pH responsive polymeric Janus nanosheets with poly（maleic acid） moiety and crosslinked PS onto the corresponding sides have been synthesized by free radical polymerization. The Janus nanosheets can serve as solid emulsifier to stabilize an oil/water emulsion, whose stability is easily triggered by changing pH across pKa of the poly（maleic acid）.
Peng ZhouQian WangCheng-Liang ZhangFu-Xin LiangXiao-Zhong QuJiao-Li LiZhen-Zhong Yang
We herein report a novel approach to fabricate poly（DVB-co-VBC） one-dimentional nanomaterials with varied composition. By adjusting the monomer DVB/VBC ratio and using inert solvents, after internal cavity of the nanotubes disappears and length of the nanotubes is decreased, thus nanorods are achieved. After quaternary ammoniation from the benzyl chloride group, the exterior surface becomes hydrophilic while the interiority preserves hydrophobic. The Janus nanorods can serve as a specific vehicle to selectively collect oils from their aqueous surroundings.
The 3ω approach was used to measure the effective thermal conductivity of phase-change material microcapsules (PCMMs) based on urea formaldehyde and sliced paraffin. The effective thermal conductivities of PCMMs with different densities were measured within the phase-change temperature range. The relationships between effective thermal conductivity, density and temperature were analysed. The effective thermal conductivity reached peak values within the phase-change temperature range and the temperature peak value was consistent with the peak value of the phase-change temperature. The effective thermal conductivity increased with increasing density due to the decreased porosity of samples and their increased solid-phase conduction.
Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAAm)-based thermo-responsive surfaces can switch their wettability(from wettable to non-wettable) and adhesion(from sticky to non-sticky) according to external temperature changes. These smart surfaces with switchable interfacial properties are playing increasingly important roles in a diverse range of biomedical applications; these controlling cell-adhesion behavior has shown great potential for tissue engineering and disease diagnostics. Herein we reviewed the recent progress of research on PNIPAAm-based thermo-responsive surfaces that can dynamically control cell adhesion behavior. The underlying response mechanisms and influencing factors for PNIPAAm-based surfaces to control cell adhesion are described first. Then, PNIPAAm-modified two-dimensional flat surfaces for cell-sheet engineering and PNIPAAm-modified three-dimensional nanostructured surfaces for diagnostics are summarized. We also provide a future perspective for the development of stimuli-responsive surfaces.
