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Thermal treatment was performed on polymer-dispersed single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) transparent conductive films (TCFs). By using differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry analysis, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopies, the proper heating temperature and time were determined, resulting in films with the minimum sheet resistance. The post treatment with proper heating temperature and time was used to decrease the sheet resistance from 1100 to 500 Ω/cm −2 with no change in transparency at 250 °C for 1.5 h. The film thickness and surface roughness were reduced significantly, whereas the hardness increased as a result of the more compact film structure. During the heating, the residual polymeric dispersant acquired considerable fluidity causing morphological changes in the SWCNT TCFs. Furthermore, the polymer content on the film was reduced when the thermal treatment was performed above the decomposition temperature of the polymer, as confirmed by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method to protect/deprotect vinyl groups via sulfoxide chemistry realizes a thermally latent vinyl crosslinking system. [Display omitted] • Utilization of sulfoxide chemistry for vinyl protection. • Synthesis of sulfoxide-functionalized crosslinkable monomer. • Preparation of sulfoxide-functionalized polymers for latent crosslinking reaction. • A realization of thermally latent crosslinking system. Radical crosslinking reactions utilizing vinyl functionality are widely used to fabricate polymeric networks for bulk and surface applications. Here, we report a thermally latent vinyl crosslinking of polymers involving sulfoxide chemistry for the first time. Polymers with sulfoxide-protected methacrylate moieties are prepared via free-radical polymerization. These moieties are deprotected by a thermal process and transformed into methacrylate functional groups. The crosslinking behaviors of the protected polymers are investigated using an oscillatory rheometer in the presence of a radical initiator. The behavior strongly depended on the formation of methacrylate species in polymer chains. The thermally latent crosslinking approach introduces a novel method for the stepwise and systematic construction of polymeric networks that can potentially be applied in dual-curing or patterning processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Voltammetric norepinephrine sensor using de-bundled single-walled carbon nanotubes. • De-bundling was achieved with a newly synthesized co-polymer. • The sensor was tested by measuring norepinephrine levels in rat tissue samples. A voltammetric sensor for norepinephrine (NE) detection was developed by modifying a disposable screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) with de-bundled single-walled carbon nanotubes (D-SWCNTs). The de-bundling was carried out using a newly synthesized polymeric dispersant, a co-polymer of polystyrene sulfonate and methacrylate of lipoic acid. The D-SWCNTs/SPCE showed better sensitivity towards NE compared to the bare SPCE and that modified with bundled SWCNTs. The sensor was optimized for detecting NE by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) in terms of the D-SWCNTs concentration, DPV parameters, and solution pH. Under the optimum conditions, the sensor exhibited a dynamic linear range of 100 nM–2.0 µM NE, and the detection limit was 62.0 nM (S/N = 3). Additionally, the effects of possible interferents were investigated. The relative standard deviation for five successive measurements of 2.0 µM NE was 7.6%, and approximately 75.8% of the sensor activity was retained after four weeks of storage. The practical potential of this sensor was demonstrated by quantifying NE in ex vivo rat tissue samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel cinnamonitrile derivatives were designed/synthesized as UV absorbers. • Structural modification allowed fine tuning of absorption wavelength. • Affixing hydroxyhexyl functional group to the cinnamonitrile core significantly improved solubility, instigating enhanced UV blocking and visible light transparency. • Hydroxyhexyl-functionalized cinnamonitrile was incorporated into urethane-based crosslikers to obtain a long-term stability within polymer networks. Ultraviolet (UV) light is generally harmful to human health and organic compounds (for example, plastics) as it deteriorates the long-term stability via photodegradation. Thus, an efficient strategy for reducing light-induced damage is the key to maximizing the operation lifetime or durability of materials. The most common means of preventing UV light-induced damage is by adding compounds that possess excellent UV absorbing capability. In this study, novel cinnamonitrile derivatives were designed and synthesized for their application as UV absorbers in pressure-sensitive adhesives. Absorption wavelengths were finely tuned by simple structural modification, and better molar absorptivity was obtained. The hydroxyhexyl functional group affixed into the cinnamonitrile core granted superior solubility (>10 wt%) in common organic solvents and acrylic monomers/resins, instigating enhanced UV blocking and visible light transparency. Further, to enhance the solubility and long-term stability of UV absorbers within a network, hydroxyhexyl-functionalized cinnamonitrile UV absorber was incorporated into urethane-based crosslinkers. Covalently attached reactive UV absorbers improved the adhesion property even at a high loading of UV absorber and remarkable physical persistence within the network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with high aspect ratios were well dispersed in organic solvents to form stable suspensions using poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate-co-styrene) (poly(DMAEMA-co-St)). The polymeric dispersant poly(DMAEMA-co-St) was synthesized in various compositions by atom transfer radical polymerization. The structures and the compositions of the poly(DMAEMA-co-St) were confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The stability and dispersion of the functionalized SWCNTs with high aspect ratios in suspension were observed by dispersion stability analysis, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The existence of unbundled SWCNTs was confirmed by Raman and ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared spectroscopy. Finally, SWCNT transparent conductive films with high transmittances and low sheet resistances were prepared on a poly(ethylene terephthalate) substrate using a spin-coating method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Atom transfer radical polymerization was used to synthesize a well-defined poly(ethylene glycol)- b-poly(mercapto ethylacrylamide) (PEG- b-PMEAAm) diblock copolymer. Poly(ethylene glycol)- b-poly[ N-(acryloxysuccinimide)](PEG- b-PNAS) was synthesized at 80 °C using methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-2-bromo propanoate (PEG-Br) and CuBr/2,2′-bipyridine as a macroinitiator and catalyst, respectively. The monomer conversion was determined by H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The resulting PEG- b-PNAS diblock copolymer was characterized by gel permeation chromatography, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and H NMR spectroscopy. Disulfide groups were introduced by a simple reaction through the N-acryloxysuccinimide (NAS) moieties of the PEG- b-PNAS diblock copolymer with cystamine dihydrochloride in the presence of triethylamine. FT-IR spectroscopy was used to confirm the introduction of disulfide moieties into the polymer repeating units. Subsequently, a thiol-functionalized block copolymer was prepared using DL-dithiothreitol (DTT) as the reducing agent and the reduction step was monitored by H NMR spectroscopy. This thiol group was transformed easily to a disulfide bond using FeCl as an oxidizing agent. The transformation into disulfide could be visualized easily as insoluble polymeric particles formed from a clear solution of PEG- b-PMEAAm after oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a novel scratch-resistant and healable automotive clearcoat that can not only protect the substrate surface but also facilitate scratch repair. A self-healable disulfide polyurethane diol adduct (DSPUDA) was synthesized via step-growth polymerization with bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) disulfide, isophorone diisocyanate, and poly(tetrahydrofuran). The reversibility of bond cleavages and associations of the synthesized DSPUDA was quantified through nuclear magnetic resonance analysis, and its healing properties were confirmed using a universal testing machine and a rheometer. The material properties of clearcoats were tuned by varying the amounts of the DSPUDA added to prepared control clearcoats. The scratch resistances of the resultant clearcoats were assessed using an Amtec-Kistler car-wash tester and a gloss-meter, and their scratch-healing performances were evaluated using a micro-scratch tester and an optical microscope. In addition, the healing efficiency was quantitatively scrutinized using a nano-scratch tester and an atomic force microscope. The thermal properties of the clearcoat samples specifically, the thermal decomposition temperature, glass-transition temperature, and degree of crosslinking were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic mechanical analysis, respectively. The mechanical properties of the clearcoat surfaces were investigated using nano-indentation and pendulum hardness tests. The healing efficiency and mechanical properties of the prepared clearcoats exhibited an inverse trade-off relationship. Nevertheless, optimizing the proportion of reversible disulfide bonds of the DSPUDA in the polyacrylate-based urethane networks not only resulted in superior scratch healing and scratch resistance but also maintained sufficient mechanical properties for the coatings to be used as automotive clearcoats. • A novel self-healable disulfide polyurethane diol adduct (DSPUDA) was synthesized. • The reversibility of bond cleavages and associations of the DSPUDA were investigated. • The self-healing and rheological properties of automotive clearcoats containing DSPUDA were quantitatively analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, a new matrix for immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) using poly(2-acetamidoacrylic acid) (PAAA) hydrogels complexed with Ni2+ was developed for the purification of the recombinant histidine-tagged green fluorescence protein (His6–GFP). The Ni2+-complexed PAAA hydrogel was prepared by polymerizing 2-acetamidoacrylic acid (AAA) and 2,2′-[(1,4-dioxo-1,4-butanediyl)diamino] bis(2-propenoic acid) (DBDBPA) with potassium persulfate in DMSO, followed by Ni2+ complexation. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to determine the binding of His6–GFP to the Ni2+–PAAA hydrogel in three-dimensional space. Photoluminescence spectroscopy revealed an 81% binding efficiency of His6–GFP to the Ni2+–PAAA hydrogel yielded with a recovery of 59%. The specificity of His6–GFP binding to Ni2+–PAAA hydrogel was compared with that of the PAAA hydrogel without Ni2+. His6–GFP was purified directly from the cell lysate with Ni2+–PAAA hydrogel matrix but the PAAA hydrogel without Ni2+ had no effect. The major advantage of the Ni2+–PAAA hydrogel system over current methods, such as Ni–nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) agarose beads, was the simple and low-cost procedure for preparing the matrix. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new disposable amperometric biosensor for sarcosine (Sar, a biomarker for prostate cancer) was designed based on screen-printed carbon electrodes, Prussian blue, polymer dispersed reduced graphene oxide (P-rGO) nanosheets, and sarcosine oxidase (SOx). Poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate- r -LAHEMA) denoted as PSSL was newly synthesized as dispersant for rGO. The P-rGO was utilized for SOx immobilization, the sulfonate and disulfide functionalities in PSSL enable physical adsorption of SOx and its bioactivity and stability properties were improved. The biosensor was optimized by various enzyme concentration, applied potential, and operating pH. Under the optimized conditions, the biosensor exhibited maximum current responses within 5 s at an applied potential of −0.1 V vs. integrated Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The biosensor had a dynamic linear range of 10–400 μM, with a sensitivity of 9.04 μA mM−1 cm−2 and a low detection limit of 0.66 μM (S/N = 3). Additionally, the biosensor possesses strong anti-interference capability, high reproducibility, and storage stability over 3 weeks. Furthermore, its clinical applicability was tested in urine samples from both prostate cancer patients and healthy control, and the analytical recoveries were satisfactory. Therefore, this biosensor has significant potential in the rapid and non-invasive point-of-care testing for prostate cancer diagnosis. [Display omitted] • A new polymer dispersant synthesized to disperse reduced graphene oxide (P-rGO). • P-rGO and Prussian blue utilized for amperometric sarcosine biosensor. • SOxENs prepared using P-rGO and sarcosine oxidase (SOx). • High selectivity against major interferents in human urine. • The designed biosensor is more suitable for non-invasive prostate cancer diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, research conducted on tread compounds with liquid butadiene rubber (LqBR) have been conducted in the tire industry. In particular, the introduction of functional groups into LqBRs is expected to lower hysteresis loss caused by the free chain ends of LqBR. To study this, LqBRs with functional groups at different positions were synthesized. The occurrences of in-chain and chain-end functionalization of functionalized LqBRs (F-LqBRs) were confirmed, the microstructure and functionalization efficiency of F-LqBRs were calculated through the characterizations. This novel functionalization technology was beneficial not only to immobilizing the free chain ends of LqBRs to the surfaces of silica to decrease the number of free chain ends, but also chemically bonding the LqBR chains on the base polymer through a crosslinking reaction to enhance the filler-rubber interaction. The effects of the functional group position and number of the free chain ends on the physical properties and hysteresis of the compounds were investigated by partially replacing the treated distillate aromatic extract (TDAE) oil with LqBR in silica-filled rubber compounds. The results showed that compounds that had applied DF-LqBR with both end functionalization performed better, including improving the silica dispersion, higher extraction resistance, and lower rolling resistance, than other F-LqBRs compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A class of phenolphthalein anilide (PA)-based poly(ether sulfone) multiblock copolymers containing pendant quaternary ammonium (QA) and imidazolium (IM) groups were synthesized and evaluated as anion exchange membrane (AEM) materials. The AEMs were flexible and mechanically strong with good thermal stability. The ionomeric multiblock copolymer AEMs exhibited well-defined hydrophobic/hydrophilic phase-separated morphology in small-angle X-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy. The distinct nanophase separated membrane morphology in the AEMs resulted in higher conductivity (IECw = 1.3–1.5 mequiv./g, σ(OH−) = 30–38 mS/cm at 20 °C), lower water uptake and swelling. Finally, the membranes were compared in terms of microbial fuel cell performances with the commercial cation and anion exchange membranes. The membranes showed a maximum power density of ~310 mW/m2 (at 0.82 A/m2); 1.7 and 2.8 times higher than the Nafion 117 and FAB-PK-130 membranes, respectively. These results demonstrated that the synthesized AEMs were superior to Nafion 117 and FAB-PK-130 membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mt(acac) x was used to demonstrate radical generation of n -butyl acrylate as monomer. • Mt(acac) x was used to investigate as catalyst effect on the urethane reaction. • Dual-curing reaction, including radical polymerization and the urethane reaction, was realized using Mt(acac) x. The goal of our research has been to realize dual-curing reaction which is accompanied with radical reaction and urethane reaction at low temperature using a metal acetylacetonate (Mt(acac) x) such as Mn(acac) 3 , Mn(acac) 2 , Co(acac) 3 , Co(acac) 2 and Zn(acac) 2. To understand radical reaction relationship depending on what kind of metals, Mt(acac) x as a radical initiator is defined by DSC analysis in n-butyl acrylate and EPR spectroscopy. The role of finding T Peak in DSC and g' factor in EPR exhibit Mt(acac) x can generate radical effectively. In order to verify effect of Mt(acac) x in urethane reaction on HFUMO 4039-0 without acryl group and PL-350, real-time storage modulus (G') was measured by rheometer for curing at 140 °C and checked the initiation temperature (T init) and storage modulus (G'). Finally, to evaluate the catalyst the effect of Mt(acac) x as a radical and urethane reaction, rheometer and nanoindenation were constructed with HFUMO 4039-60 with acryl group and PL 350 based on films cured at 140 °C, 120 °C and 100 °C. Considering the initiation temperature (T init) and storage modulus (G') on rheometer and HIT value on nanoindenation, Mn(acac) 3 is the best catalyst among tested Mt(acac) x and surface property also maintained despite 100 °C even low curing temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light-driven 3D printing is gaining significant attention for its unparalleled build speed and high-resolution in additive manufacturing. However, extending vat photopolymerization to multifunctional, photoresponsive materials poses challenges, such as light attenuation and interference between the photocatalysts (PCs) and photoactive moieties. This study introduces novel visible-light-driven acrylic resins that enable rapid, high-resolution photoactive 3D printing. The synergistic combination of a cyanine-based PC, borate, and iodonium coinitiators (HNu 254) achieves an excellent printing rate and feature resolution under low-intensity, red light exposure. The incorporation of novel hexaarylbiimidazole (HABI) crosslinkers allows for spatially-resolved photoactivation upon exposure to violet/blue light. Furthermore, a photobleaching mechanism inhibited by HNu 254 during the photopolymerization process results in the production of optically-clear 3D printed objects. Real-time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy validates the rapid photopolymerization of the HABI-containing acrylic resin, whereas mechanistic evaluations reveal the underlying dynamics that are responsible for the rapid photopolymerization rate, wavelength-orthogonal photoactivation, and observed photobleaching phenomenon. Ultimately, this visible-light-based printing method demonstrates: (i) rapid printing rate of 22.5 mm h -1 , (ii) excellent feature resolution (≈20 µm), and (iii) production of optically clear object with self-healing capability and spatially controlled cleavage. This study serves as a roadmap for developing next-generation "smart" 3D printing technologies., (© 2024 The Authors. Advanced Materials published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

A versatile and simplified synthesis scheme for intensively entangled acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) was developed in this study by leveraging visible-light-driven controlled radical polymerization (photoiniferter/reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization) of acrylic copolymers under a controlled manner; the approach was differentiated by a single factor; molecular weight ( M w up to 2.8 MDa) with identical compositions. By manipulating M w up to ultra-high ranges, PSAs with diversified viscoelastic properties were prepared and then assessed with a focus on realizing PSAs with a maximized degree of entanglement per chain through domination of high M w contents, to help achieve excellent cohesiveness without a reinforcing cross-linking network. Moreover, fully linear solvent-soluble poly(acrylate)s were synthesized to facilitate reprocessing and reuse, highlighting the sustainability of the devised method and, consequently, its potential to be applied for effectively reducing industrial or daily waste.

Melatonin (MT), a pineal gland hormone, regulates the sleep/wake cycle and is a potential biomarker for neurodegenerative disorders, depression, hypertension, and several cancers, including prostate cancer and hepatocarcinoma. The amperometric detection of MT was achieved using a sensor customized with ruthenium-incorporated carbon spheres (Ru-CS), possessing C- and O-rich catalytically active Ru surfaces. The non-covalent interactions and ion-molecule adducts between Ru and CS favor the formation of heterojunctions at the sensor-analyte interface, thus accelerating the reactions towards MT. The Ru-CS/Screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) sensor demonstrated the outstanding electrocatalytic oxidation of MT owing to its high surface area and heterogeneous rate constants and afforded a lower detection limit (0.27 μM), high sensitivity (0.85 μA μM -1 cm -2 ), and excellent selectivity for MT with the co-existence of crucial neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. High concentrations of active biomolecules, such as ascorbic acid and tyrosine, did not interfere with MT detection. The practical feasibility of the sensor for MT detection in pharmaceutical samples was demonstrated, comparable to the data provided on the product labels. The developed amperometric sensor is highly suitable for the quality control of medicines because of its low cost, simplicity, small sample size, speed of analysis, and potential for automation.

Bacterial infections in marine fishes are linked to mass mortality issues; hence, rapid detection of an infection can contribute to achieving a faster diagnosis using point-of-care testing. There has been substantial interest in identifying diagnostic biomarkers that can be detected in major organs to predict bacterial infections. Aspartate was identified as an important biomarker for bacterial infection diagnosis in olive flounder ( Paralichthys olivaceus ) fish. To determine aspartate levels, an amperometric biosensor was designed based on bi-enzymes, namely, glutamate oxidase (GluOx) and aspartate transaminase (AST), which were physisorbed on copolymer reduced graphene oxide (P-rGO), referred to as enzyme nanosheets (GluOx-ASTENs). The GluOx-ASTENs were drop casted onto a Prussian blue electrodeposited screen-printed carbon electrode (PB/SPCE). The proposed biosensor was optimized by operating variables including the enzyme loading amount, coreactant (α-ketoglutarate) concentration, and pH. Under optimal conditions, the biosensor displayed the maximum current responses within 10 s at the low applied potential of -0.10 V vs. the internal Ag/AgCl reference. The biosensor exhibited a linear response from 1.0 to 2.0 mM of aspartate concentrations with a sensitivity of 0.8 µA mM -1 cm -2 and a lower detection limit of approximately 500 µM. Moreover, the biosensor possessed high reproducibility, good selectivity, and efficient storage stability., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

In this study, single-chain atomic crystals (SCACs), Mo 3 Se 3 - , which can be uniformly dispersed, with an atomically thin diameter of ∼0.6 nm were modified to disperse in an organic solvent. Various surfactants were chosen to provide steric hindrance to aqueous-dispersed Mo 3 Se 3 - by modifying the surface of Mo 3 Se 3 - . The organic dispersions of surface-modified Mo 3 Se 3 - SCACs in nonpolar solvent (toluene, benzene, and chloroform) were stable with a uniform diameter of 2 nm, and they have enhanced stability from oxidation (>10 days). With the surfactants that have a polystyrene tail group (PS-NH 2 ), the surface-modified Mo 3 Se 3 - SCAC showed high compatibility with a polystyrene polymer matrix. Using the surface-modified Mo 3 Se 3 - SCAC, a homogeneous Mo 3 Se 3 - /polystyrene/toluene organogel was prepared. More importantly, the Mo 3 Se 3 - /polystyrene organogel exhibits significantly enhanced mechanical properties, with the improvement of 202.27% and 279.52% for tensile strength and elongation, respectively, compared with that of the pure organogel. The surface-modified Mo 3 Se 3 - had a similar structure with a polymer matrix, and the properties of the polymer can be improved even with a small addition of Mo 3 Se 3 - .

Bacterial infections in fish farms increase mass mortality and rapid detection of infection can help prevent its widespread. Lactate is an important biomarker for early diagnosis of bacterial infections in farmed olive flounder ( Paralichthys olivaceus ). To determine the lactate levels, we designed a disposable amperometric biosensor based on Prussian blue nanozyme and lactate oxidase (LOX) entrapped in copolymer-reduced graphene oxide (P-rGO) on screen-printed carbon electrodes. Because LOX is inherently unstable, P-rGO nanosheets were utilized as a base matrix to immobilize it. After optimization in terms of enzyme loading, operating potential, and pH, the biosensor displayed maximum current responses within 5 s at the applied potential of -0.1 V vs. internal Ag/AgCl. The biosensor had Langmuir-type response in the lactate concentration range from 10 µM to 1.6 mM, a dynamic linear response range of 10-100 µM, a sensitivity of 15.9 µA mM -1 cm -2 , and a lower detection limit of 3.1 µM (S/N = 3). Additionally, the biosensor featured high reproducibility, good selectivity, and stability till four weeks. Its practical applicability was tested in olive flounder infected by Streptococcus parauberis against the uninfected control. The results were satisfactory compared to those of a standard colorimetric assay kit, validating our method.

Dopamine (DA) and ascorbic acid (AA) are two important biomarkers with similar oxidation potentials. To facilitate their simultaneous electrochemical detection, a new voltammetric sensor was developed by modifying a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) with a newly synthesized block copolymer (poly(DMAEMA- b -styrene), PD b S) as a dispersant for reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The prepared PD b S-rGO and the modified SPCE were characterized using a range of physical and electrochemical techniques including Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and linear sweep voltammetry. Compared to the bare SPCE, the PD b S-rGO-modified SPCE (PD b S-rGO/SPCE) showed better sensitivity and peak-to-peak separation for DA and AA in mixed solutions. Under the optimum conditions, the dynamic linear ranges for DA and AA were 0.1-300 and 10-1100 µM, and the detection limits were 0.134 and 0.88 µM (S/N = 3), respectively. Furthermore, PD b S-rGO/SPCE exhibited considerably enhanced anti-interference capability, high reproducibility, and storage stability for four weeks. The practical potential of the PD b S-rGO/SPCE sensor for measuring DA and AA was demonstrated using ex vivo brain tissues from a Parkinson's disease mouse model and the control.

SWCNTs were individually dispersed in ethylne glycol (EG) via mild bath-type sonication using quaternized poly(furfuryl methacrylate)- co -(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) p(FMA- co -QDMAEMA) as a dispersing agent. QDMAEMA, which has alkyl groups, was more favorable to the dispersion ability of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The dispersion mechanism of SWCNTs in EG via helical wrapping of polymer chains along their sidewalls was suggested based on transmission electron microscopic observation., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Stimulation of dendritic cells (DCs) by antigens (Ags) promotes an Ag-specific immune response that kills Ag-expressing pathogens. These biologically inspired nanocarriers have received much attention as tools to deliver cancer Ags to DCs. A polymer-templated protein nanoball having hemagglutinin (H1-NB) that mimics the influenza virus can be used as a cancer Ag delivery vehicle, as DCs show effective phagocytic activities against H1-NB without any adjuvant. In the present study, H1-NB containing ovalbumin (OVA), a model Ag (H1-OVA-NB), was prepared as an anti-cancer agent and evaluated for its effect on anticancer immunity. H1-OVA-NB treatments in C57BL/6 mice enhanced OVA-specific immune activation and efficiently inhibited B16-OVA tumor growth compared to control groups. Our results indicate that H1-NB is an effective carrier for Ag delivery to DCs and promotes immunotherapy to fight cancer.

Au NPs were immobilized onto the surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) via covalent functionalization of SWCNTs using N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-2-hydroxyethylamine (BPMEA-OH), which was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The morphology of the resulting SWCNTs/Au NPs composites was observed by transmission electron microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis. The catalytic activity of SWCNT/Au NPs was investigated by UV-Vis absorption measurements.

Single-chain Fv (scFv) antibody against c-Met is expected to be employed in clinical treatment or imaging of cancer cells owing to the important biological roles of c-Met in the proliferation of malignancies. Here, we show that the productivity of scFv against c-Met in Escherichia coli is significantly influenced by the orientation of its variable domains. We generated anti-c-Met scFv antibodies with two different domain orders (i.e., VL-linker-VH and VH-linker-VL), expressed them in the cytoplasm of E. coli trx/ gor deleted mutant, and compared their specific activities as well as their productivities. Productivity of total and functional anti-c-Met scFv with VH/VL orientation was more than five times higher than that with VL/VH format. Coexpression of DsbC enhanced the yield of soluble amounts of anti-c-Met scFv protein for both constructs. The purified scFv antibodies of the two different formats exhibited almost the same antigen-binding activities. We also compared the productivities and specific activities of anti-c-Met diabodies with VH/VL or VL/VH formats and obtained similar results to the case of scFv antibodies.

A new approach to end-functionalization of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)[PHB] is described. Using genetically engineered PHB synthase fused with a 10x-histidine units at its N-terminus, end-functionalized PHB was synthesized and used for the solid surface modification.