Published papers

We demonstrate the phototactic behavior of self-propelled micrometersized oil droplets in the presence of azobenzene-containing surfactants. These droplets respond sensitively to UV light irradiation due to a variation in the interfacial tension at the droplet surface induced by the molecular conversion of the azobenzene-containing surfactants.

Unique dynamics using inanimate molecular assemblies based on soft matter have drawn much attention for demonstrating far-from-equilibrium chemical systems. However, there are no soft matter systems that exhibit a possible pathway linking the self-propelled oil droplets to formation of giant vesicles stimulated by low pH. In this study, we conceived an experimental oil-in-water emulsion system in which flocculated particles composed of a imine-containing oil transformed to spherical oil droplets that self-propelled and, after coming to rest, formed membranovs figures. Finally, these figures became giant vesicles. From NMR, pH curves, and surface tension measurements, we determined that this far-from-equilibrium phenomenon was due to the acidic hydrolysis of the oil, which, produced a benzaldehyde derivative as an component and a primary amine as a surfactant precursor, and, the dynamic behavior of the hydrolytic products in the emulsion system. These findings afforded us a potential linkage between mobile droplet-based protocells and vesicle-based protocells stimulated by low pH.

In this review paper, we introduce the mobility and transformation of micrometer-sized molecular aggregates (i.e., oil droplets, liquid crystalline droplets and tubes, and giant vesicles) in water under chemical stimuli. These molecular aggregates comprising lipophilic and/or amphiphilic molecules have drawn much attention as plausible prebiotic cellular structures and dynamic microreactors related to the origins of life. Here, we highlight recent advances and issues concerning the construction of such systems and discuss the implications of these findings to our understanding of protocellular systems.

In cell system, dynamic behaviors of nanometer- and micrometer-sized living tissues are induced through various chemical reaction networks accompanied with molecular conversions of key molecules. However, such hierarchy between macroscopic dynamics of cells and molecular conversions is very complicated. Here, as a tool for understanding the essence of the dynamic behavior found in cell system, two chemical systems for droplets exhibiting cell-mimicry behaviors have been described: transformation of molecular aggregates and locomotion mode of oil droplets.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded in 1987 and 2016 for research in supramolecular chemistry on the "development and use of molecules with structure-specific interactions of high selectivity" and the "design and production of molecular machines", respectively. This confirmed the explosive development of supramolecular chemistry. In addition, attempts have been made in systems chemistry to embody the complex functions of living organisms as artificial non-equilibrium chemical systems, which have not received much attention in supramolecular chemistry. In this review, we explain recent developments in supramolecular chemistry through four categories: stimuli-responsiveness, time evolution, dissipative self-assembly, and hierarchical expression of functions. We discuss the development of non-equilibrium supramolecular systems, including the use of molecules with precisely designed properties, to achieve functions found in life as a hierarchical chemical system.

The present work describes the preparation of host-guest complex formation-responsive liquid marbles (LMs) composed of a water droplet and hydrophobic adamantane (AD) powder. The importance of hydrophobic and hydrophilic balance to the stability of LM was demonstrated with this system. The hydrophobic AD powder formed an amphiphilic system upon formation of a host-guest complex with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (CD). Although the LM was stable for more than one hour on the water surface, it collapsed on the surface of a CD aqueous solution within a few minutes due to formation of the AD-CD complex.

Control of powder alignment is essential for maximizing the functionality of color cosmetics and sunscreens. Various surface treatments were applied to nanosized titanium dioxide to modify their surface characteristics. Such modifications can be used to control the behavior of dispersions in cosmetics, enabling them to align uniformly. The powders were mixed with solvents and applied to a cellulose triacetate film. The features of powder alignment on the film were evaluated using several approaches. When the type of surface treatment changed by varying the weight ratio, there was no significant correlation between its alignment and treatment. However, when we focused on the pseudo-HLB each treated pigment, their alignments were correlated. It was confirmed that the powders subjected to the appropriate surface treatment combinations from the pseudo-HLB standpoint made it possible to align uniformly and create a smooth coating film. As a result, it has a high UV-shielding ability. The surface-treated powders in this study were found to change the UV shielding ability and surface roughness of the layer formed when they were formed by spreading the sample powder dispersion and drying of the film. It was suggested that the pseudoHLB, which is calculated based on the chemical structure after the surface treatment process, is useful for choosing the optimum surface treatment to create a uniformly aligned pigment layer.

As a frontier topic of soft condensed matter physics, irreversible aggregation has drawn attention for a better understanding of the complex behavior of biomaterials. In this study, we have described the synthesis of an artificial amphiphilic molecule, an alternating tetra-block-like amphiphile, which was able to diversify its aggregate structure in water. The aggregated state of its aqueous dispersion was obtained by slow evaporation of the organic solvent at room temperature, and it collapsed irreversibly at ~ 50C. By using a cryo-trans-mission electron microscope and a differential scanning calorimeter, it was revealed that two types of molecular nanostructures were formed and developed into submicro- and micrometer-sized fibrils in the aggregated material.

Micrometer-sized self-propelled oil droplets under a far-from-equilibrium condition have drawn much attention because of their potential as a dynamic model for the chemical machinery in living organisms. To clarify the effect of interactions between the system components (surfactant, oil, and water) on the locomotion mode of droplets, we investigated the behaviors of oil droplets composed of n-heptyloxybenzaldehyde (HBA) in solutions of cationic surfactants having or not having an ester or an ether linkage. It was observed that in solutions of cationic surfactants having an ester or an ether linkage, spherical HBA droplets self-propelled by changing their direction frequently. On the other hand, when this functional group is absent, a slow self-propelled motion of the oil droplets concurrent with the evolution of aggregates on their surface was observed. From the results of measurement of interfacial tension and assessment of self-emulsification, we determined that the attractive interactions of cationic surfactants without an ester or an ether linkage with HBA are stronger than those having the linkage. The difference in the locomotion mode of oil droplets is probably explained from the viewpoint of the interactions among the system components.

Novel optically active carbonate-type cationics were designed and synthesized via a green method. A series of n-alkyl N,N-dimethylaminoalkyl carbonates was prepared via a two-step successive carbonate exchange reaction of diphenyl carbonate with 1-alkanol followed by the reaction of the optically active or racemic amino alcohol in the presence of triethylamine. The quaternarization of the N,N-dimethylamino group was carried out using methyl iodide. Furthermore, optically active cationics were prepared by the lipase-catalyzed enantioselective hydrolysis of the racemic cationics. Carbonate-type cationics having an isopropylene linkage showed high hydrolytic stability. They exhibited surfactant properties similar to those of the corresponding racemic cationics. Although no significant differences in the antimicrobial activities were observed owing to the stereochemistry of the cationics, the biodegradability was strongly influenced by the stereochemistry. Some optically active cationics were rapidly biodegraded by activated sludge.

The movement of supramolecular self-assemblies has been induced by the application of external stimuli that cause a shift to non-equilibrium conditions. However, few supramolecular chemical systems exist in which multiple different functions are associated with movement. Herein, we observed multiple phase transition of micrometer-sized lauronitrile oil droplets in a solution of cationic surfactants with aniline skeletons in the presence of metal ions. These dynamics include tactic motion and subsequent formation of aggregates with membrane structures, in a linear-type channel. These dynamic behaviors result from variations in the interfacial tension at the droplet surface and the chemical compositions owing to the interactions between system components. The current findings may provide a methodology for designing molecular systems in which multi-step phase transitions of supramolecular self-assemblies are coupled to movement in non-equilibrium conditions.

Chemical oscillations of the manganese-ion catalyzed Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction system were found to be controlled by changing its stirring conditions. The oscillation stopped at a high stirring rate, while it reappeared immediately by reducing the stirring rate. It is known in the BZ reaction system, that the radical polymerization takes place along with the oscillation when acrylic monomers are added. By the addition of acrylonitrile to the system stirred at a high stirring rate, the oscillation as well as the polymerization of acrylonitrile stopped. The radical polymerization of acrylonitrile by the BZ oscillator is thus found to be made controllable by changing the mixing conditions. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Novel gemini-type cationics containing carbonate linkages as biodegradable and chemically recyclable segments were designed and synthesized by a green process. The carbonate linkages were introduced into only the hydrophobic moiety or in both the hydrophobic and linker moieties of gemini-type cationics. They showed higher surface activities, such as a low critical micelle concentration value, a surface tension lowering, and a high adsorption efficiency, when compared to the corresponding single-type cationics. Also, the gemini-type cationics containing carbonate linkages in both the hydrophobic and the linker moieties showed stronger antimicrobial activities when compared to those only in the hydrophobic moiety. It was found that some gemini-type cationics containing carbonate linkages showed higher biodegradability compared to the conventional gemini-type cationics. The biodegradability of the gemini-type cationics decreased when a carbonate linkage was introduced into the hydrophobic moiety rather than the linker moiety. However, some gemini-type cationics containing carbonate linkages both in the hydrophobic and linker moieties showed ready biodegradability. The gemini-type cationics containing carbonate linkages in the hydrophobic moiety showed chemical recyclability by a lipase (E.C. 3.1.1.3).

The self-propelled motion with deformation of micrometer-sized soft matter in water has potential application not only for underwater carriers or probes in very narrow spaces but also for understanding cell locomotion in terms of non-equilibrium physics. As far as we know, there have been no reports about micrometer-sized self-propelled soft matter mimicking amoeboid motion underwater. Here, we report an artificial molecular system of underwater oil droplets exhibiting self-propelled motion with deformation as an initial experimental model. We describe the heterogeneity in a deformable self-propelled oil droplet system in aqueous and oil phases and at their interface based on the behavior and interaction of surfactant and oil molecules. The current results have great importance for scientific frontiers such as developing deformable micro-swimmers and exploring the emergence of self-locomotion of oil droplet-type protocells.

OBJECTIVE: Titanium dioxide powders are contained in a large class of colour cosmetics and sunscreen formulas. When they are used, the formation of a uniform functional powder layer on the skin is an important factor to show their functionality, such as aesthetic and UV protection. Attempts were made to extract the factors that affect the UV shielding ability of the deposited powder layer. METHODS: Seven kinds of surface treatments were conducted on nano-sized titanium dioxide powder to modify the surface characteristics. Dispersion samples were prepared by mixing these powders with liquids, such as mixed solutions of cyclopentasiloxane, isododecane, coconuts alkane and dimethicone using a disperser and a bead mill. The dispersions were applied using an applicator on cellulose triacetate film, polycarbonate film and polymethyl pentene film. Laser microscope observation and micro-gloss glossmeter analysis were carried out to assess the flatness of the deposited powder layers, and the UV shielding ability was evaluated using SPF analyser. RESULTS: Factors whose influences on the structure and UV shielding ability of the deposited powder layer being analysed were pseudo-HLB of the powders, liquids for preparing the dispersions and material of the substrates. Higher UV shielding ability was attained when powders having pseudo-HLB at around 6 were employed independent from the kinds of liquids and substrates. Flatness of the deposited layer was found to enhance the UV shielding ability of the UV-B region, while that of the UV-A region was scarcely influenced by the flatness. Employing lower surface tension liquids for preparing the dispersions and materials exhibiting lower polar components of surface free energy as substrates tended to enhance the UV shielding ability. CONCLUSION: Surface treatments conducted on the powders in this study were found to change UV shielding ability, especially UV-B shielding ability, and the relation between pseudo-HLB and UV shielding ability was scarcely influenced by the kinds of liquids. Both surface tension of liquids and the polar component of surface free energy of substrates affected the UV shielding ability. It was suggested that pseudo-HLB calculated based on chemical structure becomes useful information to choose optimum surface treatment to make uniform powder alignment independent from the surrounding environment.