In this study, we synthesized amphiphilic poly(2,7–(9,9–dioctylfluorene))–block–N,N– (diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate (POF–b–PDPMAEMA) rod-coil diblock copolymers by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The structure and multifunctional sensing properties of these copolymers were also investigated. The POF rod segment length of 10 was fixed and the PDPAEMA coil segment lengths of 90...

Millions of Americans suffer from dry eye disease, and there are few effective therapies capable of treating these patients. A decade ago, an abundant protein component of human tears was discovered and named lacritin (Lacrt). Lacrt has prosecretory activity in the lacrimal gland and mitogenic activity at the corneal epithelium. Similar to other proteins placed on the ocular surface, the durabi...

We report on liquid-based tunable-focus microlens arrays made of a flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer. Each microlens in the array is formed through an immiscible liquid–liquid interfacial meniscus. Here deionized water and silicone oil were used. The liquids were constrained in the PDMS structures fabricated through liquid-phase photopolymerization for molding and soft lithography. T...

Benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) is polymerized using a poly(lauryl methacrylate) macromolecular chain transfer agent (PLMA macro-CTA) using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization at 70 °C in n-dodecane. This choice of solvent leads to an efficient dispersion polymerization, with polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) occurring via the growing PBzMA block to produ...

Recently, photo-controlled reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization has been successfully applied in digital light processing 3D printing. It provides a convenient way to tune the surface properties of printed object. However, so far, micro- and nanostructures reconfigurations based on photo-induced RAFT have not presented. In this work, one macro-photoiniferter, s...

This research develops thermo-elastic analysis of a functionally graded cylinder under thermo-mechanical loadings. Heat conduction equation in cylindrical coordinate system is solved. Thermal conductivity coefficient is graded along the radial direction. By considering a symmetric distribution of temperature, loading and boundary conditions, strain-displacement and stress-strain relations can b...

In the cell culture environment macrophages are highly adherent cells. Currently used methods to harvest macrophages have the disadvantage of reducing cell viability and their ability to re-attach after seeding. Although thermo-responsive surfaces have been employed to harvest cell sheets no reports are available to use these to harvest (pre-polarized) macrophages. We show that this method sign...

The focus of this work is on composite materials of inorganic nanoparticles such as TiO2 embedded within microspheres of a responsive polymeric network. Microgels of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) with interpenetrating (IP) linear chains of poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) were synthesized to promote the incorporation of TiO2. Dynamic light scattering measurements of the IP-microgels in aqueous environ...

The thermo-responsive polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) has received widespread attention for its in vitro application in the non-invasive, non-destructive release of adherent cells on two dimensional surfaces. In this study, 3D non-woven scaffolds fabricated from poly(propylene) (PP), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and nylon that had been grafted with PNIPAAm were tested for their abili...

Emulsions comprising a dual-surfactant system of a long-chain amidoamine derivative and a quaternary ammonium salt developed an iridescent color at a specific temperature region. The emulsions underwent phase inversion on heating from an O/W emulsion to a W/O emulsion, passing through a periodical lamellar structure which developed a characteristic interference color. Interestingly, the color a...