The self-assembly of amphiphilic graft copolymers is generally reported for polymer melts or polymers deposited onto surfaces, while a small number of cases deal with binary mixtures with water. We report on the associative properties of poly(ethylene glycol)-graft-poly(vinyl acetate) (PEG-g-PVAc) comb-like copolymers in water, demonstrating the existence of a percolative behaviour when increasing the PEG-g-PVAc content. Rheology, light- and small-angle X-ray scattering experiments, together with dissipative particle dynamics simulations, reveal a progressive transition from spherical polymer single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) towards hierarchically complex structures as the weight fraction of the polymer in water increases. The ability of PEG-g-PVAc to attain different nano- and microstructures is of great importance in numerous applications such as in the fields of cosmetics, detergency and drug delivery.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c8nr10453k | DOI Listing |
Braz Oral Res
January 2025
Universidade de São Paulo - USP, School of Dentistry, Department of Operative Dentistry, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a chlorhexidine digluconate solution (CHX) applied as an antiproteolytic agent for controlling erosive tooth wear or as part of the adhesive treatment on long-term bond strength to eroded dentin. Dentin specimens were abraded with a 600-grit silicon carbide (SiC) paper for 1 min (sound dentin - S), subsequently treated with 2% CHX for 1 min (with excess removed, followed by a 6-hour rest), and eroded by exposure to Coca-Cola for 5 min, three times a day, for 5 days (CHX-treated and eroded dentin - CHXE), or only eroded (eroded dentin - E). The specimens were acid-etched (15 s), rinsed (30 s), dried (15 s), and rehydrated with 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
School of City and Architecture Engineering, Zaozhuang University, Zaozhuang, 277160, Shandong, China.
To study the enhancement effect of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the splitting tensile properties of foamed concrete backfill in which cement and fly ash were used as the cementitious materials and natural sand was used as the aggregate, specimens of CNT-modified foamed concrete backfill were prepared. Brazilian splitting tests were used to investigate the splitting tensile strength of the CNT-modified foamed concrete backfill, and the digital speckle correlation method was used to analyze the stress field characteristics and crack expansion law of the specimens during splitting tensile testing. The stress-strain characteristics and energy dissipation laws of the backfill were studied at various static loading rates, and a relationship between the splitting tensile strength, ultimate strain, and loading rate was established.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Biol Macromol
January 2025
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, United States. Electronic address:
Chitin, the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature, offers numerous practical applications due to its versatile functional properties. However, its utilization is constrained by significant challenges in extraction, as well as low solubility and high crystallinity. While traditional chemical and biological fermentation methods can achieve high-purity chitin, these processes are often environmentally harmful or time/energy-consuming.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAppetite
January 2025
School of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
Certain interoceptive hunger cues are caused by gut physiology. These interoceptive cues may have psychological consequences, namely an ability to enhance the desire to eat, which are independent of their physiological cause. Testing this idea is difficult because the physiological processes are normally linked to any consequence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProg Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry
January 2025
Department of Physiology and Institute of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address:
Environmental enrichment (EE) is a well-known strategy in animal behavior to improve the welfare and health of animals in captivity. EE provides animals with stimulating and engaging environments that promote natural behaviors, cognitive stimulation and stress reduction. EE turns out to be an important strategy to increase the validity and reproducibility of behavioral data.
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