TY - JOUR A1 - Tartivel, Lucile A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Schröter, Michael A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Hydrogel networks based on ABA triblock copolymers JF - Journal of applied biomaterials & functional materials N2 - Background: Triblock copolymers from hydrophilic oligo(ethylene glycol) segment A and oligo(propylene glycol) segment B, providing an ABA structure (OEG-OPG-OEG triblock), are known to be biocompatible and are used as self-solidifying gels in drug depots. A complete removal of these depots would be helpful in cases of undesired side effects of a drug, but this remains a challenge as they liquefy below their transition temperature. Therefore we describe the synthesis of covalently cross-linked hydrogel networks. Method: Triblock copolymer-based hydrogels were created by irradiating aqueous solutions of the corresponding macro-dimethacrylates with UV light. The degree of swelling, swelling kinetics, mechanical properties and morphology of the networks were investigated. Results: Depending on precursor concentration, equilibrium degree of swelling of the films ranged between 500% and 880% and was reached in 1 hour. In addition, values for storage and loss moduli of the hydrogel networks were in the 100 Pa to 10 kPa range. Conclusion: Although OEG-OPG-OEG triblocks are known for their micellization, which could hamper polymer network formation, reactive OEG-OPG-OEG triblock oligomers could be successfully polymerized into hydrogel networks. The degree of swelling of these hydrogels depends on their molecular weight and on the oligomer concentration used for hydrogel preparation. In combination with the temperature sensitivity of the ABA triblock copolymers, it is assumed that such hydrogels might be beneficial for future medical applications -e.g., removable drug release systems. KW - Hydrogel KW - Rheological characterization KW - Oligo(ethylene glycol) derivatization KW - OEG-OPG-OEG triblock copolymer KW - UV crosslinking Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.5301/JABFM.2012.10295 SN - 2280-8000 VL - 10 IS - 3 SP - 243 EP - 248 PB - Wichtig CY - Milano ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Liang, Xiao A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Dihydroxy terminated teroligomers from morpholine-2,5-diones JF - European polymer journal : EPJ N2 - Oligodepsipeptides (ODPs) attract increasing attention as degradable materials in controlled drug delivery or as building blocks for nano-carriers. Their strong intermolecular interactions provide high stability. Tailoring the side groups of the amino acid repeating units to achieve a strong affinity to particular drugs allows a high drug-loading capacity. Here we describe synthesis and characterization of dihydroxy terminated teroligodepsipeptides (ter-ODPs) by ring-opening copolymerization (ROP) of three different morpholine-2,5-diones (MDs) in bulk in order to provide a set of teroligomers with structural variation for drug release or transfection. Ter-ODPs with equivalent co-monomer feed ratios were prepared as well as ter-ODPs, in which the co-monomer feed ratio was varied between 9 mol% and 78 mol%. Ter-ODPs were synthesized by ROP using 1,1,10,10-tetra-n-butyl-1,10-distanna-2,9,11,18-tetraoxa-5,6,14,15-tetrasulfur-cyclodecane (tin(IV) alkoxide) that was obtained by the reaction of dibutyl tin(II) oxide with 2-hydroxyethyl disulfide. The number average molecular weight (M-n) of ter-ODPs, determined by H-1 NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC), ranged between 4000 g center dot mol(-1) and 8600 g center dot mol(-1). Co-monomer compositions in ter-ODPs could be controlled by changing the feed ratio of co-monomers as observed by H-1 NMR spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The amount of remaining monomers as determined by H-1 NMR could be kept below 1 wt%. Macrocycles as main sources of byproducts as determined from MALDI-TOF-MS measurements were significantly lower as compared to polymerization by Sn(Oct)(2). Glass-transition temperature (T-g) of ter-ODPs ranged between 59 degrees C and 70 degrees C. KW - Ring-opening polymerization KW - Tin octanoate KW - Morpholindione KW - Depsipeptide KW - Random copolymer KW - Telechel Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2020.110189 SN - 0014-3057 VL - 143 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Balk, Maria A1 - Mansfeld, Ulrich A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Phase morphology of multiblock copolymers differing in sequence of blocks JF - Macromolecular materials and engineering N2 - The chemical nature, the number length of integrated building blocks, as well as their sequence structure impact the phase morphology of multiblock copolymers (MBC) consisting of two non-miscible block types. It is hypothesized that a strictly alternating sequence should impact phase segregation. A library of well-defined MBC obtained by coupling oligo(epsilon-caprolactone) (OCL) of different molecular weights (2, 4, and 8 kDa) with oligotetrahydrofuran (OTHF, 2.9 kDa) via Steglich esterification results in strictly alternating (MBCalt) or random (MBCran) MBC. The three different series has a weight average molecular weight (M-w) of 65 000, 165 000, and 168 000 g mol(-1) for MBCalt and 80 500, 100 000, and 147 600 g mol(-1) for MBCran. When the chain length of OCL building blocks is increased, the tendency for phase segregation is facilitated, which is attributed to the decrease in chain mobility within the MBC. Furthermore, it is found that the phase segregation disturbs the crystallization by causing heterogeneities in the semi-crystalline alignment, which is attributed to an increase of the disorder of the OCL semi-crystalline alignment. KW - electron microscopy KW - multiblock copolymers KW - phase morphology KW - polymer KW - libraries KW - sequence structures KW - wide angle x‐ ray scattering Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.202000672 SN - 1439-2054 VL - 306 IS - 3 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schmidt, Christian A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Lendlein, Andreas A1 - Beuermann, Sabine T1 - Synthesis of high molecular weight polyglycolide in supercritical carbon dioxide JF - RSC Advances N2 - Polyglycolide (PGA) is a biodegradable polymer with multiple applications in the medical sector. Here the synthesis of high molecular weight polyglycolide by ring-opening polymerization of diglycolide is reported. For the first time stabilizer free supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) was used as a reaction medium. scCO(2) allowed for a reduction in reaction temperature compared to conventional processes. Together with the lowering of monomer concentration and consequently reduced heat generation compared to bulk reactions thermal decomposition of the product occurring already during polymerization is strongly reduced. The reaction temperatures and pressures were varied between 120 and 150 degrees C and 145 to 1400 bar. Tin(II) ethyl hexanoate and 1-dodecanol were used as catalyst and initiator, respectively. The highest number average molecular weight of 31 200 g mol(-1) was obtained in 5 hours from polymerization at 120 degrees C and 530 bar. In all cases the products were obtained as a dry white powder. Remarkably, independent of molecular weight the melting temperatures were always at (219 +/- 2)degrees C. Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/c4ra06815g SN - 2046-2069 VL - 4 IS - 66 SP - 35099 EP - 35105 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Nöchel, Ulrich A1 - Reddy, Chaganti Srinivasa A1 - Wang, Ke A1 - Cui, Jing A1 - Zizak, Ivo A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Nanostructural changes in crystallizable controlling units determine the temperature-memory of polymers JF - Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Materials for energy and sustainability N2 - Temperature-memory polymers remember the temperature, where they were deformed recently, enabled by broad thermal transitions. In this study, we explored a series of crosslinked poly[ethylene-co-(vinyl acetate)] networks (cPEVAs) comprising crystallizable polyethylene (PE) controlling units exhibiting a pronounced temperature-memory effect (TME) between 16 and 99 °C related to a broad melting transition (∼100 °C). The nanostructural changes in such cPEVAs during programming and activation of the TME were analyzed via in situ X-ray scattering and specific annealing experiments. Different contributions to the mechanism of memorizing high or low deformation temperatures (Tdeform) were observed in cPEVA, which can be associated to the average PE crystal sizes. At high deformation temperatures (>50 °C), newly formed PE crystals, which are established during cooling when fixing the temporary shape, dominated the TME mechanism. In contrast, at low Tdeform (<50 °C), corresponding to a cold drawing scenario, the deformation led preferably to a disruption of existing large crystals into smaller ones, which then fix the temporary shape upon cooling. The observed mechanism of memorizing a deformation temperature might enable the prediction of the TME behavior and the knowledge based design of other TMPs with crystallizable controlling units. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/c4ta06586g SN - 2050-7488 SN - 2050-7496 VL - 16 IS - 3 SP - 8284 EP - 8293 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Melchert, Christian A1 - Yongvongsoontorn, Nunnarpas A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Synthesis and characterization of telechelic oligoethers with terminal cinnamylidene acetic acid moieties JF - Journal of applied biomaterials & functional materials N2 - Purpose: The formation of photoresponsive hydrogels were reported by irradiation of star-shaped poly(ethylene glycol)s with terminal cinnamylidene acetic acid (CAA) groups, which are capable of a photoinduced [2+2] cycloaddition. In this study we explored whether oligo(ethylene glycol) s and oligo(propylene glycol)s of varying molecular architecture (linear or star-shaped) or molecular weights could be functionalized with CAA as terminal groups by esterification or by amide formation. Methods: Oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) and oligo(propylene glycol) (OPG) with varying molecular architecture (linear, star-shaped) and weight average molecular weights between 1000 and 5000 g.mol(-1) were functionalized by means of esterification of hydroxyl or amine endgroups with cinnamylidene acetic acid (CAA) or cinnamylidene acetyl chloride (CAC) as telechelic endgroups. The chemical structure, thermal properties, and molecular weights of the oligoethers obtained were determined by NMR spectroscopy, UV spectroscopy, DSC, and MALDI-TOF. Results: CAA-functionalized linear and star-shaped OEGs or OPGs could be obtained with a degree of functionalization higher than 90%. In MALDI-TOF measurements an increase in Mw of about 150 g.mol(-1) (for each terminal end) after the functionalization reaction was observed. OEGCAA and OPGCAA showed an increase in glass transition temperature (T-g) from about -70 degrees C to -50 degrees C, compared to the unfunctionalized oligoethers. In addition, the melting temperature (T-m) of OEGCAA decreased from about 55 C to 30 degrees C, which can be accounted for by the hampered crystallization of the precursors because of the bulky CAA end groups as well as by the loss of the hydroxyl telechelic end groups. Conclusion: The synthesis of photoresponsive oligoethers containing cinnamylidene acetic acid as telechelic endgroup was reported and high degrees of functionalization could be achieved. Such photosensitive oligomers are promising candidates as reactive precursors, for the preparation of biocompatible high molecular weight polymers and polymer networks. KW - Biocompatible polymers KW - Cinnamylidene acetic acid KW - Photoresponsive polymers Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.5301/JABFM.2012.10364 SN - 2280-8000 VL - 10 IS - 3 SP - 185 EP - 190 PB - Wichtig CY - Milano ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Razzaq, Muhammad Yasar A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Heuchel, Matthias A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Matching magnetic heating and thermal actuation for sequential coupling in hybrid composites by design JF - Macromolecular rapid communications N2 - Sequentially coupling two material functions requires matching the output from the first with the input of the second function. Here, magnetic heating controls thermal actuation of a hybrid composite in a challenging system environment causing an elevated level of heat loss. The concept is a hierarchical design consisting of an inner actuator of nanocomposite material, which can be remotely heated by exposure to an alternating magnetic field (AMF) and outer layers of a porous composite system with a closed pore morphology. These porous layers act as heat insulators and as barriers to the surrounding water. By exposure to the AMF, a local bulk temperature of 71 degrees C enables the magnetic actuation of the device, while the temperature of the surrounding water is kept below 50 degrees C. Interestingly, the heat loss during magnetic heating leads to an increase of the water phase (small volume) temperature. The temperature increase is able to sequentially trigger an adjacent thermal actuator attached to the actuator composite. In this way it could be demonstrated how the AMF is able to initiate two kinds of independent actuations, which might be interesting for robotics operating in aqueous environments. KW - artificial muscles KW - magnetosensitivity KW - nanocomposites KW - soft actuators Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.201900440 SN - 1022-1336 SN - 1521-3927 VL - 41 IS - 1 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Melchert, Christian A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Nöchel, Ulrich A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Influence of Comesogens on the Thermal and Actuation Properties of 2-tert-Butyl-1,4-bis[4-(4-pentenyloxy)benzoyl]hydroquinone Based Nematic Main-Chain Liquid Crystalline Elastomers JF - Macromolecular materials and engineering N2 - Although the shape-changing capabilities of LCEs hold great potential for applications ranging from micropumps to artificial muscles, customization of the LCE functionality to the applications' requirements is still a challenge. It is studied whether the orientation of NMC-LCPs and NMC-LCEs based on 2-tert-butyl-1,4-bis[4-(4-pentenyloxy)benzoyl]hydroquinone can be enhanced by copolymerization with 2-methyl-1,4-bis[4-(4-pentenyloxy)benzoyl]hydroquinone or 2,6-bis[4-(4-pentenyl-oxy)-benzoyl]anthracene. An increasing content of the comonomers stabilizes the nematic phase, which enables a tailoring of T-NI for the NMC-LCP between 45 and 68 degrees C, while for the NMC-LCE T-NI ranges between 69 and 76 degrees C. In addition, NMC-LCE show an increased actuation performance. KW - elastomers KW - liquid-crystalline polymers KW - polysiloxanes KW - stimuli-sensitive polymers KW - thermal properties Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.201200238 SN - 1438-7492 VL - 297 IS - 12 SP - 1203 EP - 1212 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Razzaq, Muhammad Yasar A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Frank, Ute A1 - Koetz, Joachim A1 - Szczerba, Wojciech A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Oligo(omega-pentadecalactone) decorated magnetic nanoparticles JF - Journal of materials chemistry N2 - Hybrid magnetic nanoparticles (mgNP) with a magnetite core diameter of 10 +/- 1 nm surface functionalized with oligo(omega-pentadecalactone) (OPDL) oligomers with M-n between 1300 and 3300 g mol(-1) could be successfully prepared having OPDL grafted from 200 mg g(-1) to 2170 mg g(-1). The particles are dispersible in chloroform resulting in stable suspensions. Magnetic response against an external magnetic field proved the superparamagnetic nature of the particles with a low coercivity (B-c) value of 297 mu T. The combination of the advantageous superparamagnetism of the mgNP with the exceptional stability of OPDL makes these novel hybrid mgNP promising candidates as multifunctional building blocks for magnetic nanocomposites with tunable physical properties. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/c2jm16146j SN - 0959-9428 VL - 22 IS - 18 SP - 9237 EP - 9243 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wang, Weiwei A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Yan, Wan A1 - Liu, Yue A1 - Xu, Xun A1 - Baudis, Stefan A1 - Li, Zhengdong A1 - Kurtz, Andreas A1 - Lendlein, Andreas A1 - Ma, Nan T1 - The interaction of adipose-derived human mesenchymal stem cells and polyether ether ketone JF - Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation : blood flow and vessels N2 - Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) as a high-performance, thermoplastic implant material entered the field of medical applications due to its structural function and commercial availability. In bone tissue engineering, the combination of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with PEEK implants may accelerate the bone formation and promote the osseointegration between the implant and the adjacent bone tissue. In this concept the question how PEEK influences the behaviour and functions of MSCs is of great interest. Here the cellular response of human adipose-derived MSCs to PEEK was evaluated and compared to tissue culture plate (TCP) as the reference material. Viability and morphology of cells were not altered when cultured on the PEEK film. The cells on PEEK presented a high proliferation activity in spite of a relatively lower initial cell adhesion rate. There was no significant difference on cell apoptosis and senescence between the cells on PEEK and TCP. The inflammatory cytokines and VEGF secreted by the cells on these two surfaces were at similar levels. The cells on PEEK showed up-regulated BMP2 and down-regulated BMP4 and BMP6 gene expression, whereas no conspicuous differences were observed in the committed osteoblast markers (BGLAP, COL1A1 and Runx2). With osteoinduction the cells on PEEK and TCP exhibited a similar osteogenic differentiation potential. Our results demonstrate the biofunctionality of PEEK for human MSC cultivation and differentiation. Its clinical benefits in bone tissue engineering may be achieved by combining MSCs with PEEK implants. These data may also provide useful information for further modification of PEEK with chemical or physical methods to regulate the cellular processes of MSCs and to consequently improve the efficacy of MSC-PEEK based therapies. KW - Polyether ether ketone KW - mesenchymal stem cells KW - biocompatibility KW - cell-material interaction KW - osteogenic differentiation Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3233/CH-152001 SN - 1386-0291 SN - 1875-8622 VL - 61 IS - 2 SP - 301 EP - 321 PB - IOS Press CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Nöchel, Ulrich A1 - Sauter, Tilman A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Polymer networks capable of reversible shape-memory-effects T2 - Abstracts of papers : joint conference / The Chemical Institute of Cananda, CIC, American Chemical Society, ACS Y1 - 2014 SN - 0065-7727 VL - 248 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - INPR A1 - Baudis, Stefan A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Smart polymers for biomedical applications T2 - Macromolecular chemistry and physics Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.201400561 SN - 1022-1352 SN - 1521-3935 VL - 215 IS - 24 SP - 2399 EP - 2402 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Nöchel, Ulrich A1 - Reddy, Chaganti Srinivasa A1 - Wang, Ke A1 - Cui, Jing A1 - Zizak, Ivo A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Nanostructural changes in crystallizable controlling units determine the temperature-memory of polymers JF - Journal of materials chemistry : A, Materials for energy and sustainability N2 - Temperature-memory polymers remember the temperature, where they were deformed recently, enabled by broad thermal transitions. In this study, we explored a series of crosslinked poly[ethylene-co-(vinyl acetate)] networks (cPEVAs) comprising crystallizable polyethylene (PE) controlling units exhibiting a pronounced temperature-memory effect (TME) between 16 and 99 degrees C related to a broad melting transition (similar to 100 degrees C). The nanostructural changes in such cPEVAs during programming and activation of the TME were analyzed via in situ X-ray scattering and specific annealing experiments. Different contributions to the mechanism of memorizing high or low deformation temperatures (T-deform) were observed in cPEVA, which can be associated to the average PE crystal sizes. At high deformation temperatures (>50 degrees C), newly formed PE crystals, which are established during cooling when fixing the temporary shape, dominated the TME mechanism. In contrast, at low T-deform (<50 degrees C), corresponding to a cold drawing scenario, the deformation led preferably to a disruption of existing large crystals into smaller ones, which then fix the temporary shape upon cooling. The observed mechanism of memorizing a deformation temperature might enable the prediction of the TME behavior and the knowledge based design of other TMPs with crystallizable controlling units. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/c4ta06586g SN - 2050-7488 SN - 2050-7496 VL - 3 IS - 16 SP - 8284 EP - 8293 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Yan, Wan A1 - Fang, Liang A1 - Weigel, Thomas A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - The influence of thermal treatment on the morphology in differently prepared films of a oligodepsipeptide based multiblock copolymer JF - Polymers for advanced technologies N2 - Degradable multiblock copolymers prepared from equal weight amounts of poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-diol (PCL-diol) and poly[oligo(3S-iso-butylmorpholine-2,5-dione)]-diol (PIBMD-diol), named PCL-PIBMD, provide a phase-segregated morphology. It exhibits a low melting temperature from PCL domains (T-m,T-PCL) of 382 degrees C and a high T-m,T-PIBMD of 170 +/- 2 degrees C with a glass transition temperature (T-g,T-PIBMD) at 42 +/- 2 degrees C from PIBMD domains. In this study, we explored the influence of applying different thermal treatments on the resulting morphologies of solution-cast and spin-coated PCL-PIBMD thin films, which showed different initial surface morphologies. Differential scanning calorimetry results and atomic force microscopy images after different thermal treatments indicated that PCL and PIBMD domains showed similar crystallization behaviors in 270 +/- 30 mu m thick solution-cast films as well as in 30 +/- 2 and 8 +/- 1nm thick spin-coated PCL-PIBMD films. Existing PIBMD crystalline domains highly restricted the generation of PCL crystalline domains during cooling when the sample was annealed at 180 degrees C. By annealing the sample above 120 degrees C, the PIBMD domains crystallized sufficiently and covered the free surface, which restricted the crystallization of PCL domains during cooling. The PCL domains can crystallize by hindering the crystallization of PIBMD domains via the fast vitrification of PIBMD domains when the sample was cooled/quenched in liquid nitrogen after annealing at 180 degrees C. These findings contribute to a better fundamental understanding of the crystallization mechanism of multi-block copolymers containing two crystallizable domains whereby the T-g of the higher melting domain type is in the same temperature range as the T-m of the lower melting domain type. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. KW - multiblock copolymer KW - oligodepsipeptides KW - phase morphology KW - thermal treatments KW - crystallization behavior Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/pat.3953 SN - 1042-7147 SN - 1099-1581 VL - 28 SP - 1339 EP - 1345 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Zhang, Pengfei A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Peng, Xingzhou A1 - Razzaq, Muhammad Yasar A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Ultrasonic Cavitation Induced Shape-Memory Effect in Porous Polymer Networks JF - Macromolecular rapid communications N2 - Inspired by the application of ultrasonic cavitation based mechanical force (CMF) to open small channels in natural soft materials (skin or tissue), it is explored whether an artificial polymer network can be created, in which shape-changes can be induced by CMF. This concept comprises an interconnected macroporous rhodium-phosphine (Rh-P) coordination polymer network, in which a CMF can reversibly dissociate the Rh-P microphases. In this way, the ligand exchange of Rh-P coordination bonds in the polymer network is accelerated, resulting in a topological rearrangement of molecular switches. This rearrangement of molecular switches enables the polymer network to release internal tension under ultrasound exposure, resulting in a CMF-induced shape-memory capability. The interconnected macroporous structure with thin pore walls is essential for allowing the CMF to effectively permeate throughout the polymer network. Potential applications of this CMF-induced shape-memory polymer can be mechanosensors or ultrasound controlled switches. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.201600439 SN - 1022-1336 SN - 1521-3927 VL - 37 SP - 1897 EP - 1903 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Zhang, Pengfei A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Peng, Xingzhou A1 - Balk, Maria A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Chemoresponsive Shape-Memory Effect of Rhodium-Phosphine Coordination Polymer Networks JF - Chemistry of materials : a publication of the American Chemical Society N2 - Chemoresponsive polymers are of technological significance for smart sensors or systems capable of molecular recognition. An important key requirement for these applications is the material’s structural integrity after stimulation. We explored whether covalently cross-linked metal ion–phosphine coordination polymers (MPN) can be shaped into any temporary shape and are capable of recovering from this upon chemoresponsive exposure to triphenylphosphine (Ph3P) ligands, whereas the MPN provide structural integrity. Depending on the metal-ion concentration used during synthesis of the MPN, the degree of swelling of the coordination polymer networks could be adjusted. Once the MPN was immersed into Ph3P solution, the reversible ligand-exchange reaction between the metal ions and the free Ph3P in solution causes a decrease of the coordination cross-link density in MPN again. The Ph3P-treated MPN was able to maintain its original shape, indicating a certain stability of shape even after stimulation. In this way, chemoresponsive control of the elastic properties (increase in volume and decrease of mechanical strength) of the MPN was demonstrated. This remarkable behavior motivated us to explore whether the MPN are capable of a chemoresponsive shape-memory effect. In initial experiments, shape fixity of around 60% and shape recovery of almost 90% were achieved when the MPN was exposed to Ph3P in case of rhodium. Potential applications for chemoresponsive shape-memory systems could be shapable semiconductors, e.g., for lighting or catalysts, which provide catalytic activity on demand. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.9b00363 SN - 0897-4756 SN - 1520-5002 VL - 31 IS - 15 SP - 5402 EP - 5407 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mazurek-Budzyńska, Magdalena A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Razzaq, Muhammad Yasar A1 - Nöchel, Ulrich A1 - Rokicki, Gabriel A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Hydrolytic stability of aliphatic poly(carbonate-urea-urethane)s: Influence of hydrocarbon chain length in soft segment JF - Polymer Degradation and Stability N2 - Poly(carbonate-urethane)s (PCUs) exhibit improved resistance to hydrolytic degradation and in vivo stress cracking compared to poly(ester-urethane)s and their degradation leads to lower inflammation of the surrounding tissues. Therefore, PCUs are promising implant materials and are considered for devices such as artificial heart or spine implants. In this work, the hydrolytic stability of different poly(carbonate-urethane-urea)s (PCUUs) was studied under variation of the length of hydrocarbon chain (6, 9, 10, and 12 methylene units) between the carbonate linkages in the precursors. PCUUs were synthesized from isophorone diisocyanate and oligo(alkylene carbonate) diols using the moisture-cure method. The changes of sample weight, thermal and mechanical properties, morphology, as well as the degradation products after immersion in a buffer solution (PBS, pH = 7.4) for up to 10 weeks at 37 degrees C were monitored and analyzed. In addition, mechanical properties after 20 weeks (in PBS, 37 degrees C) were investigated. The gel content was determined based on swelling experiments in chloroform. Based on the DSC analysis, slight increases of melting transitions of PCUUs were observed, which were attributed to structure reorganization related to annealing at 37 degrees C rather than to the degradation of the PCUU. Tensile strength after 20 weeks of all investigated samples remained in the range of 29-39 MPa, whereas the elongation at break e(m) decreased only slightly and remained in the range between 670 and 800%. Based on the characterization of degradation products after up to 10 weeks of immersion it was assessed that oligomers are mainly consisting of hard segments containing urea linkages, which could be assigned to hindered-urea dissociation mechanism. The investigations confirmed good resistance of PCUUs to hydrolysis. Only minor changes in the crystallinity, as well as thermal and mechanical properties were observed and depended on hydrocarbon chain length in soft segment of PCUUs. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd. KW - Poly(carbonate-urea-urethane)s KW - Hydrolytic stability KW - Degradation Y1 - 2019 SN - 0141-3910 SN - 1873-2321 VL - 161 SP - 283 EP - 297 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Zhang, Quanchao A1 - Rudolph, Tobias A1 - Benitez, Alejandro J. A1 - Gould, Oliver E. C. A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Temperature-controlled reversible pore size change of electrospun fibrous shape-memory polymer actuator based meshes JF - Smart materials and structures N2 - Fibrous membranes capable of dynamically responding to external stimuli are highly desirable in textiles and biomedical materials, where adaptive behavior is required to accommodate complex environmental changes. For example, the creation of fabrics with temperature-dependent moisture permeability or self-regulating membranes for air filtration is dependent on the development of materials that exhibit a reversible stimuli-responsive pore size change. Here, by imbuing covalently crosslinked poly(ε-caprolactone) (cPCL) fibrous meshes with a reversible bidirectional shape-memory polymer actuation (rbSMPA) we create a material capable of temperature-controlled changes in porosity. Cyclic thermomechanical testing was used to characterize the mechanical properties of the meshes, which were composed of randomly arranged microfibers with diameters of 2.3 ± 0.6 μm giving an average pore size of approx. 10 μm. When subjected to programming strains of εm = 300% and 100% reversible strain changes of εʹrev = 22% ± 1% and 6% ± 1% were measured, with switching temperature ranges of 10 °C–30 °C and 45 °C–60 °C for heating and cooling, respectively. The rbSMPA of cPCL fibrous meshes generated a microscale reversible pore size change of 11% ± 3% (an average of 1.5 ± 0.6 μm), as measured by scanning electron microscopy. The incorporation of a two-way shape-memory actuation capability into fibrous meshes is anticipated to advance the development and application of smart membrane materials, creating commercially viable textiles and devices with enhanced performance and novel functionality. KW - reversible shape-memory effect KW - fiber meshes KW - electrospinning Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-665X/ab10a1 SN - 0964-1726 SN - 1361-665X VL - 28 IS - 5 PB - IOP Publ. Ltd. CY - Bristol ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Balk, Maria A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Quadruple-shape hydrogels JF - Smart materials and structures N2 - The capability of directed movements by two subsequent shape changes could be implemented in shape-memory hydrogels by incorporation of two types of crystallizable side chains While in non-swollen polymer networks even more directed movements could be realized, the creation of multi-shape hydrogels is still a challenge. We hypothesize that a quadruple-shape effect in hydrogels can be realized, when a swelling capacity almost independent of temperature is generated, whereby directed movements could be enabled, which are not related to swelling. In this case, entropy elastic recovery could be realized by hydrophilic segments and the fixation of different macroscopic shapes by means of three semi-crystalline side chains generating temporary crosslinks. Monomethacrylated semi-crystalline oligomers were connected as side chains in a hydrophilic polymer network via radical copolymerization. Computer assisted modelling was utilized to design a demonstrator capable of complex shape shifts by creating a casting mold via 3D printing from polyvinyl alcohol. The demonstrator was obtained after copolymerization of polymer network forming components within the mold, which was subsequently dissolved in water. A thermally-induced quadruple-shape effect was realized after equilibrium swelling of the polymer network in water. Three directed movements were successfully obtained when the temperature was continuously increased from 5 degrees C to 90 degrees C with a recovery ratio of the original shape above 90%. Hence, a thermally-induced quadruple-shape effect as new record for hydrogels was realized. Here, the temperature range for the multi-shape effect was limited by water as swelling media (0 degrees C-100 degrees C), simultaneously distinctly separated thermal transitions were required, and the overall elasticity indispensable for successive deformations was reduced as result of partially chain segment orientation induced by swelling in water. Conclusively the challenges for penta- or hexa-shape gels are the design of systems enabling higher elastic deformability and covering a larger temperature range by switching to a different solvent. KW - shape-memory KW - hydrogels KW - semi-crystalline Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-665X/ab0e91 SN - 0964-1726 SN - 1361-665X VL - 28 IS - 5 PB - IOP Publ. Ltd. CY - Bristol ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Yan, Wan A1 - Rudolph, Tobias A1 - Nöchel, Ulrich A1 - Gould, Oliver E. C. A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Reversible actuation of thermoplastic multiblock copolymers with overlapping thermal transitions of crystalline and glassy domains JF - Macromolecules : a publication of the American Chemical Society N2 - Polymeric materials possessing specific features like programmability, high deformability, and easy processability are highly desirable for creating modern actuating systems. In this study, thermoplastic shape-memory polymer actuators obtained by combining crystallizable poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(3S-isobutylmorpholin-2,5-dione) (PIBMD) segments in multiblock copolymers are described. We designed these materials according to our hypothesis that the confinement of glassy PIBMD domains present at the upper actuation temperature contribute to the stability of the actuator skeleton, especially at large programming strains. The copolymers have a phase-segregated morphology, indicated by the well-separated melting and glass transition temperatures for PIBMD and PCL, but possess a partially overlapping T-m of PCL and T-g of PIBMD in the temperature interval from 40 to 60 degrees C. Crystalline PIBMD hard domains act as strong physical netpoints in the PIBMD-PCL bulk material enabling high deformability (up to 2000%) and good elastic recoverability (up to 80% at 50 degrees C above T-m,T-PCL). In the programmed thermoplastic actuators a high content of crystallizable PCL actuation domains ensures pronounced thermoreversible shape changes upon repetitive cooling and heating. The programmed actuator skeleton, composed of PCL crystals present at the upper actuation temperature T-high and the remaining glassy PIBMD domains, enabled oriented crystallization upon cooling. The actuation performance of PIBMD-PCL could be tailored by balancing the interplay between actuation and skeleton, but also by varying the quantity of crystalline PIBMD hard domains via the copolymer composition, the applied programming strain, and the choice of T-high. The actuator with 17 mol% PIBMD showed the highest reversible elongation of 11.4% when programmed to a strain of 900% at 50 degrees C. It is anticipated that the presented thermoplastic actuator materials can be applied as modern compression textiles. Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.8b00322 SN - 0024-9297 SN - 1520-5835 VL - 51 IS - 12 SP - 4624 EP - 4632 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER -