Final Activity Report Summary - PE-NANOSTRUCTURES (Spontaneous formation of nanostructures and responsive nanolayers by novel macromolecules and surfactants)
The major goals of the project were based on a novel family of macromolecules called bottle brush polyelectrolytes. These are comb-like polyelectrolytes having a charged backbone with a high density of grafted neutral hydrophilic side chains. The project was aimed at exploring the dominant interactions and nanoscale organisation of these molecules in the bulk and at interfaces in the presence and in the absence of ionic surfactants.
Polymer / surfactant systems are widely used in industrial formulations and every day products. Recently it has been realised that the polymer architecture can have a pronounced effect on both the bulk and surface properties of these systems. By tailoring the polymer structure novel functionalities and features can be developed. Our results indicate that due to the steric stabilisation provided by the grafted hydrophilic side chains, the bottle brush polymers can form uniquely stable complexes with oppositely charged surfactants and polyelectrolytes that may serve as delivery vehicles in controlled release applications. Work in this direction is currently in progress.
We have also identified the optimal bottle brush composition as well as environmental conditions to provide maximum protection at solid surfaces against polyelectrolyte adsorption. This gives a possibility for the creation of self assembled 2D and 3D structures on surfaces that can be utilised in the preparation of nano-devices. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the effectiveness of the bottle brush polyelectrolyte adsorption layers to prevent protein adsorption, thus prevent the initiation of immune reactions.
An additional objective of the project was to develop smart surfaces that can give fast and large response to environmental changes. Recently, there are considerable efforts in the literature to use temperature responsive nanogel particles for the creation of such surfaces. However, since the polyelectrolyte used to attach the nanogel particles to the surface can penetration into the gel beads, the response of these layers are strongly hindered. We were able to overcome this problem by covalently coupling the gel particles to the surface.
Furthermore, we demonstrated that nanofibres can also be used to build up multilayer structures with nanogel beads. Since the fibres do not penetrate into the gel particles these assemblies are expected to have superior response and release properties compared to the ones that are formed by normal polyelectrolytes.
Polymer / surfactant systems are widely used in industrial formulations and every day products. Recently it has been realised that the polymer architecture can have a pronounced effect on both the bulk and surface properties of these systems. By tailoring the polymer structure novel functionalities and features can be developed. Our results indicate that due to the steric stabilisation provided by the grafted hydrophilic side chains, the bottle brush polymers can form uniquely stable complexes with oppositely charged surfactants and polyelectrolytes that may serve as delivery vehicles in controlled release applications. Work in this direction is currently in progress.
We have also identified the optimal bottle brush composition as well as environmental conditions to provide maximum protection at solid surfaces against polyelectrolyte adsorption. This gives a possibility for the creation of self assembled 2D and 3D structures on surfaces that can be utilised in the preparation of nano-devices. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the effectiveness of the bottle brush polyelectrolyte adsorption layers to prevent protein adsorption, thus prevent the initiation of immune reactions.
An additional objective of the project was to develop smart surfaces that can give fast and large response to environmental changes. Recently, there are considerable efforts in the literature to use temperature responsive nanogel particles for the creation of such surfaces. However, since the polyelectrolyte used to attach the nanogel particles to the surface can penetration into the gel beads, the response of these layers are strongly hindered. We were able to overcome this problem by covalently coupling the gel particles to the surface.
Furthermore, we demonstrated that nanofibres can also be used to build up multilayer structures with nanogel beads. Since the fibres do not penetrate into the gel particles these assemblies are expected to have superior response and release properties compared to the ones that are formed by normal polyelectrolytes.