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Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers of polymerizable carboxylic acids with hydrocarbon or fluorocarbon chains were prepared. The multilayers were polymerized by UV light and the reactions were studied by UV/visible spectroscopy. The polyreactions strongly influence the multilayer structures which were investigated by X-ray small-angle scattering and scanning electron microscopy. The spreading behaviour of the monomers, the preparation of multilayers, their reactivities in multilayers and structural effects caused by the polyreactions are discussed with regard to the hydrophilic head groups, the polymerizable groups and the hydrophobic chains.
A variety of polymerizable lipids containing a hydrophilic spacer group between the reactive group and the main amphiphilic structure have been synthesized. They were investigated in monolayers, liposomes, and multilayers. When the spacer concept was used, efficient decoupling of the motions of the polymeric chain and the amphiphilic side groups is achieved. Thus, the often found loss of the important fluid phases by polymerization is avoided. Polymeric monolayers of the spacer lipid, prepared either by polymerization in the monolayer or by spreading of prepolymerized lipid, exhibit nearly identical surface pressure-area diagrams. Most distinctly, the successful decoupling of the motions of the polymer main chain and the membrane forming amphiphilic side groups is demonstrated by the self-organization of bulk polymerized spacer lipids to polymeric liposomes. In addition, spacer lipids are able to build polymeric Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers. The decoupling of the polymer main chain and the membrane-forming amphiphilic side groups enables the deposition of already polymeric monolayers onto supports to form defined multilayers. If, alternatively, monomeric monolayers are deposited and polymerized on the support, defects in the layers due to structural changes during the polymerization are avoided by the flexible spacer group.
Cinnamic acid moieties were incorporated into amphiphilic compounds containing one and two alkyl chains. These lipid-like compounds with photoreactive units undergo self-organization to form monolayers at the gas-water interface and bilayer structures (vesicles) in aqueous solutions. The photoreaction of the cinnamic acid moiety induced by 254 nm UV light was investigated in the crystalline state, in monolayers, in vesicles and in solution in organic solvents. The single-chain amphiphiles undergo dimerization to yield photoproducts with twice the molecular weight of the corresponding monomers in organized systems. The photoreaction of amphiphiles containing two cinnamic acid groups occurs via two mechanisms: The intramolecular dimerization produces bicycles, with retention of the molecular weight of the corresponding monomer. The intermolecular reaction leads to oligomeric and polymeric photoproducts. In contrast to the single-chain amphiphiles, photodimerization processes of lipoids containing two cinnamic acid moieties also occur in solution in organic solvents.
Monolayers of rod-shaped and disc-shaped liquid crystalline compounds at the air-water interface
(1986)
Calamitic (rod-shaped) and discotic (disc-shaped) thermotropic liquid crystalline (LC) compounds were spread at the air-water interface, and their ability to form monolayers was studied. The calamitic LCs investigated were found to form monolayers which behave analogously to conventional amphiphiles such as fatty acids. The spreading of the discotic LCs produced monolayers as well, but with a behaviour different from classical amphiphiles. The areas occupied per molecule are too small to allow the contact of all hydrophilic groups with the water surface and the packing of all hydrophobic chains. Various molecular arrangements of the discotics at the water surface to fit the spreading data are discussed.
Oriented supramolecular systems-polymeric monolayers and multilayers from prepolymerized amphiphiles
(1986)
Oriented polymeric membranes were originally prepared by polymerization or polycondensation of preoriented monomers. The introduction of hydrophilic spacer groups into the polymeric amphiphiles allowed the formation of highly ordered systems (monolayers, liposomes, multilayers) from prepolymerized amphiphiles: due to the partial decoupling of the different mobilities and orientation tendencies of the polymer chain and the amphiphilic side groups, these polymers are able to self-organize. In monolayer experiments the high order of these membranes could be demonstrated by their surface pressure area-diagrams. In addition the combination of order and mobility of these spacer groups containing polymeric amphiphiles allowed the formation of Langmuir-Blodgett-multilyers with a high layer correlation. Thus, disturbancies in highly oriented layers can be avoided normally taking place during the polymerization reaction (e.g. contractions) or oriented monomeric layers.
Several polymerizable lipids were synthesized and polymerized to amphiphilic homopolymers and to copolymers with the help of hydrophilic comonomers. The self-organization of these polymeric lipids was investigated in monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers. The self-organization of these polymers in model membranes is due to hydrophilic spacer groups in the amphiphilic side groups as well as to hydrophilic spacer groups in the polymer backbone. Thus, highly ordered monolayers and LB-multilayers are easily obtained.
Amphiphilic derivatives of octadiene and docosadiene were investigated in monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers, with respect to their self-organization and their polymerization behavior. All amphiphiles investigated form monolayers. However, only acid and alcohol derivatives were able to build up multilayers. Those multilayers are rapidly photopolymerized in the layers via a two-step process: Irradiation with long-wavelength UV light yields soluble polymers, whereas additional irradiation with sfiort-wavelength UV light produces insoluble and presumably cross-linked polymers. The reaction meclianism is discussed according to the polymer characterization by UV spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, NMR spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. All multilayers undergo structural changes during the polymerization; substantial changes result in defects in the polymerized layers as observed by scanning electron microscopy. In contrast to the acids and alcohols, the deposition of monolayers of the aldehyde derivatives did not yield well-ordered multilayers, but rather amorphous films. In this different film structure, the photopolymerization process differs from the one observed in multilayers.
Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers of hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon polymers with hydrophilic spacer, lipid-polyelectrolyte complexes and mesogenic polymers have been prepared. The thermal behaviour of the multilayers was studied by small angle X-ray scattering, IR and UV—visible spectroscopy. Good thermal stabilities were found for the various classes of polymers. In addition, for both complexed multilayers and mesogenic polymer films, reorientation processes were observed.
Contents: 1. Discotic Liquid Crystals 2. Monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett Multilayers 3. Theoretical Considerations on the Molecular Packing of Discotic LCs in Monolayers and Multilayers 4. Spreading Experiments with Discotic LCs 5. LB-Multilayers of Discotic LCs 6. Polymeric Discotic LCs 7. Summary
The piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of oriented films possessing dipole moments are increasingly being used in pressure, acoustic, thermal and optical devices. The performance of these devices in many applications may be enhanced by thin-film technology.The developing Langmuir-Blodgett thin-film deposition technique offers the opportunity to obtain highly oriented and uniform organic-based films in the 10–5000 nm thickness range. Special techniques must be used, however, to assemble these molecules in such a way as to result in polar multilayer films. Several possible deposition techniques are investigated, with one resulting in a polar and pyroelectric film about 50 nm thick.
The use of preformed polymers for the preparation of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) multilayers is reviewed. Principles for polymer self-organization are outlined and the appropriate molecular designs are discussed. Recent developments in the different classes of polymers for LB multilayers are presented, and their outstanding properties highlighted.
Cationic and zwitterionic polymerizable surfactants bearing tri- and tetraethyleneglycol spacer groups between the polymerizable moiety and the surfactant structure were prepared and polymerized. Monomers and polymers were investigated with respect to their aggregation behavior in aqueous systems and compared to analogous monomers and polymers lacking spacer groups. In the case of the monomeric surfactants, the spacer groups depress both the Kraffttemperature and the critical micelle concentration. the area occupied per molecule at the air-water interface is substantially enlarged by the spacers, whereas the depression of surface tension is nearly constant. Although the monomers with and without spacers are true surfactants, all the polymers are water-insoluble, but form monomolecular layers at the air-water interface. In analogy to the monomer behavior, the incorporation of the spacer groups increases the area occupied per repeat unit at the air-water interface substantially, but hardly affects the surface activity.
A set of novel zwitterionic side-chain polyacrylates and polymethacrylates is studied by X-ray scattering. The structural order both in the short-range and long-range scale is investigated. The influence of the polymer backbone, of different locations of the ionic groups in isomeric polymers, of bound water and of added inorganic salts on the bulk structures is studied, and the observed rearrangements are analysed.
Mixed monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers of functional low molecular weight guest compounds, especially nonlinear optical (NLO) dyes, within the matrix of an amphotropic spacer polymer have been prepared. The polymer matrix enabled the transfer of guest compounds not capable of self-organizing at the air-water interface by themselves. The structure of the LB multilayers and the transfer process were studied by small angle X-ray scattering and UV-visible spectroscopy. Good NLO coefficients were found in the mixed films.
The molecular packing and spatial correlations of two isomeric zwitterionic polymethacrylates and one polyacrylate analog are studied by means of X-ray analysis and conformational calculations. The analysis of the correlation functions and density distribution profiles suggest a double-layered molecular packing which is discussed for the three polymers investigated, with respect to their different chemical structures. Whereas the zwitterionic polymethacrylates studied exhibit liquid-like short-range order, the polyacrylate analog exhibits an ordered double-layered superstructure.
Several zwitterionic polymers were prepared by radical homopolymerization of surfactant monomers which bear diallyl, diene or vinylcyclopropane moieties. These polymer systems were complemented by alternating copolymers of appropriate zwitterionic vinyl compounds. Thus, polymers with reduced (as compared with simple vinylic homopolymers, or statistical copolymers) and well defined density of surfactant side groups are obtained. The solubilities found for these polymers are dominated by polymer geometry rather than by the balance of hydrophilic and hydrophobic fragments, thus corroborating a main-chain spacer model proposed recently. All water-soluble polymers exhibit characteristic features of classical polysoaps, as shown by surface tension measurements and by solubilization of hydrophobic dyes. In contrast, the water-insoluble copolymers are capable to form stable monolayers at the air-water interface.
This article describes recent achievements in the field of micellar polymers, or polysoaps. Taking advantage of zwitterionic model polymers, systematic variations of the molecular architecture have provided an improved understanding of the relationship between the molecular structure of the polymers and their key properties such as surface activity and solubilization capacity. Useful rules are established, which take into account much of the previous data in the literature.
The prepaparation of amorphous, homogeneous blends of zwitterionic polymers and transition metal salts was investigated. Homogeneous miscibility was achieved in many cases up to equimolar amounts of salt, depending on the anion and cation chosen. Various analytical techniques point to a solid state solution of the inorganic ions in the polymer matrix.
Solubilization by polysoaps
(1994)
The aqueous solubilization power of several series of micellar homopolymers and copolymers (polysoaps) is investigated. Using five insoluble or poorly water-soluble dyes, comparisons of the capacities are made with respect ot the influence of structural variables such as the polymer backbone, the polymer geometry, the comonomer content, and the charge of the hydrophilic group. Some guidelines for polysoap structures suited for efficient solubilization are established. Noteworthy is that the solubilization capacities of the polysoaps are neither linked to the ability to reduce the surface tension of water, nor to the polarity of the solubilization sites deduced from spectroscopic probes.
Reversible changes in the self-organization of polysoaps may be induced by controlling their charge numbers via covalently bound redox moieties. This is illustrated with two viologen polysoaps, which in response to an electrochemical stimulus, change their solubility and aggregation in water, leading from homogeneously dissolved and aggregated molecules to collapsed ones and vice verse. Using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM), it could be shown that the reversibility of this process is better than 95% in 16 cycles.
A series of amphiphilic copolymers is prepared by copolymerization of choline methacrylate with 1,1,2,2-tetrahydroperfluorooctyl methacrylate in varying amounts. The copolymers bearing fluorocarbon chains are studied concerning their effects on viscosity, solubilization and surface activity in aqueous solution, exhibiting a general behavior characteristic for polysoaps. The results are compared with the ones obtained for an analogous series of amphiphilic copolymers bearing hydrocarbon chains.
The article reviews water-soluble polymers characterized by surfactant side chains, and related amphiphilic polymers. Various synthetic approaches are presented, and rules for useful molecular architectures are given. Models for the self-organization of such polymers in water are presented comparing them with the micellization of low molecular weight surfactants. Highlighting key properties of aqueous polysoap solutions such as viscosity, surface tension and solubilization power, some structure-property relationships are established. Further, the formation of mesophases and of superstructures in bulk is addressed. Finally, the functionalization of polysoaps, and potential applications are discussed.
Dielectric spectroscopy is employed to analyze the molecular dynamics and the charge transport in mixtures of zwitterionic polymers of the type poly{3 [N(-methacryloyloxyalkyl)] N, [N-dimethylammonio propanesulfonate] with sodium iodide in the frequency range of 10²Hz-10(up)7 Hz and in the temperature range of 110 K-400 K. The amount of inorganic salt added varies from 0-200 mol-% relative to the number of zwitterionic groups present in the polymer, contributing strongly to the conductivity. One relaxation process is observed whose relaxation rate depends strongly on the length of the aliphatic spacer between the polymethacrylate main chain and the zwitterionic group. Exhibiting an Arrhenius-like temperature depence with activation energy EA = 47 KJ/mol, this relaxation process is assigned to fluctuation of the quaternary ammonium groups in the side chains. At higher temperatures, the dielectric properties and the conductivity are primarily dominated by the mobile inorganic ions: conductivity strongly depends on the salt concentration, showing a pronounced electrode polarization effect. The frequency and salt concentration, dependences of the conductivity can be quantitatively described as hopping of charge carriers being subject to spatially randomly varying energy barriers. For the low-frequency regime and for the critical frequency marking the onset of the conductivity's dispersion, the Barton-Nakajima-Namikawa (BNN) relationship is fulfilled.
Thermal properties of block copolymer, poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide)-block-poly(3-[N-(3-methacrylamido-propyl)- N,N-dimethyl]-ammonio propane sulfonate), PNIPA-b-PSPP have been studied in pure and saline (NaCl) aqueous solutions by dynamic laser light scattering (DLS). The copolymer [Mw(PNIPA) 10800 g/mol and Mw(PSPP) 9700 g/mol] exhibits both an upper (UCST 9 oC) and lower (LCST 32 oC) critical solution temperatures in pure water. The addition of NaCl enhances the solubility of the zwitterionic polymer, PSPP, leading to the disappearance of the UCST. On the other hand, the solubility of PNIPA in water decreases as NaCl is added. At 20 oC the copolymer shows a bimodal size distribution through the NaCl concentration range of 0-0.93 M above a certain limiting polymer concentration. The slow and fast components of the diffusion coefficients of the polymer have been calculated. A gradual addition of salt turns the mutual interactions from zwitterionic attractions between PSPP blocks to hydrophobic attractions between PNIPA blocks. The formation of the aggregates and the aggregate sizes at T < UCST and T > LCST are influenced by polymer and salt concentrations. Below UCST the aggregates in saline polymer solutions are larger than those in pure polymer solutions. Above LCST the aggregate size is determined by the salt concentration.
Water-soluble block copolymers were prepared from the non-ionic monomer N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) and the zwitterionic monomer 3-[N-(3-methacrylamidopropyl)-N,N-dimethyl]-ammonio propane sulfonate (SPP) by sequential free radical polymerization via the RAFT process. Such block copolymers with two hydrophilic blocks exhibit double thermo- responsive behavior in water: the poly-NIPA block shows a lower critical solution temperature, whereas the poly-SPP block exhibits an upper critical solution temperature. Appropriate design of the block lengths leads to block copolymers which stay in solution in the full temperature range between 0°C and 100°C. Both blocks of these polymers dissolve in water at intermediate temperatures, whereas at high temperatures, the poly-NIPA block forms colloidal hydrophobic associates that are kept in solution by the poly-SPP block, and at low temperatures, the poly-SPP block forms colloidal polar aggregates that are kept in solution by the poly-NIPA block. In this way, colloidal aggregates can be prepared in water which switch reversibly, and without any additive, their "inside" to the "outside", and vice versa. The aggregates provide microdomains and surfaces of different character, which can be controlled by a simple thermal stimulus.
Equilibrium surface tension (se) versus concentration isotherms of surface-chemically pure aqueous solutions of the homologous series of N-n-alkyl-4'-(dimethylamino)-stilbaziumbromides ('hemicyanines') were measured at 295 K. The adsorption parameters of saturation adsorption and standard free energy of adsorption of the hemicyanines were determined from the evaluation of the se vs. c isotherms by using a two state approach to surface equation of state. The adsorption parameters reveal a very pronounced phenomenon of alternation (even/ odd- effect) which has so far not been met to a large extent like this. Thus, the cross-sectional areas of the odd members are almost twice those of the related even members. Surface activity of the odd is stronger than that of the even members. UV-Vis investigations showed that there is no indication of aggregate formation in the adsorption layer. The thermodynamic results give evidence for distinct differences between the surface conformations of the even- and the odd-chain hemicyanine dyes although the reasons for it are not known.
A simple synthetic route to a new poly(diallylammonium) salt functionalized by a styrene group is presented. This reactive polymer was employed for polyelectrolyte multilayer films using electrostatical layer-by-layer self- assembly, together with an inorganic polyanion, namely an exfoliated hectorite clay. To enhance their stability, the final hybrid multilayers were cross-linked by exposure to UV light, leading only to a minor shrinkage. Alternatively, the reactive polycation was cross-linked after each adsorption step. X-ray reflectometry revealed that the two types of films dispose of an internal order with a short length scale, that seems insensitive to the photo-cross-linking. Cross- linking after each adsorption step, however, results in more regular film growth, and reduces the films? roughness and the amount of polyanion deposited. Under these conditions, the films seem to grow by deposition of submonolayers with a combined vertical and lateral expansion, resulting in the self-healing of previously deposited, incomplete layers.
We report on the growth and structure of hybrid clay-based multilayers obtained by electrostatic self-assembly (also known as layer-by-layer assembly) of poly(diallylpyrrolidinium bromide) and a synthetic hectorite (Laponite). By combining ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy, and specular and off-specular grazing angle X-ray scattering measurements, we show that platelets pack in the vertical direction according to a distribution of distances between nearest neighbors of about 3 Å standard deviation. The accumulation of such random fluctuations in the vertical direction results in the loss of layering of the platelets farther than about 75 Å from the substrate. In this respect, most of the film should be considered as a nanocomposite with preferential orientation of the platelets, rather than as a real multilayer. The model is quantitatively supported by simulations of the specular and off-specular scattering of such multilayers.
Cationic ionenes bearing hydrophobic side chains were synthesized, which behave as micellar polymers of the polysoap type. The hydrophobic chains were either hydrocarbons or fluorocarbons, or a mixture of both, in the form of statistical as well as block copolymers. These amphiphilic polymers were studied and compared with each other and with low molar mass analogous surfactants, especially with respect to their hydrophobic association in aqueous solution. The particular molecular structure of the ionenes synthesized results in polymeric surfactants with high mobility of the fluorocarbon chains. Most noteworthy, the behavior of the hydrocarbon-fluorocarbon block copolymer soaps in aqueous solution indicates microphase separation into hydrocarbon-rich and fluorocarbon-rich hydrophobic domains, thus yielding multicompartment micelles.
The influence of the charge density of polyelectrolytes on the growth of polyelectrolyte multilayers via layer- by-layer self-assembly from pure aqueous solutions was studied. Multilayers were built from strong polyanions, namely poly(styrenesulfonate) and an exfoliated synthetic hectorite, and cationic copolymers of diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC) with N-methyl-N-vinylformamide (NMVF) for which the composition and thus the charge density was varied systematically. The analysis of the system {cationic copolymer/poly(styrenesulfonate)} reveals that a critical linear charge density Ïc of 0.036 elementary charge/Å of contour length is necessary to obtain stable multilayer growth in pure water. Above Ïc, the increment of thickness/deposition cycle varies with the linear charge density of the cationic copolymers, in good agreement with current theories of polyelectrolyte solutions. As linear charge density increases, the system passes successively through a charge-dependent ?Debye-Hu ckel? regime and then through a chargeindependent ?strong-screening? regime where counterion condensation dominates the behavior. Analogous results were obtained for the variation of the basal spacing of internally structured hybrid multilayers {cationic copolymer/hectorite}. However, by contrast with the first system, no critical linear charge density was found for the hybrid system. This is explained by additional, nonelectrostatic interactions between the clay platelets and the formamide fragment.
Citrate-capped gold nanoparticles as well as planar gold surfaces can be efficiently grafted with a covalently attached polymer monolayer a few nanometers thick, by simple contact of the metal surface with dilute aqueous solutions of hydrophilic polymers that are end-capped with disulfide moieties, as shown by UV/vis absorption, dynamic light scattering, and surface plasmon resonance studies. The hydrophilic polymer-coated gold colloids can be freeze-dried and stored as powders that can be subsequently dissolved to yield stable aqueous dispersions, even at very large concentrations. They allow for applying filtrations, gel permeation chromatography, or centrifugation. They do not suffer from undesirable nonspecific adsorption of proteins while allowing the diffusion of small species within the hydrogel surface coating. In addition, specific properties of the original hydrophilic polymers are retained such as a lower critical solution temperature. The latter feature could be useful to enhance optical responses of functionalized gold surfaces toward interaction with various substrates.
Electrostatically self-assembled (ESA) polyelectrolyte films show in general no internal structure. The use of special polycations, however, namely of lyotropic ionenes, may give rise to highly ordered coatings. In this article, the influence of the charge density of the polyanion, as well as the distribution of the charged groups within this polymer, is examined, using a series of anionic cellulose derivatives. Various techniques were used to study the films? growth and internal structure. Both showed to be affected in particular by the charge density but also by the substitution pattern.
Polymeric Surfactants
(2003)
New chain transfer agents for free radical polymerisation via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) were synthesised that are particularly suited for aqueous solution polymerisation. The new compounds bear dithioester and trithiocarbonate moieties as well as permanently ionic groups to confer solubility in water. Their stability against hydrolysis was studied, and compared with the one of a frequently employed water-soluble RAFT agent, using UV-Vis-spectroscopy and H-1-NMR measurements. An improved resistance to hydrolysis was found for the new RAFT agents compared to the reference one, providing good stabilities in the pH range between 1 and 8, and up to temperatures of 70 degreesC. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
In this work we describe a new preparation method for an esterolytic imprinted polymer with catalytic sites on the surface. A template was prepared by immobilizing a transition state analogue (phosphoramidic acid derivative) of an esterolytic reaction within porous silica particles. Polymerization within the pores was carried out using 4- vinylimidazole as a functional monomer and divinylbenzene as a cross-linker. The polymer was released by dissolution of the silica support with hydrofluoric acid and catalytic properties were studied by incubation with three different 4- nitrophenylesters and spectrophotometric determination of the released 4-nitrophenol. For 4-nitrophenyl acetate an activity of 211 nmol min(-1) mg(-1) and a K-m value of 2.2 mmol L-1 was obtained
The functionalization of polyelectrolyte multilayers often implies the use of bulky functional fragments, attached to a standard polyelectrolyte matrix. Despite of the high density of non-charged, often hydrophobic substituents, regular film growth by sequential adsorption proceeds easily when an appropriate polyelectrolyte counter ion is chosen. However, the functional fragments may cluster or aggregate. This complication is particularly evident when using chromophores and fluorophores as bulky pendant groups. Attention has to be paid to this phenomenon for the design of functional polyelectrolyte films, as aggregation may modify crucially the properties. The use of charged spacer groups does not necessarily suppress the aggregation of functional side groups. Still, clustering and aggregation depend on the detailed system employed, and are not obligatory. In the case of cationic poly(acrylamide)s labeled with naphthalene and pyrene fluorophores, for instance, the polymers form intramolecular hydrophobic associates in solution, as indicated by strong excimer formation. But the polymers can undergo a conformational rearrangement upon adsorption so that they are decoiled in the adsorbed films. Analogous observations are made for polyanions bearing mesogenic biphenyls fragments. In contrast, polycations functionalized with the dye coumarin 343 show little aggregation in solution, but a marked aggregation in the ESA films
Hydrophobically substituted diallylamines bearing a hexyl, dodecyl, or octadecyl chain were synthesized and homopolymerized as hydrochlorides. Copolymerixation of the diallylamines with maleic acid produces alternating copolymers. The copolymers behave as amphiphilic polyampholytes and dissolve best in the acidic or in the basic form. Only the colpolymer with the hexyl chain could be dissolved in aqueous solvents and shows hydrophobic associaiton. The copolymers with the longer alkyl chains require polar protic organic solvents. All polymers are amorphous, but show a superstructure in bulk due to their amphiphilicity
Amphiphilic diblock copolymers composed of poly(butyl acrylate) as the hydrophobic block with a low glass transition temperature and of six different hydrophilic blocks (one anionic, one cationic, and four nonionic hydrophilic blocks) are prepared via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The nonionic hydrophilic blocks comprise in addition to the classical poly(dimethylacrylamide), the thermally sensitive poly(N- acryloylpyrrolidine), and a comb-type polymer made of a poly(ethylene glycol acrylate) macromonomer, as well as a new strongly hydrophilic sulfoxide polymer. The "living" character of the polymerizations is supported by very low polydispersity indexes and a good correlation between the molar masses obtained and the theoretically expected ones. Two distinct glass transition temperatures were found by differential scanning calorimetry for the block copolymers, suggesting the immiscibility of the blocks in bulk. The self-assembling properties of the amphiphilic diblock copolymers in aqueous and organic media were studied by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering, as a function of the polarity of the hydrophilic blocks, the ratio of the lengths of the two blocks, and the overall molar mass of the diblock copolymers. Micellelike aggregates with diameters from 25 to 100 mn in water are found, as well as inverse micelles in organic solvents. The length of the hydrophobic block seems to be the main factor governing the size of the aggregates in water. The aggregates are very stable upon dilution and temperature cycles. For large hydrophobic blocks, big structures are observed in addition to small micelles initially after the dispersion in water. As the big aggregates disappear slowly, the micellization process seems thermodynamically favored. If two populations of micelles made from different block copolymers are brought together, "mixed" micelles are formed. The implicit exchange of polymers proves the dynamic character of the micellar systems based on poly(butyl acrylate) as hydrophobic block
A novel method to prepare ultrathin, freestanding polyelectrolyte films in pores, without the need of sacrificial precursor coatings, has been developed (see Figure). The freestanding films are stable under ambient conditions and suited for additional electrostatic self-assembly or surface modification. They can be specifically decomposed, whereas after thermal crosslinking, resistant films are obtained
Fluorocarbon associative polymers of the polysoap type were studied using two fluorescent probes, 1- octanoylpyrene (OcPyH) and 1-perfluorooctanoylpyrene (OcPyF). In aqueous solution the polymers formed hydrophobic domains composed of hydrocarbon, fluorocarbon or both types of polymeric side chains, which could solubilize the probes. This resulted in the appearance of new fluorescence emission bands and changes in the fluorescence polarization of the probes. The differences in the solubilization properties of the polymers are discussed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
An unconventional but easily accessible precursor route involving the thermal treatment of hybrid precursors containing an ampholytic polymer matrix is developed to prepare multimetallic oxides of catalytic interest such as transition metal molybdates. A copolymer of diallyldimethylammonium chloride and a functionalized maleamic acid bearing an amine group suited for cation complexation was designed, synthesized and used as a matrix to stabilize inorganic species generated in solution from Ni(NO3)(2)center dot 6H(2)O, Co(NO3)(2)center dot 6H(2)O and/or Mn(NO3)(2)center dot 4H(2)O together with (NH4)(6)Mo(7)O(24)center dot 4H(2)O. UV-vis-NIR as well as C-13-NMR studies suggest that the interactions between the cations and the polymer in solution are mainly electrostatic. Only minor complexation interactions take place under certain conditions. Homogeneous hybrid blends were prepared from these solutions. The presence of a complexing amine group in addition to the charged betaine moieties in the polymer permits stabilization of more than stoichiometric amounts of the metal species in the blends. XRD measurements suggest that the homogeneity in the solid state can be kept up to about 1.5 mol of each metal that is incorporated ( anionic as well as cationic) per mol of repeat units of the copolymer. The blends were calcined under air at 600 degrees C to produce the simple as well as mixed nickel, cobalt and manganese molybdates. Characterization of the final phases by XRD and Raman spectroscopy indicates that the alpha- as well as the beta-molybdate phases can be prepared, and that the mixed structures are solid solutions of the simple NiMoO4, MnMoO4 and CoMoO4. If the precursors engaged are homogeneous, the pH of the precursor solution, the amount of metal that is incorporated in the matrix, and the nature of the polymer matrix seem to exert only a minor influence on the nature of the final phase, which demonstrates the versatility and facile applicability of the method
Multicompartment micelles are complex nanosized systems that possess a hydrosoluble shell and a hydrophobic core, which is characterized by segregated incompatible subdomains. With roots starting about ten years ago, the field of multi compartment micelles has evolved slowly, until recently when significant achievements have been made. The present article reviews strategies for building such micellar assemblies as well as morphological studies, highlights the future challenges, and discusses possible applications, which exploit the coexistence of differentiated nano- domains. Formation of multi compartment micelles using miktoarm stars mu-(polyethylethylene)(poly(ethylene oxide))(poly(perfluoropropylene oxide)) and a cryo-TEM image visualizing the process
A series of RAFT agents was synthesised, and used to prepare various ionic. non-ionic and zwitterionic water- soluble polymers, in organic as well as in aqueous media. The RAFT process proved to be a powerful method to prepare functional polymers of complex structure. such as amphiphilic diblock and triblock copolymers. This includes polymers containing one or even two stimuli-sensitive hydrophilic blocks. Switching the hydrophilic character of a single or of several blocks by changing the PH, the temperature or the salt content demonstrated the variability of the molecular designs suited for stimuli-sensitive polymeric amphiphiles, and exemplified the concept of multiple-sensitive systems. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd
A series of nonionic, anionic, and cationic water-soluble monomers bearing the (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylamide, or styrene moiety were polymerized in water by free-radical polymerization via reversible addition- fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT). Several new water-soluble RAFT agents based on dithiobenzoate were employed that are water soluble independently of the pH. One of them bears a fluorophore, enabling unsymmetrical double end-group labeling as well as the preparation of fluorescent-labeled polymers. The temperature-dependent stability of the new RAFT agents against hydrolysis was studied. Controlled polymerization in aqueous solution was possible with styrenic, acrylic, and methacrylic monomers; molar masses increase with conversion, and polydispersities are relatively low. But RAFT polymerization failed for an anionic itaconate. Whereas polymerizations of methacrylamides were slow at temperatures below 60 degrees C, such conditions proved favorable for the RAFT polymerization of acrylates and methacrylates, to minimize hydrolysis of the dithioester end-group functionality, and to improve the preparation of block copolymers
A series of dimeric cationic surfactants (gemini surfactants), which have spacer groups of varying length and flexibility, was synthesized. The series is derived from the parent compounds dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride or benzyldodecyldimethylammonium chloride. Characteristic surfactant properties of the dimeric ammonium compounds such as surface activity, micellization, viscosity effects, foaming, and solubilization, were studied with respect to the influence of the spacer group on the surfactant. For all properties, the influence of the length of the spacer group was predominant though the chemical nature of the spacer cannot be neglected
Three series of new oligomeric cationic surfactants were synthesized. These amphiphiles are trimeric and tetrameric oligomeric quaternary ammonium chlorides, with spacer groups of different lengths separating the individual surfactant fragments. The properties of the compounds, such as Krafft temperatures, surface activity, micellization, viscosifying effects, foaming and solubilizing capacity, are studied. The influence of the degree of oligomerization and of the spacer group on the surfactant properties is discussed, in comparison with the analogous standard monomeric and dimeric ("gemini") surfactants. Typically, the evolution of the properties observed from standard to dimeric surfactants progresses with the trimers and tetramers, resulting for instance in extremely low critical micellization concentrations
Cationic and perfluorinated polymeric pseudostationary phases for electrokinetic chromatography
(2006)
Separation selectivity in electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) is directly affected by the chemistry and solvent characteristics of the pseudostationary phase (PSP). The chemical selectivity of micellar PSPs has been previously demonstrated to vary significantly between anionic and cationic surfactants as well as between hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon surfactants. Polymeric PSPs have also been demonstrated to provide unique selectivity. In the current study, four cationic polymeric pseudo-stationary phases, two of which have perfluorinated pendant groups, are introduced and characterized as PSPs in EKC. Their performance and selectivity is compared to conventional micellar PSPs with similar structure. The solvation characteristics and selectivity of the four polymers most closely resemble those observed for cationic micelles. The polymers are all more cohesive and more polar than their hydrocarbon micellar counterparts. The fluorocarbon PSPs did show preferential interaction with fluorocarbon solutes, were somewhat more cohesive, and were stronger hydrogen bond donors. However, the presence of fluorocarbon moieties did not have as dramatic an effect on selectivity as was observed and published previously for fluorocarbon micelles. This may result from the selectivity being dominated by the presence of the cationic head groups or from the fluorocarbon character of the pendant groups being moderated by the presence of hydrocarbon functionality on the polymer back-bones.
We report here for the first time on surface immobilization of hollow faceted polyhedrons formed from catanionic surfactant mixtures. We find that electrostatic interaction with the substrate dominates their adhesion behavior. Using polyelectrolyte coated surfaces with tailored charge densities, polyhedrons can thus be immobilized without complete spreading, which allows for further study of their mechanical properties using AFM force measurements. The elastic response of individual polyhedrons can be locally resolved, showing pronounced differences in stiffness between faces and vertexes of the structure, which makes these systems interesting as models for structurally similar colloidal scale objects such as viruses, where such effects are predicted but cannot be directly observed due to the smaller dimensions. Elastic constants of the wall material are estimated using shell and plate deformation models and are found to be a factor of 5 larger than those for neutral lipidic bilayers in the gel state. We discuss the molecular origins of this high stiffness
New amphiphilic diblock copolymers : surfactant properties and solubilization in their micelles
(2006)
Several series of amphiphilic diblock copolymers are investigated as macrosurfactants in comparison to reference low-molar-mass and polymeric surfactants. The various copolymers share poly(butyl acrylate) as a common hydrophobic block but are distinguished by six different hydrophilic blocks (one anionic, one cationic, and four nonionic hydrophilic blocks) with various compositions. Dynamic light scattering experiments indicate the presence of micelles over the whole concentration range from 10(-4) to 10 g(.)L(-1). Accordingly, the critical micellization concentrations are very low. Still, the surface tension of aqueous solutions of block copolymers decreases slowly but continuously with increasing concentration, without exhibiting a plateau. The longer the hydrophobic block, the shorter the hydrophilic block, and the less hydrophilic the monomer of the hydrophilic block is, the lower the surface tension is. However, the effects are small, and the copolymers reduce the surface tension much less than standard low-molar-mass surfactants. Also, the copolymers foam much less and even act as anti-foaming agents in classical foaming systems composed of standard surfactants. The copolymers stabilize O/W emulsions made of methyl palmitate as equally well as standard surfactants but are less efficient for O/W emulsions made of tributyrine. However, the copolymer micelles exhibit a high solubilization power for hydrophobic dyes, probably at their core-corona interface, in dependence on the initial geometry of the micelles and the composition of the block copolymers. Whereas micelles of copolymers with strongly hydrophilic blocks are stable upon solubilization, solubilization-induced micellar growth is observed for copolymers with moderately hydrophilic blocks
Free radical homo- and copolymerization of the highly polar 3-(N-[2-methacryloyloxyethyl]-N,N-dimethylammonio) propane sulfonate with the nonpolar n-butylmethacrylate was investigated in the ionic liquids 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluoro phosphate, and compared to analogous polymerizations in standard solvents. Higher molar masses are obtained for the zwitterionic homopolymer when the polymerization is carried out in an ionic liquid compared to the classical reaction in water. Although homopolymerization of the sulfobetain monomer as well as of n-butylmethacrylate results in phase separation during the polymerization process, copolymerization of a stoichiometric ratio of the two monomers in the ionic liquids produced transparent gels indicating that no macrophase separation occurs. The use of ionic liquids as reaction medium improved the copolymerization behavior of the two methacrylates significantly. Whereas only minor amounts of n-butyl methacrylate were incorporated in the copolymer when synthesized in acetonitrile, the content of the non-polar monomer units in the zwitterionic copolymer approached increasingly its content in the polymerization mixture when ionic liquids were employed as solvents
This article presents recent progress in the field of polymeric surfactants made of permanently amphiphilic block copolymers or of stimulus-sensitive ones. We highlight key points in the design of amphiphilic macromolecules, to yield polymer surfactants with tailor-made properties, as well as recently developed and still challenging application fields for this new class of surfactants. The efficiency boosting of amphiphilic block copolymers as co-surfactants in microemulsions is discussed, as are surface modification by polymer surfactants, and stabilization of dispersions. Moreover, the use of block copolymers in nanosciences is presented, for instance as a tool for nanomaterial fabrication, or for biomedical and cosmetic applications in bio-nanotechnology. Finally, self-assembly and applications of some newly developed "exotic" amphiphilic block copolymer structures as new surface-active materials will be highlighted
Ionic liquids based on imidazolium, pyridinium, and alkylammonium salts were investigated as solvents in free radical polymerization of the model monomer n-butyl methacrylate. The properties of the ionic liquids were systematically varied by changing the length of the alkyl substituents on the cations, and by employing different anions such as tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, tosylate, triflate, alkyl sulfates and dimethyl phosphate. Results were compared to analogous polymerizations in toluene and in bulk. The solvents have no detectable influence on polymer tacticity. However, the molar masses obtained and the degree of polymerization, respectively, are very sensitive to the choice of the solvent. The degrees of polymerization are significantly higher when polymerizations were carried out in ionic liquids compared to polymerization in toluene, and can even exceed the values obtained by bulk polymerization. Imidazolium salts unsubstituted at C-2 result in an increase in the degree of polymerization of the poly(butyl methacrylate) with increasing viscosity of these ionic liquids. Methyl substitution at C-2 of the imidazolium ion results in an increase in the viscosity of the ionic liquid and in a viscosity independent degree of polymerization of the poly(butyl methacrylate). Ionic liquids based on imidazolium salts seem preferable over pyridinium and alkylammonium salts because of the higher degree of polymerization of the poly(butyl methacrylate)s obtained in the imidazolium salts. The glass transition temperatures and thermal stabilities are higher for poly(butyl methacrylate)s synthesized in the ionic liquids compared to the polymer made in toluene
Homopolymers were prepared from diallylammonium monomers bearing 4-methylcoumarin and 4-cyanobiphenyl as fluorescent and mesogenic side groups, as well as their copolymers with diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC). Organic-inorganic hybrid films were electrostatically self-assembled via the layer-by-layer technique on silicon wafers and quartz plates from the chromophore-bearing polymers and an exfoliated synthetic hectorite. Photophysical studies performed in solution as well as in the self-assembled films demonstrated only a weak tendency for aggregation of the chromophores in the macromolecules. Moreover, assemblies made from the polymers carrying the cyanobiphenyl mesogen were found to exhibit a pronounced internal order
The spin probes TEMPO, TEMPOL, and CAT-1 were used to investigate microviscosity and micropolarity of imidazolium based ionic liquids bearing either tetrafluoroborate or hexafluorophosphate as anions and a variation of the substitution at the imidazolium ion. The average rotational correlation times (r) obtained by complete simulation of the X-band ESR spectra of TEMPO, TEMPOL, and CAT-1 increase with increasing viscosity of the ionic liquid although no Stokes Einstein behavior is observed. This is caused by microviscosity effects of the ionic liquids shown by application of the Gierer-Wirtz theory. Interestingly, the jump of the probe molecule into the free volume of the ionic liquids is a nonactivated process. The hyperfine coupling constants (A(iso) (N-14)) of TEMPO and TEMPOL dissolved in the ionic liquids do not depend on the structure of the ionic liquids. The A(iso) (N-14) values show a micropolarity of the ionic liquids that is comparable with methylenchloride in case of TEMPO and with dimethylsulfoxide in case of TEMPOL. Micropolarity monitored by CAT-1 strongly depends on structural variation of the ionic liquid. CAT-1 dissolved in imidazolium salts substituted with shorter alkyl chains at the nitrogen atom exhibits a micropolarity comparable with dimethylsulfoxide. A significant lower micropolarity is found for imidazolium. salts bearing a longer alkyl substituent at the nitrogen atom or a methyl substituent at C-2. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
A new precursor route for the preparation of bulk oxides and thin films of bismuth vanadates is proposed. The method involves the thermal treatment under air and mild conditions of hybrid organic-inorganic precursors, made from a zwitterionic salt-free polymer matrix and selected inorganic species. Monoclinic BiVO4 was obtained in the form of bulk oxide by calcination of the powdered homogeneous hybrid materials at 600 degrees C, from precursors containing Bi and V in stoichiometric amounts. In the same way, thermodiffractometry studies performed on a hybrid material exhibiting a Bi/ V molar ratio of 2 revealed that the ionic conductor gamma-Bi4V2O11 phase can be stabilized under very soft thermal conditions (300 degrees C). Additionally, thin films of yellow monoclinic BiVO4 were for the first time fabricated, by thermal treatment of the same hybrid polymeric precursors deposited on quartz substrates by spin coating, using a layer- by-layer technique. The presence of the target phase at the surface of the plates was confirmed by X-ray diffraction as well as UV-vis measurements
The micelle aggregation numbers (N-agg) of several series of cationic oligomeric surfactants were determined by time-resolved fluorescence quenching (TRFQ) experiments, using advantageously 9,10-dimethylanthracene as fluorophore. The study comprises six dimeric ("gemini"), three trimeric, and two tetrameric surfactants, which are quaternary ammonium chlorides, with medium length spacer groups (C-3-C-6) separating the individual surfactant fragments. Two standard cationic surfactants served as references. The number of hydrophobic chains making up a micellar core is relatively low for the oligomeric surfactants, the spacer length playing an important role. For the dimers, the number decreases from 32 to 21 with increasing spacer length. These numbers decrease further with increasing degree of oligomerization down to values of about 15. As for many conventional ionic surfactants, the micelles of all oligomers studied grow only slightly with the concentration, and they remain in the regime of small micelles up to concentrations of at least 3 wt %.
The spin probes 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO), 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPOL), and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-trimethylammoniumpiperidine-1-oxyllodide (CAT-1) are examined in a number of ionic liquids based on substituted imidazolium cations and tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate anions, respectively. The reorientation correlation times tau(R) of the spin probes in these systems have been determined by complete spectra simulation and, for rapid reortientation, by analysis of the intensities of the hyperfine lines of the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra. A comparison of the results with those from the model system glycerol/water and selected organic solvents is made. Additions of diamagnetic and paramagnetic ions allow the conclusion that salt effects and spin exchange are present, and that both are superimposed by motional effects. Specific interactions in the ionic liquids, as well as between the spin-probe molecules and the constituents of the ionic liquids are reflected in the spectra of the spin probes, depending on their molecular structure
The trithiocarbonate 2-(benzylsulfanylthiocarbonylsulfanyl) propanoic acid is formed as minor by-product in the synthesis of the dithioester 2-((2-phenylthioacetyl)sulfanyl) propanoic acid via the Grignard route. The mechanism for this side reaction is not clear. The isolated trithiocarbonate may act as unsymmetrical but bifunctional RAFT agent in the aqueous polymerization of N,N-dimethyl acrylamide. Therefore, it is important to separate it completely from the dithioester before engaging the latter in controlled free radical polymerization to guarantee a maximum control.
Tuning the thickness of polymer brushes grafted from nonlinearly growing multilayer assemblies
(2009)
A new versatile method for tuning the thickness of surface-tethered polymer brushes is introduced. It is based on the combination of polyelectrolyte multilayer deposition and surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. To control the thickness of the brushes, the nonlinear growth of certain polyelectrolyte multilayer systems is exploited. The method is demonstrated to work with different polyelectrolytes and different monomers. The relevance for applications is demonstrated by cell adhesion experiments oil grafted thermoresponsive polymer layers with varying thickness.
Linear amphiphilic diblock and ternary triblock copolymers were synthesized by the RAFT method in two successive steps using a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) macrochain transfer agent, butyl or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, and 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyl acrylate. The diblock and the triblock copolymers, which consist of a hydrophilic, a lipophilic, and a short fluorophilic block, self-assemble in water into spherical micellar aggregates. Imaging by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) revealed that the micellar cores of the aggregates made from these "triphilic" copolymers can undergo local phase separation to form a unique ultrastructure. In these multicompartment micelles, it appears that extended nonspherical domains, presumably made of nanocrystallites of the fluorocarbon block, are embedded in the hydrocarbon matrix forming the spherical micellar core. This novel internal structure of a micellar core is attributed to the mutual incompatibility of the fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon side chains in combination with the tendency of the used fluorocarbon acrylate monomer to undergo side-chain crystallization.
We studied the swelling of polyelectrolyte (PE) multilayers (PEM) in water (H2O) vapors. The PEM were made from polyanion poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and polycation poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)-N-methyl-N-vinylacetamide (pDADMAC-NMVA). While PSS is a fully charged polyanion, pDADMAC-NMVA is a random copolymer made of charged pDADMAC and uncharged NMVA monomer units. Variation of the relative amount of these two units allows for controlling the charge density of pDADMAC-NMVA. The degree of swelling was studied as it function of the relative humidity in the experimental chamber (respectively water concentration in the gas phase) for PEM prepared from PSS and pDADMAC-NMVA with their different charge densities - 100%, 89% and 75%. The films were prepared by means of spraying technique and consisted of six PE couples-PSS/pDADMAC-NMVA. Neutron reflectometry was applied as main tool to observe the swelling process. The technique allows to obtain in a single experiment information about film thickness and amount of water in the film. The experiments were complemented with AFM measurements to obtain the thickness of the films. It was found that the Film thickness increases when the charge density of the polycation decreases. The swelling of the PEM increases with the relative humidity and it depends on the charge density of pDADMAC-NMVA. The swelling behavior is 2-fold, splitting up in a charge dependent mode with relatively little volume increase, and a second mode With high volume expansion, which is independent from charge density of PEM. The "swelling transition" occurs for all samples at a relative humidity about 60% and a volume increase of ca. 20%. The results were interpreted according to the Flory-Huggins theory which assumes a phase separation in PEM network at higher water contents.
Six new bifunctional bis(trithiocarbonate)s were explored as RAFT agents for synthesizing amphiphilic triblock copolymers ABA and BAB, with hydrophilic "A" blocks made from N-isopropylacrylamide and hydrophobic "B" blocks made from styrene. Whereas the extension of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) by styrene was not effective, polystyrene macroRAFT agents provided the block copolymers efficiently. End group analysis by H-1 NMR spectroscopy supported molar mass analysis and revealed an unexpected side reaction for certain bis(trithiocarbonate)s, namely a fragmentation to simple trithiocarbonates while extruding ethylene-trithiocarbonate. The amphiphilic block copolymers with short polystyrene blocks are directly soluble in water and self-organize into thermo-responsive micellar aggregates.
Linear amphiphilic diblock and ternary triblock copolymers were synthesized by the RAFT method in three Successive Steps, using oligo(ethylene oxide) monomethyl ether acrylate, butyl or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, and 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyl acrylate. The diblock and the triblock copolymers, which consist of a hydrophilic, a lipophilic, and a fluorophilic block, self-assemble in water into spherical micellar aggregates. Imaging by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) revealed that the cores of the micellar aggregates made from these "triphilic" copolymers undergo local phase separation to form various ultrastructures, which depend sensitivity on the given block sequence. While the sequence hydrophilic-lipophilic-fluorophilic resulted in multicompartment cores with core-shell-corona morphology, the sequence lipophilic-hydrophilic-fluorophilic provided new "patched double micelle" and larger "soccer ball" structures.
Swelling and switching kinetics of gold coated end-capped poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) thin films
(2010)
Thin thermoresponsive hydrogel films of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) end-capped with n-butyltrithiocarbonate(nbc- PNIPAM) oil si I icon supports with a gold layer on top, causing an asymmetric confinement, are investigated. For two different gold layer thicknesses (nominally 0.4 and 5 rim), the swelling and switching kinetics are probed with in situ neutron reflectivity. With a temperature jump from 23 to 40 degrees C the film is switched from a swollen into a collapsed state. For the thin gold layer this switching is faster as compared to the thick gold layer. The switching is a two-step process of water release and a subsequent structural relaxation. fit swelling and deswelling cycles, aging of the films is probed. After five cycles, the film exhibits enhanced water storage capacity. Grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) shows that these gold coated nbc-PNIPAM films do not age with respect to the inner structure but slightly roughen at the gold surface. As revealed by atomic force microscopy, the morphology of the gold layer is changed by the water uptake and release.
Recently, we introduced a thermoresponsive copolymer that consists of oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (OEGMA) and 2-(2- methoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate (MEO(2)MA). The polymer exhibited an LCST at 35 degrees C in PBS buffer and was anchored onto gold substrates using disulfide polymerisation initiators. It allows the noninvasive detachment of adherent cells from their substrate. As the mechanisms that determine the interaction of cells with such polymers are not well understood, we employed Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy in order to monitor the detachment process of cells of two different types. We identified contact area and average cell-substrate distance as crucial parameters for the evaluation of the detachment process. The sensitivity of TIRF microscopy allowed us to correlate the specific adhesion pattern of MCF-7 breast cancer cells with the morphology of cell deposits that may serve as fingerprints for a nondestructive characterisation of live cells.
New amphiphilic block copolymers consisting of N-vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate were synthesized via controlled radical polymerization using a reversible addition/fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)/macromolecular design via the interchange of xanthates (MADIX) system. The synthesis was carried out in 1,4-dioxane as process solvent. In order to get conclusions on the mechanism of the polymerization the molecular structure of formed copolymers was analysed by means of different analytical techniques. C-13 NMR spectroscopy was used for the determination of the monomer ratios. End groups were analysed by means of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. This technique was also used to determine possible fragmentations of the RAFT end groups. By means of a combination of size exclusion chromatography, C-13 NMR and static light scattering molar mass distributions and absolute molar masses could be analysed. The results clearly show a non-ideal RAFT mechanism.
PVP-block-PVAc block copolymers were synthesized by controlled radical polymerization applying a RAFT/MADIX system and were investigated by HPLC and by coupling of chromatography to FT-IR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF MS. Chromatographic methods (LACCC and gradient techniques) were developed that allowed a separation of block copolymers according to their repeating units. The results of the spectroscopic and spectrometric analysis clearly showed transfer between radicals and process solvent. With the use of hyphenated techniques differences between main and side products were detected. In agreement with previously published results, obtained by NMR, SEC, static light scattering and MALDI- TOF MS, our data proved a non-ideal RAFT polymerization.
Homopolymers of N-acryloyl glycinamide were prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization in water. The formed macromolecules exhibit strong polymer-polymer interactions in aqueous milieu and therefore form thermoreversible physical hydrogels in pure water, physiological buffer or cell medium.
Smart bioactive surfaces
(2010)
The purpose of this highlight is to define the emerging field of bioactive surfaces. In recent years, various types of synthetic materials capable of "communicating'' with biological objects such as nucleic acids, proteins, polysaccharides, viruses, bacteria or living cells have been described in the literature. This novel area of research certainly goes beyond the traditional field of smart materials and includes different types of sophisticated interactions with biological entities, such as reversible adhesion, conformational control, biologically-triggered release and selective permeation. These novel materials may be 2D planar surfaces as well as colloidal objects or 3D scaffolds. Overall, they show great promise for numerous applications in biosciences and biotechnology. For instance, practical applications of bioactive surfaces in the fields of bioseparation, cell engineering, biochips and stem-cell differentiation are briefly discussed herein.
The free volume in thin films of poly(N-isopropylacrylamid) end-capped with n-butyltrio-carbonate (nbc-PNIPAM) is probed with positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). The PALS measurements are performed as function of energy to obtain depth profiles of the free volume of nbc-PNIPAM films. The range of nbc-PNIPAM films with thicknesses from 40 to 200 nm is focused. With decreasing film thickness the free volume increases in good agreement with an increase in the maximum swelling capability of the nbc-PNIPAM films. Thus in thin hydrogel films the sorption and swelling behavior is governed by free volume.
Amphiphilic dual brush block copolymers as "giant surfactants" and their aqueous self-assembly
(2010)
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.
We have studied I lie thermal behavior of amphiphilic, symmetric triblock copolymers having short, deuterated polystyrene (PS) end blocks and a large poly(N-isopropylacrylarnicle) (PNIPAM) middle block exhibiting a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in aqueous solution. A wide range of concentrations (0.1-300 mg/mL) is investigated using it number of analytical methods such as fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), turbidimetry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), and neutron spin-echo spectroscopy (NSE). The critical micelle concentration is determined using FCS to be 1 mu M or less. The collapse of the micelles at the LCST is investigated using turbidimetry and DLS and shows a weak dependence on the degree of polymerization of the PNIPAM block. SANS with contrast matching allows its to reveal the core-shell Structure of the micelles as well as their correlation as a function of temperature. The segmental dynamics of the PNIPAM shell are studied as a function of temperature and arc found to be faster in the collapsed state than in the swollen state. The mode detected has a linear dispersion in q(2) and is found to be faster in the collapsed state as compared to the swollen state. We attribute this result to the averaging over mobile and immobilized segments.
Several series of symmetrical triblock copolymers were synthesized by the reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer method. They consist of a long block of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) as hydrophilic, thermoresponsive middle block, which is end-capped by two small strongly hydrophobic blocks made from five different vinyl polymers. The association of the amphiphilic polymers was studied in dilute and concentrated aqueous solution. The polymer micelles found at low concentrations form hydrogels at high concentrations, typically above 30-35 wt.%. Hydrogel formation and the thermosensitive rheological behavior were studied exemplarily for copolymers with hydrophobic blocks of polystyrene, poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate), and poly(n-octadecyl acrylate). All systems exhibited a cloud point around 30 A degrees C. Heating beyond the cloud point initially favors hydrogel formation but continued heating results in macroscopic phase separation. The rheological behavior suggests that the copolymers associate into flower-like micelles, with only a small share of polymers that bridge the micelles and act as physical cross-linkers, even at high concentrations.
In the present paper, the influence of the surfactant concentration and the degree of charge of a polymer on foam film properties of oppositely charged polyelectrolyte/surfactant mixtures has been investigated. To verify the assumption that the position of the isoelectric point (IEP) does not change the character of the foam film stabilities, the position of the IEP of the polyelectrolyte/surfactant mixtures has been shifted in two different ways. Within the first series of experiments, the foam. film properties were studied using a fixed surfactant concentration of 3 x 10(-5) M in the mixture. Due to the low surfactant concentration, this is a rather dilute system. In the second approach, a copolymer of nonionic and ionic monomer units was Used to lower the charge density of the polymer. This gave rise to additional interactions between the polyelectrolyte and the surfactant, which makes the description of the foam film behavior more complex. In both systems, the same characteristics of the foam film stabilities were found: The foam film stability is reduced toward the IEP of the system, followed by a destabilization around the IEP., At polyelectrolyte concentrations above the IEP, foam films are very stable. However, the concentration range where unstable films were formed was rather broad, and the mechanisms leading to the destabilization had different origins. The results were compared with former findings on PAMPS/C(14)TAB mixtures with an IEP of 10(-4)M.(1)
Molecular brush diblock copolymers were synthesized by the orthogonal overlay of the RAFT (reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer), the ATRP (atom transfer radical polymerization), and the NMP (nitroxide-mediated polymerization) techniques. This unique combination enabled the synthesis of the complex amphiphilic polymers without the need of postpolymerization modifications, using a diblock copolymer intermediate made from two selectively addressable inimers and applying a sequence of four controlled free radical polymerization steps in total. The resulting polymers are composed of a thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brush as hydrophilic block and a polystyrene brush as hydrophobic block, thus translating the structure of the established amphiphilic diblock copolymers known as macro surfactants to the higher size level of "giant surfactants". The dual molecular brushes and the aggregates formed on ultra flat solid substrates were visualized by scanning force microscopy (SFM).
Temperature-induced self-assembly of triple-responsive triblock copolymers in aqueous solutions
(2011)
A series of triple-thermoresponsive triblock copolymers from poly(N-n-propylacrylamide) (PNPAM, A), poly(methoxydiethylene glycol acrylate) (PMDEGA, B), and poly(N-ethylacrylamide) (PNEAM, C) was synthesized by sequential reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerizations. Polymers of differing block sequences, ABC, BAC, and ACB, with increasing phase transition temperatures in the order A < B < C were prepared. Their aggregation behavior in dilute aqueous solution was investigated using dynamic light scattering, turbidimetry, and NMR spectroscopy. The self-organization of such polymers was found to dependent strongly on the block sequence. While polymers with a terminal low-LCST (lower critical solution temperature) block undergo aggregation above the first phase transition temperature at 20-25 degrees C, triblock copolymers with the low-LCST block in the middle show aggregation only above the second phase transition. The collapse of the middle block is not sufficient to induce aggregation but produces instead stable, unimolecular micelles with a collapsed middle block, as supported by NMR and fluorescence probe data. Continued heating of all copolymers led to two additional thermal transitions at 40-55 and 70-80 degrees C, which could be correlated to the phase transitions of the B and C blocks, respectively. All polymers show a high tendency for cluster formation, once aggregation is induced. The carrier abilities of the triple responsive triblock copolymers for hydrophobic agents were probed with the solvatochromic fluorescence dye Nile Red. With passing through the first thermal transition, the block copolymers are capable of solubilizing Nile Red. In the case of block copolymers with sequences ABC or ACB, which bear the low-LCST block at one terminus, notable amounts of dye are solubilized already at this stage. In contrast, the hydrophobic probe is much less efficiently incorporated by the BAC triblock copolymer, which forms unimolecular micelles. Only after the collapse of the B block, when reaching the second phase transition at about 45 degrees C, does aggregation occur and solubilization becomes efficient. In the case of ABC and ACB polymers, the hydrophobic probe seems to partition between the originally collapsed A chains and the additional hydrophobic chains formed after the collapse of the less hydrophobic B block.
Amphiphilic linear ternary block copolymers (ABC) were synthesized in three consecutive steps by the reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) method. Using oligo(ethylene oxide) monomethyl ether acrylate, benzyl acrylate, and 1H,1H-perfluorobutyl acrylate monomers, the triblock copolymers consist of a hydrophilic (A), a lipophilic (B), and a fluorophilic (C) block. The block sequence of the triphilic copolymers was varied systematically to provide all possible variations: ABC, ACB, and BAC. All blocks have glass transition temperatures below 0 degrees C. Self-assembly into spherical micellar aggregates was observed in aqueous solution, where hydrophobic cores undergo local phase separation into various ultrastructures as shown by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). Selective solubilization of substantial quantities of hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon low molar mass compounds by the lipophilic and fluorophilic block, respectively, is demonstrated.
Stimuli-responsive macromolecules (i.e., pH-, thermo-, photo-, chemo-, and bioresponsive polymers) have gained exponential importance in materials science, nanotechnology, and biotechnology during the last two decades. This chapter describes the usefulness of this class of polymer for preparing smart surfaces (e.g., modified planar surfaces, particles surfaces, and surfaces of three-dimensional scaffolds). Some efficient pathways for connecting these macromolecules to inorganic, polymer, or biological substrates are described. In addition, some emerging bioapplications of smart polymer surfaces (e.g., antifouling surfaces, cell engineering, protein chromatography, tissue engineering, biochips, and bioassays) are critically discussed.
This study addresses the effect of ionic strength and type of ions on the structure and water content of polyelectrolyte multilayers. Polyelectrolyte multilayers of poly(sodium-4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) prepared at different NaF, NaCl and NaBr concentrations have been investigated by neutron reflectometry against vacuum, H2O and D2O. Both thickness and water content of the multilayers increase with increasing ionic strength and increasing ion size. Two types of water were identified, "void water" which fills the voids of the multilayers and does not contribute to swelling but to a change in scattering length density and "swelling water" which directly contributes to swelling of the multilayers. The amount of void water decreases with increasing salt concentration and anion radius while the amount of swelling water increases with salt concentration and anion radius. This is interpreted as a denser structure in the dry state and larger ability to swell in water (sponge) for multilayers prepared from high ionic strengths and/or salt solution of large anions. No exchange of hydration water or replacement of H by D was detected even after eight hours incubation time in water of opposing isotopic composition.
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.
A thermosensitive statistical copolymer based on oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylates incorporating biotin was synthesized by free radical copolymerisation. The influence of added avidin on its thermoresponsive behaviour was investigated. The specific binding of avidin to the biotinylated copolymers provoked a marked increase of the lower critical solution temperature.