Hydrogen bonding interactions in poly(ε-caprolactone-dimethyl siloxane-ε-caprolactone)/poly(hydroxyether of bisphenol A) triblock copolymer/homopolymer blends and the effect on crystallization, microphase separation and self-assembly

This study investigated the self-assembled microphase separated morphologies that are obtained in bulk, by the complexation of a semicrystalline poly(ε-caprolactone-dimethyl siloxane-ε-caprolactone) (PCL-PDMS-PCL) triblock copolymer and a homopolymer, poly(hydroxyether of bisphenol A) (PH) in tetrahydrofuran (THF). In these blends, microphase separation takes place due to the disparity in intermolecular interactions; specifically, the homopolymer interacts with PCL blocks through hydrogen bonding interactions. The crystallization, microphase separation and crystalline structures of a triblock copolymer/homopolymer blends were investigated. The phase behavior of the complexes was investigated using small-angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy. At low PH concentrations, PCL interacts relatively weakly with PH, whereas in complexes containing more than 50 wt% PH, the PCL block interacts significantly with PH, leading to the formation of composition-dependent nanostructures. SAXS and TEM results indicate that the lamellar morphology of neat PCL-PDMS-PCL triblock copolymer changes into disordered structures at 40-60 wt% PH. Spherical microdomains were obtained in the order of 40-50 nm in complexes with 80 wt% PH. At this concentration, the complexes show a completely homogenous phase of PH/PCL, with phase-separated spherical PDMS domains. The formation of these nanostructures and changes in morphology depends on the strength of hydrogen bonding between PH/PCL blocks and also the phase separated PDMS blocks.

Enhanced human bone marrow stromal cell affinity for modified poly(L-lactide) surfaces by the upregulation of adhesion molecular genes

To enhance and regulate cell affinity for poly (l-lactic acid) (PLLA) based materials, two hydrophilic ligands, poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly (l-lysine) (PLL), were used to develop triblock copolymers: methoxy-terminated poly (ethylene glycol)-block-poly (l-lactide)-block-poly (l-lysine) (MPEG-b-PLLA-b-PLL) in order to regulate protein absorption and cell adhesion. Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were cultured on different composition of MPEG-b-PLLA-b-PLL copolymer films to determine the effect of modified polymer surfaces on BMSC attachment. To understand the molecular mechanism governing the initial cell adhesion on difference polymer surfaces, the mRNA expression of 84 human extracellular matrix (ECM) and adhesion molecules was analysed using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). It was found that down regulation of adhesion molecules was responsible for the impaired BMSC attachment on PLLA surface. MPEG-b-PLLA-b-PLL copolymer films improved significantly the cell adhesion and cytoskeleton expression by upregulation of relevant molecule genes significantly. Six adhesion genes (CDH1, ITGL, NCAM1, SGCE, COL16A1, and LAMA3) were most significantly influenced by the modified PLLA surfaces. In summary, polymer surfaces altered adhesion molecule gene expression of BMSCs, which consequently regulated cell initial attachment on modified PLLA surfaces.

Processing of polycaprolactone and polycaprolactone-based copolymers into 3D scaffolds and their cellular responses

Synthetic polymers have attracted much attention in tissue engineering due to their ability to modulate biomechanical properties. This study investigated the feasibility of processing poly(varepsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) homopolymer, PCL-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) diblock, and PCL-PEG-PCL triblock copolymers into three-dimensional porous scaffolds. Properties of the various polymers were investigated by dynamic thermal analysis. The scaffolds were manufactured using the desktop robot-based rapid prototyping technique. Gross morphology and internal three-dimensional structure of scaffolds were identified by scanning electron microscopy and micro-computed tomography, which showed excellent fusion at the filament junctions, high uniformity, and complete interconnectivity of pore networks. The influences of process parameters on scaffolds' morphological and mechanical characteristics were studied. Data confirmed that the process parameters directly influenced the pore size, porosity, and, consequently, the mechanical properties of the scaffolds. The in vitro cell culture study was performed to investigate the influence of polymer nature and scaffold architecture on the adhesion of the cells onto the scaffolds using rabbit smooth muscle cells. Light, scanning electron, and confocal laser microscopy showed cell adhesion, proliferation, and extracellular matrix formation on the surface as well as inside the structure of both scaffold groups. The completely interconnected and highly regular honeycomb-like pore morphology supported bridging of the pores via cell-to-cell contact as well as production of extracellular matrix at later time points. The results indicated that the incorporation of hydrophilic PEG into hydrophobic PCL enhanced the overall hydrophilicity and cell culture performance of PCL-PEG copolymer. However, the scaffold architecture did not significantly influence the cell culture performance in this study.

Strategy in developing cell based therapy for large bone

Regeneration of osseous defects by tissue-engineering approach provides a novel means of treatment utilizing cell biology, materials science, and molecular biology. The concept of in vitro cultured osteoblasts having an ability to induce new bone formation has been demonstrated in the critical size defects using small animal models. The bone derived cells can be incorporated into bioengineered scaffolds and synthesize bone matrix, which on implantation can induce new bone formation. In search of optimal cell delivery materials, the extracellular matrix as cell carriers for the repair and regeneration of tissues is receiving increased attention. We have investigated extracellular matrix formed by osteoblasts in vitro as a scaffold for osteoblasts transplantation and found a mineralized matrix, formed by human osteoblasts in vitro, can initiate bone formation by activating endogenous mesenchymal cells. To repair the large bone defects, osteogenic or stem cells need to be prefabricated in a large three dimensional scaffold usually made of synthetic biomaterials, which have inadequate interaction with cells and lead to in vivo foreign body reactions. The interstitial extracellular matrix has been applied to modify biomaterials surface and identified vitronectin, which binds the heparin domain and RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) sequence can modulate cell spreading, migration and matrix formation on biomaterials. We also synthesized a tri-block copolymer, methoxy-terminated poly(ethylene glycol)(MPEG)-polyL-lactide(PLLA)-polylysine(PLL) for human osteoblasts delivery. We identified osteogenic activity can be regulated by the molecular weight and composition of the triblock copolymers. Due to the sequential loss of lineage differentiation potential during the culture of bone marrow stromal cells that hinderers their potential clinical application, we have developed a clonal culture system and established several stem cell clones with fast growing and multi-differentiation properties. Using proteomics and subtractive immunization, several differential proteins have been identified and verified their potential application in stem cell characterization and tissue regeneration

Synthesis of discrete allyl-functional polyethylene glycol for efficient hydrophilization of dihydr (polydimethylsiloxane)

Amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol)-block-pol (dimethylsiloxane)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG-block-PDMS block-PEG) triblock copolymers have been successfully prepared via hydrosilylation using discrete and polydisperse PEG of various chain lengths. Facile synthesis of discrete PEG (dPEG) is achieved via systematic tosylation and etherification of lower glycols. Amphiphilicity of the dPEG block-PDMS-block-dPEG triblock copolymer is illustrated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and measurement of the critical micelle concentration (CMC).

Organized Nanostructures of Thermoresponsive Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Block Copolymers Obtained Through Controlled RAFT Polymerization

Kontrolloidut radikaalipolymerointimenetelmät, kuten RAFT-polymerointi, ovat moderni tapa valmistaa polymeerejä säädellysti. RAFT-polymeroinnilla polymeerien ketjunpituutta, moolimassajakaumaa, mikrorakennetta (taktisuus, järjestys), koostumusta ja funktionaalisuutta kyetään hallitsemaan. Siten menetelmällä voidaan valmistaa uudenlaisia polymeeriarkkitektuureja, kuten blokki- ja tähtipolymeerejä, sekä hybridimateriaaleja ja biokonjugaatteja. Polymeeristen rakennuspalikoiden itsejärjestyminen, missä huolellisesti syntetisoidut polymeerit järjestyvät halutulla tavalla nanoskaalassa, on suosittu tutkimuskohde materiaalitieteessä. On huomattava, että blokkipolymeerien itsejärjestyminen on vielä suhteellisen nuori tutkimusaihe. Tämän hetkiset polymeeriset nanomateriaalit ovat suhteellisen yksinkertaisia luonnon luomuksiin verrattuina, tarjoten jatkuvasti uusia mahdollisuuksia seuraavan sukupolven polymeereille. Tässä työssä RAFT-polymeroinnilla syntetisoitiin amfifiilisiä di- ja triblokkikopolymeerejä sekä tutkittiin niiden järjestymistä nanorakenteiksi. Kaikissa blokkikopolymeereissä käytettiin lämpöherkkää poly(N-isopropyyliakryyliamidia). Siten polymeerit ja tutkitut materiaalit reagoivat lämpötilanmuutokseen ympäristössä eli ovat ns. ympäristöherkkiä. Työssä tutkittiin taktisuuden kontrollointia N-isopropyyliakryyliamidin RAFT-polymeroinnissa. Polymeerin taktisuutta sekä ketjunpituutta ja blokkijärjestystä säätämällä voitiin hallita polymeerin itsejärjestymistä vesiliuoksessa. Amfifiiliset polymeerit järjestyivät laimeissa vesiliuoksissa erilaisiksi misellirakenteiksi, muodostaen ns. mikrosäiliöitä. Tällaisilla polymeereillä odotetaan olevan sovelluksia esim. lääkeainevapautuksessa. Amfifiilejä käytetään myös esimerkiksi apuaineina pinnoitteissa ja kosmetiikassa. Kiinteässä tilassa tutkitut triblokkikopolymeerit muodostivat teoreettisesti ennustettuja morfologioita. Lämpöherkän materiaalin hydrogeelit toimivat suodatinmembraanina nanokokoluokassa. RAFT-polymeroinnilla syntetisoituja polymeereja voidaan sellaisenaan käyttää kultananopartikkeleiden päällystämiseen. Kultananopartikkelit ovat erittäin kiinostavia mm. niiden stabiilisuuden ja ainutlaatuisten pintaominaisuuksien vuoksi. Kun amfifiilisiä polymeerejä kiinnitettiin kultapartikkelin pinnalle, sen liuos- ja optisia ominaisuuksia voitiin säädellä pH:n ja lämpötilan avulla. Tällaisilla kultananopartikkeleilla on sovelluksia mm. diagnostiikassa, sensoreina ja solukuvauksessa.

Synthesis of mesoporous TiO2/SiO2 hybrid films as an efficient photocatalyst by polymeric micelle assembly

Thermally stable mesoporous TiO2/SiO2 hybrid films with pore size of 50 nm have been synthesized by adopting the polymeric micelle-assembly method. A triblock copolymer, poly(styrene-b-2-vinyl pyridine-b-ethylene oxide), which serves as a template for the mesopores, was utilized to form polymeric micelles. The effective interaction of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) with the polymeric micelles enabled us to fabricate stable mesoporous films. By changing the molar ratio of TEOS and TTIP, several mesoporous TiO2/SiO2 hybrid films with different compositions can be synthesized. The presence of amorphous SiO2 phase effectively retards the growth of anatase TiO2 crystal in the pore walls and retains the original mesoporous structure, even at higher temperature (650 °C). These TiO2/SiO2 hybrid films are of very high quality, without any cracks or voids. The addition of SiO2 phase to mesoporous TiO2 films not only adsorbs more organic dyes, but also significantly enhances the photocatalytic activity compared to mesoporous pure TiO2 film without SiO2 phase.

High Rate Capability of Porous LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 Synthesized by Polymer Template Route

Layered LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2, which is isostructural with LiCoO2, is considered as a potential cathode material for Li-ion batteries. Submicrometer sized porous particles are useful for high discharge rates. The present work involves a synthesis of submicrometer sized porous particles of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 using a triblock copolymer as a soft template. The precursor obtained from the reaction is heated at different temperatures between 600 and 900 degrees C for 6 h to get the final product samples. The compound attains increased crystallinity with an increase in the temperature of preparation. However, there is a decrease in the surface area and also in the porosity of the sample. Nevertheless, the LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 sample prepared at 900 degrees C exhibits a high rate capability and stable capacity retention on cycling. The electrochemical performance of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 prepared in the absence of the polymer template is inferior to that of the sample prepared in the presence of the polymer template. (C) 2010 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3364944] All rights reserved.

Development of a Cationic Mucic Acid Polymer-Based Nanoparticle siRNA Delivery System

Cancer chemotherapy has advanced from highly toxic drugs to more targeted treatments in the last 70 years. Chapter 1 opens with an introduction to targeted therapy for cancer. The benefits of using a nanoparticle to deliver therapeutics are discussed. We move on to siRNA in particular, and why it would be advantageous as a therapy. Specific to siRNA delivery are some challenges, such as nuclease degradation, quick clearance from circulation, needing to enter cells, and getting to the cytosol. We propose the development of a nanoparticle delivery system to tackle these challenges so that siRNA can be effective.

Chapter 2 of this thesis discusses the synthesis and analysis of a cationic mucic acid polymer (cMAP) which condenses siRNA to form a nanoparticle. Various methods to add polyethylene glycol (PEG) for stabilizing the nanoparticle in physiologic solutions, including using a boronic acid binding to diols on mucic acid, forming a copolymer of cMAP with PEG, and creating a triblock with mPEG on both ends of cMAP. The goal of these various pegylation strategies was to increase the circulation time of the siRNA nanoparticle in the bloodstream to allow more of the nanoparticle to reach tumor tissue by the enhanced permeation and retention effect. We found that the triblock mPEG-cMAP-PEGm polymer condensed siRNA to form very stable 30-40 nm particles that circulated for the longest time – almost 10% of the formulation remained in the bloodstream of mice 1 h after intravenous injection.

Chapter 3 explores the use of an antibody as a targeting agent for nanoparticles. Some antibodies of the IgG1 subtype are able to recruit natural killer cells that effect antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) to kill the targeted cell to which the antibody is bound. There is evidence that the ADCC effect remains in antibody-drug conjugates, so we wanted to know whether the ADCC effect is preserved when the antibody is bound to a nanoparticle, which is a much larger and complex entity. We utilized antibodies against epidermal growth factor receptor with similar binding and pharmacokinetics, cetuximab and panitumumab, which differ in that cetuximab is an IgG1 and panitumumab is an IgG2 (which does not cause ADCC). Although a natural killer cell culture model showed that gold nanoparticles with a full antibody targeting agent can elicit target cell lysis, we found that this effect was not preserved in vivo. Whether this is due to the antibody not being accessible to immune cells or whether the natural killer cells are inactivated in a tumor xenograft remains unknown. It is possible that using a full antibody still has value if there are immune functions which are altered in a complex in vivo environment that are intact in an in vitro system, so the value of using a full antibody as a targeting agent versus using an antibody fragment or a protein such as transferrin is still open to further exploration.

In chapter 4, nanoparticle targeting and endosomal escape are further discussed with respect to the cMAP nanoparticle system. A diboronic acid entity, which gives an order of magnitude greater binding (than boronic acid) to cMAP due to the vicinal diols in mucic acid, was synthesized, attached to 5kD or 10kD PEG, and conjugated to either transferrin or cetuximab. A histidine was incorporated into the triblock polymer between cMAP and the PEG blocks to allow for siRNA endosomal escape. Nanoparticle size remained 30-40 nm with a slightly negative ca. -3 mV zeta potential with the triblock polymer containing histidine and when targeting agents were added. Greater mRNA knockdown was seen with the endosomal escape mechanism than without. The nanoparticle formulations were able to knock down the targeted mRNA in vitro. Mixed effects suggesting function were seen in vivo.

Chapter 5 summarizes the project and provides an outlook on siRNA delivery as well as targeted combination therapies for the future of personalized medicine in cancer treatment.

对称三嵌段共聚物薄膜有序-无序转变的Monte Carlo模拟

嵌段共聚物薄膜自组装的研究一直是高分子科学研究的前沿领域。嵌段共聚物受限于薄膜中，与边界之间的作用将影响介观相形貌和形貌的定向。由于聚合物体系的复杂性，理论结果往往是在各种近似条件下得到的；另一方面，实验研究中理想条件的实现极其困难，尤其是对薄膜和超薄膜的研究中。而计算机模拟却可以避开这些条件的限制。本文模拟结果表明：退火使聚合物链充分松弛，消除了淬火过程中可能存在的缺陷。与淬火比较，退火体系中分子链的均方回转半径变小，分子链的张角变大，桥健分子链的数量增加。与对称二嵌段共聚物相比，在对称三嵌段共聚物薄膜中，膜的中部先于表面区域形成有序结构。此外，、对薄膜中三嵌段共聚物的退火行为的模拟，得出了退火过程中静态性质、动态性质和分子链的构型等随温度和薄膜厚度的变化，并指出有序一无序转变温度随薄膜厚度增加而升高，直到接近本体，转变温度趋于平衡。通过对不同链长的三嵌段共聚物的模拟，得出了退火过程中分子链构型随链长的变化，并表明有序一无序转变温度＊与分子链长呈线性关系，随着分子链增加，T*升高，T*随分子链长变化的斜率（即：T*／N）为常数，即：不随链长变化而变化。

两亲性三嵌段共聚物在选择性稀溶液中的自组装及应用

本论文主要研究了ABA和ABC型两亲性三嵌段共聚物在选择性稀溶液中的自组装行为，得到了多种形态新颖、结构复杂多样的胶束，研究了这些复杂胶束的形成过程，探讨了影响胶束形态的各种因素并通过适当的方法对胶束形态进行调控。研究了聚乙烯基毗陡（P4VP）／聚苯乙烯（PS）三嵌段共聚物P4VP-b-PS-b-P4VP在二氧六环／水中的自组装行为，成功得到了嵌段共聚物环状胶束，并通过实验研究了环状胶束的形成过程。结果表明，胶束形态依赖于退火时间的长短。随着退火时间的延长，胶束结构从棒状过渡到环形结构。以实验结果为基础提出了环状胶束形成的新的机理，即囊泡塌陷形成环。同时，通过改变实验条件还得到了一些新型的环状复合结构，如环套环形、鸟状、哑铃形、戒指形、网络状等结构，并得到了与计算机模拟一致的结果。通过不同的方法对ABA型三嵌段共聚物（P4VP-b-PS-b-P4VP）在选择性溶液中的自组装胶束形态进行调控：首先，详细研究了P4VP-b-PS-b-P4VP在不同的共溶剂中的自组装行为。结果表明通过单纯改变共溶剂的性质可以很方便地调节胶束的形态，得到了球、棒、囊泡等结构。并用混合溶剂的方法得到了长度和直径可控的纳米线胶束。同时，通过加入第二种选择性溶剂（核层嵌段PS的选择性溶剂甲苯）的方法使形成胶束的核层嵌段在胶核中的伸展程度增加，从而使胶束形态发生转变。其次，研究了加入表面活性剂十五烷基苯酚（PDP）以构建分子间氢键来调节P4VP-b-PS-b-P4VP的胶束形态。结果表明，通过调节PDP的加入量可以使胶束形态发生从球到棒，到网络状、再到囊泡结构的转变。通过实验对比系统地研究了PDP的加入对胶束形态转变的影响，提出了相应的形态转变机理。再次，研究了不同分子量的嵌段共聚物之间共混及共聚物与均聚物共混对胶束形态的影响。结果表明加入亲油嵌段的均聚物对共聚物胶束形态影响非常明显，胶束形态与加入的均聚物的分子量及加入量直接相关。同时得到了一些新形态的胶束，如海绵状、笼子状等。共聚物共混的研究结果表明：通过两种不同分子量的共聚物共混可以得到这两种共聚物胶束的过渡态结构。用共聚物混合的方法还可以得到一些具有生物模拟性的胶束结构，如乌贼状、章鱼状等。这加深了人们对囊泡的形成机理及各种胶束形态之间形态转变的认识。P4VP-b-PS-b-P4VP通过在二氧六环／水中的自组装形成了囊泡，结果表明囊泡的尺寸依赖于初始状态下共聚物在共溶剂中的浓度及退火时间。除得到常规的球形囊泡外，还得到一些非球形囊泡，如长条形、三角形、项链形等囊泡结构。结合计算机模拟的方法研究了囊泡的形成机理，发现这些不同结构的囊泡的形成是由于初始状态下密度涨落所引起的。研究了实验中经常出现的各种胶束形态共存现象的原因，发现体系中亚稳态的存在是多形态共存的重要原因之一。通过聚苯乙烯一左聚乙烯基毗睫一左聚氧乙烯（PS一b一PZVP一b一PEO）在THF／水中的二次自组装首次得到了一种具有生物模拟性的巨大的节状蠕虫胶束（SWM）。研究发现，SWM是由重复单元盘状结构和丝状结构相连组成的。最令人吃惊的是这种SWM与自然界中的一些生命体如蛆叫、蛹、昆虫类的幼虫结构非常相似。通过对SWM形成过程中的中间态胶束结构的深入研究发现SWM是由球形胶束通过二次自组装形成的。SWM的形成过程可以分为三个阶段：ABC三嵌段共聚物先组装形成球形结构；这些球型结构粘连在一起形成梭形的中间结构；这些梭状中间结构中的球经过重组和重新调整各嵌段的排布最终形成SWM。用所得到的嵌段共聚物胶束为模板，采用无电沉积的方法成功制备了各种形态的金属一有机高分子纳米复合材料。用简单的方法还得到了导电金属金一银的双金属纳米结构材料。这些纳米结构材料在微电子器件等领域有潜在应用价值。以上研究结果丰富了人们对嵌段共聚物在选择性介质中自组装行为的理解，为人们提供了对生物材料自组装本质的理解的依据。这在两亲性分子在溶液中自组装的基础研究方面以及基于这些自组装形态而构建结构及功能更复杂的纳米结构材料等方面都有一定的意义。

Density Gradient Ultracentrifugation of Nanotubes: Interplay of Bundling and Surfactants Encapsulation

Density gradient ultracentrifugation (DGU) has emerged as a promising tool to prepare chirality enriched nanotube samples. Here, we assess the performance of different surfactants for DGU. Bile salts (e.g., sodium cholate (SC), sodium deoxycholate (SDC), and sodium taurodeoxycholate (TDC)) are more effective in individualizing Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs) compared to linear chain surfactants (e.g., sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS)) and better suited for DGU. Using SC, a narrower diameter distribution (0.69-0.81 nm) is achieved through a single DGU step on CoMoCAT tubes, when compared to SDC and TDC (0.69-0.89 nm). No selectivity is obtained using SDBS. due to its ineffectiveness in debundling. We assign the reduce selectivity of dihydroxy bile salts (S DC and TDC) in comparison with trihydroxy SC to the formation of secondary micelles. This is determined by the number and position of hydroxyl ( OH) groups on the a-side of the steroid backbone. We also enrich CoMoCAT SWNT in the 0.84-0.92 nm range using the Pluronic F98 triblock copolymer. Mixtures of bile salts (SC) and linear chain surfactants (SOS) are used to enrich metallic and semiconducting laser-ablation grown SWNTs. We demonstrate enrichment of a single chirality, (6,5), combining diameter and metallic versus semiconductillg separation on CoMoCAT samples.

Comparison of aggregation behaviors between branched and linear block polyethers: MesoDyn simulation study

The comparison of aggregation behaviors between the branched block polyether T1107 (polyether A) and linear polyether (EO)(60)(PO)(40)(EO)(60) (polyether B) in aqueous solution are investigated by the MesoDyn simulation. Polyether A forms micelles at lower concentration and has a smaller aggregation number than B. Both the polyethers show the time-dependent micellar growth behaviors. The spherical micelles appear and then change to rod-like micelles with time evolution in the 10 vol% solution of polyether A. The micellar cluster appears and changes to pseudo-spherical micelles with time evolution in the 20 vol% solution of polyether A. However, the spherical micelles appear and change to micellar cluster with time evolution in the 20 vol% polyether B solution. The shear can induce the micellar transition of both block polyethers. When the shear rate is 1x10(5) s(-1), the shear can induce the sphere-to-rod transition of both polyethers at the concentration of 10 and 20 vol%. When the shear rate is lower than 1x10(5) s(-1), the huge micelles and micellar clusters can be formed in the 10 and 20 vol% polyether A systems under the shear, while the huge micelles are formed and then disaggregated with the time evolution in the 20 vol% polyether B system.

Synthesis and luminescence properties of hybrid organic-inorganic transparent titania thin film activated by in-situ formed lanthanide complexes

Stable transparent titania thin films were fabricated at room temperature by combining thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA)-modified titanium precursors with amphiphilic triblock poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO, P123) copolymers. The obtained transparent titania thin films were systematically investigated by IR spectroscopy, PL emission and excitation spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. IR spectroscopy indicates that TTFA coordinates the titanium center during the process of hydrolysis and condensation. Luminescence spectroscopy confirms the in-situ formation of lanthanide complexes in the transparent titania thin film.