Michaël Alexandre

Polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMSs) bearing photoreactive coumarin groups have been synthesized by amidation of a coumarin acid chloride derivative with various amine-functionalized PDMSs. Upon exposure to UV light having a wavelength of above 300 nm, multifunctional coumarin-PDMSs are transformed into covalent networks via [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of two coumarin moieties forming a cyclobutane ring. Taking advantage of the possible localized irradiation through a photomask, a novel concept to generate patterned PDMS films with various surface topologies was demonstrated. This concept is based on the combination of a low molar mass difunctional PDMS with a multifunctional PDMS of a high molar mass forming a photoreversible network allowing osmotic diffusion of a linear PDMS-coumarin of low molecular weight in a loosely crosslinked network. Advantageously, illumination by a light source at 254 nm induces the photocleavage of the cyclobutane cross-links offering some photo-induced reversibility to the PDMS network. These novel photo-responsive networks are interesting for several applications, in photo-adaptable biomedical implants (particularly photo-adjustable intra-ocular lenses), photo-tuneable patterned microsystems (e.g. for microfluidics) and photo-switchable controlled release systems.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) constitutes an interesting material for a variety of biomedical applications, especially as intraocular lenses (IOLs), for its excellent transparency. In this work, a photoreversible PDMS‐coumarin network, whose shape and properties can be adjusted postoperatively in a noninvasive manner, is developed. The synthesis of PDMS‐coumarin is achieved by amidation of a coumarin acid chloride derivative with amine‐functionalized PDMSs. Under exposure of λ > 300 nm, these polymers can be cured by dimerization of coumarin. The cured polymers can be uncrosslinked via photocleavage of cyclobutane dimers upon illumination at λ < 290 nm. The diffusion of linear PDMSs in a crosslinked network and the controlled shape modification are studied, which demonstrate that these polymers are good candidates for adjustable IOL application. IOL disks prepared from these materials show high hydrophobicity and good transparency. In vitro cytotoxicity, lens epithelial cell adhesion assays, and rabbit host reaction against implanted disks demonstrate the biocompatibility of the polymer. image

Graphene, graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are being investigated as potential substrates for the growth of neural cells. However, in most in vitro studies, the cells were seeded on these materials coated with various proteins implying that the observed effects on the cells could not solely be attributed to the GBN and CNT properties. Here, we studied the biocompatibility of uncoated thermally reduced graphene (TRG) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes loaded with multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) using neural stem cells isolated from the adult mouse olfactory bulb (termed aOBSCs). When aOBSCs were induced to differentiate on coverslips treated with TRG or control materials (polyethyleneimine-PEI and polyornithine plus fibronectin-PLO/F) in a serum-free medium, neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes were generated in all conditions, indicating that TRG permits the multi-lineage differentiation of aOBSCs. However, the total number of cells was reduced on both PEI and TRG. In a serum-containing medium, aOBSC-derived neurons and oligodendrocytes grown on TRG were more numerous than in controls; the neurons developed synaptic boutons and oligodendrocytes were more branched. In contrast, neurons growing on PVDF membranes had reduced neurite branching, and on MWCNTs-loaded membranes oligodendrocytes were lower in numbers than in controls. Overall, these findings indicate that uncoated TRG may be biocompatible with the generation, differentiation, and maturation of aOBSC-derived neurons and glial cells, implying a potential use for TRG to study functional neuronal networks.

A chemically cross‐linked but remarkably (re)processable shape‐memory polymer (SMP) is designed by cross‐linking poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) stars via the efficient triazolinedione click chemistry, based on the very fast and reversible Alder–ene reaction of 1,2,4‐triazoline‐3,5‐dione (TAD) with indole compounds. Typically, a six‐arm star‐shaped PCL functionalized by indole moieties at the chain ends is melt‐blended with a bisfunctional TAD, directly resulting in a cross‐linked PCL‐based SMP without the need of post‐curing treatment. As demonstrated by the stress relaxation measurement, the labile character of the TAD–indole adducts under stress allows for the solid‐state plasticity reprocessing of the permanent shape at will by compression molding of the raw cross‐linked material, while keeping excellent shape‐memory properties. image

Highly expanded nanocomposite foams of polypropylene and carbon nanotubes (PP/CNT) are formed using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) technology. The foaming parameters (temperature, pressure) are investigated to establish their influence on the morphology of the resulting foams and their impact on the electrical conductivity. As promising electromagnetic‐interference (EMI) absorbers, the EMI shielding performance of the foams is determined, and a preliminary relationship is established between foam morphology and the EMI shielding performance. The best candidates are highly expanded foams with a volume expansion of >25, containing 0.1 vol% CNTs; they are able to absorb more than 90% of the incident radiation between 25 and 40 GHz. image

Free radical miniemulsion polymerization of styrene (St), St/acrylonitrile 3 : 1 mixture or methylmethacrylate in the presence of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) was proven as a convenient way to obtain homogenous hybrids with perspectives in associated applications like foams specialties materials. Miniemulsion polymerization was viable up to 2% wt. MWCNT to monomer, without agglomerations. The grafting on MWCNT during the polymerization occurs without the need for supplementary functionalization and the polymer grafted nanotubes showed stable dispersions in the polymer solvent. Monomer polarity affected the grafting ability during the polymerization process. The nanocomposites obtained after purification and drying were used in foaming process. MWCNT presence in the related nanocomposites decreased the pore sizes in foam‐like materials (for all three different matrices). At 1 wt % MWCNT content, low density (< 0.3 g/cm³), low pore size (< 10 μm) and high cell density (>10⁹ cell/cm³) were achieved. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 41148.