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Soft interfaces formed by polymer materials are important interfaces for biological systems (biointerfaces). Controlled radical polymerization (CRP) is highly suited for designing biointerfaces composed of polymer chains because it enables precise control of the polymer architecture at the nanoscale. This focus review describes the design of functional soft interfaces based on investigations of the structure-property relationships of CRPs. In particular, polymer brush surfaces showing autonomous property changes, comb-type copolymer-driven 2D/3D transformations of lipid bilayers, and molecular interactions in bactericidal cationic polymer brushes are depicted.
Side-chain typed POSS-based polynorbornenes connecting with a short spacer exhibiting optical transparency owing to prevention of POSS crystallization to provide amorphous character. In addition, the resulting amorphous polymers exhibited excellent thermal stability.
Developing fluorescence anion sensors is important because anions play a significant role in various biological phenomena. Herein, we evaluated the anion binding properties of a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) derivative with eight urea groups and a 3D structure. The results revealed that the POSS derivative with urea groups can bind to sulfate ions and exhibits a greater binding ability than that of the model compound because multiple urea groups exhibit cooperative effects. Through the introduction of naphthyl urea groups, the POSS derivative can be used as a fluorescence sensor for quantifying sulfate ions.
A new peptide carrier that mimics the basic leucine zipper domain (bZIP) of DNA-binding proteins was designed, in which (LU)4 is the leucine zipper motif and (KUA)3 is the basic DNA-binding motif (U = α-aminoisobutyric acid). When mixed with pDNA, (KUA)3-(LU)4 peptide condensed DNA molecules to form nanoparticles. Furthermore, when complexes of the (KUA)3-(LU)4 peptide and pDNA were introduced into the leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana), the reporter protein was expressed in plant cells. Thus, (KUA)3-(LU)4 is an efficient carrier of pDNA with high dissociation efficiency.
Water-insoluble micropatterned films were prepared from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) (or ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH)) and poly(methacrylic acid) (poly(MAAc)). The carboxy groups in poly(MAAc) underwent dehydration reactions with the hydroxy groups in the vinyl alcohol units during heating at 135 °C, which resulted in the introduction of a crosslinked structure with ester bonds into the polymeric network of the micropatterned films. The micropatterns could be peeled off from the films after decomposition and maintained their patterned shapes.
This study explores the effects of long-term degradation on the viscoelastic properties of viscoelastic liquids using tetra-armed polyethylene glycol (Tetra-PEG) slimes as model material. It aims to enhance control over the viscoelasticity of biomedical materials, like sodium hyaluronate, by introducing specific cleavage sites into the Tetra-PEG slimes to simulate degradation. The study reveals that despite degradation, the slimes maintain a single relaxation mode, offering a method to design viscoelastic liquids with predictable and controllable degradation for biomedical applications.
A novel block copolymer, poly(3-hexylthiophene)-b-poly(vinyl catechol) (P3HT-b-PVC) was successfully synthesized via a Click reaction between chain-endfunctionalized P3HT with an alkyne group (P3HT-Alkyne) and chain-end-functionalized poly(3,4-di-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxystyrene) with an azide group (PSVC-Azide), followed by deprotection of tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy groups from the PSVC-Azide segment. Tape test results showed that the adhesion property of the P3HT-b-PVC film was considerably better than that of the corresponding P3HT film. Furthermore, despite the presence of an insulating PVC block in P3HT-b-PVC, the P3HT-b-PVC thin film exhibited a hole mobility comparable to that of the corresponding P3HT thin film.
The morphology and physical properties of polyisoprene ionomers co-neutralized with Na+ and Mg2+ in different ratios have been studied. The mechanical and self-healing properties of the ionomer were reinforced and disturbed, respectively, at over 25 % of the Mg2+ ratio, where linkage via Mg2+ in the network is pervasive throughout the material.
Surface amino groups (SAGs) on nanochitin materials were quantified using three amino-labeling reagents and two cationic dyes. After binding to SAGs, the excess labeling reagents or generated molecules were assessed by spectrophotometry. The dyes were adsorbed onto SAGs, and the excess was similarly quantified. The obtained values were compared with the titration values. Although the values by labeling reagents were underestimated, some of the values were proportional to those by titration. Reliable results were attained using the two labeling reagents with conversion equations or using Acid Orange 7 adsorption.
