| 1. |
- Acciaro, Roberta, et al.
(författare)
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Investigation of the formation, structure and release characteristics of self-assembled composite films of cellulose nanofibrils and temperature responsive microgels
- 2011
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Ingår i: Soft Matter. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1744-683X .- 1744-6848. ; 7:4, s. 1369-1377
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The possibility of forming self-organized films using charge-stabilized dispersions of cellulose I nanofibrils and microgel beads of poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) copolymer is presented. The build-up behavior and the properties of the layer-by-layer (LbL)-constructed films were studied using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) and ellipsometry. The morphology of the formed films was also characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging. The applied methods clearly demonstrated the successful LbL-assembly of the monodisperse microgels and nanofibrils. The in situ QCM-D measurements also revealed that contrary to the polyelectrolyte bound microgel particles, the nanofibrils-bound gel beads preserve their highly swollen state and do not suffer a partial collapse due to the lack of interdigitation of the oppositely charged components. To probe the accessibility of the gel beads in the formed films, the room temperature (similar to 25 degrees C) loading and release of a fluorescent dye (FITC) was also investigated. The incorporation of the cellulose nanofibrils into the multilayer resulted in an open structure that was found easily penetrable for the dye molecules even at constant room temperature, which is in sharp contrast with previously reported systems based on synthetic polyelectrolytes. The amount of dye released from the multilayer films could be fine-tuned with the number of bilayers. Finally, the thermoresponsivity of the films was also shown by triggering the burst release of the loaded dye when the film was collapsed.
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| 2. |
- Bijelic, Goran, et al.
(författare)
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Adsorption characteristics of brush polyelectrolytes on silicon oxynitride revealed by dual polarisation interferometry
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0021-9797 .- 1095-7103. ; 348, s. 189-197
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Adsorption properties of bottle-brush polyelectrolytes have been investigated using dual polarization interferometry (DPI), which provides real time monitoring of adsorbed layer thickness and refractive index. The adsorption on silicon oxynitride was carried out from aqueous solution with no added inorganic salt, and the adsorbed polyelectrolyte layer was subsequently rinsed with NaCl solutions of increasing concentration. The bottle-brush polyelectrolytes investigated in this study have different ratios of permanent cationic charged segments and uncharged PEO side chains. Both the cationic groups and the PEO side chains have affinity for silica-like surfaces, and thus contribute to the adsorption process that becomes rather complex. Adsorption properties in water, responses to changes in ionic strength of the surrounding medium, adsorption kinetics and the layer structure are all strongly dependent on the ratio between backbone charges and side chains. The results are interpreted in terms of competitive adsorption of segments with different chemical nature. The adsorption kinetics is relatively fast, taking only tens to hundreds of seconds when adsorbed from dilute 100 ppm solutions. The DPI technique was found to be suitable for studying such rapid adsorption processes, including determination of the initial adsorption kinetics. We expect that the effects observed in this study are of general importance for synthetic and biological polymers carrying segments of different nature.
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| 3. |
- Bodvik, Rasmus, et al.
(författare)
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Aggregation and network formation of aqueous methylcellulose and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose solutions.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Colloids and Surfaces A. - : Elsevier. - 0927-7757 .- 1873-4359. ; 354:1-3, s. 162-171
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Solution properties of methylcellulose (MC) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) have been investigated as a function of temperature and concentration using a broad range of experimental techniques. Novelties include the extensive comparison between MC and HPMC solutions as well as the combination of techniques, and the use of Cryo transmission electron microscopy (Cryo-TEM). The correlation between rheology and light scattering results clearly demonstrates the relation between viscosity change and aggregation. Cryo-TEM images show the network structures formed. Viscosity measurements show that for both MC and HPMC solutions sudden changes in viscosity occur as the temperature is increased. The onset temperature for these changes depends on polymer concentration and heating rate. For both MC and HPMC solutions the viscosity on cooling is very different compared to on heating, demonstrating the slow equilibration time. The viscosity changes in MC and HPMC solutions are dramatically different; for MC solutions the viscosity increases by several orders of magnitude when a critical temperature is reached, whereas for HPMC solutions the viscosity decreases abruptly at a given temperature, followed by an increase upon further heating. Light and (SAXS) small-angle X-ray scattering shows that the increase in viscosity, for MC as well as for HPMC solutions, is due to extensive aggregation of the polymers. Light scattering also provides information on aggregation kinetics. The SAXS measurements allow us to correlate aggregation hysteresis to the viscosity hysteresis, as well as to extract some structural information. Cryo-TEM images give novel information that a fibrillar network is formed in MC solutions, and the strong viscosity increase occurs when this network spans the whole solution volume. For HPMC solutions the behaviour is more complex. The decrease in viscosity can be related to the formation of compact objects, and the subsequent increase to formation of fibrillar structures, which are more linear and less entangled than for MC.
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| 4. |
- Campbell, Richard A., et al.
(författare)
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Direct Impact of Nonequilibrium Aggregates on the Structure and Morphology of Pdadmac/SDS Layers at the Air/Water Interface
- 2014
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Ingår i: Langmuir. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0743-7463 .- 1520-5827. ; 30:29, s. 8664-8674
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We discuss different nonequilibrium mechanisms by which bulk aggregates directly modify, and can even control, the interfacial structure and morphology of an oppositely charged polyelectrolyte/surfactant (P/S) mixture. Samples are categorized at the air/water interface with respect to the dynamic changes in the bulk phase behavior, the bulk composition, and the sample history using complementary surface-sensitive techniques. First, we show that bulk aggregates can spontaneously interact with the adsorption layer and are retained in it and that this process occurs most readily for positively charged aggregates with an expanded structure. In this case, key nonequilibrium issues of aggregate dissociation and spreading of surface-active material at the interface have a marked influence on the macroscopic interfacial properties. In a second distinct mechanism, aggregates inherently become trapped at the interface during its creation and lateral flocculation occurs. This irreversible process is most pronounced for aggregates with the lowest charge. A third mechanism involves the deposition of aggregates at interfaces due to their transport under gravity. The specificity of this process at an interface depends on its location and is mediated by density effects in the bulk. The prevalence of each mechanism critically depends on a number of different factors, which are outlined systematically here for the first time. This study highlights the sheer complexity by which aggregates can directly impact the interfacial properties of a P/S mixture. Our findings offer scope for understanding seemingly mysterious irreproducible effects which can compromise the performance of formulations in wide-ranging applications from foams to emulsions and lubricants.
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| 5. |
- Campbell, Richard A., et al.
(författare)
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Effects of Bulk Colloidal Stability on Adsorption Layers of Poly(diallyldimethylammonium Chloride)/Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate at the Air-Water Interface Studied by Neutron Reflectometry
- 2011
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Ingår i: The Journal of Physical Chemistry Part B. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1520-5207 .- 1520-6106. ; 115:51, s. 15202-15213
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We show for the oppositely charged system poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)/sodium dodecyl sulfate that the cliff edge peak in its surface tension isotherm results from the comprehensive precipitation of bulk complexes into sediment, leaving a supernatant that is virtually transparent and a depleted adsorption layer at the air/water interface. The aggregation and settling processes take about 3 days to reach completion and occur at bulk compositions around charge neutrality of the complexes which lack long-term colloidal stability. We demonstrate excellent quantitative agreement between the measured surface tension values and a peak calculated from the surface excess of surfactant in the precipitation region measured by neutron reflectometry, using the approximation that there is no polymer left in the liquid phase. The nonequilibrium nature of the system is emphasized by the production of very different interfacial properties from equivalent aged samples that are handled differently. We go on to outline our perspective on the "true equilibrium" state of this intriguing system and conclude with a comment on its practical relevance given that the interfacial properties can be so readily influenced by the handling of kinetically trapped bulk aggregates.
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| 6. |
- Campbell, Richard A., et al.
(författare)
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Multilayers at Interfaces of an Oppositely Charged Polyelectrolyte/Surfactant System Resulting from the Transport of Bulk Aggregates under Gravity
- 2012
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Ingår i: The Journal of Physical Chemistry Part B. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1520-5207 .- 1520-6106. ; 116:27, s. 7981-7990
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We show conclusively that multilayers at interfaces of an oppositely charged polyelectrolyte/surfactant system can result from the transport under gravity of bulk aggregates with internal molecular structure. This process was demonstrated by measurements of poly-(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)/sodium dodecyl sulfate solutions at the air/liquid and solid/liquid interfaces using neutron reflectometry. In the latter case a novel approach involving the comparison of reflection up versus down measurements provided key evidence. Interfacial multilayers indicated by a strong Bragg peak and clear off-specular scattering are exhibited under three conditions: (1) only for samples in the phase separation region, (2) only for fresh samples where a suspension of bulk aggregates remains in solution, and (3) only when the creaming or sedimentation process occurs in the direction of the interface under examination. This bulk transport mechanism is an alternative route of formation of interfacial multilayers to surface induced self assembly The two processes evidently give rise to interfaces with very different structural and rheological properties. Such directionality effects in the formation of nanostructured liquid interfaces may have implications for a broad range of soft matter and biophysical systems containing macromolecules such as synthetic polymers, proteins, or DNA.
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| 7. |
- Campbell, Richard A., et al.
(författare)
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New Perspective on the Cliff Edge Peak in the Surface Tension of Oppositely Charged Polyelectrolyte/Surfactant Mixtures
- 2010
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Ingår i: The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1948-7185. ; 1:20, s. 3021-3026
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present how dramatically the nonequilibrium nature of an oppsitely charged polyelectrolyte/surfactant mixture can affect the interfacial properties. We show for the first time that the cliff edge peak in the surface tension of the poly(diallydimethylammonium chloride)/sodium dodecyl surfate system is produced as a direct result of depletion of surface-active material from the bulk solution due to a show precipitation process in the phase separation region. Simple illustrations are given of how to control the production of the peak, to eliminate the feature for equivalent aged solutions through the use of different sample handling methods, and even to change its characteristics at short surface ages. The potential to tune nonequilibrium, steady-state interfacial properties for such strongly associating system is clearly demonstrated. We propose that our findings in general may be applicable to a broad range of mixture containing surfactants and oppositely charged macromolecules such as polymers proteins and DNA.
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| 8. |
- Csendes, Zita, et al.
(författare)
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Superoxide dismutase inspired immobilised Ni(II)-protected amino acid catalysts Synthesis, characterisation, and catalytic activity
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical. - : Elsevier BV. - 1381-1169. ; 395, s. 93-99
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Covalently anchored Ni(II)-C-protected amino acid (L-histidine, L-cysteine, and L-cystine) complexes inspired by the active site of the Ni-superoxide dismutase enzyme were synthesised using chloropropylated silica gel as support. The structural features of the surface complexes were studied by the Kjeldahl method and ICP-MS, mid/far IR, UV-vis diffuse reflectance, and X-ray absorption spectroscopies. The enzyme-like activities of the materials were determined in a biochemical test reaction. Covalent grafting and building the complex onto the surface of the support were successful in all cases. It was found that in many instances the structures obtained and the coordinating groups substantially varied upon changing the conditions of the syntheses. All the covalently immobilised Ni(II)-complexes displayed enzyme-like activity. They also were active in the liquid-phase oxidation of cyclohexene, providing the epoxide with high selectivity. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 9. |
- Feldötö, Zsombor, et al.
(författare)
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Influence of Salt and Rinsing Protocol on the Structure of PAH/PSS Polyelectrolyte Multilayers
- 2010
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Ingår i: Langmuir. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0743-7463 .- 1520-5827. ; 26:22, s. 17048-17057
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and dual polarization interferometry (DPI) have been utilized to study how the structure of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH)/poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) multilayers is affected by the rinsing method (i.e., the termination of polyelectrolyte adsorption). The effect of the type of counterions used in the deposition solution was also investigated, and the polyelectrolyte multilayers were formed in a 0.5 M electrolyte solution (NaCl and KBr). From the measurements, it was observed that thicker layers were obtained when using KBr in the deposition solution than when using NaCl. There different rinsing protocols have been studied: (i) the same electrolyte solution as used during multilayer formation. (ii) pure water, and (iii) first a salt solution (0.5 M) and then pure water. When the multilayer with PAH as the outermost layer was exposed to pure water, an interesting phenomenon was discovered: a large change in the energy dissipation was measured with the QCM. This could be attributed to the swelling of the layer, and from both QCM and DPI it is obvious that only the outermost PAH layer swells (to a thickness of 25-30 nm) because of a decrease in ionic strength and hence an increase in intra- and interchain repulsion. whereas the underlying layers retain a very rigid and compact structure with a low water content. Interestingly, the outermost PAH layer seems to obtain very similar thicknesses in water independent of the electrolyte used for the multilayer buildup. Another interesting aspect was that the measured thickness with the DPI evaluated by a single-layer model did not correlate with the estimated thickness from the model calculations performed on the QCM-D data. Thus, we applied a two-layer model to evaluate the DPI data and the results were in excellent agreement with the QCM-D results. To our knowledge. this evaluation of DPI data has not been done previously.
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| 10. |
- Olanya, Geoffrey, et al.
(författare)
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Protein Interactions with Bottle-Brush Polymer Layers : Effect of Side Chain and Charge Density Ratio Probed by QCM-D and AFM
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0021-9797 .- 1095-7103. ; 349:1, s. 265-274
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Silica surfaces were coated with a range of cationic bottle-brush polymers with 45 units long poly(ethylene oxide) side chains, and their efficiency in reducing protein adsorption was probed by QCM-D, reflectometry and AFM. Preadsorbed layers formed by bottle-brush polymers with different side chain to charge ratio was exposed to two proteins with different net charge, lysozyme and BSA. The reduction in protein adsorption was found to depend on both the type of protein and on the nature of the polyelectrolyte layer. The most pronounced reduction in protein adsorption was achieved when the fraction of charged backbone segments was in the range 0.25-0.5 equivalent to a fraction of poly(ethylene oxide) side chains of 0.75-0.5. It was concluded that these polymers have enough electrostatic attachment points to ensure a strong binding to the surface, and at the same time a sufficient amount of poly(ethylene oxide) side chains to counteract protein adsorption. In contrast, a layer formed by a highly charged polyelectrolyte without side chains was unable to resists protein adsorption. On such a layer the adsorption of negatively charged BSA was strongly enhanced, and positively charged lysozyme adsorbed to a similar extent as to bare silica. AFM colloidal probe force measurement between silica surfaces with preadsorbed layers of bottle-brush polymers were conducted before and after exposure to BSA and lysozyme to gain insight into how proteins were incorporated in the bottle-brush polymer layers.
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