Formation of Heterogeneous Polymer Films via Simultaneous or Sequential Depositions of Soluble and Insoluble Monomers onto Ionic Liquids

In this paper, we studied the formation of heterogeneous polymer films on ionic liquid (IL) substrates via the simultaneous or sequential depositions of monomers that are either soluble or insoluble in the liquid. We found that the insoluble monomer 1<i>H</i>,1<i>H</i>,2<i>H</i>,2<i>H</i>-perfluorodecyl acrylate (PFDA) only polymerizes at the IL surface, while the soluble monomer ethylene glycol diacrylate (EGDA) can polymerize at both the IL surface and within the bulk liquid. The polymer chains that form within the bulk liquid entrap IL as they integrate into the polymer film formed at the IL surface, resulting in heterogeneous films that contain IL on the bottom side. Varying the order in which the soluble and insoluble monomers were introduced into the system led to different film structures. When the insoluble monomer was introduced first, a film formed at the surface and the soluble monomer then diffused through this film and polymerized within the bulk, leading to a sandwich structure. When the soluble monomer was introduced first, a layered film was formed whose structure followed the order in which the monomers were introduced. When the two monomers were introduced simultaneously, the soluble monomer polymerized in the bulk while a copolymer film formed at the surface. This study provides an understanding of how to control the composition of layered polymer films deposited onto IL substrates in order to develop new composite materials for separation and electrochemical applications

Two-Phase Microfluidic Droplet Flows of Ionic Liquids for the Synthesis of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles

Droplet-based microfluidic platforms have the potential to provide superior control over mixing as compared to traditional batch reactions. Ionic liquids have advantageous properties for metal nanoparticle synthesis as a result of their low interfacial tension and complexing ability; however, droplet formation of ionic liquids within microfluidic channels in a two-phase system has not yet been attained because of their complex interfacial properties and high viscosities. Here, breakup of an imidazolium-based ionic liquid into droplets in a simple two-phase system has for the first time been achieved and characterized by using a microchannel modified with a thin film fluoropolymer. This microfluidic/ionic liquid droplet system was used to produce small, spherical gold (4.28 ± 0.84 nm) and silver (3.73 ± 0.77 nm) nanoparticles

Designing a broad-spectrum integrative approach for cancer prevention and treatment.

Targeted therapies and the consequent adoption of "personalized" oncology have achieved notable successes in some cancers; however, significant problems remain with this approach. Many targeted therapies are highly toxic, costs are extremely high, and most patients experience relapse after a few disease-free months. Relapses arise from genetic heterogeneity in tumors, which harbor therapy-resistant immortalized cells that have adopted alternate and compensatory pathways (i.e., pathways that are not reliant upon the same mechanisms as those which have been targeted). To address these limitations, an international task force of 180 scientists was assembled to explore the concept of a low-toxicity "broad-spectrum" therapeutic approach that could simultaneously target many key pathways and mechanisms. Using cancer hallmark phenotypes and the tumor microenvironment to account for the various aspects of relevant cancer biology, interdisciplinary teams reviewed each hallmark area and nominated a wide range of high-priority targets (74 in total) that could be modified to improve patient outcomes. For these targets, corresponding low-toxicity therapeutic approaches were then suggested, many of which were phytochemicals. Proposed actions on each target and all of the approaches were further reviewed for known effects on other hallmark areas and the tumor microenvironment. Potential contrary or procarcinogenic effects were found for 3.9% of the relationships between targets and hallmarks, and mixed evidence of complementary and contrary relationships was found for 7.1%. Approximately 67% of the relationships revealed potentially complementary effects, and the remainder had no known relationship. Among the approaches, 1.1% had contrary, 2.8% had mixed and 62.1% had complementary relationships. These results suggest that a broad-spectrum approach should be feasible from a safety standpoint. This novel approach has potential to be relatively inexpensive, it should help us address stages and types of cancer that lack conventional treatment, and it may reduce relapse risks. A proposed agenda for future research is offered.Multiple funders. See acknowledgments within article for details.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.semcancer.2015.09.00