UV-Crosslinked Poly(-isopropylacrylamide) Interpenetrated into Chitosan Structure with Enhancement of Mechanical Properties Implemented as Anti-Fouling Materials.

High-performance properties of interpenetration polymer network (IPN) hydrogels, based on physically crosslinked chitosan (CS) and chemically crosslinked poly(-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAM), were successfully developed. The IPN of CS/PNiPAM is proposed to overcome the limited mechanical properties of the single CS network. In this study, the viscoelastic behaviors of prepared materials in both solution and gel states were extensively examined, considering the UV exposure time and crosslinker concentration as key factors.

Aberrant Water Structure Dynamics in B16 Melanoma-Bearing Mice by Time Domain Refractometry Analysis.

Living bodies comprise approximately 55-75% water to maintain homeostasis. However, little is known about the comprehensive differences in in vivo water molecule dynamics (water structure dynamics; WSD) between physiological and pathophysiological statuses. Here, we examined the WSD of ex vivo tumor tissues and organs from tumor-bearing mice with engrafted mouse malignant melanoma cells (B16-F10) in the right flanks to compare with those in healthy mice, using time domain reflectometry of dielectric spectroscopy at days 9, 11, and 14 after engrafting.

Dielectric relaxation of ice in a partially crystallized poly(-isopropylacrylamide)microgel suspension compared to other partially crystalized polymer-water mixtures.

A broadband dielectric spectroscopy study was conducted on a partially crystallized 10 wt% poly(-isopropylacrylamide) [PNIPAM] microgel aqueous suspension to investigate the dielectric relaxation of ice in microgel suspensions. The measurements covered a frequency range of 10 mHz to 10 MHz and at temperatures ranging from 123 K to 273 K. Two distinct relaxation processes were observed at specific frequencies below the melting temperature.

Universal Behavior of Fractal Water Structures Observed in Various Gelation Mechanisms of Polymer Gels, Supramolecular Gels, and Cement Gels.

So far, it has been difficult to directly compare diverse characteristic gelation mechanisms over different length and time scales. This paper presents a universal water structure analysis of several gels with different structures and gelation mechanisms including polymer gels, supramolecular gels composed of surfactant micelles, and cement gels. The spatial distribution of water molecules was analyzed at molecular level from a diagram of the relaxation times and their distribution parameters (- diagrams) with our database of the 10 GHz process for a variety of aqueous systems.

Dielectric Study on Supramolecular Gels by Fiber Structure Formation from Low-Molecular-Weight Gelator/Water Mixtures.

There are various types of gel materials used in a wide range of fields, and their gelation mechanisms are extremely diverse. Furthermore, in the case of hydrogels, there exist some difficulties in understanding complicated molecular mechanisms especially with water molecules interacting through hydrogen bonding as solvents. In the present work, the molecular mechanism of the structural formation of fibrous super-molecular gel by the low molecular weight gelator, N-oleyl lactobionamide/water mixture was elucidated using the broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) method.

Dielectric relaxations of ice and uncrystallized water in partially crystallized bovine serum albumin-water mixtures.

To investigate the dielectric relaxations of ice in low-concentration protein-water mixtures, broadband dielectric spectroscopy measurements were performed on partially crystallized bovine serum albumin (BSA)-water mixtures with BSA concentrations of 1-10 wt% at temperatures in the range of 123-298 K. The temperature dependence of the relaxation time of ice observed in all these mixtures changes twice at (∼240 K) and (200-160 K) ( > ), , at which the apparent activation energy, , changes. Below 200 K, the relaxation of ice separates as 3-4 relaxations with different and values.

Properties enhancement of carboxymethyl cellulose with thermo-responsive polymer as solid polymer electrolyte for zinc ion battery.

A novel polymer host from carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAM) was developed for a high safety solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) in a zinc ion battery. Effects of the PNiPAM loading level in the range of 0-40% by weight ( wt%) on the chemical, mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of the CMC/PNiPAMx films (where x is the wt% of PNiPAM) were symmetrically investigated. The obtained CMC/PNiPAMx films showed a high compatibility between the polymers.

Dynamics of Uncrystallized Water, Ice, and Hydrated Polymer in Partially Crystallized Poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-Water Mixtures.

In this study, we investigated the cooperative molecular dynamics of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), ice, and uncrystallized water (UCW) in partially crystallized PVP-water mixtures by means of broadband dielectric spectroscopy. Three relaxation processes, denoted I, II, and III, were observed at temperatures ranging from immediately below the crystallization temperature () to approximately 200 K. At temperatures of 173-193 K, processes I and II cannot be distinguished.

Electric-field penetration depth and dielectric spectroscopy observations of human skin.

Background: The dynamic behavior of water molecules remains an important subject for understanding human skin. The change in the dynamics of water molecules from those in bulk water can be effectively observed by dielectric spectroscopy. To study water in the human skin in vivo, non-invasive and non-destructive measurements are essential.

Dynamic Behaviors of Solvent Molecules Restricted in Poly (Acryl Amide) Gels Analyzed by Dielectric and Diffusion NMR Spectroscopy.

Dynamics of solvent molecules restricted in poly (acryl amide) gels immersed in solvent mixtures of acetone⁻, 1,4-dioxane⁻, and dimethyl sulfoxide⁻water were analyzed by the time domain reflectometry method of dielectric spectroscopy and the pulse field gradient method of nuclear magnetic resonance. Restrictions of dynamic behaviors of solvent molecules were evaluated from relaxation parameters such as the relaxation time, its distribution parameter, and the relaxation strength obtained by dielectric measurements, and similar behaviors with polymer concentration dependences for the solutions were obtained except for the high polymer concentration in collapsed gels. Scaling analyses for the relaxation time and diffusion coefficient respectively normalized by those for bulk solvent suggested that the scaling exponent determined from the scaling variable defined as a ratio of the size of solvent molecule to mesh size of polymer networks were three and unity, respectively, except for collapsed gels.

Phase Behavior of Co-Nonsolvent Systems: Poly( N-isopropylacrylamide) in Mixed Solvents of Water and Methanol.

Cloud points of poly( N-isopropylacrylamide) in aqueous mixed solvents, with methanol as the cosolvent, are experimentally measured for polymer concentrations varied up to as high as the weight fraction 0.25. They are shown to form closed loops on the ternary phase plane in the temperature region between 5 and 30 °C, and hence co-nonsolvency is complete.

Role of Hydrogen Bonding of Cyclodextrin-Drug Complexes Probed by Thermodiffusion.

Temperature gradient-induced migration of biomolecules, known as thermophoresis or thermodiffusion, changes upon ligand binding. In recent years, this effect has been used to determine protein-ligand binding constants. The mechanism through which thermodiffusive properties change when complexes are formed, however, is not understood.

Dielectric Relaxation of Ice in Gelatin-Water Mixtures.

Broadband dielectric spectroscopy measurements were performed on partially crystallized gelatin-water mixtures with gelatin concentrations of 1-5 wt % for temperatures between 123 and 298 K to study the dynamics of ice. These systems contain only hexagonal ice. Nevertheless, four dielectric relaxation processes of ice were observed.

Cohelical Crossover Network by Supramolecular Polymerization of a 4,6-Acetalized β-1,3-Glucan Macromer.

Natural polysaccharides represent a renewable resource whose effective utilization is of increasing importance. Chemical modification is a powerful tool to transform them into processable materials but usually sacrifices the original structures and properties of value. Here we introduce a chemical modification of Curdlan, a β-1,3-glucan, via 4,6-acetalization.

Self-assembly of acetylated dextran with various acetylation degrees in aqueous solutions: Studied by light scattering.

Self-assembly of acetylated dextran (Ac-DEXs) was investigated with a modified dextran with acetic anhydride in the presence of pyridine. The effect of acetylation degree on solution properties has been investigated by static and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Molecular weight (M) and the radius of gyration (R) of dextran significantly increased with acetylation degree due to the aggregates formation.

Dynamics of Uncrystallized Water, Ice, and Hydrated Protein in Partially Crystallized Gelatin-Water Mixtures Studied by Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy.

The glass transition of partially crystallized gelatin-water mixtures was investigated using broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) over a wide range of frequencies (10 mHz to 10 MHz), temperatures (113-298 K), and concentrations (10-45 wt %). Three dielectric relaxation processes (processes I, II, and III) were clearly observed. Processes I, II, and III originate from uncrystallized water (UCW) in the hydration shells of gelatin, ice, and hydrated gelatin, respectively.

Thermophoresis of cyclic oligosaccharides in polar solvents.

Cyclodextrins are cyclic oligosaccharides which are interesting as drug delivery systems, because they can be used as containers for pharmaceutical substances. We studied the Ludwig-Soret effect of [Formula: see text]-, [Formula: see text]-, [Formula: see text]- and methyl-[Formula: see text]-cyclodextrin in water and formamide by infrared thermal diffusion forced Rayleigh scattering (IR-TDFRS). In water the Soret coefficient, S , of [Formula: see text]-, [Formula: see text]- and [Formula: see text]-cyclodextrin increases with increasing temperature and shows a sign change from negative to positive around T = 35 C, while S of methyl-[Formula: see text]-cyclodextrin is positive in the entire investigated temperature.

Glass Transition and Dynamics of the Polymer and Water in the Poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-Water Mixtures Studied by Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy.

In this study, broadband dielectric spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements are performed to study the dynamics of water and polymers in an aqueous solution of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) with concentrations of 60, 65, and 70 wt % PVP in a temperature range of 123-298 K. Two distinct relaxation processes, l- and h-processes, which originate from the segmental chain motion of PVP and the primary relaxation process of water, respectively, are observed simultaneously. The relationship between l- and h-processes and their temperature dependences mimic those of the α-process and Johari-Goldstein β-process, which are observed in ordinal glass formers.

Dielectric Relaxation Time of Ice-Ih with Different Preparation.

Dielectric relaxation process of ice-Ih has been investigated by many researchers. Pioneering studies focused on the temperature dependence of the dielectric relaxation time, τice, were reported by Auty in 1952 [ Auty, R. P.

Ludwig-Soret effect of aqueous solutions of ethylene glycol oligomers, crown ethers, and glycerol: Temperature, molecular weight, and hydrogen bond effect.

The thermal diffusion, also called the Ludwig-Soret effect, of aqueous solutions of ethylene glycol oligomers, crown ethers, and glycerol is investigated as a function of temperature by thermal diffusion forced Rayleigh scattering. The Soret coefficient, ST, and the thermal diffusion coefficient, DT, show a linear temperature dependence for all studied compounds in the investigated temperature range. The magnitudes and the slopes of ST and DT vary with the chemical structure of the solute molecules.

How does thermodiffusion of aqueous solutions depend on concentration and hydrophobicity?

The thermal diffusion of aqueous solutions of mono-, di-ethylene glycols, poly(ethylene glycol), methanol, and glycerol is investigated systematically as a function of concentration using the Thermal Diffusion Forced Rayleigh Scattering (TDFRS). For all investigated binary mixtures, the Soret coefficient, S(T), decays with increasing concentration of the non-aqueous component showing two regions. For aqueous solution of ethylene glycol, at a very low solute content the decay is steep, while it becomes less steep for higher solute concentration.

Glass transition of partially crystallized gelatin-water mixtures studied by broadband dielectric spectroscopy.

The glass transition of partially crystallized gelatin-water mixtures was investigated for gelatin concentrations of 40 and 20 wt. % by broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) in wide frequency (10 mHz-50 GHz) and temperature (113-298 K) ranges. Three dielectric relaxation processes were clearly observed.

Dielectric relaxation for studying molecular dynamics of pullulan in water.

We performed an experiment of broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (BDS) to study the molecular dynamics of an aqueous pullulan solution as a function of pullulan concentration. The frequency range of the BDS experiment is 40 Hz to 50 GHz, and the solution temperature is set at T = 25.0 °C.