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Polymers
Special Issues
Single-Chain Polymer Nanotechnology
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Single-Chain Polymer Nanotechnology

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Physics and Theory".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2021) | Viewed by 12813

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. José A. Pomposo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Física de Materiales, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Apartado 1072, E-20080 San Sebastian, Spain
Interests: nanoparticles; catalysts; nanocontainers

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

Nanotechnology applied at single polymer chain level—i.e., single-chain polymer nanotechnology—allows the construction of a variety of individual soft nano-objects with an ultrafine size (3–30 nm). Recent examples are single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs), complex polymeric multi-rings, tadpoles, dumbbells, and hairpins synthesized via single-chain folding/collapse. Fabrication of bioinspired, functional soft nano-objects (e.g., SCNPs) via intrachain interactions is now one of the most exciting research topics in polymer chemistry.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform reporting advances in single-chain polymer nanotechnology for the design, construction, and characterization of individual polymeric nano-objects with an ultrafine size (3–30 nm). Original papers and critical reviews on recent progresses of single-chain polymer nanotechnology are welcome for submission. Vast research topics can be addressed in this category, for example, new chemical or phototriggered routes to synthesize SCNPs, fabrication and characterization of individual polymeric nano-objects with complex topologies (e.g., tadpoles), new strategies to control chain compaction/globulation, synthesis and properties of dynamic soft nano-objects, bioinspired applications of single-chain nano-objects in catalysis, drug delivery, sensing, and so on.

Contributions focusing on experimental research (synthesis and characterization), theoretical studies, and computer simulations in the above topics, articles reporting advances in applications of single-chain polymer nanotechnology, etc. are all welcome.

Prof. José A. Pomposo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Single-chain nanotechnology
  • Soft polymer nano-objects
  • Single-chain nanoparticles
  • Tadpoles Multi-rings
  • Dumbbells
  • Hairpins
  • Synthesis
  • Characterization
  • Theories
  • Simulations
  • Applications

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2821 KiB  
Article
Collective Motions and Mechanical Response of a Bulk of Single-Chain Nano-Particles Synthesized by Click-Chemistry
by Jon Maiz, Ester Verde-Sesto, Isabel Asenjo-Sanz, Peter Fouquet, Lionel Porcar, José A. Pomposo, Paula Malo de Molina, Arantxa Arbe and Juan Colmenero
Polymers 2021, 13(1), 50; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13010050 - 25 Dec 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2421
Abstract
We investigate the effect of intra-molecular cross-links on the properties of polymer bulks. To do this, we apply a combination of thermal, rheological, diffraction, and neutron spin echo experiments covering the inter-molecular as well as the intermediate length scales to melts of single-chain [...] Read more.
We investigate the effect of intra-molecular cross-links on the properties of polymer bulks. To do this, we apply a combination of thermal, rheological, diffraction, and neutron spin echo experiments covering the inter-molecular as well as the intermediate length scales to melts of single-chain nano-particles (SCNPs) obtained through ‘click’ chemistry. The comparison with the results obtained in a bulk of the corresponding linear precursor chains (prior to intra-molecular reaction) and in a bulk of SCNPs obtained through azide photodecomposition process shows that internal cross-links do not influence the average inter-molecular distances in the melt, but have a profound impact at intermediate length scales. This manifests in the structure, through the emergence of heterogeneities at nanometric scale, and also in the dynamics, leading to a more complex relaxation behavior including processes that allow relaxation of the internal domains. The influence of the nature of the internal bonds is reflected in the structural relaxation that is slowed down if bulky cross-linking agents are used. We also found that any residual amount of cross-links is critical for the rheological behavior, which can vary from an almost entanglement-free polymer bulk to a gel. The presence of such inter-molecular cross-links additionally hinders the decay of density fluctuations at intermediate length scales. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Single-Chain Polymer Nanotechnology)
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20 pages, 5107 KiB  
Article
Investigation of the Evaporation Rate of Water from Colloidal Unimolecular Polymer (CUP) Systems by Isothermal TGA
by Peng Geng, Ashish Zore and Michael R. Van De Mark
Polymers 2020, 12(11), 2752; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12112752 - 21 Nov 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3166
Abstract
Studies of the evaporation of aqueous nanoparticle solutions have been limited due to lack of homogeneity of the solution, difficulties in obtaining reproducible samples and stability of substrates, as well as the effect of other volatile components or contaminants such as surfactants. Colloidal [...] Read more.
Studies of the evaporation of aqueous nanoparticle solutions have been limited due to lack of homogeneity of the solution, difficulties in obtaining reproducible samples and stability of substrates, as well as the effect of other volatile components or contaminants such as surfactants. Colloidal unimolecular polymer (CUP) is a spheroidal nanoparticle with charged hydrophilic groups on the surface, and the particle size ranges from 3 to 9 nm. The large amount of surface water on the CUP surface provides the opportunity to evaluate the evaporation of surface water, which may contribute to the investigation the factors that affect the evaporation rate in solutions of ultra-small particles, like protein, micelle, colloidal, etc. Six CUP systems were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with respect to time and solids content. The evaporation rate of water was initially enhanced due to the deformation of the air-water interface at low to moderate concentration due to particle charge repulsive forces. At higher concentrations, above 20%, surface charge condensation and increasing viscosity began to dominate. At higher concentration where the CUP reached the gel point the rate of diffusion controlled the evaporation. The final drying point was the loss of three waters of hydration for each carboxylate on the CUP surface. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Single-Chain Polymer Nanotechnology)
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28 pages, 4726 KiB  
Article
Thermodynamic Characterization of Free and Surface Water of Colloidal Unimolecular Polymer (CUP) Particles Utilizing DSC
by Peng Geng, Ashish Zore and Michael R. Van De Mark
Polymers 2020, 12(6), 1417; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12061417 - 24 Jun 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3037
Abstract
Colloidal Unimolecular Polymer (CUP) particles are spheroidal, 3–9 nm with charged groups on the surface and a hydrophobic core, which offer a larger surface water fraction to improve the analysis of its characteristics. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was performed to determine the characteristics [...] Read more.
Colloidal Unimolecular Polymer (CUP) particles are spheroidal, 3–9 nm with charged groups on the surface and a hydrophobic core, which offer a larger surface water fraction to improve the analysis of its characteristics. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was performed to determine the characteristics of surface water. These properties include the amount of surface water, the layer thickness, density, specific heat of the surface water above and below the freezing point of water, melting point depression of free water, effect of charge density and particle size. The charge density on the CUP surface was varied as well as the molecular weight which controls the particle diameter. The surface water is proportional to the weight fraction of CUP <20%. Analogous to recrystallization the CUP particles were trapped in the ice when rapidly cooled but slow cooling excluded the CUP, causing inter-molecular counterion condensation and less surface water. The density of surface water was calculated to be 1.023 g/mL to 1.056 g/mL depending on the surface charge density. The thickness of surface water increased with surface charge density. The specific heat of surface water was found to be 3.04 to 3.07 J/g·K at 253.15 K and 3.07 to 3.09 J/g·K at 293.15 K. The average area occupied by carboxylate and ester groups on the CUP surface were determined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Single-Chain Polymer Nanotechnology)
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Review

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18 pages, 3220 KiB  
Review
Advances in the Multi-Orthogonal Folding of Single Polymer Chains into Single-Chain Nanoparticles
by Agustín Blazquez-Martín, Ester Verde-Sesto, Angel J. Moreno, Arantxa Arbe, Juan Colmenero and José A. Pomposo
Polymers 2021, 13(2), 293; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13020293 - 18 Jan 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3367
Abstract
The folding of certain proteins (e.g., enzymes) into perfectly defined 3D conformations via multi-orthogonal interactions is critical to their function. Concerning synthetic polymers chains, the “folding” of individual polymer chains at high dilution via intra-chain interactions leads to so-called single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs). This [...] Read more.
The folding of certain proteins (e.g., enzymes) into perfectly defined 3D conformations via multi-orthogonal interactions is critical to their function. Concerning synthetic polymers chains, the “folding” of individual polymer chains at high dilution via intra-chain interactions leads to so-called single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs). This review article describes the advances carried out in recent years in the folding of single polymer chains into discrete SCNPs via multi-orthogonal interactions using different reactive chemical species where intra-chain bonding only occurs between groups of the same species. First, we summarize results from computer simulations of multi-orthogonally folded SCNPs. Next, we comprehensively review multi-orthogonally folded SCNPs synthesized via either non-covalent bonds or covalent interactions. Finally, we conclude by summarizing recent research about multi-orthogonally folded SCNPs prepared through both reversible (dynamic) and permanent bonds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Single-Chain Polymer Nanotechnology)
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