Different colloidal particle formation process between conjugated polymer and unmodified C60 in preparation of suspension for electrophoretic deposition by reprecipitation method

Electrophoretic deposition provides material-efficient film formation on large area electrodes. In this study, it has been found that there is a significant difference in the colloidal particle formation process between a thiophene-based copolymer poly(3-octylthiophene- 2,5-diyl-co-3-decyloxythiophene-2,5-diyl) (POT-co-DOT) and C60 in preparation of suspension for electrophoretic deposition by reprecipitation method. This difference is attributed to the difference between low molecular weight materials with specific molecular weight and polymers with molecular weight distribution. The composition of POT-co-DOT:C60 composite film by electrophoretic deposition has also been estimated.

Fluorescence Modulation of Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles Embedded in Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogel

A series of conjugated polymers (CPs) emitting red, green, and blue (RGB) fluorescence were synthesized via the Suzuki coupling polymerization. Polymer dots (Pdots) were fabricated by the reprecipitation method from corresponding CPs, in which the Pdot surface was functionalized to have an allyl moiety. The CP backbones were based on the phenylene group, causing the Pdots to show identical ultraviolet-visible absorption at 350 nm, indicating that the same excitation wavelength could be used. The Pdots were covalently embedded in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogel for further use as a thermoresponsive moiety in the polymer hydrogel. The polymer hydrogel with RGB emission colors could provide thermally reversible fluorescence changes. The size of the hydrogel varied with temperature change because of the PNIPAM’s shrinking and swelling. The swollen and contracted conformations of the Pdot-embedded PNIPAM enabled on-and-off fluorescence, respectively. Fluorescence modulation with 20 to 80% of the hydrogel was possible via thermoreversibility. The fluorescent hydrogel could be a new fluorescence-tuning hybrid material that changes with temperature.

Synergetic effect of the surface ligand and SiO2 driven photoluminescence stabilization of the CH3NH3PbBr3 perovskite magic-sized clusters

Zero-dimensional Perovskite Magic-size Clusters play crucial roles in understanding and controlling nucleation and growth of semiconductor nanoparticles. However, their metastability behavior is a critical hindrance for reliable characterizations. Here, we report the first demonstration of using an excess amount of surface ligand and SiO2 as novel passivation for synthesizing the magic-sized clusters (MSCs) by the Ligand-assisted reprecipitation method. A synergetic effect between an excessed surface ligand and SiO2 inhibits the protonation and deprotonation reaction between amine-based and acid-based ligand, leading to enhanced PL stability. The obtained CH3NH3PbBr3 PMSCs/SiO2 retain 70% of its initial emission intensity in ambient conditions for 20 days. This passivation approach opens an entirely new avenue for the reliable characterizations of CH3NH3PbBr3 PMSCs, which will significantly broaden their application for understanding and controlling nucleation and growth of semiconductor nanoparticles.

Self-Assembly Engineering Nanodrugs Composed of Paclitaxel and Curcumin for the Combined Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

The clinical outcomes of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) chemotherapy are unsatisfactory. Water solubility and biosafety of chemo drugs are also major barriers for achieving satisfactory treatment effect. In this study, we have reported a combinational strategy by self-assembly engineering nanodrugs PC NDs, which were composed of paclitaxel (PTX) and curcumin (Cur), for effective and safe TNBC chemotherapy. PC NDs were prepared through reprecipitation method without using any additional carriers. The PC NDs were preferentially taken up by TNBC cells and we also observed pH-related drug release. Compared with free PTX and simple PTX/Cur mixture, PC NDs have shown higher therapeutic efficiency and better prognosis while the metastasis rate was significantly lower than that of either PTX or PTX/Cur mix group. Therefore, the self-assembly engineered PC NDs might be a promising nanodrugs for efficient and safe TNBC chemotherapy.

Construction of Self-enhanced Photoelectrochemical Platform for L-cysteine Detection via Electron Donor-acceptor Type Coumarin 545 Aggregates

The self-enhanced electron donor-acceptor type coumarin 545 aggregates prepared by anionic surfactant- assisted reprecipitation method provide an underlying approach for photoelectrochemical detection of L-cysteine, which can be employed in aqueous...

Formation of hexamethylbenzene: chloranil charge transfer nanocrystals

The nucleation and growth of nanoparticles can be induced using the reprecipitation method, in which a solution is rapidly mixed with a miscible non-solvent. This method has been used to create a wide variety of organic nanoparticles, including those comprised of polymers or of small molecules. Here we demonstrate the formation of charge transfer nanocrystals of the electron donor hexamethylbenzene and electron acceptor chloranil using the reprecipitation method. We achieve the rapid mixing needed for nanoparticle formation in a number of ways: using a 3D printed vortex micro-mixer, a double impinging jet mixer or direct jet injection of the solution into the non-solvent. The crystal formation kinetics are characterized over times scales from 10 ms to tens of minutes using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering.