Rationally Engineering Dual Missions in One Statistical Copolymer Nanocapsule: Bacterial Inhibition and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Capturing.

Effective inhibition of bacteria and removal of carcinogenic organic pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are important technical challenges in water purification because most of the traditional filter membranes are prone to being biologically contaminated by bacteria and difficult to filter off PAHs. Herein we present the synthesis and characterization of a novel multifunctional nanocapsule (vesicle) based on a copolymer, poly[[2-hydroxy-3-(naphthalen-1-ylamino)propyl methacrylate]--[2-(-butylamino)ethyl methacrylate]] [P(HNA--TA)], which can be easily synthesized in one step. The TA moiety is engineered for effective bacterial inhibition, while the HNA moiety is in charge of the capturing of PAHs by π-π stacking.

A multifunctional azobenzene-based polymeric adsorbent for effective water remediation.

The efficient removal of trace carcinogenic organic pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and ionic dyes, from water is an important technical challenge. We report a highly effective recyclable multifunctional azobenzene (AZ)-based silica-supported polymeric adsorbent which can simultaneously remove both PAHs and anionic dyes from water to below parts per billion (ppb) level based on multiple interactions such as the hydrophobic effect, π-π stacking and electrostatic interactions, thus providing a new strategy for designer water remediation materials.

Antibacterial high-genus polymer vesicle as an "armed" drug carrier.

Presented in this paper is an "armed" high-genus block copolymer vesicle (g = 18) which has excellent blood compatibility and more internal barriers than simple polymer vesicles (g = 0) for controlled anti-cancer drug delivery. The high-genus vesicle also shows better antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria without quaternary ammonium moieties or the loading of any external antibiotics compared to the non-self-assembled individual polymer chains, or a conventional simple vesicle. This high-genus polymer vesicle was prepared by the self-assembly of PMEOMA-b-PTA diblock copolymers in DMF-water, where PMEOMA is thermo-responsive poly[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate] and PTA is pH-responsive and antibacterial poly[2-(tert-butylaminoethyl) methacrylate].