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14 pages, 3017 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hedgehog, Chamomile and Multipetal Polymeric Structures on the Nanoparticle Surface: Theoretical Insights

by Aleksandra S. Ushakova and Valentina V. Vasilevskaya

Polymers 2022, 14(20), 4358; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14204358 - 16 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1148

An analytical theory describing the variety of different morphological structures that spontaneously self-assemble in layers of amphiphilic homopolymers tightly grafted to spherical nanoparticle is proposed. For this purpose, the following structures were identified and outlined: hedgehogs, in which macromolecules are combined into cylindrical [...] Read more.

An analytical theory describing the variety of different morphological structures that spontaneously self-assemble in layers of amphiphilic homopolymers tightly grafted to spherical nanoparticle is proposed. For this purpose, the following structures were identified and outlined: hedgehogs, in which macromolecules are combined into cylindrical aggregates; chamomile, when cylindrical aggregates are connected by their ends into loops; multipetal structure with macromolecules self-assembling into thin lamellae; and unstructured, swollen and uniformly compacted shells. The results are presented in the form of state diagrams and serve as a basis for the directional design of the surface pattern by varying system parameters (particle radius, grafting density and degree of polymerization) and solvent properties (quality and selectivity). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Amphiphilic Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization, Theory and Simulation)

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13 pages, 5867 KiB

Open AccessArticle

DPD Study on the Interfacial Properties of PEO/PEO-PPO-PEO/PPO Ternary Blends: Effects of Pluronic Structure and Concentration

by Dongmei Liu, Meiyuan Yang, Danping Wang, Xueying Jing, Ye Lin, Lei Feng and Xiaozheng Duan

Polymers 2021, 13(17), 2866; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13172866 - 26 Aug 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1916

Abstract

Using the method of dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations, we investigated the interfacial properties of PEO/PEO-PPO-PEO/PPO ternary blends composed of the Pluronics L64(EO₁₃PO₃₀EO₁₃), F68(EO₇₆PO₂₉EO₇₆), F88(EO₁₀₄PO₃₉EO₁₀₄), [...] Read more.

Using the method of dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations, we investigated the interfacial properties of PEO/PEO-PPO-PEO/PPO ternary blends composed of the Pluronics L64(EO₁₃PO₃₀EO₁₃), F68(EO₇₆PO₂₉EO₇₆), F88(EO₁₀₄PO₃₉EO₁₀₄), or F127(EO₁₀₆PO₇₀EO₁₀₆) triblock copolymers. Our simulations show that: (i) The interfacial tensions (

γ

) of the ternary blends obey the relationship

γ_{F 68}

<

γ_{L 64}

<

γ_{F 88}

<

γ_{F 127}

, which indicates that triblock copolymer F68 is most effective in reducing the interfacial tension, compared to L64, F88, and F127; (ii) For the blends of PEO/L64/PPO and the F64 copolymer concentration ranging from c_cp = 0.2 to 0.4, the interface exhibits a saturation state, which results in the aggregation and micelle formation of F64 copolymers added to the blends, and a lowered efficiency of the L64 copolymers as a compatibilizer, thus, the interfacial tension decreases slightly; (iii) For the blends of PEO/F68/PPO, elevating the Pluronic copolymer concentration can promote Pluronic copolymer enrichment at the interfaces without forming the micelles, which reduces the interfacial tension significantly. The interfacial properties of the blends contained the PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer compatibilizers are, thus, controlled by the triblock copolymer structure and the concentration. This work provides important insights into the use of the PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer as compatibilizers in the PEO and PPO homopolymer blend systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Amphiphilic Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization, Theory and Simulation)

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14 pages, 6967 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interaction of Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride with Cationic and Anionic Surfactants: Mixed Micellization and Binding Studies

by Naved Azum, Malik Abdul Rub, Sulaiman Yahya Alfaifi and Abdullah M. Asiri

Polymers 2021, 13(8), 1214; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13081214 - 09 Apr 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2038

Abstract

The focus of the present work is to evaluate the interactions of an anti-allergic drug (diphenhydramine hydrochloride, DPH) with anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) and cationic (cetylpyridinium chloride, CPC) surfactants in the aqueous medium. The mixed micellization behavior and surface properties of drug-surfactant [...] Read more.

The focus of the present work is to evaluate the interactions of an anti-allergic drug (diphenhydramine hydrochloride, DPH) with anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) and cationic (cetylpyridinium chloride, CPC) surfactants in the aqueous medium. The mixed micellization behavior and surface properties of drug-surfactant mixtures have been examined by surface tension measurements. Various theoretical approaches were applied to explore the synergistic or non-ideal behavior of the current mixed systems. Furthermore, the binding studies of drug with surfactants have been elaborated by UV–visible spectroscopy. Benesi–Hildebrand (B-H) theory was used to compute stoichiometric ratio, binding constant, and free energy change for the drug-surfactant mixtures. The outputs are deliberated taking into consideration the use of surfactants as capable drug delivery agents for DPH and hence advance bioavailability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Amphiphilic Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization, Theory and Simulation)

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