Mulenga Kalulu, Olayinka Oderinde, Christopher Mwanza, Shephrah O. Ogungbesan, Muzammal Hussain, Guodong Fu
{"title":"Fabrication and Characterization of Multi-Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels with Robust Mechanical Properties, Good Self-Healing, and Substrate Adhesiveness Using a Traditional Chemical Crosslinker and Initiator-Free Approach","authors":"Mulenga Kalulu, Olayinka Oderinde, Christopher Mwanza, Shephrah O. Ogungbesan, Muzammal Hussain, Guodong Fu","doi":"10.1002/macp.202400471","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202400471","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Hydrogels are essential in various applications, including biomedical fields, robotics, sensors, and wearable technologies. Traditional fabrication methods often involve chemical crosslinkers and initiators, which can introduce toxicity and limit practical use. This study presents an innovative approach to creating multifunctional, multi-stimuli-responsive hydrogels without using these traditional components. By polymerizing AMPS, DMAA, and MAA monomers using environmentally friendly AlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O as a crosslinker via UV polymerization, the study produces hydrogels exhibiting good mechanical properties such as tensile strength (3.02 ± 0.12 MPa), toughness (20.01 ± 1.8 J m<sup>−3</sup>), superior stretchability (2182.4 ± 114% elongation), and good compression resistance in addition to possessing self-healing capabilities, ionic conductivity, and responsiveness to temperature, pH, and ionic strength. This innovative technique represents a significant advancement toward developing sustainable hydrogels suitable for diverse biomedical, robotic, and sensor, technology applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":18054,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics","volume":"226 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Modafinil Synthesis Using an Eosin Y-photocatalytic Gel Formed by Autocatalyzed Thiol-Ene Crosslinking","authors":"Timothy Schmitt, Christian W. Pester","doi":"10.1002/macp.202400468","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202400468","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Utilizing visible wavelength photons to drive chemical transformations in photocatalysis has become increasingly popular due to the promise of sustainability, safety, and modularity. Heterogeneous photocatalysis further allows for simplified separation and reuse of photocatalysts from reaction systems. Described herein is a proof-of-concept for a heterogeneous catalysis platform based on an Eosin Y photocatalyst network (EY-gel) formed by an autocatalyzed thiol-ene crosslinking reaction. The Eosin Y photocatalyst is modified with an acrylate handle, allowing for both catalysis of and participation in the thiol-ene crosslinking reaction, thus incorporating the catalyst into the gel framework. The produced EY-gel takes the form of micron-sized spherical particles due to the use of a relative non-solvent for the gel components during the crosslinking reaction, allowing for collection through simple filtration. The EY-gel is shown to be effective for the synthesis of the narcolepsy drug Modafinil via the oxidation of 2-[(diphenylmethyl)thio]acetamide, and also shows modest recyclability over multiple use cycles.</p>","PeriodicalId":18054,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics","volume":"226 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recent Advances in Polymer Nanofibers for Optoelectronics Applications","authors":"Sai Sun, Ting Kuang, Jinyong Li, Bin Zhang","doi":"10.1002/macp.202400465","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202400465","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In the contemporary era, marked by escalating environmental pollution and energy scarcities, the advancement of microscale, flexible, and wearable optoelectronic devices has become a primary area of research focus. Polymer nanofibers, notable for their extensive specific surface area, superior conductivity, and high electron mobility, have risen to prominence within this domain. These fibers now play a pivotal role in a variety of optoelectronic applications, including light-emitting devices, photodetectors, photovoltaics, transistors, and generators, as well as in energy storage devices like supercapacitors. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the synthesis of polymer nanofibers and their applications in optoelectronics, while also discussing future developmental prospects.</p>","PeriodicalId":18054,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics","volume":"226 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Search for Thiol-Protected Gold Clusters Doped with Different Elements Using Dendrimers","authors":"Hisanori Muramatsu, Tetsuya Kambe, Takamasa Tsukamoto, Takane Imaoka, Kimihisa Yamamoto","doi":"10.1002/macp.202570009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202570009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><b>Back Cover</b>: The synthesis of thiol-protected gold clusters using polymer dendrimers as templates not only assist in the synthesis of precise thiol-protected gold clusters, but also provide a useful and simple method for searching for unknown thiol-protected alloy gold clusters. More details can be found in article 2400334 by Kimihisa Yamamoto and co-workers.\u0000\u0000 <figure>\u0000 <div><picture>\u0000 <source></source></picture><p></p>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </figure></p>","PeriodicalId":18054,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics","volume":"226 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/macp.202570009","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143456124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kenichi Oyaizu, Takeo Suga, Rigoberto C. Advincula
{"title":"Frontiers of Functional Polymer Materials: In Honor of Prof. Nishide's 77th Birthday","authors":"Kenichi Oyaizu, Takeo Suga, Rigoberto C. Advincula","doi":"10.1002/macp.202400518","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202400518","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18054,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics","volume":"226 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143456126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"High Refractive Index Aromatic and Ether-Containing Polythioureas: Improving Transparency and Mechanical Properties via Reciprocal Hydrogen Bonds","authors":"Seigo Watanabe, Yoshino Tsunekawa, Kenichi Oyaizu","doi":"10.1002/macp.202400456","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202400456","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A series of aromatic-aliphatic polythiourea copolymers bearing highly polarizable poly(4,4′-phenylsulfide thiourea) and hydrogen bond (H-bond) acceptor poly(ether thiourea) units are synthesized. The copolymers are highly refractive (<i>n</i><sub>D</sub> = 1.78 at maximum) as a result of high sulfur content and lack of crystallinity and exhibit improved visible transparency (over 95<i>%T</i> in 1 µm thickness) compared to all-aromatic polythioureas. Further, the copolymers display higher fracture strength upon introducing 20–25 mol% of the poly(ether thiourea) unit, despite the inherent flexibility of ether groups. A detailed spectroscopic investigation indicates that this unique toughening behavior is attributed to the reciprocal (well compatible) intermolecular H-bonds intersected between aromatic and aliphatic thiourea moieties, as well as dynamic H-bond slipping/swapping between ether units and thiourea counterparts during the stretching process. These findings provide a rational strategy for simultaneously satisfying superior optical and mechanical properties, broadly applicable to various H-bond containing high refractive index polymers.</p>","PeriodicalId":18054,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics","volume":"226 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/macp.202400456","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rong Cao, Ryota Nishiyama, Kazuki Nakamura, Norihisa Kobayashi
{"title":"Luminescent Hybrid Material Based on the Europium(III)–β-Diketone Complex Doped with Smectite","authors":"Rong Cao, Ryota Nishiyama, Kazuki Nakamura, Norihisa Kobayashi","doi":"10.1002/macp.202570007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202570007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><b>Front Cover</b>: An efficient luminescent hybrid material was prepared by hybridizing an Eu(III) complex with the layered clay compound smectite using a straightforward doping method. The luminescence intensity and quantum efficiency of the Eu(III) complex were enhanced by interacting with smectite in the solution state. This type of luminescent hybrid material offers a promising opportunity for high-luminescence imaging devices. More details can be found in article 2400208 by Kazuki Nakamura, Norihisa Kobayashi, and co-workers\u0000\u0000 <figure>\u0000 <div><picture>\u0000 <source></source></picture><p></p>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </figure></p>","PeriodicalId":18054,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics","volume":"226 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/macp.202570007","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143456123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Armin W. Novak, Stefan V. Pochmann, Alexander Horn, Agnes-Valencia Weiss, Marc Schneider
{"title":"Comparative Analysis of Two Elastic Types of Surface-Crosslinked Gelatin Nanoparticles as Suitable Systems for Macromolecular Drug Delivery","authors":"Armin W. Novak, Stefan V. Pochmann, Alexander Horn, Agnes-Valencia Weiss, Marc Schneider","doi":"10.1002/macp.202400513","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202400513","url":null,"abstract":"<p>With a steadily rising number of novel biopharmaceuticals in development, the demand for applicable delivery systems for macromolecular drugs persists. Polymeric nanoparticles, consisting of the natural product gelatin, present beneficial attributes for this application. To stabilize those nanoparticles without interfering with encapsulated macromolecules, surface-crosslinked gelatin particles are developed and thoroughly characterized for their physicochemical and mechanical properties. With only limited data available for the latter, investigating the elastic properties can offer a more comprehensive understanding of the crosslinking processes involved and of the gelatin particles’ potential applications. In this study, protocols for surface-crosslinked gelatin particles type A (GNP-A) and B (GNP-B) are described. Significant differences between the two types of gelatin are reported regarding their physicochemical and mechanical properties. GNP-A consists of a lower crosslinking degree, leading to pronounced swelling in aqueous environments and softer nanoparticles. They possess contrary properties compared to the more extensively crosslinked and stiffer GNP-B. However, this doesn't affect encapsulation efficiency, allowing to develop nanoparticulate systems suitable for various applications by adjusting the particle properties while maintaining the same drug load. These findings provide a deeper understanding of polymeric gelatin particles and reveal the importance of investigating the mechanical properties of drug delivery systems during pharmaceutical development.</p>","PeriodicalId":18054,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics","volume":"226 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/macp.202400513","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144091625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correlating Formulation and Performance in All-Acrylic Waterborne Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Latexes","authors":"Julie Bratasanu, Victoria Aguilar, Leila Issoufou Alfari, Mathieu Leocmach, Benoit Mahler, Eric Drockenmuller, Elodie Bourgeat-Lami, Matteo Ciccotti, Costantino Creton, Damien Montarnal","doi":"10.1002/macp.202400475","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202400475","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This work investigates the correlation between the formulation of waterborne acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) and their resulting adhesive performance. A library of <i>n</i>-butyl acrylate-based latexes is synthesized via miniemulsion polymerization. Controlled variations in the composition of these polyacrylates – such as the inclusion of rigid comonomers, latent crosslinkers and chain transfer agents – enabled precise control over key network structures in the particles leading then to a range of physical parameters in the cast PSA films such as the glass transition temperature, entanglement and crosslink density. The viscoelastic and mechanical behaviors of the resulting networks are carefully characterized using a combination of techniques, including linear rheology, dynamic mechanical analysis, and tensile testing. These properties are then correlated with adhesive performance, as measured by probe tack and shear holding time tests. This comprehensive approach allowed for the identification of the optimal formulation balance that delivers the best compromises of adhesive performance, directly correlating these outcomes with the macromolecular design.</p>","PeriodicalId":18054,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics","volume":"226 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}