Crystallization-dictated self-assembly of crystalline block copolymers (BCPs) in solution has been utilized to produce many impressive nanostructures. However, when the assembly of crystalline BCPs happens in a three-dimensional (3D) confined space, predicting the self-assembly structure of BCPs becomes challenging due to the competition between crystallization and microphase separation. In this feature article, we summarize the recent progress in the self-assembly of crystalline BCPs under confinement, emphasizing the impact of crystallization behavior on the assembly structure. Furthermore, we highlight the crystallization-directed assembly of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs), either by pre-assembling crystalline polymers as templates or using crystalline polymer chain segments as ligands. By exploring the impact of crystallization behavior on the assembled structure of BCPs and NPs, it is helpful to predict and manipulate the properties of polymer/nanoparticle composites, thereby enabling the precise design of polymer metamaterials.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d4cc03685a | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
A fluidic device for continuous on-line inductive sensing of proteolytic cleavages.
Lab Chip
January 2025
Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
Proteases, an important class of enzymes that cleave proteins and peptides, carry a wealth of potentially useful information. Devices to enable routine and cost effective measurement of their activity could find frequent use in clinical settings for medical diagnostics, as well as some industrial contexts such as detecting on-line biological contamination. In particular, devices that make use of readouts involving magnetic particles may offer distinct advantages for continuous sensing because material they release can be magnetically captured downstream and their readout is insensitive to optical properties of the sample.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOptimizing Surface Maleimide/cRGD Ratios Enhances Targeting Efficiency of cRGD-Functionalized Nanomedicines.
J Am Chem Soc
January 2025
Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui Province, China.
Thiol-maleimide (MI) chemistry is a cornerstone of bioconjugation strategies, particularly in the development of drug delivery systems. The cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (cRGD) peptide, recognized for its ability to target the integrin αβ, is commonly employed to functionalize maleimide-bearing nanoparticles (NPs) for fabricating cRGD-functionalized nanomedicines. However, the impact of cRGD density on tumor targeting efficiency remains poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPoly(-lysine)--poly(ethylene glycol)--poly(-lysine) triblock copolymers for the preparation of flower micelles and their irreversible hydrogel formation.
Sci Technol Adv Mater
November 2024
Department of Materials Science, Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Poly(-lysine)--poly(ethylene glycol)--poly(-lysine) (PLys--PEG--PLys) triblock copolymers formed polyion complex (PIC) with poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) or sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS), leading to the formation of flower micelle-type nanoparticles (Nano or Nano) with tens of nanometers size in water at a polymer concentration of 10 mg/mL. The flower micelles exhibited irreversible temperature-driven sol-gel transitions at physiological ionic strength, even at low polymer concentrations such as 40 mg/mL, making them promising candidates for injectable hydrogel applications. Rheological studies showed that the chain length of PLys segments and the choice of polyanions significantly impacted irreversible hydrogel formation, with PSS being superior to PAAc for the formation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSequence-Defined DNA Polymers: New Tools for DNA Nanotechnology and Nucleic Acid Therapy.
Acc Chem Res
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0B8, Canada.
ConspectusStructural DNA nanotechnology offers a unique self-assembly toolbox to construct soft materials of arbitrary complexity, through bottom-up approaches including DNA origami, brick, wireframe, and tile-based assemblies. This toolbox can be expanded by incorporating interactions orthogonal to DNA base-pairing such as metal coordination, small molecule hydrogen bonding, π-stacking, fluorophilic interactions, or the hydrophobic effect. These interactions allow for hierarchical and long-range organization in DNA supramolecular assemblies through a DNA-minimal approach: the use of fewer unique DNA sequences to make complex structures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Integration of Microwave-Synthesized Silver Colloidal Nanoparticles into Poly (Lactic Acid)-Based Textiles as Antimicrobial Agents via Pre- and Post-Electrospinning Processes.
Polymers (Basel)
December 2024
Center of Excellence for Research in Engineering Materials (CEREM), Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia.
This study introduces a novel method to enhance the antibacterial functionality of electrospun nanofibrous textiles by integrating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into poly (lactic acid) (PLA) fabrics through pre- and post-electrospinning techniques. AgNPs were incorporated into hydrophobic and modified hydrophilic PLA textiles via pre-solution blending and post-solution casting. A PEG-PPG-PEG tri-block copolymer was utilized to enhance hydrophilicity and water stability, while AgNPs served as antibacterial agents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!