TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Schultze, R.-D. A1 - Enthaler, B. T1 - Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry of pollen grains and their mixtures N2 - RATIONALE The fast and univocal identification of different species in mixtures of pollen grains is still a challenge. Apart from microscopic evaluation and Raman spectroscopy, no other techniques are available. METHODS Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry was applied to the analysis of extracts of single pollen grains and pollen mixtures. Pollen grains were fixed, treated and covered with matrix directly on the MALDI target. RESULTS Clearly resolved MALDI ion intensity images could be obtained enabling the identification of single pollen grains in a mixture. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate the potential and the suitability of MALDI imaging mass spectrometry as an additional method for the identification of pollen mixtures. KW - MALDI KW - Imaging KW - Pollen KW - Blends PY - 2013 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.6523 SN - 0951-4198 SN - 1097-0231 VL - 27 IS - 8 SP - 896 EP - 903 PB - Wiley CY - Chichester AN - OPUS4-27986 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Leiterer, Jork A1 - Panne, Ulrich A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - Container-less polymerization in acoustically levitated droplets: an analytical study by GPC and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry N2 - Molecular masses and end groups of polystyrene (PS) formed in a novel container-less polymerization strategy, based on levitated droplets in an acoustic trap, were determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). KW - Ultraschallfalle KW - MALDI Massenspektrometrie KW - Polymerisation PY - 2011 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/c0ay00390e SN - 1759-9660 SN - 1759-9679 VL - 3 IS - 1 SP - 70 EP - 73 PB - RSC Publ. CY - Cambridge AN - OPUS4-23655 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Meyer, A. A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. T1 - SnOct2-catalyzed and alcohol-initiated ROPs of L-lactide – About the influence of initiators on chemical reactions in the melt and the solid state N2 - SnOct2 (Sn(II) 2-ethylhexanoate) catalyzed ROPs of L-lactide were performed in bulk with eight different alcohols as initiators. The time was varied between 1 h and 24 h for all initiators. For two initiators the temperature was also lowered to 115 ◦C. Even-numbered chains were predominantly formed in all polymerizations at short times, but the rate of transesterification (e.g. even/odd equilibration) and the molecular weight distribution were found to depend significantly on the nature of the initiator. Observed transesterification reactions also continued in solid poly (L-lactide), and with the most active initiator, almost total equilibration was achieved even at 130 ◦C. This means that all chains including those of the crystallites were involved in transesterification reactions proceeding across the flat surfaces of the crystallites. The more or less equilibrated crystalline polylactides were characterized by DSC and SAXS measurements with regard to their melting temperature (Tm), crystallinity and crystal thickness. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Crystallization KW - Catalysts KW - SAXS PY - 2021 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2021.110508 VL - 153 SP - 110508 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-52633 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Meyer, A. A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - ROPs of L-lactide catalyzed by neat Tin(II)2-ethylhexanoate - Influence of the reaction conditions on Tm and ΔHm N2 - L-Lactide was polymerized by means of neat SnOct2 with variation of LA/Cat ratio, temperature and time. The resulting cyclic polylactides crystallized spontaneously at 160 °C or below, but needed nucleation via mechanical stress at 165 or 170 °C. All the crystalline polylactides obtained directly from ROP above 120 °C had melting temperatures (Tm) above 189 °C (up to 194.5 °C). SnOct2 also enabled transformation of low Tm poly(L-lactide)s (Tm <180 °C) into the high Tm m1odification by annealing, due to the impact of transesterification reactions in the interphase between the crystallites. The influence of crystallization temperature and annealing time on the crystal thickness was studied via SAXS measurements. A comparison with the crystallization and annealing experiments reported by Pennings and coworkers and Tsuji and Ikada is discussed, and a satisfactory agreement has been found, because those authors also studied polyLA samples containing SnOct2 in its active form. It is also demonstrated in this work that the high Tm modification cannot be obtained when the catalyst is removed or poisoned as it is true for commercial polylactides. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Crystallization PY - 2021 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2021.124122 SN - 0032-3861 VL - 231 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford AN - OPUS4-53194 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Baumann, Maria A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Wold, C. A1 - Uliyanchenko, E. T1 - Characterization of copolymers of polycarbonate and polydimethylsiloxane by 2D chromatographic separation, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and FTIR spectroscopy N2 - The structure and composition of polycarbonate polydimethylsiloxane copolymer (PC-co-PDMS) was investigated by applying various analytical approaches including chromatographic separation methods, spectrometric, and spectroscopic detection techniques. In particular, size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and liquid adsorption chromatography operating at different conditions (e.g. using gradient solvent systems) were used to achieve separations according to molar mass and functionality distribution. The coupling of both techniques resulted in fingerprint two-dimensional plots, which could be used to easily compare different copolymer batches. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry was applied for structural investigations. The different ionization behavior of both comonomers, however, strongly limited the applicability of this technique. In contrast to that, Fourier-transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy could be used to quantify the amount of PDMS in the copolymer at different points in the chromatogram. The resulting methodology was capable of distinguishing PC-co-PDMS copolymer from PC homopolymer chains present in the material. KW - FTIR KW - Liquid chromatography KW - Mass spectrometry KW - Gradient elution KW - Polycarbonate-co-dimethylsiloxane copolymer PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/1023666X.2020.1820170 VL - 25 IS - 7 SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Taylor & Francis AN - OPUS4-51369 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. T1 - Spirocyclic bisphenoxides of Ge, Zr, and Sn as catalysts for ring-expansion polymerizations of L- and meso-lactide N2 - Spirocyclic phenoxides of germanium, zirconium, and tin were prepared from 2,20-dihydroxybiphenyl and 2,20-dihydroxy-1,10-binaphthyl. Ring-expansion polymerizations of L-lactide are mainly studied at 160 or 180 °C. The reactivity of the catalysts increases in the order: Zr < Ge < Sn. Regardless of catalyst, the weight-average molecular weights (Mw) never exceed 50,000 g mol−1. The resulting poly(L-lactide)s are optically pure and have a cyclic architecture. Decreasing temperature and time favor Formation of even-numbered cycles, and at 102 ° cyclics, almost free of odd-numbered rings are obtained. Analogous polymerizations of meso-lactide give similar results >120 °C, but different results at 100 or 80 °C. Surprisingly, bell-shaped narrow molecular weight distributions are obtained <140 °C, resembling the pattern of living polymerizations found for alcohol-initiated polymerizations. An unusual transesterification mechanism yielding narrow distributions of odd-numbered cycles is discovered too. KW - Cyclization KW - Polylactides KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Ring-opening polymerization KW - Spirocyclic PY - 2018 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/pola.29259 SN - 0887-624X SN - 1099-0518 VL - 56 IS - 24 SP - 2730 EP - 2738 PB - Wiley Periodicals AN - OPUS4-46498 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wessig, P. A1 - Schulze, T. A1 - Pfennig, A. A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Prentzel, S. A1 - Schlaad, H. T1 - Thiol–ene polymerization of oligospiroketal rods N2 - The nucleophilic thiol–ene (thia-Michael) reaction between molecular rods bearing terminal thiols and bis-maleimides was investigated. The molecular rods have oligospiroketal (OSK) and oligospirothioketal (OSTK) backbones. Contrary to the expectations, cyclic oligomers were always obtained instead of linear rigid-rod polymers. Replacing the OS(T)K rods with a flexible chain yielded polymeric products, suggesting that the OS(T)K structure is responsible for the formation of cyclic products. The reason for the preferred formation of cyclic products is due to the presence of folded conformations, which have already been described for articulated rods. KW - Oligospiroketals KW - Polymerization KW - MALDI-TOF MS PY - 2017 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/C7PY01569K SN - 1759-9954 SN - 1759-9962 VL - 8 IS - 44 SP - 6879 EP - 6885 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry AN - OPUS4-42685 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Epping, Ruben A1 - Panne, Ulrich A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana T1 - Power of ultra performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-MS reconstructed ion chromatograms in the characterization of small differences in polymer microstructure N2 - From simple homopolymers to functionalized, 3-dimensional structured copolymers, the complexity of polymeric materials has become more and more sophisticated. With new applications for instance in the semiconductor or pharmaceutical industry, the requirements for the characterization have risen with the complexity of the used polymers. For each additional distribution, an additional dimension in analysis is needed. Small, often isomeric heterogeneities in topology or microstructure can usually not be simply separated chromatographically or distinguished by any common detector, but affect the properties of materials significantly. For a drug delivery system for example, the degree of branching and branching distribution is crucial for the formation of micelles. Instead of a complicated, time consuming and/or expensive 2d-chromatography or ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) method, that also has its limitations, in this work a simple approach using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI) is proposed. The online coupling allows the analysis of reconstructed ion chromatograms (RIC) of each degree of polymerization. While a complete separation often cannot be achieved, the derived retention times and peak widths lead to information on the existence and dispersity of heterogeneities. Although some microstructural heterogeneities like short chain branching can for large polymers be characterized with methods such as light scattering, for oligomers where the heterogeneities just start to form and their influence is at the maximum, they are inaccessible with these methods. It is also shown, that with a proper calibration even quantitative information can be obtained. This method is suitable to detect small differences in e. g. branching, 3d-structure, monomer sequence or tacticity and could potentially be used in routine analysis to quickly determine deviations. KW - Polymer KW - Microstructure KW - UPLC KW - ESI-TOF-MS KW - Reconstructed ion chromatograms PY - 2018 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.7b05214 SN - 0003-2700 SN - 1520-6882 VL - 90 IS - 5 SP - 3467 EP - 3474 PB - ACS Publ. CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-44423 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Kricheldorf, Hans R. T1 - Transesterification in the solid state of cyclic and linear poly(l-lactide)s N2 - Poly(l-lactide)s are synthesized and annealed at 120 °C and changes of the molecular weight distribution (MWD) are monitored by matrix-assited laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. For example, benzyl alcohol+SnOct2 causes equilibration of odd- and even-numbered chains and the final goal of the transesterification is the most probable distribution. The underlying intermolecular transesterification is even observed at 100 and 80 °C in the solid state. However, cyclic tin mercaptide catalysts transform the initial most probable distribution into a MWD with maxima, which display a conspicuous fine structure due to a preferential crystallization of certain ring sizes. The optimum ring sizes for the crystallization are provided by ring-ring equilibration. The gradual formation of a special morphology shifts the melting temperature to values up to 187 °C. Annealing of commercial poly(l-lactide) with a cyclic tin catalyst also yields a distribution of mass peaks with a maximum showing the characteristic fine structure. KW - Equilibration KW - Mass spectrometry KW - Polylactides KW - Ring-opening polymerization KW - Transesterification PY - 2017 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.201700114 SN - 1521-3935 SN - 1022-1352 VL - 218 IS - 14 SP - 1700114-1 EP - 1700114-10 PB - Wiley-VCH AN - OPUS4-41732 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana A1 - Friedrich, Jörg Florian A1 - Schulz, Günter A1 - Krüger, Ralph-Peter A1 - Much, Helmut A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - Liquid Adsorption Chromatography near Critical Conditions of Adsorption coupled with Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry N2 - Chemical heterogeneities and molecular weight distributions of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-co-polymethylene (PM) model oligomers, which are relevant to the synthesis of commonly used tensides, were investigated. For analytical characterization, the well-known principle of liquid adsorption chromatography at 'critical conditions' (LACCC) was modified. Near the critical conditions of adsorption of the PEO unit, e.g., at slight adsorption conditions of PM, the copolymers could be separated according to their PM chain length. The eluates were separated and single fractions of each peak were continuously transferred onto the MALDI target by means of a commercially available device. Simultaneously, the MALDI matrix solution was continuously added with a second pump. This procedure offers the possibility of the formation of homogeneous matrix-polymer textures. By MALDI-MS a complete characterization of the chemical composition (PEO and PM chain length) of each peak could be achieved. The obtained MALDI mass spectra of the eluates at different retention times could be used for the molecular weight calibration of the LAC system. In this way, an additional application of SEC, as in conventional 2D-chromatography, was avoided by using the MALDI method as quasi chromatographic separation KW - Liquid adsorption chromatography KW - Matrix-assisted laser desorption KW - Ionization mass spectrometry KW - Coupling methods KW - MALDI PY - 2000 DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/10236660008034644 SN - 1023-666X SN - 1563-5341 VL - 5 SP - 549 EP - 562 PB - Gordon and Breach Publ. CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-2168 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Just, Ulrich A1 - Wittke, Wolfgang A1 - Rittig, F. A1 - Gruber, F. A1 - Friedrich, Jörg Florian T1 - Analysis of modified polyamide 6.6 using coupled liquid chromatography and MALDI-TOF-mass spectrometry KW - MALDI-TOF-MS KW - Liquid chromatography KW - Coupling methods PY - 2004 SN - 0168-1176 SN - 0020-7381 SN - 1387-3806 SN - 1873-2798 VL - 238 IS - 3 SP - 235 EP - 244 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-6966 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Knappe, Patrick A1 - Panne, Ulrich T1 - MALDI-TOF imaging mass spectrometry of artifacts in 'dried droplet' polymer samples N2 - Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-timeof-flight (MALDI-TOF) imaging of polystyrenes with various molecular masses was applied to study spatial molecular mass distribution of polymers in sample spots prepared by the 'dried droplet' method. When different solvents and target surfaces were examined, a segregation of single homologous polymers was observed depending upon the evaporation rate of the solvent. For the observed Patterns left by the evaporating droplet, a hypothesis is offered taking into account different hydrodynamic interactions and diffusion. The results illustrate that spot preparation using the conventionally 'dried droplet' method is prone to artifacts and should be avoided for reliable and reproducible MALDI mass spectrometry experiments with regards to the Determination of molecular masses and mass distributions. KW - MALDI KW - Mass spectrometry imaging KW - Polymer KW - Droplet PY - 2011 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-4773-1 SN - 1618-2642 SN - 1618-2650 VL - 401 IS - 1 SP - 127 EP - 134 PB - Springer CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-24538 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gille, M. A1 - Viertel, A. A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Hecht, S. T1 - Modular synthesis of monomers for on-surface polymerization to graphene architectures N2 - We developed a modular synthesis of halogenated polycyclic aromatic monomers for on-surface polymerization to generate graphene wires, ribbons, and networks. KW - Graphene monomers KW - Graphene nanoribbons KW - Functionalized graphene nanoribbons KW - Graphene wires KW - Hexabenzocoronene KW - On-surface polymerization PY - 2013 DO - https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0032-1317959 SN - 0936-5214 SN - 1437-2096 VL - 24 IS - 2 SP - 0259 EP - 0263 PB - Thieme CY - Stuttgart AN - OPUS4-27621 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Kühn, Gerhard A1 - Just, Ulrich T1 - Characterization of oligomers in poly(ethylene terephthalate) by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry PY - 1995 SN - 0951-4198 SN - 1097-0231 IS - 9 SP - 697 EP - 702 PB - Wiley CY - Chichester AN - OPUS4-11278 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kühn, Gerhard A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Just, Ulrich A1 - Hohner, G. T1 - Characterization of technical waxes - Comparison of chromatographic techniques and matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization mass spectrometry N2 - Technical waxes and paraffins were investigated using supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). SEC enables the simultaneous determination of molecular masses up to high values and molecular mass distributions. The resolution of homologous species, however, is poor. In this respect the use of SFC is advantageous. Proper resolution of homologues may be provided up to Mr~1200 without great difficulty. To compare these chromatographic results MALDI-MS was applied for the determination of molecular masses and mass distributions in technical waxes for the first time. Using reflectron mode excellent MALDI mass spectra could be achieved in the molecular mass range up to 1000 Da. The mean values of the molecular masses calculated by MALDI-MS were in sufficient agreement with those of SFC. In the linear mode of MALDI-MS molecular masses could be determined to nearly 3000 Da. Beyond this mass range SEC still remains the method of choice. Advantages and difficulties of the used methods are discussed in this paper. PY - 1996 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9673(95)01255-9 SN - 0021-9673 VL - 732 IS - 1 SP - 111 EP - 117 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-11347 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - GEN A1 - Krüger, Ralph-Peter A1 - Heinemann, M. A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana A1 - Hartmann, A. A1 - Friedrich, Jörg Florian A1 - Fritz, H.-G. ED - Fritz, H. ED - Eisenbach, C. T1 - Charakterisierung biologisch abbaubarer Homo- und Copolyester / Characterisation of biodegradable Homo- and Copolyesters T2 - 19. Stuttgarter Kunststoff-Kolloquium 2005 CY - Stuttgart, Deutschland DA - 2005-03-09 KW - MALDI-TOF-MS KW - Bioabbaubare Polyester KW - Flüssigchromatographie KW - Methodenkopplung KW - Biodegradable polyesters KW - Liquid chromatography KW - Coupling of analytical methods PY - 2005 SN - 3-00-015246-6 SP - 5/P1-1 - 5/P1-9 PB - IKT CY - Stuttgart AN - OPUS4-11767 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Decker, R. A1 - Holländer, A. T1 - Derivatization of Double Bonds investigated by Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry PY - 1997 SN - 0951-4198 SN - 1097-0231 VL - 11 SP - 914 EP - 918 PB - Wiley CY - Chichester AN - OPUS4-11097 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wettmarshausen, Sascha A1 - Friedrich, Jörg Florian A1 - Meyer-Plath, Asmus A1 - Kalinka, Gerhard A1 - Hidde, Gundula A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - Coating of carbon fibers with adhesion-promoting thin poly(acrylic acid) and poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate) layers using electrospray ionization N2 - Thin coatings of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PHEMA) were deposited onto carbon fibers by means of the electrospray ionization (ESI) technique in ambient air. These high-molecular weight polymer layers were used as adhesion promoters in carbon fiber–epoxy resin composites. Within the ESI process, the carbon fibers were completely enwrapped with polymer in the upper 10 plies of a carbon fiber roving. As identified with scanning electron microscopy also shadowed fibers in a bundle as well as backsides of fiber rovings were pinhole-free coated with polymers (‘electrophoretic effect'). Under the conditions used, the layers have a granular structure. Residual solvent was absent in the deposit. PAA and PHEMA films did not show any changes in composition and structure in comparison with the original polymers as analyzed by X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Single-fiber pullout tests of coated fibers embedded in epoxy resin showed significantly increased interfacial shear strength. It is assumed that chemical bonds between carbon fiber poly(acrylic acid) and epoxy resin contribute significantly to the improved interactions. KW - Adhesion promotion KW - Thin polymer layers KW - Electrospray ionization (ESI) KW - Carbon fiber–epoxy resin laminates KW - Layer topography PY - 2015 DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/01694243.2015.1040980 SN - 0169-4243 SN - 1568-5616 VL - 29 IS - 15 SP - 1628 EP - 1650 PB - VNU Science Press CY - Utrecht AN - OPUS4-34564 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Koshkina, Olga A1 - Lang, Thomas A1 - Thiermann, R. A1 - Docter, D. A1 - Stauber, R.H. A1 - Secker, C. A1 - Schlaad, H. A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Mohr, B. A1 - Maskos, M. A1 - Bertin, Annabelle T1 - Temperature-triggered protein adsorption on polymer-coated nanoparticles in serum N2 - The protein corona, which forms on the nanoparticle's surface in most biological media, determines the nanoparticle’s physicochemical characteristics. The formation of the protein corona has a significant impact on the biodistribution and clearance of nanoparticles in vivo. Therefore, the ability to influence the formation of the protein corona is essential to most biomedical applications, including drug delivery and imaging. In this study, we investigate the protein adsorption on nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic radius of 30 nm and a coating of thermoresponsive poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) in serum. Using multiangle dynamic light scattering (DLS) we demonstrate that heating of the nanoparticles above their phase separation temperature induces the formation of agglomerates, with a hydrodynamic radius of 1 µm. In serum, noticeably stronger agglomeration occurs at lower temperatures compared to serum-free conditions. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) revealed a high packing density of agglomerates when serum was not present. In contrast, in the presence of serum, agglomerated nanoparticles were loosely packed, indicating that proteins are intercalated between them. Moreover, an increase in protein content is observed upon heating, confirming that protein adsorption is induced by the alteration of the surface during phase separation. After cooling and switching the surface back, most of the agglomerates were dissolved and the main fraction returned to the original size of approximately 30 nm as shown by asymmetrical flow-field flow fractionation (AF-FFF) and DLS. Furthermore, the amounts of adsorbed proteins are similar before and after heating the nanoparticles to above their phase-separation temperature. Overall, our results demonstrate that the thermoresponsivity of the polymer coating enables turning the corona formation on nanoparticles on and off in situ. As the local heating of body areas can be easily done in vivo, the thermoresponsive coating could potentially be used to induce the agglomeration of nanoparticles and proteins and the accumulation of nanoparticles in a targeted body region. PY - 2015 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b00537 SN - 0743-7463 SN - 1520-5827 VL - 31 IS - 32 SP - 8873 EP - 8881 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-34163 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gabriel, Stefan A1 - Steinhoff, R.F. A1 - Pabst, M. A1 - Schwarzinger, C. A1 - Zenobi, R. A1 - Panne, Ulrich A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - Improved analysis of ultra-high molecular mass polystyrenes in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry using DCTB matrix and caesium salts N2 - Rationale The ionization of polystyrenes in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) is typically achieved by the use of silver salts. Since silver salts can cause severe problems, such as cluster formation, fragmentation of polymer chains and end group cleavage, their substitution by alkali salts is highly desirable. Methods The influence of various cations (Ag+, Cs+ and Rb+) on the MALDI process of polystyrene (PS) mixtures and high mass polystyrenes was examined. The sample preparation was kept as straightforward as possible. Consequently, no recrystallization or other cleaning procedures were applied. Results The investigation of a polystyrene mixture showed that higher molecular polystyrenes could be more easily ionized using caesium, rather than rubidium or silver salts. In combination with the use of DCTB as matrix a high-mass polymer analysis could be achieved, which was demonstrated by the detection of a 1.1 MDa PS. Conclusions A fast, simple and robust MALDI sample preparation method for the analysis of ultra-high molecular weight polystyrenes based on the use of DCTB and caesium salts has been presented. The suitability of the presented method has been validated by using different mass spectrometers and detectors. KW - MALDI KW - Mega-dalton KW - Ionization KW - Caesium KW - Polystyrene KW - DCTB PY - 2015 UR - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rcm.7197/full DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.7197 SN - 0951-4198 SN - 1097-0231 VL - 29 IS - 11 SP - 1039 EP - 1046 PB - Wiley CY - Chichester AN - OPUS4-33191 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -