Correction to "Grafting Density Governs the Thermoresponsive Behavior of P(OEGMA--RMA) Statistical Copolymers".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.0c00461.

Grafting Density Governs the Thermoresponsive Behavior of P(OEGMA--RMA) Statistical Copolymers.

Thermoresponsive copolymers that exhibit a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) have been exploited to prepare stimuli-responsive materials for a broad range of applications. It is well understood that the LCST of such copolymers can be controlled by tuning molecular weight or through copolymerization of two known thermoresponsive monomers. However, no general methodology has been established to relate polymer properties to their temperature response in solution.

The Importance of Cooperativity in Polymer Blending: Toward Controlling the Thermoresponsive Behavior of Blended Block Copolymer Micelles.

Understanding, predicting, and controlling the self-assembly behavior of stimuli-responsive block copolymers remains a pertinent challenge. As such, the copolymer blending protocol provides an accessible methodology for obtaining a range of intermediate polymeric nanostructures simply by blending two or more block copolymers in the desired molar ratio to target specific stimuli-responsiveness. Herein, thermoresponsive diblock copolymers are blended in various combinations to investigate whether the resultant cloud point temperature can be modulated by simple manipulation of the molar ratio.

Polymerization-Induced Polymersome Fusion.

The dynamic interactions of membranes, particularly their fusion and fission, are critical for the transmission of chemical information between cells. Fusion is primarily driven by membrane tension built up through membrane deformation. For artificial polymersomes, fusion is commonly induced via the external application of a force field.

Tuning the membrane permeability of polymersome nanoreactors developed by aqueous emulsion polymerization-induced self-assembly.

Polymeric vesicles (or polymersomes) are hollow bilayer structures consisting of an inner aqueous compartment enclosed by a hydrophobic membrane. Vesicular constructs are ubiquitous in nature and perform a variety of functions by compartmentalizing molecules into disparate environments. For polymer chemists, the synthesis of vesicles can be readily accomplished using polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA), whereby pure vesicle morphologies can be easily accessed by tuning initial reaction parameters.

Predicting Monomers for Use in Aqueous Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly.

Aqueous polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) is a well-established methodology enabling synthesis of polymeric nanoparticles of controllable morphology. Notably, PISA ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMPISA) is an emerging technology for block copolymer self-assembly, mainly due to its high versatility and robustness. However, a limited number of monomers suitable for core-forming blocks in aqueous ROMPISA have been reported to date.

Predicting Monomers for Use in Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly.

We report an in silico method to predict monomers suitable for use in polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA). By calculating the dependence of LogP  /surface area (SA) on the length of the growing polymer chain, the change in hydrophobicity during polymerization was determined. This allowed for evaluation of the capability of a monomer to polymerize to form self-assembled structures during chain extension.

Structural Determinants of the Stability of Enzyme-Responsive Polyion Complex Nanoparticles Targeting 's Elastase.

Here, we report how the stability of polyion complex (PIC) particles containing 's elastase (LasB) degradable peptides and antimicrobial poly(ethylene imine) is significantly improved by careful design of the peptide component. Three LasB-degradable peptides are reported herein, all of them carrying the LasB-degradable sequence -GLA- and for which the number of anionic amino acids and cysteine units per peptide were systematically varied. Our results suggest that while net charge and potential to cross-link via disulfide bond formation do not have a predictable effect on the ability of LasB to degrade these peptides, a significant effect of these two parameters on particle preparation and stability is observed.

Precision Epitaxy for Aqueous 1D and 2D Poly(ε-caprolactone) Assemblies.

The fabrication of monodisperse nanostructures of highly controlled size and morphology with spatially distinct functional regions is a current area of high interest in materials science. Achieving this control directly in a biologically relevant solvent, without affecting cell viability, opens the door to a wide range of biomedical applications, yet this remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report the preparation of biocompatible and biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone) 1D (cylindrical) and 2D (platelet) micelles in water and alcoholic solvents via crystallization-driven self-assembly.

Reversibly Manipulating the Surface Chemistry of Polymeric Nanostructures via a "Grafting To" Approach Mediated by Nucleobase Interactions.

"Grafting to" polymeric nanostructures or surfaces is a simple and versatile approach to achieve functionalization. Herein, we describe the formation of mixed polymer-grafted nanoparticles through a supramolecular "grafting to" method that exploits multiple hydrogen-bonding interactions between the thymine (T)-containing cores of preformed micelles and the complementary nucleobase adenine (A) of added diblock copolymers. To demonstrate this new "grafting to" approach, mixed-corona polymeric nanoparticles with different sizes were prepared by the addition of a series of complementary diblock copolymers containing thermoresponsive poly(-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) to a preformed micelle with a different coronal forming block, poly(4-acryloylmorpholine) (PNAM).

Quantification of gingival contour and volume from digital impressions as a novel method for assessing gingival health.

Objective: To evaluate the novel assessment of gingival contour volume measurement from digital impressions compared with traditional clinical indices (Modified Gingival Index and Bleeding Index) and oral microflora following a dental prophylaxis.

Methods: Following baseline examinations and full mouth digital impression using the LAVA™ Oral Chairside Scanner (COS), subjects had one maxillary quadrant and the contra-lateral mandibular quadrant randomly allocated to receive a complete dental prophylaxis. Subjects then brushed twice daily at home using a standard toothpaste.