Thermodynamic analysis of scanning calorimetric transitions observed for dilute aqueous solutions of ABA block copolymers

Association Behavior of Poly(ethylene oxide)-Poly(propylene oxide) Alternating Multiblock Copolymers in Water toward Thermally Induced Phase Separation

Thermal changes in the association behavior of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) alternating multiblock (PEO-PPO AMB) copolymers in water are investigated by the use of transmittance and light scattering measurements. Two PEO-PPO AMB copolymers with a different weight fraction of PEO, (EO₂₂₀PO₃₃)₈ and (EO₆₈PO₃₃)₉, are prepared. The weight-average molecular weights of (EO₂₂₀PO₃₃)₈ and (EO₆₈PO₃₃)₉ estimated by static light scattering measurements are 1.3 × 10⁵ and 4.1 × 10⁴ g mol^-1, respectively. The number of PEO-PPO repeating pairs is over 8. It is found that the aqueous solution of (EO₂₂₀PO₃₃)₈ undergoes phase separation with a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of around 58 °C at 0.3 wt %. For the aqueous (EO₆₈PO₃₃)₉ solution, the LCST is estimated to be ca. 42 °C. The critical solution concentration for (EO₆₈PO₃₃)₉ is not clear because of a small concentration dependence of T_c at a higher concentration range. Dynamic light scattering measurements indicate that a micellelike aggregate is formed below the LCST. From the Debye plot, it is elucidated that the second virial coefficient, A₂, starts going down at around 32 °C for (EO₂₂₀PO₃₃)₈ and below 15 °C for (EO₆₈PO₃₃)₉. The A₂ value of (EO₂₂₀PO₃₃)₈ approaches 0 near 50 °C, whereas that of (EO₆₈PO₃₃)₉ approaches 0 at around 35 °C. At a high temperature, the attractive interaction among the copolymers becomes dominant, thereby inducing the formation of micellelike aggregates.

Kinetically controlled assembly of a spirocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon into polyhedral micro/nanocrystals

Nonplane molecules with multiple large aromatic planes could be promising candidates to form various polyhedral micro/nanocrystals by manipulating the different π···π stacking, tuning the cohesive energies of crystal facets, and controlling the kinetic growth process. Spirocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (SAHs) not only have two cross-shaped aromatic planes but also offer the feature of supramolecular steric hindrance, making it favorable for the heterogeneous kinetic growth into highly symmetric polyhedra. Herein, we report that a novel SAH compound, spiro[fluorene-9,7'-dibenzo[c,h]acridine]-5'-one (SFDBAO), can self-assemble into various monodispersed shapes such as hexahedra, octahedra, and decahedra through the variation of either different types of surfactants, such as Pluronic 123 (P123) and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), or growth parameters. In addition, the possible mechanism of crystal facet growth has been proposed according to the SEM, XRD, TEM, and SAED characterization of organic polyhedral micro/nanocrystals. The unique cruciform-shaped SAHs have been demonstrated as fascinating supramolecular synthons for various highly symmetric polyhedral assembling.

Thermodynamics of temperature-sensitive polyether-modified poly(acrylic acid) microgels

The temperature-induced structural changes and thermodynamics of ionic microgels based on poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) networks bonded with poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) (Pluronic) copolymers have been studied by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), ultra-small-angle neutron scattering (USANS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and equilibrium swelling techniques. Aggregation within microgels based on PAA and either the hydrophobic Pluronic L92 (average composition, EO8PO52EO8; PPO content, 80%) or the hydrophilic Pluronic F127 (average composition, EO99PO67EO99; PPO content, 30%) was studied and compared to that in the solutions of the parent Pluronic. The neutron scattering results indicate the formation of micelle-like aggregates within the F127-based microgel particles, while the L92-based microgels formed fractal structures of dense nanoparticles. The microgels exhibit thermodynamically favorable volume phase transitions within certain temperature ranges due to reversible aggregation of the PPO chains, which occurs because of hydrophobic associations. The values of the apparent standard enthalpy of aggregation in the microgel suspensions indicate aggregation of hydrophobic clusters that are more hydrophobic than the un-cross-linked PPO chains in the Pluronic. Differences in the PPO content in Pluronics L92 and F127 result in a higher hydrophobicity of the resulting L92-PAA-EGDMAmicrogels and a larger presence of hydrophobic, densely cross-linked clusters that aggregate into supramolecular structures rather than micelle-like aggregates such as those formed in the F127-PAA-EGDMA microgels.

The influence of incubation temperature and surfactant concentration on the interaction between dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes and poloxamer surfactants

Differential scanning calorimetry and photon correlation spectroscopy have been used to study the interaction between poloxamers P338 and P407 and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) liposomes. The extent of the interaction was found to be dependent on the incubation temperature in addition to the poloxamer concentration. At low poloxamer concentrations (0.1-1.0% w/v) an interaction with the phospholipid bilayer was detected by a reduction of the pre-transition enthalpy of DMPC. At higher concentrations (2.0-5.0% w/v), the main phase transition temperature of the liposomes decreased and the endotherm broadened with a shoulder on the high temperature side, indicative of phase separation. Maximum increases in the diameter of small freeze-thaw extruded liposomes were shown to occur at temperatures close to the poloxamer critical micelle temperatures. At higher temperatures and surfactant concentrations there was evidence of solubilization of phospholipid into mixed micelles.

Differences between dynamic and equilibrium surface tension of poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene)-poly(oxyethylene) block copolymer surfactants (poloxamers P407, P237, and P338) in aqueous solution

Poloxamer surfactants are macromolecules with complex interfacial behavior. Although a number of studies of equilibrium surface tension have been published recently, there is little information on the diffusion of these large molecules to the air-liquid interface. Because most surfactants are used in dynamic systems, the diffusion to the surface can be critical in controlling performance. In this study a maximum bubble pressure method was used to study dynamic surface tension (DST) of Poloxamer P407, P237, and P338, at a range of bubble rates (surface age) and concentrations, at either 25 or 35 degrees C. The DST did not change at the critical micelle concentration and also did not vary in the same manner as the equilibrium surface tension (EST) with respect to temperature. It was concluded that DST behavior of the surfactants was most closely related to the poly(oxyethylene) content and/or total molecular weight of the surfactants, whereas the micellization and hence the EST were more closely related to the poly(oxypropylene) content.