In dieser Arbeit wird die Entwicklung und Charakterisierung neuer „smarter“ Redoxhydrogele mit drei verschiedenen funktionellen Eigenschaften und deren erfolgreicher Einsatz zur elektrochemischen Kontaktierung von Oxidoreduktasen beschrieben. Diese neuen Redoxpolymere 1. tragen kovalent integrierte Redoxzentren umgeben von einer hydrophilen Polymermatrix, 2. reaktive Kopplungsgruppen für den Aufbau selbstassemblierter Polymerschichten auf Elektrodenoberflächen und 3. lassen sich in ihrer Redoxaktivität durch Verwendung „intelligenter“ Polymere über externe Stimuli kontrollieren. Die Redoxhydrogele wurden nach dem Vorbild eines Baukastensystems in einfachen Ein-Stufen-Synthesen synthetisiert. Dazu wurden verschiedene Redoxzentren (Ferrocen, 1,10-Phenanthrolin-5,6-dion und 4-Carboxy-2,5,7-Trinitro-9-fluorenon), reaktive Kopplungsgruppen (Epoxy-, Amino-, Thiol- oder Disulfidfunktionen) und Polymermatrices (Poly-(N-Isopropylacrylamid) (PNIPAM) und Poly(ethylenglykolmethacrylat) (PEGMA)) in unterschiedlichen Zusammensetzungen miteinander copolymerisiert. Die Polymere wurden in Form von dünnen Polymerfilmen über die wiederholenden Funktionalitäten auf Elektrodenoberflächen aufgebracht und physiko- und elektrochemisch charakterisiert. Durch die erstmals gezeigte, derartige Ankopplung der Polymere, entstehen dreidimensionale, hydrophile selbstassemblierte Polymerschichten. Die Elektronentransferwege sind kurz und der Elektronentransfer effizient. Diese Polymer-modifizierten Elektroden wurden für die Kontaktierung von zwei exemplarisch ausgewählten Oxidoreduktasen eingesetzt, die Nicotinsäureamid-adenin-dinucleotid-abhängige Glucosedehydrogenase (NAD-GDH), welche ein freibewegliches Coenzym und die Pyrrolochinolinchinon-abhängige Glucosedehydrogenase (PQQ-GDH), welche ein prosthetisches Coenzym verwenden. Die Redoxaktivitäten des PNIPAMFoxy- und PEGMA-Fc-Polymers ließen sich durch externe Stimuli in Form von Temperatur und Calciumkonzentrationen kontrollieren. Ein Modell für die Komplexierung der Calciumionen durch die PEG-Seitenketten unter Ausbildung Kronenether-ähnlicher Strukturen und der daraus resultierenden Steigerung des Elektronentransfers wurde gezeigt. / This work describes the development and characterization of new, smart redox polymeres with three functionalities and their use in electrochemical wiring of oxidoreductases. These polymers 1. bear redox-active sites surrounded by hydrophilic polymeric matrix 2. surface-reactive groups to create self-assembled monolayers on electrodes 3. ionic-tunable redox activities by using stimuli-responsive polymers The syntheses of the redoxpolymers were resolved in simple one-step approaches using a building block system. Different mediators (ferrocene, 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione and 4-carboxy-2,5,7-trinitro-9-fluorenone), reactive anchoring groups (groups epoxide, amine, thiol and disulfide) and polymer matrices (poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), poly(ethylene glycol methacrylate) (PEGMA)) were copolymerized in different compositions. The polymers were anchored to electrode surfaces via the repetitive functionalities and physico- and electrochemical characterized. This kind of anchoring of the redoxpolymers was shown for the first time and three-dimensional hydropilic self-assembled polymer monolayers are created. The electron transfer pathways are short and the electron tranfer efficient. The polymer-modified electrodes were applied for wiring two oxidoreductases, nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (NAD-GDH) with a diffusing coenzyme and the pyrroloquinoline quinone-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (PQQ-GDH) with a prosthetic coenzyme. The redox activities of PNIPAMFoxy and PEGMA-Fc-SS are tuneable with external stimuli like temperature and calcium concentrations. A model for the complexation of calcium by PEG side chains and the explanation of the resulting effects was shown.

Here, we report on a new temperature responsive polymer brush system with a terminal “click” functionality. Bifunctionalized poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAAm) with distinct functional end groups was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and grafted to a modified silicon substrate. The presence of the active terminal alkyne functionality is validated using an azide-modified rhodamine B (N3-RhB) via copper(I) catalyzed alkyne–azide cycloaddition (CuAAC). The optical properties and swelling dynamics of an N3-RhB modified PNiPAAm brush are analyzed in dry state and in situ by VIS-spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). The best-fit results are obtained using a Gaussian oscillator model and are confirmed by UV/VIS-spectroscopy. We observed evidence of interactions between the aromatic residues of the dye and the PNiPAAm amide groups, which significantly affect the swelling behavior of the modified polymer brush. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Here, we report on a new temperature responsive polymer brush system with a terminal “click” functionality. Bifunctionalized poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAAm) with distinct functional end groups was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and grafted to a modified silicon substrate. The presence of the active terminal alkyne functionality is validated using an azide-modified rhodamine B (N3-RhB) via copper(I) catalyzed alkyne–azide cycloaddition (CuAAC). The optical properties and swelling dynamics of an N3-RhB modified PNiPAAm brush are analyzed in dry state and in situ by VIS-spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). The best-fit results are obtained using a Gaussian oscillator model and are confirmed by UV/VIS-spectroscopy. We observed evidence of interactions between the aromatic residues of the dye and the PNiPAAm amide groups, which significantly affect the swelling behavior of the modified polymer brush. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Diese Arbeit liefert die Grundlage für intelligente Beschichtungen aus kovalent gebundenen Polymeren, sogenannten Polymerbürsten, mit Schichtdicken von wenigen Nanometern. Durch ihre Fähigkeit die Oberflächeneigenschaften je nach Umgebungstemperatur, pH Wert und Zusammensetzung zu ändern, kann die Adsorption von Biomolekülen auf eine einzigartige Art und Weise kontrolliert und reguliert werden. Die zusätzliche Modifizierung der Polymerbürsten mit Elektronenstrahlen ermöglicht die Generierung von Gradienten und erweitert die Anwendungsmöglichkeiten in vielfältigen Bereichen der interdisziplinären Forschung, wie z.B. in Hinblick auf das Lab-on-Chip Design oder die Biomedizin. / Polymer brushes represent sensitive coatings with thicknesses of few nanometres and are interesting for interdisciplinary scientific research, e.g. for intelligent lab-on-chip design or biotechnology. It is demonstrated in this work, that polymer brushes are able to change their surface properties depending on the ambient conditions like solvent quality, temperature or pH value. This sensitivity highly influenced the adsorption of bio molecules. Especially mixed polymer brushes enabled the tuning of the adsorbed amount of various proteins and cells. To create surface gradients or structures in the different polymer brush surfaces, controlled electron beam modification was applied.

Diese Arbeit liefert die Grundlage für intelligente Beschichtungen aus kovalent gebundenen Polymeren, sogenannten Polymerbürsten, mit Schichtdicken von wenigen Nanometern. Durch ihre Fähigkeit die Oberflächeneigenschaften je nach Umgebungstemperatur, pH Wert und Zusammensetzung zu ändern, kann die Adsorption von Biomolekülen auf eine einzigartige Art und Weise kontrolliert und reguliert werden. Die zusätzliche Modifizierung der Polymerbürsten mit Elektronenstrahlen ermöglicht die Generierung von Gradienten und erweitert die Anwendungsmöglichkeiten in vielfältigen Bereichen der interdisziplinären Forschung, wie z.B. in Hinblick auf das Lab-on-Chip Design oder die Biomedizin. / Polymer brushes represent sensitive coatings with thicknesses of few nanometres and are interesting for interdisciplinary scientific research, e.g. for intelligent lab-on-chip design or biotechnology. It is demonstrated in this work, that polymer brushes are able to change their surface properties depending on the ambient conditions like solvent quality, temperature or pH value. This sensitivity highly influenced the adsorption of bio molecules. Especially mixed polymer brushes enabled the tuning of the adsorbed amount of various proteins and cells. To create surface gradients or structures in the different polymer brush surfaces, controlled electron beam modification was applied.

It is well known that ions affect polymers in specific ways not solely based on electric charge, usually referred to as the Hoffmeister effect or ion specific effects. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamid) (PNIPAM) is a thermosensitive polymer with a LCST at 32℃. PNIPAM is a well studied polymer due to its similarities with denaturation of proteins in aqueous solutions. Utilizing diffusion NMR this report studied the effect different Hoffmeister anion concentrations have on the configuration of pre-transitional PNIPAM. A fractionation process was developed for PNIPAM, yielding a product of about 87 000 g/mol, used for diffusion measurements. Diffusion coefficients for PNIPAM in saline solutions ranging from 0 to 800 mM were measured for NaCl, NaClO4, NaSCN and NaI. Diffusion coefficients for PNIPAM were also measured at some concentrations of NaF, Na2SO4 and Na2CO3. Hydrodynamic radius was calculated from the diffusion coefficients. The report found a pre-transitional chain collapse of PNIPAM which increased with ionic concentrations of NaCl, NaClO4, NaSCN, NaF and Na2CO3, but not for NaI and Na2SO4. At 800 mM the hydrodynamic radius decreased with 9% for NaCl, 13% for NaClO4 and 5% for NaSCN. The hydrodynamic radius decreased with 19% at 300 mM Na2CO3 and with 10% at 400 mM NaF. There was a significant decrease in hydrodynamic radius for high concentrations of NaCl and NaClO4 but exact decrease needs to be replicated to validate the findings due to an unexpected large decrease in hydrodynamic radius already at 50 mM. Values for NaF and Na2CO3 should be replicated with internal standard to accomodate for possible precipitation of the longer polymer chains within the fraction.

Polymer brushes, consisting of densely end-tethered polymers to a surface, can exhibit rapid and sharp conformational transitions due to specific stimuli, which offer intriguing possibilities for surface-based sensing of the stimuli. The key toward unlocking these possibilities is the development of methods to readily transduce signals from polymer conformational changes. Herein, we report on single-fluorophore integrated ultrathin (<40 nm) polymer brush surfaces that exhibit changing fluorescence properties based on polymer conformation. The basis of our methods is the change in occupied volume as the polymer brush undergoes a collapse transition, which enhances the effective concentration and aggregation of the integrated fluorophores, leading to a self-quenching of the fluorophores’ fluorescence and thereby reduced fluorescence lifetimes. By using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, we reveal spatial details on polymer brush conformational transitions across complex interfaces, including at the air–water–solid interface and at the interface of immiscible liquids that solvate the surface. Furthermore, our method identifies the swelling of polymer brushes from outside of a direct droplet (i.e., the polymer phase with vapor above), which is controlled by humidity. These solvation-sensitive surfaces offer a strong potential for surface-based sensing of stimuli-induced phase transitions of polymer brushes with spatially resolved output in high resolution.