Publications

Recent Polymer Centre Member Publications:

Development of a Three Dimensional Multiscale Computational Model of the Human Epidermis. Adra, S.; Sun, T.; MacNeil, S.; Holcombe, M.; Smallwood, R., PLOS ONE 2010 5 (1): Art. No. E8511. Link

Scaling Effects in Notched Composites. Wisnom, M. R.; Hallett, S. R.; Soutis, C., Journal Of Composite Materials 2010 44 (2): 195-210. Link

Intrinsic extracellular matrix properties regulate stem cell differentiation. Reilly, G.C.; Engler, A.J., Journal Of Biomechanics 2010 43 (1): 55-62 Sp. Iss. Si. Link

Characterisation of the dispersion stability of a stimulus responsive core-shell colloidal latex. Reis, B.M.; Armes, S.P.; Fujii, S.; Biggs, S., Colloids And Surfaces A-Physicochemical And Engineering Aspects 2010 353 (2-3): 210-215. Link

Development of an lbuprofen-Releasing Biodegradable PLA/PGA Electrospun Scaffold for Tissue Regeneration. Canton, I.; Mckean, R.; Charnley, M.; Blackwood, K.A.; Fiorica, C.; Ryan, A.J.; MacNeil, S., Biotechnology And Bioengineering 2010 105 (2): 396-408. Link

A General Profile Parameterization of Hydrodynamic Journal Bearings for Efficient Shape Optimization. Pang, Xiaoping; Qin, Ning; Dwyer-Joyce, Rob S.; Chen, Jin; Wang, Jiaxu.  Tribology Transactions 2010 53 (1): 117-126. Link

Development of a calcium-chelating hydrogel for treatment of superficial burns and scalds. Bullock, A. J.; Pickavance, P.; Haddow, D. B.; Rimmer, S.; MacNeil, S., Regenerative Medicine 2010 5 (1): 55-64. Link

Microstructural Analysis of Ultrasonic Welded AA6061 by Electron Backscattered Diffraction. Zhu, Z.; Wynne, B. P.; Ghassemieh, E.; Siddiq, A., Rare Metal Materials And Engineering 2009 38: 147-151 Suppl. 3. Link

Non-Fouling Character of Poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl Phosphorylcholine]-Modified Gold Surfaces Fabricated by the ‘Grafting to’ Method: Comparison of its Protein Resistance with Poly(ethylene glycol)-Modified Gold Surfaces. Yoshimoto, K.; Hirase, T.; Madsen, J.; Armes, S.P.; Nagasaki, Y., Macromolecular Rapid Communications 2009 30 (24): 2136-2140. Link

List generated using ISI Web of Knowledge.

Recent Polymer Centre Member Publications:

Differential patterning of neuronal, glial and neural progenitor cells on phosphorus-doped and UV irradiated diamond-like carbon. Regan, E.M.; Uney, J.B.; Dick, A.D.; Zhang, Y.; Nunez-Yanez, J.; McGeehan, J.P.; Claeyssens, F.; Kelly, S., Biomaterials 2010 31 (2): 207-215. Link

Mass spectrometry of hyper-velocity impacts of organic micrograins. Srama, R.; Woiwode, W.; Postberg, F.; Armes, S.P.; Fujii, S; Dupin, D.; Ormond-Prout, J.; Sternovsky, Z.; Kempf, S.; Moragas-Kiostermeyer, G.; Mocker, A.; Gruen, E., Rapid Communications In Mass Spectrometry 2009 23 (24): 3895-3906. Link

Estimating clamping pressure distribution and stiffness in aircraft bolted joints by finite-element analysis. Oskouei, R. H.; Keikhosravy, M.; Soutis, C., Proceedings Of The Institution Of Mechanical Engineers Part G-Journal Of Aerospace Engineering 2009 223 (G7): 863-871. Link

Phenylenevinylene Block Copolymers via Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization. Yu, C.; Kingsley, J.W.; Lidzey, D.G.; Turner, M.L., Macromolecular Rapid Communications 2009 30 (22): 1889-1892. Link

A Micromechanical Model to Predict Mechanical Durability of Glass Multifilament Bundles in Rubber Composite. Ghosh, S.B.; Bhowmik, D.; Hand, R.J.; Jones, F.R., Journal Of Engineering Materials And Technology-Transactions Of The Asme 2010 132 (1): Art. No. 011014. Link

Real-time vapour sensing using an OFET-based electronic nose and genetic programming. Wedge, D.C.; Das, A.; Dost, R.; Kettle, J.; Madec, M.; Morrison, J.J.; Grell, M.; Kell, D.B.; Richardson, T.H.; Yeates, S.; Turner, M.L., Sensors And Actuators B-Chemical 2009 143 (1): 365-372. Link

Carbon nitride: Ab initio investigation of carbon-rich phases. Hart, J.N.; Claeyssens, F.; Allan, N.L.; May, P.W., Physical Review B 2009 80 (17): Art. No. 174111. Link

Sub-micron poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) particles as temperature responsive vehicles for the detachment and delivery of human cells. Hopkins, S.; Carter, S.R.; Haycock, J.W.; Fullwood, N.J.; MacNeil, S.; Rimmer, S., Soft Matter 2009 5 (24): 4928-4937. Link

Predicting the Structure of Supramolecular Dendrimers via the Analysis of Libraries of AB(3) and Constitutional Isomeric AB(2) Biphenylpropyl Ether Self-Assembling Dendrons. Rosen, B.M.; Wilson, D.A.; Wilson, C.J.; Peterca, M.; Won, B.C.; Huang, C.; Lipski, L.R.; Zeng, X.; Ungar, G.; Heiney, P.A.; Percec, V., Journal Of The American Chemical Society 2009 131 (47): 17500-17521. Link

Structural and thermal study of mesomorphic dodecylammonium carrageenates. Vincekovic, M.; Pustak, A.; Tusek-Bozic, Lj.; Liu, F.; Ungar, G.; Bujan, M.; Smit, I.; Filipovic-Vincekovic, N., Journal Of Colloid And Interface Science 2010 341 (1): 117-123. Link

List generated using ISI Web of Knowledge.

Recent Polymer Centre Member Publications:

Surface-Initiated ATRP Modification of Tissue Culture Substrates: Poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) as an Antifouling Surface. Patrucco, E.; Ouasti, S.; Vo, C.D.; De Leonardis, P.; Pollicino, A.; Armes, S.P.; Scandola, M.; Tirelli, N., Biomacromolecules 2009 10 (11): 3130-3140. Link

Thermo-Responsive Copolymers Based on Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and Poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine]: Light Scattering and Microscopy Experiments. Cristiano, C.M.Z.; Soldi, V.; Li, C.; Armes, S.P.; Rochas, C.; Pignot-Paintrand, I.; Borsali, R., Macromolecular Chemistry And Physics 2009 210 (20): 1726-1733. Link

Fracture mechanisms and failure analysis of carbon fibre/toughened epoxy composites subjected to compressive loading. Jumahat, A.; Soutis, C.; Jones, F. R.; Hodzic, A., Composite Structures 2010 92 (2): 295-305. Link

Controlling Cellular Uptake by Surface Chemistry, Size, and Surface Topology at the Nanoscale. Massignani, M.; LoPresti, C.; Blanazs, A.; Madsen, J.; Armes, S.P.; Lewis, A.L.; Battaglia, G., Small 2009 5 (21): 2424-2432. Link

Wear analysis and prediction of the life of a riveting die used in the automotive industry. Tan, C. S.; Ghassemieh, E.; Goh, W. T., Proceedings Of The Institution Of Mechanical Engineers Part B-Journal Of Engineering Manufacture 2009 223 (11): 1395-1407. Link

Conformational Behavior of a Series of N-Isopropylacrylamide-Bromostyrene Statistical Copolymers via Phosphorescence Measurements. Soutar, I.; Swanson, L.; Adamson, P.G.; Flint, N.J., Macromolecules 2009 42 (22): 9153-9160. Link

Regionally-Selective Cell Colonization of Micropatterned Surfaces Prepared by Plasma Polymerization of Acrylic Acid and 1,7-Octadiene. Filova, E.; Bullett, N. A.; Bacakova, L.; Grausova, L’.; Haycock, J. W.; Hlucilova, J.; Klima, J.; Shard, A., Physiological Research 2009 58 (5): 669-684. Link

List generated using ISI Web of Knowledge.

Recent Polymer Centre member publications:

Improving the prediction of tensile failure in unidirectional fibre composites by introducing matrix shear yielding. Behzadi, S.; Curtis, P.T.; Jones, F.R., Composites Science And Technology 2009 69 (14): 2421-2427 Sp. Iss. Si. Link

Enhancement of the Properties of EPDM/NBR Elastomers Using Nanoclay for Seal Applications. Ghassemieh, E., Polymer Composites 2009 30 (11): 1657-1667. Link

Suppressing Resonant Vibrations Using Nonlinear Springs and Dampers. Zhang, B.; Billings, S.A.; Lang, Z.; Tomlinson, G.R., Journal Of Vibration And Control 2009 15 (11): 1731-1744. Link

Directed Single Molecule Diffusion Triggered by Surface Energy Gradients. Burgos, P.; Zhang, Z.; Golestanian, R.; Leggett, G.J.; Geoghegan, M., Acs Nano 2009 3 (10): 3235-3243. Link

A ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complex for direct imaging of DNA structure in living cells. Gill, M.R.; Garcia-Lara, J.; Foster, S.J.; Smythe, C.; Battaglia, G.; Thomas, J.A., Nature Chemistry 2009 1 (8): 662-667. Link

Hollow Six-Stranded Helical Columns of a Helicene. Shcherbina, M.A.; Zeng, X.; Tadjiev, T.; Ungar, G.; Eichhorn, S.H.; Phillips, K.E.S.; Katz, Thomas J., Angewandte Chemie-International Edition 2009 48 (42): 7837-7840. Link

Trajectory analysis of a soccer ball. Goff, J.E.; Carre, M.J., American Journal Of Physics 2009 77 (11): 1020-1027. Link

List generated using ISI Web of Knowledge.

Recent Polymer Centre member publications:

Development of a Surface-Modified Contact Lens for the Transfer of Cultured Limbal Epithelial Cells to the Cornea for Ocular Surface Diseases. Deshpande, P.; Notara, M.; Bullett, N.; Daniels, J.T.; Haddow, D.B.; MacNeil, S., Tissue Engineering Part A 2009 15 (10): 2889-2902. Link

Large scan area high-speed atomic force microscopy using a resonant scanner. Zhao, B.; Howard-Knight, J.P.; Humphris, A.D.L.; Kailas, L.; Ratcliffe, E.C.; Foster, S.J.; Hobbs, J.K., Review Of Scientific Instruments 2009 80 (9): Art. No. 093707. Link

Casimir-Lifshitz interaction between dielectric heterostructures. Azari, A.; Samanta, H.S.; Golestanian, R., New Journal Of Physics 2009 11: Art. No. 093023. Link

Feasibility Study for Real Time Measurement of Wheel-Rail Contact Using an Ultrasonic Array. Dwyer-Joyce, R.S.; Yao, C.; Zhang, J.; Lewis, R.; Drinkwater, B.W., Journal Of Tribology-Transactions Of The Asme 2009 131 (4): Art. No. 041401. Link

Salt-induced aggregation of stiff polyelectrolytes. Fazli, H.; Mohammadinejad, S.; Golestanian, R., Journal Of Physics-Condensed Matter 2009 21 (42): Art. No. 424111.  Link

Understanding Self-poisoning Phenomenon in Crystal Growth of Short-Chain Polymers. Ma, Y.; Qi, B.; Ren, Y.; Ungar, G.; Hobbs, J.K.; Hu, W., Journal Of Physical Chemistry B 2009 113 (41): 13485-13490. Link

Antimicrobial activity of novel biocompatible wound dressings based on triblock copolymer hydrogels. Bertal, K.; Shepherd, J.; Douglas, C.W.I.; Madsen, J.; Morse, A.; Edmondson, S.; Armes, S.P.; Lewis, A.; MacNeil, S., Journal Of Materials Science 2009 44 (23): 6233-6246. Link

Tailoring Macromolecular Expression at Polymersome Surfaces. Blanazs, A.; Massignani, M.; Battaglia, G.; Armes, S.P.; Ryan, A.J., Advanced Functional Materials 2009 19 (18): 2906-2914. Link

Polymersomes hydrophilic brush scaling relations. Smart, T.P.; Mykhaylyk, O.O.; Ryan, A.J.; Battaglia, G., Soft Matter 2009 5 (19): 3607-3610. Link

Manipulating the thermoresponsive behaviour of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) 3. On the conformational behaviour of N-isopropylacrylamide graft copolymers. Chee, C.; Hunt, B.J.; Rimmer, S.; Rutkaite, R.; Soutar, I.; Swanson, L., Soft Matter 2009 5 (19): 3701-3712. Link

Synthesis of Biocompatible Sterically-Stabilized Poly(2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl phosphorylcholine) Latexes via Dispersion Polymerization in Alcohol/Water Mixtures. Ahmad, H.; Dupin, D.; Armes, S.P.; Lewis, A.L., Langmuir 2009 25 (19): 11442-11449. Link

List generated using ISI Web of Knowledge.

A team from the Polymer Centre have made an exciting breakthrough in the control of the movement of single molecules. The findings represent a significant step forward in the field of molecular nanotechnology, which requires such control to achieve self-assembling nano-machines. This could potentially lead to the development of a method to send artificial drugs to their targets, or the creation of self-healing structures which could naturally repair tears in a surface.

The research findings, published in the journal ACS Nano online on 23 September 2009, have demonstrated that by tailoring the nature of the surface upon which the molecules are moving, they can be made to move in a given direction, without the need for an external influence.

At present, the control of molecules relies on external intervention. These findings reveal how and why a molecule chooses to move in a given direction, which provides scientists with a new technique to bring molecules together. The molecules could then form more complicated structures, or could even be used for the creation of self-assembling molecular machines.

The research team found that when a molecule chain touches a surface which repels water, for example the material an umbrella is made from, it flattens itself out, with the majority of the molecule being in contact with the surface. However, when the molecules touch a surface which attracts water, only small parts of the molecule are in contact with the surface, with the rest of the molecule chain being spread out. The research shows that on a surface which has both these extremes, the molecule chain shows directed movement towards the surface gradient which attracts water.

Dr Mark Geoghegan, from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Sheffield and a Polymer Centre member, who led the research team, said: “To create nano-structures we currently use expensive machines to move the molecules where we need them to go. Our research has developed a self-contained structure that can direct molecules to go – quite rapidly -in specific directions. This is a significant breakthrough for the control of molecules, which is an important task for nanotechnologists.

“By understanding how to make these molecules move in a given direction, we have the potential to create structures that allow molecules to get to a target. If we are lucky this could have implications in many technologies such as coaxing cells to move and grow in given directions, which would have huge implications for the treatment of paralysis.”

The full paper can be read at the ACS Nano Website here: Paper

You can read more about Dr Geoghegan, Prof Leggett and Prof Golestanian research on their websites: Dr Mark Geoghegan, Prof Graham Leggett, Prof Ramin Golestanian

Recent Polymer Centre member publications:

The efficiency of encapsulation within surface rehydrated polymersomes. Parnell, A. J.; Tzokova, N.; Topham, P. D.; Adams, D. J.; Adams, S.; Fernyhough, C. M.; Ryan, A. J.; Jones, R. A. L., Faraday Discussions 2009 143: 29-46. Link

Challenges in soft nanotechnology. Jones, R.A.L., Faraday Discussions 2009 143: 9-14. Link

Polymer crystallization under nano-confinement of droplets studied by molecular simulations. Hu, W.; Cai, T.; Ma, Y.; Hobbs, J.K.; Farrance, O.; Reiter, G., Faraday Discussions 2009 143: 129-141.  Link

Elucidating the Structure of the Pm(3)over-barn Cubic Phase of Supramolecular Dendrimers through the Modification of their Aliphatic to Aromatic Volume Ratio. Percec, V.; Petereca, M.; Tsuda, Y.; Rosen, B.M.; Uchida, S.; Imam, M.R.; Ungar, G.; Heiney, P.A., Chemistry-A European Journal 2009 15 (36): 8994-9004.  Link

Phosphate Functional Core-Shell Polymer Nanoparticles for the Release of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. Gilmore, L.; MacNeil, S.; Rimmer, S., Chembiochem 2009 10 (13): 2165-2170.  Link

List generated using ISI Web of Knowledge.

Last week’s Polymer Centre member publications:

The Effect of PEO Length on the Self-Assembly of Poly(ethylene oxide)-Tetrapeptide Conjugates Prepared by “Click” Chemistry. Tzokova, N.; Fernyhough, C.M.; Butler, M.F.; Armes, S.P.; Ryan, A.J.; Topham, P.D.; Adams, D.J., Langmuir 2009 25 (18): 11082-11089. Link

Photopatterning, Etching, and Derivatization of Self-Assembled Monolayers of Phosphonic Acids on the Native Oxide of Titanium. Tizazu, G.; Adawi, A.M.; Leggett, G.J.; Lidzey, D.G., Langmuir 2009 25 (18): 10746-10753. Link

Structure of Liquid Crystalline Aerosol-OT and Its Alkylammonium Salts. Ungar, G.; Tomasic, V.; Xie, F.; Zeng, X., Langmuir 2009 25 (18): 11067-11072. Link

Folate conjugated phosphorylcholine-based polycations for specific targeting in nucleic acids delivery. Lam, J.K.W.; Armes, S.P.; Lewis, A.L.; Stolnik, S., Journal Of Drug Targeting 2009 17 (7): 512-523. Link

List generated using ISI Web of Knowledge.

Recent Polymer Centre member publications:

Synthesis of Highly Branched Methacrylic Copolymers: Observation of Near-Ideal Behavior using RAFT Polymerization. Rosselgong, J.; Armes, S.P.; Barton, W.; Price, D., Macromolecules 2009 42 (16): 5919-5924. Link

‘Watching’ processes in soft matter with SPM. Hobbs, J.K.; Mullin, N.; Weber, C.H.M.; Farrance, O.E.; Vasilev, C., Materials Today 2009 12 (7-8): 26-33. Link

Development of Three-Dimensional Tissue-Engineered Models of Bacterial Infected Human Skin Wounds. Shepherd, J.; Douglas, I.; Rimmer, S.; Swanson, L.; MacNeil, S., Tissue Engineering Part C-Methods 2009 15 (3): 475-484. Link

Monte Carlo modelling of living branching copolymerisation of monovinyl and divinyl monomers: comparison of simulated and experimental data for ATRP copolymerisation of methacrylic monomers. Bannister, I.; Billingham, N.C.; Armes, S.P., Soft Matter 2009 5 (18): 3495-3504. Link

Detecting 6 MV X-rays using an organic photovoltaic device. Kingsley, J.W.; Pearson, A.J.; Harris, L.; Weston, S.J.; Lidzey, D.G., Organic Electronics 2009 10 (6): 1170-1173. Link

Quantitative Investigation of the Photodegradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate Film by Friction Force Microscopy, Contact-Angle Goniometry, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. Hurley, C.R.; Leggett, G.J., Acs Applied Materials & Interfaces 2009 1 (8): 1688-1697. Link

List generated using ISI Web of Knowledge.

This week’s Polymer Centre member publications:

Quantitative Kinetic Measurements of the Esterification of Self-Assembled Monolayers of Mercaptoundecanol by Trifluoroacetic Anhydride Using Friction Force Microscopy. Whittle, T.J.; Leggett, G.J., Langmuir 2009 25 (16): 9182-9188. Link

Preparation of Biocompatible Zwitterionic Block Copolymer Vesicles by Direct Dissolution in Water and Subsequent Silicification within Their Membranes. Du, J.; Armes, S.P., Langmuir 2009 25 (16): 9564-9570. Link

Measurement of vapour pressures of ionic liquids and other low vapour pressure solvents. Aschenbrenner, O.; Supasitmongkol, S.; Taylor, M.; Styring, P., Green Chemistry 2009 11 (8): 1217-1221. Link

List generated using ISI Web of Knowledge.