Macromolecular Research最新文献

A new approach for the selective detection of glucose was studied by a biomimetic method using pH-sensitive polymer. For this, the pH-sensitive polymer of polymethacrylic acid (PMAA) and the glucose-selective oxidizing enzyme of glucose oxidase (GOD) were incorporated to the pore-selectively –COOH functionalized film by amide covalent bond. The –COOH functionalized porous film was fabricated by casting of polyimide (PI) solution under humid conditions containing KOH. The GOD selectively oxidizes glucose to produce gluconic acid which acts as an H⁺ source able to stimulate the pH-sensitive polymer. The morphology of pore surface was changed to a rough state by adding glucose due to the coil-to-globule transition of pH-sensitive polymer. The degree of roughness was indicated by the aggregated particle size distribution. This smart film can have potential applications in the field of biosensors for direct H⁺ detection or H⁺ producing materials by enzymatic reactions as a biomimetic system.

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A biomimetic system for selective glucose detection was developed using a pH-sensitive polymer. A porous film functionalized with –COOH was fabricated, and glucose oxidase (GOD) was covalently bonded with polymethacrylic acid (PMAA). GOD oxidizes glucose to produce gluconic acid, triggering the coil-to-globule transition in PMAA, resulting in surface roughness. This system shows potential for biosensors detecting H⁺ through enzymatic reactions.

The antimicrobial performance of polyurethane (PU) fiber was significantly enhanced by integrating nanoparticles fabricated from polymers based on a zwitterion in polyacrylic acid grafted oleyl amine (PAA-g-OA). The PU fiber was fabricated by blending PU with colloidal nanoparticles, PAA-g-OA/zwitterion. Our findings showed a notable enhancement in antimicrobial properties of PU fibers bearing polymer NPs, increasing to 99.9% with the grafting of the zwitterion into PAA-g-OA even after a laundering process with a detergent. This improvement is primarily attributed to the bacteriostatic effect of the zwitterion, which enhances electrostatic attraction and hydration, because of the substantial difference in removing gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus) compared to gram-negative bacteria (E. coli).

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Antibacterial polyurethane fibers bearing nanoparticles with surface zwitterions

In this study, we investigated the effect of fucoidan concentration and salts (NaCl, KCl, and CaCl₂) on the rheological properties of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)–fucoidan mixtures. All mixtures exhibited shear-thinning behavior, with the apparent viscosity (η_a) of CMC–fucoidan mixtures at shear rates < 3.0 s⁻¹ being higher than that of CMC alone. However, as the shear rate increased to ≤ 30 s⁻¹, a more significant decrease in η_a was observed in CMC–fucoidan mixtures than in CMC alone. Consequently, the η_a,100 value of the mixtures decreased in a fucoidan concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, viscoelastic moduli increased with a higher fucoidan concentration, with a more pronounced increase observed in the elastic modulus than in the viscous modulus. Upon the addition of monovalent salts, the η_a value of CMC–fucoidan mixtures decreased due to the charge screening effect of cations. Conversely, the opposite result was observed with CaCl₂ addition due to Ca²⁺-induced crosslinking between both anionic polymers. Moreover, regardless of the salt type, CMC–fucoidan mixtures with salt showed higher viscoelastic moduli than those without salt, with a noticeable increase observed when CaCl₂ was added. This was likely due to the indirect/direct crosslinking effect of mono- and divalent cations. Our findings demonstrate that fucoidan and CMC exhibit a viscoelastic synergistic interaction, which is sensitive to shearing and influenced by the type of salt.

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The effect of fucoidan concentration and salt addition on the rheological properties of carboxymethyl cellulose–fucoidan mixtures was investigated. Rheological synergism between the two anionic polymers occurred due to the formation of an entangled network with hydrophobic junction zones. The addition of salt enhanced this synergism through the indirect/direct crosslinking effects of mono- and di-valent cations.

A new composite (PPy/Fe₂O₃)/PET was created by mixing polypyrrole (PPy) with iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) and then depositing the resulting blend (PPy/Fe₂O₃) onto a polyethylene terephthalate (PET). After utilizing oxidative chemical polymerization to construct the composite, the samples were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron (XPS), and infrared (FTIR) techniques. The XRD confirms that the (PPy/Fe₂O₃)/PET composites were successfully fabricated. The conductivity of PET is 4 × 10⁻⁸ S·cm⁻¹, increased for the composites (PPy/Fe₂O₃)/PET to 6.1 × 10⁻⁵ S·cm⁻¹. Additionally, the effects of argon beam bombardment with cold cathode sources (4 × 10¹⁶, 6 × 10¹⁶, and 8 × 10¹⁶ ions.cm⁻²) on (PPy/Fe₂O₃)/PET composites were investigated. Furthermore, the surface energy and the contact angle were determined. As a result of this study, irradiated nanocomposite films have new physico-chemical characteristics that may find uses in the storage energy devices. The results showed that the irradiated composite are greatly improved, allowing these films to be used for a range of applications, including coating and printing devices.

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Carborane has been extensively researched and used in the anti-tumor sector because of its high boron content and remarkable chemical stability. Its limited water solubility, however, stems from the fact that it is a fat-soluble molecule. In this paper, firstly, the water-soluble nido-carborane potassium salt was prepared by the nucleophilic deboronation of closo-o-carborane, then rhodamine B is introduced as a fluorescent marker, and finally, four acrylic resins with different characteristics are coated to obtain L100-Rho-B, EPO-Rho-B, RL-Rho-B, and RS-Rho-B. Four kinds of borane compounds were characterized. The wavelength range of the fluorescence emission varied between 568 and 579 nm in several organic solvents. The chemicals were seen to be dispersed in long strips or stacked in sheets using transmission electron microscopy. A simulated in vitro release test demonstrated that the resin’s characteristics affected the composite’s release. The release performance of L100-Rho-B and EPO-Rho-B was superior to RL-Rho-B and RS-Rho-B, and there was a higher cumulative release amount at pH 6.5. To observe the biocompatibility of compounds with tumor cells, live cell imaging studies were conducted, and it was found that L100-Rho-B and EPO-Rho-B all have good biocompatibility.

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pH-responsive acrylic resin complexe

The monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) selectively hinder the signaling involved in tumor growth and/or stimulate immune responses against tumor cells. Through the combination of mAbs, it is possible to target multiple pathways at the same time, which could result in additional or cooperative effects. In recent years, the method of generating mAbs from pathways individual isolated B cells has gained popularity. As of now, there are no therapeutic mAbs that have been approved by the US FDA. However, this technology has some significant benefits and the current obstacles associated with it are being addressed. The efficacy of mAbs is highly dependent on the antigen labeling methodology, the arrangement of sorting antigens (such as monomer or dimer), and the selection of primers for amplification. The use of bevacizumab in combination with cetuximab or panitumumab in advanced colorectal cancer may provide undesirable outcomes. These combinations lead to a decrease in the length of progression-free survival and an increase in toxicity when compared to therapy with only one antibody. The mAbs represent a notable example of a translational scientific breakthrough, which took around ten years to progress from laboratory use to practical clinical use. However, it is essential to assess the cost, efficacy, and safety of mAbs treatments due to their potentially high cost. This review focuses on the possibility of mAbs being delivered through nanotechnology-based formulation techniques. The emphasis is placed on recent patents that are linked to mAbs.

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Monoclonal antibodies covalently linked to drugs and their various nanoformulations for selectively targeting different types of cancer

One approach to reducing the thermal conductivity of polymer foams, commonly employed as insulation materials, involves decreasing the pore size. By reducing the pore size to a few microns or less, the Knudsen effect can occur, leading to a decrease in the thermal conductivity of the gas within the pores. Consequently, there has been significant research on reducing pore size to this scale. However, the majority of studies have focused on thermoplastic polymer foams, leaving cross-linked thermoset foams relatively understudied. Rigid polyurethane foam, a typical thermoset polymer foam, generally exhibits pore sizes primarily above 100 µm. Unlike thermoplastic foams, rigid polyurethane foams are produced by mixing prepolymers, leading to the formation of numerous bubbles inside. This characteristic makes it challenging to produce foams with pore sizes smaller than the initial bubbles due to non-classical nucleation via these bubbles. In this study, a novel emulsion-template process was employed to address these limitations. This process involved dispersing oil droplets of several microns in the prepolymer to form an emulsion, initiating a urethane reaction, and subsequently removing the dispersed phase. As a result, rigid polyurethane foams with pores of several microns were successfully produced. Furthermore, it was confirmed that these micropores positively impacted the foam’s thermal insulation performance.

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Rigid polyurethane foam with bimodal pore size distribution can be made via emulsion template. Gas filling small pores (~ 1 μm) has a lower thermal conductivity than gas filling large pores (> 100 μm), even if the gas composition is the same.

Recent advancements in conjugated polymer-based gas sensors have highlighted the critical role of side-chain engineering in optimizing organic field-effect transistor (OFET) performance for gas detection. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of how structural modifications of side chains in conjugated polymers affect the electrical properties of OFETs, as well as the sensitivity and selectivity of OFET-based gas sensors. We first explore modifications of alkyl side chains and their impact on the electrical characteristics of conjugated polymers. Then, we discuss how functionalized side chains and additives can significantly enhance sensor performance by improving detection limits and selectivity. Special attention is given to glycol-based side chains, particularly in enhancing NO₂ sensitivity, and the role of alkyl side chain length in tuning gas sensing capabilities. This review aims to elucidate the intricate relationships between side chain modifications and sensor performance, offering insights for the development of advanced OFET-based gas sensors with improved sensitivity and selectivity.

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Antimicrobial polymers have been intensively studied as a promising strategy to suppress the growth of microbes and mitigate the transmission of pathogens owing to their distinctive properties, such as high molecular weights, tunable structures, functionality, and polyvalency. Unlike the monomers, the repetitive structure and polyvalency of polymers enable robust interactions with the target surfaces to provide synergetic functionality. Antimicrobial polymers have a great variety of adjustable chain lengths and surface chemistry. Furthermore, their backbones can be functionalized with bioactive substituents to interact with cell membranes, lipids, and proteins. The surface coating methods and the resulting antimicrobial activities depend on polymer characteristics, such as the combination of monomers, synthetic methods, contact time, and substrates. This review focuses on representative antimicrobial polymers, including hydrophilic and ionic polymers, polysaccharides, and copolymers containing amine groups and quaternary ammonium cations (QACs). The surface application strategies and antimicrobial properties for each polymer type are also discussed to provide inspiration for the advanced design of antimicrobial polymers.

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Schematic illustration of antifouling- or microbicidal polymers coated on solid surfaces.