel by Streptococcus gordonii, a pioneer bacterium in oral biofilm formation, in vitro. The formation of well-defined HAP spheres suggests that a polymer-induced liquid precursor phase could be involved in the precipitation process. Moreover, the inhibition of bacterial adhesion suggests that the polymers could be utilized in caries prevention.
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/bm500888q
SN  - 1525-7797
SN  - 1526-4602
VL  - 15
IS  - 11
SP  - 3901
EP  - 3914
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington
ER  -