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Soft actuators have drawn significant attention due to their relevance for applications, such as artificial muscles in devices developed for medicine and robotics. Tuning their performance and expanding their functionality are frequently done by means of chemical modification. The introduction of structural elements rendering non-synthetic modification of the performance possible, as well as control over physical appearance and facilitating their recycling is a subject of a great interest in the field of smart materials. The primary aim of this thesis was to create a shape-memory polymeric actuator, where the capability for non-synthetic tuning of the actuation performance is combined with reprocessability. Physically cross-linked polymeric matrices provide a solid material platform, where the in situ processing methods can be employed for modification of the composition and morphology, resulting in the fine tuning of the related mechanical properties and shape-memory actuation capability.
The morphological features, required for shape-memory polymeric actuators, namely two crystallisable domains and anchoring points for physical cross-links, were embedded into a multiblock copolymer with poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(L-lactide) segments (PLLA-PCL). Here, the melting transition of PCL was bisected into the actuating and skeleton-forming units, while the cross-linking was introduced via PLA stereocomplexation in blends with oligomeric poly(D-lactide) (ODLA). PLLA segment number average length of 12-15 repeating units was experimentally defined to be capable of the PLA stereocomplexes formation, but not sufficient for the isotactic crystallisation. Multiblock structure and phase dilution broaden the PCL melting transition, facilitating its separation into two conditionally independent crystalline domains. Low molar mass of the PLA stereocomplex components and a multiblock structure enables processing and reprocessing of the PLLA-PCL / ODLA blends with common non-destructive techniques. The modularity of the PLLA-PCL structure and synthetic approach allows for independent tuning of the properties of its components. The designed material establishes a solid platform for non-synthetic tuning of thermomechanical and structural properties of thermoplastic elastomers.
To evaluate the thermomechanical stability of the formed physical network, three criteria were appraised. As physical cross-links, PLA stereocomplexes have to be evenly distributed within the material matrix, their melting temperature shall not overlap with the thermal transitions of the PCL domains and they have to maintain the structural integrity within the strain ε ranges further applied in the shape-memory actuation experiments. Assigning PCL the function of the skeleton-forming and actuating units, and PLA stereocomplexes the role of physical netpoints, shape-memory actuation was realised in the PLLA-PCL / ODLA blends. Reversible strain of shape-memory actuation was found to be a function of PLA stereocomplex crystallinity, i.e. physical cross-linking density, with a maximum of 13.4 ± 1.5% at PLA stereocomplex content of 3.1 ± 0.3 wt%. In this way, shape-memory actuation can be tuned via adjusting the composition of the PLLA-PCL / ODLA blend. This makes the developed material a valuable asset in the production of cost-effective tunable soft polymeric actuators for the applications in medicine and soft robotics.
DNA origami nanostructures allow for the arrangement of different functionalities such as proteins, specific DNA structures, nanoparticles, and various chemical modifications with unprecedented precision. The arranged functional entities can be visualized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) which enables the study of molecular processes at a single-molecular level. Examples comprise the investigation of chemical reactions, electron-induced bond breaking, enzymatic binding and cleavage events, and conformational transitions in DNA. In this paper, we provide an overview of the advances achieved in the field of single-molecule investigations by applying atomic force microscopy to functionalized DNA origami substrates.
Zusammenfassung zur Dissertation „Neuartige DBD-Fluoreszenzfarbstoffe: Synthese, Untersuchungen und Anwendungen“ von Leonard John
In dieser Arbeit konnten auf Basis der etablierten [1,3]-Dioxolo[4,5-f][1,3]benzodioxol (DBD) Fluoreszenzfarbstoffe zwei neue Konzepte zur Darstellung unsymmetrisch funktionalisierter DBD-Fluorophore entwickelt werden. Die Variation der elektronenziehenden Reste führte zu einer Erweiterung des Farbspektrums an DBD-Fluorophoren, wobei alle weiteren spektroskopischen Parameter (Fluoreszenzlebenszeit, -quantenausbeute und STOKES-Verschiebung) unverändert hohe Werte aufweisen. Neben der Variation der elektronenziehenden Reste wurde das "pi"-System des DBD-Farbstoffs mit der Einführung von Stilben-, und Tolan-Derivaten vergrößert. Stilben-Derivate zeigten ähnlich gute spektroskopische Eigenschaften wie die bereits etablierten DBD-Farbstoffe.
Fluorophore mit langwelliger Emission sind auf Grund der großen Gewebe-Eindringtiefe besonders interessant für biologische Anwendungen. Da der langwelligste Vertreter der O4-DBD-Farbstoffe in polaren Medien nur schwer löslich ist, wurde ein Weg zur Einführung löslichkeitsvermittelnder Gruppen gesucht. Hierbei fiel die Wahl auf eine Carbonsäure-Gruppe zur Steigerung der Hydrophilie. Eine von vier untersuchten Methoden erwies sich als zielführend, sodass das gewünschte Molekül isoliert werden konnte. Eine erhöhte Wasserlöslichkeit wurde allerdings nicht beobachtet.
Zur Erforschung von Fettstoffwechselkrankheiten wie der ALZHEIMER-Krankheit werden fluoreszenzmarkierte Lipide benötigt. Um unterschiedliche Bereiche einer Membran zu untersuchen, war das Ziel, den Fluorophor an unterschiedlichen Stellen innerhalb der Fettsäure zu lokalisieren. Hierbei sollte die Gesamtkettenlänge des DBD-Lipids einer C18-Kette, analog der Stearinsäure, entsprechen. Durch die stufenweise Einführung der Reste gelang es, drei DBD-Lipide herzustellen, wobei sich der Fluorophor an unterschiedlichen Positionen innerhalb der Kette befindet. Die photophysikalischen Eigenschaften der Lipide weichen nur marginal von denen der reinen Fluorophore ab. Eine Einlagerung in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) konnte für zwei Derivate beobachtet werden, wobei keine domänenspezifisch war.
Ein weiteres Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, die vier Sauerstoffatome im DBD-Grundkörper stufenweise durch Schwefelatome zu ersetzen und die Ringgrößen des DBD-Fluorophors zu variieren. Für die Ringgröße zeigte der 1,2-S2-DBD mit jeweils zwei Fünfringen die besten spektroskopischen Eigenschaften. Durch die Synthese von zwei weiteren schwefelhaltigen DBD-Grundkörpern (S1- und 1,4-S2-DBD) konnten insgesamt drei neue Farbstoffklassen zugänglich gemacht werden. Für alle neuen Chromophore wurden elektronenziehende Reste (Aldehyd, Acyl, Ester, Carboxy) eingeführt und die jeweiligen Derivate spektroskopisch untersucht. Mit steigender Anzahl an Schwefel-Atomen im Grundkörper zeigt sich eine bathochrome Verschiebung der Emission,
wobei die Werte für die Fluoreszenzlebenszeit- und -quantenausbeute abnehmen. Die optimalen spektroskopischen Eigenschaften aus langwelliger Emission, hoher Fluoreszenzlebenszeit und -quantenausbeute zeigt das 1,4-S2-Dialdehyd-Derivat. Für die S1- und 1,2-S2-Dialdehyd-
Derivate wurden Konzepte entwickelt, um bioreaktive Reste (Alkin, HOSu, Maleimid) einzuführen und die Fluorophore in biologischen Systemen anwenden zu können.
Die vorliegende Arbeit thematisiert die Synthese und Charakterisierung von neuen funktionalisierten ionischen Flüssigkeiten und deren Polymerisation. Die ionischen Flüssigkeiten wurden dabei sowohl mit polymerisierbaren Kationen als auch Anionen hergestellt. Zum einen wurden bei thermisch initiierten Polymerisationen Azobis(isobutyronitril) (AIBN) verwendet und zum anderen dienten bei photochemisch initiierten Polymerisationen Bis-4-(methoxybenzoyl)diethylgermanium (Ivocerin®) als Radikalstarter.
Mittels Gelpermeationschromatographie konnte das Homopolymer Polydimethylaminoethylmethacrylat untersucht werden, welches erst im Anschluss an die GPC-Messungen polymeranalog modifiziert wurde. Dabei wurden nach einer Quaternisierung und anschließender Anionenmetathese bei diesen Polymeren die Grenzviskositäten bestimmt und mit den Grenzviskositäten der direkt polymerisierten ionischen Flüssigkeiten verglichen. Bei der direkten Polymerisation von Poly(N-[2-(Methacryloyloxy)ethyl]-N-butyl-N,N-dimethyl-ammoniumbis(trifluormethylsulfonyl)imid) lag [η_Huggins] bei 100 mL/g und bei dem polymeranalog hergestellten Polymer betrug [η_Huggins] = 40 mL/g.
Die ionischen Flüssigkeiten mit polymerisierbaren funktionellen Gruppen wurden mittels Photo-DSC hinsichtlich der maximalen Polymerisationsgeschwindigkeit (Rpmax), der Zeit, in der dieses Maximum erreicht wurde, tmax, ihrer Glasüberganstemperatur (Tg) und des Umsatzes an Vinylprotonen untersucht. Bei diesen Messungen wurde zum einen der Einfluss der unterschiedlichen Alkylkettenlänge am Ammoniumion und der Einfluss von verschiedenen Anionen bei gleichbleibender Kationenstruktur analysiert. So polymerisierte das ethylsubstituierte Kation mit einer tmax von 21 Sekunden am langsamsten. Die maximale Polymerisationsgeschwindigkeit (Rpmax) betrug 3.3∙10-2 s-1. Die tmax Werte der übrigen alkylsubstituierten ionischen Flüssigkeiten mit einer polymerisierbaren funktionellen Gruppe hingegen lagen zwischen 10 und 15 Sekunden. Die Glasübergangstemperaturen der mittels photoinduzierter Polymerisation hergestellten Polymere lagen mit 44 bis 55 °C nahe beieinander. Alle Monomere zeigten einen hohen Umsatz der Vinylprotonen; er betrug zwischen 93 und 100%.
Mithilfe einer Bandanlage, ausgerüstet mit einer LED (λ = 395 nm), konnten Polymerfilme hergestellt werden. Der Umsatz an Doppelbindungsäquivalenten dieser Filme wurde anhand der 1H-NMR Spektroskopie bestimmt. Bei der dynamisch-mechanischen Analyse wurden die Polymerfilme mit einer konstanten Heizrate und Frequenz periodisch wechselnden Beanspruchungen ausgesetzt, um die Glasübergangstemperaturen zu bestimmen. Die niedrigste Tg mit 26 °C besaß das butylsubstituierte N-[2-(Methacryloyloxy)ethyl]-N-butyl-N,N-dimethyl-ammoniumbis(trifluormethylsulfonyl)imid, welches als Polymerfilm mit Ivocerin® als Initiator hergestellt wurde, wohingegen die höchste Tg bei dem gleichen Polymer, welches direkt durch freie radikalische Polymerisation der ionischen Flüssigkeit in Masse mit AIBN hergestellt wurde, 51 °C betrug. Zusätzlich wurden die Filme unter dem Aspekt der Topographie mit einem Rasterkraftmikroskop untersucht, welches eine Domänenstruktur des Polymers N-[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]-N-butyl-N,N-dimethyl-ammonium tris(pentafluorethyl)trifluorphosphat offenbarte.
Die vorliegende Dissertation behandelt drei thematische Schwerpunkte. Im Ergebnisteil steht die chemische Synthese von sogenannten (1,7)-Naphthalenophanen im Vordergrund, die zur Substanzklasse von Cyclophanen gehören. Während zahlreiche Synthesemethoden Strategien zum Aufbau von Ringsystemen (wie z. B. von Naphthalenophanen) verfolgen, die Teil einer bereits existierenden aromatischen Struktur der Ausgangsverbindung sind, nutzen nur wenige Ansätze Reaktionen, die einen Ringschluss zum gewünschten Produkt erst im Zuge der Synthese etablieren. Eine Benzanellierung, die eine besondere Aufmerksamkeit im Arbeitskreis erfahren hat, ist die Dehydro-DIELS-ALDER-Reaktion (DDA-Reaktion). Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit konnte gezeigt werden, dass zwölf ausgewählte (1,7)-Naphthalenophane, die teilweise ringgespannt und makrozyklisch aufgebaut waren, mithilfe einer photochemischen Variante der DDA-Reaktion (PDDA-Reaktion) zugänglich gemacht werden können. Die Versuche, auf thermischem Wege (TDDA-Reaktion) (1,7)-Naphthalenophane herzustellen, misslangen. Die außergewöhnliche Reaktivität der Photoreaktanten konnte mithilfe quantenchemischer Berechnungen durch eine gefaltete Grundzustandsgeometrie erklärt werden. Darüber hinaus wurden Ringspannungen und strukturelle Spannungsindikatoren der relevanten Photoprodukte ermittelt und Trends in Abhängigkeit der Linkerlänge in den NMR-Spektren der Zielverbindungen ermittelt sowie diskutiert. Zudem zeigte eine Variation am Chromophor (Acyl-, Carbonsäure- und Carbonsäureester) der Photoreaktanten bei der Bestrahlung in Dichlormethan eine vergleichbare Photokinetik und -reaktivität. Der zweite Abschnitt dieser Dissertation ist dem Design und der Entwicklung zweier Photoreaktoren für UV-Anwendungen im kontinuierlichen Durchfluss gewidmet, da photochemische Transformationen bekanntermaßen in ihrer Skalierbarkeit limitiert sind. Im ersten Prototyp konnten mittels effizienter Parallelschaltung mit bis zu drei UV-Lampen (𝜆𝜆 = 254, 310 und 355 nm) Produktmaterialmengen von bis zu n = 188 mmol anhand eines ausgewählten Fallbeispiels erreicht werden. Im konstruktionstechnisch stark vereinfachten zweiten Photoreaktor wurden alle quarzhaltigen Elemente gegen günstigeres PLEXIGLAS® ersetzt. Das Resultat waren identische Raum-Zeit-Ausbeuten in Bezug auf das zuvor gewählte Synthesebeispiel. Demnach bietet die UV-Photochemie im kontinuierlichen Durchfluss Vorteile gegenüber der traditionellen Bestrahlung im Tauchreaktor. Hinsichtlich Reaktionszeit, Produktausbeuten und Lösemittelverbrauch ist sie synthetisch weit überlegen. Im letzten Abschnitt der Arbeit wurden diese Erkenntnisse genutzt, um biomedizinisch und pharmakologisch vielversprechende 1-Arylnaphthalen-Lignane mittels einer intramolekularen PDDA-Reaktion (IMPDDA-Reaktion) als Schlüsselschritt herzustellen. Hierzu wurden drei Konzepte erarbeitet und in der Totalsynthese von drei ausgewählten Zielstrukturen auf Basis des 1-Arylnaphthalengrundgerüsts realisiert.
Ionizing radiation is used in cancer radiation therapy to effectively damage the DNA of tumors leading to cell death and reduction of the tumor tissue. The main damage is due to generation of highly reactive secondary species such as low-energy electrons (LEE) with the most probable energy around 10 eV through ionization of water molecules in the cells. A simulation of the dose distribution in the patient is required to optimize the irradiation modality in cancer radiation therapy, which must be based on the fundamental physical processes of high-energy radiation with the tissue. In the present work the accurate quantification of DNA radiation damage in the form of absolute cross sections for LEE-induced DNA strand breaks (SBs) between 5 and 20 eV is done by using the DNA origami technique. This method is based on the analysis of well-defined DNA target sequences attached to DNA origami triangles with atomic force microscopy (AFM) on the single molecule level. The present work focuses on poly-adenine sequences (5'-d(A4), 5'-d(A8), 5'-d(A12), 5'-d(A16), and 5'- d(A20)) irradiated with 5.0, 7.0, 8.4, and 10 eV electrons. Independent of the DNA length, the strand break cross section shows a maximum around 7.0 eV electron energy for all investigated oligonucleotides confirming that strand breakage occurs through the initial formation of negative ion resonances. Additionally, DNA double strand breaks from a DNA hairpin 5'-d(CAC)4T(Bt-dT)T2(GTG)4 are examined for the first time and are compared with those of DNA single strands 5'-d(CAC)4 and 5'- d(GTG)4. The irradiation is made in the most likely energy range of 5 to 20 eV with an anionic resonance maximum around 10 eV independently of the DNA sequence. There is a clear difference between σSSB and σDSB of DNA single and double strands, where the strand break for ssDNA are always higher in all electron energies compared to dsDNA by the factor 3. A further part of this work deals with the characterization and analysis of new types of radiosensitizers used in chemoradiotherapy, which selectively increases the DNA damage upon radiation. Fluorinated DNA sequences with 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxycytidine (dFC) show an increased sensitivity at 7 and 10 eV compared to the unmodified DNA sequences by an enhancement factor between 2.1 and 2.5. In addition, light-induced oxidative damage of 5'-d(GTG)4 and 5'-d((CAC)4T(Bt-dT)T2(GTG)4) modified DNA origami triangles by singlet oxygen 1O2 generated from three photoexcited DNA groove binders [ANT994], [ANT1083] and [Cr(ddpd)2][BF4]3 illuminated in different experiments with UV-Vis light at 430, 435 and 530 nm wavelength is demonstrated. The singlet oxygen induced generation of DNA damage could be detected in both aqueous and dry environments for [ANT1083] and [Cr(ddpd)2][BF4]3.
Over the years, we developed highly selective fluorescent probes for K+ in water, which show K+-induced fluorescence intensity enhancements, lifetime changes, or a ratiometric behavior at two emission wavelengths (cf. Scheme 1, K1-K4). In this paper, we introduce selective fluorescent probes for Na+ in water, which also show Na+ induced signal changes, which are analyzed by diverse fluorescence techniques. Initially, we synthesized the fluorescent probes 2, 4, 5, 6 and 10 for a fluorescence analysis by intensity enhancements at one wavelength by varying the Na+ responsive ionophore unit and the fluorophore moiety to adjust different K-d values for an intra- or extracellular Na+ analysis. Thus, we found that 2, 4 and 5 are Na+ selective fluorescent tools, which are able to measure physiologically important Na+ levels at wavelengths higher than 500 nm. Secondly, we developed the fluorescent probes 7 and 8 to analyze precise Na+ levels by fluorescence lifetime changes. Herein, only 8 (K-d=106 mm) is a capable fluorescent tool to measure Na+ levels in blood samples by lifetime changes. Finally, the fluorescent probe 9 was designed to show a Na+ induced ratiometric fluorescence behavior at two emission wavelengths. As desired, 9 (K-d=78 mm) showed a ratiometric fluorescence response towards Na+ ions and is a suitable tool to measure physiologically relevant Na+ levels by the intensity change of two emission wavelengths at 404 nm and 492 nm.
Stereoselective [4+2] Cycloaddition of Singlet Oxygen to Naphthalenes Controlled by Carbohydrates
(2021)
Stereoselective reactions of singlet oxygen are of current interest. Since enantioselective photooxygenations have not been realized efficiently, auxiliary control is an attractive alternative. However, the obtained peroxides are often too labile for isolation or further transformations into enantiomerically pure products. Herein, we describe the oxidation of naphthalenes by singlet oxygen, where the face selectivity is controlled by carbohydrates for the first time. The synthesis of the precursors is easily achieved starting from naphthoquinone and a protected glucose derivative in only two steps. Photooxygenations proceed smoothly at low temperature, and we detected the corresponding endoperoxides as sole products by NMR. They are labile and can thermally react back to the parent naphthalenes and singlet oxygen. However, we could isolate and characterize two enantiomerically pure peroxides, which are sufficiently stable at room temperature. An interesting influence of substituents on the stereoselectivities of the photooxygenations has been found, ranging from 51:49 to up to 91:9 dr (diastereomeric ratio). We explain this by a hindered rotation of the carbohydrate substituents, substantiated by a combination of NOESY measurements and theoretical calculations. Finally, we could transfer the chiral information from a pure endoperoxide to an epoxide, which was isolated after cleavage of the sugar chiral auxiliary in enantiomerically pure form.
Interfacial properties of morpholine-2,5-dione-based oligodepsipeptides and multiblock copolymers
(2019)
Oligodepsipeptides (ODPs) with alternating amide and ester bonds prepared by ring-opening polymerization of morpholine-2,5-dione derivatives are promising matrices for drug delivery systems and building blocks for multifunctional biomaterials. Here, we elucidate the behavior of three telechelic ODPs and one multiblock copolymer containing ODP blocks at the air-water interface. Surprisingly, whereas the oligomers and multiblock copolymers crystallize in bulk, no crystallization is observed at the air-water interface. Furthermore, polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy is used to elucidate hydrogen bonding and secondary structures in ODP monolayers. The results will direct the development of the next ODP-based biomaterial generation with tailored properties for highly sophisticated applications.
Temperature-memory technology was utilized to generate flat substrates with a programmable stiffness pattern from cross-linked poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) substrates with cylindrical microstructures. Programmed substrates were obtained by vertical compression at temperatures in the range from 60 to 100 degrees C and subsequent cooling, whereby a flat substrate was achieved by compression at 72 degrees C, as documented by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM nanoindentation experiments revealed that all programmed substrates exhibited the targeted stiffness pattern. The presented technology for generating polymeric substrates with programmable stiffness pattern should be attractive for applications such as touchpads. optical storage, or cell instructive substrates.
New cryogels for selective dye removal from aqueous solution were prepared by free radical polymerization from the highly water-soluble crosslinker N,N,N’,N’-tetramethyl-N,N’-bis(2-ethylmethacrylate)-propyl-1,3-diammonium dibromide and the sulfobetaine monomer 2-(N-3-sulfopropyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium)ethyl methacrylate. The resulting white and opaque cryogels have micrometer sized pores with a smaller substructure. They adsorb methyl orange (MO) but not methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. Mixtures of MO and MB can be separated through selective adsorption of the MO to the cryogels while the MB remains in solution. The resulting cryogels are thus candidates for the removal of hazardous organic substances, as exemplified by MO and MB, from water. Clearly, it is possible that the cryogels are also potentially interesting for removal of other compounds such as pharmaceuticals or pesticides, but this must be investigated further.
The hydrolytic stability of polymers to be used for coatings in aqueous environments, for example, to confer anti-fouling properties, is crucial. However, long-term exposure studies on such polymers are virtually missing. In this context, we synthesized a set of nine polymers that are typically used for low-fouling coatings, comprising the well-established poly(oligoethylene glycol methylether methacrylate), poly(3-(N-2-methacryloylethyl-N,N-dimethyl) ammoniopropanesulfonate) (“sulfobetaine methacrylate”), and poly(3-(N-3-methacryamidopropyl-N,N-dimethyl)ammoniopropanesulfonate) (“sulfobetaine methacrylamide”) as well as a series of hitherto rarely studied polysulfabetaines, which had been suggested to be particularly hydrolysis-stable. Hydrolysis resistance upon extended storage in aqueous solution is followed by ¹H NMR at ambient temperature in various pH regimes. Whereas the monomers suffered slow (in PBS) to very fast hydrolysis (in 1 M NaOH), the polymers, including the polymethacrylates, proved to be highly stable. No degradation of the carboxyl ester or amide was observed after one year in PBS, 1 M HCl, or in sodium carbonate buffer of pH 10. This demonstrates their basic suitability for anti-fouling applications. Poly(sulfobetaine methacrylamide) proved even to be stable for one year in 1 M NaOH without any signs of degradation. The stability is ascribed to a steric shielding effect. The hemisulfate group in the polysulfabetaines, however, was found to be partially labile.
In many biological and environmental applications spatially resolved sensing of molecular oxygen is desirable. A powerful tool for distributed measurements is optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) which is often used in the field of telecommunications. We combine this technique with a novel optical oxygen sensor dye, triangular-[4] phenylene (TP), immobilized in a polymer matrix. The TP luminescence decay time is 86 ns. The short decay time of the sensor dye is suitable to achieve a spatial resolution of some meters. In this paper we present the development and characterization of a reflectometer in the UV range of the electromagnetic spectrum as well as optical oxygen sensing with different fiber arrangements.
Femtosecond-pulsed laser written and etched fiber bragg gratings for fiber-optical biosensing
(2018)
We present the development of a label-free, highly sensitive fiber-optical biosensor for online detection and quantification of biomolecules. Here, the advantages of etched fiber Bragg gratings (eFBG) were used, since they induce a narrowband Bragg wavelength peak in the reflection operation mode. The gratings were fabricated point-by-point via a nonlinear absorption process of a highly focused femtosecond-pulsed laser, without the need of prior coating removal or specific fiber doping. The sensitivity of the Bragg wavelength peak to the surrounding refractive index (SRI), as needed for biochemical sensing, was realized by fiber cladding removal using hydrofluoric acid etching. For evaluation of biosensing capabilities, eFBG fibers were biofunctionalized with a single-stranded DNA aptamer specific for binding the C-reactive protein (CRP). Thus, the CRP-sensitive eFBG fiber-optical biosensor showed a very low limit of detection of 0.82 pg/L, with a dynamic range of CRP detection from approximately 0.8 pg/L to 1.2 µg/L. The biosensor showed a high specificity to CRP even in the presence of interfering substances. These results suggest that the proposed biosensor is capable for quantification of CRP from trace amounts of clinical samples. In addition, the adaption of this eFBG fiber-optical biosensor for detection of other relevant analytes can be easily realized.
Luminescent Ionogels with Excellent Transparency, High Mechanical Strength, and High Conductivity
(2020)
The paper describes a new kind of ionogel with both good mechanical strength and high conductivity synthesized by confining the ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide ([Bmim][NTf₂]) within an organic–inorganic hybrid host. The organic–inorganic host network was synthesized by the reaction of methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS), tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), and methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of a coupling agent, offering the good mechanical strength and rapid shape recovery of the final products. The silane coupling agent 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH-570) plays an important role in improving the mechanical strength of the inorganic–organic hybrid, because it covalently connected the organic component MMA and the inorganic component SiO₂. Both the thermal stability and mechanical strength of the ionogel significantly increased by the addition of IL. The immobilization of [Bmim][NTf₂] within the ionogel provided the final ionogel with an ionic conductivity as high as ca. 0.04 S cm⁻¹ at 50 °C. Moreover, the hybrid ionogel can be modified with organosilica-modified carbon dots within the network to yield a transparent and flexible ionogel with strong excitation-dependent emission between 400 and 800 nm. The approach is, therefore, a blueprint for the construction of next-generation multifunctional ionogels.
The article describes the surface modification of 3D printed poly(lactic acid) (PLA) scaffolds with calcium phosphate (CP)/gelatin and CP/chitosan hybrid coating layers. The presence of gelatin or chitosan significantly enhances CP co-deposition and adhesion of the mineral layer on the PLA scaffolds. The hydrogel/CP coating layers are fairly thick and the mineral is a mixture of brushite, octacalcium phosphate, and hydroxyapatite. Mineral formation is uniform throughout the printed architectures and all steps (printing, hydrogel deposition, and mineralization) are in principle amenable to automatization. Overall, the process reported here therefore has a high application potential for the controlled synthesis of biomimetic coatings on polymeric biomaterials.
The impact that catalysis has on global economy and environment is substantial, since 85% of all chemical industrial processes are catalytic. Among those, 80% of the processes are heterogeneously catalyzed, 17% make use of homogeneous catalysts, and 3% are biocatalytic processes. Especially in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industry, a significant part of these processes involves chiral compounds. Obtaining enantiomerically pure compounds is necessary and it is usually accomplished by asymmetric synthesis and catalysis, as well as chiral separation. The efficiency of these processes may be vastly improved if the chiral selectors are positioned on a porous solid support, thereby increasing the available surface area for chiral recognition. Similarly, the majority of commercial catalysts are also supported, usually comprising of metal nanoparticles (NPs) dispersed on highly porous oxide or nanoporous carbon material.
Materials that have exceptional thermal and chemical stability, and are electrically conductive are porous carbons. Their stability in extreme pH regions and temperatures, the possibility to tailor their pore architecture and chemical functionalization, and their electric conductivity have already established these materials in the fields of separation and catalysis. However, their heterogeneous chemical structure with abundant defects make it challenging to develop reliable models for the investigation of structure-performance relationships. Therefore, there is a necessity for expanding the fundamental understanding of these robust materials under experimental conditions to allow for their further optimization for particular applications. This thesis gives a contribution to our knowledge about carbons, through different aspects, and in different applications.
On the one hand, a rather exotic novel application was investigated by attempts in synthesizing porous carbon materials with an enantioselective surface. Chapter 4.1 described an approach for obtaining mesoporous carbons with an enantioselective surface by direct carbonization of a chiral precursor. Two enantiomers of chiral ionic liquids (CIL) based on amino acid tyrosine were used as carbon precursors and ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15 served as a hard template for obtaining porosity. The chiral recognition of the prepared carbons has been tested in the solution by isothermal titration calorimetry with enantiomers of Phenylalanine as probes, as well as chiral vapor adsorption with 2-butanol enantiomers. Measurements in both solution and the gas phase revealed the differences in the affinity of carbons towards two enantiomers.
The atomic efficiency of the CIL precursors was increased in Chapter 4.2, and the porosity was developed independently from the development of chiral carbons, through the formation of stable composites of pristine carbon and CIL-derived coating. After the same set of experiments for the investigation of chirality, the enantiomeric ratios of the composites reported herein were even higher than in the previous chapter.
On the other hand, the structure‒activity relationship of carbons as supports for gold nanoparticles in a rather traditional catalytic model reaction, on the interface between gas, liquid, and solid, was studied. In Chapter 5.1 it was shown on the series of catalysts with different porosities that the kinetics of ᴅ-glucose oxidation reaction can be enhanced by increasing the local concentration of the reactants around the active phase of the catalyst. A large amount of uniform narrow mesopores connected to the surface of the Au catalyst supported on ordered mesoporous carbon led to the water confinement, which increased the solubility of the oxygen in the proximity of the catalyst and thereby increased the apparent catalytic activity of this catalyst.
After increasing the oxygen concentration in the internal area of the catalyst, in Chapter 5.2 the concentration of oxygen was increased in the external environment of the catalyst, by the introduction of less cohesive liquids that serve as efficient solvent for oxygen, perfluorinated compounds, near the active phase of the catalyst. This was achieved by a formation of catalyst particle-stabilized emulsions of perfluorocarbon in aqueous ᴅ-glucose solution, that further promoted the catalytic activity of gold-on-carbon catalyst.
The findings reported within this thesis are an important step in the understanding of the structure-related properties of carbon materials.
The structures and synthesis of polyzwitterions ("polybetaines") are reviewed, emphasizing the literature of the past decade. Particular attention is given to the general challenges faced, and to successful strategies to obtain polymers with a true balance of permanent cationic and anionic groups, thus resulting in an overall zero charge. Also, the progress due to applying new methodologies from general polymer synthesis, such as controlled polymerization methods or the use of "click" chemical reactions is presented. Furthermore, the emerging topic of responsive ("smart") polyzwitterions is addressed. The considerations and critical discussions are illustrated by typical examples.
Various 1,6- and 1,8-naphthalenophanes were synthesized by using the Photo-Dehydro-Diels-Alder (PDDA) reaction of bis-ynones. These compounds are easily accessible from omega-(3-iodophenyl)carboxylic acids in three steps. The obtained naphthalenophanes are axially chiral and the activation barrier for the atropisomerization could be determined in some cases by means of dynamic NMR (DNMR) and/or dynamic HPLC (DHPLC) experiments.