Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 23, 2025
10:17
Patterning of Microorganisms and Microparticles through Sequential Capillarity-assisted Assembly
Published on: November 4, 2021
3.4K
Hierarchical Assembly of Two-Dimensional Polymers into Colloidosomes and Microcapsules
Ziyang Zhang1, Song Wang1, Yuhao Yang1
1State Key Lab of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
ACS Macro Letters
|May 13, 2022
Summary
Researchers created 3D microcapsules from 2D covalent organic frameworks (COFs). These stable COF microcapsules can encapsulate and control the release of various substances, opening new avenues for functional materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Hierarchical assembly of 2D polymers into 3D microstructures enables novel functional materials.
- Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a class of crystalline porous polymers with diverse applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for assembling 2D COF colloidosomes (microcapsules) from small molecules.
- To investigate the properties and potential applications of these COF microcapsules.
Main Methods:
- Polymerization of monomers to form 2D COF particles.
- Utilizing COF particles as stabilizers for water-in-oil Pickering emulsions.
- Employing emulsion droplets as templates for interfacial polymerization to form COF microcapsules.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized narrowly distributed COF particles (>490 nm) and COF microcapsules (0.2–3.1 μm shell thickness).
- COF microcapsules exhibited good stability, high crystallinity, and high surface areas (>540 m²/g).
- Demonstrated controlled release of encapsulated substances (salts, dyes, proteins) with varying permeability through the COF shell.
Conclusions:
- The developed approach provides a versatile route to fabricating 2D COF-based microcapsules.
- These microcapsules offer tunable properties for controlled encapsulation and release applications.
- This method significantly expands the utility of 2D polymers and their derived microstructures.
More Related Videos
10:01Directed Assembly of Elastin-like Proteins into defined Supramolecular Structures and Cargo Encapsulation In Vitro
Published on: April 8, 2020
6.0K
11:42Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers
Published on: June 20, 2019
7.9K
Related Concept Videos
01:18Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments
21.5K
Cytoskeletal filaments are polymeric forms of smaller protein subunits. However, individual cytoskeletal filaments may easily disassemble or associate with other similar filaments to form rigid structures. Microfilaments, made of actin monomers, rely on actin-binding proteins to form bundles and create networks of individual actin filaments. Microtubules rely on microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) to form sturdy cylindrical structures. However, the proteins involved in forming complex...
21.5K
02:41Protein Complex Assembly
11.6K
Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types. Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
11.6K
01:32Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures
1.9K
Complex microtubule structures are present in resting cells and in dividing cells. In resting cells, they are responsible for maintaining the cellular architecture, tracks for intracellular transport, positioning of organelles, assembly of cilia and flagella. They mediate the bipolar spindle assembly for chromosomal segregation and positioning of the cell division plate in dividing cells. The formation of microtubule complex structures depends on the cell type, cell stage, and cell function.
1.9K
01:39Mechanism of Filopodia Formation
2.5K
Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
2.5K
00:59Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation
3.2K
Different physical properties of lipids and proteins allow them to localize and form distinct islands or domains in the membrane. Some membrane domains are formed due to protein-protein interactions, whereas others are formed due to the presence of specific lipids such as sphingolipids and sterols—for example, large proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin, aggregate and create distinct domains.
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with...
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with...
3.2K
01:31Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation
2.8K
Cells migrating in response to external stimuli form lamellipodia, which are thin membrane protrusions supported by a mesh of linked, branched, or unbranched actin filaments. These actin filaments interact with myosin motor proteins, creating the dynamic actomyosin complex within the cytoskeleton. Contractility, or the ability to generate contractile stress, is inherent to the actomyosin complex. It helps cells detect the stiffness of the surrounding ECM and exert contractile force for...
2.8K