Radical Polymerization Method Research Articles

Water-soluble PEG segmented mannose-based macromolecules: Synthesis, characterization and their biocompatibility

The macromolecular architectures, namely mannose-based methacrylate acetyl-mannopyranoside and PEG block copolymers [AB type copolymer [PEG-b-PMAM], poly(ethyleneglycol)-b-poly(methacryl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-D-mannopyranoside) and ABA type copolymer [PMAM-b-PEG-b-PMAM], poly(methacryl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-D-mannopyranoside)-b-poly(ethyleneglycol)-b-poly(methacryl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-D-mannopyranoside)] were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) method that were deacetylated to generate the corresponding water-soluble and biocompatible glycopolymer macromolecules. The molecular weight of acetyl and deacetylate macromolecules was in the range of 7083–9499 and 4659–6026, as determined by GPC and proton NMR spectra. The 5 % decomposition temperatures for acetylated methacrylate macromolecules (218–299 °C) were higher than the corresponding water-soluble macromolecules (204–248 °C). The conjugation of poly(methacryl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-D-mannopyranoside) (PMAM) segment with the PEG block decreased the glass transition (Tg) value, and the water-soluble macromolecules displayed Tg in the range of 92–95 °C. The biocompatibility of the synthesized water-soluble mannose-based macromolecules was determined using Human Bone Derived Cells (HBDC) culture with the TCP (Tissue culture plastic) template as control. Using three different concentrations of the synthesized glycopolymers, HBDC's were cultured for 1, 3, and 7 days. The effect of mannomethacrylate macromolecules on mitochondrial activity of HBDC's was estimated using colorimetry that showed the conversion of MTS [3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium-bromide] to formazan (MTS assay). ABA type diblock copolymer architecture exhibited increased absorbance values of 3 and 7 day cultures at 1–100 M concentrations, with the highest values observed at a concentration of 1 M for day 3 cultures. The design of these novel mannose-based macromolecules is important for improving cell proliferation, cell adhesion, and osteointegration efficiency.

Enhanced neural differentiation by applying electrical stimulation utilizing conductive and antioxidant alginate-polypyrrole/poly-l-lysine hydrogels

The challenge of restoration from neurodegenerative disorder requires effective solutions. To enhance the healing efficiencies, scaffolds with antioxidant activities, electroconductivity, and versatile features to encourage neuronal differentiation are potentially useful. Herein, polypyrrole-alginate (Alg-PPy) copolymer was used to design antioxidant and electroconductive hydrogels through the chemical oxidation radical polymerization method. The hydrogels have antioxidant effects to combat oxidative stress in nerve damage thanks to the introduction of PPy. Additionally, poly-l-lysine (PLL) provided these hydrogels with a great differentiation ability of stem cells. The morphology, porosity, swelling ratio, antioxidant activity, rheological behavior, and conductive characteristics of these hydrogels were precisely adjusted by altering the amount of PPy. Characterization of hydrogels showed appropriate electrical conductivity and antioxidant activity for neural tissue applications. Cytocompatibility, live/dead assays, and Annexin V/PI staining by flow cytometry using P19 cells confirmed the excellent cytocompatibility and cell protective effect under ROS microenvironment of these hydrogels in both normal and oxidative conditions. The neural marker investigation in the induction of electrical impulses was assessed through RT-PCR and immunofluorescence assay, demonstrating the differentiation of P19 cells to neurons cultured in these scaffolds. In summary, the antioxidant and electroconductive Alg-PPy/PLL hydrogels demonstrated excellent potential as promising scaffolds for treating neurodegenerative disorders.

Research and performance evaluation of modified nano‐silica gel plugging agent

AbstractDue to the difficulties in plugging high‐pressure injection wells, the short period of plugging, and the use of modified nano‐silica, a novel chemical gel plugging agent has been created. Modification of silica using silane coupling agents, and using the aqueous free radical polymerization method synthesized chemical plugging agent with AM, AA, and DMDAAC. The optimum synthesis conditions were screened by single‐factor analysis: mass ratio m(AM):m(AA):m(DMDAAC) = 8:1.5:1, modified nano‐silica concentration of 1.0%, total monomer mass concentration of 8.0%, initiator concentration of 0.3%, the cross‐linker concentration of 0.4%, and coagulant concentration of 0.6%. The performance of the chemical plugging agent was evaluated under the target oil formation conditions. The experimental results showed that the chemical plugging agent exhibited good temperature resistance at 40–100°C, good salt resistance at mineralization (0.5–2.5) × 104 mg/L, and the chemical plugging agent breaks through pressure gradients of 1.12, 15.42 and 90.15 MPa/m in the wellbore, fracture and core, respectively, compared with most gel plugging agents, this plugging agent is more suitable for sealing with pressure work. After adding the breakout agent, the fluid after breakout is fluid‐like with low viscosity, which is convenient for reverse discharge and will not cause harm to the reservoir and ensure the subsequent normal construction operation.

Controlled 5‐FU Release from P(NIPAM‐co‐VIm)‐g‐PEG Dual Responsive Hydrogels

Abstract5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) forms the basis of many chemotherapy regimens and is one of the most widely used chemotherapeutic drugs in the treatment of solid malignancies. In this study, (i) Poly N‐isopropyl acrylamide (PNIPAM) synthesized by free radical polymerization method, (ii) temperature and pH responsive P(NIPAM‐co‐VIm) synthesized by copolymerization of N‐isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAM) with 1‐vinyl imidazole (VIm) and (iii) the 5‐FU release of P(NIPAM‐co‐VIm)‐g‐PEG prepared by grafting with polyethylene glycol (PEG). In the temperature and pH sensitivity analyzes revelaed that the LCST value increased as a result of the treatment of PNIPAM with VIm and PEG, on the other hand the hydrogel in the swollen phase in the acidic environment, the hydrogel turned into a precipitated form as the environment became alkaline. To investigate the utilize of hydrogels, release mediums of two different pHs (pH 5.5 and 7.4) and two different temperatures (25 °C and 37 °C) were applied. The cumulative release results showed that the release ratio of 5‐FU was 95 % when the release medium pH was 7.4 and ambient temperature 37 °C. Consequently, P(NIPAM‐co‐VIm)‐g‐PEG hydrogels at different pH and temperature mediums could be beneficially utilized as an material with a potential to be used in targeted drug delivery systems.

Study on Scale and Corrosion Inhibition Performance of Phosphorus-Free Copolymer Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate-Acrylic Acid-Sodium Allyl Sulfonate

A free radical polymerization method was used to synthesize the phosphorus-free copolymer hydroxyethyl methacrylate-acrylic acid-sodium allyl sulfonate (HEMA-AA-SAS). The structure of HEMA-AA-SAS was characterized, and the scale inhibition performance of the copolymer was determined. Near 100% of scale inhibition was achieved when the copolymer concentration was 6 mg/L, suggesting that HEMA-AA-SAS had a significant effect on the inhibition efficiency. The corrosion inhibition performance of the copolymer and the effects under different water quality conditions were determined using a rotating sample method. When the copolymer with 7.5 mg/L was implemented, the corrosion inhibition effect on the carbon steel hanging sheet reached 88.12%. The effects of copolymers on calcium carbonate crystals were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), which showed that the copolymers could destroy crystal morphology effectively. Through the calculation of the corrosion activation energy, the results show that the corrosion activation energy increases and the corrosion reaction rate decreases after the copolymer has been added. The copolymer HEMA-AA-SAS has excellent scale and corrosion inhibition performance.

Adsorption removal of arsenic from Aqueous solution by carboxy methyl Cellulose(CMC) modified with montmorillonite

In this research, CMC/MMT nano composite was prepared using the free radical polymerization method and evaluated as Arsenic ions removal adsorption from an aqueous solution. We used the Design expert (CCD) to remove Arsenic Ions optimally. SEM, XRD and FTIR analyses were used to determine the adsorbent properties. The experimental design was done with four time variables (25–40min), Arsenic concentration (0.5–2 ppm), adsorbent dose (0.05-2gr) and pH (4–8). The interaction and combined effects of the variables were evaluated by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) table. A quadratic polynomial regression equation was developed to predict the response under optimal conditions. The results of kinetic studies and adsorption isotherms present that the kinetics of Arsenic ion adsorption by CMS/MMT adsorbent follows the quadratic equation and the Langmuir isotherm with a better correlation coefficient than the Freundlich equation. Furthermore, under optimal conditions (pH = 5.6, t = 34 min), 1.9 ppm Arsenic is adsorbed per 0.09 g of the adsorbent with 85% efficiency which indicates that the carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel modified with Montmorillonite is a suitable adsorbent to remove Arsenic ions from aqueous solution.

Synthesis of High Molecular Weight Polymers by Organocatalyzed Living Radical Polymerization and Self-Assembly Behavior.

A mild organocatalyzed living radical polymerization method is studied for high molecular weight polymers (HMWPs), yielding low-dispersity linear and star polymers (Đ = Mw /Mn = 1.03-1.28) up to Mn = 3.9 × 105 and monomer conversion = 80%, where Mn and Mw are the number- and weight-average molecular weights, respectively. Even at high degrees of polymerization (DPs > 2000), this technique still features excellent control over molecular weights and Đ values, indicating the living character. The macroinitiators prepared at DP = 2000 are subsequently used for block polymerizations at high DPs (>2000) with functional methacrylates, yielding linear A-B diblock, linear B-A-B triblock, and 3-arm star A-B diblock copolymers, suggesting the excellent block efficiency of macroinitiators synthesized at a high DP value (=2000). This mild organocatalyzed living radical polymerization technique can enhance the livingness of propagation radicals and kinetic chain length at high monomer conversions for monomers with moderate propagation rate coefficients (kp s), reduce the persistent radical effect as much as possible, and hence enable HMWPs without the presence of metal catalyst, exogenous initiator, or harsh equipment. The obtained amphiphilic block copolymers present unique microphase separation behavior, and hold great potential in advanced materials applications, for example, thermosensitive nanocarriers.

The enhanced polymer-coated graphite anode electrodes for the electrooxidation of glucose

In this study, poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), poly(acrylamide) (PAAM), poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc), and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAc) polymers are synthesized by radical polymerization method. The chemical composition and surface morphology of the PMAc polymer are examined by micro-Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical measurements are examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyses for glucose (Glu) electrooxidation. The characterization analyses reveal that the polymer structure was formed. The electrochemical analysis results indicate that the PMAc/G electrode has higher catalytic activity, stability, and resistance compared to other electrodes with a specific activity of 1.7 mA/cm2.

Polymer brushes based on N-methacryloxysuccinimide as platform for versatile post-polymerization modification

In this contribution we present a method for the surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization of active esters based on N-methacryloxysuccinimide and post-polymerization modification in mild conditions. The obtained active ester brushes show quantitative conversion under amidation conditions with various primary amines, including 1-amino-2-propanol, fluorine containing amines and amine-containing fluorophores. Amidation reaction with propargyl amine offers the possibility to introduce a second functionality in the homopolymer brushes. This widens the ability of polymer analogous reactions with functionalized compounds. The effectiveness of the amidation reaction was deeply studied utilizing spectroscopic ellipsometry, infrared reflection-absorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies, contact angle goniometry and surface energy analysis. As validated by functionalized homopolymer brushes, hierarchical block copolymer brushes containing active ester monomer units also undergo quantitative conversion with primary amines. Furthermore, resulting polymer brushes containing fluorophores were studied by fluorescent microscopy to further investigate their film structure and homogeneity.

Folic acid-decorated alginate nanoparticles loaded hydrogel for the oral delivery of diferourylmethane in colorectal cancer

The disease-related suffering in colorectal cancer remains prevalent despite advancements in the field of drug delivery. Chemotherapy-related side effects and non-specificity remain a challenge in drug delivery. The great majority of hydrophobic drugs cannot be successfully delivered to the colon orally mainly due to poor solubility, low bioavailability, pH differences, and food interactions. Polymeric nanoparticles are potential drug delivery candidates but there are numerous limitations to their usefulness in colon cancer. The nanoparticles are removed from the body rapidly by p-glycoprotein efflux, inactivation, or breakdown by enzymes limiting their efficiency. Furthermore, there is a lack of selectivity in targeting cancer cells; nanoparticles may also target healthy cells, resulting in toxicity and adverse effects. The study aimed to use nanoparticles for specific targeting of the colorectal tumor cells via the oral route of administration without adverse effects. Folic acid (FA), a cancer-targeting ligand possessing a high affinity for folate receptors overexpressed in colorectal cancers was conjugated to sodium alginate- nanoparticles by NH2-linkage. The folic-acid conjugated nanoparticles (FNPs) were delivered to the colon by a pH-sensitive hydrogel synthesized by the free radical polymerization method to provide sustained drug release. The developed system referred to as the “Hydrogel-Nano (HN) drug delivery system,” was specifically capable of delivering diferourylmethane to the colon. The HN system was characterized by DLS, FTIR, XRD, TGA, DSC, and SEM. The FNPs size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential were measured. The folic acid-conjugation to nanoparticles' surface was studied by UV–visible spectroscopy using Beer-Lambert's law. In-vitro studies, including sol-gel, porosity, drug loading, entrapment efficiency, etc., revealed promising results. The swelling and release studies showed pH-dependent release of the drug in colonic pH 7.4. Cellular uptake and cytotoxicity studies performed on FR-overexpressed Hela cell lines and FR-negative A-549 cell lines showed facilitated uptake of nanoparticles by folate receptors. A threefold increase in Cmax and prolongation of the mean residence time (MRT) to 14.52 +/− 0.217 h indicated sustained drug release by the HN system. The findings of the study can provide a sufficient ground that the synergistic approach of the HN system can deliver hydrophobic drugs to colorectal cancer cells via the oral route, but further in-vivo animal cancer model studies are required.

Temperature-Modulated Changes in Thin Gel Layer Thickness Triggered by Electrochemical Stimuli.

A series of thermoresponsive hydrogels containing positively charged groups in the polymeric network were synthesized and modified with the electroactive compound 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS). ABTS, which forms a dianion in aqueous solutions, acts as an additional physical cross-linker and strongly affects the swelling ratio of the gels. The influence of the amount of positively charged groups and ABTS oxidation state on the volume phase transition temperature was investigated. A hydrogel that possesses a relatively wide and well-defined temperature window (the temperature range where changes in the ABTS oxidation state affects the swelling ratio significantly) was found. The influence of the presence and oxidation state of ABTS on mechanical properties was investigated using a tensile machine and a rheometer. Then, a very thin layer of the gel was deposited on an Au electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (EQCM-D) electrode using the electrochemically induced free radical polymerization method. Next, chronoamperometry combined with quartz crystal microbalance measurements, obtained with an Au EQCM-D electrode modified by the gel, showed that the size of the thin layer could be controlled by an electrochemical trigger. Furthermore, it was found that the electrosensitivity could be modulated by the temperature. Such properties are desired from the point of view construction of electrochemical actuators.

A Facile yet Versatile Strategy to Construct Liquid Hybrid Energy-Saving Windows for Strong Solar Modulation.

Smart windows with light management and indoor solar heating modulation capacities are of paramount importance for building energy conservation. Thermochromic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) hydrogel smart windows exhibit advantages of the relatively suitable transition temperature of 32 °C, high cost-effective and automatic passive sunlight regulation, but sustain slow response rate and unsatisfactory solar modulation efficiency. Herein, a strategy of one-step copolymerization of NIPAm and different olefine acids (OA) using reverse atom transfer radical polymerization method is developed to fabricate various chain/microparticle hybrids (CMH) for liquid energy-saving windows. Synergetic mechanisms of thermal-induced dissolution and aggregation of linear polymer chains integrated with water capture and release of microgel particles contribute to tunable light-scattering behaviors and adaptive solar modulation. Without any post-treatment, the as-prepared poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (P(NIPAm-co-AA))-based CMH suspension is injected into sandwich glass to construct energy-saving windows, which exhibits appreciated near-room-temperature transition (26.7 °C), rapid response (5 s), extraordinary luminous transmittance (91.5%), and solar modulation efficiency (85.8%), resulting in a substantial decline of indoor temperature of 24.5 °C in simulation experiment. Combining the versatile strategy with flexible adjustment on transition temperature, multifarious P(NIPAm-co-OA)-based CMH windows with eminent light management capacity are obtained. This work will powerfully promote the development and renovation of energy-efficient windows.

Preparation of Temperature-Sensitive SiO2–PSBMA for Reducing the Viscosity of Heavy Oil

Viscosity reduction by emulsification is one of the most effective methods for the recovery of heavy oil. Nanoparticles with low toxicity and low cost can stabilize oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsions to reduce the viscosity of heavy oil and thereby have become a new type of emulsifier in recent years. The stimuli-responsive emulsions formed by responsive particles can achieve emulsification and demulsification under external stimuli, providing convenient conditions for heavy oil transportation and recovery, where the temperature response is easier to achieve. In this study, six groups of temperature-sensitive SiO2–PSBMA (PSBMA: polysulfobetaine methacrylate) with different particle sizes were prepared by the reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (RATRP) method. The morphologies of SiO2 particles before and after grafting were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the structure of the product was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, which showed that PSBMA was successfully grafted to SiO2. The grafting ratios (η) of six groups of SiO2–PSBMA measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were similar (34.50–42.94%). The temperature sensitivity of SiO2–PSBMA was determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and the contact angles at different temperatures, which showed that its upper critical solution temperature (UCST) was about 40–50 °C. SiO2–PSBMA was applied to GD2 heavy oil to reduce the viscosity at 60 °C, which showed that the SiO2–PSBMA had a good emulsification effect. With the increase of particle size, the viscosity reduction rate (VRR) showed a trend of first increase and then decrease. The highest VRR was 96.41%, achieved by 227.61 nm SiO2–PSBMA. All of the emulsions stabilized by SiO2–PSBMA were able to demulsify at room temperature. It can be used as an intelligent temperature-responsive viscosity reducer for heavy oil to control emulsions on demand.

Surface hydrolysis-anchored eugenol self-polishing marine antifouling coating

Traditional self-polishing antifouling coatings kill surface organisms by releasing toxic substances, which are damaging to the ecosystem. As a natural antimicrobial substance, eugenol is environmentally friendly and has been proven by different research teams to be effective in enhancing the anti-fouling effect of coatings in the real sea. While in these previous research works, the eugenol was released directly into the seawater thus cannot further serve as surface antifouling effect, leading to a limited antifouling effect of the coating. In this work, the quaternary ammonium component was introduced into the butyl ester-based resin - poly (eugenol methacrylate - acryloyloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride - hexafluorobutyl methacrylate - methyl methacrylate - butyl methacrylate - ethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate) (EMQFP) coating for the first time by simple one-step free radical polymerization method. On the one hand, the eugenol produced by hydrolysis is anchored to the quaternary ammonium on the coating surface for a period of time due to the cationic-π interaction, instead of being released into seawater immediately after hydrolysis, thus increasing the utilization rate of eugenol; on the other hand, the negatively charged carboxylate groups generated after hydrolysis in the coating are mutually attracted to quaternary ammonium through electrostatic effect, so the resin chain segment conformation on the coating surface adjusted to produce zwitterionic-like structure, and the hydration of zwitterionic inhibits primary fouling adhesion.

Development and Evaluation of Sodium Alginate/Carbopol 934P-Co-Poly (Methacrylate) Hydrogels for Localized Drug Delivery.

This research was carried out to create a pH-responsive polymeric system for the targeted drug delivery of Diloxanide furoate. It relied on sodium alginate (Na-Alg) and Carbopol 934P as building blocks. Using an aqueous free radical polymerization method, SCH1-SCH12 was created with varying polymer, MAA, and MBA input ratios. Positive outcomes were seen in the swelling and release profiles at higher pH levels. Hydrogel formation, as well as component compatibility, thermal stability, and Diloxanide furoate loading, were all validated by instrumental characterization. A drug loading percentage of 83.56% was determined, with the swelling reaching 743.19%. For the formulation with MBA, the gel fraction was 94.58%. The release of diloxanide furoate increased to 91.77% at neutral pH. The formulation containing Carbopol 934P provided the highest mucoadhesion force (3993.42 dynes/cm2). The created hydrogel has been shown to be biocompatible by toxicological testing of the network. Based on the findings, the created polymeric nexus proved promising for pH-dependent localized and regulated delivery of Diloxanide furoate.

Flexible Stretchable, Dry-Resistant MXene Nanocomposite Conductive Hydrogel for Human Motion Monitoring.

Conductive hydrogels with high electrical conductivity, ductility, and anti-dryness have promising applications in flexible wearable electronics. However, its potential applications in such a developing field are severely hampered by its extremely poor adaptability to cold or hot environmental conditions. In this research, an "organic solvent/water" composite conductive hydrogel is developed by introducing a binary organic solvent of EG/H2O into the system using a simple one-pot free radical polymerization method to create Ti3C2TX MXene nanosheet-reinforced polyvinyl alcohol/polyacrylamide covalently networked nanocomposite hydrogels (PAEM) with excellent flexibility and mechanical properties. The optimized PAEM contains 0.3 wt% MXene has excellent mechanical performance (tensile elongation of ~1033%) and an improved modulus of elasticity (0.14 MPa), a stable temperature tolerance from -50 to 40 °C, and a high gauge factor of 10.95 with a long storage period and response time of 110 ms. Additionally, it is worth noting that the elongation at break at -40 °C was maintained at around 50% of room temperature. This research will contribute to the development of flexible sensors for human-computer interaction, electronic skin, and human health monitoring.

Bioinspired simultaneous regulation in fluorescence of AIEgen-embedded hydrogels.

The development of stimuli-responsive functional fluorescent hydrogels is of great significance for the realization of artificial intelligence. In the present work, we design and synthesize a stimulus-responsive hydrogel embedded with an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) monomer, in which the fluorescence brightness and intensity can be tuned. The hydrogel embedded with tetraphenylethene-grafted-poly[3-sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium salt] (TPE-PSPMA) as the functional element is prepared by the radical polymerization method. Among them, the TPE core exhibits adaptive fluorescence ability through the AIE effect, while the PSPMA chain provides tunable hydrophilic properties under an external stimulus. The effect of different cationic surfactants with different lengths of hydrophobic tails on the fluorescence properties of TPE-PSPMA in solution is systematically investigated. With cationic surfactants, such as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), the fluorescence intensity is gradually tuned from 1059 to 4623. And the fluorescence intensities increase with the growth of hydrophobic tails of surfactants, which results from hydrophobicity-induced electrostatic interactions among surfactants and polymer chains. Furthermore, an obvious tunable fluorescence feature of hydrogel copolymerized TPE-PSPMA is realized, resulting from the change of brightness and the dynamic increase of fluorescence intensity (from 1031 to 3138) for the hydrogel immersed in CTAB solution with different soaking times. Such a typical fluorescence-regulated behavior can be attributed to the AIE of the TPE-PSPMA chain and the electrostatic interaction between the surfactant and the anionic polymer chain. The designed TPE-PSPMA-based hydrogel is responsive to stimuli, inspiring the development of intelligent systems such as soft robots and smart wearables.

Synthesis of Hydrogels Containing Halloysite and Investigation of Antiproliferative Activity

In this study, superabsorbent hydrogels containing halloysite clay, biopolymer (CMC, carboxymethyl cellulose), acrylamide (AM) and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS) were synthesized and characterized by free radical polymerization method. Then, the cytotoxic effect of hydrogels on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells was evaluated. According to the findings, hydrogels were successfully synthesized and their cytotoxic properties were supported by in vitro studies. In order for these hydrogels to be used as a drug delivery system, their potential properties need to be supported by further research such as in vivo.

Thermoresponsive star-shaped polymer with heteroarm type with methacrylates: preparation by living radical polymerization method and its topological effect

Thermoresponsive star-shaped polymer with heteroarm type with methacrylates was prepared by living radical polymerization method with ruthenium catalyst. The effect of the arm structures was also investigated.

Temperature-gated nanocellulose membrane for enhanced and controllable osmotic energy harvesting

Reverse electrodialysis system (REDs) based on nanochannels membrane has been widely investigated for high-performance osmotic energy harvesting. However, restricted by the non-renewable, low power density, and uncontrolable ion transport of membrane materials, the existing membrane-based REDs are usually unregulated and unintelligent, which greatly prohibits their practical applications. Herein, a temperature-gated nanochannels membrane is constructed by the functionalized Cladophora nanocellulose for controllable osmotic energy harvesting, in which the thermo-responsive nanocellulose is obtained by grafting with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) brushes via the atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) method. Based on this membrane, the output from the osmotic energy harvesting system can be regulated and boosted by alternating the temperature switches reversibly and stably. A maximum power density up to approximately 10.1 W/m2 is achieved under a 50-fold salinity gradient at 50 °C, which is remarkably superior to most of the reported cellulose-based nanofluids. Besides, the REDs based on this membrane is designed as a self-powered flexible and wearable thermometer, which can be employed to detect human health. Overall, this strategy first develops cellulose-based nanochannels membrane with both intelligent response and enhanced energy output, which anticipates the wide potential for pushing the osmotic energy into real-world applications.