| 1. |
- Knaapila, Matti, et al.
(author)
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An effect of side chain length on the solution structure of poly(9,9-dialkylfluorene)s in toluene
- 2008
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In: Polymer. - : Elsevier BV. - 0032-3861. ; 49:8, s. 2033-2038
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The effect of side chain length of pi-conjugated poly(9,9-dialkylfluorene)s has been studied in semi-dilute (10 mg/mL) toluene solutions using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and H-1 and H-2 NMR spectroscopies. Under these conditions, SANS data indicate that poly(9,9-dinonylfluorene) and poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) are dissolved down to the molecule level and appear as elongated one-dimensional chains (length >20-30 nm). In contrast, the shorter side chain polymers exhibit a self-association so that poly(9,9-diheptylfluorene) forms thin sheet-like (similar to 1 nm) and poly(9,9-dihexylfluorene) thin (similar to 1 nm) and thick sheet-like (>6 nm) aggregates. H-1 NMR data, together with the density functional theory (DFT) calculations, however, show that this occurs without changes in the conformation of the polymer backbone.
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| 2. |
- Zaghrini, C., et al.
(author)
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Novel ELISA for thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing 7A autoantibodies in membranous nephropathy
- 2019
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In: Kidney International. - : Elsevier BV. - 0085-2538. ; 95:3, s. 666-679
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Autoantibodies against phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1) and thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A) are emerging as biomarkers to classify membranous nephropathy (MN) and to predict outcome or response to treatment. Anti-THSD7A autoantibodies are detected by Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence test (IIFT). Here, we developed a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) optimized for quantitative detection of anti-THSD7A autoantibodies. Among 1012 biopsy-proven MN patients from 6 cohorts, 28 THSD7A-positive patients were identified by ELISA, indicating a prevalence of 2.8%. By screening additional patients, mostly referred because of PLA2R1-unrelated MN, we identified 21 more cases, establishing a cohort of 49 THSD7A-positive patients. Twenty-eight patients (57%) were male, and male patients were older than female patients (67 versus 49 years). Eight patients had a history of malignancy, but only 3 were diagnosed with malignancy within 2 years of MN diagnosis. We compared the results of ELISA, IIFT, Western blot, and biopsy staining, and found a significant correlation between ELISA and IIFT titers. Anti-THSD7A autoantibodies were predominantly IgG4 in all patients. Eight patients were double positive for THSD7A and PLA2R1. Levels of anti-THSD7A autoantibodies correlated with disease activity and with response to treatment. Patients with high titer at baseline had poor clinical outcome. In a subgroup of patients with serial titers, persistently elevated anti-THSD7A autoantibodies were observed in patients who did not respond to treatment or did not achieve remission. We conclude that the novel anti-THSD7A ELISA can be used to identify patients with THSD7A-associated MN and to monitor autoantibody titers during treatment.
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| 3. |
- Justino, L. L. G., et al.
(author)
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Structural and electronic properties of poly(9,9-dialkylfluorene)-based alternating copolymers in solution : An NMR spectroscopy and density functional theory study
- 2013
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In: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 117:35, s. 17969-17982
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The structural and electronic properties of three alternating poly(9,9-dialkylfluorene) copolymers, poly[2,7-(9,9-bis(octyl)-fluorene)-alt- benzothiadiazole] (F8BT), poly[2,7-(9,9-bis(2′-ethylhexyl)-fluorene)-alt- thiophene S,S-dioxide] (PFTSO2), and poly[2,7-(9,9-bis(2′-ethylhexyl)- fluorene)-alt-1,4-phenylene] (PFP), containing, respectively, benzothiadiazole (BT), thiophene S,S-dioxide, and phenylene groups, have been investigated and compared to those of the homopolymer poly[2,7-(9,9-bis(2′-ethylhexyl)- fluorene)] (PF2/6). The NMR spectra and corresponding shielding tensors of the 1H and 13C nuclei have been studied in solution and are interpreted by density functional theory (DFT) with complete geometry optimization using the B3LYP functional. Particular emphasis is placed on the conformational behavior and electronic properties in the electronic ground state. In addition, time-dependent DFT is applied to obtain detailed insight into the character of selected excited states. A new TDDFT interpretation is presented for optical absorption spectra of singlet and triplet states that have previously been reported for these fluorene-based conjugated copolymers using photoexcitation and pulse radiolysis-energy transfer studies. As well as providing detailed assignment of excited states, the results show that the triplet excitation is slightly more localized than S1 excitation, in agreement with experimental observations. The DFT analysis provides a link between structure and NMR, optical, electronic properties, allowing optimization of the potential of such polymers for photovoltaic and electroluminescence applications.
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| 4. |
- Burrows, Hugh D., et al.
(author)
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Aqueous Solution Behavior of Anionic Fluorene-co-thiophene-Based Conjugated Polyelectrolytes
- 2009
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In: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1944-8244 .- 1944-8252. ; 1:4, s. 864-874
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Two anionic fluorene-thiophene alternating copolymers, poly[9,9-bis(4-sulfonylbutoxyphenyl)fluorene-2,7-diyl-2,5-thienylene] (PBS-PFT) and poly [9,9-bis(4-sulfonylbutoxyphenyl)fluorene-2,7-diyl-2,2'-bithiophene-5,5'- diyl] (PBS-PF2T), have been synthesized and their solution behaviors in water studied by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence, and electrical conductivity and compared with that of the previously studied conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) poly[9,9-bis(4-sulfonylbutoxyphenyl)fluorene-2,7-diyl-1,4-phenylene] (PBS-PFP). These conjugated polymers do not form solutions at the molecular level in water but instead form clusters. information on the structure of these clusters for PBS-PF2T comes from small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering. The relative ease of dispersing the copolymers in water increases with an increase in the number Of thiophene rings in these alternating copolymers. Semiempirical calculations on the structure suggest that this results from bending of the chains and increased conformational flexibility, decreasing interchain interactions. These CPEs can be dissolved in water at the molecular level using the nonionic surfactants n-dodecylpentaoxyethylene glycol ether (C12E5) or Triton X-100 to obtain systems with increased photoluminescence quantum yield and increased electrical conductivity that can be solution-processed for potential applications as components of sensory or optoelectronic devices.
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