Polymerizable built up multilayers on polymer supports

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer in polydiacetylene liposomes

Conjugated polydiacetylene (PDA) possessing stimuli-responsive properties has been intensively investigated for developing efficient sensors. We report here fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) in liposomes synthesized using different molar ratios of dansyl-tagged diacetylene and diacetylene-carboxylic acid monomers. Photopolymerization of diacetylene resulted in cross-linked PDA liposomes. We used steady-state electronic absorption, emission, and fluorescence anisotropy (FA) analysis to characterize the thermal-induced FRET between dansyl fluorophores (donor) and PDA (acceptor). We found that the monomer ratio of acceptor to donor ( R ad) and length of linkers (functional part that connects dansyl fluorophores to the diacetylene group in the monomer) strongly affected FRET. For R ad = 10 000, the acceptor emission intensity was amplified by more than 18 times when the liposome solution was heated from 298 to 338 K. A decrease in R ad resulted in diminished acceptor emission amplification. This was primarily attributed to lower FRET efficiency between donors and acceptors and a higher background signal. We also found that the FRET amplification of PDA emissions after heating the solution was much higher when dansyl was linked to diacetylene through longer and flexible linkers than through shorter linkers. We attributed this to insertion of dansyl in the bilayer of the liposomes, which led to an increased dansyl quantum yield and a higher interaction of multiple acceptors with limited available donors. This was not the case for shorter and more rigid linkers where PDA amplification was much smaller. The present studies aim at enhancing our understanding of FRET between fluorophores and PDA-based conjugated liposomes. Furthermore, receptor tagged onto PDA liposomes can interact with ligands present on proteins, enzymes, and cells, which will produce emission sensing signal. Therefore, using the present approach, there exist opportunities for designing FRET-based highly sensitive and selective chemical and biochemical sensors.

Probing the gas permeability of an ionically cross-linked Langmuir-Blodgett bilayer with a "touch" of salt

The main barrier for gas permeation across ionically cross-linked Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) bilayers, made from a 5,11,17,23,29,35-hexakis[( N, N, N-trimethylamonium)-N-methyl-37,38,39,40,41,42-hexakis-n-hexamedecyloxy-calix[6]arene hexachloride (1) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS), has been determined by measuring the effects of NaCl on the thickness of the PSS layer encased between the calixarene layers and the permeation characteristics of the resulting membrane. Specifically, the fact that NaCl increases the uptake of PSS by the LB film and increases the permeance of these membranes toward N2 and CO2 but not He provides compelling evidence that the main barrier for permeation is the calixarene layers and not the PSS layer that is encased between them. The effects of NaCl on ionic cross-linking, surface pressure, and surface viscosities are discussed.

Foam film permeability: theory and experiment

The mass transfer of gas through foam films is a prototype of various industrial and biological processes. The aim of this paper is to give a perspective and critical overview of studies carried out to date on the mass transfer of gas through foam films. Contemporary experimental data are summarized, and a comprehensive overview of the theoretical models used to explain the observed effects is given. A detailed description of the processes that occur when a gas molecule passes through each layer that forms a foam film is shown. The permeability of the film-building surfactant monolayers plays an important role for the whole permeability process. It can be successfully described by the models used to explain the permeability of surfactant monolayers on aqueous sub-phase. For this reason, the present paper briefly discusses the surfactant-induced resistance to mass transfer of gases through gas-liquid interface. One part of the paper discusses the experimental and theoretical aspects of the foam film permeability in a train of foam films in a matrix or a cylinder. This special case is important to explain the gas transfer in porous media or in foams. Finally, this paper will highlight the gaps and challenges and sketch possible directions for future research.