Emerging Areas, Highlights, Opinions, Reviews and Tutorial Reviews in Soft Matter
Soft Matter publishes five different types of review-style article: Emerging Areas, Highlights, Opinions, Reviews and Tutorial Reviews. We’ve created an easy search to show examples of each of the different article types. Please click on the links below to see the recent reviews published in Soft Matter.
Review-style articles:
Guidelines for writing review articles can be found here: http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/Journals/sm/review_guidelines.asp
This Hot Paper describes the use of a Monte Carlo model to explore the spectrum of vesicle shapes engendered by an in-plane nematic field. The study of these complex morphologies can lead to further understanding of cellular organelles, such as the endoplasmic reticulum the Golgi and the mitochondria. In addition, the disclination dynamics on deformable surfaces can also be studied.
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Role of disclinations in determining the morphology of deformable fluid interfaces
N. Ramakrishnan , John H. Ipsen and P. B. Sunil Kumar
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3058-3061, DOI: 10.1039/C2SM07384F
Ironing is an every-day occurrence, but little is known about the mechanism by which the iron unfolds the wrinkles in fabric. Obviously high temperatures, and pressures are important, but what about humidity, and the use of damp cloth? Researchers in this Hot Paper report experiments on the folding and unfolding of a single crease. Both bulk and weaved materials were studied.
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The anatomy of a crease, from folding to ironing
Adrien Benusiglio , Vincent Mansard , Anne-Laure Biance and Lydéric Bocquet
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3342-3347, DOI: 10.1039/C2SM07151G
This month sees the following articles in Soft Matter that are in the top ten most accessed for March:
Extreme wettability and tunable adhesion: biomimicking beyond nature?
Xinjie Liu, Yongmin Liang, Feng Zhou and Weimin Liu
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 2070-2086
DOI: 10.1039/C1SM07003G
Mechanics of morphological instabilities and surface wrinkling in soft materials: a review
Bo Li, Yan-Ping Cao, Xi-Qiao Feng and Huajian Gao
Soft Matter, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM00011C
Bridging the gap between hard and soft colloids
Dimitris Vlassopoulos and Michel Cloitre
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 4010-4013
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM90031A
Self-assembly of biodegradable polyurethanes for controlled delivery applications
Mingming Ding, Jiehua Li, Hong Tan and Qiang Fu
Soft Matter, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM07402H
Beyond the lipid-bilayer: interaction of polymers and nanoparticles with membranes
Matthias Schulz, Adekunle Olubummo and Wolfgang H. Binder
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 4849-4864
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM06999G
3D-characterization of three-phase systems using X-ray tomography: tracking the microstructural evolution in ice cream
B. R. Pinzer, A. Medebach, H. J. Limbach, C. Dubois, M. Stampanoni and M. Schneebeli
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 4584-4594
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM00034B
pH-responsive colloidosomes and their use for controlling release
Olivier J. Cayre, James Hitchcock, Mohamed S. Manga, Sam Fincham, Amandine Simoes, Richard A. Williams and Simon Biggs
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 4717-4724
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM00002D
Hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels: from a natural polysaccharide to complex networks
Xian Xu, Amit K. Jha, Daniel A. Harrington, Mary C. Farach-Carson and Xinqiao Jia
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3280-3294
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM06463D
Morphological transformation between three-dimensional gel network and spherical vesicles via sonication
Mingming Zhang, Luyan Meng, Xinhua Cao, Meijuan Jiang and Tao Yi
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 4494-4498
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM25164G
Light-controlled quick switch of adhesion on a micro-arrayed liquid crystal polymer superhydrophobic film
Chao Li, Futao Cheng, Jiu-an Lv, Yong Zhao, Mingjie Liu, Lei Jiang and Yanlei Yu
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3730-3733
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM07471K
Why not take a look at the articles today and blog your thoughts and comments below.
Fancy submitting an article to Soft Matter? Then why not submit to us today!
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Schematic of DNA translocation in a glass capillary. Image taken from Soft Matter, 2012, doi:10.1039/C2SM25346A
Detecting single strands of DNA is a tricky business. One way in which it can be done is by creating a pore and sensing the DNA strand as it passes through the pore. This is what Ullrich Keyser from the University of Cambridge, UK and his group have been doing.
Keyser forms nanopores with diameters of less than 100nm from glass capillary tubes (the diameters can be as small as 20nm). These nanocapillaries act as single molecule sensors. Using electrophoresis, the negatively charged DNA is pulled towards a positively charged electrode inside the capillary, in a process known as DNA translocation. As the strand enters the capillary the resistance across the capillary pore changes, allowing the DNA to be detected. The change in ionic current is dependent not only on the presence of a DNA strand, but also on its folded state. This method offers a simple and cost-effective method for the detection of single molecules and for DNA sequencing.
Full control over DNA translocation can be achieved using optical trapping, where the DNA is attached to a colloidal particle, held in place by an optical trap. The DNA can then be moved in and out of the capillary pore at will. Using this method, Keyser and his group have measured the capture force due to the electric field acting on the DNA. Their results show that the DNA capture force is linearly dependent on the number of strands captured in the capillary.
Whether using glass capillaries, or pores formed in silicon nitride membranes via focussed ion beam milling, control over the exact shape and functionality of the nanocavity can be problematic. Keyser has taken DNA detection yet another step further by using the DNA itself to create the nanopore. The shape into which a DNA strand folds can be controlled in a a process known as DNA origami; the DNA is synthesised such that it will self-assemble into a pre-designed three-dimensional shape. Using this origami, it is possible to design and fabricate virtually any nanosized shape that you want.
Keyser designed the DNA so that it folded into a funnel like shape with a long tail. This structure was then pulled through a pore in a silicon nitride membrane to form a hybrid nanopore with a diameter of 7.5nm. The assembly of the hybrid pore is robust and easily reversible. These DNA/silicon nitride pores have been successfully used to detect single strands of DNA. The hybrid nanopores offer a novel way to change the size, shape and functionality of pores.
Relevant papers in SoftMatter:
Chen, Q. et al., How does a supercoiled DNA chain pass through a small conical glass pore? Soft Matter, 2012, Advanced Article.
Geerts, N., Eiser, E., DNA functionalized colloids: Physical properties and applications. Soft Matter, 2010, 6, 4647-4660.
Kim, K. N., et al., Comparison of methods for orienting and aligning DNA origami. Soft Matter, 2011, 7, 4636-4643.
In July 4th to 6th 2011, the joint RSC Colloid and Interface Science Group / SCI Colloid and Surface Science Group organized the first multi-day conference “UK Colloids 2011” on the topic of colloid science held in the UK for many years.
Papers in this web-theme, published in Soft Matter and RSC Advances were presented at the meeting. The collection includes regular articles, highlights and reviews. The material spans the entire range of colloid science and the diverse background of the delegates.
To view the web-theme, click here!
Predicting how particles will self-assemble has huge benefits for the fabrication of functional materials, across many applications. Self-assembly allows the simultaneous organisation of many building blocks, in addition to removing the need for complicated synthetic steps. Researchers Eric Jankowski and Sharon Glotzer have developed a new conceptual approach to predict which particles will be good candidates for self-assembly, focussing on model systems of patchy colloids and CdTe/CdS tetrahedra.
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Screening and designing patchy particles for optimized self-assembly propensity through assembly pathway engineering
Eric Jankowski and Sharon C. Glotzer
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 2852-2859, DOI: 10.1039/C2SM07101K
This Hot Review looks at the natural and versatile polymer hyaluronic acid (HA). Hyaluronic acid is a component of the extracellular matrix and is employed in many biological processes. Because of the bio-compatibility of HA, it is an important building block in biomaterials. This article looks at recent efforts in using HA in drug releasing hydrogels, which are promising materials for tissue repair and regeneration.
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Hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels: from a natural polysaccharide to complex networks
Xian Xu , Amit K. Jha , Daniel A. Harrington , Mary C. Farach-Carson and Xinqiao Jia
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3280-3294, DOI: 10.1039/C2SM06463D
This month sees the following articles in Soft Matter that are in the top ten most accessed for February:
Morphologies of Block Copolymers Composed of Charged and Neutral Blocks
Xiaojun Wang, Monojoy Goswami, Rajeev Kumar, Bobby G. Sumpter and Jimmy Mays
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3036-3052
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM07223H
Gel-Nanocomposites: Materials with Promising Applications
Dibyendu Das, Tanmoy Kar and Prasanta Kumar Das
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 2348-2365
DOI: 10.1039/C1SM06639K
Reversible vesicles of supramolecularly hybrid nanoparticles
Kongchang Wei, Jun Li, Jianghua Liu, Guosong Chen and Ming Jiang
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3300-3303
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM25178G
Preparation and characterization of pH- and temperature-responsive hydrogels with surface-functionalized graphene oxide as the crosslinker
Zhiqiang Li, Jianfeng Shen, Hongwei Ma, Xin Lu, Min Shi, Na Li and Mingxin Ye
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3139-3145
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM07012J
The anatomy of a crease, from folding to ironing
Adrien Benusiglio, Vincent Mansard, Anne-Laure Biance and Lydéric Bocquet
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3342-3347
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM07151G
Nanostructure-templated control of drug release from peptide amphiphile nanofiber gels
John B. Matson, Christina J. Newcomb, Ronit Bitton and Samuel I. Stupp
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3586-3595
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM07420F
High-Fidelity Fabrication of Au-Polymer Janus Nanoparticles using a Solution Template Approach
Tingling Rao, Xue-Hui Dong, Byran C. Katzenmeyer, Chrys Wesdemiotis, Stephen Z. D. Cheng and Matthew L. Becker
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 2965-2971
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM07002B
Novel supramolecular hydrogel / micelle composite for co-delivery of anticancer drug and growth factor
Dong Ma, Hong-Bin Zhang, Kai Tu and Li-Ming Zhang
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3665-3672
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM25060H
Self-Assembly and Photo-Responsive Behavior of Novel ABC2-Type Block Copolymers Containing Azobenzene Moieties
Yingying Wang, Shaoliang Lin, Minghui Zang, Yaohui Xing, Xiaohua He, Jiaping Lin and Tao Chen
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3131-3138
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM07100B
Preparation and Characterization of Ellipsoidal-Shaped Thermosensitive Microgel Colloids with Tailored Aspect Ratios
Jérôme J. Crassous, Hervé Dietsch, Patrick Pfleiderer, Vikash Malik, Ana Diaz, Liliane Ackermann Hirshi, Markus Drechsler and Peter Schurtenberger
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3538-3548
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM07257B
Why not take a look at the articles today and blog your thoughts and comments below.
Fancy submitting an article to Soft Matter? Then why not submit to us today!
To keep up-to-date with all the latest research, sign up for the Soft Matter e-Alert or RSS feeds or follow Soft Matter on Twitter or Facebook.
A technique to resolve structures of self-assembled block copolymers using graphene oxide has been developed by UK and US scientists.
Resolving the structures of these polymers is important for the advancement of drug and gene delivery systems, nanoreactors, in separation science and in nanoelectronics, but they are difficult to resolve because of their size.
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is used for this but the polymers need to be chemically fixed and stained to get an image contrast. This adds complexity to the sample preparation and image interpretation and doesn’t allow complementary imaging and analysis techniques to be applied.
Now, the team have used graphene oxide as a support for TEM. No staining is needed and the specimens remain stable under the electron beam for a long time, allowing sample analysis by a range of electron microscopy techniques. Graphene oxide supports are also used for further characterisation of the same assemblies by scanning electron and atomic force microscopy.
Graphene has been used with TEM before, but it is expensive and very few species adsorb to the homogeneous surface. In comparison, heavily oxidised graphene – graphene oxide – is readily available in large quantities, it is water dispersible, robust and almost electron transparent.
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A simple approach to characterizing block copolymer assemblies: graphene oxide supports for high contrast multi-technique imaging
Joseph P. Patterson , Ana M. Sanchez , Nikos Petzetakis , Thomas P. Smart , Thomas H. Epps, III , Ian Portman , Neil R. Wilson and Rachel K. O’Reilly
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3322-3328, DOI: 10.1039/C2SM07040E
