In: Biomacromolecules, 2012, vol. 13, no. 10, p. 3241–3252
We have investigated the thermodynamic and dynamic behavior of multistranded β-lactoglobulin protein fibrils in water, by combining static, dynamic, and depolarized dynamic light scattering (SLS, DLS, DDLS), small angle neutron scattering (SANS), rheology, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). We focus on the region of the phase diagram at which ionic strength and...
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In: Soft Matter, 2011, vol. 7, p. 8127-8134
We report the first direct, non-invasive experimental evidence of a 2D isotropic–nematic transition for highly anisotropic nanoparticles at liquid–liquid interfaces by using passive fluorescent particle tracking. In order to illustrate the potential of this approach on systems of high real practical and biological relevance, we select as a model anisotropic nanoparticles β-lactoglobulin...
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In: Macromolecules, 2010, vol. 43, no. 10, p. 4752–4760
We study the self-assembly of a dendritic macromolecular system formed by a second-generation dendron with pH-responsive end groups and with a polymer chain emanating from its focal point, typically referred to as dendron-coil system. We use supramolecular ionic interactions to attach to the periphery of the dendrons sulfate-terminated alkyl tails of various lengths. The resulting ionic complexes...
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In: Langmuir, 2010, vol. 26, no. 1, p. 504–514
We have developed a new method allowing the study of the thermodynamic phase behavior of mesoscopic colloidal systems consisting of amyloid protein fibers in water, obtained by heat denaturation and aggregation of β-lactoglobulin, a dairy protein. The fibers have a cross section of about 5.2 nm and two groups of polydisperse contour lengths: (i) long fibers of 1−20 μm, showing semiflexible...
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In: Advanced Materials, 2010, vol. 22, no. 6, p. 763-768
A new polymer blend formed by poly(3-hexylthiophene)-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P3HT- P4VP) block copolymers and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) is reported. The P4VP and PCBM are mixed together by weak supramolecular interactions, and the resulting materials exhibit microphase separated morphologies of electron-donor and electron-acceptor rich domains. The properties of the blend,...
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In: Advanced Materials, 2008, vol. 20, no. 23, p. 4530 - 4534
Complexation of dendronized block copolymers with sulfate alkyl tails forms unprecedented hierarchically ordered bulk structures, including rectangular-in-lamellar, tetragonal-in-lamellar, hexagonal-in-lamellar and lamellar-in-lamellar. These novel liquid-crystalline morphologies, which can be designed at low length scales in these systems, are expected to provide final materials with not only...
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In: Biophysical Journal, 2009, vol. 96, no. 4, p. 1537-1546
We have investigated the phase behavior of self-assembled lyotropic liquid crystals (LC) formed by ternary mixtures of oleoylethanolamide (OEA), water and arginine. OEA, a natural analog of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide involved in the peripheral regulation of feeding, was selected as a main component due to its capacity to induce efficient decreases in food intake and gains in body mass....
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In: Macromolecules, 2009, vol. 42, no. 3, p. 849–859
Equilibrium phase morphologies of two different dendritic block copolymer melts are calculated and compared. These copolymers have a pitchfork-like architecture and consist of three distinct blocks that correspond roughly to the handle, the connecting middle dendron structure, and the attached tines of a pitchfork. The first melt considered consists of a copolymer that has a simple Y-junction...
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In: Soft Matter, 2009, vol. 5, p. 92-97
A new "inverted" topological configuration is demonstrated both experimentally and theoretically for self-assembled dendron and dendrimer-based supramolecular liquid crystals in which the dendrons/dendrimers occupy the continuous domain and the ionically attached pendant chains are confined in discrete domains. All previous studies on dendrimer and dendron-based liquid crystals have reported...
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In: Macromolecules, 2008, vol. 41, no. 9, p. 3243–3249
This work describes the thermoresponsive transition in polystyrene-block-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-block-polystyrene (PS-block-PNIPAM-block-PS) triblock copolymer hydrogels, as observed by both direct and reciprocal space in-situ characterization. The hydrogel morphology was studied in both the dry and wet state, at temperatures below and beyond the coil−globule transition of PNIPAM, using...
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