We report here on the segment effects of poly(ethylene oxide)-containing block copolymers (PEO-BCP) on the reduction activity for tetrachloride gold(III) ([AuCl(4)](-)), interfacial activity for gold surface, colloidal stability, and morphology of gold nanoparticles formed in aqueous solutions. In particular, the effects of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(propylene oxide) (PPO), polyethylene (...

The morphology and stability of small unilamellar egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (EggPC) liposomes modified with the Pluronic copolymer (poly (oxyethylene)-poly (oxypropylene)-poly (oxyethylene) (PEO-PPO-PEO)) with different compositions on mica surface have been investigated using atomic force microscopy. Morphology studies reveal significant morphological changes of liposomes upon incorporating...

Poly(ethyleneoxide)-poly(propyleneoxide)-poly(ethyleneoxide) triblock copolymer (PEO-PPO-PEO) based plasmid delivery systems are increasingly drawing attention in the field of nonviral gene transfer because of their proven in vivo transfection capability. They result from the simple association of DNA molecules with uncharged polymers. We examined the physicochemical properties of PEO-PPO-PEO/D...

The extent and locus of solubilization of guest and self-assembling surfactant host molecules in aqueous solutions are influenced by a variety of hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions, as well as by more specific interactions between the various species present. By using a combination of two-dimensional heteronuclear 13C[1H] NMR correlation experiments with pulsed-gradient NMR diffusion and ...

Lineal (poloxamers or Pluronic®) or X-shaped (poloxamines or Tetronic®) amphiphilic tri-block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) have been broadly explored for controlled drug delivery in different regenerative medicine approaches. The ability of these copolymers to self-assemble as micelles and to undergo sol-to-gel transitions upon heating has endowed t...

Two platinum(II) terpyridyl-based metallo-supramolecular triblock copolymers, [ClPt(tpy)PEO-PPO-PEO(tpy)PtCl](OTf)(2) (1) and [(Ph-C≡C)Pt(tpy)PEO-PPO-PEO(tpy)Pt(C≡C-Ph)](OTf)(2) (2), have been synthesized and characterized. The two complexes were found to aggregate with PtPt and/or π-π interactions at high temperature, which have not been reported so far, as revealed by UV/Vis absorption, emiss...

The solubilization of hydrocarbons by micelles formed of diblock and symmetric triblock copolymers in water are compared in the framework of a mean-field theory of solubilization. The block copolymers contain poly(ethylene oxide) as the hydrophilic block and poly(propylene oxide) as the hydrophobic block and are designated as EXPYEX or EWPZ (where E and P denote ethylene and propylene oxides an...

Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death for women throughout the Western world. Kaempferol, a natural flavonoid, has shown promise in the chemoprevention of ovarian cancer. A common concern about using dietary supplements for chemoprevention is their bioavailability. Nanoparticles have shown promise in increasing the bioavailability of some chemicals. Here we developed five ...

3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (DOPA) is an unusual amino acid found in mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs) that is believed to lend adhesive characteristics to these proteins. In this paper, we describe a route for the conjugation of DOPA moieties to poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) block copolymers. Hydroxyl end groups of PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymers we...

Small-angle neutron scattering and mean-field lattice modeling were used to characterize a class of water-based magnetic fluids tailored specifically to extract soluble organic compounds from water. The fluids consist of a suspension of approximately 7 nm magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles coated with a bifunctional polymer layer comprised of an outer hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) region ...