Examining the Water-Polymer Interactions in Non-Isocyanate Polyurethane/Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Hybrid Hydrogels

Non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) networks physically modified with octa(3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyldimethylsiloxy)POSS (8OHPOSS, 0-10 wt%) were conditioned in environments of different relative humidities (up to 97%) to study water-polymer interactions. The equilibrium sorption isotherms are of Brunauer type III in a water activity range of 0-0.97 and are discussed in terms of the Guggenheim (GAB) sorption model. The study shows that the introduction of 8OHPOSS, even in a large amount (10 wt%), does not hinder the water affinity of the NIPU network despite the hydrophobic nature of POSS; this is attributable to the homogenous dispersion of POSS in the polymer matrix. The shift in the urethane-derived carbonyl bands toward lower wavenumbers with a simultaneous shift in the urethane N-H bending bands toward higher wavenumbers exposes the breakage of polymer-polymer hydrogen bonds upon water uptake due to the formation of stronger water-polymer hydrogen bonds. Upon water absorption, a notable decrease in the glass transition temperature (Tg) is observed for all studied materials. The progressive reduction in Tg with water uptake is driven by plasticization and slaving mechanisms. POSS moieties are thought to impact slaving indirectly by slightly affecting water uptake at very high hydration levels.

Effects of Segment Length and Crosslinking via POSS on the Calorimetric and Dynamic Glass Transition of Polyurethanes with Aliphatic Hard Segments

The glass transition in polyurethanes is a complicated phenomenon governed by a multitude of factors, including the microphase separation, which in turn depends strongly on the molar mass of the hard and soft segments, as well as the presence of additives. In this work, we study the effects of the segments' length on the microphase separation and consequently on the calorimetric and dynamic glass transition of a polyurethane with aliphatic, "flexible" hard segments. It is found that the dependence of the calorimetric glass transition follows the same principles as those in systems with aromatic hard segments. Strikingly, however, the dynamic glass transition, as studied by dielectric spectroscopy, shows a slowing down of its dynamics despite a decrease in Tg. This discrepancy is discussed in terms of the strong dielectric response of the flexible segments, especially those close to the interface between the hard domains and soft phase, as opposed to a weak thermal one. In addition, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) are introduced in the soft phase of the three matrices as crosslinking centres. This modification has no visible effect on the calorimetric glass transition; nevertheless, it affects the microphase separation and the dielectric response in a non-monotonic manner.

Physicochemical and Biological Characterisation of Diclofenac Oligomeric Poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) Hybrids as β-TCP Ceramics Modifiers for Bone Tissue Regeneration

Nowadays, regenerative medicine faces a major challenge in providing new, functional materials that will meet the characteristics desired to replenish and grow new tissue. Therefore, this study presents new ceramic-polymer composites in which the matrix consists of tricalcium phosphates covered with blends containing a chemically bounded diclofenac with the biocompatible polymer-poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate), P(3HO). Modification of P(3HO) oligomers was confirmed by NMR, IR and XPS. Moreover, obtained oligomers and their blends were subjected to an in-depth characterisation using GPC, TGA, DSC and AFM. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the hydrophobicity and surface free energy values of blends decreased with the amount of diclofenac modified oligomers. Subsequently, the designed composites were used as a substrate for growth of the pre-osteoblast cell line (MC3T3-E1). An in vitro biocompatibility study showed that the composite with the lowest concentration of the proposed drug is within the range assumed to be non-toxic (viability above 70%). Cell proliferation was visualised using the SEM method, whereas the observation of cell penetration into the scaffold was carried out by confocal microscopy. Thus, it can be an ideal new functional bone tissue substitute, allowing not only the regeneration and restoration of the defect but also inhibiting the development of chronic inflammation.

Co-nonsolvency in concentrated aqueous solutions of PNIPAM: effect of methanol on the collective and the chain dynamics

The polymer dynamics in concentrated solutions of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) in D2O/CD3OD mixtures is investigated in the one-phase region. Two polymer concentrations (9 and 25 wt%) and CD3OD contents in the solvent mixture of 0, 10 and 15 vol% are chosen. Temperature-resolved dynamic light scattering (DLS) reveals the collective dynamics. Two modes are observed, namely the fast relaxation of polymer segments within the blobs and the slow collective relaxation of the blobs. As the cloud point is approached, the correlation length related to the fast mode increases with CD3OD content. It features critical scaling behavior, which is consistent with mean-field behavior for the 9 wt% PNIPAM solution in pure D2O and with 3D Ising behavior for all other solutions. While the slow mode is not very strong in the 9 wt% PNIPAM solution in pure D2O, it is significantly more prominent as CD3OD is added and at all CD3OD contents in the 25 wt% solution, which may be attributed to enhanced interaction between the polymers. Neutron spin-echo spectroscopy (NSE) reveals a decay in the intermediate structure factor which indicates a diffusive process. For the polymer concentration of 9 wt%, the diffusion coefficients from NSE are similar to the ones from the fast relaxation observed in DLS. In contrast, they are significantly lower for the solutions having a polymer concentration of 25 wt%, which is attributed to the influence of the dominant large-scale dynamic heterogeneities. To summarize, addition of cosolvent leads to enhanced large-scale heterogeneities, which are reflected in the dynamic behavior at small length scales.

Examining the Influence of Re-Used Nanofiller-Pyrolyzed Montmorillonite, on the Thermal Properties of Polypropylene-Based Engineering Nanocomposites

Pyrolysis of the polypropylene/montmorillonite (PP/OMMT) nanocomposites allows for recovery of the filler that can be then re-used to produce PP/pyrolyzed MMT (PMMT) nanostructured composites. In this work, we discuss the thermal properties of PP/PMMT composites investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). It has been found that effect of PMMT (5 wt. % and 10 wt. %) on matrix thermal stability occurs at temperatures above 300 °C. Addition of 5 wt. % and 10 wt. % of PMMT into polypropylene system gave good stabilization effect, as confirmed by the overall stabilization effect (OSE) values, which increased by 4% and 7%, respectively, compared to the control sample (PP). Interestingly, the presence of 1 wt. % and 3 wt. % of pyrolyzed clay stabilizes the system better than the same concentrations of organoclay added into polypropylene melt. DSC data revealed that pyrolyzed clay has still the same tendency as organoclay to enhance formation of the α and β crystalline PP phases only. The pyrolyzed MMT causes an improvement of the modulus in the glassy as well as rubbery regions, as confirmed by DMA results.

Immune responses induced by nano-self-assembled lipid adjuvants based on a monomycoloyl glycerol analogue after vaccination with the Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein

Nanocarriers based on inverse hexagonal liquid crystalline phases (hexosomes) show promising potential as vaccine delivery systems. Their unique internal structure, composed of both lipophilic domains and water-containing channels, renders them capable of accommodating immunopotentiating compounds and antigens. However, their adjuvant properties are poorly understood. We hypothesized that the supramolecular structure of the lyotropic liquid crystalline phase influences the immunostimulatory activity of lipid-based nanocarriers. To test this, hexosomes were designed containing the lipid phytantriol (Phy) and the immunopotentiator monomycoloyl glycerol-1 (MMG-1). Self-assembly of Phy and MMG-1 into nanocarriers featuring an internal hexagonal phase was confirmed by small-angle X-ray scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. The effect of the nanostructure on the adjuvant activity was studied by comparing the immunogenicity of Phy/MMG-1 hexosomes with MMG-1-containing lamellar liquid crystalline nanoparticles (liposomes, CAF04). The quality and magnitude of the elicited immune responses were determined after vaccination of CB6/F1 mice using the Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein (MOMP) as antigen. MMG-1-based hexosomes potentiated significantly stronger MOMP-specific humoral responses than CAF04 liposomes. The liposome-based vaccine formulation induced a much stronger MOMP-specific cell-mediated immune response compared to hexosome-adjuvanted MOMP, which elicited minimal MOMP-specific T-cell stimulation after vaccination. Hence, our data demonstrates that hexosomal and liposomal adjuvants activate the immune system via different mechanisms. Our work provides valuable insights into the adjuvant potential of hexosomes and emphasizes that engineering of the supramolecular structure can be used to design adjuvants with customized immunological properties.

Superhydrophobic Silicon Nanocrystal-Silica Aerogel Hybrid Materials: Synthesis, Properties, and Sensing Application

Silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) are abundant and exhibit exquisitely tailorable optoelectronic properties. The incorporation of SiNCs into highly porous and lightweight substrates such as aerogels leads to hybrid materials possessing the attractive features of both materials. This study describes the covalent deposition of SiNCs on and intercalation into silica aerogels, explores the properties, and demonstrates a prototype sensing application of the composite material. SiNCs of different sizes were functionalized with triethoxyvinylsilane (TEVS) via a radical grafting approach and subsequently used for the synthesis of photoluminescent silica hybrids. The resulting SiNC-containing aerogels possess high porosities, SiNC-based size-dependent photoluminescence, transparency, and a superhydrophobic macroscopic surface. The materials were used to examine the photoluminescence response toward low concentrations of 3-nitrotoluene (270 μM), demonstrating their potential as a sensing platform for high-energy materials.

Pressure-Dependence of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Mesoglobule Formation in Aqueous Solution

Above their cloud point, aqueous solutions of the thermoresponsive polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) form large mesoglobules. We have carried out very small-angle neutron scattering (VSANS with q = 0.21-2.3 × 10^-3 Å^-1) and Raman spectroscopy experiments on a 3 wt % PNIPAM solution in D₂O at atmospheric and elevated pressures (up to 113 MPa). Raman spectroscopy reveals that, at high pressure, the polymer is less dehydrated upon crossing the cloud point. VSANS shows that the mesoglobules are significantly larger and contain more D₂O than at atmospheric pressure. We conclude that the size of the mesoglobules and thus their growth process are closely related to the hydration state of PNIPAM.

Dynamic glass transition of the rigid amorphous fraction in polyurethane-urea/SiO2 nanocomposites

We report molecular dynamics in the rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) of the polymer bound at the interfaces with nanoparticles in polymer nanocomposites and calculate the glass transition temperature, T_g, for this bound layer of polymer. We follow the '3-phase-model' for semicrystalline polymers where the polymer matrix consists of the crystalline fraction (CF), the mobile amorphous fraction (MAF) and the RAF. While the amorphous polymer bound by crystallites is completely rigid, neither contributing to the glass transition, nor displaying molecular dynamics, the amorphous polymer bound at the interfaces with filler displays decelerated dynamics, as compared to the bulk polymer. Reports in the literature suggest a discrepancy between T_g values obtained by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and by Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy (DRS). As a plausible explanation we suggest that DRS results in T_g values taking into account the bound polymer, whereas DSC does not. For this investigation we use semicrystalline polyurethane-urea/SiO₂ nanocomposites and employ, next to DSC and DRS, SEM, SAXS and WAXS for morphological characterization. It is our intention to use DRS as a tool for investigating the RAF.

pH Responsiveness of hydrogels formed by telechelic polyampholytes

We investigate the influence of pH on the rheological and structural properties of hydrogels formed by hydrophobic association of the sticky ends of the triblock terpolymer poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid)-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA-b-P(DEA-co-MAA)-b-PMMA). The middle block is a weak polyampholyte having a pH dependent charge density and sign, which enables tuning of the rheological and structural properties by pH variation. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) studies of solutions in D₂O at 0.05 wt% and pH 3.0 reveal clusters of interconnected spherical micelles having PMMA cores, stabilized by repulsive ionic interactions in the middle polyampholyte block. With increasing pH, the degree of ionization of the DEA units decreases, whereas the one of the MAA units increases, resulting in a complete loss of the correlation between these micelles. At a concentration of 3 wt% at low pH values, the system forms a gel with charged fuzzy spheres from PMMA interacting via a screened Coulomb potential. With increasing pH, the gel disintegrates due to the decrease in the effective charge on the micelles. At both concentrations, the hydrophobic aggregation of micelles is observed near the isoelectric point. At pH 3.0-7.4, the autocorrelation functions measured by rotational dynamic light scattering at 3 wt% exhibit a decay steeper than single exponential, which confirms that the gels are frozen, presumably due to the glassy PMMA cores and hydrophobic interpolyelectrolyte complexes. At pH 11, the diffusion of single micelles is observed in addition to the frozen dynamics.

Multi-stage freezing of HEUR polymer networks with magnetite nanoparticles

We observe a change in the segmental dynamics of hydrogels based on hydrophobically modified ethoxylated urethanes (HEUR) when hydrophobic magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) are embedded in the hydrogels. The dynamics of the nanocomposite hydrogels is investigated using dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) and neutron spin echo (NSE) spectroscopy. The magnetic nanoparticles within the hydrophobic domains of the HEUR polymer network increase the size of these domains and their distance. The size increase leads to a dilution of the polymers close to the hydrophobic domain, allowing higher mobility of the smallest polymer blobs close to the "center". This is reflected in the decrease of the activation energy of the β-process detected in the DRS data. The increase in distance leads to an increase of the size of the largest hydrophilic polymer blobs. Therefore, the segmental dynamics of the largest blobs is slowed down. At short time scales, i.e. 10(-9) s < τ < 10(-3) s, the suppression of the segmental dynamics is reflected in the α-relaxation processes detected in the DRS data and in the decrease of the relaxation rate Γ of the segmental motion in the NSE data with increasing concentration of magnetic nanoparticles. The stepwise (multi-stage) freezing of the small blobs is only visible for the pure hydrogel at low temperatures. On the other hand, the glass transition temperature (Tg) decreases upon increasing the MNP loading, indicating an acceleration of the segmental dynamics at long time scales (τ∼ 100 s). Therefore, it would be possible to tune the Tg of the hydrogels by varying the MNP concentration. The contribution of the static inhomogeneities to the total scattering function Sst(q) is extracted from the NSE data, revealing a more ordered gel structure than the one giving rise to the total scattering function S(q), with a relaxed correlation length ξNSE = (43 ± 5) Å which is larger than the fluctuating correlation length from a static investigation ξSANS = (17.2 ± 0.3) Å.