Mesomorphic glass-forming ionic complexes composed of a cholesterol phthalate and 1-Cn-3-methylimidazolium: phase transition and enthalpy relaxation behavior

10.1038/s41428-018-0047-5

2018-04-12

Ionic complexes consisting of a mesogenic cholesterol derivative and 1-alkyl (Cn)-3-methylimidazolium (CnMim) (n = 6–18) were prepared from ethanol solutions containing an equimolar mixture of cholesterol hydrogen phthalate (CHP) and 1-Cn-3-methylimidazolium ...

Direct arylation polycondensation as conjugated polymer synthesis methodology

10.1038/s41428-018-0039-5

2018-04-09

Direct arylation polymerization (DArP), which is a cross-coupling polymerization between a dihaloarene monomer and a non-substituted arene monomer, has attracted widespread attention for conjugated polymer synthesis. In DArP, no prior preparation of arene mon...

Cellular behaviors on polymeric scaffolds with 2D-patterned mechanical properties

10.1038/s41428-018-0043-9

2018-04-06

We propose a novel concept for cellular scaffolds with 2D-patterned mechanical properties. Thin films of glassy polystyrene (PS) with thicknesses ranging from 100 nm to 1 μm were prepared on epoxy resin-based line and space (L&S) patterned substrates. Althoug...

Logic gate aggregation of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanogels with catechol substituents that respond to body heat

10.1038/s41428-018-0042-x

2018-04-04

Smart hydrogel materials are a popular topic of investigation because they have the potential to be used as smart drug carriers and soft actuators. Hydrogel materials showing responsiveness to logic gate-type stimuli are of special interest because their resp...

Molecular weight-dependent physisorption of non-charged poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) onto the neutral surface of cuboidal γ-alumina in toluene

10.1038/s41428-018-0046-6

2018-04-04

To understand how polymers physisorb onto solid surfaces, we investigated the physisorption behavior of non-charged, semiflexible poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PF8) with three different number-average degrees of polymerization (DPn) as photoluminescent and chrom...

Solvent-tuned dual emission of a helical poly[3,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)phenylacetylene] connected with a π-conjugated chromophore

10.1038/s41428-018-0045-7

2018-03-30

For THF solutions of an optically active helical poly[3,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)phenylacetylene] derivative bearing a biphenyl group, photoexcitation of the terphenyl moiety at 300 nm led to photoluminescence at 390 nm. On the other hand, the photoluminescence re...

Studies on the phase transition of hydrogels and aqueous solutions of thermosensitive polymers

10.1038/s41428-018-0035-9

2018-03-26

In this review, our recent studies on the phase transition of hydrogels and aqueous solutions of thermosensitive homopolymers and copolymers are briefly summarized. On the basis of the concept of cooperative hydration, which is defined as the association-diss...

Responsibility of lipid compositions for the amyloid ß assembly induced by ganglioside nanoclusters in mouse synaptosomal membranes

10.1038/s41428-018-0041-y

2018-03-22

The assembly of amyloid ß protein (Aß) on ganglioside-enriched microdomains in presynaptic neuronal membranes is involved in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. We previously found that a highly enriched ganglioside domain generated in a reconstituted lipid bil...

Reversible temperature-responsive and lectin-recognizing glycosylated block copolymers synthesized by RAFT polymerization

10.1038/s41428-018-0038-6

2018-03-20

Reversible temperature-responsive and lectin-recognizing glycosylated block copolymers composed of polyacrylamide (PAAm) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) were synthesized by consecutive RAFT polymerization reactions. PAAm bearing maltose moieties was ...

In situ synthesis of easily separable Au nanoparticles catalysts based on cellulose hydrogels

10.1038/s41428-018-0044-8

2018-03-20

Cellulose hydrogels are “green” reductants and supports for Au nanoparticles (Au NPs). Herein, we report a facile method for synthesizing Au NPs based on alkali/urea regenerated cellulose hydrogels. By controlling the precursor concentration and the reaction ...