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An Edible Humidity Indicator That Responds to Changes in Humidity Mechanically

Zhang, M. (author), Arunachalam, Abinaya (author), Perrin, H.R.L. (author), Polat, S. (author), Groenewold, Jan (author), Mendes, E. (author), Eral, H.B. (author)

Elevated humidity levels in medical, food, and pharmaceutical products may reduce the products' shelf life, trigger bacterial growth, and even lead to complete spoilage. In this study, we report a humidity indicator that mechanically bends and rolls itself irreversibly upon exposure to high humidity conditions. The indicator is made of two...

journal article 2023

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Gelation Kinetics-Structure Analysis of pH-triggered Low Molecular Weight Hydrogelators

Lakshminarayanan, Vasudevan (author), Chockalingam, Cindhuja (author), Mendes, E. (author), van Esch, J.H. (author)

Properties such as shear modulus, gelation time, structure of supramolecular hydrogels are strongly dependent on self-assembly, gelation triggering mechanism and processes used to form the gel. In our work we extend reported rheology analysis methodologies to pH-triggered supramolecular gels to understand structural insight using a model...

journal article 2021

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Transient Supramolecular Hydrogels Formed by Aging-Induced Seeded Self-Assembly of Molecular Hydrogelators

Wang, Yiming (author), Piskorz, T.K. (author), Lovrak, M. (author), Mendes, E. (author), Guo, Xuhong (author), Eelkema, R. (author), van Esch, J.H. (author)

Here, transient supramolecular hydrogels that are formed through simple aging-induced seeded self-assembly of molecular gelators are reported. In the involved molecular self-assembly system, multicomponent gelators are formed from a mixture of precursor molecules and, typically, can spontaneously self-assemble into thermodynamically more...

journal article 2020

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Delayed yielding of oil/water emulsions in presence of stabilizing biopolymer

El Asjadi, S. (author), Lakshminarayanan, V. (author), Besseling, N.A.M. (author), Picken, S.J. (author), Mendes, E. (author)

This study investigates the stabilization of oil/water emulsions as a function of addition of a biopolymer (scleroglucan) which acts as an emulsion stabilizer. Rheological characterization in the form of controlled stress creep measurements has been carried out and it reveals the colloidal gel exhibiting a delayed yielding in a certain...

journal article 2020

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Organocatalytic Control over a Fuel-Driven Transient-Esterification Network

van der Helm, M. (author), Wang, Chang Lin (author), Fan, B. (author), Macchione, M. (author), Mendes, E. (author), Eelkema, R. (author)

Signal transduction in living systems is the conversion of information into a chemical change, and is the principal process by which cells communicate. In nature, these functions are encoded in non-equilibrium (bio)chemical reaction networks (CRNs) controlled by enzymes. However, man-made catalytically controlled networks are rare. We...

journal article 2020

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Biomimetic Strain-Stiffening Self-Assembled Hydrogels

Wang, Yiming (author), Xu, Zhi (author), Lovrak, M. (author), le Sage, V.A.A. (author), Zhang, K. (author), Guo, Xuhong (author), Eelkema, R. (author), Mendes, E. (author), van Esch, J.H. (author)

Supramolecular structures with strain-stiffening properties are ubiquitous in nature but remain rare in the lab. Herein, we report on strain-stiffening supramolecular hydrogels that are entirely produced through the self-assembly of synthetic molecular gelators. The involved gelators self-assemble into semi-flexible fibers, which thereby...

journal article 2020

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Self-orienting hydrogel micro-buckets as novel cell carriers

Liu, Q. (author), Zhao, M. (author), Mytnyk, S. (author), Klemm, B. (author), Zhang, K. (author), Wang, Y. (author), Yan, Dadong (author), Mendes, E. (author), van Esch, J.H. (author)

Hydrogel microparticles are important in materials engineering, but their applications remain limited owing to the difficulties associated with their manipulation. Herein, we report the self-orientation of crescent-shaped hydrogel microparticles and elucidate its mechanism. Additionally, the microparticles were used, for the first time, as...

journal article 2019

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Polymeric nanowires for diagnostic applications

Hubbe, H.M.K. (author), Mendes, E. (author), Boukany, P. (author)

Polymer nanowire-related research has shown considerable progress over the last decade. The wide variety of materials and the multitude of well-established chemical modifications have made polymer nanowires interesting as a functional part of a diagnostic biosensing device. This review provides an overview of relevant publications addressing...

review 2019

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Locally pH controlled and directed growth of supramolecular gel microshapes using electrocatalytic nanoparticles

Lakshminarayanan, Vasudevan (author), Poltorak, L. (author), Bosma, D. (author), Sudhölter, Ernst J. R. (author), van Esch, J.H. (author), Mendes, E. (author)

Controlled localization of platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) at a solid support assisted by a polarized liquid-liquid interface is reported. Electrocatalytic water oxidation resulted in local pH modulation followed by the directed self-assembly of a dibenzoyl-l-cystine hydrogelator forming a structured hydrogel retaining the shape of the Pt NP...

journal article 2019

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Biopolymer scleroglucan as an emulsion stabilizer

El Asjadi, S. (author), Nederpel, Q. A. (author), Cotiuga, I. M. (author), Picken, S.J. (author), Besseling, N.A.M. (author), Mendes, E. (author), Lommerts, B. J. (author)

In this study, we investigated the Stabilization of bitumen emulsions by scleroglucan, a rigid triple-helix forming biopolymer, in combination with a pH-sensitive cationic surfactant. Various aspects of the emulsification process and the final composition influence the Stabilization. We examined two different methods to add scleroglucan to...

journal article 2018

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A nano-fibrous platform of copolymer patterned surfaces for controlled cell alignment

Zhang, K. (author), Gil Arranja, A. (author), Chen, Hongyu (author), Mytnyk, S. (author), Wang, Y. (author), Oldenhof, S. (author), van Esch, J.H. (author), Mendes, E. (author)

The last decade has witnessed great progress in understanding and manipulating self-assembly of block copolymers in solution. A wide variety of micellar structures can be created and many promising applications in bioscience have been reported. In particular, nano-fibrous micelles provide a great platform to mimic the filamentous structure of...

journal article 2018

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Two Robust Strategies toward Hydrogels from Quenched Block Copolymer Nanofibrillar Micelles

Zhang, K. (author), Suratkar, A.P. (author), Vedaraman, S. (author), Lakshminarayanan, V. (author), Jennings, L. (author), Glazer, P.J. (author), van Esch, J.H. (author), Mendes, E. (author)

While the formation of (tri)block copolymer hydrogels has been extensively investigated, such studies mostly focused on equilibrium self-assembling whereas the use of preformed structures as building blocks such as out of equilibrium, quenched, nanofibrillar micelles is still a challenge. Here, we demonstrate that quenched, ultralong...

journal article 2018

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Towards a Rational Morphology Control of Frozen Copolymer Aggregates

Jennings, Laurence (author), Waton, Gilles (author), Schosseler, François (author), Mendes, E. (author)

Kinetically frozen copolymer micelles are commonly prepared by confining amphiphilic block copolymers in the evaporating dispersed phase of oil-in-water emulsions. We revisit the mechanisms of this process by examining its successive steps separately: the formation of the solvent/water interface, the emulsification, the solvent evaporation and...

journal article 2017

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In vivo biodistribution of stable spherical and filamentous micelles probed by high-sensitivity SPECT

Jennings, L. (author), Ivashchenko, O. (author), Marsman, I. J C (author), Laan, A.C. (author), Denkova, A.G. (author), Waton, G. (author), Beekman, F.J. (author), Schosseler, F. (author), Mendes, E. (author)

Understanding how nanoparticle properties such as size, morphology and rigidity influence their circulation time and biodistribution is essential for the development of nanomedicine therapies. Herein we assess the influence of morphology on cellular internalization, in vivo biodistribution and circulation time of nanocarriers using...

journal article 2016

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SPECT/CT Imaging of Pluronic Nanocarriers with Varying Poly(ethylene oxide) Block Length and Aggregation State

Arranja, Alexandra (author), Ivashchenko, O. (author), Denkova, A.G. (author), Morawska, K.M. (author), Van Vlierberghe, Sandra (author), Dubruel, Peter (author), Waton, Gilles (author), Beekman, F.J. (author), Schosseler, François (author), Mendes, E. (author)

Optimal biodistribution and prolonged circulation of nanocarriers improve diagnostic and therapeutic effects of enhanced permeability and retention-based nanomedicines. Despite extensive use of Pluronics in polymer-based pharmaceuticals, the influence of different poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block length and aggregation state on the...

journal article 2016

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Hydrogel based occlusion systems

Stam, F.A. (author), Jackson, N. (author), Dubruel, P. (author), Adesanya, K. (author), Embrechts, A. (author), Mendes, E. (author), Neves, H.P. (author), Herijgers, P. (author), Verbrugghe, Y. (author), Shacham, Y. (author), Engel, L. (author), Krylov, V. (author)

A hydrogel based occlusion system, a method for occluding vessels, appendages or aneurysms, and a method for hydrogel synthesis are disclosed. The hydrogel based occlusion system includes a hydrogel having a shrunken and a swollen state and a delivery tool configured to deliver the hydrogel to a target occlusion location. The hydrogel is...

patent 2013

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Self-healing supramolecular polymer nanocomposites

Liu, Z. (author), Besseling, N.A.M. (author), Mendes, E. (author), Picken, S.J. (author)

Polyborosiloxanes (PBSs) are viscoelastic, transparent, colourless, self-healable polymer matrices, synthesized by reacting linear polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMSs) with boric acid (BA) above 150°C. BA takes part not only in cleaving the PDMS chains, but also contributes boronic-acid like moieties to the cleaved chain ends, which provide...

conference paper 2013

document

Self-healing supramolecular polymer nanocomposites

Liu, Z. (author), Besseling, N.A.M. (author), Mendes, E. (author), Picken, S.J. (author)

Polyborosiloxanes (PBSs) are viscoelastic, transparent, colourless, self-healable polymer matrices, synthesized by reacting linear polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMSs) with boric acid (BA) above 150°C. BA takes part not only in cleaving the PDMS chains, but also contributes boronic-acid like moieties to the cleaved chain ends, which provide...

conference paper 2013

document

Self-healing supramolecular polymer and polymer nanocomposites (poster abstract)

Liu, Z. (author), Besseling, N.A.M. (author), Mendes, E. (author), Picken, S.J. (author)

conference paper 2011

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Rheology-Morphology Interrelationships for Nanocomposites based on Polymer Matrices

Kulichikhin, V. (author), Semakov, A. (author), Karbushev, V. (author), Makarova, V. (author), Mendes, E. (author), Fisher, H. (author), Picken, S. (author)

The main focus of this Chapter was targeted on novel approaches to compatibility of particles with polymer matrices and detail analysis of rheology-morphology interrelationships. Rather attractive method of mixing based on knowledge of rheological behavior of polymers at high shear rates was proposed and studied. The major fraction of ND around...

book chapter 2010