Makoto Mouri

Virus-templated photoimprint on the surface of an azobenzene-containing polymer.

A photoimprint-based immobilization process is presented for cylindrical viruses on the surface of an azobenzene-bearing acrylate polymer by using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), 18 nm in diameter and ca. 300 nm in length, was employed as a model virus. First, a droplet of an aqueous solution containing TMV was placed on the acrylate polymer surface. After drying the droplet, the polymer surface was irradiated with light at a wavelength of 470 nm from blue-light-emitting diodes. Finally, the surface was washed by aqueous solution with detergents. The polymer surface was observed at each step by AFM. TMV was shown to embed itself gradually on the polymer surface during photoirradiation in a time scale of tens of minutes because of the formation of the surface groove complementary to the shape of TMV. Analysis of immobilization efficiency of TMV on the polymer surface by the immunological enzyme luminescence indicated that efficiency increased proportional to the photoirradiation time. In these experimental conditions, the absorption band of the azobenzene moiety remained constant before and after the photoirradiation. These results show that TMV is physically held on the complementary groove formed on the polymer surface by the photoirradiation.

Orientation Control of Photo‐Immobilized Antibodies on the Surface of Azobenzene‐Containing Polymers by the Introduction of Functional Groups

In our photo-induced immobilization technique for an antibody (IgG) using azopolymers, the introduction of COOH and NMe(2) into the azopolymers, which can introduce surface charges, strongly affected the immobilization properties such as the efficiency of immobilization and the activity of the immobilized IgG (i.e., the orientation of the immobilized IgG). The introduction of COOH promoted a more active orientation of the immobilized IgG. The orientation was determined during the adsorption process onto the azopolymer surface in solution before photo-immobilization, and was maintained during the photo-immobilization. The surface charge of the azopolymer appears to be an important factor for IgG orientation, which involves electrostatic interactions between its Fab and the azopolymer surface.

Super impact absorbing bio-alloys from inedible plants

Injection molded bio-alloys based on polyamide 11 (PA11), 100% bio-based plastics from inedible plants, and polypropylene (PP) mixed with the maleic anhydride-modified ethylene-butene rubber copolymer (m-EBR) were prepared using a twin-screw extruder. The mechanical properties and morphologies of the bio-alloys were investigated using flexural tests, Charpy notched impact tests, field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The bio-alloy had a flexural modulus of 1090 ± 20 MPa and a Charpy notched impact strength of 98 ± 5 kJ m−2, which is superior to that of polycarbonates. The FE-SEM observations revealed that the bio-alloy has a unique “salami-like structure in a co-continuous phase”, and the TEM observations showed that some m-EBR formed 10 to 20 nm wide continuous interphases between the PP and PA11 matrices. Continuous rubber interphases played an important role in enhancing the impact strength. The bio-alloys exhibited good rigidity and excellent impact strength, making them feasible for applications in automobiles and other industries.