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Controlled radical copolymerizations present attractive avenues to obtain polymers with complicated compositions and sequences. In this work, we report the development of a visible‐light‐driven organocatalyzed controlled copolymerization of fluoroalkenes and acyclic N‐vinylamides for the first time. The approach enables the on‐demand synthesis of a broad scope of amide‐functionalized main‐chain fluoropolymers via novel fluorinated thiocarbamates, facilitating regulations over chemical compositions and alternating fractions by rationally selecting comonomer pairs and ratios. This method allows temporally controlled chain‐growth by external light, and maintains high chain‐end fidelity that promotes facile preparation of block sequences. Notably, the obtained F/N hybrid polymers, upon hydrolysis, afford free amino‐substituted fluoropolymers versatile for post modifications toward various functionalities (e.g. amide, sulfonamide, carbamide, thiocarbamide). We further demonstrate the in situ formation of polymer networks with desirable properties as protective layers on lithium metal anodes, presenting a promising avenue for advancing lithium metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling the structure and chemistry of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) underpins the stability of electrolyte‐electrode interface, and is crucial for advancing rechargeable lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Here, we utilized photo‐controlled copolymerization to achieve the on‐demand synthesis of fluorosulfonyl fluoropolymers as unprecedented artificial SEI layers on Li metal anodes. This work not only enables instant formation of a hybrid polymer‐inorganic interphase that consists of a polymer‐enriched top layer and a LiF‐fortified bottom layer, originating from a single polymeric component, but also imparts various desirable physical properties (e.g. good mechanical strength and flexibility, high ion conductivity, low overpotential) to SEI via a single‐to‐divergent strategy. Model reactions and structural characterizations supported the formation of a divergent fluorinated interphase, which furnished prolonged stabilization of Li deposition, high coulombic efficiency and improved cycling behavior in electrochemical experiments. This work highlights the great potential of exploring reactive polymers as versatile coatings to stabilize Li metal anodes, providing a promising avenue to solve electrode‐electrolyte interfacial problems for LMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A porous structure of copolymer poly (aniline-co–o-phenylenediamine) has been fabricated by chemical oxidation process with nonionic surfactant Triton X-100. Different ratios of monomers (1:9, 5:5 and 9:1) have been utilized; structure and surface morphology has been analyzed by FTIR and SEM–EDX techniques. The UV, XRD and BET surface area measurement were also done. The electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance were used to evaluate electrochemical capacitance performances. The copolymer comprising equimolar mixture of monomers displayed high surface area that helps to amplify the diffusion of electrolyte ions. Hence, the specific capacitance of developed copolymer has been determined as 989 F g−1 at 5 mA cm−2 current density from galvanostatic charge–discharge studies with retainability of 84.94% capacitance after 100 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is an important thermoplastic polymer and a versatile lithographic resist. However, the low heat resistance and low dry-etch resistance seriously restricts the application of PMMA in high-end devices and advanced nanolithography. Herein, methyl methacrylate (MMA) was copolymerized with two comonomers 1-adamantyl methacrylate (AdMA) and 1-acryloyloxy-3-hydroxyadamantane (HAdMA), and a series of copolymers P(AdMA-co-MMA) and P(HAdMA-co-MMA) with different contents of HAdMA were prepared. The UV–Vis, ellipsometer, DSC, TG, and TG–MS techniques were employed to investigate the effects of adamantyl and hydroxyadamantyl substituents on the optical and thermal properties of PMMA. The introduced hydroxyadamantyl not only significantly enhanced the refractive index, but also maintained the high transparency and low dispersion of PMMA. The glass transition temperature and thermal stability of PMMA were also greatly improved by the hydroxyadamantyl. The initial decomposition temperature of PMMA increased from 160 to about 260 ℃ after introducing 5% HAdMA. HAdMA was more effective than AdMA in improving the optical and thermal properties of PMMA. The novel P(HAdMA-co-MMA) copolymer has overcome the shortcomings of traditional PMMA and is anticipated to significantly broaden its range of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, condensation polymerization was used to synthesize a number of novel liquid crystal polymers with 1,3,4-oxadiazole rings based on melamine. The new synthesized polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR) spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and optical polarization microscopy (OPM) were used to investigate their liquid crystalline properties. The results demonstrated that throughout a wide temperature range, most of the polymers exhibited columnar (CohX) and nematic (N) liquid crystalline phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft tissue engineering has focused on green, solvent-free biopolymers with rubber-like characteristics. One of the well-known elastomeric polyesters is polyglycerol sebacate (PGS). The present investigation involves the synthesis of a novel biopolymer composed of PGS-co-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) copolymer, alongside hydroxyapatite (HA) using bovine bone. These synthesized materials were utilized to build scaffolds using 18–22 kV electrospinning. By in situ polymerization, PGS-co-PCL/HA nanocomposites with 5% and 10% hydroxyapatite nanoparticles were developed. Various analysis such as FTIR, TGA, SEM, and DSC were utilized to examine the prepared samples. Introducing 10% HA to the PGS-co-PCL copolymer blends boosted nanocomposite mechanical strength by 300%. Meanwhile, PGS-co-PCL-based samples and their nanocomposites demonstrated promising biocompatibility and antibacterial characteristics. Biodegradability experiments revealed that at pH 7, PGS-co-PCL-HA10% was degraded by 45% within 30 days, whereas at pH 11, degradation accelerated to 65%. This study's findings provide a novel approach for soft tissue engineers to construct effective scaffolds with great biocompatibility and enhanced mechanical properties by combining PGS with co-PCL and adding HA nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polypropylene (PP) has recently been actively investigated as a potential power cable insulation substitute for crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE). This is mainly due to PP's higher thermal withstand capability over XLPE. Notably, PP has much higher stiffness than XLPE and therefore needs to be modified with tougher materials to reduce its overall stiffness while maintaining its desirable dielectric properties. To date, many investigations have been conducted on the mechanical and dielectric effects of PP blended with various copolymers. Nevertheless, systematic investigations on the dielectric effects of PP blended with ethylene‐based copolymers having different ethylene contents are less explored. The current work therefore reports on the impact of different ethylene contents of ethylene‐based copolymers on the breakdown performances of PP. The findings reveal that PP blended with a copolymer having a low ethylene content (68.7 wt%) results in at least 11% higher breakdown performance than PP containing a copolymer having a high ethylene content (77.0 wt%). Specifically, PP containing 10 wt% of copolymers having 68.7 wt% of ethylene content results in comparable breakdown performance to XLPE (325 kV mm−1). These results suggest that ethylene‐based copolymers with an appropriately low ethylene content can be blended with PP to achieve desirable breakdown properties. Highlights: PP is blended with copolymers of varying amounts and ethylene contents.PP blended with low amounts of copolymers has good breakdown strength.PP blended with low ethylene level copolymers has favorable breakdown strength.PP blended with copolymers of low ethylene contents is desirable.The breakdown mechanisms are related with the structure and permittivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractA fluid loss additive (named AAMN) for cementing ultra-deep reservoirs at high temperature (210 °C) was prepared by a free radical copolymerization method using 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS), acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AA), and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NVP) as monomers. Filtration tests at 210 °C demonstrated that AAMN reduced the amount of fluid loss by 22% in fresh cement slurry, 23% in 18 wt% NaCl cement slurry, and 16% in 36 wt% NaCl cement slurry compared to AAM (without NVP) when both were added at 6% bwoc ("bwoc" denotes the addition by the weight of the cement). The pore structure was analyzed using the Brenner-Emme-Teller (BET) method and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), confirming that AAMN could be adsorbed onto the cement particles surfaces, filling the pores and blocking fluid loss channels. The degradation temperatures of the two copolymers were tested by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DTGA) and the molecular dynamics behavior of two Amorphous Cell (AC) models (the amorphous structures with randomly arranged Ca2+, Cl−, Na+ and H2O with the AAMN or AAM) built by Materials Studio 7.0 software, were compared: the introduction of five-element NVP side chains didn’t significantly improve the thermal stability of the AAMN relative to the AAM, but resulted in the AAMN molecular chain maintaining a stable geometry at a temperature of 483 K (210 °C). The AAMN also showed more adsorption groups (–SO3− and –COO−) at the high temperatures, which allowed the AAMN to form a dense "network structure" with Ca2+ and H2O molecules, thus effectively blocking the channels for water molecule loss from the cement slurries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic mixed ionic‐electronic conductors with tunable doping, low threshold voltages, and air stability are crucial for bioelectronic applications. A homopolymer based on an alkoxy thiophene monomer and its copolymer with a thiophene carrying ethylene glycol side chains are synthesized and converted to self‐doped conjugated polyelectrolytes, P3HOTS‐TMA+, and P3HOTS‐TMA+‐co‐P3MEEET. The self‐doping occurs during the conversion to polyelectrolytes. Both polyelectrolytes show high electrical conductivity without any external dopants. UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy and spectroelectrochemistry confirm excellent air stability of the doped state. In an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT), the P3HOTS‐TMA+ operates in depletion mode, while P3HOTS‐TMA+‐co‐P3MEEET exhibits accumulation mode of operation with low threshold voltage, both showing fast response times. On the other hand, the non‐doped homopolymer, P3MEEET, shows a high negative threshold voltage in accumulation mode. Thus, copolymerization with the self‐dopable monomer changes the mode of operation as well as the threshold voltage substantially. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy reveals a considerable reduction of the hole injection barrier for the self‐doped system P3HOTS‐TMA+. Mott‐Schottky analysis shows reduction in charge carrier concentration in the copolymer compared to the homopolymer. Thus, the copolymerization strategy with a self‐dopable monomer is an efficient tool for tuning the degree of doping leading to low threshold voltage in OECTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are the best candidates for high‐energy density system. However, the unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) caused by notorious lithium dendrite growth and huge volume fluctuation under practical conditions hinders its commercialization. Here, a functional copolymer composed of monomer is designed with ordered −CF2− groups grafted to viscoelastic backbone to provide homogeneous and self‐adapting in situ LiF‐rich interface. Hence, the robust interface facilitates rapid Li+ flux and suppresses dendritic Li growth. Furthermore, an elastic composite lithium metal anode (FELMA) based on the designed functional copolymer is fabricated through a cost‐effective approach. The FELMA shows excellent cycle stability with ultra‐low volume expansion rate of 0.16% per cycle after 200 cycles at the condition of 3 mA cm−2–3 mAh cm−2. The full batteries assembled with high‐loading LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811, 4.1 mAh cm−2) cathode can maintain 80% capacity retention after 320 cycles under N/P = 2.17 and E/C = 2.68 g Ah−1, with the cycling life increased by 220% than Li||NCM811. A prototype 418 Wh kg−1 pouch cell (5.16 Ah) with N/P ratio of 0.88 and E/C ratio of 2.39 g Ah−1 shows stable cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractInspired by leaf lotus effect, superhydrophobic surfaces have developed rapidly in recent years. In this paper, anatase nano TiO2 with particles size of about 70 nm was successfully loaded on the surface of SiO2 by sol-gel method. SiO2 and TiO2 were chemically bonded by Ti-O-Si and constructed a certain micro- and nano-composite structure. After superhydrophobic composite PA-TiO2@SiO2 was obtained by copolymerizing with acrylate and other monomers. The coating was prepared by drop coating plus spraying coating on glass substrates with water contact angles >160° and excellent self-cleaning properties, which could maintain the performance of the superhydrophobic coating by immersion in acidic solutions or water for 2 days. Meanwhile, the coating on the surface of the glass plate at −20 °C significantly delayed the freezing time of the ice. The rough structure of the surface and the presence of fluorine-containing hydrophobic groups gave the superhydrophobic coating an advantage over acrylate polymers in reducing the corrosion rate of steel surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need to create safe materials for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications has become a significant driving force for the development of new systems. Therefore, a chitosan-coated copolymer of itaconic acid, acrylic acid, and N-vinyl caprolactam (IT-AA-NVC) was prepared by radical polymerization and subsequent coating via nanoprecipitation to give a system capable of sustained delivery of melatonin. Although melatonin brings undoubted benefits to the human body, aspects of the optimal dose, route, and time of administration for the obtaining of suitable treatment outcomes remain under discussion. The entrapment of melatonin in biocompatible polymeric systems can prevent its oxidation, decrease its toxicity, and provide an increased half-life, resulting in an enhanced pharmacokinetic profile with improved patient compliance. The structures of the biopolymer and conjugate were proven by FTIR, thermal properties were tested by DSC, and the morphologies were followed by SEM. The loading efficiency and in vitro release profile were studied by means of HPLC, and a delayed release profile with an initial burst was obtained. The potential systemic toxicity of the formulation was studied in vivo; a mild hepatotoxicity was observed following administration of the melatonin-loaded formulation to mice, both by histopathology and blood clinical biochemistry. Histopathology showed a mild nephrotoxicity as well; however, kidney clinical biochemistry did not support this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research describes the functionalization of polymer-matrix-trapping porphyrins, considering that the transcendental properties of meso-substituted porphyrins, such as optical and chemical stability, combined with the strength of the polymers, can produce photoactive advanced polymeric networks. Polystyrene (PS) and O,O´-bis-(2-aminopropyl)-polyethyleneglycol-300 (2NH2peg300, APEG), or their combination, were used to confine the meso-substituted porphyrin species 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4'-carboxy-1,1'-biphenyl-4-yl)porphyrin and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis((pyridin-4-yl)phenyl)porphyrin. The samples were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and fluorescence spectroscopies. The absorption and emission properties of the materials were compared to those of their respective porphyrin solutions. The fluorescence was preserved in the obtained composite through a mixture of polymers, PS, and APEG, yielding translucent polymeric networks. Moreover, analysis of individual polymeric assemblies by molecular docking was performed to support the understanding of the experimental findings. This analysis corroborates that the stronger the estimated binding energies, the stronger the interactions that occur between porphyrin and the polymer via non-polar covalent bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the corrosion inhibition performance of polyethyleneglycol bisphenol A epichlorohydrin copolymer (PEG-BEC) against mild steel in 1 M HCl was studied by electrochemical and weight loss techniques. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) were applied to characterize the surface morphology of the mild steel samples. The corrosion mitigation efficiency was observed to rise as the concentration of PEG-BEC rises in the corrosive medium while increasing the temperature (25 °C -65 °C) resulting in a drop in the inhibition ability. Furthermore, under hydrodynamic conditions, the corrosion of the mild steel was found to deteriorate both in the absence and presence of PEG-BEC. Just with 10 ppm, an inhibition efficiency (IE) of 97.6% was obtained at 25 °C by EIS. PEG-BEC acts as a mixed-type inhibitor as observed by potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) technique. The observed corrosion inhibition action of PEG-BEC could be ascribed to the adsorption of the molecules and the formation of a protective film on the steel surface as evidenced by static water contact angle (WCA). Langmuir isotherm best describes the PEC-BEG-metal adsorption with large Kads values indicating a thermodynamically stable nature inhibition process. The obtained ∆G°ads = -35.138 to -39.522 kJ/mol indicate that the PEG-BEC spontaneously adsorbed onto the steel with strong tendency to provide protection to the mild steel surface via combination of chemisorption and physisorption processes. The ΔHads -53.07 kJ/mol and ΔSads= +0.048 kJ/mol-k, respectively, suggests an exothermic reaction accompanied by relatively increase in entropy of the PEG-BEC adsorption on the mild steel surface.

The aim of the work is to study the effect of the acid comonomer content and forming conditions on the dyeability of gel fibers based on copolymers of acrylonitrile (AN), methyl acrylate (MA) and 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS). For this purpose, model copolymers AN, MA and AMPS were synthesized with an acid comonomer content in the monomer mixture from 0 to 2 % (wt.) by changing the proportion of MA. It has been established that the actual content of the acidic monomer in the fiber-forming copolymer is higher than expected based on the composition of the initial monomer mixture. Analysis of the dyeability of model samples of polyacrylonitrile fibers formed from synthesized copolymers by the dimethylformamide method with varying technological regimes showed that the amount of dye selected from the dye bath by the gel structure of the fibers is proportional to the content of the acid comonomer in the fiber-forming copolymer. The most significant decrease in the whiteness index (lightness) of the finished fibers is observed with an increase in the AMPS content in the copolymer from 0 to 0.7 % (wt.). Microscopy of model fibers was carried out. Based on the experimental data obtained in the course of the work, it was suggested that in order to achieve an acceptable intensity of dyeing and ensure a soft handle of polyacrylonitrile fibers, the optimal content of acid comonomer during the synthesis of fiber-forming copolymers based on AN, MA and AMPS should be in the range of 0.9 up to 1.3 % (of the mass of monomers in the reaction mixture).

A novel polycyclic naphthoxazine resin (NSA‐thiq) is synthesized via N, O‐acetal forming reaction between o‐hydroxyl naphthaldehyde and 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline. The chemical structure of the monomer is investigated and confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR, Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, and high‐resolution mass spectrometry. Besides, the ring‐opening polymerization behavior similar to ordinary benzoxazine resins is observed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and in situ FT‐IR analyses, leading to the formation of the phenolic cross‐linked network. Notably, DSC thermograms indicate that the newly obtained polycyclic naphthoxazine resin exhibits much lower polymerization temperatures compared to many other reported benzoxazine or naphthoxazine resins. Moreover, the corresponding polybenzoxazine (poly(NSA‐thiq)) shows comparable thermal stability in comparison with thermosets derived from monobenzoxazine resins. As a consequence of these unique performances, NSA‐thiq is applied as a property modifier for a commercialized benzoxazine resin (BA‐a). The glass transition temperature of copolymeric thermosets is enhanced without sacrificing too much thermal stability and heat resistance. Here, another series of naphthoxazine thermosetting resin is explored, which can provide more examples for constructing composites based on thermoset polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In fiber‐reinforced composites, the interfacial bonding between fibers and the matrix is crucial for determining the material's performance. A vacuum‐assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process was utilized in this work to fabricate glass fiber fabric‐reinforced polyamide 6 (GFF/PA6) composites through in‐situ polymerization using caprolactam (CL) as the precursor. To enhance the fiber‐matrix interfacial bonding, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was incorporated into the polymerization system, improving the hydrogen bonding between the matrix and fibers. Morphological observations and interface layer analysis revealed that the introduction of PEG resulted in improved interfacial bonding and increased interface layer thickness. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the amino formate groups formed by the reaction with PEG exhibited more hydrogen bonds with the hydroxyl groups on the glass fiber surface, thereby promoting interfacial bonding between the matrix and fibers. When the PEG content was 10 wt%, the tensile strength and the elongation at break of the corresponding composite increased by 160% and 300% compared to GFF/PA6 composites without PEG. This study presents a promising strategy for enhancing the fiber‐matrix interfacial bonding by modifying the matrix, offering a prospective approach for developing high‐strength thermoplastic composites. Highlights: GFF/PA6 composites were fabricated via the VARTM method.The addition of PEG for matrix modification improved the interfacial bonding.The modification enhances the hydrogen bonding between the matrix and fibers.Good interfacial bonding can greatly promote the crystallization of the matrix.The composites exhibited a significant increase in strength and toughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, electrorheological (ER) properties of biodegradable and conducting polyaniline-graft-chitosan (PAni-g-CS) copolymer particles were investigated. For this purpose, PAni and PAni-g-CS particles were synthesized by using in situ oxidative radicalic polymerization method. At first, PAni and PAni-g-CS/silicone oil (SO) ER suspensions (15% V/V) were subjected to external electric field and they exhibited low ER activity. When the external electric field strengths (E) were increased, both the suspensions showed electrical breakdown. Therefore, virgin PAni and PAni-g-CS were first subjected to dedoping process by treating with 1.0 M NaOH(aq) and non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 (T-X) surfactant to enhance the expected ER activity and prevent the electrical breakdown. But we observed that the addition of T-X as promoter had no significant effect on the ER activity. On the other hand, electric filed-induced viscosities of both the suspensions were observed to enhance after the dedoping (DD) process and electrical breakdown prohibited. After the DD process, DD PAni-g-CS/SO ER system exhibited the highest electric field-induced viscosity by reaching 400Pa⋅s at E=4kV/mm. The highest ER efficiency was also obtained for DD PAni-g-CS/SO system at 15% (V/V) as 79. Additionally, typical shear thinning non-Newtonian viscoelastic behavior was observed under externally applied E. The conduction model of DD PAni-g-CS/SO system was determined to well fit the conduction model by showing a slope of m=1.5 calculated from the E vb. yield stress graph. In conclusion, conducting and biodegradable-dedoped PAni-g-CS particles would be a good candidate for potential ER applications as dry-based ER materials having high colloidal stability of 76%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toward the end of the century, plastic waste treatment and recycling would be major issue to be addressed. Thus, to overcome the problem of polymer non-biodegradability, study and application of biodegradable polymers is important. Biodegradable polymers are those which can be broken down into smaller oligomers or monomers upon action of radiation, moisture, enzymes and chemicals. Poly(butylene) succinate (PBS) is one of the biodegradable polymers manufactured and studied for a long time. This review majorly focuses on its synthesis, blends, copolymers, composites, biodegradation studies, applications and processability. PBS copolymers are synthesized using multiple approaches such as monomer, polymer and application based. PBS blends are studied with PP, poly(propylene carbonate), Soy protein isolate and poly(lactic) acid. The PBS and its blends find its application in agricultural films, packaging, tableware, and biomedical applications. PBS composites were prepared using synthetic organic, inorganic fillers and bio-based fillers to improve its mechanical performance, flame retardancy, biodegradabilit,y etc., based on type of reinforcement. Biodegradability is one the property of PBS which will help in maintaining circular economy and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular structure and application properties of four types of acrylamide polymers were summarized, such as anionic polymer, cationic polymer, zationic polymer of polymer and nonionic polymer, and put forward suggestions for the development of heat-resistant acid thickener. It is expected to provide a reference for the development and utilization of deep high temperature, low permeability and extremely low permeability unconventional oil and gas fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copolymers were obtained in this work and the methodology for their synthesis was worked out. Various fillers were selected for the polymer coating. Resulting copolymers have good adhesion required for composite protective coatings. An experiment was conducted to determine the corrosion resistance of metals coated with copolymers when exposed to aggressive environments, as well as to determine the hardness and thickness of the polymer coatings obtained. It was found that the polymer coating filled with bronze powder, despite the small thickness of 43.4 µm, has the best adhesion and corrosion properties, as well as having the highest hardness values of 80.5 HB. Such physical and mechanical properties of polymer coatings allow them to be used as protective coatings for metal products working under the influence of aggressive media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperature proton exchange membrane (HT-PEM) is a core component for high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs). Although phosphoric acid (PA) doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) membranes are widely applied in HT-PEMFCs, the synthetic procedure is rather tough and the carcinogenic monomer should be used. Thus, it is of significance to obtain cheaper and easily prepared HT-PEMs with moderate physicochemical properties and good fuel cell performance. Herein, using a straightforward Friedel-Crafts reaction between 4-acetylpyridine, biphenyl and para -terphenyl, a series of poly(biphenyl- co -terphenyl pyridine) copolymers (Co- x %BP- y %TP) are developed. The obtained Co- x %BP- y %TP membranes exhibit excellent capability of absorbing PA owing to the existence of pyridine units in polymers, and meanwhile PA absorption capacity of membranes increase with the increased percentage of the biphenyl moiety in copolymers. Through immersing in 85 wt% PA at 100 °C, the Co–25%BP-75%TP membrane achieves a PA uptake of 274%, displays a moderate tensile strength of 4.7 MPa and possesses a high conductivity of 0.099 S cm−1 at 180 °C. Consequently, under 200 °C and no backpressure condition, the peak power density of the H 2 –O 2 cell equipped with Co–25%BP-75%TP/274%PA membrane reached a high value of 773 mW cm−2, demonstrating a big potential to be operated in HT-PEMFCs. • Series of poly(biphenyl- co -terphenyl pyridine) copolymers are synthesized through one-step polymerization. • Co–25%BP-75%TP/274%PA shows a high conductivity of 0.099 S cm−1 at 180 °C. • HT-PEMFCl with Co–25%BP-75%TP/274%PA exhibits a high peak power density of 773 mW cm−2 at 200 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersants play a significant role in the formulation of positive battery slurry. Adding a small amount of dispersant can effectively reduce the viscosity of the slurry, which is beneficial for the production of positive batteries. A series of copolymers of N‐vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) and 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate (2‐EHA) with different molar ratios of NVP to 2‐EHA, different polymer molecular weights and different polymer structures are synthesized by dl‐methionine‐mediated reversible deactivation radical polymerization. The ability of these copolymers to disperse LiFePO4 battery positive slurry with a high solid content (57.08%) as dispersants has been evaluated. Research shows that when the ratio of NVP to 2‐EHA is 20 and the polymer molecular weight is 6000, poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone‐ran‐2‐ethylhexyl acrylate) (NVP‐ran‐2‐EHA) exhibits the strongest dispersing ability to the slurry. This polymer can reduce the viscosity of the slurry by 43.925% and has the longest stabilization time of 3 h, which is better than poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone)‐block‐poly(2‐ethylhexyl acrylate) (PVP‐b‐PEHA) with the same molecular weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the problem of antibiotic resistance continues to escalate, there is an immediate need for fresh antimicrobial strategies. Traditional antibiotic development processes are time consuming and can require many years, from hit identification to drug approval. While machine learning (ML) has proven useful in predicting the properties of nanomaterials, current techniques often rely on extensive data sets and identifying structural similarities to existing antibiotics. This presents a challenge for alternative classes of antimicrobial agents such as polymers. To tackle this issue, we created an ML classification model to forecast the antibacterial activity of polymers. We evaluated several models on an imbalanced data set consisting of 157 polymers, of which 27 were antibacterial active polymers (positive cases). The decision tree model achieved the highest performance, with an accuracy of 0.91 and a recall of 1, properly identifying all positive cases. In the course of the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis, we discovered that the calculated partition coefficient (c log P) is the most significant feature in forecasting antibacterial activity, followed by the composition of the cationic and hydrophobic monomers. Our analysis indicates that controlling the values of these features could help design better antimicrobial polymers. For instance, the high antibacterial activity necessitates the c log P values of polymers that are neither too high nor too low, aligning with the previous findings (P. T. Phuong et al., Biomacromolecules, 2020, 21, 5241–5255). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copolymerization provides an effective approach to tune the photophysical properties of non‐conventional luminescent polymers (NCLPs). In this study, the controlling of intrinsic emissions of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) copolymers is revealed by a delicate difference of secondary monomers. The introduction of methacrylate comonomers can induce a 70‐nm red‐shifting in the PL emission of copolymers compared with that of acrylate‐containing copolymers. The mechanism of such "copolymerization induced red‐shifting" in PAN copolymers is investigated. It is demonstrated that the presence of the α‐methyl group in the copolymers can enhance the chain rigidity and through‐space conjugation (TSC) of C≡N groups, resulting in the red‐shifting of emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of the polymerization kinetics and thermal degradation kinetics of maleic anhydride copolymers is of significant reference value for the synthesis of multifunctional and high-performance maleic anhydride-based copolymers and their applications in different fields. In this study, anhydride (MAH) derived styrene copolymers, namely Poly(N-phenylmaleimide-alt-styrene) (PNS), Poly(N-(4-carboxyphenyl)maleimide-alt-styrene) (PCS), andpoly(N-fluorine-phenylmaleimide-alt-styrene) (PFS), were prepared using a solution copolymerization method. The copolymerization kinetics and thermal degradation kinetics of MAH derived styrene copolymers were investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), as well as the Arrhenius equation and Kim-Park method. The study revealed that the incorporation of carboxyl and fluorine groups had varying degrees of influence on maleic anhydride-styrene copolymers. The copolymerization rate constant (K value) followed the order PNS>PCS>PFS, while the copolymerization activation energy (Ea) followed the order PNS

Increasing water pollution due to anthropogenic activities prompts the quest for an effective water treatment method. Polymeric materials have gained attention as adsorbents for water purification. Membranes are majorly made from homopolymeric materials. However, recent studies have focused on using copolymeric materials for improved performance. In this review, the basics of copolymerization including various types of copolymers, synthetic approaches, and their applications in various water pollutants removal are discussed in detail. Advances in water treatment technology using copolymeric materials as adsorbent/membranes in the last 4 years are covered with insights into the future outlook and areas of improvement in terms of copolymer composites for water treatment. Studies from the literature did not only reveal effectiveness of copolymer as a flocculant/antifouling materials and in removal of selective toxic metals, oil, and microbes but also demonstrated recyclability of the copolymer sorbents/membrane. Full exploration of unique copolymer textural and structural properties could lead to great advancement in water treatment process. Practitioner Points: The copolymer types and synthetic methods are discussed.Application of copolymer as adsorbent/membranes for water treatment is presented.Recent advances show good pollutants removal for toxic metals, oil, and organics.Copolymer composites have great potential as adsorbent/membranes for future use in water treatment processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of polyacrylamide and a copolymer of acrylamide and maleic acid was studied depending on the pH, duration, temperature, and concentration of the redox system of the initiator. The process of alkaline hydrolysis of synthesized polymers has been studied. High-viscosity characteristics of polymer solutions were taken as the main criterion. To study the effect of pH, radical polymerization was carried out at pH values created by monomers in the system and in slightly alkaline and strongly alkaline media. It was found that with the participation of the initiating system, potassium persulfate and sodium sulfite in an amount of 0.1% of the mass of monomers in a 10% solution of acrylamide at a temperature of 40 °C and pH of about 2.2, after 3 h of polymerization, the highest yields of a high-molecular product are achieved. This product is characterized by polyacrylamide with a molecular weight of about 1000 kDa, and the proportion of oligomeric compounds in this mixture does not exceed 20%. To maintain higher yields of the copolymerization reaction of acrylamide and maleic acid, the process must be carried out for more than 4 h at a molar ratio of acrylamide and maleic acid of 7:1 and values of pH = 8.0–8.1. The resulting copolymer is characterized by molecular weight values of about 2500–2800 kDa. It was found that the hydrolysis of synthesized samples at a temperature of more than 80 °C results in an increase in molecular weight, which is associated with a decrease in the proportion of oligomeric compounds in the resulting mixture. Due to an increase in the average molecular weight and the transition of functional groups to carboxylate as a result of hydrolysis, their viscosity characteristics increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anion exchange membrane fuel cell (AEMFC) has made great progress recently due to the continuous improvement of anion exchange membrane (AEM). Aryl ether bond-free membranes are considered to be promising for improving the overall performance of AEMs. Here, we present a copolymer consisting of m-terphenyl, diphenyl ethane and biphenyl (PMDBP) to further enhance the microphase separation structure by introducing a third structural unit, biphenyl. Meanwhile, the more compact biphenyl structure enhances the mechanical strength of AEMs. Specifically, PMDBP AEMs possess superior OH- conductivity (up to 113 mS cm−1) and excellent mechanical properties (tensile strength up to 42 MPa). Furthermore, the PMDBP has an outstanding single-cell performance with a peak power density (PPD) of up to 95 mW cm−2 with a platinum-carbon (Pt/C) catalyst at 80°C in H2-air. In addition, PMDBP is provided with excellent durability, including NMR spectral consistency and over 90% ion conductivity retention in 1 M NaOH at 60°C for 720 h. This study provided a copolymer structure suitable for anion exchange membrane that can provide excellent performance for fuel cells and electrolyzers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of environmental protection marine antifouling paint hydrogel in marine antifouling was reviewed. The preparation and application research of double network hydrogels, zwitterionic hydrogels, amphiphilic hydrogels and self-healing hydrogels at home and abroad are briefly introduced from the aspects of structure, composition and self-healing of hydrogels, and the future research direction was prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low damage ternary copolymer thickener AA-AM-SBMA for fracturing was synthesized by aqueous solution polymerization using acrylic acid (AA), acrylamide (AM), and amphoteric monomer methacrylethyl sulfobetaine (SBMA) as the main raw materials, with ammonium persulfate sodium bisulfite as the initiator system.The structure of AA-AM-SBMA was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, etc.The result showed that when prepared with injected water at 35 ℃, the viscosity and suspension properties of AA-AM-SBMA were comparable to those of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM); when the concentration of sodium chloride in the mixing water was greater than 3 000 mg/L, AA-AM-SBMA could exhibit strong salt resistance; when the concentration of sodium chloride in the preparation water was 6 000 mg/L, the apparent viscosity of AA-AM-SBMA solution at 3 000 mg/L was 58.4% higher than that of HPAM solution under the same conditions.The degradation rate of AA-AM-SBMA at 120 ℃ for 2 h were 95.13%, which were 3.19% higher than that of HPAM under the same conditions.The results of core permeability recovery rate measurement showed that the permeability recovery rate corresponding to AA-AM-SBMA was 95.27%, 4.52% higher than that of HPAM under the same conditions, indicating that the introduction of SBMA was beneficial for reducing the damage of thickeners to core permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effect of an inert salt (NaCl) on the equilibrium interfacial tension and dilatational modulus of Pluronic F-68 copolymer, a triblock copolymer consisting of two terminal blocks of poly(ethylene oxide) and a less hydrophilic central block of poly(propylene oxide). Interfacial tension measurements were carried out using a surface force balance and a drop shape tensiometer, while rheological measurements were carried out in two different frequency ranges. This involved the use of the oscillatory barrier/droplet method and electrocapillary wave measurements, complemented by an appropriate theoretical framework. This work aimed to elucidate the influence of NaCl on the interfacial behavior of Gibbs monolayers of Pluronic F-68. In addition, this study highlights some of the technical and theoretical limitations associated with obtaining reliable dilatational rheological data at high frequencies (<1 kHz) using electrocapillary wave measurements. The results provide valuable insights into the interplay between salt presence and interfacial properties of Pluronic F-68 and highlight the challenges of obtaining accurate dilatational rheological data under specific measurement conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Background Retainers are the only effective approach to prevent orthodontic relapse. The aim of this study was to compare the changes in color and light-transmittance of rough and smooth thermoformed polyurethane and copolymer retainer samples after staining in different solutions and destaining with different approaches. Methods Four hundred copolyester (Essix® ACE) and 400 polyurethane (Zendura®) samples with different surface textures, smooth and rough, were stained in 4 different solutions (n = 100 per solution) over 28 days. Each of the four groups of 100 stained samples of each material was subdivided into 5 groups of 20 samples and subjected to different destaining solutions. Light transmittance and color changes were evaluated using a spectrometer and a spectrophotometer. Mean differences were compared using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and posthoc multiple comparison tests at P = 0.05. Results No significant differences in light transmittance were found between both untreated materials. Both materials were stained in a similar fashion and showed no significant differences between two materials after staining. Coffee and tea stained both materials more significantly than wine, but there was a significant difference of changes of color and light transmittance between rough and smooth surfaces during the destaining in coffee- and tea-stained samples of copolyester material. All destaining solutions were effective at removing all stains on the samples. The surface roughness of the material plays a significant role in the ability of the materials to be destained, demonstrating a more significant greater effect on cleaning rough samples for improvements in light-transmittance and greater changes in color. Conclusions This study concluded that the surface of materials plays a significant role in the material destaining and staining. In addition, the different polymers used for retainer fabrication exhibited different responses during the destaining process depending on types of stains.

The small specific entropy of mixing of high molecular weight polymers implies that most blends of dissimilar polymers are immiscible with poor physical properties. Historically, a wide range of compatibilization strategies have been pursued, including the addition of copolymers or emulsifiers or installing complementary reactive groups that can promote the in situ formation of block or graft copolymers during blending operations. Typically, such reactive blending exploits reversible or irreversible covalent or hydrogen bonds to produce the desired copolymer, but there are other options. Here, we argue that ionic bonds and electrostatic correlations represent an underutilized tool for polymer compatibilization and in tailoring materials for applications ranging from sustainable polymer alloys to organic electronics and solid polymer electrolytes. The theoretical basis for ionic compatibilization is surveyed and placed in the context of existing experimental literature and emerging classes of functional polymer materials. We conclude with a perspective on how electrostatic interactions might be exploited in plastic waste upcycling.

Heavy metals enter our environment through diverse resources, causing harmful effects owing to their inherent toxicity and facile migration into aqueous medium, becoming an environmental challenge. Among technologies able to remove these contaminants, the adsorption process emerges as a promising application for water treatment. Herein, functionalized silica magnetic nanoparticles using inorganic and organic have been employed as adsorbents to remove environmental hazards from wastewater effectively. Magnetic silicate core-shell amino-functionalized (Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 -AP) nanocomposites were synthesised using acrylic acid (AA) and para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) as dual copolymer for Cd (II) removal. The characterization analysis confirmed the formed crystal nanostructure and the copolymers were chemically introduced in the magnetic silicate core-shell nanoparticle. The Cd (II) adsorption results on (Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 -AP) nanocomposites achieved an impressive q max of 32.50 mg/g at pH 8, adsorbent dosage of 3 g/L, and Cd (II) concentration of 100 ppm. The laboratory-scale fixed-bed column showed the breakthrough curves are flow rate independent, achieving metal removal of 99% for 405 min, at pH 8, influent ion concentration of 100 ppm, flow rate of 5 mL/min, and 1 cm bed height. The Freundlich model was the most suitable for fitting equilibrium data (R2 adj = 0.981) indicating a multi-layer adsorption phenomenon in the heterogeneous surface sites of the (Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 -AP) nanocomposites. The pseudo-second-order model (R2 adj =0.999) confirms that the adsorption rate depends on nanocomposites active sites and occurs by chemical sorption mechanism. The reusability adsorption-desorption experiments slightly decreased from 97.5 to 86.7% in the sixth cycle stability, demonstrating the material stability. [Display omitted] • Sustainable magnetic silicate core-shell amino-functionalised nanocomposites were synthesised. • Multi-layered adsorption by Cd(II)-nanoparticles complex interactions, breakthrough curves are independent of flow rate. • Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 -AP recovered by an external magnetic field-driven. • Adsorption was driven by hydrogen bonding and coordination bonds. • High material stability and reusability after the sixth cycle was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphiphilic cross-linked poly (vinyl alcohol-methyl methacrylate) (PVA-PMMA) copolymer nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared using a two-step process. Unlike other polymers, which are typically produced via direct polymerization, PVA is produced from the hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetate (PVAc). Therefore, in the first part of the project, copolymeric PVAc-PMMA NPs were prepared by using the radical emulsion polymerization method in different concentrations of BDOD (0–10% mol.) and water: methanol compositions. Conversion degree, morphology, particle size, and polymerization rate of non-agglomerated samples were evaluated. The optimal sample that synthesized in water: methanol % (90:10) as polymerization medium and 2.5% mol. crosslinker was hydrolyzed by 0.6 M NaOH solution. To confirm the hydrolysis reaction, FE-SEM, FT-IR, DLS, 1H NMR, and TGA tests were performed. The optimal sample was loaded by methotrexate (MTX), and drug release investigated at different times by UV-vis spectrophotometry. The sustained and pH-responsive profile of drug release in vitro was observed, and 47.24% of the drug was released at pH = 7.4 and 65.39% at pH = 5.8 after 96 h. Also, the MTT assay and dual-fluorescent acridine orange/propidium iodide assay showed that drug-loaded nanocarriers exhibited anticancer activity as applied to MCF-7 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, firstly, the copolymer of acrylonitrile (AN) and styrene (St) was synthesized by solution polymerization method using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. The composites of copolymer incorporating lanthanum (III) chloride (3, 6, 9 and 18 wt%), the rare earth element (REE), were prepared and thin films were produced by thermal evaporation method for optical measurement. The samples were characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR–FTIR), scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The glass transition temperature, which is one of the thermal properties of the synthesized copolymers and composites, was examined with a differential thermal analyzer. The changes in the optical properties of the samples produced with LaCl3 dopant were investigated using the UV–VIS spectroscopy. The optical band gaps of the samples were calculated using Tauc equation. As a result of the optical studies, it was observed that there was a change in the conductivity properties of the samples with the addition of LaCl3. The present results showed the advantage of using LaCl3 as a filler to improve the optical properties of poly(AN-co-St) samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The levels of heavy metal in industrial waste streams, if not remediated before discharge to ecosystem, could pose a threat to flora and fauna. The objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of a novel adsorbent materials from periwinkle shell-based chitosan-kenaf fibre copolymer and its ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether crosslinked derivatives for the selective removal of Cu2+and Zn2+ from electroplating effluent using batch experimental protocol. Results showed that the crosslinked copolymers were more effective for the sorption of these metal ions from effluent solution with percentage sorption range of 76-87% and 84-93% for Cu2+ and Zn2+ respectively. Kinetic data depicts pseudo-second-order model fits for the adsorbent materials and confirm chemosorption as the mechanism for metal ion complexation with adsorbent surfaces. Based on R² correlation values, sorption of the metal ions by the pristine adsorbent materials fit well with Langmuir isotherm model, in contrast, those for crosslinked adsorbent materials were best described by Freundlich isotherm model. The results present the adsorbent materials with auspicious potentials, especially the crosslinked derivatives, and stand them in exceptional good stead as suitable bioresource materials for column packing in waste abatement equipment for remediation of these metal ions from electroplating effluent solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dehydroabietic acid is a natural product in the class of rosins. Here we report the design, synthesis and characterization of copolymers containing dehydroabietate side‐chain pendents, derived from homologated dehydroabietic ethyl methacrylate and tert‐butoxy carbonyl (Boc) l‐alanine methacryloyloxyethyl ester with varying comonomer proportions by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The cleavage of Boc groups from the copolymers resulted in water‐soluble copolymers with cationic surface charge. Since proper hydrophobic−hydrophilic balance in a single polymer chain is maintained, the copolymers self‐assembled in aqueous media with a critical aggregation concentration of 2.8–3.0 mg L−1, confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy. 1H NMR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, SEM and AFM were used to further investigate the aqueous solution self‐assembly of random copolymers. The collective findings from 1H NMR, dynamic light scattering, SEM and AFM clearly revealed the existence of micellar particles in water with alanine units on the surface of the nanoaggregates and homologated dehydroabietate pendents along with the hydrophobic main‐chain backbone in the core. In addition, to get a clear insight into the nanoaggregates' potential for drug encapsulation in aqueous medium, Nile Red was incorporated as a model hydrophobic dye. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of recyclable, durable and widely adaptable porous hydrophobic materials is of vital importance for the effective separation of leaking oil–water mixtures. Herein, we functionally modified melamine formaldehyde resin sponge (MFRS) with PMMA, PDMS-PMMA and PDMS-PGMA via a facile solution-immersion process. Compared with PMMA-coated MFRS, the improvement of the water contact angle (WCA) and oil–water mixture separation efficiency of PDMS-PMMA/MFRS was sufficient enough to verify that the introduction of PDMS block enhanced the hydrophobic performances. Moreover, the importance of the GMA block in PDMS-PGMA/MFRS was confirmed by the excellent performance of the material in oil–water separation recycling experiments, with 91.5% separation efficiency after 8 runs. The fabricated PDMS-PMMA/MFRS with improved WCA (155°) and oil–water mixture separation efficiency (99.1%) demonstrated superhydrophobic property, which was attributed to the introduction of hydrophobic block PDMS and coating-induced surface geometric folds. Besides, the acid resistance and widely adaptable (efficient separation of various oil–water mixtures) performances of PDMS-PGMA/MFRS were experimentally confirmed. The freely available manufacturing raw materials and facile functionalization process of PDMS-PMMA/MFRS offer possibilities for its adoption in the efficient cleanup of oil spills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic materials exhibiting long‐lasting emission in the near infrared are expected to have applications in bio‐imaging and other areas. Although room temperature phosphorescence and thermally activated delayed fluorescence display long‐lived emission of approximately one minute, organic long‐persistent luminescence (OLPL) systems with a similar emission mechanism to inorganic persistent emitters can emit for several hours at room temperature. In particular OLPL with a hole‐diffusion mechanism can function even in the presence of oxygen. However, ionic materials lack long‐term stability in neutral organic host owing to aggregation and phase separation. In this study, we synthesized polymers with stable near‐infrared persistent luminescence at room temperature via the copolymerization of electron donors and acceptors. The copolymers exhibit long‐persistent luminescence (LPL) at temperatures below the glass transition temperature and can be excited by approximately the entire range of visible light. LPL properties and spectra can be controlled by the dopant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resistance of zwitterionic polymer coatings against the adsorption of proteins and the attachment of pathogenic bacteria is influenced by the precise molecular architecture of the polymers. Two until now rarely studied molecular variables in this context are side chain spacer groups separating the zwitterionic moieties from the polymer backbone and spacer groups separating the cationic and anionic groups within the zwitterionic moiety. Therefore, a set of six poly(sulfobetaine)s and poly(sulfabetaine)s is prepared, in which these spacer groups are systematically varied, incorporating ethylene, propylene, and undecylene side chain spacers, as well as ethylene, propylene, and butylene inter‐charge spacers, and their effects on the antifouling behavior are explored. Hence, the corresponding zwitterionic methacrylates are copolymerized with a photo‐reactive methacrylate bearing a benzophenone moiety. All zwitterionic coatings reveal hydrophilic properties when immersed in water and those with relatively short spacers show effective suppression of non‐specific protein adsorption. Polysulfobetaines outperform the polysulfabetaine ones in terms of resistance against adhesion of bacteria. The overall best fouling protection is observed for the polysulfobetaine bearing a propylene side chain spacer, which coincides with their relatively highest water solubility. The results corroborate previous findings that even apparently minor molecular changes of polyzwitterions can strongly affect their antifouling performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports copolymer composition tailored wrapping of carbon nanotubes, leading to a gigantic dielectric permittivity and peculiar nonlinear rheological response in a nonfluoro copolymer/carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrid system. Specifically, we observed a strong interfacial polarization effect in ethylene vinyl acetate (EVAc) copolymer/CNT nanocomposites, resulting in a dielectric permittivity of approximately 4000 at 10 Hz and 450 (dielectric loss <1) at 1 kHz, with only 1% volume fraction of CNTs and 40% vinyl acetate (VAc) content. No such effect was observed in EVAc with 12% VAc. Extensive amplitude oscillatory rheology studies prompted us to propose a novel hook‐wrap‐type mechanism, wherein polar interactions act as hooks and nonpolar segments allow wrapping, depending on the optimal interactions between the CNT and copolymer. Raman spectroscopy, small‐angle x‐ray scattering, and relaxation studies also revealed a significant change in segmental dynamics and mass fractal compactness with a change in the VAc content. This work provides a melt processing‐based scalable route to develop polymer dielectrics while advancing the fundamental understanding of polymer‐CNT interactions and the underlying mechanisms of dielectric behavior in nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free radical polymerization was selected to obtain a promising copolymer scale inhibitor IA‐AM‐SAS with good water solubility and temperature and salt resistance, which is suitable for the treatment of surface pipeline water in oil fields, using itaconic acid (IA), acrylamide (AM), and sodium acrylsulfonate (SAS) as the monomers. The structure of the synthesized copolymer was verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric results showed that the copolymer does not undergo significant thermal degradation at temperatures below 356°C, indicating that the copolymer has good thermal stability. The molecular weights of the polymers at different monomer ratios were measured using gel permeation chromatography and the relationship between the molecular weights and scale inhibition performance was discussed. The results showed that the scale inhibition effect was best when the monomer molar ratio n(IA): n(AM): n(SAS) was 0.5:2:1.5 and the number of average molecular weight of the prepared copolymer was 7712 g/mol, and the inhibition efficiency of CaCO3 was 84.02% when IA‐AM‐SAS was at a concentration of 30 mg L−1, and the inhibition rate was measured by the standard of static scale inhibition test in the oilfield measured. The range of conditions (PH, Ca2+ concentration, water temperature, and time) of the static scale inhibition test was then expanded using a one‐way controlled variable experiment to explore the performance of IA‐AM‐SAS scale inhibitors under different water quality conditions. The scale inhibition mechanism was explored by scanning electron microscopy, x‐ray diffraction, and x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Briefly, the combination of multiple functional groups enables IA‐AM‐SAS to be applied in complex and challenging environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly (β-amino ester) (PBAE) is an exceptional non-viral vector that is widely used in gene delivery, owing to its exceptional biocompatibility, easy synthesis, and cost-effectiveness. However, it carries a high surface positive charge that may cause cytotoxicity. Therefore, hydrophilic d-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) was copolymerised with PBAE to increase the biocompatibility and to decrease the potential cytotoxicity of the cationic polymer-DNA plasmid polyplex nanoparticles (NPs) formed through electrostatic forces between the polymer and DNA. TPGS-b-PBAE (TBP) copolymers with varying feeding molar ratios were synthesised to obtain products of different molecular weights. Their gene transfection efficiency was subsequently evaluated in HEK 293T cells using green fluorescent protein plasmid (GFP) as the model because free GFP is unable to easily pass through the cell membrane and then express as a protein. The particle size, ζ-potential, and morphology of the TBP2-GFP polyplex NPs were characterised, and plasmid incorporation was confirmed through gel retardation assays. The TBP2-GFP polyplex NPs effectively transfected multiple cells with low cytotoxicity, including HEK 293T, HeLa, Me180, SiHa, SCC-7 and C666-1 cells. We constructed a MUC2 (Mucin2)-targeting CRISPR/cas9 gene editing system in HEK 293T cells, with gene disruption supported by oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) insertion in vitro. Additionally, we developed an LMP1 (latent membrane protein 1)-targeting CRISPR/cas9 gene editing system in LMP1-overexpressing SCC7 cells, which was designed to cleave fragments expressing the LMP1 protein (related to Epstein–Barr virus infection) and thus to inhibit the growth of the cells in vivo. As evidenced by in vitro and in vivo experiments, this system has great potential for gene therapy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The release of drugs from core/shell nanoparticles (NPs) is a crucial factor in ensuring high reproducibility, stability, and quality control. It serves as the scientific basis for the development of nanocarriers. Several factors, such as composition, composition ratio, ingredient interactions, and preparation methods, influence the drug release from these carrier systems. The objective of our study was to investigate and discuss the relationship between modifications of core/shell NPs as multifunctional drug delivery systems and the properties and kinetics of drug release using an in vitro drug release model. In this paper, we prepared four core/shell NPs consisting of a superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs (Fe3−δO4) core encapsulated by a biocompatible thermo-responsive copolymer, poly(2-(2-methoxy) ethyl methacrylate-oligo (ethylene glycol) methacrylate) or P(MEO2MAx-OEGMA100−x) (where x and 100 − x represented the molar fractions of MEO2MA and OEGMA, respectively), and loaded with doxorubicin (DOX). Colloidal behavior measurements in water and PBS as a function of temperature showed an optimization of the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) depending on the molar fractions of MEO2MA and OEGMA used to form each NPs. In vitro studies of doxorubicin release as a function of temperature demonstrated a high control of release based on the LCST. A temperature of approximately 45 °C for 60 h was sufficient to release 100% of the DOX loaded in the NPs for each sample. In conclusion, external stimuli can be used to modulate the drug release behavior. Core/shell NPs hold great promise as a technique for multifunctional drug delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]