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Acrylic acid (AA) is an important and widely used industrial chemical, but its high toxicity renders its use incompatible with the concept of green development. By leveraging its terminal carboxyl group and unsaturated bond, we designed and explored a new strategy to increase the greenness of AA via its eutectic melting using a quaternary ammonium salt (choline chloride) to form a deep eutectic solvent (DES), followed by polymerisation of the DES to form a polymer (poly(DES)). The greenness of AA, DES, and poly(DES) was evaluated via an in vitro test using MGC80-3 cells and an in vivo test using Kunming mice. The toxicity improved from Grade 2 (moderately toxic) for AA to Grade 1 (slightly toxic) for DESs and Grade 0 (non-toxic) for poly(DES) in the in vitro test. Moreover, the poly(DES)s showed a lower toxicity in mice than the DESs in the in vivo test. Thus, greenness enhancement was successfully achieved, with the greenness following the order AA

PVDF membrane has strong hydrophobicity and low anti-pollution performance, greatly limiting its practical application. These drawbacks have been successfully overcome by designing and then preparing a membrane with a semi-interpenetrating polymer (semi-IPN) of PVDF/poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as the membrane matrix, TiO2 nanoparticles as functional components and F127 as pore-forming agent. The semi-IPN was prepared by copolymerizing acrylic acid with N,N methyl acrylamide in the presence of PVDF, and the TiO2 gel nanoparticles were in situ formed in the membrane-forming process. The properties of the composite membrane were significantly affected by the semi-IPN, F127 and TiO2. By adjusting the membrane structure with the semi-IPN, F127 and TiO2 nanoparticles, we prepared a composite membrane with a water contact angle of 40o, a BSA rejection ratio of 87.5% and a water flux of 802.5 L/m2/h/bar. After a simple UV irradiation, the water flux of this composite membrane rose to 1030 L/m2/h/bar, without any rejection decline. The membrane contaminated by humic acid could recover the water flux up to above 95.3% of its original value by a single UV irradiation, showing a very good antifouling performance. In addition, the composite membrane also exhibited a very strong pollution resistance and separation performance for bovine serum albumin and oil-water emulsion. All in all, based on the synergy of the semi-IPN and the evenly dispersed TiO2 nanoparticles, the prepared composite membrane exhibited excellent comprehensive properties and demonstrated a great potential for various separation applications.

Strain-sensitive and conductive hydrogels have attracted extensive research interest due to their potential applications in various fields, such as healthcare monitoring, human–machine interfaces and soft robots. However, low electrical signal transmission and poor tensile properties still limit the application of flexible sensing hydrogels in large amplitude and high frequency motion. In this study, a novel ionic liquid segmental polyelectrolyte hydrogel consisting of acrylic acid (AAc), 1-vinyl-3-butylimidazolium bromide (VBIMBr) and aluminum ion (Al3+) was prepared by molecular design and polymer synthesis. The cationic groups and amphiphilicity of ionic liquid chain segments effectively improve the tensile behavior of the polyelectrolyte hydrogel, with a maximum tensile strength of 0.16 MPa and a maximum breaking strain of 604%. The introduction of ionic liquid segments increased the current carrying concentration of polyelectrolyte hydrogel, and the conductivity reached the initial 4.8 times (12.5 S/m), which is a necessary condition for detecting various amplitude and high frequency limb movements. The flexible electronic sensor prepared by this polyelectrolyte hydrogel efficiently detects the movement of different parts of the human body stably and sensitively, even in extreme environment (−20 °C). These outstanding advantages demonstrate the great potential of this hydrogel in healthcare monitoring and wearable flexible strain sensors.

A novel CaCO3 nanoparticle modification method by a styrene-acrylic polymer emulsion (SAPE) was introduced. The self-made SAPE was sprayed into the nano-CaCO3 slurry system, and SAPE chains were encapsulated onto the CaCO3 nanoparticle surface. The modified CaCO3 nanoparticle mechanism was discussed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed that the SAPE chain was anchored on the nano-CaCO3 surface by the reaction of the SAPE carboxyl group with the hydroxyl group on the CaCO3. The effect of acrylic acid (AA) amount on the activation degree and oil absorption of CaCO3/SAPE composite nanoparticles was investigated. The amount of AA was 2%, and the activation degree and oil absorption of the product were optimal. The estimated grafting efficiency of the CaCO3/SAPE composite nanoparticles was 90.5% when the amount of acrylamide (AAM) was 1.5%. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the CaCO3 nanoparticles could be dispersed uniformly in polypropylene (PP) film and formed a closed integration by SAPE-modified CaCO3. The styrene-acrylic polymer chains that were grafted on the CaCO3 nanoparticle surface could improve the compatibility between the CaCO3 nanoparticles and PP matrix. The PP composite film with modified CaCO3 nanoparticles had a higher tensile strength than that of pure CaCO3 nanoparticles, which can improve the mechanical properties of the PP material.

Two new phenolic acids (1‒2), one new phenolic glycoside (3) and one new natural compound, 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)acrylic acid carboxymethyl ester (6), together with eleven known polyphenolic substances, ferulic acid (4), ethyl ferulate (5), (E)-3–4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acrylic acid (7), 3,4-dihydroxy benzaldehyde (8), quercetin (9), quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside (10), luteolin (11), luteolin-7-O-rutinoside (12), diosmetin (13), diosmetin-3′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (14), and apigenin-6,8-di-C-β-D-glucopyranoside (15) were isolated and identified from Hyssopus cuspidatus Boriss for the first time. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated from the spectra of 1D NMR, 2D NMR, IR, UV and MS data. Compounds 1–15 were tested to determine their inhibitory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells. Novel compound 3 exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity with an IC50 value of 35.88 μM, which was comparable to that of dexamethasone (positive control). This study provided phytochemical evidence for the further development of new anti-inflammatory lead compounds and investigation of their chemical modification and mechanism.

To address the rising challenges in self-controlled tandem processes, a catalytic reactor with two reversely-responsive layers was fabricated, for which the two layers acted as the carriers of two different-type active sites so as to achieve the adjustable catalytic ability. This first layer was a shape-memory copolymer consisting of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid and 1-heptene. Given the “frozen” domains in the copolymer at low temperatures, the channel of the substrate became closed. At middle temperatures, the channel of the substrate became open as a result of the activation of the copolymer. The second layer was a copolymer embedding Ag nanoparticles made of polymeric 2-(trifluoromethyl) acrylic acid and 2-vinylpyridine. This layer showed the “closed” channel at low temperatures due to the electrostatic interactions between the two polymeric components, which inhibited the entry of reactants. At higher temperatures, as the polymeric interactions at this layer were broken, the channel in this layer became open for the reactants. In combination with the contained acidic sites and catalytic Ag nanoparticles sites in the two layers, which were individually responsible for catalytic hydrolysis and reduction, the reactor did not show substantive catalytic ability at low temperatures due to the closed channels in both the two layers. At middle temperatures, the reactor ran with simple hydrolysis due to the open channel in the first layer which contained acidic sites. At higher temperatures, the reactor ran with tandem catalytic processes because of the open channels in the two layers. Hence, the design of the dual-responsive catalytic reactor acquired the non-tandem/tandem self-controlled catalytic ability.

It is desirable to fabricate an antifatigue gel for skin-mimicking sensors on the demand of long-term durability in practical usage. Here, we developed a physically cross-linked eutectogel based on a poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid) (PVA/PAA) binary polymer skeleton and a deep eutectic solvent (DES). In this eutectogel, uniformly distributed PVA crystalline domains acted as stable physical cross-linkers, and high-density hydrogen bonds possessed great reversibility. Such a polymer network structure was expected to endow this eutectogel with excellent mechanical strength, stretchability, and a self-recovery ability. Specifically, this eutectogel exhibited a superior tensile strength of 2.6 MPa, a fracture strain of 680%, and a fracture toughness of 8.39 MJ m-3. In cyclic stretching/releasing tests with a fixed strain of 100%, this eutectogel could recover its mechanical properties within a 600 s resting time. Based on this self-recoverable eutectogel, a reliable flexible sensor was fabricated, which possessed good sensitivity and stability over a wide strain range (1-300%). More importantly, the flexile sensor was able to maintain a highly repeatable response signal during 1000 consecutive stretching/releasing cycles, showing outstanding long-term durability. Given the excellent sensing performance, this eutectogel has promising potential in wearable electronics, human-machine systems, and soft robotics.

Lumefantrine (LMF), a high-mobility and easy-to-crystallize WHO drug for treating malaria, can form an amorphous salt with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) that is remarkably stable against crystallization at high humidity and temperature and has fast dissolution rate. The amorphous salt up to 75% drug loading was synthesized under a mild slurry condition easily implemented in basic facilities for global health. Salt formation was confirmed by IR spectroscopy and the much elevated glass transition temperature. At 50% drug loading, the amorphous salt resists crystallization for at least 18 months under the highly stressful condition of 40 °C and 75% RH. In contrast, the dispersion containing neutral LMF in PVP fully crystallized in 4 d and the dispersion in HPMCAS, a weak polyelectrolyte of lower charge density than PAA, crystallized by 50% in 7 d. The amorphous salt at 50% drug loading showed much faster dissolution than crystalline LMF: In SGF, the area under the curve (AUC) was 30 times larger within the gastric emptying time (4 h); in FaSSIF, the enhancement was even larger – by 200 times. Nanodroplets were detected during the dissolution in SGF, possibly accounting for the apparent enhancement of dissolution rate. The LMF-PAA example as a challenging case, along with the previously reported clofazimine-PAA, demonstrates the general utility of amorphous drug–polymer salts to achieve high stability under tropical conditions and enhanced dissolution and bioavailability.

The fast development of Pickering emulsion systems inspires burgeoning demand on the universal synthesis platform for the surface modification of solid particle emulsifiers. In this work, a mild and convenient “visible light–mediated surface grafting through (VSGT)” strategy is proposed. Through the two-step strategy, silica nanoparticles (SNPs) were firstly modified by vinyl alkoxysilane and then used as the substrate for grafting homopolymer brushes via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization under the irradiation of a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) light source. The whole process was proceeded at room temperature without tedious conditions and complex operations. Importantly, simply by changing the monomer types, hydrophilic acrylic polymer chains can all be grafted on SNP with controlled chain length and relatively uniform high surface densities including poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), and poly(diacetone acrylamide) (PDAAM). Through the synthesis platform, the interfacial performance of the surface-grafted nanoparticles exhibited as amendable working as Pickering emulsifiers in oil–water system, illustrated by the evolution of interfacial tensions and the inner structures of the corresponding Pickering emulsions. Moreover, the emulsion stabilized by SNP-g-PAA and SNP-g-PNIPAM showed pH and temperature triggered emulsification-demulsification behaviors, respectively, convincing the contribution of the surface grafted polymers and provide a feasible clue for the subtle design on the interfacial texture in advanced Pickering emulsions.

Immobilization of enzymes onto carriers is a rapidly growing research area aimed at increasing the stability, reusability and enzymolysis efficiency of free enzymes. In this work, the role of phase-separation and a pH-responsive “hairy” brush, which greatly affected the topography of porous polymer membrane enzyme reactors (PMER), was explored. The porous polymer membrane was fabricated by phase-separation of poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride-acrylic acid) and poly(styrene-ethylene glycol). Notably, the topography and pores size of the PMER could be controlled by phase-separation and a pH-responsive “hairy” brush. For evaluating the enzymolysis efficiency of d -amino acid oxidase (DAAO) immobilized carrier (DAAO@PMER), a chiral ligand exchange capillary electrophoresis method was developed with d -methionine as the substrate. The DAAO@PMER showed good reusability and stability after five continuous runs. Notably, comparing with free DAAO in solution, the DAAO@PMER exhibited a 17.7-folds increase in catalytic velocity, which was attributed to its tailorable topography and pH-responsive property. The poly(acrylic acid) moiety of poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride-acrylic acid) as the pH-responsive “hairy” brush generated topography changing domains upon adjusting the buffer pH, which enable the enzymolysis efficiency of DAAO@PMER to be tuned based upon the well-defined architectures of the PMER. This approach demonstrated that the topographical changes formed by phase-separation and the pH-responsive “hairy” brush indeed made the proposed porous polymer membrane as suitable supports for enzyme immobilization and fitting for enzymolysis applications, achieving high catalytic performance.

Swelling is one of the distinct properties and a significant parameter in the characterization of the crosslinked hydrogels. Swelling investigation at different temperatures was conducted for the produced hydrogel of chitosan grafted acrylamide/acrylic acid. Peleg’s model is a two parameters model, which can be used to describe the absorption of water or swelling. The data show that the swelling degree increases with temperature until it reaches 60°C, after which it decreases as the temperature rises higher. At RT, 30, 40, 60, and 80 °C, the swelling degree values of 1.4, 1.5,1.4, 2.3 and 0.7 g water/g dry hydrogel were observed after 8 hours. The applied models provided a good agreement with the experimental data with high values of the coefficient of determination (𝑅2). The observed F values and the standard error indicate the validity of the proposed model to describe the swelling of hydrogel at different temperatures. The swelling rate and swelling degree can be expressed using a 4th degree polynomial. It was concluded that the exponential association equation model represents swelling characteristics better than the others.

The aim of this study was to optimize the preparation method of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture base loaded with nano silver (NAg), to more effectively and safely impart sustainable antibacterial functions. NAg solution was synthetized and mixed with acrylic acid and methyl methyacrylate (MMA) monomer in order to prepare a new type of NAg solution (NS)/polymer methyl methacrylate denture base specimens (NS/PMMA). The surface morphology, mechanical strength, antimicrobial activity, anti-aging performance, cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of NS/PMMA denture base were evaluated in comparison with specimens fabricated using traditional NAg adding methods and NAg-free denture base. The aesthetic characteristics and mechanical strength of NS/PMMA denture base met the clinical application requirements. Meanwhile, NS/PMMA denture base showed better antibacterial activity, anti-aging properties, no cytotoxicity and displayed exceptional biocompatibility. NS/PMMA denture base thus has great potential for clinical application.

Herein, poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) microgels were synthesized via alcohol type cross-linked by a free radical precipitation polymerization approach. At the first time, 1,6-hexanediol (1–6 diol), trimethylolpropane (TMP), and pentaerythritol (PEN) were selected as multifunctional cross- linking agent to synthesize cross-linked poly(acrylic acid) microgels. Alcohol type cross-linking agents can connect the PAA chains. The cross-linking reaction takes place due to reaction between hydroxyl groups of various cross-linkers and carboxyl groups of PAA chains. All of the hydroxyl groups do not participate in the reaction with acid groups of polymer chains through the polymerization stage; therefore, unreacted hydroxyl groups will react through sample drying (post-curing stage). The influence of cross-linker functionality and its concentration on various properties like swelling capacity, gel content, Tg (glass transition temperature), and rheological behavior were examined. The PAA microgels prepared via this cross-linking approach were compared to properties of microgels synthesized by epoxy type and vinyl type cross-linking agents in the previous studies. As a result, synthesized microgels via novel mechanisms have higher properties (for example, rheological and thermal properties) than that of PAA microgels prepared via the conventional mechanism. These behaviors can be due to decreasing $$\overline{Mc}$$ (average molecular weight of two successive cross-links) in the polymeric network by utilizing new cross-linkers.

For the improvement of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) properties, new series of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide-Co-acrylic acid-Co-vanillin acrylate) terpolymer was fabricated with molar concentrations 5, 10, and 15 mol% of acrylic acid (AA) with 10 mol% of vanillin acrylate (VA). Monomer and polymers were chemically evaluated using (1H NMR, 13C, FT-IR, and UV); all structures emphasized logical results. The post-polymerization has been done for terpolymer with tryptophan and threonine; they were chemically investigated. Polymers and post-polymers have been physically characterized using SEM, X-ray, DSC, TGA, and SEM. Lower critical solution temperature was measured using turbidity by UV–VIS spectroscopy and by micro-DSC. These polymers will be used in the post-polymerization of many biomolecules for biomedical applications

Interaction of the anionic copolymer of acrylic acid and acrylamide with a molar ratio of monomer units of 75 : 25 and poly(N,N′-diallyl-N,N′-dimethylammonium chloride) in aqueous solution is studied. The interaction is accompanied by the formation of a polycomplex stabilized by multiple salt bonds between oppositely charged groups of both polyelectrolytes. A nonstoichiometric polycomplex with a tenfold excess of anionic groups is present in solution in the form of particles with a diameter of about 300 nm; the particles retain their aggregate stability for 30 days. The application of aqueous solutions of individual polymers and the nonstoichiometric polycomplex on the surface of sand with a particle size of 0.15 ± 0.05 mm is associated with the formation of composite polymer-sand coatings. The highest mechanical strength is possessed by coatings with the participation of an anionic copolymer and a polycomplex. For sand and polycomplex coatings, the weight loss during water treatment is 10%, which is lower than that in the case of traditional polyacrylamide soil stabilizer. The polycomplex at a concentration of up to 0.33 wt % does not exhibit toxicity to microorganisms, thereby indicating that the use of a negatively charged polycomplex is promising for obtaining waterproof protective coatings on the surface of sandy soils.

The interaction between the aggregation-induced emissive (AIE) luminogens (AIEgen) and the polymer is the key scientific question in the design of functional AIE hydrogels. In this study, we report the AIE behavior of a poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) and poly(acrylamide) (PAAm) interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogel doped with tetra-cationic tetraphenylethene (TCTPE). The cationic AIEgen can bind with PAAc through ionic interaction, while PAAc and PAAm chains can associate with each other through hydrogen-bonds (H-bonds). These two interactions can restrict the intramolecular rotation and thus activate the luminescence of the AIEgen. The PAAc-PAAm H-bonds can be broken by increasing temperature or pH, restoring the intramolecular rotation of the AIEgen and quenching the fluorescence of the hydrogel. Therefore, the TCTPE-doped IPN hydrogel is designed as temperature- and pH-sensitive displayers which can record information imprinted by photo-printing or iono-printing with good switchability and reversibility. Another application of this TCTPE-doped hydrogel is demonstrated as a luminescent soft actuator, which has fast shape deformation and editable fluorescence pattern. The above results reveal a pathway to tune the emission behavior through tuning polymer-polymer and polymer-AIEgen interactions, which may inspire new design strategies of aggregation-induced emissive polymers and broaden their applications.

The aim of the current research work was to fabricate polymeric nexus for controlled delivery of metoprolol tartrate by using free radical polymerization. Polymer (aloe vera, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and meggletose) was crosslinked with monomer (acrylic acid) by using N,N methylene bisacrylamide. Swelling behavior was studied in pH 1.2 and 7.4. Sol gel fraction depicted gel fraction increased with the increase in feed ratio (polymer, monomer, and crosslinker). Optimized formulation was evaluated via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR confirmed compatibility of metoprolol with formulated system. Moreover, pH-dependent swelling was observed, experiencing significant swelling at higher pH. SEM depicted porous architecture which is responsible for swelling, drug loading, and release. Dissolution studies showed percentage drug release was significant in pH 7.4. Hence, the current research work demonstrates sustained delivery of metoprolol by employing varying concentration of polymer, monomer, and crosslinker. These fascinating properties made hydrogel a promising carrier for sustained drug delivery.

Defect passivation is a key strategy to prepare high-performance perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). Even though abundant passivation molecules have been applied, the absence of detailed researches with regard to different functional groups in polymer additives may inevitably impede the establishment of passivation molecules selection rules. In this work, three passivation molecules including poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), polymethyl acrylate (PMA), and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) are employed to systematically analyze the passivation effect from hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxyl groups. In general, PVA (-OH) can form hydrogen bonds with perovskite and PMA (-C═O) can complex with uncoordinated Pb2+. Specifically, PAA (-COOH) can interact selectively with MA+ and I- ions via hydrogen bonding and complex with uncoordinated Pb2+ to passivate defects more effectively. Hence, the PAA-incorporated PVSCs based on MAPbI3 achieve the champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.29% with open-circuit voltage up to 1.13 V. In addition, PAA cross-linking perovskite grains can relieve mechanical stress, as well as occupy the major channels to suppress ion migration and water/oxygen erosion. The corresponding unencapsulated devices demonstrate a superior light soaking stability, retaining more than 80% of the original PCE under one sun illumination for 1000 h.

Various biologically important Stilbene analogues were competently synthesized using inexpensive, non-toxic, and readily available amino acids and Stilbene; the systematic study was carried out to characterize parameters such as TLC, melting point, IR, 1H NMR and mass spectral studies. The synthesized compounds were screened for anticancer activities. The molecular docking studies have been performed by using software Autodock 4.2, Autodock vina. The targeted proteins are P450a2 & Estrogen. The reaction of phenylacetic acid substituted Benzaldehyde, and triethylamine in acetic anhydride was irradiated in a microwave oven for 3 minutes at 700W afforded (2E)-3-(substituted phenyl)-2-phenylacrylic acid. The above compound, after irradiating with hydrazine provided (2E)-3-(substituted phenyl)-2-phenyl acrylic acid hydrazide. Anti-Cancer activity for synthesized compounds was evaluated using the MTT assay technique against colon cancer. The results were obtained as a percentage in cell lysis data. The IC50 value of the compounds was between 0.037-0.0257 µM/lt. Among all the compounds, tyrosine derivatives exhibited the more potent activity. Insilico studies PCB-arg having more binding affinity with the receptor Cytochrome P450 A2 and PCB-try having more binding affinity with the receptor estrogen beta when compared to other derivatives.

Microscaled patterns have been used to construct exquisite intelligent biomaterials and can be applied in tissue engineering to create different biological signals and modulate cell behavior. This study proposed to create micropatterns for cell attachment and proliferation by combining 3-D printed mask with the plasma polymerized pyrrole (ppPy) on an antifouling polymer-modified substrate. The antifouling moieties selected in this study are the zwitterionic molecules of sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) copolymerized with acrylic acid (AAc). The cell-pattern interactions were facilitated by cultivating L-929 mouse fibroblasts on the substrates with the well-defined chemical features providing by the multilayers composed of plasma polymers and zwitterionic copolymers. The results showed that both the attachment and proliferation of L-929 fibroblast cells were excellently confined within the ppPy functionalized patterns. Moreover, the cell density per unit area increased as a function of the ppPy deposition time, indicating cell proliferation was modulated by amine functionality. This study provides an alternative method to pattern biomolecules using plasma deposition which could be further applied in fields of biomaterials and biosensing.

A set of novel biocompatible aliphatic-aromatic nanocomposites, including numerous acrylic acid-grafted poly(butylene carbonate-co-terephthalate) (g-PBCT) and organically-modified layered zinc phenylphosphonate (m-PPZn), were successfully synthesized via polycondensation and transesterification. A primary covalent linkage was produced between the biocompatible polymer and the inorganic reinforcements. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectra demonstrated the successful grafting of acrylic acid into the PBCT (g-PBCT). Both wide-angle X-ray diffraction data and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed that the g-PBCT polymer matrix was intercalated into the interlayer spacing of the m-PPZn and was chemically interacted with the m-PPZn. The addition of m-PPZn in the g-PBCT matrix significantly improved its storage modulus. A slight increase in thermal stability was observed in all the g-PBCT/m-PPZn composites. Both results are attributed to the presence of covalent bond between g-PBCT and m-PPZn.

Determination of how the properties of nanocarriers of agrochemicals affect their uptake and translocation in plants would enable more efficient agent delivery. Here, we synthesized star polymer nanocarriers poly(acrylic acid)-block-poly(2-(methylsulfinyl)ethyl acrylate) (PAA-b-PMSEA) and poly(acrylic acid)-block-poly((2-(methylsulfinyl)ethyl acrylate)-co-(2-(methylthio)ethyl acrylate)) (PAA-b-P(MSEA-co-MTEA)) with well-controlled sizes (from 6 to 35 nm), negative charge content (from 17% to 83% PAA), and hydrophobicity and quantified their leaf uptake, phloem loading, and distribution in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants 3 days after foliar application of 20 μL of a 1g L-1 star polymer solution. In spite of their property differences, ∼30% of the applied star polymers translocated to other plant organs, higher than uptake of conventional foliar applied agrochemicals (

This paper describes the synthesis and development of new polymers for solid state nuclear trak detector of two novel poly Allyl cloride – co Acrylic acid and diethanol amine of polymeric detectors of alpha charged particle tracks. The detectors were irradiated by two radioactive sources, Amercium (Am-240) and Polonium (Po-210) for 5 hours, and traces of alpha particles were seen in the microscope and their diameters were measured. The results showed the density of tracks of alpha particles from (Am-240) and (Po-210) are 295.86, 655.33 respectively, while the average of their diameters are 5.83, 4.78 respectively.

In this paper, a step-by-step method is proposed to graft poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) onto carbon nanotubes via gamma-ray irradiation induced graft polymerization. Different ways of acidification have a great influence on the surface structure of carbon nanotubes. During the process of gamma-ray irradiation induced graft polymerization, the degree of grafting (DG) of PAA onto the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) obtained by acidification is obviously different. Meanwhile, this paper also studies the effects of polymer inhibitor and monomer concentration on DG of samples through gamma-ray irradiation induced graft polymerization.

The objective of the present study was to improve the mucosal adherence of nasal formulations through the application of swellable, microporous drug containing crosslinked hydrogels. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) alone, poly acrylic acid/poly-vinyl-alcohol (PAA/PVA) hydrogels and poly acrylic acid/poly-vinyl-alcohol)/Halloysite nanotubes (PAA/PVA/HNTs) hydrogels were prepared by free-radical polymerization. N–N methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) and ammonium per-sulfate (APS) were used as cross-linker and initiator, respectively. Studies of Diffusion coefficient, swelling, porosity, loading and drug release at various pH medium, mucoadhesive strength and impact on Caco-2 cell viability were conducted. The drug, HNTs and hydrogels were evaluated by FTIR, SEM and XRD. An increase in gel fraction, porosity and drug loading capacity of PAA/PVA/HNTs was observed compare to PAA/PVA hydrogels, which may be due to increased available surface area. The drug loading capacity showed a direct relationship with the HNTs concentration of 25 to 75% in the PAA/PVA/HNTs hydrogels. The presence of carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, aluminum, silicate groups was observed in the FTIR spectrum. The SEM showed a uniform structure of the PAA/PVA hydrogels but became a encrusted like structure in the PAA/PVA/HNTs hydrogels. The PAH2 formulation showed a mucoadhesive strength more than 80% and the cell viability studies did not reveal a significant difference between the control and dispersion of HNTs and PAA/PVA, PAA/PVA/HNTs.

The objective of current study was to fabricate PEG based hydrogels cross linked with monomer i.e. acrylic acid and 2, Acrylamide-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid (AMPS) in aqueous media. N,N'-Methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) was used as cross linker while ammonium per sulfate was added in reaction as initiator. Sodium bicarbonate was used as to create pores in hydrogel making the formulations superporous. Ivabradine hydrochloride as model drug was loaded into prepared hydrogel formulation. FTIR confirmed the compatibility of Polyethylene glycol with acrylic acid and AMPS. Thermal stability of PEG based hydrogels was confirmed by DSC and TGA techniques. Prepared hydrogels showed pH dependent swelling behavior. Presence of AMPS caused excellent swelling of hydrogels due to its polyelectrolyte nature while in case of acrylic acid dense cross linking cause comparatively less swelling of acrylic acid based hydrogels. Sol–gel fraction was determined to find out unreacted and uncross linked portion of each formulation. Invitro release study confirmed controlled release of loaded drug from PEG based polymeric matrices. Release kinetics suggested that drug release from hydrogel matrix followed solvent diffusion swelling mechanism.

Emulsion template-guided strategy has been used to produce porous architectures with exquisite structure, tailored morphology, and exclusive features for ubiquitous applications. Notwithstanding, the practical water remediation is often marred by their transport-limited behavior and fragility. To circumvent these conundrums, we prepared hierarchically porous poly(acrylic acid)-alumina nanocomposite beads by solidifying the droplets of emulsions jointly stabilized by the organic surfactants and alumina nanoparticles. By virtue of their positive charge, the alumina nanoparticles got entrapped within the poly(acrylic acid) scaffolds that excluded the risk of secondary contamination typically observed with conventional nanocomposites. Being amenable to surface modification, the carboxyl moieties of the beaded polymer were further exploited to covalently tether branched polyethylenimine throughout the exterior and interior surface of the porous matrix via a grafting-to approach. The macropores expedite an active fluid flow and easier adsorbate transport throughout the functionalized nanocomposites whose overall higher density of positive charge over a certain pH range electrostatically attracts and effectively adsorbs the negatively charged Cr(VI) complexes and anionic congo red ions/molecules from water. This proof-of-concept synthetic approach and postsynthetic modification offer an improved mechanical robustness to these macrosized multifunctional nanocomposite beads for their easier processing, thereby paving the way for the point-of-use water purification technology development.

In this work, hydrogels with antimicrobial activity based on the polysaccharide maltodextrin (MD) were prepared by copolymerization with either acrylic acid (AAc) or acrylamide (AAm) to endow chemi...

Two azobenzene compounds, Disperse Red 1 (DR1) and 4-aminoazobenzene (Aazo), were separately linked to poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) side chains to form PAA-DR1 and PAA-Aazo, which were then associated with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) to produce hydrogen-bonded polymer complex fibers. After UV irradiation, the initial modulus and yielding strength of PAA-Aazo/PEO fiber were both increased tremendously, while the mechanical properties of PAA-DR1/PEO fiber only slightly changed. After drawn and dried in vacuum, PAA-DR1/PEO and PAA-Aazo/PEO fibers with an extended length exhibited a contraction of 20% and 25% under UV irradiation, showing potential for photo-actuation.

Oil shale semicoke (SC), which generated during the production of shale oil has attracted much attention in agriculture recently, as the composition of organic matter, clay mineral and else. In this study, a novel superabsorbent composite of poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)/semicoke (P(AA-co-AM)/SC) was prepared by polymerization of the acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AM) via a convenient one-step reaction as the presence of SC. The characterization of FTIR, SEM, XPS and TG indicated that the successful polymerization and the SC had participated into the construction of 3D polymeric network in superabsorbent. The performance testing results showed that the superabsorbent composites exhibited the excellent water absorbency, favorable water retention properties, fast swelling rate, and nice water reusability. And a 10% of SC amount could improve the water absorbency to 643.13 g/g and 79.82 g/g in distilled water and 0.9% NaCl solution, respectively. The potted culture experiments revealed that the increased water retaining capacity of soil and obvious growth promoting effect for crop. In a word, the novel superabsorbent composite could be as a potential water-saving product used in the agriculture, and the approach reported in this work also can be as a new pathway for high value using of SC via a sustainable chemical engineering process.

This work probes the slurry architecture of a high silicon content electrode slurry with and without low molecular weight polymeric dispersants as a function of shear rate to mimic electrode casting conditions for poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and lithium neutralized poly(acrylic acid) (LiPAA) based electrodes. Rheology coupled ultra-small angle neutron scattering (rheo-USANS) was used to examine the aggregation and agglomeration behavior of each slurry as well as the overall shape of the aggregates. The addition of dispersant has opposing effects on slurries made with PAA or LiPAA binder. With a dispersant, there are fewer aggregates and agglomerates in the PAA based silicon slurries, while LiPAA based silicon slurries become orders of magnitude more aggregated and agglomerated at all shear rates. The reorganization of the PAA and LiPAA binder in the presence of dispersant leads to a more homogeneous slurry and a more heterogeneous slurry, respectively. This reorganization ripples through to the cast electrode architecture and is reflected in the electrochemical cycling of these electrodes.

Nitrogen-doped microporous carbon using carboxylic acid-functionalized imidazole-type polymers (PDVA) as a carbon precursor was fabricated by a one-step carbonization method without an additional activator. The introduction of acrylic acid was beneficial to promote the formation of microporous structures during the pyrolysis process. By changing the carbonization temperature, the textural properties and surface nitrogen content of the carbon materials were tuned. The synergistic effect of the microporous structure and basic nitrogen sites was conducive to enhancing the CO₂ adsorption performance of porous carbon materials. The CO₂ adsorption quantity of PDVA-C-800 obtained without an additional activator reached 3.18 mmol·g–¹ under 1 bar at 25 °C, which was comparable to that of the reported carbon materials. Besides, PDVA-C-800 possessed excellent cycle stability and recyclability. The fabrication of microporous nitrogen-doped carbon derived from carboxylic acid-functionalized imidazole-type polymers provided an original idea for CO₂ uptake.

We investigate the effect of the poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) carrier polymer concentration on the microstructure and rheological properties of catalyst inks for electrospun polymer–electrolyte membran...

The anticorrosive performance of two acrylic polymers (PANa) and (PAA) on smild steel in the 0.1 M hydrochloric acid medium was investigated using numerous techniques, such as weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), Scanning electron spectroscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX), and DFT simulation. The obtained results through all tested methods are in good agreement. The polarization curves revealed that PANa and PAA belonged to mixed-type inhibitors. The influence of temperature on the corrosion of mild steel in 1.0 M HCl was also studied. The adsorption of PANa and PAA on mild steel surface in the studied medium follows the Langmuir isotherm. Scanning electron spectroscopy and Energy-dispersive X-ray analyses were carried out in order to study the mechanism which controls the corrosion inhibition of mild steel. Theoretical calculations realized using density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamic (MD), and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations explored the most reactive sites of the investigated polymers.

Due to their unique properties, paper-based biosensors have attracted attention as inexpensive devices for on-site analysis. To achieve fast and sensitive detection of analytes, immobilization of enzymes with high apparent activities on paper is highly desirable; however, this is challenging. Herein, we report an improved approach to attach a malathion degrading enzyme, PoOPHM9, on paper via an interlocking network of Pluronic F127 (PF127)–poly(acrylic acid)–enzyme conjugates. The addition of PF127 improved retention of enzymatic activity as the apparent kinetic constant Vmax of the immobilized enzyme increased two-fold compared with the paper prepared without PF127. The PF127–poly(acrylic acid)–PoOPHM9 papers provided rapid colorimetric detection of malathion at 0.1–50 mM. The detection was completed within 5 min using a smartphone and image analysis software. As a proof-of-concept, malathion-contaminated water, plant, and apple samples were analyzed with the papers successfully. This material is promising for on-site rapid analysis of malathion-contaminated samples.

Monodisperse polystyrene microspheres with different functional groups have important applications in both the medical and analytical fields. In this study, we prepared monodisperse microspheres with sulfonic acid or carboxyl groups using soap-free emulsion polymerization (SFEP) with potassium persulfate as the initiator. A series of monodisperse polystyrene microspheres with sizes between 100 and 500 nm were successfully prepared by copolymerizing different types of ionic monomers at different concentrations. The microspheres were characterized by using dynamic light scattering (DLS), Zeta potential measurements (ZP), FT-IR spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mechanism of the particle nucleation and growth were studied by combining the changes in particle size and the number of particles. The results showed that the addition of hydrophilic comonomers like sodium p-styrene sulfonate, acrylic acid, and methacrylic acid significantly improved the stability of the polystyrene microspheres and promoted particle nucleation, resulting in less particle aggregation and microspheres with smaller sizes.

Iron hydroxides are important scavengers for dissolved chromium (Cr) via coprecipitation processes; however, the influences of organic matter (OM) on Cr sequestration in Fe/Cr-OM ternary systems and the stability of the coprecipitates are not well understood. Here, Fe/Cr-OM coprecipitation was conducted at pH 3, and Cr hydroxide was undersaturated. Acetic acid (HAc), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), and Suwannee River natural organic matter (SRNOM) were selected as model OMs, which showed different complexation capabilities with Fe/Cr ions and Fe/Cr hydroxide particles. HAc had no significant effect on the coprecipitation, as the monodentate carboxyl ligand in HAc did not favor complexation with dissolved Fe/Cr ions or Fe/Cr hydroxide nanoparticles. Contrarily, PAA and SRNOM with polydentate carboxyl ligand had strong complexation with Fe/Cr ions and Fe/Cr hydroxide nanoparticles, leading to significant amounts of PAA/SRNOM sequestered in the coprecipitates, which caused the structural disorder and fast aggregation of the coprecipitates. In comparison with that of PAA, preferential complexation of Cr ions with SRNOM resulted in higher Cr/Fe ratios in the coprecipitates. This study advances the fundamental understanding of Fe/Cr-OM coprecipitation and mechanisms controlling the composition and stability of the coprecipitates, which is essential for successful Cr remediation and removal in both natural and engineered settings.

Styrene and butylacrylic acid copolymer emulsion (BA-St-MMA) was synthesized by pre-emulsification and semi-continuous process with styrene and butyl acrylic acid as main raw materials, and polymer...

A hydrophilic terpolymer scale inhibitor (AA–APES–HPAY) was prepared by free radical polymerization with acrylic acid (AA), hydroxypropyl acrylate modified by 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic ...

Star-shaped polymers with the calix[8]arene core and poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) and poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline)–poly[3-(2-oxazoline)propionic acid] block copolymer arms at various ways of attaching blocks to the core are synthesized by ring-opening cationic polymerization. Luminescent labels are introduced by the esterification of carboxyl groups by diazomethane derivatives. In order to obtain interpolymer complexes luminescently labeled poly(methacrylic acid) and poly(acrylic acid) are synthesized. The resulting polymers are characterized by the methods of molecular hydrodynamics and optics. Interpolymer complex formation in the aqueous solutions of the polymers is studied by polarized luminescence. It is shown that the chemical structure of the polyoxazoline fragment and the way of its addition to the core influence the structural and dynamic characteristics of the interpolymer complexes with polycarboxylic acids and their stability.

Polymer‐protein complexing systems have been extensively studied because of their wide application in biomedicine and industry. Here, we studied the aggregation behavior of the hydrophobically associating water‐soluble polymer poly(acrylic acid‐co‐octadecyl methacrylate) [P(AA‐co‐OMA)] prepared with nonionic surfactant as an emulsifier and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in aqueous solution. We identified the optimal composite conditions of P(AA‐co‐OMA) and BSA aqueous solution. We measured the zeta potential, dynamic light‐scattering particle size, and surface tension of P(AA‐co‐OMA) and BSA mixed aqueous solution. The results showed that the aggregation behavior between the polymer and BSA relied mainly on the hydrophobic interactions between the molecules. In addition, the best compounding condition was 8 wt.% of P(AA‐co‐OMA) content. The structure of hydrophobically associating polymer P(AA‐co‐OMA) and its aggregation with BSA were characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. The infrared spectroscopy results identified the hydrogen bonding behavior of the amino and carboxyl groups between the polymer and BSA. This behavior was also confirmed using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The thermal decomposition temperature and melting temperature of BSA changed before and after it was combined with the polymer. We measured the morphology of the polymer BSA aggregate with 8 % polymer content by transmission electron microscopy. The binding mechanism was investigated, as well., The aggregation behavior between P(AA‐co‐OMA) and BSA, which primarily depends on hydrophobic aggregation and hydrogen‐bonding interaction, has been investigated. As shown in the figure, the gray area reveals that the hydrophobic regions of P(AA‐co‐OMA) and BSA gather together, and the hydrophilic areas are located next to each other as a result of the hydrogen‐bonding interaction.

Wrinkles and photo-oxidation reactions are widely found in soft materials, which are intimately associated with the failure of materials and structures. It is expected that the photo-oxidation process could also have a positive effect on the material and its surface. Here, we report the photo-oxidation of 2-(4-dietheylaminophenyl)-4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl) imidazole (DEA-TAI) into a wrinkled bilayer system to control surface wrinkle and fluorescent patterns, in which a supramolecular polymer network composed of carboxylic acid-containing copolymer (PS-BA-AA; PS=poly(styrene), BA=butyl acrylate; AA=acrylic acid) and DEA-TAI were used as the skin layer. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation can induce photo-oxidation of the imidazole ring of DEA-TAI to weaken the intermolecular hydrogen bonding between PS-BA-AA and DEA-TAI, resulting in the release of stress in the bilayer system. The wrinkled morphology and fluorescence of the surface can be simultaneously regulated by photo-oxidation of DEA-TAI under UV light, and the resulting wrinkles are extremely sensitive to the pH value, which can be quickly and reversibly erased by NH3 gas. Smart surfaces with specific hierarchical wrinkles and fluorescence can be achieved by selective irradiation with photomasks, which may find potential applications in smart displays and multi-code information storage.

The conditions for spinning nano- and microfibers from mixed solutions of the complex-forming polymers poly(acrylic acid)–poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(acrylic acid)–poly(ethylene oxide), and poly(acrylic acid)–collagen-hydrolysate modified by stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric interpolymer complexes of analogous compositions are studied. Formulation-technological parameters for electrospinning fibrous nonwoven cloths are developed. The cloth structures are analyzed.

The burst release of drug is a problem associated with the use of common blending electrospinning. This problem can be avoided via fabrication of core–shell nanofibers where drug can be coated with polymer nanofibers as a shell. Moreover, there is a need to provide wound dressing with prolonged system of sustained release to accelerate the recovery of the wound. Currently, electrospun ciprofloxacin loaded poly(acrylic acid)/Dextran (Cipro@PAA/Dex) core–shell nanofibers can be prepared in green method using emulsion electrospinning. For comparison study, blend electrospun nanofibers (Cipro/PAA/Dex) was also prepared. The entrapment of drug into the polymeric material and the interaction between polymer blends were confirmed by FT-IR. Moreover, DSC was used to identify the type of interaction between polymeric chains. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) was used to study the nanofiber morphology and transmission electron microscope (TEM) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) were used to confirm the formation of core–shell structure. In vitro drug release profile was monitored by UV-Vis spectrophotometer and the results showed that Cipro@PAA/Dex exhibited controlled release behavior whereas Cipro/PAA/Dex showed burst release behavior. Moreover, the release mechanism is kinetically followed diffusion.

Superabsorbent hydrogel (SAH) is widely used in hygiene products such as diapers. For these SAHs, the centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) and absorbency under load (AUL) are particularly important....

N1-alkyl (octyl and dodecyl)-substituted imidazolium-based PVBC homopolymers have been synthesized via N-quaternization reaction of N1-alkyl imidazole and PVBC precursor homopolymer bearing reactive benzyl chloride moieties. Due to their poor film forming properties and water solubility, these homopolymers were blended with aromatic polyethers bearing main chain pyridine units at different compositions in order to study the effect of alkyl chain length on morphology, water uptake, swelling ability and chemical stability of the prepared membranes. The B2 blend membrane with the highest N1-dodecyl-substituted imidazolium PVBC content (65 wt%) exhibited the highest water uptake (54%) despite its lower IEC value compared to the corresponding one containing N1-octyl-substituted imidazolium PVBC, low swelling ratio and a phase separated morphology. Evaluation of the chemical stability in 3.6 M KOH solution at 80 °C for 7 days revealed the degradation of imidazolium via ring opening, as evidenced by ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy. Therefore, new blends having as second constituent, the N1-alkyl-substituted imidazolium functionalized poly(PVBC-co-AA20) copolymers containing acrylic acid units were fabricated targeting to the improvement of chemical stability via ionic cross linking. The prepared D1 and D2 blend membranes containing 60 and 65 wt% dodecyl-imidazolium functionalized poly(PVBC-co-AA20) copolymer content, respectively, were flexible, exhibited moderate IECs (1.47–1.60 meq/g) and sufficient water uptakes (up to 30%). D2 blend membrane showed excellent chemical stability after testing in 3.6 M KOH solution at 80 °C for 30 days, as confirmed by ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy and TGA analysis. The excellent chemical stability can probably be attributed to the steric hindrance effect of N1 dodecyl substituent which effectively protects the C2 position of imidazolium from hydroxide attack as well as to the formation of a dense, ionic cross-linked structure that hinders hydroxide penetration.

Chitosan is a bio-based polyelectrolyte with high potential for wastewater treatment. Chitosan can remove anionic dyes by adsorption but it has low performance in the removal of cationic dyes. In this work, we report the synthesis of chitosan-based graft-copolymers using gamma radiation. Acrylic acid and poly(ethylene glycol) were grafted successfully onto chitosan applying a radiation dose of 12 kGy at a dose rate of 8 kGyh-1. The grafted-copolymers have improved adsorptive properties for the removal of basic dyes reaching a maximum adsorption capacity higher than 300 mgg-1. The Lanmguir’s isotherm model described satisfactorily the interaction between the grafted copolymers and basic dyes. Freundlich’s isotherm model described the adsorption of anionic dye acid orange 52. The grafted copolymers removed successfully textile dyes from wastewater of the dyeing process. The best results were obtained in the removal of direct and basic dyes. Further, poly(ethylene glycol) grafted on the copolymer conferred better swelling behavior making easy the separation of the adsorbent after dye removal. The results showed that the adsorbent materials synthesized by radiochemical graftcopolymerization are more efficient than the beads, composite materials, and blends of chitosan.

Patients with chronic kidney disease are at high risk of hyperkalemia that is associated with various life-threatening complications. Treatments primarily rely on orally administered potassium binding agents, along with low curative effects and various side effects. Herein, direct serum potassium uptake was realized via zeolite–heparin-mimicking-polymer hybrid microbeads. The preparation process involved the synthesis of the heparin-mimicking polymer via the in situ cross-linking polymerization of acrylic acid and N-vinylpyrrolidone in polyethersulfone solution, the fabrication of microbeads via zeolite-mixing, electro-spraying and phase-inversion, and the subsequent aqueous-phase modifications based on ion-exchange and metal-leaching. An ultra-high (about 88%) amount of zeolite could be incorporated and well locked inside the polymer matrix. Potassium uptake capability was verified in water, normal saline and human serum, showing high selectivity and fast adsorption. The microbeads exhibited satisfying blood compatibility, negligible hemolysis ratio, prolonged clotting time, inhibited contact activation, and enhanced antifouling property toward serum proteins and cells. The proposed approach toward zeolite–heparin-mimicking-polymer hybrid microbeads provided a cheap, efficient and safe treatment protocol of hyperkalemia for the high-risk patients., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • Zeolite–heparin-mimicking-polymer hybrid microbeads were prepared for potassium uptake. • An ultra-high (~88%) amount of zeolite could be well locked inside the polymer matrix. • Potassium uptake by microbeads exhibited high selectivity and fast adsorption. • The microbeads exhibited excellent blood compatibility. • The proposed method is cheap, efficient and safe to treat hyperkalemia.