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Polymer microbubbles as universal platform to accelerate polymer mechanochemistry

Author

Listed:
  • Jilin Fan

    (RWTH Aachen University
    DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials)

  • Regina Lennarz

    (Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf)

  • Kuan Zhang

    (RWTH Aachen University
    DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Ahmed Mourran

    (DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials)

  • Jan Meisner

    (Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf)

  • Mingjun Xuan

    (RWTH Aachen University
    DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Robert Göstl

    (RWTH Aachen University
    DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials
    University of Wuppertal)

  • Andreas Herrmann

    (RWTH Aachen University
    DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials)

Abstract

The flow-induced activation of mechanophores embedded in linear polymers by ultrasound (US) suffers from slow mechanochemical conversions at the commonly used frequency of 20 kHz and in many cases remains ineffective with higher MHz frequencies. Here, we present polymeric microbubbles (PMBs) as a platform that accelerates the mechanochemical activation of several mechanophores under both 20 kHz and MHz irradiation. MHz irradiation generated by biocompatible high-intensity focused US (HIFU). Through their pressure-sensitive gas core, PMBs act as acousto-mechanical transducers for the transformation of sound energy into stretching and compression forces as well as fracturing the polymer shell by the volume oscillation of PMB. We investigate three different mechanophores among which one flex-activation derivative was unexpectedly activated by US. Through a combination of experiments and computation, we find that PMBs likely exert compressive force onto the copolymerized mechanophores rather than the typical elongational forces solvated chain fragments experience in flow. We thereby underscore the mechanochemical properties of the PMB platform and its versatility for accelerated mechanochemical transformations with a perspective on biomedical applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Jilin Fan & Regina Lennarz & Kuan Zhang & Ahmed Mourran & Jan Meisner & Mingjun Xuan & Robert Göstl & Andreas Herrmann, 2025. "Polymer microbubbles as universal platform to accelerate polymer mechanochemistry," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-60667-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60667-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Douglas A. Davis & Andrew Hamilton & Jinglei Yang & Lee D. Cremar & Dara Van Gough & Stephanie L. Potisek & Mitchell T. Ong & Paul V. Braun & Todd J. Martínez & Scott R. White & Jeffrey S. Moore & Nan, 2009. "Force-induced activation of covalent bonds in mechanoresponsive polymeric materials," Nature, Nature, vol. 459(7243), pages 68-72, May.
    2. Jingchao Li & Yu Luo & Ziling Zeng & Dong Cui & Jiaguo Huang & Chenjie Xu & Liping Li & Kanyi Pu & Ruiping Zhang, 2022. "Precision cancer sono-immunotherapy using deep-tissue activatable semiconducting polymer immunomodulatory nanoparticles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
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