{"title":"Silk Fibroin and Its Nanocomposites for Wound Care: A Comprehensive Review","authors":"Sushma Indrakumar, Tapan Kumar Dash, Vivek Mishra, Bharat Tandon and Kaushik Chatterjee*, ","doi":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00050","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00050","url":null,"abstract":"<p >For most individuals, wound healing is a highly organized, straightforward process, wherein the body transitions through different phases in a timely manner. However, there are instances where external intervention becomes necessary to support and facilitate different phases of the body’s innate healing mechanism. Furthermore, in developing countries, the cost of the intervention significantly impacts access to treatment options as affordability becomes a determining factor. This is particularly true in cases of long-term wound treatment and management, such as chronic wounds and infections. Silk fibroin (SF) and its nanocomposites have emerged as promising biomaterials with potent wound-healing activity. Driven by this motivation, this Review presents a critical overview of the recent advancements in different aspects of wound care using SF and SF-based nanocomposites. In this context, we explore various formats of hemostats and assess their suitability for different bleeding situations. The subsequent sections discuss the primary causes of nonhealing wounds, i.e., prolonged inflammation and infections. Herein, different treatment strategies to achieve immunomodulatory and antibacterial properties in a wound dressing were reviewed. Despite exhibiting excellent pro-healing properties, few silk-based products reach the market. This Review concludes by highlighting the bottlenecks in translating silk-based products into the market and the prospects for the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":72049,"journal":{"name":"ACS polymers Au","volume":"4 3","pages":"168–188"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00050","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140009463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS polymers AuPub Date : 2024-02-28DOI: 10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00055
Sourav Singha, Swagata Pan, Syamal S. Tallury, Giang Nguyen, Ranjan Tripathy* and Priyadarsi De*,
{"title":"Recent Developments on Cationic Polymerization of Vinyl Ethers","authors":"Sourav Singha, Swagata Pan, Syamal S. Tallury, Giang Nguyen, Ranjan Tripathy* and Priyadarsi De*, ","doi":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00055","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00055","url":null,"abstract":"<p >In recent times, the evolution of cationic polymerization has taken a multidirectional approach, with the development of cationic reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. In contrast to the conventional cationic polymerization methods, which were typically carried out under inert atmospheres and low temperatures, various novel polymerization techniques have been developed where the reactions are carried out in open air, operate at room temperature, are cost-effective, and are environmentally friendly. Besides, several external stimuli, such as heat, light, chemicals, electrical potential, etc. have been employed to activate and control the polymerization process. It also enables the combination of cationic polymerization with other polymerization methods in a single reaction vessel, eliminating the necessity for isolation and purification during intermediate steps. In addition, significant advancements have been made through various modifications in catalyst systems, resulting in polymers with an exceptionally high level of stereoregularity. This review article comprehensively analyses the recent developments in cationic polymerization, encompassing their applications and offering insights into future perspectives.</p>","PeriodicalId":72049,"journal":{"name":"ACS polymers Au","volume":"4 3","pages":"189–207"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00055","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140009462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS polymers AuPub Date : 2024-02-24DOI: 10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00052
Courtney M. Leo, Jaehoon Jang, Ethan J. Corey, William J. Neary, Jared I. Bowman and Justin G. Kennemur*,
{"title":"Comparison of Polypentenamer and Polynorbornene Bottlebrushes in Dilute Solution","authors":"Courtney M. Leo, Jaehoon Jang, Ethan J. Corey, William J. Neary, Jared I. Bowman and Justin G. Kennemur*, ","doi":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00052","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00052","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Bottlebrush (BB) polymers were synthesized via grafting-from-atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene on polypentenamer and polynorbornene macroinitiators with matched grafting density (<i>n</i><sub>g</sub> = 4) and backbone degrees of polymerization (122 ≥ <i>N</i><sub>bb</sub> ≥ 61) to produce a comparative study on their respective dilute solution properties as a function of increasing side chain degree of polymerization (116 ≥ <i>N</i><sub>sc</sub> ≥ 5). The grafting-from technique produced near quantitative grafting efficiency and narrow dispersity <i>N</i><sub>sc</sub> as evidenced by spectroscopic analysis and ring closing metathesis depolymerization of the polypentenamer BBs. The versatility of this synthetic approach permitted a comprehensive survey of power law expressions that arise from monitoring intrinsic viscosity, hydrodynamic radius, and radius of gyration as a function of increasing the molar mass of the BBs by increasing <i>N</i><sub>sc</sub>. These values were compared to a series of linear (nongrafted, <i>N</i><sub>sc</sub> = 0) macroinitiators in addition to linear grafts. This unique study allowed elucidation of the onset of bottlebrush behavior for two different types of bottlebrush backbones with identical grafting density but inherently different flexibility. In addition, grafting-from ATRP of methyl acrylate on a polypentenamer macroinitiator allowed the observation of the effects of graft chemistry in comparison to polystyrene. Differences in the observed scaling relationships in dilute solution as a function of each of these synthetic variants are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":72049,"journal":{"name":"ACS polymers Au","volume":"4 3","pages":"235–246"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00052","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139946334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS polymers AuPub Date : 2024-02-22DOI: 10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00049
Chathurika Kosgallana, Sidath Wijesinghe, Manjula Senanayake, Supun S. Mohottalalage, Michael Ohl, Piotr Zolnierczuk, Gary S. Grest* and Dvora Perahia*,
{"title":"From Molecular Constraints to Macroscopic Dynamics in Associative Networks Formed by Ionizable Polymers: A Neutron Spin Echo and Molecular Dynamics Simulations Study","authors":"Chathurika Kosgallana, Sidath Wijesinghe, Manjula Senanayake, Supun S. Mohottalalage, Michael Ohl, Piotr Zolnierczuk, Gary S. Grest* and Dvora Perahia*, ","doi":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00049","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00049","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The association of ionizable polymers strongly affects their motion in solutions, where the constraints arising from clustering of the ionizable groups alter the macroscopic dynamics. The interrelation between the motion on multiple length and time scales is fundamental to a broad range of complex fluids including physical networks, gels, and polymer–nanoparticle complexes where long-lived associations control their structure and dynamics. Using neutron spin echo and fully atomistic, multimillion atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations carried out to times comparable to that of chain segmental motion, the current study resolves the dynamics of networks formed by suflonated polystryene solutions for sulfonation fractions 0 ≤ <i>f</i> ≤ 0.09 across time and length scales. The experimental dynamic structure factors were measured and compared with computational ones, calculated from MD simulations, and analyzed in terms of a sum of two exponential functions, providing two distinctive time scales. These time constants capture confined motion of the network and fast dynamics of the highly solvated segments. A unique relationship between the polymer dynamics and the size and distribution of the ionic clusters was established and correlated with the number of polymer chains that participate in each cluster. The correlation of dynamics in associative complex fluids across time and length scales, enabled by combining the understanding attained from reciprocal space through neutron spin echo and real space, through large scale MD studies, addresses a fundamental long-standing challenge that underline the behavior of soft materials and affect their potential uses.</p>","PeriodicalId":72049,"journal":{"name":"ACS polymers Au","volume":"4 2","pages":"149–156"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00049","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139946499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS polymers AuPub Date : 2024-01-26DOI: 10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00033
Johann L. Rapp, Meredith A. Borden, Vittal Bhat, Alexis Sarabia and Frank A. Leibfarth*,
{"title":"Continuous Polymer Synthesis and Manufacturing of Polyurethane Elastomers Enabled by Automation","authors":"Johann L. Rapp, Meredith A. Borden, Vittal Bhat, Alexis Sarabia and Frank A. Leibfarth*, ","doi":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00033","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00033","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Connecting polymer synthesis and processing is an important challenge for streamlining the manufacturing of polymeric materials. In this work, the automated synthesis of acrylate-capped polyurethane oligomers is integrated with vat photopolymerization 3D printing. This strategy enabled the rapid manufacturing of a library of polyurethane-based elastomeric materials with differentiated thermal and mechanical properties. The automated semicontinuous batch synthesis approach proved enabling for resins with otherwise short shelf lives because of the intimate connection between synthesis, formulation, and processing. Structure–property studies demonstrated the ability to tune properties through systematic alteration of cross-link density and chemical composition.</p>","PeriodicalId":72049,"journal":{"name":"ACS polymers Au","volume":"4 2","pages":"120–127"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00033","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139585414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS polymers AuPub Date : 2024-01-16DOI: 10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00035
Jorge L. Olmedo-Martínez, Rafael Del Olmo, Antonela Gallastegui, Irune Villaluenga, Maria Forsyth, Alejandro J. Müller* and David Mecerreyes*,
{"title":"All-Polymer Nanocomposite as Salt-Free Solid Electrolyte for Lithium Metal Batteries","authors":"Jorge L. Olmedo-Martínez, Rafael Del Olmo, Antonela Gallastegui, Irune Villaluenga, Maria Forsyth, Alejandro J. Müller* and David Mecerreyes*, ","doi":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00035","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00035","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Solid polymer electrolytes that combine both a high lithium-ion transference number and mechanical properties at high temperatures are searched for improving the performance of batteries. Here, we show a salt-free all-polymer nanocomposite solid electrolyte for lithium metal batteries that improves the mechanical properties and shows a high lithium-ion transference number. For this purpose, lithium sulfonamide-functionalized poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles (LiNPs) of very small size (20–30 nm) were mixed with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). The morphology of all-polymer nanocomposites was first investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), showing a good distribution of nanoparticles (NPs) even at high contents (50 LiNP wt %). The crystallinity of PEO was investigated in detail and decreased with the increasing concentration of LiNPs. The highest ionic conductivity value for the PEO 50 wt % LiNP nanocomposite at 80 °C is 1.1 × 10<sup>–5</sup> S cm<sup>–1</sup>, showing a lithium-ion transference number of 0.68. Using dynamic mechanic thermal analysis (DMTA), it was shown that LiNPs strengthen PEO, and a modulus of ≈10<sup>8</sup> Pa was obtained at 80 °C for the polymer nanocomposite. The nanocomposite solid electrolyte was stable with respect to lithium in a Li||Li symmetrical cell for 1000 h. In addition, in a full solid-state battery using LiFePO<sub>4</sub> as the cathode and lithium metal as the anode, a specific capacity of 150 mAhg<sup>–1</sup> with a current density of 0.05 mA cm<sup>–2</sup> was achieved.</p>","PeriodicalId":72049,"journal":{"name":"ACS polymers Au","volume":"4 1","pages":"77–85"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00035","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139481957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS polymers AuPub Date : 2024-01-16DOI: 10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00037
Divya Iyer, Mohammad Galadari, Fernaldy Wirawan, Vanessa Huaco, Ricardo Martinez, Michael T. Gallagher, Laurent Pilon, Kanji Ono, Dante A. Simonetti, Gaurav N. Sant and Samanvaya Srivastava*,
{"title":"High-Strength Organic–Inorganic Composites with Superior Thermal Insulation and Acoustic Attenuation","authors":"Divya Iyer, Mohammad Galadari, Fernaldy Wirawan, Vanessa Huaco, Ricardo Martinez, Michael T. Gallagher, Laurent Pilon, Kanji Ono, Dante A. Simonetti, Gaurav N. Sant and Samanvaya Srivastava*, ","doi":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00037","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00037","url":null,"abstract":"<p >We demonstrate facile fabrication of highly filled, lightweight organic–inorganic composites comprising polyurethanes covalently linked with naturally occurring clinoptilolite microparticles. These polyurethane/clinoptilolite (PUC) composites are shown to mitigate particle aggregation usually observed in composites with high particle loadings and possess enhanced thermal insulation and acoustic attenuation compared with conventionally employed materials (e.g., drywall and gypsum). In addition to these functional properties, the PUC composites also possess flexural strengths and strain capacities comparable to and higher than ordinary Portland cement (OPC), respectively, while being ∼1.5× lighter than OPC. The porosity, density, and mechanical and functional properties of these composites are tuned by systematically varying their composition (diisocyanate, polyurethane, and inorganic contents) and the nature of the organic (reactivity and source of polyol) components. The fabrication process involves mild curing conditions and uses commonly available reagents (naturally occurring aluminosilicate particles, polyols, and diisocyanate), thereby making the process scalable. Finally, the composite properties are shown to be independent of the polyol source (virgin or recycled), underlining the generality of this approach for the scalable utilization of recycled polyols.</p>","PeriodicalId":72049,"journal":{"name":"ACS polymers Au","volume":"4 1","pages":"86–97"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00037","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139481956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS polymers AuPub Date : 2024-01-12DOI: 10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00044
Sruthi Suresh, Turkan Nabiyeva, Laure Biniek* and E. Bhoje Gowd*,
{"title":"Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Aerogels with α, β, and γ Crystalline Forms: Correlating Physicochemical Properties with Polymorphic Structures","authors":"Sruthi Suresh, Turkan Nabiyeva, Laure Biniek* and E. Bhoje Gowd*, ","doi":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00044","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00044","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Strategic customization of crystalline forms of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) aerogels is of great importance for a variety of applications, from energy harvesters to thermal and acoustic insulation. Here, we report sustainable strategies to prepare crystalline pure α, β, and γ forms of PVDF aerogels from their respective gels using a solvent exchange strategy with green solvents, followed by a freeze-drying technique. The crucial aspect of this process was the meticulous choice of appropriate solvents to enable the formation of thermoreversible gels of PVDF by crystallization-induced gelation. Depending on the polymer–solvent interactions, the chain conformation of PVDF can be modulated to obtain gels and aerogels with specific crystalline structures. The crystalline pure α-form and piezoelectric β-form aerogels were readily obtained by using cyclohexanone and γ-butyrolactone as gelation solvents. On the other hand, the γ-form aerogel was obtained using a binary solvent system consisting of dimethylacetamide and water. These aerogels with distinct crystalline structures exhibit different morphologies, mechanical properties, hydrophobicities, acoustic properties, and electrical properties. Measurement of thermal conductivity for these aerogels showed exceptionally low thermal conductivity values of ∼0.040 ± 0.003 W m<sup>–1</sup> K<sup>–1</sup> irrespective of their crystal structures. Our results showcase the fabrication approaches that enable PVDF aerogels with varied physicochemical properties for multifunctional applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":72049,"journal":{"name":"ACS polymers Au","volume":"4 2","pages":"128–139"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00044","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139458809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS polymers AuPub Date : 2024-01-11DOI: 10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00043
Edip Ajvazi, Felix Bauer, Paul Strasser, Oliver Brüggemann, Rene Preuer, Milan Kracalik, Sabine Hild, Mahdi Abbasi, Ingrid Graz and Ian Teasdale*,
{"title":"Inorganic Bottlebrush and Comb Polymers as a Platform for Supersoft, Solvent-Free Elastomers","authors":"Edip Ajvazi, Felix Bauer, Paul Strasser, Oliver Brüggemann, Rene Preuer, Milan Kracalik, Sabine Hild, Mahdi Abbasi, Ingrid Graz and Ian Teasdale*, ","doi":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00043","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00043","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Due to their unique rheological and mechanical properties, bottlebrush polymers are inimitable components of biological and synthetic systems such as cartilage and ultrasoft elastomers. However, while their rheological properties can be precisely controlled through their macromolecular structures, the current chemical spectrum available is limited to a handful of synthetic polymers with aliphatic carbon backbones. Herein we design and synthesize a series of inorganic bottlebrush polymers based on a unique combination of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyphosphazene (PPz) chemistry. This non-carbon-based platform allows for simple variation of the significant architectural dimensions of bottlebrush-polymer-based elastomers. Grafting PDMS to PPz and vice versa also allows us to further exploit the unique properties of these polymers combined in a single material. These novel hybrid bottlebrush polymers were cured to give supersoft, solvent-free elastomers. We systematically studied the effect of architectural parameters and chemical functionality on their rheological properties. Besides forming supersoft elastomers, the energy dissipation characteristics of the elastomers were observed to be considerably higher than those for PDMS-based elastomers. Hence this work introduces a robust synthetic platform for solvent-free supersoft elastomers with potential applications as biomimetic damping materials.</p>","PeriodicalId":72049,"journal":{"name":"ACS polymers Au","volume":"4 1","pages":"56–65"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00043","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139458830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}