Using controlled degradation to tailor interfacial spreading of nanogels at soft interfaces

A number of prior studies focused on the adsorption of hydrogels at liquid-liquid interfaces due to various potential applications of these systems. Upon adsorption, the hydrogel spreads over the interface, adopting various shapes depending on its size, original shape, and crosslink density. Using controlled degradation to enhance spreading upon application of a well-defined stimulus offers a route to tailoring the topography of soft nanostructured interfaces. Using Dissipative Particle Dynamics approach (as implemented in LAMMPS simulation package), we characterize the spreading of the nanogels over the interface by tracking a time evolution of the shape anisotropy and an extent of spreading of the gel particle. To minimize unphysical topological crossings of the bonded polymer chains, we utilize a modified Segmental Repulsive Potential (mSRP) formulation, which we recently adapted to model gels with degradable bonds. We have developed Python code to analyze and characterize nanogel spreading. Our results show that controlled degradation of the adsorbed nanogels enhances interfacial spreading and controls gels reconstruction at the soft interface.