Multi-laser nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA): Evaluating protein aggregation

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Self-assembly of liquid crystal block copolymer PEG-b-smectic polymer in pure state and in dilute aqueous solution

A series of amphiphilic LC block copolymers, in which the hydrophobic block is a smectic polymer poly(4-methoxyphenyl 4-(6-acryloyloxy-hexyloxy)-benzoate) (PA6ester1) and the hydrophilic block is polyethyleneglycol (PEG), were synthesized and characterized. The self-assembly of one of them in both the pure state and the dilute aqueous solution was investigated in detail. Nano-structures in the pure state were studied by SAXS and WAXS on samples aligned by a magnetic field. A hexagonal cylindrical micro-segregation phase was observed with a lattice distance of 11.2 nm. The PEG blocks are in the cylinder, while the smectic polymer blocks form a matrix with layer spacing 2.4 nm and layer normal parallel to the long axis of the cylinders. Faceted unilamellar polymer vesicles, polymersomes, were formed in water, as revealed by cryo-TEM. In the lyotropic bilayer membrane of these polymersomes, the thermotropic smectic order in the hydrophobic block is clearly visible with layer normal parallel to the membrane surface

Hexagonally Perforated Layer Morphology in PS-b-P4VP(PDP) Supramolecules

Supramolecular complexes of polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) diblock copolymers and small molecules such as pentadecylphenol (PDP) have been studied extensively in recent years. In the present study, PS-b-P4VP(PDP) complexes with a minority P4VP(PDP) block are morphologically characterized focusing on the region between the lamellar and cylindrical phase. Dynamic mechanical measurements and small-angle X-ray scattering are used to follow the transitions between the ordered states upon heating/cooling. The self-assembled state at various temperatures is determined by small-angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy. In contrast to the opposite case of majority P4VP(PDP) blocks, where the transition from lamellar to cylindrical structures frequently occurs via the gyroid morphology, the complexes adopt the hexagonally perforated layered morphology in a broad range of compositions. Although known as a metastable phase in pure diblock copolymers, the hexagonally perforated layered phase appears as an equilibrium phase in PS-b-P4VP(PDP) complexes, being stabilized by the presence of the hydrogen-bonded PDP side chains in the minority component domains

Light scattering study of salt-free "polyelectrolyte behaviour" of monotelechelic ionomers in a polar solvent

Salt-free polyelectrolyte behaviour which is typically observed at low polymer concentrations for polyelectrolyte aqueous solutions and random ionomer non-aqueous solutions (in polar solvents) (i.e., negative angular dependence of the reciprocal scattering in static light scattering and an appearance of the fast mode in dynamic light scattering) has been observed for monotelechelic ionomer solutions in a polar solvent. This indicates that only single charge (per chain) is sufficient to produce intermolecular electrostatic interactions, which are responsible for such characteristic behaviour. However, the 'characteristic' behaviour, which is typically observed at higher concentrations for polyelectrolyte and random ionomer solutions (i.e., large positive apparent radius of gyration in static scattering and appearance of the slow mode in addition to the fast mode in dynamic scattering) has not been observed to date for monotelechelic ionomer solutions. The absence of high-concentration characteristics for the monotelechelic ionomer solutions gives additional insight as to the nature and structure of 'heterogeneities' in salt-free polyelectrolyte solutions, which is still controversial

Balenciaga and His Legacy exhibit

Photograph of the "Balenciaga and His Legacy: Haute Couture from the Texas Fashion Collection" exhibit at the Meadows Museum in Dallas on May 21, 2007. Mannequin forms have been placed on a long, three-tiered platform along the left wall of the room. Each mannequin is wearing a Balenciaga design. Two large windows can be seen on the wall behind the display

Balenciaga and His Legacy exhibit

Photograph of the "Balenciaga and His Legacy: Haute Couture from the Texas Fashion Collection" exhibit at the Meadows Museum in Dallas on May 21, 2007. Mannequin forms have been placed on a long, three-tiered platform along the right wall of the room. Each mannequin is wearing a Balenciaga design. Two large windows can be seen on the wall behind the display