Recent studies have revealed the possible utility of a three-dimensional culture system using a thermo-reversible gelation polymer, Mebiol Gel. It is a purely synthesized biocompatible copolymer composed of thermoresponsive polymer blocks [poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-n-butyl methacrylate) poly(NIPAAm-co-BMA)] and hydrophilic polymer blocks (polyethylene glycol [PEG]). Mebiol Gel is characteri...

It is known that the addition of soluble polymer to colloidal dispersions, even in small amounts, has a significant effect on transport properties of colloids. However the effect of colloids on the dynamics of polymer has not been investigated. Transport properties of macromolecules in confined geometries, especially in narrow channels, offer many technological applications in processes such as...

Poly(fluorene-alt-thiophene) (PFT) is a conjugated polyelectrolyte that self-assembles into rod-like micelles in water, with the conjugated polymer backbone running along the length of the micelle. At modest concentrations (∼10 mg/mL in aqueous solutions), PFT forms hydrogels, and this work focuses on understanding the structure and intermolecular interactions in those gel networks. The network...

Liquid electrolytes composed of lithium salt in a mixture of organic solvents have been widely used for lithium-ion batteries. However, the high flammability of the organic solvents can lead to thermal runaway and explosions if the system is accidentally subjected to a short circuit or experiences local overheating. In this work, a cross-linked composite gel polymer electrolyte was prepared and...

This paper reports a stimuli-responsive designer supramolecular polymer gel in dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO)/water (1:2) based on dipeptide amphiphile and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) The contains caproic acid at the N terminus methyl ester C terminus. From X-ray single crystal diffraction, adopts kink-like conformation. self-assembled to form parallel sheet-like structure stabilized by multiple intermole...

We introduce a comprehensive model of a mucin-like polyelectrolyte gel swelling-deswelling which includes the ion-mediated crosslinking of polymer strands and the exchange of divalent and monovalent ions in the gel. The gel is modeled as a multi-phase mixture which accounts for the polymer and solvent volume fractions and velocities as well as ionic species concentrations. Motion is determined ...

The phase behavior of model athermal silica ~radius R550 nm!–polystyrene–toluene suspensions has been determined over nearly two orders of magnitude in polymer or colloid size asymmetry. Fluid–gel, fluid–crystal, and fluid–fluid transitions are observed as Rg , the polymer radius of gyration, increases. Based on the polymer concentration relative to the dilute–semidilute crossover density, cp /...