Plasmon induced polymerization using a TERS approach: a platform for nanostructured 2D/1D material production

2017 ◽  
Vol 205 ◽  
pp. 213-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenglong Zhang ◽  
Marie Richard-Lacroix ◽  
Volker Deckert

Plasmon-induced chemical reactions have recently attracted great attention as a promising method for high efficiency light-energy conversion and proved to be useful in a wealth of different domains of chemistry and physics. One of the interesting and, so far, less explored avenues of such reactions is their potential for efficient, highly localized and controlled polymer production. Here, we present the first example of a localized, directed plasmon catalyzed polymerization process of a self-assembled monolayer on both silver and gold surfaces monitored by surface- and tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS and TERS). As a proof-of-concept, a bi-functionalized dibenzo(1,2)dithiine-3,8-diamine (D3ATP) molecule that undergoes a well-known plasmon-induced coupling via the amino group into an azo group has been used. Initial dimerization is demonstrated using established marker bands associated with the formation of the azo group. A subsequent indicator for a polymerization reaction, the appearance of a new characteristic band, is monitored by time-dependent SERS and TERS experiments. We demonstrate that the dimerization reaction and hence, the subsequent polymerization, can be induced by a plasmonic feature, e.g. a TERS tip, at specific nanoscale locations and, at a much larger micron scale, by continuously scanning the plasmonic probe. The presented results provide the basis for designing further plasmonic catalysis experiments in general, and offer a new platform for producing ultra-thin polymer films with a defined structural dimension.

2021 ◽  
pp. 096739112110245
Author(s):  
Amrita Sharma ◽  
PP Pande

It has been observed that acrylate monomers are very difficult to polymerize with the low cost nitroxide catalyst 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxyl (TEMPO). Therefore, costly acyclic nitroxides such as N-tert-butyl-N-(1-diethylphosphono-2,2-dimethyl)-N-oxyl, (SG1), 2,2,5-Trimethyl-4-phenyl-3-azahexane-3-nitroxide (TIPNO) and TIPNO derivatives have to be used for the polymerization of the acrylic acid derivatives. There are very few reports on the use of TEMPO-derivatives toward the polymerization of n-butyl acrylate. Generally different reducing agents viz. glucose, ascorbic acid, hydroxyacetone etc. have been used to destroy excess TEMPO during the polymerization reaction. The acrylate polymerizations fail in the presence of TEMPO due to the strong C–O bond formed between the acrylate chain end and nitroxide. To the best of our knowledge, no literature report is available on the use of TEMPO without reducing agent or high temperature initiators, toward the polymerization of n-butyl acrylate. The present study has been carried out with a view to re-examine the application of low cost nitroxide TEMPO, so that it can be utilized towards the polymerization of acrylate monomers (e.g. n-butyl acrylate). We have been able to polymerize n-butyl acrylate using the nitroxide TEMPO as initiator (via a macroinitiator). In this synthesis, a polystyrene macroinitiator was synthesized in the first step from TEMPO, after this TEMPO end-capped styrene macroinitiator (PSt-TEMPO) is used to polymerize n-butyl acrylate monomer. The amount of macroinitiator taken was varied from 0.05% to 50% by weight of n-butyl acrylate monomer. The polymerization was carried out at 120°C by bulk polymerization method. The experimental findings showed a gradual increase in molecular weight of the polymer formed and decrease in the polydispersity index (PDI) with increase in amount of PSt-TEMPO macroinitiator taken. In all experiments conversion was more than 80%. These results indicate that the polymerization takes place through controlled polymerization process. Effect of different solvents on polymerization has also been investigated. In the following experiments TEMPO capped styrene has been used as macroinitiator leading to the successful synthesis of poly n-Butyl acrylate. It has been found that styrene macroinitiator is highly efficient for the nitroxide mediated polymerization, even in very small concentration for the synthesis of poly n-butyl acrylate. High concentration of macroinitiator results in the formation of block copolymers of polystyrene and poly ( n-butyl acrylate) viz. polystyrene-block-poly-( n-butyl acrylate). The use of TEMPO toward controlled polymerization is of much importance, because it is the nitroxide commercially available at the lowest cost.


2018 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. Samokhin ◽  
Ju. N. Kozlova ◽  
D. V. Korneev ◽  
O. S. Taranov ◽  
E. A. Fedorov ◽  
...  

Background: The problem of bacterial colonization of implants used in medical practice continues to be relevant regardless of the material of the implant. Particular attention deserves polymeric implants, which are prepared ex tempore from polymethyl methacrylate, for example - duting orthopedic surgical interventions (so-called "bone cement"). The protection of such implants by antibiotic impregnation is subjected to multiple criticisms, therefore, as an alternative to antibiotics, lytic bacteriophages with a number of unique advantages can be used - however, no experimental studies have been published on the possibility of impregnating bacteriophages into polymethyl methacrylate and their antibacterial activity assessment under such conditions.Aims: to evaluate the possibility of physical placement of bacteriophages in polymethylmethacrylate and to characterize the lytic antibacterial effect of two different strains of bacteriophages when impregnated into polymer carrier ex tempore during the polymerization process in in vitro model.Materials and methods:  First stage - Atomic force microscopy (AFM) of polymethyl methacrylate samples for medical purposes was used to determine the presence and size of caverns in polymethyl methacrylate after completion of its polymerization at various reaction  temperatures (+6…+25°C and +18…+50°C).The second stage was performed in vitro and included an impregnation of two different bacteriophage strains (phage ph20 active against S. aureus and ph57 active against Ps. aeruginosa) into polymethyl methacrylate during the polymerization process, followed by determination of their antibacterial activity.Results: ACM showed the possibility of bacteriophages placement in the cavities of polymethyl methacrylate - the median of the section and the depth of cavities on the outer surface of the polymer sample polymerized at +18…+50°C were 100.0 and 40.0 nm, respectively, and on the surface of the transverse cleavage of the sample - 120.0 and 100.0 nm, respectively, which statistically did not differ from the geometric dimensions of the caverns of the sample polymerized at a temperature of +6…+25°C.The study of antibacterial activity showed that the ph20 bacteriophage impregnated in polymethyl methacrylate at +6…+25°C lost its effective titer within the first six days after the start of the experiment, while the phage ph57 retained an effective titer for at least 13 days.Conclusion: the study confirmed the possibility of bacteriophages impregnation into medical grade polymethyl methacrylate, maintaining the effective titer of the bacteriophage during phage emission into the external environment, which opens the way for the possible application of this method of bacteriophage delivery in clinical practice. It is also assumed that certain bacteriophages are susceptible to aggressive influences from the chemical components of "bone cement" and / or polymerization reaction products, which requires strict selection of bacteriophage strains that could be suitable for this method of delivery.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yumeng Yang ◽  
Shixin Liu ◽  
Xiang Cai ◽  
Dong Ma ◽  
Jun Xu

To obtain an efficient drug and gene co-delivery hydrogel, methoxy polyethylene glycol was reacted with the caprolactone units to form the MPEG-PCL block copolymer through the polymerization reaction, which is amphiphilic and can load the hydrophobic drugs. Then, MPEG-PCL conjugated with a multi-generation poly(L-lysine) dendron to form the guest molecule MPEG-PCL-PLLD. After interacted with α-cyclodextrin through host–guest inclusion, the drug and gene dual carrier of supramolecular hydrogel was obtained. The physical properties of the hydrogel, such as the gelation time, the hydrogel strength, or its shear viscosity, could be modulated by the hose molecule of α-cyclodextrin content. MPEG-PCL-PLLD could co-load the drug and gene effectively. After gelation, the loaded drug and gene could be released sustainedly, and the release rate of them was also modulated by the α-cyclodextrin content. The supramolecular hydrogel showed a sustained effect on tumor cells and could induce the cell apoptosis sustainedly. Moreover, the co-delivery strategy was superior to only drug or gene used in tumor cell inhibition. This supramolecular hydrogel as the high-efficiency and sustained co-delivery system showed a promising application in a long-term tumor therapy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 234 (10) ◽  
pp. 1623-1643
Author(s):  
Abbas Khan ◽  
Mehvish Afzal ◽  
Luqman Ali Shah ◽  
Khair Zaman ◽  
Gul Shahzada Khan ◽  
...  

AbstractThis research work is based on the preparation and physicochemical characterization of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)–Cellulose–Poly(Acrylic acid) [PNIPAAm–Cellulose–PAAc] based terpolymer hydrogels. The free radical polymerization reaction was initiated by the presence of ammonium persulphate (APS) and crosslinking between different monomers was occurring through N,Nl- Methylene bis-acrylamide (MBA). Confirmation of polymerization process was done by FT-IR and UV-visible spectroscopy. The prepared hydrogels were further characterized by different physicochemical techniques like rheology, Ostwald viscometry and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The effect of external stimuli like temperature, pH and composition of the samples on the physicochemical behavior was also carried out by dynamic rheology, swelling measurement and DLS. Various other properties like elasticity, shear stress, shear strain, loss modulus, storage modulus and complex viscosity was investigated by rheology. DLS was used to trace the size and swelling behavior of the samples. From the results obtained it was found that all the microgel samples are stimuli responsive and most of their physicochemical properties were prominently varying while changing the internal as well as the external experimental variable. These changes in physicochemical behavior of the gel can be attributed to two possibilities; the change in the hydrophobic character of gel (PNIPAAm) with temperature and also to the weakening of intermolecular hydrogen bonds with increase in temperature. As a result of this the PAA chains may undergo a transition from a compact conformation to an expanded coil conformation, resulting in the swelling of the hydrogels.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 5275-5275
Author(s):  
Ulrich Denz ◽  
Dagmar Wider ◽  
Antonia Mueller ◽  
Monika Engelhardt

Abstract Introduction: Transplantation of functional hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) using peripheral blood (PB), bone marrow (BM) or cord blood (CB) cells is widely used to treat malignant and nonmalignant disorders. Because long-term cryopreservation is performed for PB, BM and CB cells, and these are often used years after cell harvests, the implementation of a quality-assurance is a major requirement to ensure graft safety for clinical use. Methods: We assessed the efficiency of recovery of viable HSC from 37 patients (pts; n=20 NHL, n=6 Hodgkin, n=9 MM, n=2 AML) and 6 allogeneic-donors (AD) with stored PBSC samples. All pts had received an auto-PBSCT between 1992–2004. Stored PBSC samples used in this analysis had been cryopreserved for a median of 5.6 years (y; range: 1.3–12). We determined post-thawing recovery, cell viability, ex vivo expansion potential, CD34+ numbers, CFU growth in methylcellulose culture and LTC-ICs. Viable cells were determined by trypan blue and propidium iodide via FACS analysis, CFUs in 0.9% methylcellulose (supplemented with IMDM, 30% FCS and EPO, IL-3+GM-CSF) and LTC-IC as previously described. Pts and AD were analyzed as a total group and within 3 subgroups of: A) ‘long-term’ cryopreservation: n=21 PBSC harvests had a median cryopreservation of 9.5y (8–12), B) ‘short-term’ cryopreservation: n=16 harvests had a 2.9y (1.3–5.6) cryopreservation period, and C) n=6 pts showing delayed engraftment (EG) or early death after auto-PBSCT: the cryopreservation in these 6 pts was 2.7y (2.2–3.5). Cryopreservation results were correlated with clinical results and EG. Results: Hematopoietic EG in group A and B was prompt with WBC>1000/μl and platelets>20,000/μl on d10–11 post PBSC reinfusion. EG in group C was delayed albeit 4.3x106 CD34+ cells/kg bw (2.1–8.6) had been retransfused (WBC>1000/μl + platelets>20,000/μl: d+13 post PBSC infusion, non-platelet-EG >20,000/μl before death: n=5). Primary cause of death in group C was progressive disease in 3 and serious infections in 5 pts. Group A showed 74.3% viable cells post-thawing in PBSC grafts. Median number of CD34+ cells were 2.9%. Median numbers of CFU-C, BFU-E and GEMM were 36, 60 and 7, respectively. This was comparable with results in group B, showing 70% viable cells post-thawing, CD34+ cells of 4.2% and CFUs of 43, 75 and 6, respectively (p>0.05). Proliferative capacity was intact in both groups after 7 days of suspension culture, generating CFU-C, BFU-E and GEMM of 67, 29 and 1, respectively. In group C, viable cells were present in only 58% and median CFU-C, BFU-E and GEMM were 21, 5 and 0, respectively (p<0.05). After 7 days of suspension culture, total CFUs were 5 (<5% as compared to group A+B). Mean CFU-Cs before and after LTC-IC were 9 and 8 after LTC-IC culture in group C, whereas these were 18 and 16 in group A (p<0.05). Thus, the percentage of viable cells, CFUs and LTC-ICs was preserved after long-term cryopreservation (group A), showed no significant difference between group A+B, but were decreased in group C. Conclusions: We show that human PBSC can be stored for more than a decade without apparent loss of HSC activity and can be efficiently retrieved. These results reinforce that expiration dates cannot be set for safely stored cryopreserved HSC. Assessment of CD34+ cell numbers, clonogenic potential via methylcellulose and LTC-IC assays are clinically relevant, since they may correlate with clinical outcome. Thus, these hematopoietic assays are valuable to assess the quality of cryopreservation and possibly also outcome of PBSCT.


Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1979
Author(s):  
Francesca Cicogna ◽  
Guido Giachi ◽  
Luca Rosi ◽  
Elisa Passaglia ◽  
Serena Coiai ◽  
...  

End functionalized polylactides are prepared by ring opening polymerization of L-lactide in the presence of stannous octoate (Sn(Oct)2). Three chromophores, 9H-carbazol-ethanol (CA), 9-fluorenyl-methanol (FM), and 2-(4-(2-chloro-4-nitrophenylazo)-N-ethylphenylamino)ethanol (Disperse Red 13, DR), are for the first time used as co-initiators in the polymerization process. The polymerization reaction is initiated by conventional thermal treatment, but in the case of FM, microwave-assisted polymerization is also carried out. CA and FM absorb and emit in the UV portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, whereas DR absorbs in the visible part. The obtained end-capped polylactides derivatives show the same photophysical properties as the initiator, so they are “macromolecular dyes” (MDs) that can be used “as synthesized” or can be blended with commercial poly(lactic acid) (PLA). The blends of PLA with MDs have ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption and fluorescence emission features similar to that of MDs and thermal properties typical of PLA. Finally, migration tests, carried out onto the blends of PLA with MDs and PLA with free chromophores, show that MDs are less released than free chromophores both in solution and in the solid phase.


2002 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 2891-2898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukie Shibata ◽  
Yoshihisa Yamashita ◽  
Kazuhisa Ozaki ◽  
Yoshio Nakano ◽  
Toshihiko Koga

ABSTRACT Six genes (rgpA through rgpF) that were involved in assembling the rhamnose-glucose polysaccharide (RGP) in Streptococcus mutans were previously identified (Y. Yamashita, Y. Tsukioka, K. Tomihisa, Y. Nakano, and T. Koga, J. Bacteriol. 180:5803-5807, 1998). The group-specific antigens of Lancefield group A, C, and E streptococci and the polysaccharide antigen of Streptococcus sobrinus have the same rhamnan backbone as the RGP of S. mutans. Escherichia coli harboring plasmid pRGP1 containing all six rgp genes did not synthesize complete RGP. However, E. coli carrying a plasmid with all of the rgp genes except for rgpE synthesized the rhamnan backbone of RGP without glucose side chains, suggesting that in addition to rgpE, another gene is required for glucose side-chain formation. Synthesis of the rhamnan backbone in E. coli required the initiation of transfer of N-acetylglucosamine to a lipid carrier and the expression of the rgpC and rgpD genes encoding the putative ABC transporter specific for RGP. The similarities in RGP synthesis between E. coli and S. mutans suggest common pathways for rhamnan synthesis. Therefore, we evaluated the rhamnosyl polymerization process in E. coli by high-resolution sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the lipooligosaccharide (LOS). An E. coli transformant harboring rgpA produced the LOS modified by the addition of a single rhamnose residue. Furthermore, the rgpA, rgpB, and rgpF genes of pRGP1 were independently mutated by an internal deletion, and the LOS chemotypes of their transformants were examined. The transformant with an rgpA deletion showed the same LOS profile as E. coli without a plasmid. The transformant with an rgpB deletion showed the same LOS profile as E. coli harboring rgpA alone. The transformant with an rgpF deletion showed the LOS band with the most retarded migration. On the basis of these results, we speculated that RgpA, RgpB, and RgpF, in that order, function in rhamnan polymerization.


2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (16) ◽  
pp. 7137-7143 ◽  
Author(s):  
William T. Wolfle ◽  
M. Todd Washington ◽  
Eric T. Kool ◽  
Thomas E. Spratt ◽  
Sandra A. Helquist ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The efficiency and fidelity of nucleotide incorporation by high-fidelity replicative DNA polymerases (Pols) are governed by the geometric constraints imposed upon the nascent base pair by the active site. Consequently, these polymerases can efficiently and accurately replicate through the template bases which are isosteric to natural DNA bases but which lack the ability to engage in Watson-Crick (W-C) hydrogen bonding. DNA synthesis by Polη, a low-fidelity polymerase able to replicate through DNA lesions, however, is inhibited in the presence of such an analog, suggesting a dependence of this polymerase upon W-C hydrogen bonding. Here we examine whether human Polκ, which differs from Polη in having a higher fidelity and which, unlike Polη, is inhibited at inserting nucleotides opposite DNA lesions, shows less of a dependence upon W-C hydrogen bonding than does Polη. We find that an isosteric thymidine analog is replicated with low efficiency by Polκ, whereas a nucleobase analog lacking minor-groove H bonding potential is replicated with high efficiency. These observations suggest that both Polη and Polκ rely on W-C hydrogen bonding for localizing the nascent base pair in the active site for the polymerization reaction to occur, thus overcoming these enzymes' low geometric selectivity.


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