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Full-Text Articles in Other Chemistry

Poly (N-Isopropylacrylamide) Microgel-Based Thin Film Actuators For Humidity Sensing, Molla R. Islam, Michael J. Serpe Jul 2014

Poly (N-Isopropylacrylamide) Microgel-Based Thin Film Actuators For Humidity Sensing, Molla R. Islam, Michael J. Serpe

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

In this submission we fabricated a humidity-responsive polymer-based actuator by layering negatively charged poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-acrylic acid microgels and positively charged poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride) on top of a flexible plastic substrate. We show that the extent of the actuation (bending) was dependent on the atmospheric humidity. This property was used to detect atmospheric humidity by hanging weights from the actuator, which were rested on the pan of a top loading balance. This was done in such a way that the amount of the mass resting on the balance depended on the extent of actuator bending, which could then be related to humidity. …


Light Switchable Optical Materials From Azobenzene Crosslinked Poly (N-Isopropylacrylamide)-Based Microgels, Qiang Matthew Zhang, Xue Li, Molla R. Islam, Menglian Wei, Michael J. Serpe Jul 2014

Light Switchable Optical Materials From Azobenzene Crosslinked Poly (N-Isopropylacrylamide)-Based Microgels, Qiang Matthew Zhang, Xue Li, Molla R. Islam, Menglian Wei, Michael J. Serpe

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

4,4′-Di(acrylamido)-azobenzene was used as a crosslinker in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based microgels. The microgels were subsequently used to fabricate microgel-based optical materials (etalons), which exhibited optical properties that were switchable upon exposure to UV irradiation. We also show that the extent of the response depended on the UV exposure time. These materials could find applications for controlled/triggered drug delivery, as well as in various optical applications.


A Novel Label-Free Colorimetric Assay For Dna Concentration In Solution, Molla R. Islam, Michael J. Serpe Jun 2014

A Novel Label-Free Colorimetric Assay For Dna Concentration In Solution, Molla R. Islam, Michael J. Serpe

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Optical devices were fabricated by sandwiching a “monolithic” poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-(3-aminopropyl) methacrylamide hydrochloride) (pNIPAm-co-APMAH) microgel layer between two semitransparent Au layers. These devices, referred to as etalons, exhibit characteristic multipeak reflectance spectra, and the position of the peaks in the spectra primarily depends on the distance between the Au surfaces mediated by the microgel layer thickness. Here, we show that the positively charged microgel layer can collapse in the presence of negatively charged single stranded DNA (ssDNA) due to ssDNA induced microgel crosslinking. The collapse results in a change in the etalon's optical properties, which can be used to detect target DNA …


Poly (N-Isopropylacrylamide) Microgel-Based Optical Devices For Sensing And Biosensing, Molla R. Islam, Andrews Ahiabu, Xue Li, Michael J. Serpe May 2014

Poly (N-Isopropylacrylamide) Microgel-Based Optical Devices For Sensing And Biosensing, Molla R. Islam, Andrews Ahiabu, Xue Li, Michael J. Serpe

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Responsive polymer-based materials have found numerous applications due to their ease of synthesis and the variety of stimuli that they can be made responsive to. In this review, we highlight the group’s efforts utilizing thermoresponsive poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAm) microgel-based optical devices for various sensing and biosensing applications.


Responsive Polymers For Biosensing And Protein Delivery, Molla R. Islam, Yongfeng Gao, Xue Li, Michael J. Serpe Feb 2014

Responsive Polymers For Biosensing And Protein Delivery, Molla R. Islam, Yongfeng Gao, Xue Li, Michael J. Serpe

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

In this feature article, we review some of the most recent advances in the field of materials chemistry for biosensing, disease diagnostics, and drug delivery. Our recent work on the development of responsive polymer-based platforms for biosensing and drug delivery will also be highlighted. This feature article is meant to outline the breadth of the utility of polymer-based materials for select applications, as well as their enormous potential impact on future technologies.