TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wang, Peixi
A1  - Geiger, Christina
A1  - Kreuzer, Lucas
A1  - Widmann, Tobias
A1  - Reitenbach, Julija
A1  - Liang, Suzhe
A1  - Cubitt, Robert
A1  - Henschel, Cristiane
A1  - Laschewsky, André
A1  - Papadakis, Christine M.
A1  - Müller-Buschbaum, Peter
T1  - Poly(sulfobetaine)-based diblock copolymer thin films in water/acetone atmosphere: modulation of water hydration and co-nonsolvency-triggered film contraction
JF  - Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
N2  - The water swelling and subsequent solvent exchange including co-nonsolvency behavior of thin films of a doubly thermo-responsive diblock copolymer (DBC) are studied viaspectral reflectance, time-of-flight neutron reflectometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. 
The DBC consists of a thermo-responsive zwitterionic (poly(4-((3-methacrylamidopropyl) dimethylammonio) butane-1-sulfonate)) (PSBP) block, featuring an upper critical solution temperature transition in aqueous media but being insoluble in acetone, and a nonionic poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) (PNIPMAM) block, featuring a lower critical solution temperature transition in water, while being soluble in acetone. 
Homogeneous DBC films of 50-100 nm thickness are first swollen in saturated water vapor (H2OorD2O), before they are subjected to a contraction process by exposure to mixed saturated water/acetone vapor (H2OorD2O/acetone-d6 = 9:1 v/v).
The affinity of the DBC film toward H2O is stronger than for D2O, as inferred from the higher film thickness in the swollen state and the higher absorbed water content, thus revealing a pronounced isotope sensitivity. 
During the co-solvent-induced switching by mixed water/acetone vapor, a two-step film contraction is observed, which is attributed to the delayed expulsion of water molecules and uptake of acetone molecules. 
The swelling kinetics are compared for both mixed vapors (H2O/acetone-d6 and D2O/acetone-d6) and with those of the related homopolymer films. 
Moreover, the concomitant variations of the local environment around the hydrophilic groups located in the PSBP and PNIPMAM blocks are followed. 
The first contraction step turns out to be dominated by the behavior of the PSBP block, where as the second one is dominated by the PNIPMAM block. 
The unusual swelling and contraction behavior of the latter block is attributed to its co-nonsolvency behavior. 
Furthermore, we observe cooperative hydration effects in the DBC films, that is, both polymer blocks influence each other's solvation behavior.
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00451
SN  - 0743-7463
SN  - 1520-5827
VL  - 38
IS  - 22
SP  - 6934
EP  - 6948
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kuntze, Kim
A1  - Viljakka, Jani
A1  - Titov, Evgenii
A1  - Ahmed, Zafar
A1  - Kalenius, Elina
A1  - Saalfrank, Peter
A1  - Priimagi, Arri
T1  - Towards low-energy-light-driven bistable photoswitches
BT  - ortho-fluoroaminoazobenzenes
JF  - Photochemical & photobiological sciences / European Society for Photobiology
N2  - Thermally stable photoswitches that are driven with low-energy light are rare, yet crucial for extending the applicability of photoresponsive molecules and materials towards, e.g., living systems. Combined ortho-fluorination and -amination couples high visible light absorptivity of o-aminoazobenzenes with the extraordinary bistability of o-fluoroazobenzenes. Herein, we report a library of easily accessible o-aminofluoroazobenzenes and establish structure-property relationships regarding spectral qualities, visible light isomerization efficiency and thermal stability of the cis-isomer with respect to the degree of o-substitution and choice of amino substituent. We rationalize the experimental results with quantum chemical calculations, revealing the nature of low-lying excited states and providing insight into thermal isomerization. The synthesized azobenzenes absorb at up to 600 nm and their thermal cis-lifetimes range from milliseconds to months. The most unique example can be driven from trans to cis with any wavelength from UV up to 595 nm, while still exhibiting a thermal cis-lifetime of 81 days. <br /> [GRAPHICS] <br /> .
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-021-00145-4
SN  - 1474-905X
SN  - 1474-9092
VL  - 21
IS  - 2
SP  - 159
EP  - 173
PB  - Springer
CY  - Heidelberg
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Xie, Dongjiu
A1  - Xu, Yaolin
A1  - Wang, Yonglei
A1  - Pan, Xuefeng
A1  - Härk, Eneli
A1  - Kochovski, Zdravko
A1  - Eljarrat, Alberto
A1  - Müller, Johannes
A1  - Koch, Christoph T.
A1  - Yuan, Jiayin
A1  - Lu, Yan
T1  - Poly(ionic liquid) nanovesicle-templated carbon nanocapsules functionalized with uniform iron nitride nanoparticles as catalytic sulfur host for Li-S batteries
JF  - ACS nano
N2  - Poly(ionic liquid)s (PIL) are common precursors for heteroatom-doped carbon materials. Despite a relatively higher carbonization yield, the PIL-to-carbon conversion process faces challenges in preserving morphological and structural motifs on the nanoscale. Assisted by a thin polydopamine coating route and ion exchange, imidazoliumbased PIL nanovesicles were successfully applied in morphology-maintaining carbonization to prepare carbon composite nanocapsules. Extending this strategy further to their composites, we demonstrate the synthesis of carbon composite nanocapsules functionalized with iron nitride nanoparticles of an ultrafine, uniform size of 3-5 nm (termed "FexN@C "). Due to its unique nanostructure, the sulfur-loaded FexN@C electrode was tested to efficiently mitigate the notorious shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) in Li-S batteries. The cavity of the carbon nanocapsules was spotted to better the loading content of sulfur. The well-dispersed iron nitride nanoparticles effectively catalyze the conversion of LiPSs to Li2S, owing to their high electronic conductivity and strong binding power to LiPSs. Benefiting from this well-crafted composite nanostructure, the constructed FexN@C/S cathode demonstrated a fairly high discharge capacity of 1085 mAh g(-1) at 0.5 C initially, and a remaining value of 930 mAh g(-1 )after 200 cycles. In addition, it exhibits an excellent rate capability with a high initial discharge capacity of 889.8 mAh g(-1) at 2 C. This facile PIL-to-nanocarbon synthetic approach is applicable for the exquisite design of complex hybrid carbon nanostructures with potential use in electrochemical energy storage and conversion.
KW  - poly(ionic liquid)s
KW  - nanovesicles
KW  - sulfur host
KW  - iron nitride
KW  - Li-S
KW  - batteries
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.2c01992
SN  - 1936-0851
SN  - 1936-086X
VL  - 16
IS  - 7
SP  - 10554
EP  - 10565
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Neffe, Axel T.
A1  - Löwenberg, Candy
A1  - Julich-Gruner, Konstanze K.
A1  - Behl, Marc
A1  - Lendlein, Andreas
T1  - Thermally-induced shape-memory behavior of degradable gelatin-based networks
JF  - International journal of molecular sciences
N2  - Shape-memory hydrogels (SMH) are multifunctional, actively-moving polymers of interest in biomedicine. In loosely crosslinked polymer networks, gelatin chains may form triple helices, which can act as temporary net points in SMH, depending on the presence of salts. Here, we show programming and initiation of the shape-memory effect of such networks based on a thermomechanical process compatible with the physiological environment. The SMH were synthesized by reaction of glycidylmethacrylated gelatin with oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) alpha,omega-dithiols of varying crosslinker length and amount. Triple helicalization of gelatin chains is shown directly by wide-angle X-ray scattering and indirectly via the mechanical behavior at different temperatures. The ability to form triple helices increased with the molar mass of the crosslinker. Hydrogels had storage moduli of 0.27-23 kPa and Young's moduli of 215-360 kPa at 4 degrees C. The hydrogels were hydrolytically degradable, with full degradation to water-soluble products within one week at 37 degrees C and pH = 7.4. A thermally-induced shape-memory effect is demonstrated in bending as well as in compression tests, in which shape recovery with excellent shape-recovery rates R-r close to 100% were observed. In the future, the material presented here could be applied, e.g., as self-anchoring devices mechanically resembling the extracellular matrix.
KW  - shape-memory hydrogel
KW  - active polymer
KW  - biopolymer
KW  - mechanical
KW  - properties
KW  - degradation
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22115892
SN  - 1422-0067
SN  - 1661-6596
VL  - 22
IS  - 11
PB  - Molecular Diversity Preservation International
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bochove, Bas van
A1  - Grijpma, Dirk W.
A1  - Lendlein, Andreas
A1  - Seppälä, Jukka
T1  - Designing advanced functional polymers for medicine
JF  - European polymer journal : EPJ
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2021.110573
SN  - 0014-3057
VL  - 155
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Oxford
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Hwang, Jinyeon
A1  - Zhang, Wuyong
A1  - Youk, Sol
A1  - Schutjajew, Konstantin
A1  - Oschatz, Martin
T1  - Understanding structure-property relationships under experimental conditions for the optimization of lithium-ion capacitor anodes based on all-carbon-composite materials
JF  - Energy technology : generation, conversion, storage, distribution
N2  - The nanoscale combination of a conductive carbon and a carbon-based material with abundant heteroatoms for battery electrodes is a method to overcome the limitation that the latter has high affinity to alkali metal ions but low electronic conductivity. The synthetic protocol and the individual ratios and structures are important aspects influencing the properties of such multifunctional compounds. Their interplay is, herein, investigated by infiltration of a porous ZnO-templated carbon (ZTC) with nitrogen-rich carbon obtained by condensation of hexaazatriphenylene-hexacarbonitrile (HAT-CN) at 550-1000 degrees C. The density of lithiophilic sites can be controlled by HAT-CN content and condensation temperature. Lithium storage properties are significantly improved in comparison with those of the individual compounds and their physical mixtures. Depending on the uniformity of the formed composite, loading ratio and condensation temperature have different influence. Most stable operation at high capacity per used monomer is achieved with a slowly dried composite with an HAT-CN:ZTC mass ratio of 4:1, condensed at 550 degrees C, providing more than 400 mAh g(-1) discharge capacity at 0.1 A g(-1) and a capacity retention of 72% after 100 cycles of operation at 0.5 A g(-1) due to the homogeneity of the composite and high content of lithiophilic sites.
KW  - anodes
KW  - hybrid materials
KW  - nitrogen-doped carbon
KW  - porous carbon
KW  - lithium-ion capacitors
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/ente.202001054
SN  - 2194-4296
VL  - 9
IS  - 3
PB  - Wiley-VCH
CY  - Weinheim
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Pan, Xuefeng
A1  - Sarhan, Radwan Mohamed
A1  - Kochovski, Zdravko
A1  - Chen, Guosong
A1  - Taubert, Andreas
A1  - Mei, Shilin
A1  - Lu, Yan
T1  - Template synthesis of dual-functional porous MoS2 nanoparticles with photothermal conversion and catalytic properties
JF  - Nanoscale
N2  - Advanced catalysis triggered by photothermal conversion effects has aroused increasing interest due to its huge potential in environmental purification. 
In this work, we developed a novel approach to the fast degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-Nip) using porous MoS2 nanoparticles as catalysts, which integrate the intrinsic catalytic property of MoS2 with its photothermal conversion capability. 
Using assembled polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) block copolymers as soft templates, various MoS 2 particles were prepared, which exhibited tailored morphologies (e.g., pomegranate-like, hollow, and open porous structures). 
The photothermal conversion performance of these featured particles was compared under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation. 
Intriguingly, when these porous MoS2 particles were further employed as catalysts for the reduction of 4-Nip, the reaction rate constant was increased by a factor of 1.5 under NIR illumination. 
We attribute this catalytic enhancement to the open porous architecture and light-to-heat conversion performance of the MoS2 particles. This contribution offers new opportunities for efficient photothermal-assisted catalysis.
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1039/d2nr01040b
SN  - 2040-3372
VL  - 14
IS  - 18
SP  - 6888
EP  - 6901
PB  - RSC Publ. (Royal Society of Chemistry)
CY  - Cambridge
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Zhao, Yuhang
A1  - Sarhan, Radwan Mohamed
A1  - Eljarrat, Alberto
A1  - Kochovski, Zdravko
A1  - Koch, Christoph
A1  - Schmidt, Bernd
A1  - Koopman, Wouter-Willem Adriaan
A1  - Lu, Yan
T1  - Surface-functionalized Au-Pd nanorods with enhanced photothermal conversion and catalytic performance
JF  - ACS applied materials & interfaces
N2  - Bimetallic nanostructures comprising plasmonic and catalytic components have recently emerged as a promising approach to generate a new type of photo-enhanced nanoreactors. Most designs however concentrate on plasmon-induced charge separation, leaving photo-generated heat as a side product. 
This work presents a photoreactor based on Au-Pd nanorods with an optimized photothermal conversion, which aims to effectively utilize the photo-generated heat to increase the rate of Pd-catalyzed reactions. Dumbbell-shaped Au nanorods were fabricated via a seed-mediated growth method using binary surfactants. Pd clusters were selectively grown at the tips of the Au nanorods, using the zeta potential as a new synthetic parameter to indicate the surfactant remaining on the nanorod surface. 
The photothermal conversion of the Au-Pd nanorods was improved with a thin layer of polydopamine (PDA) or TiO2. 
As a result, a 60% higher temperature increment of the dispersion compared to that for bare Au rods at the same light intensity and particle density could be achieved. 
The catalytic performance of the coated particles was then tested using the reduction of 4-nitrophenol as the model reaction. Under light, the PDA-coated Au-Pd nanorods exhibited an improved catalytic activity, increasing the reaction rate by a factor 3. 
An analysis of the activation energy confirmed the photoheating effect to be the dominant mechanism accelerating the reaction. Thus, the increased photothermal heating is responsible for the reaction acceleration. 
Interestingly, the same analysis shows a roughly 10% higher reaction rate for particles under illumination compared to under dark heating, possibly implying a crucial role of localized heat gradients at the particle surface. 
Finally, the coating thickness was identified as an essential parameter determining the photothermal conversion efficiency and the reaction acceleration.
KW  - Au-Pd nanorods
KW  - PDA
KW  - photothermal conversion
KW  - surface plasmon
KW  - 4-nitrophenol
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.2c00221
SN  - 1944-8244
SN  - 1944-8252
VL  - 14
IS  - 15
SP  - 17259
EP  - 17272
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington, DC
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Floyd, Thomas G.
A1  - Song, Ji-Inn
A1  - Hapeshi, Alexia
A1  - Laroque, Sophie
A1  - Hartlieb, Matthias
A1  - Perrier, Sebastien
T1  - Bottlebrush copolymers for gene delivery: influence of architecture, charge density, and backbone length on transfection efficiency
JF  - Journal of materials chemistry : B, materials for biology and medicine
N2  - The influence of polymer architecture of polycations on their ability to transfect mammalian cells is probed. Polymer bottle brushes with grafts made from partially hydrolysed poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) are used while varying the length of the polymer backbone as well as the degree of hydrolysis (cationic charge content). Polyplex formation is investigated via gel electrophoresis, dye-displacement and dynamic light scattering. Bottle brushes show a superior ability to complex pDNA when compared to linear copolymers. Also, nucleic acid release was found to be improved by a graft architecture. Polyplexes based on bottle brush copolymers showed an elongated shape in transmission electron microscopy images. The cytotoxicity against mammalian cells is drastically reduced when a graft architecture is used instead of linear copolymers. Moreover, the best-performing bottle brush copolymer showed a transfection ability comparable with that of linear poly(ethylenimine), the gold standard of polymeric transfection agents, which is used as positive control. In combination with their markedly lowered cytotoxicity, cationic bottle brush copolymers are therefore shown to be a highly promising class of gene delivery vectors.
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1039/d2tb00490a
SN  - 2050-750X
SN  - 2050-7518
VL  - 10
IS  - 19
SP  - 3696
EP  - 3704
PB  - Royal Society of Chemistry
CY  - London [u.a.]
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Abbasi, Ali
A1  - Xu, Yaolin
A1  - Khezri, Ramin
A1  - Etesami, Mohammad
A1  - Lin, C.
A1  - Kheawhom, Soorathep
A1  - Lu, Yan
T1  - Advances in characteristics improvement of polymeric membranes/separators for zinc-air batteries
JF  - Materials Today Sustainability
N2  - Zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are gaining popularity for a wide range of applications due to their high energy density, excellent safety, and environmental friendliness. A membrane/separator is a critical component of ZABs, with substantial implications for battery performance and stability, particularly in the case of a battery in solid state format, which has captured increased attention in recent years. In this review, recent advances as well as insight into the architecture of polymeric membrane/separators for ZABs including porous polymer separators (PPSs), gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs), solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) and anion exchange membranes (AEMs) are discussed. The paper puts forward strategies to enhance stability, ionic conductivity, ionic selectivity, electrolyte storage capacity and mechanical properties for each type of polymeric membrane. In addition, the remaining major obstacles as well as the most potential avenues for future research are examined in detail.
KW  - Ionic selectivity
KW  - Ionic conductivity
KW  - Gel polymer
KW  - Ion exchange
KW  - Porous
KW  - polymer
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtsust.2022.100126
SN  - 2589-2347
VL  - 18
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Mayer, Dennis
A1  - Picconi, David
A1  - Robinson, Matthew S.
A1  - Gühr, Markus
T1  - Experimental and theoretical gas-phase absorption spectra of thionated uracils
JF  - Chemical physics : a journal devoted to experimental and theoretical research involving problems of both a chemical and physical nature
N2  - We present a comparative study of the gas-phase UV spectra of uracil and its thionated counterparts (2-thiouracil, 4-thiouracil and 2,4-dithiouracil), closely supported by time-dependent density functional theory calculations to assign the transitions observed. We systematically discuss pure gas-phase spectra for the (thio)uracils in the range of 200-400 nm (similar to 3.2-6.4 eV), and examine the spectra of all four species with a single theoretical approach. We note that specific vibrational modelling is needed to accurately determine the spectra across the examined wavelength range, and systematically model the transitions that appear at wavelengths shorter than 250 nm. Additionally, we find in the cases of 2-thiouracil and 2,4-dithiouracil, that the gas-phase spectra deviate significantly from some previously published solution-phase spectra, especially those collected in basic environments.
KW  - Thiouracil
KW  - Uracil
KW  - UV-VIS Spectroscopy
KW  - Excited-state calculations;
KW  - TD-DFT
KW  - Gas phase
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemphys.2022.111500
SN  - 0301-0104
VL  - 558
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Zimmermann, Marc
A1  - Stomps, Benjamin René Harald
A1  - Schulte-Osseili, Christine
A1  - Grigoriev, Dmitry
A1  - Ewen, Dirk
A1  - Morgan, Andrew
A1  - Böker, Alexander
T1  - Organic dye anchor peptide conjugates as an advanced coloring agent for polypropylene yarn
JF  - Textile Research Journal
N2  - Polypropylene as one of the world's top commodity polymers is also widely used in the textile industry. However, its non-polar nature and partially crystalline structure significantly complicate the process of industrial coloring of polypropylene. Currently, textiles made of polypropylene or with a significant proportion of polypropylene are dyed under quite harsh conditions, including the use of high pressures and temperatures, which makes this process energy intensive. This research presents a three-step synthesis of coloring agents, capable of adhering onto synthetic polypropylene yarns without harsh energy-consuming conditions. This is possible by encapsulation of organic pigments using trimethoxyphenylsilane, introduction of surface double bonds via modification of the silica shell with trimethoxysilylpropylmethacrylate and final attachment of highly adhesive anchor peptides using thiol-ene chemistry. We demonstrate the applicability of this approach by dyeing polypropylene yarns in a simple process under ambient conditions after giving a step-by-step guide for the synthesis of these new dyeing agents. Finally, the successful dyeing of the yarns is visualized, and its practicability is discussed.
KW  - anchor peptides
KW  - organic dye pigments
KW  - coloring agents
KW  - polypropylene
KW  - yarns
Y1  - 2020
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1177/0040517520932231
SN  - 0040-5175
SN  - 1746-7748
VL  - 91
IS  - 1-2
SP  - 28
EP  - 39
PB  - Sage Publ.
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ilic, Ivan
A1  - Schutjajew, Konstantin
A1  - Zhang, Wuyong
A1  - Oschatz, Martin
T1  - Changes of porosity of hard carbons during mechanical treatment and the relevance for sodium-ion anodes
JF  - Carbon : an international journal sponsored by the American Carbon Society
N2  - Lithium-ion batteries have revolutionized battery technology. However, the scarcity of lithium in nature is driving the search for alternatives. For that reason, sodium-ion batteries have attracted increasing attention in recent years. The main obstacle to their development is the anode as, unlike for lithium-ion batteries, graphite cannot be used due to the inability to form stoichiometrically useful intercalation compounds with sodium. A promising candidate for sodium storage is hard carbon a form of nongraphitisable carbon, that can be synthesized from various precursor materials. Processing of hard carbons is often done by using mechanochemical treatments. Although it is generally accepted and often observed that they can influence the porosity of hard carbons, their effect on battery performance not well understood. Here, the changes in porosity occurring during ball milling are elucidated and related to the properties of hard carbons in sodium storage. Analysis by combined gas physisorption and small angle X-ray scattering shows that porosity changes during ball milling with a significant increase of the open porosity, unsuitable for reversible sodium storage, and decrease of the closed porosity, suitable for reversible sodium storage. While pristine hard carbon can store 58.5 mAh g(-1) in the closed pores, upon 5 h of mechanical treatment in a ball mill it can only store 35.5 mAh g(-1). The obtained results are furthermore pointing towards the disputed "intercalation-adsorption" mechanism.
KW  - Hard carbons
KW  - Sodium-ion batteries
KW  - Anodes
KW  - Microporosity
KW  - Ball milling
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2021.09.063
SN  - 0008-6223
SN  - 1873-3891
VL  - 186
SP  - 55
EP  - 63
PB  - Elsevier Science
CY  - Amsterdam [u.a.]
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Gupta, Banshi D.
A1  - Pathak, Anisha
A1  - Shrivastav, Anand
T1  - Optical Biomedical Diagnostics Using Lab-on-Fiber Technology
BT  - a review
JF  - Photonics : open access journal
N2  - Point-of-care and in-vivo bio-diagnostic tools are the current need for the present critical scenarios in the healthcare industry. The past few decades have seen a surge in research activities related to solving the challenges associated with precise on-site bio-sensing. Cutting-edge fiber optic technology enables the interaction of light with functionalized fiber surfaces at remote locations to develop a novel, miniaturized and cost-effective lab on fiber technology for bio-sensing applications. The recent remarkable developments in the field of nanotechnology provide innumerable functionalization methodologies to develop selective bio-recognition elements for label free biosensors. These exceptional methods may be easily integrated with fiber surfaces to provide highly selective light-matter interaction depending on various transduction mechanisms. In the present review, an overview of optical fiber-based biosensors has been provided with focus on physical principles used, along with the functionalization protocols for the detection of various biological analytes to diagnose the disease. The design and performance of these biosensors in terms of operating range, selectivity, response time and limit of detection have been discussed. In the concluding remarks, the challenges associated with these biosensors and the improvement required to develop handheld devices to enable direct target detection have been highlighted.
KW  - fiber optic sensors
KW  - synthesis
KW  - interferometry
KW  - fluorescence
KW  - SERS
KW  - SPR
KW  - immunosensors
KW  - enzymatic sensors
KW  - molecular imprinted polymers
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics9020086
SN  - 2304-6732
VL  - 9
IS  - 2
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Akampurira, Denis
A1  - Akala, Hoseah M.
A1  - Derese, Solomon
A1  - Heydenreich, Matthias
A1  - Yenesew, Abiy
T1  - A new C-C linked benzophenathridine-2-quinoline dimer, and the antiplasmodial activity of alkaloids from Zanthoxylum holstzianum
JF  - Natural product research
N2  - The CH2Cl2/MeOH (1:1) extract of Zanthoxylum holstzianum stem bark showed good antiplasmodial activity (IC50 2.5 +/- 0.3 and 2.6 +/- 0.3 mu g/mL against the W2 and D6 strains of Plasmodium falciparum, respectively). From the extract five benzophenanthridine alkaloids [8-acetonyldihydrochelerythrine (1), nitidine (2), dihydrochelerythine (3), norchelerythrine (5), arnottianamide (8)]; a 2-quinolone alkaloid [N-methylflindersine (4)]; a lignan [4,4 '-dihydroxy-3,3 '-dimethoxylignan-9,9 '-diyl diacetate (7)] and a dimer of a benzophenanthridine and 2-quinoline [holstzianoquinoline (6)] were isolated. The CH2Cl2/MeOH (1:1) extract of the root bark afforded 1, 3-6, 8, chelerythridimerine (9) and 9-demethyloxychelerythrine (10). Holstzianoquinoline (6) is new, and is the second dimer linked by a C-C bond of a benzophenanthridine and a 2-quinoline reported thus far. The compounds were identified based on spectroscopic evidence. Amongst five compounds (1-5) tested against two strains of P. falciparum, nitidine (IC50 0.11 +/- 0.01 mu g/mL against W2 and D6 strains) and norchelerythrine (IC50 value of 0.15 +/- 0.01 mu g/mL against D6 strain) were the most active.
KW  - Antiplasmodial
KW  - benzophenanthridine alkaloid
KW  - holstzianoquinoline;
KW  - rutaceae
KW  - Zanthoxylum holstzianum
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2022.2034810
SN  - 1478-6419
SN  - 1478-6427
VL  - 37
IS  - 13
SP  - 2161
EP  - 2171
PB  - Taylor & Francis
CY  - London [u.a.]
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kreuzer, Lucas
A1  - Lindenmeir, Christoph
A1  - Geiger, Christina
A1  - Widmann, Tobias
A1  - Hildebrand, Viet
A1  - Laschewsky, André
A1  - Papadakis, Christine M.
A1  - Müller-Buschbaum, Peter
T1  - Poly(sulfobetaine) versus poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide)
BT  - co-nonsolvency-type behavior of thin films in a water/methanol atmosphere
JF  - Macromolecules : a publication of the American Chemical Society
N2  - The swelling and co-nonsolvency behaviors in pure H2O and in a mixed H2O/CH3OH vapor atmosphere of two different polar, water-soluble polymers in thin film geometry are studied in situ. Films of a zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine), namely, poly[3-((2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)dimethylammonio) propane-1-sulfonate] (PSPE), and a polar nonionic polymer, namely, poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) (PNIPMAM), are investigated in real time by spectral reflectance (SR) measurements and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Whereas PSPE is insoluble in methanol, PNIPMAM is soluble but exhibits cononsolvency behavior in water/methanol mixtures. First, the swelling of PSPE and PNIPMAM thin films in H2O vapor is followed. Subsequently, CH3OH is added to the vapor atmosphere, and its contracting effect on the water-swollen films is monitored, revealing a co-nonsolvency-type behavior for PNIPMAM and PSPE. SR measurements indicate that PSPE and PNIPMAM behave significantly different during the H2O swelling and subsequent exposure to CH3OH, not only with respect to the amounts of absorbed water and CH3OH, but also to the cosolvent-induced contraction mechanisms. While PSPE thin films exhibit an abrupt one-step contraction, the contraction of PNIPMAM thin films occurs in two steps. FTIR studies corroborate these findings on a molecular scale and reveal the role of the specific functional groups, both during the swelling and the cosolvent-induced switching of the solvation state.
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.0c02281
SN  - 0024-9297
SN  - 1520-5835
VL  - 54
IS  - 3
SP  - 1548
EP  - 1556
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Deng, Zijun
A1  - Wang, Weiwei
A1  - Xua, Xun
A1  - Gould, Oliver E. C.
A1  - Kratz, Karl
A1  - Ma, Nan
A1  - Lendlein, Andreas
T1  - Polymeric sheet actuators with programmable bioinstructivity
JF  - PNAS
N2  - Stem cells are capable of sensing and processing environmental inputs, converting this information to output a specific cell lineage through signaling cascades. Despite the combinatorial nature of mechanical, thermal, and biochemical signals, these stimuli have typically been decoupled and applied independently, requiring continuous regulation by controlling units. We employ a programmable polymer actuator sheet to autonomously synchronize thermal and mechanical signals applied to mesenchymal stem cells (MSC5). Using a grid on its underside, the shape change of polymer sheet, as well as cell morphology, calcium (Ca2+) influx, and focal adhesion assembly, could be visualized and quantified. This paper gives compelling evidence that the temperature sensing and mechanosensing of MSC5 are interconnected via intracellular Ca2+. Up-regulated Ca2+ levels lead to a remarkable alteration of histone H3K9 acetylation and activation of osteogenic related genes. The interplay of physical, thermal, and biochemical signaling was utilized to accelerate the cell differentiation toward osteogenic lineage. The approach of programmable bioinstructivity provides a fundamental principle for functional biomaterials exhibiting multifaceted stimuli on differentiation programs. Technological impact is expected in the tissue engineering of periosteum for treating bone defects.
KW  - reversible shape-memory actuator
KW  - mesenchymal stem cells
KW  - calcium influx
KW  - HDAC1
KW  - RUNX2
Y1  - 2020
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1910668117
SN  - 1091-6490
VL  - 117
IS  - 4
SP  - 1895
EP  - 1901
PB  - National Academy of Sciences
CY  - Washington, DC
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Saretia, Shivam
A1  - Machatschek, Rainhard Gabriel
A1  - Lendlein, Andreas
T1  - Degradation kinetics of oligo(ε-caprolactone) ultrathin films
BT  - Influence of crystallinity
JF  - MRS advances : a journal of the Materials Research Society (MRS)
N2  - The potential of using crystallinity as morphological parameter to control polyester degradation in acidic environments is explored in ultrathin films by Langmuir technique. Films of hydroxy or methacrylate end-capped oligo(epsilon-caprolactone) (OCL) are prepared at the air-water interface as a function of mean molecular area (MMA). The obtained amorphous, partially crystalline or highly crystalline ultrathin films of OCL are hydrolytically degraded at pH similar to 1.2 on water surface or on silicon surface as-transferred films. A high crystallinity reduces the hydrolytic degradation rate of the films on both water and solid surfaces. Different acceleration rates of hydrolytic degradation of semi-crystalline films are achieved either by crystals complete melting, partially melting, or by heating them below their melting temperatures. Semi-crystalline OCL films transferred via water onto a solid surface retain their crystalline morphology, degrade in a controlled manner, and are of interest as thermoswitchable coatings for cell substrates and medical devices.
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1557/s43580-021-00067-4
SN  - 2059-8521
VL  - 6
IS  - 33
SP  - 790
EP  - 795
PB  - Springer Nature Switzerland AG
CY  - Cham
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Yue, Yanhua
A1  - Melani, Giacomo
A1  - Kirsch, Harald
A1  - Paarmann, Alexander
A1  - Saalfrank, Peter
A1  - Campen, Richard Kramer
A1  - Tong, Yujin
T1  - Structure and Reactivity of a-Al2O3(0001) Surfaces: How Do Al-I and Gibbsite-like Terminations Interconvert?
JF  - The journal of physical chemistry / publ. weekly by the American Chemical Society. C, Energy, materials, and catalysis
N2  - The alpha-Al2O3(0001) surface has been extensively studied because of its significance in both fundamental research and application. Prior work suggests that in ultra-high-vacuum (UHV), in the absence of water, the so-called Al-I termination is thermodynamically favored, while in ambient, in contact with liquid water, a Gibbsite-like layer is created. While the view of the alpha- Al2O3(0001)/H2O(l) interface appears relatively clear in theory, experimental characterization of this system has resulted in estimates of surface acidity, i.e., isoelectric points, that differ by 4 pH units and surface structure that in some reports has non-hydrogen-bonded surface aluminol (Al-OH) groups and in others does not. In this study, we employed vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy (VSFS) and density functional theory (DFT) simulation to study the surface phonon modes of the differently terminated alpha-Al2O3(0001) surfaces in both UHV and ambient. We find that, on either water dosing of the Al-I in UHV or heat-induced dehydroxylation of the Gibbsite-like in ambient, the surfaces do not interconvert. This observation offers a new explanation for disagreements in prior work on the alpha-Al2O3(0001)/liquid water interface -different preparation methods may create surfaces that do not interconvert-and shows that the surface phonon spectral response offers a novel probe of interfacial hydrogen bonding structure.
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.2c03743
SN  - 1932-7447
SN  - 1932-7455
VL  - 126
IS  - 31
SP  - 13467
EP  - 13476
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Tarazona Lizcano, Natalia Andrea
A1  - Machatschek, Rainhard Gabriel
A1  - Balcucho, Jennifer
A1  - Castro-Mayorga, Jinneth Lorena
A1  - Saldarriaga, Juan Francisco
A1  - Lendlein, Andreas
T1  - Opportunities and challenges for integrating the development of sustainable polymer materials within an international circular (bio)economy concept
JF  - MRS energy & sustainability : science & technology & socio-economics & policy
N2  - The production and consumption of commodity polymers have been an indispensable part of the development of our modern society. Owing to their adjustable properties and variety of functions, polymer-based materials will continue playing important roles in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)s, defined by the United Nations, in key areas such as healthcare, transport, food preservation, construction, electronics, and water management. Considering the serious environmental crisis, generated by increasing consumption of plastics, leading-edge polymers need to incorporate two types of functions: Those that directly arise from the demands of the application (e.g. selective gas and liquid permeation, actuation or charge transport) and those that enable minimization of environmental harm, e.g., through prolongation of the functional lifetime, minimization of material usage, or through predictable disintegration into non-toxic fragments. Here, we give examples of how the incorporation of a thoughtful combination of properties/functions can enhance the sustainability of plastics ranging from material design to waste management. We focus on tools to measure and reduce the negative impacts of plastics on the environment throughout their life cycle, the use of renewable sources for their synthesis, the design of biodegradable and/or recyclable materials, and the use of biotechnological strategies for enzymatic recycling of plastics that fits into a circular bioeconomy. Finally, we discuss future applications for sustainable plastics with the aim to achieve the SDGs through international cooperation. <br /> Leading-edge polymer-based materials for consumer and advanced applications are necessary to achieve sustainable development at a global scale. It is essential to understand how sustainability can be incorporated in these materials via green chemistry, the integration of bio-based building blocks from biorefineries, circular bioeconomy strategies, and combined smart and functional capabilities.
KW  - biomaterial
KW  - degradable
KW  - functional
KW  - life cycle assessment
KW  - renewable
KW  - sustainability
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1557/s43581-021-00015-7
SN  - 2329-2229
SN  - 2329-2237
VL  - 9
IS  - 1
SP  - 28
EP  - 34
PB  - Springer Nature
CY  - London
ER  -