Modulation of cell responses to Ag-(MeO MA-co-OEGMA): Effects of nanoparticle surface hydrophobicity and serum proteins on cellular uptake and toxicity.

Nanoparticle (NP) interactions with cellular systems are influenced by both NP physico-chemical properties and the presence of surface-bound proteins that are adsorbed in biological environments. Here, we characterize cellular responses to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) functionalized with poly(di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-co-oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl methacrylate) (poly(MeO MA -co-OEGMA )) brushes with tunable hydrophobicity and explore how these responses are modulated by the presence or absence of serum proteins. Poly(MeO MA -co-OEGMA ) with variable composition (5-10% OEGMA) was fabricated to elicit differential hydrophobicity at 37°C for AgNPs capped with these copolymers.

Tuning reversible cell adhesion to methacrylate-based thermoresponsive polymers: Effects of composition on substrate hydrophobicity and cellular responses.

Thermoresponsive polymer (TRP) cell culture substrates are widely utilized for nonenzymatic, temperature-triggered release of adherent cells. Increasingly, multicomponent TRPs are being developed to facilitate refined control of cell adhesion and detachment, which requires an understanding of the relationships between composition-dependent substrate physicochemical properties and cellular responses. Here, we utilize a homologous series of poly(MEO MA -co-OEGMA ) brushes with variable copolymer ratio (x/y) to explore the effects of substrate hydrophobicity on L-929 fibroblast adhesion, morphology, and temperature-triggered cell detachment.

Effect of Nanoparticle Surface Chemistry on Adsorption and Fluid Phase Partitioning in Aqueous/Toluene and Cellular Systems.

Copolymers of di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (x = MeO2MA) and oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (y = OEGMA) display lower critical solution phenomena in aqueous systems that are tunable by the copolymer ratio (x:y), ionic strength, and temperature. These properties enable tuning the hydrophobicity of macromolecular systems by variation of (x:y). For nanoparticles stabilized with these macromolecules, this provides a systematic approach to understanding the impact of surface chemistry, specifically hydrophobicity, on the equilibrium and transport properties of nanomaterials in biphasic systems.

Engineering adhesion to thermoresponsive substrates: effect of polymer composition on liquid-liquid-solid wetting.

Adhesion control in liquid-liquid-solid systems represents a challenge for applications ranging from self-cleaning to biocompatibility of engineered materials. By using responsive polymer chemistry and molecular self-assembly, adhesion at solid/liquid interfaces can be achieved and modulated by external stimuli. Here, we utilize thermosensitive polymeric materials based on random copolymers of di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (x = MEO2MA) and oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (y = OEGMA), that is, P(MEO2MAx-co-OEGMAy), to investigate the role of hydrophobicity on the phenomenon of adhesion.

Flexible thermoresponsive nanomembranes at the aqueous-air interface.

A synthetic pathway is described to construct thermoresponsive freestanding nanomembranes at the aqueous-air interface of a pendant drop. Dynamic control of the reaction kinetics allows formation of viscoelastic interfaces supporting anisotropic stresses and mechanical stability, which can be tuned by external stimuli.