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Volume 49 Issue 7, July 2017

Focus Review

  • In this focus review, the basic principle of stimuli-cleavable polyrotaxane (PRX) comprising many cyclic molecules threaded onto a linear polymer chain capped with bulky stopper molecules via cleavable linkers are described. Additionally, recent progress in the use of β-cyclodextrin-threaded stimuli-cleavable PRXs as a therapeutic agent for Niemann–Pick-type C (NPC) disease is described. The lysosomal release of threaded β-cyclodextrins from PRXs leads to the formation of an inclusion complex with cholesterols accumulated in NPC disease, promoting extracellular excretion of cholesterols.

    • Atsushi Tamura
    • Nobuhiko Yui
    Focus Review

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Original Article

  • A novel hot-pressing method for preparing transparent poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels (PVA-Hs) was developed, without using toxic dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) for solubilizing PVA during gelation. Size distribution of microcrystallites was uniform in PVA-Hs prepared by hot-pressing method with water, leading to formation of a transparent hydrogel. This could be a crucial step toward overcoming the current challenges for biomedical applications of PVA-Hs prepared without using toxic DMSO, especially in the field of artificial cartilages.

    • Tomoyo Sakaguchi
    • Shusaku Nagano
    • Kazuaki Matsumura
    Original Article
  • The adsorption properties of cationic polyelectrolytes (poly (diallyl dimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and poly (allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH)) on solid surfaces were observed using quartz crystal microbalance. The response of adsorption was different with the change of polyelectrolyte solution concentration and pH value. The influence of pH value on the PDDA adsorption process is inconspicuous, while PAH shows strong dependence on the pH value. Furthermore, the change of molecular conformation of polyelectrolyte molecule is the main factor that affects the adsorption properties and structures.

    • Yanbao Guo
    • Deguo Wang
    • Shuhai Liu
    Original Article
  • The adsorption approach is considered as the most effective method of removing dyes from effluents, which among new synthetic materials become high-profile as adsorbents in recent years. This work provides a noble synergistic hydrogel beads based on oxidized corn starch (OCS) and gelatin (G). The OCS and G can form three-dimensionally cross-linked networks owing to Schiff’s base formation. This work also proved that the form of hydrogel beads can be implemented in the synergistic materials for removing dyes from effluents, which has so far been neglected in the literature.

    • Rui Dai
    • Meng Wai Woo
    • Zhihua Shan
    Original Article
  • Two polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropioate) [P(3HB-co-3H3PhP)] and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyrate) [P(3HB-co-3H4PhB)] were biosynthesized. The as-biosynthesized polymers were fractionated into several fractions with narrow comonomer compositional distribution using a chloroform/n-hexane mixed solvent. Using these fractions, the effects of aromatic comonomers on the thermal properties were investigated.

    • Shoji Mizuno
    • Ayaka Hiroe
    • Takeharu Tsuge
    Original Article
  • HeLa cell culture was enhanced on the film prepared from poly(l-lactide)-poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PLLA-PCL) and poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide)-poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PLGA-PCL) multiblock copolymers (MBCs) without any coatings or treatments. (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) (MTT) reduction assay quantitatively showed the enhanced proliferation of HeLa cells on the MBC films in comparison with the film prepared from a PLLA-PCL random copolymer. The microphase-separated morphology of the multiblock copolymers plays an important role in protein adhesion behavior and subsequent cell proliferation.

    • Takahiro Suga
    • Nguyen T Xuyen
    • Taku Tamura
    Original Article
  • Cellulose-based hydrogels have attracted much attention due to their potential for a wide variety of applications. Recently, we demonstrated the production of nanoribbon network hydrogels through a crystallization-driven self-assembly of cellulose oligomers synthesized by enzymatic reactions under macromolecular crowding conditions. However, the detailed mechanism underlying hydrogel production remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of solution viscosity on hydrogel production by using a highly branched polymer, Ficoll. We propose that a certain level of solution viscosity is an essential requirement for hydrogel production.

    • Yuuki Hata
    • Toshiki Sawada
    • Takeshi Serizawa
    Original Article
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Note

  • The development of polymer blends is a simple method with the potential to provide materials with extended useful properties. Here, the SF and Pellethane were observed to be highly miscible with each other even though SF maintained the strong β-sheet crystal structure. This result suggests that SF/Pellethane-blended sheets possess strength that is derived from SF and elasticity that is derived from Pellethane. Therefore, this blended sheet should be a good medical material for soft tissue engineering.

    • Chikako T Nakazawa
    • Akira Higuchi
    • Yasumoto Nakazawa
    Note
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