Probing the influence of composition and cross-linking degree on single-chain nanoparticles from poly(tetrahydrofuran-ran-epichlorohydrin) copolymers: Insights from neutron scattering, calorimetry, and dielectric spectroscopy.

The industrial sector has made significant strides in the development of multicomponent and multiphasic polymer materials, including polymer blends, composites (such as nanocomposites), and various copolymers. Random copolymers, characterized by their statistical arrangement of repeating units, are particularly noteworthy due to their tunability from amorphous to semicrystalline states. In this study, we focus on poly(tetrahydrofuran-ran-epichlorohydrin) (P(THF-ran-ECH)) copolymers, which serve as precursors for single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs).

Why Single-Chain Nanoparticles from Weak Polyelectrolytes Can Be Synthesized at Large Scale in Concentrated Solution?

Here, the unresolved question of why single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) prepared from a weak polyelectrolyte (PE) precursor can be synthesized on a large scale in a concentrated solution is addressed, unlike SCNPs obtained from an equivalent neutral (nonamphiphilic) polymer precursor. The combination of the standard elastic single-chain nanoparticles (ESN) model -developed for neutral chains- with the classical scaling theory of PE solutions provides the key. Essentially, the long-range repulsion between electrostatic blobs in a weak PE precursor restricts the cross-linking process during SCNPs formation to the interior of each blob.

Revealing Dynamic Behavior in High Dielectric Poly(thiourethane)-Based Vitrimer-like Materials.

Here, we have explored covalent adaptable networks (CANs) comprising poly(thiourethane)-based systems (PTUs). The PTUs were synthesized through the combination of thiol and isocyanate monomers in stoichiometric proportions, in the presence of dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL) as catalyst. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) provided detailed insight into the vitrimeric behavior.

ΔNp63 regulates MDSC survival and metabolism in triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) contributes greatly to mortality of breast cancer, demanding new targetable options. We have shown that TNBC patients have high expression in tumors. However, the function of ΔNp63 in established TNBC is yet to be explored.

Effect of the TrFE Content on the Crystallization and SSA Thermal Fractionation of P(VDF--TrFE) Copolymers.

In this contribution, we study the effect of trifluoro ethylene (TrFE) comonomer content (samples with 80/20, 75/25, and 70/30 VDF/TrFE molar ratios were used) on the crystallization in P(VDF--TrFE) in comparison with a PVDF (Poly(vinylidene fluoride)) homopolymer. Employing Polarized Light Optical Microscopy (PLOM), the growth rates of spherulites or axialites were determined. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine overall crystallization rates, self-nucleation, and Successive Self-nucleation and Annealing (SSA) thermal fractionation.