TY - JOUR A1 - Zehm, Daniel A1 - Laschewsky, André A1 - Gradzielski, Michael A1 - Prévost, Sylvain A1 - Liang, Hua A1 - Rabe, Jürgen P. A1 - Schweins, Ralf A1 - Gummel, Jérémie T1 - Amphiphilic dual brush block copolymers as "giant surfactants" and their aqueous self-assembly N2 - Amphiphilic dual brush diblock as well as symmetrical triblock polymers were synthesized by the overlay of the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer and the nitroxide mediated polymerization (NMP) techniques. While poly(ethylene glycol) brushes served as hydrophilic block, the hydrophobic block was made of polystyrene brushes. The resulting "giant surfactants" correspond structurally to the established amphiphilic diblock and triblock copolymer known as macrosurfactants. The aggregation behavior of the novel "giant surfactants" in aqueous solution was studied by dynamic light scattering, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) over a large range in reciprocal space. Further, the self-assembled aggregates Were investigated by scanning force microscopy (SFM) after deposition on differently functionalized ultraflat solid substrates. Despite the high fraction of hydrophobic segments, the polymers form stable mesoscopic, spherical aggregates with hydrodynamic diameters in the range of 150-350 nm. Though prepared from well-defined individual polymers, the aggregates show several similarities to hard core latexes. They are stable enough to he deposited without much changes onto surfaces, where they cluster and show Spontaneous sorting according to their size within the clusters, with the larger aggregates being in the center. Y1 - 2010 UR - http://pubs.acs.org/journal/langd5 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/La903087p SN - 0743-7463 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Zehm, Daniel A1 - Laschewsky, André A1 - Heunemann, Peggy A1 - Gradzielski, Michael A1 - Prevost, Sylvain A1 - Liang, Hua A1 - Rabe, Jürgen P. A1 - Lutz, Jean-Francois T1 - Synthesis and self-assembly of amphiphilic semi-brush and dual brush block copolymers in solution and on surfaces JF - Polymer Chemistry N2 - The combination of two techniques of controlled free radical polymerization, namely the reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) and the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) techniques, together with the use of a macromonomer allowed the synthesis of symmetrical triblock copolymers, designed as amphiphilic dual brushes. One type of brush was made of poly(n-butyl acrylate) as soft hydrophobic block, i.e. characterized by a low glass transition temperature, while the other one was made of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The new triblock polymers represent "giant surfactants" according to their molecular architecture. The hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks microphase separate in the bulk. In aqueous solution, they aggregate into globular micellar aggregates, their size being determined by the length of the stretched polymer molecules. As determined by the combination of various scattering techniques for the dual brush copolymer, a rather compact structure is formed, which is dominated by the large hydrophobic poly(n-butyl acrylate) block. The aggregation number for the dual brush is about 10 times larger than for the "semi-brush" precursor copolymer, due to the packing requirements for the much bulkier hydrophobic core. On mica surfaces the triblock copolymers adsorb with worm-like backbones and stretched out side chains. Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/c0py00200c SN - 1759-9954 VL - 2 IS - 1 SP - 137 EP - 147 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prevost, Sylvain A1 - Wattebled, Laurent A1 - Laschewsky, André A1 - Gradzielski, Michael T1 - Formation of monodisperse charged vesicles in mixtures of cationic gemini surfactants and anionic SDS JF - Langmuir N2 - The aggregation behavior of catanionics formed by the mixture of cationic geminis derived from dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC) and anionic sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) was studied by means of phase studies and comprehensive small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments at 25 degrees C and 50 mM overall concentration. The results are compared to those for the previously studied SDS + DTAC system. Various gemini spacers of different natures and geometries were used, but all of them had similar lengths: an ethoxy bridge, a double bond, and an aromatic ring binding the two DTACs in three different substitutions (ortho, meta, and para). SANS and SAXS data analysis indicates that the spacer has no large effect on the spheroidal micelles of pure surfactants formed at low concentration in water; however, specific effects appear with the addition of electrolytes. Microstructures formed in the catanionic mixtures are rather strongly dependent on the nature of the spacer. The most important finding is that for the hydrophilic, flexible ethoxy bridge, monodisperse vesicles with a fixed anionic/cationic charge ratio (depending only on the surfactant in excess) are formed. Furthermore, the composition of these vesicles shows that strongly charged aggregates are formed. This study therefore provides new opportunities for developing tailor-made gemini surfactants that allow for the fine tuning of catanionic structures. Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/la103976p SN - 0743-7463 VL - 27 IS - 2 SP - 582 EP - 591 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - de Molina, Paula Malo A1 - Herfurth, Christoph A1 - Laschewsky, André A1 - Gradzielski, Michael T1 - Structure and dynamics of networks in mixtures of hydrophobically modified telechelic multiarm polymers and oil in water microemulsions JF - Langmuir N2 - The structural and dynamical properties of oil-in-water (O/W) microemulsions (MEs) modified with telechelic polymers of different functionality (e.g., number of hydrophobically modified arms, f) were studied by means of dynamic light scattering (DLS), small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), and high frequency rheology measurements as a function of the polymer architecture and the amount of added polymer. For this purpose, we employed tailor-made hydrophobically end-capped poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) star polymers of a variable number of endcaps, f, of different alkyl chain lengths, synthesized by the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer method. The addition of the different end-capped polymers to an uncharged ME of O/W droplets leads to a large enhancement of the viscosity of the systems. SANS experiments show that the O/W ME droplets are not changed upon the addition of the polymer, and its presence only changes the interdroplet interactions. The viscosity increases largely upon addition of a polymer, and this enhancement depends pronouncedly on the alkyl length of the hydrophobic sticker as it controls the residence time in a ME droplet. Similarly, the high frequency modulus G(0) depends on the amount of added polymer but not on the sticker length. G(0) was found to be directly proportional to f - 1. The onset of network formation is shifted to a lower number of stickers per ME droplet with increasing f, and the network formation becomes more effective. Thus, the dynamics of network formation are controlled by the polymer architecture. The effect on the dynamics seen by DLS is even more pronounced. Upon increasing the polymer concentration, slower relaxation modes appear that become especially pronounced with increasing number of arms. The relaxation dynamics are correlated to the rheological relaxation, and both are controlled by the polymer architecture. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/la303673a SN - 0743-7463 VL - 28 IS - 45 SP - 15994 EP - 16006 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Herfurth, Christoph A1 - de Molina, Paula Malo A1 - Wieland, Christoph A1 - Rogers, Sarah A1 - Gradzielski, Michael A1 - Laschewsky, André T1 - One-step RAFT synthesis of well-defined amphiphilic star polymers and their self-assembly in aqueous solution JF - Polymer Chemistry N2 - Multifunctional chain transfer agents for RAFT polymerisation were designed for the one-step synthesis of amphiphilic star polymers. Thus, hydrophobically end-capped 3- and 4-arm star polymers, as well as linear ones for reference, were made of the hydrophilic monomer N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) in high yield with molar masses up to 150 000 g mol(-1), narrow molar mass distribution (PDI <= 1.2) and high end group functionality (similar to 90%). The associative telechelic polymers form transient networks of interconnected aggregates in aqueous solution, thus acting as efficient viscosity enhancers and rheology modifiers, eventually forming hydrogels. The combination of dynamic light scattering (DLS), small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and rheology experiments revealed that several molecular parameters control the structure and therefore the physical properties of the aggregates. In addition to the size of the hydrophilic block (maximum length for connection) and the length of the hydrophobic alkyl chain ends (stickiness), the number of arms (functionality) proved to be a key parameter. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/c2py20126g SN - 1759-9954 VL - 3 IS - 6 SP - 1606 EP - 1617 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Laschewsky, André A1 - Herfurth, Christoph A1 - Miasnikova, Anna A1 - Wieland, Christoph A1 - Wischerhoff, Erik A1 - Gradzielski, Michael A1 - de Molina, Paula Malo A1 - Weiss, Jan T1 - Stars and blocks tailoring polymeric rheology modifiers for aqueous media by controlled free radical polymerization T2 - Abstracts of papers : joint conference / The Chemical Institute of Cananda, CIC, American Chemical Society, ACS Y1 - 2012 SN - 0065-7727 VL - 244 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Inal, Sahika A1 - Koelsch, Jonas D. A1 - Chiappisi, Leonardo A1 - Kraft, Mario A1 - Gutacker, Andrea A1 - Janietz, Dietmar A1 - Scherf, Ullrich A1 - Gradzielski, Michael A1 - Laschewsky, André A1 - Neher, Dieter T1 - Temperature-Regulated Fluorescence Characteristics of Supramolecular Assemblies Formed By a Smart Polymer and a Conjugated Polyelectrolyte JF - MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS N2 - Aqueous mixtures of a coumarin-labeled non-ionic thermoresponsive copolymer and a cationic polythiophene exhibit marked changes in their fluorescence properties upon heating. At room temperature, emission from the label is significantly quenched due to energy transfer to the conjugated polyelectrolyte. Heating the mixture reduces the energy-transfer efficiency markedly, resulting in a clearly visible change of the emission color. Although the two macromolecules associate strongly at room temperature, the number of interacting sites is largely reduced upon the phase transition. Crucially, the intermolecular association does not suppress the responsiveness of the smart polymer, meaning that this concept should be applicable to chemo- or bioresponsive polymers with optical read-out, for example, as a sensor device. KW - aqueous solutions KW - conjugated polyelectrolytes KW - fluorescence (or Forster) KW - resonance energy transfer KW - phase transitions KW - thermoresponsive polymers Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.201200493 SN - 1022-1352 VL - 214 IS - 4 SP - 435 EP - 445 PB - WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH CY - WEINHEIM ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Inal, Sahika A1 - Kölsch, Jonas D. A1 - Chiappisi, Leonardo A1 - Janietz, Dietmar A1 - Gradzielski, Michael A1 - Laschewsky, André A1 - Neher, Dieter T1 - Structure-related differences in the temperature-regulated fluorescence response of LCST type polymers N2 - We demonstrate new fluorophore-labelled materials based on acrylamide and on oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) bearing thermoresponsive polymers for sensing purposes and investigate their thermally induced solubility transitions. It is found that the emission properties of the polarity-sensitive (solvatochromic) naphthalimide derivative attached to three different thermoresponsive polymers are highly specific to the exact chemical structure of the macromolecule. While the dye emits very weakly below the LCST when incorporated into poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAm) or into a polyacrylate backbone bearing only short OEG side chains, it is strongly emissive in polymethacrylates with longer OEG side chains. Heating of the aqueous solutions above their cloud point provokes an abrupt increase of the fluorescence intensity of the labelled pNIPAm, whereas the emission properties of the dye are rather unaffected as OEG-based polyacrylates and methacrylates undergo phase transition. Correlated with laser light scattering studies, these findings are ascribed to the different degrees of pre-aggregation of the chains at low temperatures and to the extent of dehydration that the phase transition evokes. It is concluded that although the temperature-triggered changes in the macroscopic absorption characteristics, related to large-scale alterations of the polymer chain conformation and aggregation, are well detectable and similar for these LCST-type polymers, the micro-environment provided to the dye within each polymer network differs substantially. Considering sensing applications, this finding is of great importance since the temperature-regulated fluorescence response of the polymer depends more on the macromolecular architecture than the type of reporter fluorophore. Y1 - 2013 UR - http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2013/tc/c3tc31304b U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TC31304B ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Inal, Sahika A1 - Chiappisi, Leonardo A1 - Kölsch, Jonas D. A1 - Kraft, Mario A1 - Appavou, Marie-Sousai A1 - Scherf, Ullrich A1 - Wagner, Manfred A1 - Hansen, Michael Ryan A1 - Gradzielski, Michael A1 - Laschewsky, André A1 - Neher, Dieter T1 - Temperature-regulated fluorescence and association of an Oligo(ethyleneglycol)methacrylate-based copolymer with a conjugated Polyelectrolyte-the effect of solution ionic strength JF - The journal of physical chemistry : B, Condensed matter, materials, surfaces, interfaces & biophysical chemistry N2 - Aqueous mixtures of a dye-labeled non-ionic thermoresponsive copolymer and a conjugated cationic polyelectrolyte are shown to exhibit characteristic changes in fluorescence properties in response to temperature and to the presence of salts, enabling a double-stimuli responsiveness. In such mixtures at room temperature, i.e., well below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), the emission of the dye is strongly quenched due to energy transfer to the polycation, pointing to supramolecular interactions between the two macromolecules. Increasing the concentration of salts weakens the interpolymer interactions, the extent of which is simultaneously monitored from the change in the relative emission intensity of the components. When the mixture is heated above its LCST, the transfer efficiency is significantly reduced, signaling a structural reorganization process, however, surprisingly only if the mixture contains salt ions. To elucidate the reasons behind such thermo- and ion-sensitive fluorescence characteristics, we investigate the effect of salts of alkali chlorides, in particular of NaCl, on the association behavior of these macromolecules before and after the polymer phase transition by a combination of UV-vis, fluorescence, and H-1 NMR spectroscopy with light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering measurements. Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/jp408864s SN - 1520-6106 VL - 117 IS - 46 SP - 14576 EP - 14587 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Inal, Sahika A1 - Koelsch, Jonas D. A1 - Chiappisi, Leonardo A1 - Janietz, Dietmar A1 - Gradzielski, Michael A1 - Laschewsky, André A1 - Neher, Dieter T1 - Structure-related differences in the temperature-regulated fluorescence response of LCST type polymers JF - Journal of materials chemistry : C, Materials for optical and electronic devices N2 - We demonstrate new fluorophore-labelled materials based on acrylamide and on oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) bearing thermoresponsive polymers for sensing purposes and investigate their thermally induced solubility transitions. It is found that the emission properties of the polarity-sensitive (solvatochromic) naphthalimide derivative attached to three different thermoresponsive polymers are highly specific to the exact chemical structure of the macromolecule. While the dye emits very weakly below the LCST when incorporated into poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAm) or into a polyacrylate backbone bearing only short OEG side chains, it is strongly emissive in polymethacrylates with longer OEG side chains. Heating of the aqueous solutions above their cloud point provokes an abrupt increase of the fluorescence intensity of the labelled pNIPAm, whereas the emission properties of the dye are rather unaffected as OEG-based polyacrylates and methacrylates undergo phase transition. Correlated with laser light scattering studies, these findings are ascribed to the different degrees of pre-aggregation of the chains at low temperatures and to the extent of dehydration that the phase transition evokes. It is concluded that although the temperature-triggered changes in the macroscopic absorption characteristics, related to large-scale alterations of the polymer chain conformation and aggregation, are well detectable and similar for these LCST-type polymers, the micro-environment provided to the dye within each polymer network differs substantially. Considering sensing applications, this finding is of great importance since the temperature-regulated fluorescence response of the polymer depends more on the macromolecular architecture than the type of reporter fluorophore. Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/c3tc31304b SN - 2050-7526 VL - 1 IS - 40 SP - 6603 EP - 6612 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge ER -