1.The novel semi-biodegradable interpenetrating polymer networks based on urethane-dimethacrylate and epoxy-polyester components as alternative biomaterials.
Barszczewska-Rybarek IM1, Jaszcz K1, Jurczyk S2, Chladek G3. Acta Bioeng Biomech. 2015;17(3):13-22.
PURPOSE: This paper presents the pilot study aimed at the development of new full interpenetrating polymer networks based on urethane- dimethacrylate and biodegradable epoxy-polyester as the proposition of new biomaterials with gradually emerging porosity.
2.Analytically useful blue chemiluminescence from a water-soluble iridium(iii) complex containing a tetraethylene glycol functionalised triazolylpyridine ligand.
Smith ZM1, Kerr E1, Doeven EH2, Connell TU3, Barnett NW1, Donnelly PS4, Haswell SJ2, Francis PS1. Analyst. 2016 Mar 21;141(7):2140-4. doi: 10.1039/c6an00141f.
We examine [Ir(df-ppy)2(pt-TEG)](+) as the first highly water soluble, blue-luminescent iridium(iii) complex for chemiluminescence detection. Marked differences in selectivity were observed between the new complex and the conventional [Ru(bpy)3](2+) reagent, which will enable this mode of detection to be extended to new areas of application.
3.Supramolecular polymerisation in water; elucidating the role of hydrophobic and hydrogen-bond interactions.
Leenders CM1, Baker MB1, Pijpers IA1, Lafleur RP1, Albertazzi L1, Palmans AR1, Meijer EW1. Soft Matter. 2016 Mar 8;12(11):2887-93. doi: 10.1039/c5sm02843d.
Understanding the self-assembly of small molecules in water is crucial for the development of responsive, biocompatible soft materials. Here, a family of benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA) derivatives that comprise a BTA moiety connected to an amphiphilic chain is synthesised with the aim to elucidate the role of hydrophobic and hydrogen-bonding interactions in the self-assembly of these BTAs. The amphiphilic chain consists of an alkyl chain with a length of 10, 11, or 12 methylene units, connected to a tetraethylene glycol (at the periphery). The results show that an undecyl spacer is the minimum length required for these BTAs to self-assemble into supramolecular polymers. Interestingly, exchange studies reveal only minor differences in exchange rates between BTAs containing undecyl or dodecyl spacers. Additionally, IR spectroscopy provides the first experimental evidence that hydrogen-bonding is operative and contributes to the stabilisation of the supramolecular polymers in water.
4.Dual-responsive viscoelastic lyotropic liquid crystal fluids for controlling diffusion of hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules.
Wang D1, Cao Y2, Cao M3, Sun Y4, Wang J5, Hao J6. Chemphyschem. 2016 Mar 30. doi: 10.1002/cphc.201600066. [Epub ahead of print]
A smart lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) system was prepared to control the diffusion rate of hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules. The LLC system was composed of nonionic surfactant, tetraethylene glycol monododecylether (C12EO4), and an anionic azobenzene surfactant (Azo-surfactant). C12EO4 was the main component of LLC system. The Azo-surfactant which can undergo photo isomerization played the role of trigger in this system. LLC gels formed in a solution comprising Azo-surfactant (10 mM) and C12EO4 (300 mM). LLC gels would be broken when more Azo-surfactant was added (e.g. up to 15 mM) and the viscoelasticity was lost. Surprisingly, when we used UV-light to irradiate the sample of 300 mM C12EO4/15 mM Azo-surfactant the gel was recovered and high viscoelasticity was observed, however under Vis-light irradiation, the gel would be broken again. The gel formation could also be triggered by heating the sample. Upon heating 300 mM C12EO4/15 mM Azo-surfactant the system thickened up to a point when typical gel behavior was registered.
