scholarly journals Amphiphilic tri- and tetra-block co-polymers combining versatile functionality with facile assembly into cytocompatible nanoparticles

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 3832-3845 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine E. Vasey ◽  
Amanda K. Pearce ◽  
Federica Sodano ◽  
Robert Cavanagh ◽  
Thais Abelha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Wide Range

Control in ROP allows polymers to be synthesized with a wide range of architectures and self-assembly properties.

Factors Affecting Molecular Self-Assembly and Its Mechanism

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hueyling Tan
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Molecular Engineering ◽  
Molecular Structures ◽  
Polymer Science ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Dna Structures ◽  
Self Assembling ◽  
Wide Range

Molecular self-assembly is ubiquitous in nature and has emerged as a new approach to produce new materials in chemistry, engineering, nanotechnology, polymer science and materials. Molecular self-assembly has been attracting increasing interest from the scientific community in recent years due to its importance in understanding biology and a variety of diseases at the molecular level. In the last few years, considerable advances have been made in the use ofpeptides as building blocks to produce biological materials for wide range of applications, including fabricating novel supra-molecular structures and scaffolding for tissue repair. The study ofbiological self-assembly systems represents a significant advancement in molecular engineering and is a rapidly growing scientific and engineering field that crosses the boundaries ofexisting disciplines. Many self-assembling systems are rangefrom bi- andtri-block copolymers to DNA structures as well as simple and complex proteins andpeptides. The ultimate goal is to harness molecular self-assembly such that design andcontrol ofbottom-up processes is achieved thereby enabling exploitation of structures developed at the meso- and macro-scopic scale for the purposes oflife and non-life science applications. Such aspirations can be achievedthrough understanding thefundamental principles behind the selforganisation and self-synthesis processes exhibited by biological systems.

scholarly journals Polymer cyclization for the emergence of hierarchical nanostructures

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaojian Chen ◽  
Manjesh Kumar Singh ◽  
Katrin Wunderlich ◽  
Sean Harvey ◽  
Colette J. Whitfield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Hierarchical Structures ◽  
Structural Similarity ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Nanomaterial Synthesis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Linear Poly ◽  
Polymer Folding ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

AbstractThe creation of synthetic polymer nanoobjects with well-defined hierarchical structures is important for a wide range of applications such as nanomaterial synthesis, catalysis, and therapeutics. Inspired by the programmability and precise three-dimensional architectures of biomolecules, here we demonstrate the strategy of fabricating controlled hierarchical structures through self-assembly of folded synthetic polymers. Linear poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) of different lengths are folded into cyclic polymers and their self-assembly into hierarchical structures is elucidated by various experimental techniques and molecular dynamics simulations. Based on their structural similarity, macrocyclic brush polymers with amphiphilic block side chains are synthesized, which can self-assemble into wormlike and higher-ordered structures. Our work points out the vital role of polymer folding in macromolecular self-assembly and establishes a versatile approach for constructing biomimetic hierarchical assemblies.

Zeolates: A Coordination Chemistry View of Metal-Ligand Bonding in Intrazeolite MOCVD Type Precursors and Semiconductor Nanoclusters

1992 ◽  
Vol 277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey A. Ozin ◽  
Carol L. Bowes ◽  
Mark R. Steele
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Materials Science ◽  
Zeolite Y ◽  
Chemical Vapour ◽  
Internal Surface ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Organic Chemical ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Shape Selective

ABSTRACTVarious MOCVD (metal-organic chemical vapour deposition) type precursors and their self-assembled semiconductor nanocluster products [1] have been investigated in zeolite Y hosts. From analysis of in situ observations (FTIR, UV-vis reflectance, Mössbauer, MAS-NMR) of the reaction sequences and structural features of the precursors and products (EXAFS and Rietveld refinement of powder XRD data) the zeolite is viewed as providing a macrospheroidal, multidendate coordination environment towards encapsulated guests. By thinking about the α- and β-cages of the zeolite Y host effectively as a zeolate ligand composed of interconnected aluminosilicate “crown ether-like” building blocks, the materials chemist is able to better understand and exploit the reactivity and coordination properties of the zeolite internal surface for the anchoring and self-assembly of a wide range of encapsulated guests. This approach helps with the design of synthetic strategies for creating novel guest-host inclusion compounds having possible applications in areas of materials science such as nonlinear optics, quantum electronics, and size/shape selective catalysis.

scholarly journals A Structurally Variable Hinged Tetrahedron Framework from DNA Origami

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Smith ◽  
Verena Schüller ◽  
Carsten Forthmann ◽  
Robert Schreiber ◽  
Philip Tinnefeld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Dna Origami ◽  
Microscopy Technique ◽  
Wire Frame ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Linker Molecules

Nanometer-sized polyhedral wire-frame objects hold a wide range of potential applications both as structural scaffolds as well as a basis for synthetic nanocontainers. The utilization of DNA as basic building blocks for such structures allows the exploitation of bottom-up self-assembly in order to achieve molecular programmability through the pairing of complementary bases. In this work, we report on a hollow but rigid tetrahedron framework of 75 nm strut length constructed with the DNA origami method. Flexible hinges at each of their four joints provide a means for structural variability of the object. Through the opening of gaps along the struts, four variants can be created as confirmed by both gel electrophoresis and direct imaging techniques. The intrinsic site addressability provided by this technique allows the unique targeted attachment of dye and/or linker molecules at any point on the structure's surface, which we prove through the superresolution fluorescence microscopy technique DNA PAINT.

Engineering the shape of Zinc Oxide crystals via sonochemical or hydrothermal solution-based methods

2008 ◽  
Vol 1087 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Palumbo ◽  
Simon J. Henley ◽  
Thierry Lutz ◽  
Vlad Stolojan ◽  
David Cox ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zinc Oxide ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Hydrothermal Solution ◽  
Good Control ◽  
Transparent Conductors ◽  
Zno Nanostructures ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Light Emitting Devices ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Solution Methods

AbstractRecent results in the use of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nano/submicron crystals in fields as diverse as sensors, UV lasers, solar cells, piezoelectric nanogenerators and light emitting devices have reinvigorated the interest of the scientific community in this material. To fully exploit the wide range of properties offered by ZnO, a good understanding of the crystal growth mechanism and related defects chemistry is necessary. However, a full picture of the interrelation between defects, processing and properties has not yet been completed, especially for the ZnO nanostructures that are now being synthesized. Furthermore, achieving good control in the shape of the crystal is also a very desirable feature based on the strong correlation there is between shape and properties in nanoscale materials. In this paper, the synthesis of ZnO nanostructures via two alternative aqueous solution methods - sonochemical and hydrothermal - will be presented, together with the influence that the addition of citric anions or variations in the concentration of the initial reactants have on the ZnO crystals shape. Foreseen applications might be in the field of sensors, transparent conductors and large area electronics possibly via ink-jet printing techniques or self-assembly methods.

scholarly journals Modification of a Single Atom Affects the Physical Properties of Double Fluorinated Fmoc-Phe Derivatives

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (17) ◽  
pp. 9634
Author(s):  
Moran Aviv ◽  
Dana Cohen-Gerassi ◽  
Asuka A. Orr ◽  
Rajkumar Misra ◽  
Zohar A. Arnon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
The Self ◽  
Single Atom ◽  
Supramolecular Organization ◽  
Assembly Process ◽  
Wide Range

Supramolecular hydrogels formed by the self-assembly of amino-acid based gelators are receiving increasing attention from the fields of biomedicine and material science. Self-assembled systems exhibit well-ordered functional architectures and unique physicochemical properties. However, the control over the kinetics and mechanical properties of the end-products remains puzzling. A minimal alteration of the chemical environment could cause a significant impact. In this context, we report the effects of modifying the position of a single atom on the properties and kinetics of the self-assembly process. A combination of experimental and computational methods, used to investigate double-fluorinated Fmoc-Phe derivatives, Fmoc-3,4F-Phe and Fmoc-3,5F-Phe, reveals the unique effects of modifying the position of a single fluorine on the self-assembly process, and the physical properties of the product. The presence of significant physical and morphological differences between the two derivatives was verified by molecular-dynamics simulations. Analysis of the spontaneous phase-transition of both building blocks, as well as crystal X-ray diffraction to determine the molecular structure of Fmoc-3,4F-Phe, are in good agreement with known changes in the Phe fluorination pattern and highlight the effect of a single atom position on the self-assembly process. These findings prove that fluorination is an effective strategy to influence supramolecular organization on the nanoscale. Moreover, we believe that a deep understanding of the self-assembly process may provide fundamental insights that will facilitate the development of optimal amino-acid-based low-molecular-weight hydrogelators for a wide range of applications.

scholarly journals Graphene Templated DNA Arrays and Biotin-Streptavidin Sensitive Bio-Transistors Patterned by Dynamic Self-Assembly of Polymeric Films Confined within a Roll-on-Plate Geometry

Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1468
Author(s):  
Sangheon Jeon ◽  
Jihye Lee ◽  
Rowoon Park ◽  
Jeonghwa Jeong ◽  
Min Chan Shin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Graphene Oxide ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Patterned Surfaces ◽  
Dna Arrays ◽  
Simple Strategy ◽  
Modified Dna ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Surface Chemistries ◽  
Plate Geometry

Patterning of surfaces with a simple strategy provides insights into the functional interfaces by suitable modification of the surface by novel techniques. Especially, highly ordered structural topographies and chemical features from the wide range of interfaces have been considered as important characteristics to understand the complex relationship between the surface chemistries and biological systems. Here, we report a simple fabrication method to create patterned surfaces over large areas using evaporative self-assembly that is designed to produce a sacrificial template and lithographic etch masks of polymeric stripe patterns, ranging from micrometer to nanoscale. By facilitating a roll-on-plate geometry, the periodically patterned surface structures formed by repetitive slip-stick motions were thoroughly examined to be used for the deposition of the Au nanoparticles decorated graphene oxide (i.e., AuNPs, ~21 nm) and the formation of conductive graphene channels. The fluorescently labeled thiol-modified DNA was applied on the patterned arrays of graphene oxide (GO)/AuNPs, and biotin-streptavidin sensitive devices built with graphene-based transistors (GFETs, effective mobility of ~320 cm2 V−1 s−1) were demonstrated as examples of the platform for the next-generation biosensors with the high sensing response up to ~1 nM of target analyte (i.e., streptavidin). Our strategy suggests that the stripe patterned arrays of polymer films as sacrificial templates can be a simple route to creating highly sensitive biointerfaces and highlighting the development of new chemically patterned surfaces composed of graphene-based nanomaterials.

Solvent Effects on the Synthesis of Polymeric Nanoparticles via Block Copolymer Self-Assembly Using Microporous Membranes

2020 ◽  
Vol 1000 ◽  
pp. 324-330
Author(s):  
Sri Agustina ◽  
Masayoshi Tokuda ◽  
Hideto Minami ◽  
Cyrille Boyer ◽  
Per B. Zetterlund
Keyword(s):  
Block Copolymer ◽  
Block Copolymers ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Polymeric Nanoparticles ◽  
Raft Polymerization ◽  
Membrane Emulsification ◽  
Membrane Pore ◽  
Novel Technique ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Membrane Pore Size

The self-assembly of block copolymers has attracted attention for many decades because it can yield polymeric nanoobjects with a wide range of morphologies. Membrane emulsification is a fairly novel technique for preparation of various types of emulsions, which relies on the dispersed phase passing through a membrane in order to effect droplet formation. In this study, we have prepared polymeric nanoparticles of different morphologies using self-assembly of asymmetric block copolymers in connection with membrane emulsification. Shirasu Porous Glass (SPG) membranes has been employed as the membrane emulsification equipment, and poly (oligoethylene glycol acrylate)-block-poly (styrene) (POEGA-b-PSt) copolymers prepared via RAFT polymerization. It has been found that a number of different morphologies can be achieved using this novel technique, including spheres, rods, and vesicles. Interestingly, the results have shown that the morphology can be controlled not only by adjusting experimental parameters specific to the membrane emulsification step such as membrane pore size and pressure, but also by changing the nature of organic solvent. As such, this method provides a novel route to these interesting nanoobjects, with interesting prospects in terms of exercising morphology control without altering the nature of the block copolymer itself.

scholarly journals Aspiration-assisted bioprinting for precise positioning of biologics

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. eaaw5111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bugra Ayan ◽  
Dong Nyoung Heo ◽  
Zhifeng Zhang ◽  
Madhuri Dey ◽  
Adomas Povilianskas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Physical Mechanism ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
3D Bioprinting ◽  
Precise Control ◽  
3D Space ◽  
Magnitude Range ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Order Of Magnitude

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is an appealing approach for building tissues; however, bioprinting of mini-tissue blocks (i.e., spheroids) with precise control on their positioning in 3D space has been a major obstacle. Here, we unveil “aspiration-assisted bioprinting (AAB),” which enables picking and bioprinting biologics in 3D through harnessing the power of aspiration forces, and when coupled with microvalve bioprinting, it facilitated different biofabrication schemes including scaffold-based or scaffold-free bioprinting at an unprecedented placement precision, ~11% with respect to the spheroid size. We studied the underlying physical mechanism of AAB to understand interactions between aspirated viscoelastic spheroids and physical governing forces during aspiration and bioprinting. We bioprinted a wide range of biologics with dimensions in an order-of-magnitude range including tissue spheroids (80 to 600 μm), tissue strands (~800 μm), or single cells (electrocytes, ~400 μm), and as applications, we illustrated the patterning of angiogenic sprouting spheroids and self-assembly of osteogenic spheroids.

scholarly journals Self-Assembly of Temperature Sensitive Unilamellar Vesicles by a Blend of Block Copolymers in Aqueous Solution

Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong Dae Jang ◽  
Changwoo Do ◽  
Joona Bang ◽  
Young Soo Han ◽  
Tae-Hwan Kim
Keyword(s):  
Block Copolymers ◽  
Hydrophobic Interaction ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Small Angle Neutron Scattering ◽  
Mass Fraction ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Vesicular Structure ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Scattering Measurements ◽  
Potential Applications

A self-assembled unilamellar vesicle, which can be used as a drug delivery system, was easily and simply fabricated using a blended system of Pluronic block copolymers. Controlling the hydrophilic mass fraction of block copolymers (by blending the block copolymer with a different hydrophilic mass fraction) and temperature (i.e., the hydrophobic interaction is controlled), a vesicular structure was formed. Small angle neutron scattering measurements showed that the vesicular structure had diameters of empty cores from 13.6 nm to 79.6 nm, and thicknesses of the bilayers from 2.2 nm to 8.7 nm when the hydrophobic interaction was changed. Therefore, considering that the temperature of the vesicle formation is controllable by the concentration of the blended block copolymers, it is possible for them to be applied in a wide range of potential applications, for example, as nanoreactors and nanovehicles.

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