Asymmetric Polymerization-Induced Crystallization-Driven Self-Assembly of Helical, Rod-Coil Poly(aryl isocyanide) Block Copolymers.

Polymerization-induced crystallization-driven self-assembly (PI-CDSA) is combined, for the first time, with helical, rod-coil block copolymer (BCP) self-assembly to enable scalable and controllable synthesis of chiral nanostructures of variable shape, size, and dimensionality. Herein, we report newly developed PI-CDSA (PI-CDSA) methodologies in the synthesis and self-assembly of chiral, rod-coil BCPs composed of poly(aryl isocyanide) (PAIC) rigid-rod and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) random-coil components. Using PEG-based nickel(II) macroinitiators, the construction of PAIC-BCP nanostructures with variable chiral morphologies is accomplished at solids contents ranging 5.

Molecular Encryption and Steganography Using Mixtures of Simultaneously Sequenced, Sequence-Defined Oligourethanes.

Molecular encoding in abiotic sequence-defined polymers (SDPs) has recently emerged as a versatile platform for information and data storage. However, the storage capacity of these sequence-defined polymers remains underwhelming compared to that of the information storing biopolymer DNA. In an effort to increase their information storage capacity, herein we describe the synthesis and simultaneous sequencing of eight sequence-defined 10-mer oligourethanes.

Correction: Click chemistry approaches to expand the repertoire of PEG-based fluorinated surfactants for droplet microfluidics.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C8RA01254G.].

Click Chemistry Approaches to Expand the Repertoire of PEG-based Fluorinated Surfactants for Droplet Microfluidics.

We report the novel and simplified synthesis of fluorinated surfactants for droplet microfluidics. The range of applications of droplet microfluidics has greatly expanded during the last decade thanks to its ability to manipulate and process tiny amount of sample and reagents at high throughput in independent reactors. A critical component of the technology is the formulation of the immiscible oil phase that contains surfactants to stabilize droplets.

A Droplet Microfluidics Based Platform for Mining Metagenomic Libraries for Natural Compounds.

Historically, microbes from the environment have been a reliable source for novel bio-active compounds. Cloning and expression of metagenomic DNA in heterologous strains of bacteria has broadened the range of potential compounds accessible. However, such metagenomic libraries have been under-exploited for applications in mammalian cells because of a lack of integrated methods.