Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provides direct structural information on nano-structured materials and is popular as a characterization tool in soft matter and supramolecular chemistry. However, technical aspects of sample preparation are overlooked and erroneous image interpretations are regularly encountered in the literature. There are three most commonly used TEM methods as we derived from literature: drying, staining and cryo-TEM, which are explained here with respect to their application, limitations and interpretation. Since soft matter chemistry relies on a lot of indirect evidence, the role of TEM for the correct evaluation of the nature of an assembly is very large. Mistakes in application and interpretation can therefore have enormous impact on the quality of present and future studies. We provide helpful background information of these three techniques, the information that can and cannot be derived from them and provide assistance in selecting the right technique for soft matter imaging. This essay warns against the use of drying and explains why. In general cryo-TEM is by far the best suited method and many mistakes and over-interpretations can be avoided by the use of this technique.

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Transmission Electron Microscopy as a Tool for the Characterization of Soft Materials: Application and Interpretation.

A novel family of non-ionic gemini surfactants derived from sunflower oil: Synthesis, characterization and physicochemical evaluation

Inappropriately, the critical solution temperature (CST) of lower CST(LCST)- or upper CST(UCST)-type thermoresponsive polymers, measured by one, individual set of conditions, is considered almost exclusively as the LCST or UCST, respectively. These are correctly the minimum or maximum, respectively, of the full phase diagrams. Because the dynamic phase transition depends on the conditions, and no standardized or widely accepted process exists for CST determination, systematic investigations are carried out with the most widely investigated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) to unveil the effect of data evaluation, measurement conditions on the transmittance–temperature curves, cloud point (TCP), clearing point (TCL), and heating–cooling hysteresis. The unusual dependence of the fundamental hysteresis parameters, i.e., width of hysteresis (XH) and extent of transmittance recovery (YH), on a broad range of conditions is revealed for the first time. On the basis of the findings, the inflection point of transmittance(absorbance)–temperature curves as TCP and TCL, 0.1 wt% solution, 0.2 °C min−1 heating/cooling steps with 5 min equilibration between the gradual change of temperature, 488 nm wavelength to obtain data comparable to light scattering at this wavelength, and determination of XH and YH are proposed as standard set of conditions.

/pdf/the-dependence-of-the-cloud-point-clearing-point-and-3qcg1xywxc.pdf

The Dependence of the Cloud Point, Clearing Point, and Hysteresis of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) on Experimental Conditions: The Need for Standardization of Thermoresponsive Transition Determinations

A Smart pH-responsive Nano-Carrier as a Drug Delivery System: A hybrid system comprised of mesoporous nanosilica MCM-41 (as a nano-container) & a pH-sensitive polymer (as smart reversible gatekeepers): Preparation, characterization and in vitro release studies of an anti-cancer drug

The review reports an aqueous solution behavior of commercially available and easy-to-use polymers, i.e., Pluronics®- and PNIPAM-based block copolymers. Both the polymers are stimuli responsive in nature. The present review covers the different aspects of aggregation behavior of Pluronics®- and PNIPAM-based block copolymeric micelles. Here, a comparison of physical properties such as EO–PO block, CP, CMC and CMT is made. Such physical parameters can be modulated with ease by the presence of external stimuli, viz. electrolytes, organic additives such as alcohols, phenols, amides and acids, different types of surfactants and water-soluble polymers, and also by modification of end groups of Pluronics®. But in this review, our main focus is to study the addition of salts and non-electrolytes on the aggregation behavior of Pluronics®. With the help of above parameters, users can get idea about the stability, partition coefficient, solubilization capacity, etc. In analogy with Pluronics®, PNIPAM is also a thermo-responsive polymer with ~ 32 °C lower critical solution temperature (LCST). However, the LCST is independent of the degree of polymerization, i.e., molecular weight of homopolymer. However, the LCST can be tuned in the presence of external stimulus. PNIPAM-based di-block copolymers form various morphologies in different environments. An inverted morphology by double-hydrophilic-block copolymers is also possible. According to US and British Pharmacopoeia, some of the Pluronics® and PNIPAM are recognized as pharmaceutical excipients. Therefore, they have been extensively used for various pharmaceutical formulations. The other applications of these polymers are tissue engineering, bioseparation devices, active membranes, biosensors, rheological modifier, lithium batteries, etc.

Self-assembly of stimuli-responsive block copolymers in aqueous solutions: an overview

Self-assembly of multi-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-poly(N,N-dimethylaminopropylacrylamide) in aqueous media

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Self-assembly of multi-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-poly(N,N-dimethylaminopropylacrylamide) in aqueous media