Analysis of electrochemical impedance and XRD spectroscopy for complex self-assembled film on silver

Self-assembled monolayers （SAMs） of （3-mercaptopropy） trimethoxysilane （3-MtrF） chemisorbed on silver surfaces were chemically ＂modified by 1-octadecanethiol to form self-assembled mixed-monolayers （SAMM） and the co-polymer of N-vinylcarbazole and methyl methacrylate ester （to form complex selfassembled film （CSAF））. The oxidation resistance of these barriers on silver surfaces and some influential factors concerned processes were analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS） in a 10% NaOH aqueous solution at oxidation potential. X-ray diffraction （XRD） spectroscopy shows that the oxidation occurring on the silver surface may be restrained effectively due to the coating barrier, and CSAF（Ⅱ） is the best one. Studies also reveal that oxide processes of bare silver and a series of modified silver electrodes in a 10% NaOH aqueous solution are of more than two relaxation time constants.

Linear-like polypeptide-based micelle with pH-sensitive detachable PEG to deliver dimeric camptothecin for cancer therapy

Nano drug delivery systems have made significant progress in delivering anticancer drugs camptothecin(CPT).However,many challenges for CPT delivery remain,including low drug loading efficiency,premature drug leakage,and poor cellular internalization.Herein,we report a novel dual-sensitive polypeptide-based micelle with remarkably high drug loading of CPT for cancer therapy.This self-assembled micelle possesses the following essential components for CPT:(1)pH-sensitive PEG(OHC-PEG-CHO)for prolonging blood circulation and allowing biocompatibility by shielding the cationic micelles,which can be detached under the tumor acidic microenvironment and facilitates the cellular uptake;(2)polypeptide polylysine-polyphenylalanine(PKF)synthesized via ring-opening polymerization for micelle formation and CPT analogue loading;(3)dimeric CPT(DCPT)with redox-sensitive linker for increasing CPT loading and ensuring drug release at tumor sites.Interestingly,the linear-like morphology of PEG-PKF/DCPT micelles was able to enhance their cellular internalization when compared with the spherical blank PKF micelles.Also,the anticancer efficacy of DCPT against lung cancer cells was significantly improved by the micelle formation.In conclusion,this work provides a promising strategy facilitating the safety and effective application of CPT in cancer therapy.

Polymeric complex micelle loaded with axially substituted silicon(Ⅳ) phthalocyanine

A novel axially substituted silicon（IV） phthalocyanine, namely di-pyridyloxy axially substituted silicon（IV） phthalocyanine 2 was synthesized and characterized by UV/vis, IR, elemental analysis, MS as well as IH NMR spectroscopy. Hydrophobic 2 was encapsulated by amphiphilic triblock copolymer poly[N^e-（benzyloxycarbonyl-lysine]-poly（ethylene glycol）-poly [N^e-（benzyl oxycarbonyl） （PLL（Z）-b-PEG-b-PLL（Z）） to form hydrophobic 2-loaded polymeric complex micelle （PIC） （2-loaded P/C）. Atom force microscopy （AFM） image showed that 2-loaded PIC formed a spherical nanocarrier with approximately 35-50 nm in diameter. The fluorescence intensity and lifetime of 2-loaded PIC was significantly enhanced bv the incorporation 2 into PIC nanocarrier.

Tumor-targeted self-assembled micelles reducing PD-L1 expression combined with ICIs to enhance chemo-immunotherapy of TNBC

Immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)therapy targeting programmed cell death ligand 1(PD-L1)and programmed death protein 1(PD-1)had exhibited significant clinical benefits for cancer treatment such as triple negative breast cancer(TNBC).However,the relatively low anti-tumor immune response rate and ICIs drug resistance highlight the necessity of developing ICIs combination therapy strategies to improve the anti-tumor effect of immunotherapy.Herein,the immunomodulator epigallocatechin gallate palmitate(PEGCG)and the immunoadjuvant metformin(MET)self-assembled into tumor-targeted micelles via hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction,which encapsulated the therapeutic agents doxorubicin(DOX)-loaded PEGCG-MET micelles(PMD)and combined with ICIs(anti-PD-1 antibody)as therapeutic strategy to reduce the endogenous expression of PD-L1 and improve the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment.The results presented that PMD integrated chemotherapy and immunotherapy to enhance antitumor efficacy in vitro and in vivo,compared with DOX or anti-PD-1 antibody for the therapy of TNBC.PMD micelles might be a potential candidate,which could remedy the shortcomings of antibody-based ICIs and provide synergistic effect to enhance the antitumor effects of ICIs in tumor therapy.

Absorption Complex between Porphyrin and Phenothiazine in Reverse Micelles

The interaction between amphiphilic porphyrin and phenothiazine in AOT/isooctane/water reverse micelle was investigated by UV-Vis spectra. A new absorption complex between the two species is formed in such circumstances, which is ascribed to the enrichment of the components by the reverse micelle. The fluorescence quenching of CHTTP by PTH becomes more efficient after the formation of the absorption complex.

SOD-like Activity of Some Cu(Ⅱ)Complexes in Micelles

The SOD-like activity of five Cu(Ⅱ)complexes[Cu(HSal)_2·EtOH,Cu(Gly)_2,Cu(Lys)_2,Cu(His)_2,Cu(Try)_2]have been studied by using cytochrome C method,as well as chemilumine-scence and ESR technique.The four surfactants(CTAB,SDS,Triton X-100 and Tween 20)werepurified and their critical miceile concentration(CMC)in phosphate buffer(pH=7.4)was mea-sured.The effects of four surfactants on O_2^- have been investigated.The co-operative effects

A Novel Palladium(Ⅱ)Complex Self-assembled from Anthracene-9-carboxylic Acid:Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Spectroscopic Properties

A novel palladium（II） complex [（TMEDA）Pd（anca）2].2DMSO （1, TMEDA = N,N,N＇,N＇-tetramethylethylethylenediamine, anca = anthracene-9-carboxylic acid） was synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, 1H NMR, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The cell belongs to orthorhombic Aba2 space group with a = 19.698（7）, b = 21.045（7） c = 9.062（3） A, Z = 4, V= 3757（2） A3, C40H46N206PdS2, Mr = 821.31, D, = 1.452 g/cm3, F（000） = 1704, the final R = 0.0272, wR = 0.0667 and GOOF = 0.999. Complex 1 exhibits an interesting distorted clip-shaped molecular configuration which is stabilized by intramolecular C-H...O hydrogen bonds. The cells are packed into a 3D supramolecular structure based on the intermolecular C-H...zr interactions which further construct the tubular channels serving as guest molecular channels to include the DMSO solvent molecules inside. Furthermore, the spectroscopic properties of 1 were also investigated.

Sign Response Mechanism of TCA Self-assembled Fluorescence Probe for Cu^2＋ Detection： FRET Evidence by DFT

A new type of self-assembled molecule ON-OFF fluorescence probe for toxic transition metal ions, made up of thiacalix[4]arene, micelle and fluorescence group, has been studied by DFT/TDDFT method combined with experiment spectra. Since the mechanism of the optical quenching signal response of such self-assembled micelle probe has always been a controversial issue of uncertainty, the spatial construction and geometric structures of the functional units of probe in the Cu2＋ ion detecting process were calculated and the mechanism was investigated by the molecular transition orbital pairs method to explore the origination of ON-OFF fluorescence sign response. The results presented that the signal response mechanism of the micelle probe is ascribed to F？rster resonance energy transfer（FRET） which provides new sights different from most of the conclusions by the related research work reported.

Reversibly size-switchable polyion complex micelles for antiangiogenic cancer therapy

Size is one of the most important characteristics of nanoparticles to influence their biodistribution and antitumoral efficacy.Particles with large sizes have difficulty in deep tumor penetration,while small particles are easily removed from tumor tissues due to the high tumor interstitial fluid pressure.To address these issues,an intelligent core-crosslinked polyion complex micelle(cPCM)with a reversibly sizeswitchable feature was engineered in this study.The micelles are consisting of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(D,L-lactide)copolymer(mPEG-PLA),mPEG-PLA-(HE)6CC,and mPEG-PLA-(RG)6CC at an optimal mass ratio of 6:1:1 with an antiangiogenic compound,dabigatran etexilate(DE),encapsulated.The net charge inside the micelles is switchable when exposed to different pH conditions,thereby leading to revisable size-change of micelles.DE-loaded micelles(DE@cPCM)can swell and release drugs at the tumor sites with a mildly acidic pH,while they shrink and protect the cargo from leaking into the blood circulation with a neutral pH.Results indicated that DE@cPCM can inhibit tumor angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo,thereby efficiently restraining tumor growth in a 4T1-bearing mouse model.Collectively,the sizeswitchable cPCM is a promising nanoplatform for targeting delivery of anticarcinogens into the matrix of tumor tissues.

Formation of Copolymer-Ag Nanoparticles Composite Micelles in Three-dimensional Co-flow Focusing Microfluidic Device

A novel method was presented to create composite micelles of amphiphilic copolymers and Ag nanoparticles(NPs) in a three-dimensional co-flow focusing microfluidic device(3D CFMD). Self-assembly of the copolymers was initiated by the fast mixing of water and a blend dispersion of hydrophobic Ag NPs and amphiphilic copolymers. At the same time, the hydrophobic Ag NPs enter the core of copolymer micelles, based on the hydrophobic interaction. The copolymer-Ag NPs composite micelles have a core-shell structure with copolymer shell and Ag NPs core. COMSOL Multiphysics is used to simulate the concentration distribution of copolymers and Ag NPs under different flow rates. Co-assembly microfluidic conditions are determined based on simulation results. Under suitable microfluidic conditions, both block copolymers and gradient copolymers can co-assemble with hydrophobic Ag NPs to form composite micelles, respectively. This microfluidic coassembly method will have a good prospect in the preparation of composite micelles of amphiphilic copolymers and metal nanoparticles.

Synthesis and Immobilization of Polystyrene-b-Polyvinyltriethoxysilane Micelles

Diblock copolymers polystyrene-block-polyvinyltriethoxysilane（PS-b-PVTES） were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization（ATRP）, which self-assembled into spherical micelles in solvent of THF-methanol mixtures. The self-assembled micelles were immobilized by cross-linking reaction of VTES in a shell layer of micelles. The chemical structures of block copolymers and morphology of micelles were characterized in detail. It was found that the size of immobilized micelles was strongly affected by the copolymer concentration, composition of mixture solvent, and block ratios.

Electrochemical Impedance Study of Schiff Base by Means of Self-assembled Monolayer

In this work, the self-assembled monolayer of Schiff base was first investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The complexation Of Cu2+ with the Schiff base: was also detected with EIS method. The approximate linear relationship between Cu2+ and the reaction resistance (R-r) was observed. All the results suggest that the electrochemical property of Schiff base could be studied conveniently by means of forming self-assembled monolayer.

Complexing Properties of Acid Alizarin Violet with Copper, Cobalt and Nickel in Micellar Media Containing SDS, CTAB and TX-100

The interaction of the dye acid alizarin violet (AVN) with three transition metals was followed spectrophotometrically in water and in micellar solutions of the cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), the anionic sodium dode- cyl sulfate (SDS) and the nonionic triton X-100 (TX-100). The stoichiometric ratios for the complexes of AVN with each metal ion were determined by the mole ratio and the continuous variation methods. In water, the metal to dye ratios in the complexes were 1:2, 1:3 and 1:1 for Cu2+, Co2+ and Ni2+, respectively. For Ni2+ the ratio changed to 1:3 in micellar CTAB. All other ratios were unchanged in the three micellar solutions. The formation constant (βn) of the complex in water was 1.00 × 1010 for Cu2+, 4.66 × 1014 for Co2+ and 9.03 × 104 for Ni2+. βn decreased in micellar TX-100: for Cu2+ to 6.88 × 108, for Co2+ to 1.56 × 1014 and for Ni2+ to 8.65 × 104. By contrast, micellar CTAB increased βn for Cu2+ and Ni2+. For Cu2+, the increase was to 5.19 × 1010, but for Ni2+ a large jump was observed, to 1.16 × 1015. For Co2+, βn dropped to 2.16 × 1014 in CTAB. Micellar SDS decreased βn for Cu2+ and Co2+ complexes to 5.38 × 109 and 1.76 × 1014, respectively, but increased that of the Ni2+ complex to 4.40 × 105. These observations were explained in terms of structural properties.

Preparation and Characterization of Al_2O_3-TiO_2 Complex Supports by Nano-scale Self-assembly Technique

The two-step nano-scale self-assembly technique and the framework structure mechanism for forming mesoporous supports were employed for preparing Al2O3-TiO2 complex supports with large pore volume that were applied for manufacturing the resid hydrotreating catalysts. The influence of different TiO2 contents and calcination temperatures on specific surface area, pore volume and pore size distribution of complex supports was studied. TEM and SEM were employed to characterize the Al2O3-TiO2 complex supports. Test results revealed that the specific surface area of Al2O3-TiO2 complex supports was the largest at a TiO2 mass fraction of 20%, and when the calcination temperature was in the range between 300 ℃ to 700 ℃, the pore distribution of the complex support was stable. Characterization of the complex support by TEM and SEM demonstrated that TiO2 was homo- geneously distributed in the complex support, which was in favor of carrying active components. The Al2O3-TiO2 complex supports can function as the best catalyst support for resid hydrotreating catalysts.

Polyamine-Polymeric Micelle Hybrid Hydrogel: Microscopic Properties of Crosslinkers Affecting Macroscopic Rheological Properties of Hydrogel

We have developed a hybrid hydrogel that is formed from a crosslinkable polymeric micelle and a polyamine. Under optimal conditions, the hydrogel rapidly formed in one second after a crosslinkable polymeric micelle solution was mixed with a polyamine solution. We could change the hydrogel’s gelation properties, such as the storage modulus and gelation time by tuning the molecular weights of block copolymers and by tuning the pH of the dissolving-solvent of the hydrogel’s constituent components. Furthermore, we have clarified here that the structural difference among the micelles acting as crosslinkers can affect the gelation properties of the hydrogel. According to our findings, the hydrogel that was formed from the polymeric micelles possessing a highly packed (i.e., well-entangled or crosslinked) inner core exhibited a higher storage modulus than the hydrogel that was formed from the polymeric micelles possessing a lowly packed structure. Our results demonstrate that a microscopic structural difference among crosslinkers can induce a macroscopic change in the properties of the resulting hydrogels. For medical applications, the hydrogel proposed in the present paper can encapsulate the hydrophobic compounds in crosslinkers (polymeric micelles) so that the hydrogel can be available as the biomaterial for their sustained release.

Behavior of Self-assembled Mn（Ⅲ）/Mn（Ⅱ）-NEtz Conjugate on Different Support Observed by AFM-SNOM

Et3N （Mn^Ⅱ-triethylamine） complex conjugated with binuclear Mn^Ⅲ-hydroxide, Mn2（OH）3Cl and similar manganese complex with Et2NH （diethylamine） self-assembled in aqueous solutions have been investigated by simultaneous AFM （atomic force microscopy） and SNOM （scanning near-field optical microscopy） in thin layers prepared on mica and PET （polyethylene terephthalate） The size of the particles after crystallization of the precipitated former conjugate was controlled with XRD （X-ray diffraction）. It is found that the conjugate self-assembling produces the smallest grains with the diameter of 65 ± 7.5 nm measured at contact with the support. This particle size matches the crystallite size of 44.2 nm found by XRD for the conjugate taking into account the particles deformation under the contact with the support. The self-assembly of the smallest particles in solution has produced non-transparent for light core observed on mica with the size varied between 300 to 400 nm. The latter occurs due to hydrophobic interactions since no core of the former conjugate has been found on hydrophobic PET surface. No submicroscopic core is also found in the case of similar conjugate with Mn^Ⅱ-Et2NH complex on PET film and mica both.

Halogen Mediated Self-assembly of Three Mixed Valent Cu(Ⅰ)/Cu(Ⅱ)Complexes

Reaction of the ligand dmpt（dmpt=6,7-dimethylbenzo[f][1,10]phenanthroline）with CuCl2 afforded mixed valent Cu（Ⅰ）/Cu（Ⅱ） discrete tetranuclear complexes[Cu（Ⅱ）Cl2（dmpt）Cu（Ⅰ）Cl]（1）,while the reaction of ligand dppz（dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a：20,30-c]phenazine） with divalent halogen copper salt CuX2（X=Cl,Br） gave one-dimensional chain mixed valent Cu（Ⅰ）/Cu（Ⅱ） complexes [Cu（Ⅱ）Cl2（dppz）Cu（Ⅰ）Cl]n（2） and discrete mixed valent Cu（Ⅰ）/Cu（Ⅱ）complexes [Cu（Ⅱ）Br2（dppz）（DMF）Cu（Ⅰ）Br]（3）. Complex 2 consists of a one-dimensional chain-dppzC u（Ⅱ）-Clμ2-Cu（Ⅰ）-Cl-dppzC u（Ⅱ）-Clμ2-Cu（Ⅰ）-with Cu（Ⅱ） and Cu（Ⅰ） atoms linked together by chloride anion. Complex 3 is a discrete complex,which is the same as complexes 1 and 2 involving two different copper valent Cu（Ⅰ） and Cu（Ⅱ）. The Cu（Ⅰ） ion presents a pseudo-trihedral geometry,while the Cu（Ⅱ） ion presents a slightly distorted square-pyramidal geometry. This fact proved that halogen ions play a vital role in the assembly procedure. Our research results demonstrate the structural diversification that can be achieved by halogen ions mediated. Moreover,halogen ions-mediated self-assembly may provide useful information for further design of compounds with novel structures and properties.

Self-assembly Induced by Complexation of Diblock Copolyelectrolytes and Oppositely Charged Homopolymers

We investigate the solution self-assembly of a mixture of positively charged homopolymers and AB diblock copolymers,in which the A blocks are negatively charged,and the B blocks are neutral.The electrostatic complexation between oppositely charged polymers drives the formation of many ordered phases.The microstructures and phase diagrams are calculated using self-consistent field theory(SCFT)based on an ion-pair model with an equilibrium constant K to characterize the strength of binding between positively and negatively charged monomers.The effects of the charge ratio,representing the ratio of charges from the homopolymer over all charges from polymers in the system,on the ordered structure are systematically studied,both for hydrophobic and hydrophilic A blocks.The charge ratio plays an important role in determining the phase boundaries in the phase diagram of salt concentration versus polymer concentration.We also provide information about the varying tendency of the domain spacing and core size of the spherical phase when the charge ratio is changed,and the results are in good agreement with experiments.These studies provide a deep understanding of the self-assembled microstructures of oppositely charged diblock copolymer-homopolymer systems.

Redox-responsive phenyl-functionalized polylactide micelles for enhancing Ru complexes delivery and phototherapy

Poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic acid)block copolymer(PEG-PLA)is one of the most widely used biomedical polymers in clinical drug delivery owing to its biocompatibility and biodegradability.However,endowing PEG-PLA micelles with high drug loading,self-assembly stability and fast intracellular drug release is still challenging.Redox-responsive diblock copolymers(MPEG-SS-PMLA)of poly(ethylene glycol)and phenyl-functionalized poly(lactic acid)with disulfide bond as the linker are synthesized to prepare PLA-based micelles that demonstrate excellent colloidal stability and high Ru loading.Notably,MPEGSS-PMLA achieved a remarkably high Ru loading efficiency of 84.3%due to the existence of strongπ-πstacking between phenyl and Ru complex.MPEG-SS-PMLA exhibited good colloidal stability in physiological condition but quickly destabilized by reductive tumor microenvironment.Interestingly,about 74%of Ru complex was released under 10 mmol/L GSH concentration.Ru-loaded MEPG-SS-PMLA showed efficient delivery and release of Ru complex into MCF-7 cancer cells,achieving enhanced in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of photodynamic therapy.This feasible functionalization method of MPEG-PLA has appeared to be a clinically viable platform for controlled delivery therapeutic agents and enhanced phototherapy.

Effect of poly(ethylene glycol) modified polyethylenimine polyelectrolyte complex on pharmaceutical characteristics and uptake on breast cancer cell

Cationic polyethylenimine （PEI） with dextran fluorescein anionic （DFA） or oligodeoxynucleotide （ODN） could form polyelectrolyte complex by self-assembly as a gene delivery vector. This study was designed to investigate the effects on pharmaceutical characteristics and cell uptake PEI after a long-circulation modification with poly（ethylene glycol） （PEG）. DFA or ODN reacted with PEI or PEI-PEG to form polyelectrolyte complexes. Surface characters of these complexes and the retardation of ODN by PEI and PEI-PEG were evaluated. The uptake rates of DFA/PEI and DFA/PEI-PEG complexes by MCF-7 cells were evaluated by flow cytometry. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was utilized to visualize the internalization of these complexes. ODN/PEI complex showed the dependence of their size and ξ potential on the N/P ratio. ODN/PEI-PEG complex were much less affected by N/P ratio and their size was around 30 100 nm. PEI and PEI-PEG retarded ODN even at N/P ratio as low as 4, and complete retardation was found at N/P ratio of 8. The uptake rate by MCF-7 cells was direct correlated to the DFA concentration and incubation time, and the uptake rate could exceed 99% under the selected condition. The results in this study showed that PEI self-assembly polyelectrolyte complex after stealth or long circulation modification may increase the ability as a gene vector to delivery genes into cells.