Liquid Crystalline Structures Research Articles

A Donor-Acceptor Molecular Octopus and the CLICK Procedure in Columnar Liquid Crystal Phases.

Two star-shaped mesogens with a (meso-tetraphenylporphinato) zinc (II) core and bithiophene conjugated arms with 3,4,5-trisdodecyloxyphenyl periphery were synthesized. One of these molecules was decorated with four fullerenes via an aliphatic spacer. This is the sterically overcrowded compound with an octapodal morphology. The other star lacks the fullerenes and provides free space between the conjugated arms. This mesogen does not aggregate in solution, but in solid state it forms a hexagonal columnar and a highly ordered oblique helical columnar phase, while the octopus molecule assemble in an amorphous solid. Photophysical studies of the octapodal compound in solution and the solid thin film reveal the formation of J-type aggregates, in which the interaction between donors (porphyrin) and acceptors (fullerene) dominates leading to absorption bands in the NIR region of the spectra. The mixture of both compounds results in a self-assembly which is called the Click procedure. Fullerenes of the octopus nanosegregate in the pockets of the star mesogens generating hexagonal columnar structures with a regular stacking along the columnar axis. Thus providing free space is a tool to control the competition between supramolecular interactions and nanosegregation. Such liquid-crystalline donor-acceptor structures may play a role in future LC photovoltaic applications.

Pf bacteriophages hinder sputum antibiotic diffusion via electrostatic binding.

Despite great progress in the field, chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) infections remain a major cause of mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (pwCF), necessitating treatment with antibiotics. Pf is a filamentous bacteriophage produced by Pa and acts as a structural element in Pa biofilms. Pf presence has been associated with antibiotic resistance and poor outcomes in pwCF, although the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We have investigated how Pf and sputum biopolymers impede antibiotic diffusion using pwCF sputum and fluorescent recovery after photobleaching. We demonstrate that tobramycin interacts with Pf and sputum polymers through electrostatic interactions. We also developed a set of mathematical models to analyze the complex observations. Our analysis suggests that Pf in sputum reduces the diffusion of charged antibiotics due to a greater binding constant associated with organized liquid crystalline structures formed between Pf and sputum polymers. This study provides insights into antibiotic tolerance mechanisms in chronic Pa infections and may offer potential strategies for novel therapeutic approaches.

Exclusion-zone water inside and outside of plant xylem vessels

The fourth phase of water has garnered increased attention within the scientific community due to its distinct properties that differentiate it from regular water. This unique state seems to arise potentially from a liquid crystalline structure, which has been observed near various hydrophilic surfaces to possess the capability of excluding microspheres. Consequently, it has been labeled as exclusion zone (EZ) water. When in contact with hydrophilic surfaces, water could exhibit the ability to form organized layers of EZ water. In this study, we investigated the quick buildup of EZ water exposed to xylem vessels of four vegetable plants: cabbage, celery, asparagus, and pumpkin. Among them, pumpkin vessels showed larger EZs, up to 240 ± 56 μm in width. The width of EZ water found near the xylem vessels of the other plants ranged from 133 ± 22 to 142 ± 20 μm. EZ water generally excludes a wide range of particles, including polystyrene microspheres with various surface modifications, as well as silica microspheres. This implies that the formation of EZ water is not an artificial result of using specific microsphere types but rather demonstrates EZ’s ability to exclude particles regardless of their composition. Inside single xylem vessels of the pumpkin, we could observe the dynamics of EZ buildup, growing from the inside edge of the vessel toward the center. The relationship between vessel diameter, vessel length, and salt concentration on EZ generation inside the xylem vessel was also explored. The results showed that EZ water can build up both inside and outside the xylem vessels. Our findings suggest that EZ generation inside xylem vessels is associated with water flow, likely driven by a proton gradient. Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of EZ water in the physiology of living plants, particularly considering the limitations of the current experiments conducted on cut-out xylem vessel samples.

A theoretical model of anaphase

This paper develops a theory for anaphase in cells. After a brief description of microtubules, the mitotic spindle and the centrosome, a mathematical model for anaphase is introduced and developed in the context of the cell cytoplasm and liquid crystalline structures. Prophase, prometaphase and metaphase are then briefly described in order to focus on anaphase, which is the main study of this paper. The entities involved are modelled in terms of liquid crystal defects and microtubules are represented as defect flux lines. The mathematical techniques employed make extensive use of energy considerations based on the work that was developed by Dafermos (1970) from the classical Frank–Oseen nematic liquid crystal energy (Frank, 1958; Oseen, 1933). With regard to liquid crystal theory we introduce the concept of regions of influence for defects which it is believed have important implications beyond the subject of this paper. The results of this paper align with observed biochemical phenomena and are explored in application to HeLa cells and Caenorhabditis elegans. This unified approach offers the possibility of gaining insight into various consequences of mitotic abnormalities which may result in Down syndrome, Hodgkin lymphoma, breast, prostate and various other types of cancer.

Self-Assembly of Ionic Superdiscs in Nanopores.

Discotic ionic liquid crystals (DILCs) consist of self-assembled superdiscs of cations and anions that spontaneously stack in linear columns with high one-dimensional ionic and electronic charge mobility, making them prominent model systems for functional soft matter. Compared to classical nonionic discotic liquid crystals, many liquid crystalline structures with a combination of electronic and ionic conductivity have been reported, which are of interest for separation membranes, artificial ion/proton conducting membranes, and optoelectronics. Unfortunately, a homogeneous alignment of the DILCs on the macroscale is often not achievable, which significantly limits the applicability of DILCs. Infiltration into nanoporous solid scaffolds can, in principle, overcome this drawback. However, due to the experimental challenges to scrutinize liquid crystalline order in extreme spatial confinement, little is known about the structures of DILCs in nanopores. Here, we present temperature-dependent high-resolution optical birefringence measurement and 3D reciprocal space mapping based on synchrotron X-ray scattering to investigate the thermotropic phase behavior of dopamine-based ionic liquid crystals confined in cylindrical channels of 180 nm diameter in macroscopic anodic aluminum oxide membranes. As a function of the membranes' hydrophilicity and thus the molecular anchoring to the pore walls (edge-on or face-on) and the variation of the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance between the aromatic cores and the alkyl side chain motifs of the superdiscs by tailored chemical synthesis, we find a particularly rich phase behavior, which is not present in the bulk state. It is governed by a complex interplay of liquid crystalline elastic energies (bending and splay deformations), polar interactions, and pure geometric confinement and includes textural transitions between radial and axial alignment of the columns with respect to the long nanochannel axis. Furthermore, confinement-induced continuous order formation is observed in contrast to discontinuous first-order phase transitions, which can be quantitatively described by Landau-de Gennes free energy models for liquid crystalline order transitions in confinement. Our observations suggest that the infiltration of DILCs into nanoporous solids allows tailoring their nanoscale texture and ion channel formation and thus their electrical and optical functionalities over an even wider range than in the bulk state in a homogeneous manner on the centimeter scale as controlled by the monolithic nanoporous scaffolds.

Single-Step Control of Liquid-Liquid Crystalline Phase Separation by Depletion Gradients.

Fine-tuning nucleation and growth of colloidal liquid crystalline (LC) droplets, also known as tactoids, is highly desirable in both fundamental science and technological applications. However, the tactoid structure results from the trade-off between thermodynamics and nonequilibrium kinetics effects, and controlling liquid-liquid crystalline phase separation (LLCPS) in these systems is still a work in progress. Here, a single-step strategy is introduced to obtain a rich palette of morphologies for tactoids formed via nucleation and growth within an initially isotropic phase exposed to a gradient of depletants. The simultaneous appearance is shown of rich LC structures along the depleting potential gradient, where the position of each LC structure is correlated with the magnitude of the depleting potential. Changing the size (nanoparticles) or the nature (polymers) of the depleting agent provides additional, precise control over the resulting LC structures through a size-selective mechanism, where the depletant may be found both within and outside the LC droplets. The use of depletion gradients from depletants of varying sizes and nature offers a powerful toolbox for manipulation, templating, imaging, and understanding heterogeneous colloidal LC structures.

Reticular liquid crystal design: Controlling complex self-assembly of p-terphenyl rods by side-chain engineering and chirality

A series of K-shaped bolapolyphiles, consisting of a p-terphenyl core, two polar glycerol end-groups and a swallow-tailed alkyl side-chain were synthesized and investigated. By increasing the side-chain volume an astonishing variety of very different liquid crystalline (LC) phases was observed, ranging from a rectangular (Colrec/c2mm) and a square honeycomb (Colsqu/p4mm) via a highly complex zeolite-like octagon/pentagon honeycomb filled with additional strings of rod-bundles (ColrecZ/c2mm), a new 3D-hexagonal (R3‾c) double network phase, a double and even a single network cubic phase (double gyroid Cub/Ia3‾d and single diamond Cub/Fd3‾m, respectively) to a correlated lamellar phase (LamSm/c2mm). Though these LC structures are highly complex and there is a delicate balance of steric and geometric frustration determining the phase formation, there is only a small effect of permanent molecular chirality in the glycerol groups ((R,R)-configuration) on them, which is attributed to a slightly different packing density of uniformly chiral and racemic glycerols, but not to an effect of induced helicity. Compared to related T-shaped bolapolyphiles with a single linear n-alkyl side-chain, which form exclusively honeycomb phases, the complexity of self-assembly is enhanced for the K-shaped compounds due to a competition between the requirements of space filling, chain stretching and geometric frustration, and affected by the shape of the polar glycerol domains at the junctions.

Myelin figures from microbial glycolipid biosurfactant amphiphiles

AbstractMyelin figures (MFs)—cylindrical lyotropic liquid crystalline structures consisting of concentric arrays of bilayers and aqueous media—arise from the hydration of the bulk lamellar phase of many common amphiphiles. Prior efforts have concentrated on the formation, structure, and dynamics of myelin produced by phosphatidylcholine (PC)‐based amphiphiles. Here, we study the myelinization of glycolipid microbial amphiphiles, commonly addressed as biosurfactants, produced through the process of fermentation. The hydration characteristics (and phase diagrams) of these biological amphiphiles are atypical (and thus their capacity to form myelin) because unlike typical amphiphiles, their molecular structure is characterized by two hydrophilic groups (sugar, carboxylic acid) on both ends with a hydrophobic moiety in the middle. We tested three different glycolipid molecules: C18:1 sophorolipids and single‐glucose C18:1 and C18:0 glucolipids, all in their nonacetylated acidic form. Neither sophorolipids (too soluble) nor C18:0 glucolipids (too insoluble) displayed myelin growth at room temperature (RT, 25°C). The glucolipid C18:1 (G‐C18:1), on the other hand, showed dense myelin growth at RT below pH 7.0. Examining their growth rates, we find that they display a linear (L, myelin length; t, time) growth rate, suggesting ballistic growth, distinctly different from the dependence, characterizing diffusive growth such as what occurs in more conventional phospholipids. These results offer some insight into lipidic mesophases arising from a previously unexplored class of amphiphiles with potential applications in the field of drug delivery.

Recent Advances in the Use of Cubosomes as Drug Carriers with Special Emphasis on Topical Applications.

Topical drug delivery employing drug nanocarriers has shown prominent results in treating topical ailments, especially those confined to the skin and eyes. Conventional topical formulations persist with drug and disease-related challenges during treatment. Various nanotechnology-driven approaches have been adopted to mitigate the issues associated with conventional formulations. Among these, cubosomes have shown potential applications owing to their liquid crystalline structure, which aids in bioadhesion, retention, sustained release, and loading hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties. The phase transition behavior of glyceryl monooleate, the concentration of stabilizers, and critical packing parameters are crucial parameters that affect the formation of cubosomes. Microfluidics-based approaches constitute a recent advance in technologies for generating stable cubosomes. This review covers the recent topical applications of cubosomes for treating skin (psoriasis, skin cancer, cutaneous candidiasis, acne, and alopecia) and eye (fungal keratitis, glaucoma, conjunctivitis, and uveitis) diseases. The article summarizes the manufacturing and biological challenges (skin and ocular barriers) that must be considered and encountered for successful clinical outcomes. The patented products are successful examples of technological advancements within cosmeceuticals that support various topical applications with cubosomes in the pharmaceutical field.

Columnar liquid crystals based on antiaromatic expanded porphyrins.

Three naphthorosarins, antiaromatic expanded porphyrins bearing different meso substituents (NRos 1-3), designed to self-assemble into columnar liquid crystalline (LC) structures, were synthesized and characterized using polarized optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), as well as supporting computational calculations. The substituents were found to play a crucial role in modulating the LC behaviour.

Relevance of Sulfate Functionalization and Porous Structure of TiO2 Ceramic Foams in Photocatalytic Degradation of Dye Molecules

A one-step route was developed for sulfate functionalization of titania foam, consisting of integrating the sol-gel process with an emulsion template. The resulting material was used to evaluate the relevance of the porous structure and surface sulfate groups in the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B molecules in water under UV irradiation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the anatase crystalline phase was metastabilized by functionalization of the surface with sulfate species, which caused the crystallite size to decrease from 21 to 10 nm, while the specific surface area increased from 4 to 42 cm2 g-1. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements during heating of the non-sulfated (E-TiO2) and sulfated (E-TiO2/SO42-) sols emulsified with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as surfactant and isopropyl myristate as the nonpolar phase, revealed formation of the liquid crystalline structure. Elimination of this mesophase template allowed the preparation of ceramic foams with hierarchical structure formed by meso- and macropore families. The kinetics of photodegradation reaction of Rhodamine B followed a pseudofirst order mechanism. The most efficient photocatalytic activity (higher rate constant and shorter half-life time) was obtained for the foam templated using 20% of SDS (E-TiO2/SO42- 20SDS), which exhibited the highest values for porosity (93%) and specific surface area (80 m3 g-1).

Aquatic Functional Liquid Crystals: Design, Functionalization, and Molecular Simulation.

Aquatic functional liquid crystals, which are ordered molecular assemblies that work in water environment, are described in this review. Aquatic functional liquid crystals are liquid-crystalline (LC) materials interacting water molecules or aquatic environment. They include aquatic lyotropic liquid crystals and LC based materials that have aquatic interfaces, for example, nanoporous water treatment membranes that are solids preserving LC order. They can remove ions and viruses with nano- and subnano-porous structures. Columnar, smectic, bicontinuous LC structures are used for fabrication of these 1D, 2D, 3D materials. Design and functionalization of aquatic LC sensors based on aqueous/LC interfaces are also described. The ordering transitions of liquid crystals induced by molecular recognition at the aqueous interfaces provide distinct optical responses. Molecular orientation and dynamic behavior of these aquatic functional LC materials are studied by molecular dynamics simulations. The molecular interactions of LC materials and water are key of these investigations. New insights into aquatic functional LC materials contribute to the fields of environment, healthcare, and biotechnology.

Biocompatible Rhamnolipid Self-Assemblies with pH-Responsive Antimicrobial Activity.

There is an urgent need for alternative antimicrobial materials due to the growing challenge of bacteria becoming resistant to conventional antibiotics. This study demonstrates the creation of a biocompatible pH-switchable antimicrobial material by combining bacteria-derived rhamnolipids (RL) and food-grade glycerol monooleate (GMO). The integration of RL into dispersed GMO particles, with an inverse-type liquid crystalline cubic structure in the core, leads to colloidally stable supramolecular materials. The composition and pH-triggered structural transformations are studied with small-angle X-ray scattering, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. The composition-structure-activity relationship is analyzed and optimized to target bacteria at acidic pH values of acute wounds. The new RL/GMO dispersions reduce Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) populations by 7-log after 24h of treatment with 64µg mL-1 of RL and prevent biofilm formation at pH = 5.0, but have no activity at pH = 7.0. Additionally, the system is active against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) with minimum inhibitory concentration of 128µg mL-1 at pH 5.0. No activity is found against several Gram-negative bacteria at pH 5.0 and 7.0. The results provide a fundamental understanding of lipid self-assembly and the design of lipid-based biomaterials, which can further guide the development of alternative bio-based solutions to combat bacteria.

Reaction-induced liquid crystalline polybenzoxazine thermosets using aryl ester bonds as cross-linkages

ABSTRACT The increasing tendency to develop integration in electronic devices lead to the demand for thermally conductive polymeric materials. We offered a simple synthetic route to thermally conductive polybenzoxazine thermosets bearing liquid crystalline structures without the addition of any filler. Benzoxazine monomer of BZ-COOH was synthesized via Mannich reaction of p-hydroxy benzoic acid, p-formaldehyde, and dodecyl amine. After ring-opening polymerization of BZ-COOH, the obtained benzoxazine oligomer of OBZ-COOH was converted into acetoxy-bearing benzoxazine oligomer of OBZ-AC. Through self-crosslinking reaction of acetoxy group and carboxyl group in OBZ-AC using Zn(CH3COO)2 as a catalyst, the polybenzoxazine thermosets of OBZ-PES were produced. The liquid crystalline behavior of OBZ-AC was studied by POM, SAXS, and DSC. The results show that OBZ-AC formed the LC mesophase during isothermal and non-isothermal curing. The LC mesophase displays a layered arrangement of the smectic C phase. The formation mechanism is esterification reaction-induced. Owing to the formation of liquid crystalline structure, the TC of OBZ-PES is found to be 0.284 W/m. K, which is 21% and 16% greater than those of OBZ-COOH and OBZ-AC, respectively. In addition, the OBZ-PES shows excellent thermal performance. Its Tg(G”) is up to 269°C. Its 5% weight loss temperature (Td5) and 10% weight loss temperature (Td10) are 383°C and 410°C, respectively.

Reaction-Induced Liquid Crystalline Polybenzoxazine BearingAromatic Amide Side Branches.

In this study, a nematic phase structure is incorporated into polybenzoxazine to increase its thermal conductivity. A simple route for the synthesis of a thermally conductive polybenzoxazine containing liquid crystalline (LC) structure by grafting oligomeric p-sulfophenylene-terephthalamide (PSTA) is offered. Benzoxazine monomer of pHBA-da is synthesized via Mannich reaction of p-hydroxy benzoic acid, p-formaldehyde, and dodecyl amine. After ring-opening polymerization, the oligomer benzoxazine of OBZ─COOH is obtained. The OBZ─COOH/PSTA mixture is prepared by mixing PSTA with OBZ─COOH. Afterward, the grafted copolymer is named OBZ─PSTA copolymer. The liquid crystalline behavior of OBZ─COOH/PSTA is studied by polarized optical microscopy and small angle X-ray scattering analysis. The results show that the OBZ─PSTA forms the LC structure during isothermal and non-isothermal curing. The LC structure displays a floral textured nematic phase. The phase formation is induced by an amidation reaction. Due to the grafts of LC PSTA, the thermal conductivity of OBZ─PSTA is 0.296W m-1 K-1 , which is 26% greater than OBZ─COOH. The glass transition temperature (Tg ) of OBZ─PSTA is 241°C. The 5% (Td5 ) and 10% weight loss temperatures (Td10 ) of OBZ─PSTA are 346 and 362°C, respectively.

Lyophilized Lipid Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles as an Antimicrobial Delivery System.

Lipid liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNPs) are unique nanocarriers that efficiently deliver antimicrobials through biological barriers. Yet, their wide application as an antimicrobial delivery system is hindered by their poor stability in aqueous dispersions. The production of dried LCNP powder via lyophilization is a promising approach to promote the stability of LCNPs. However, the impact of the process on the functionality of the loaded hydrophobic cargoes has not been reported yet. Herein, we investigated the potential of lyophilization to produce dispersible dry LCNPs loaded with a hydrophobic antimicrobial compound, gallium protoporphyrin (GaPP). The effect of lyophilization on the physicochemical characteristics and the antimicrobial activity of rehydrated GaPP-LCNPs was studied. The rehydrated GaPP-LCNPs retained the liquid crystalline structure and were monodisperse (PDI: 0.27 ± 0.02), with no significant change in nanoparticle concentration despite the minor increase in hydrodynamic diameter (193 ± 6.5 compared to 173 ± 4.2 prior to freeze-drying). Most importantly, the efficacy of the loaded GaPP as an antimicrobial agent and a photosensitizer was not affected as similar MIC values were obtained against S. aureus (0.125 µg/mL), with a singlet oxygen quantum yield of 0.72. These findings indicate the suitability of lyophilization to produce a dry form of LCNPs and pave the way for future studies to promote the application of LCNPs as an antimicrobial delivery system.

Structure Formation in Tailor‐Made Buriti Oil Emulsion During Simulated Digestion

AbstractFunctional food emulsions enriched in health‐promoting nutrients can help to maintain and improve health and lifestyle. The oil extracted from the Amazonian buriti fruit is renowned for its high levels of carotenoid, vitamin E, and unsaturated fatty acids, which have been linked to improvements in cardiometabolic health. Here, buriti oil in water emulsions are developed and their colloidal transformations are investigated in an advanced digestion model with oral, gastric, and intestinal parts with in situ synchrotron small‐angle X‐ray scattering, cryogenic electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering under simulated “healthy” and “compromised” digestive conditions. The interior oil phase of whey‐stabilized buriti oil‐in‐water emulsion transforms into highly ordered lyotropic liquid crystalline structures during simulated intestinal digestion at compromised bile conditions. Simulated gastric digestion influences intestinal digestion by slowing it down, resulting in less ordered structures. The digestion‐triggered structure formation is pH‐ and bile salt‐dependent and can be modulated by adding vitamin E to the oil. This tailoring of structures during digestion offers a new pathway to steer digestion kinetics and nutrient bioavailability.

Spider dragline silk fibres maintain rectangular columnar liquid crystalline phase

ABSTRACT The liquid crystalline phase of spider silk is thought to enable for the silk protein to be stored at high concentration in the gland without gelation, facilitating the instant fibre formation at the spinning duct. Nevertheless, it has never been revealed whether the liquid crystalline state of the silk protein maintains after the fibre formation. In this study, we conducted the X-ray liquid crystal structure analysis to reveal the details of molecular assemblies of the native spider silk proteins. Based on the wide- and small angle X-ray scattering data using the uniaxial bundle of spider draglines, the spider dragline silk fibres maintain a rectangular columnar liquid crystalline phase with a P21/a (p2gg) symmetry. The liquid crystalline state of the spider silk fibre is not nematic, cholesteric, nor hexagonal columnar, as previously proposed, but rectangularly packed columnar liquid crystal. The movable silk molecular chains along the long fibre axis in the rectangular columnar liquid crystalline structure help to explain the mechanical strength of the native spider dragline silk fibres. The results obtained in this study will contribute to understanding the biological basis underlying the silk fibre formation and will be useful to the biomimicry of spider silk fibres.

Interactions between proteins and cellulose in a liquid crystalline media: Design of a droplet based experimental platform

Model systems are needed to provide controlled environment for the understanding of complex phenomena. Interaction between polysaccharides and proteins in dense medium are involved in numerous complex systems such as biomass conversion or plant use for food processing or biobased materials. In this work, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were used to study proteins in a dense and organized cellulosic environment. This environment was designed within microdroplets using a microfluidic setup, and applied to two proteins, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and a GH7 endoglucanase, relevant to food and plant science, respectively. The CNC at 56.5 g/L organized in liquid crystalline structure and the distribution of the proteins was probed using synchrotron deep-UV radiation. The proteins were homogeneously distributed throughout the volume, but BSA significantly disturbed the droplet global organization, preferring partition in hydrophilic external micelles. In contrast, GH7 partitioned with the CNCs showing stronger non-polar interaction but without disruption of the system organization. Such results pave the road for the development of more complex polysaccharides - proteins in-vitro models.

Fast Visualized Conformational Transition of Polyphenylacetylenes with Stepwise Tunable Circularly Polarized Luminescence.

Two novel poly(3,5-diamide substituted phenylacetylene)s bearing L- or D-alanine residues with a long alkyl chain were synthesized. In low polar or apolar solvents, the polymers adopted contracted cis-cisoid helix showing strong yellow fluorescence, which was transferred to stretched cis-transoid helix by adding polar solvents or decreasing temperature, accompanied with the disappearance of fluorescence. The critical conformational transition temperature could be readily tuned in a wide range by altering the content of polar solvent, and the conformational variation at molecular level could be directly read out via the change in fluorescent property. The synergistical participation of amide and ester groups in the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds accelerated the conformational transition rate, resulting in remarkable reduction of hysteresis. Moreover, the polymers displayed switchable CPL performance and the luminescent dissymmetry factor could be stepwise amplified by forming chiral aggregates or liquid crystalline structure. This study may open a new avenue for the development of controllable helical structure-based smart CPL materials.