High-efficient liquid exfoliation of 2D metal-organic framework using deep-eutectic solvents.

The exfoliation of bulk two-dimensional metal-organic framework (MOF) into few-layered nanosheets has attracted much attention recently. In this work, an environmental-friendly route has been developed for layered-MOF (MAMS-1) delamination using deep eutectic solvent (DES), which is more sustainable and efficient alternative than conventional organic solvents for MOF nanosheet preparation. Under sonication condition, DES as solvents, the highest exfoliation rate of MAMS-1 is up to 70% with two host layers via poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) surfactant-assisted method.

Interfacial growth of metal-organic framework on carboxyl-functionalized carbon nanotubes for efficient dye adsorption and separation.

Hybrid nanocomposites based on UiO-66-NH and carboxyl-functionalized carbon nanotubes were developed in this study via different synthetic pathways. Combining them through interfacial in situ growth was beneficial for the better dispersity of UiO-66-NH in the CNTs@UiO-66-NH composite than physically mixing CNTs/UiO-66-NH and chemically bonded CNTs-CONH-UiO-66. Coordination between carboxyl groups of CNTs and zirconium ions resulted in the interfacial growth of UiO-66-NH on CNTs.

Synthesis of core-crosslinked zwitterionic polymer nano aggregates and pH/Redox responsiveness in drug controlled release.

A new kind of core-crosslinked zwitterionic polymer nano aggregates was prepared by two steps: (1) terpolymers of lipoic acid, polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether and l-lysine were prepared, forming nano aggregates with hydrodynamic radius of 80 nm-183 nm by self-assembly; (2) the crosslinking of the nano aggregates took place through a reaction of side chain group in lipoic acid structural unit with 1,4-dimercaptothreotol, producing zwitterionic polymer core-crosslinked nano aggregates. The aggregates were stable against dilution and protein adsorption, and they demonstrated good pH/redox dual-responsiveness due to the introduction of disulfide bonds and zwitterionic groups to the nano aggregates. Doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded into the nano aggregates for controlled release.

Preparation and flocculation properties of modified alginate amphiphilic polymeric nano-flocculants.

The novel nano-flocculants were synthesized through a conjugation of dodecylamine with partly oxidized sodium alginate. The structures of the flocculants were characterized by FTIR, HNMR, TGA, and EA. The flocculants possessed amphiphilic structures and formed nano-micelles through self-assembly in water.

Preparation and controlled drug release ability of the poly[N-isopropylacryamide-co-allyl poly(ethylene glycol)]-b-poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamate) polymeric micelles.

The polymeric micelles were prepared through a copolymerization of allyl polyethylene glycol (APEG) and N-isopropylacrylamide in the presence of 2-aminoethanethiol (AET), followed by a ring opening polymerization of γ-benzyl-l-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride (BLG-NCA). Doxorubicin (DOX) as a model drug was covalently conjugated into the core of micelles via hydrazone bonds. The drug loading capacity could reach up to 15% with drug encapsulation efficiency of 80%.

Preparation of pH/redox dual responsive polymeric micelles with enhanced stability and drug controlled release.

Stimuli-responsive polymeric micelles were prepared through self-assembly of amphiphilic copolymers poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(γ-benzyl l-glutamate), followed by a core-crosslinking reaction using cystamine as the crosslinking agent. The crosslinked micelles with spherical morphologies in nanometer size showed enhanced stability against dilution and concentrated salt solutions compared to the micelles before crosslinking. Doxorubicin (DOX) as a model drug was encapsulated into the core of micelles through electrostatic interactions between carboxylic acid and DOX.

Studies on the preparation and controlled release of redox/pH-responsive zwitterionic nanoparticles based on poly-L-glutamic acid and cystamine.

The enhancement of tumor intracellular drug uptake and resistance against nonspecific protein adsorption are essential for an injectable anticancer drug carrier. In the present study, a new type of redox/pH-responsive zwitterionic nanoparticles (NPs) was prepared using poly-L-glutamic acid and cystamine in aqueous solutions under mild conditions. The NPs showed surface charge convertible feature in response to pH change of the solutions.

Preparations of hyperbranched polymer nano micelles and the pH/redox controlled drug release behaviors.

Hyperbranched polymer nano micelles (NMs) were prepared through a nucleophilic ring opening polymerization between cystamine and polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, followed by a reaction of amino groups and dimethyl maleic anhydride. The NMs showed spheric morphologies with hydrodynamic diameters of 106-120nm. Doxorubicin was loaded in the NMs with loading rate as high as 15.

Preparations and doxorubicin controlled release of amino-acid based redox/pH dual-responsive nanomicelles.

Terpolymers of poly (Lysine-co-N, N-Bis (acryloyl) cystamine-co-β-Phenethylamine) (PLBP) were synthesized in one-pot by Michael addition terpolymerization. The terpolymers self-assembled into nano-sized spherical micelles (84-123nm) with narrow distributions. The surface charge of the nanomicelles (NMs) was depended on solution's pH and showed negative values under physiological conditions (pH7.

Titanium Oxide/Silicon Moth-Eye Structures with Antireflection, p-n Heterojunctions, and Superhydrophilicity.

By employing KOH etching of silicon and hydrothermal growth of titanium oxide (TiO), TiO nanorods assembled on the silicon micropyramids to form biomimetic composite coating, similar to moth-eye structures. The biomimetic composite coating possessed not only the micro-nano hierarchical structures but also the p-n heterojunctions, resulting in a decrease in the reflection of incident light and an increase in the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers. Meanwhile, the structures showed excellent superhydrophilicity, making for the self-cleaning of the material surface.

Zwitterionic pH/redox nanoparticles based on dextran as drug carriers for enhancing tumor intercellular uptake of doxorubicin.

Zwitterionic nanoparticles have excellent serum stability. In this study, pH/redox responsive polymer was synthesized through a modification of dextran using succinic acid, followed by crosslinking with cystamine. The polymer could self-assemble into stable nanoparticles (NPs) in aqueous solution.

Preparation of pH-sensitive zwitterionic nano micelles and drug controlled release for enhancing cellular uptake.

Zwitterionic copolymers have exhibited high resistance to nonspecific protein adsorption and have wide applications in drug delivery systems. Herein, a pH-responsive poly(Lysine-alt-N,N'-bis(acryloyl) diaminohexane) was synthesized through the Michael addition polymerization between N, N'-bis(acryloyl) diaminohexane and lysine. Subsequently, nano micelles (NMs) were formed by self-assembly of the copolymer in an aqueous solution.

Surface Charge Convertible and Biodegradable Synthetic Zwitterionic Nanoparticles for Enhancing Cellular Drug Uptake.

To enhance drug cellular uptake, a biodegradable terpolymer is synthesized using taurine, N,N-Bis (acryloyl) cystamine, and dodecylamine as raw materials by Michael addition terpolymerization. The terpolymer is transformed to zwitterionic nanoparticles (NPs) through self-assembly. The surface charge of the NPs is convertible from negative at pH 7.

Preparation of polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles of chitosan and poly(2-acry1amido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) for doxorubicin release.

A new kind of polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) based on cationic chitosan (CS) and anionic poly(2-acry1amido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) (PAMPS) was prepared using a polymer-monomer pair reaction system. Chitosan was mixed with 2-acry1amido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) (AMPS) in an aqueous solution, followed by polymerization of AMPS. The complex was formed by electrostatic interaction of NH3(+) groups of CS and SO3(-) groups of AMPS, leading to a formation of complex nanoparticles of CS-PAMPS.

Drug release behavior of poly (lactic-glycolic acid) grafting from sodium alginate (ALG-g-PLGA) prepared by direct polycondensation.

Hydrophobically modified sodium alginate, poly (lactic-glycolic acid) grafting from sodium alginate (ALG-g-PLGA), was successfully synthesized through direct one-step polymerization of sodium alginate, glycolic acid, and lactic acid. ALG-g-PLGA self-assembled to colloidal nanoparticles and subsequently hydrogel microspheres were obtained by crosslinking ALG-g-PLGA nanoparticles in the solution of calcium chloride. The modified hydrogel microspheres could be used as the drug delivery vehicles for a hydrophobic ibuprofen.

Fabricating sub-100nm conducting polymer nanowires by edge nanoimprint lithography.

In this paper, a convenient and universal strategy is reported to fabricate high-resolution conducting polymer nanowires, combining edge nanoimprinting with gas etching. Based on this method, 81.3nm polypyrrole nanowires were obtained, which is much smaller than the original cavity.

Preparation and pH controlled release of polyelectrolyte complex of poly(L-malic acid-co-D,L-lactic acid) and chitosan.

The copolymer of poly(L-malic acid-co-D,L-lactic acid) (PML) was synthesized through a direct polycondensation of L-malic acid (MA) and D,L-lactic acid (LA). Then, a new polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) based on the complexation between the copolymer (PML) and chitosan (CS) was prepared. The PEC formed stable nano particles in aqueous solutions with pH 3-5, and the nano particles had the diameters in a range of 316-590 nm (varied with the components of PML and CS).

Tunable self-assembled peptide amphiphile nanostructures.

Peptide amphiphiles are capable of self-assembly into a diverse array of nanostructures including ribbons, tubes, and vesicles. However, the ability to select the morphology of the resulting structure is not well developed. We examined the influence of systematic changes in the number and type of hydrophobic and hydrophilic amino acids on the self-assembly of amphiphilic peptides.

Preparation of complex nano-particles based on alginic acid/poly[(2-dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate] and a drug vehicle for doxorubicin release controlled by ionic strength.

Monodispersed complex nano-particles were synthesized simply by mixing alginic acid (ALG-H) with poly[(2-dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate] (PDEMA) in pure water without any surfactants or additives. The structure and properties of the nano-particles were extensively studied. The surface charges and average sizes of the nano-particles were varied with the composition of ALG-H and PDEMA.

Syntheses of silsesquioxane (POSS)-based inorganic/organic hybrid and the application in reinforcement for an epoxy resin.

A new inorganic/organic hybrid material containing silsesquioxane was prepared by the reaction of caged octa (aminopropyl silsesquioxane) (POSS-NH(2)) with n-butyl glycidyl ether (nBGE) and 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDGE). The copolymers of POSS, nBGE, and BDGE could be obtained with varied feed ratio of POSS-NH(2), nBGE, and BDGE in the preparation. The hybrid material was added into an epoxy resin (E51) for enhancing the toughening and thermal properties of the epoxy resin.

[Drug release properties of sodium alginate hydrophobically modified by star polylactic acid].

Inorganic/polymer hybrid star polylactic acid (POSS-PLA) was obtained through ring-opening polymerization of lactide by using polyhydroxyl cage silsesquioxane (POSS-OH) as the core and tin (II) octoate as the catalyst. The star polylactic acid (POSS-PLA) was used to modify sodium alginate hydrophobically and a drug carrier was obtained. The drug release behavior was investigated by using ibuprofen as the model drug.

Hydrophobic modification of sodium alginate and its application in drug controlled release.

Sodium alginate was hydrophobically modified by coupling of polybutyl methacrylate onto the alginate. The polybutyl methacrylate was previously prepared through polymerization of butyl methacrylate in the presence of 2-amino-ethanethiol as a chain transfer agent. The structure of the product was characterized by Fourier-transformed infrared spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)HNMR) and thermogravimetry.

(Z)-3-[1-(4-Methoxy-anilino)ethyl-idene]-4,5-dihydro-furan-2(3H)-one.

In the title compound, C(13)H(15)NO(3), the dihydro-furan-one ring is planar to within 0.012 (4) Å and it forms a dihedral angle of 42.8 (2)° with the benzene ring.

(Z)-Methyl 3-(4-ethoxy-anilino)but-2-enoate.

The title compound, C(13)H(17)NO(3), was synthesized from methyl 3-oxobutanoate and 4-ethoxy-benzenamine using a catalytic amount of InBr(3) under solvent-free conditions. The 3-amino-but-2-enoic acid methyl ester group is planar and forms a dihedral angle of 83.4 (1)° with the benzene ring.