This study proposed an AE classification system that outperformed the existing SIR classification in the studied domains.

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The structure of polyelectrolyte stars and spherical brushes is discussed using a local force balance argument that balances the osmotic pressure and the tension in the chains locally for a given radial position. In general, there are four distinct regions where the segment density profile ( ) is dominated by one of the interactions: (i) in the outer region, electrostatic interactions dominate, (ii) in the intermediate region, binary interactions dominate, (in) in the inner region ternary interactions dominate, and finally (iv) at the center of the star (of the order of a few segment lengths), the density is unity. For poor solvents we predict a collapse induced by the attractive binary interactions that leads to a two-phase star or brush. The inner dense layer is stabilized by ternary interactions whereas the outer dilute layer is dominated by electrostatic repulsions-the segment density changes discontinuously from one to the other (and the intermediate density region disappears). The magnitude of the collapse transition is found to increase with the chain length for stars and spherical brushes, unlike planar brushes. The star is expected to collapse continuously with the reduction in the solvent quality-unlike a first-order transition for planar brushes. Planar polyelectrolyte brushes can also display two-phase regions; however, the full SCF approach is warranged in this case. Collapse induced by n-clusters in uncharged polymers is also shown to lead to two-phase brushes.Joanny,13 Zhulina and Pakula,14 Milner and Witten,15 and Halperin and Zhulina16 using the SCF theory, and by Misra and Mattice using the Monte Carlo method.17

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Angiogenesis, a process involving the growth of new blood vessels from the pre-existing vasculature, plays a crucial role in various pathophysiological conditions. We have previously demonstrated that europium hydroxide [EuIII(OH)3] nanorods (EHNs) exhibit pro-angiogenic properties through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. Considering the enormous implication of angiogenesis in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cancer, it is essential to understand in-depth molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways in order to develop the most efficient and effective alternative treatment strategy for CVDs. However, the exact underlying mechanism and cascade signaling pathways behind the pro-angiogenic properties exhibited by EHNs still remain unclear. Herein, we report for the first time that the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a redox signaling molecule, generated by these EHNs activates the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) that promotes the nitric oxide (NO) production in a PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase)/Akt dependent manner, eventually triggering angiogenesis. We intensely believe that the investigation and understanding of the in-depth molecular mechanism and signaling pathways of EHNs induced angiogenesis will help us in developing an effective alternative treatment strategy for cardiovascular related and ischemic diseases where angiogenesis plays an important role.