Novel p-type semiconducting polymers that can facilitate ion penetration, and operate in accumulation mode are much desired in bioelectronics. Glycol side chains have proven to be an efficient method to increase bulk electrochemical doping and optimize aqueous swelling. One early polymer which exemplifies these design approaches was p­(g2T-TT), employing a bithiophene-co-thienothiophene backbone with glycol side chains in the 3,3′ positions of the bithiophene repeat unit. In this paper, the analogous regioisomeric polymer, namely pgBTTT, was synthesized by relocating the glycol side chains position on the bithiophene unit of p­(g2T-TT) from the 3,3′ to the 4,4′ positions and compared with the original p­(g2T-TT). By changing the regio-positioning of the side chains, the planarizing effects of the S–O interactions were redistributed along the backbone, and the influence on the polymer’s microstructure organization was investigated using grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS) measurements. The newly designed pgBTTT exhibited lower backbone disorder, closer π-stacking, and higher scattering intensity in both the in-plane and out-of-plane GIWAXS measurements. The effect of the improved planarity of pgBTTT manifested as higher hole mobility (μ) of 3.44 ± 0.13 cm2 V–1 s–1. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was in agreement with the GIWAXS measurements and demonstrated, for the first time, that glycol side chains can also facilitate intermolecular interdigitation analogous to that of pBTTT. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation of energy (eQCM-D) measurements revealed that pgBTTT maintains a more rigid structure than p­(g2T-TT) during doping, minimizing molecular packing disruption and maintaining higher hole mobility in operation mode.

Conjugated polymers with glycol-based chains, are emerging as a material class with promising applications as organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors, particularly in bioelectronics and thermoelectrics. However, little is still known about their microstructure and the role of the side chains in determining intermolecular interactions and polymer packing. Here, we use the combination of electrospray deposition and scanning tunneling microscopy to determine the microstructure of prototypical glycolated conjugated polymers (pgBTTT and p(g2T-TT)) with submonomer resolution. Molecular dynamics simulations of the same surface-adsorbed polymers exhibit an excellent agreement with the experimental images, allowing us to extend the characterization of the polymers to the atomic scale. Our results prove that, similarly to their alkylated counterparts, glycolated polymers assemble through interdigitation of their side chains, although significant differences are found in their conformation and interaction patterns. A model is proposed that identifies the driving force for the polymer assembly in the tendency of the side chains to adopt the conformation of their free analogues, i.e., polyethylene and polyethylene glycol, for alkyl or ethylene glycol side chains, respectively. For both classes of polymers, it is also demonstrated that the backbone conformation is determined to a higher degree by the interaction between the side chains rather than by the backbone torsional potential energy. The generalization of these findings from two-dimensional (2D) monolayers to three-dimensional thin films is discussed, together with the opportunity to use this type of 2D study to gain so far inaccessible, subnm-scale information on the microstructure of conjugated polymers.

Objectives Early diagnosis of arterial hypertension is essential to prevent target organ damage. In humans, retinal arteriolar narrowing predicts hypertension. This blinded prospective observational study investigated the retinal vessel diameters in senior and geriatric cats of varying systolic blood pressure (SBP) status and evaluated retinal vascular changes in hypertensive cats after treatment. Methods Cats with a median age of 14 years (range 9.1–22 years) were categorised into five groups: group 1, healthy normotensive (SBP <140 mmHg; n = 40) cats; group 2, pre-hypertensive (SBP 140–160 mmHg; n = 14) cats; group 3, cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and normotensive (n = 26); group 4, cats with CKD and pre-hypertensive (n = 13); and group 5, hypertensive cats (SBP >160 mmHg, n = 15). Colour fundus images (Optibrand ClearView) were assessed for hypertensive lesions. Retinal vascular diameters and bifurcation angles were annotated and calculated using the Vascular Assessment and Measurement Platform for Images of the Retina annotation tool (VAMPIRE-AT). When available, measurements were obtained at 3 and 6 months after amlodipine besylate treatment. Results Ten hypertensive cats had retinal lesions, most commonly intraretinal haemorrhages and retinal exudates. Arteriole and venule diameters decreased significantly with increasing age (–0.17 ± 0.05 pixels/year [ P = 0.0004]; –0.19 ± 0.05 pixels/year). Adjusted means ± SEM for arteriole and venule diameter (pixels) were 6.3 ± 0.2 and 8.9 ± 0.2 (group 1); 7.6 ± 0.3 and 10.1 ± 0.4 (group 2); 6.9 ± 0.2 and 9.5 ± 0.3 (group 3); 7.4 ± 0.3 and 10.0 ± 0.4 (group 4); and 7.0 ± 0.3 and 9.8 ± 0.4 (group 5). Group 1 arteriole and venule diameters were significantly lower than those of groups 2 and 4. Group 2 arteriole bifurcation angle was significantly narrower than those of groups 1 and 3. Post-treatment, vessel diameters decreased significantly at 3 and 6 months in seven hypertensive cats. Conclusions and relevance Increased age was associated with reduced vascular diameters. Longitudinal studies are required to assess if vessel diameters are a risk indicator for hypertension in cats.