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PreprintCC BYChemRxiv

Contrast-Engineered Polymeric Nanoparticles Enable Multicomponent SAXS Imaging in Soft Matter

  • Åsa Jerlhagen1,2,3
  • Olivia Wilson1,2,3
  • Jonas Tejbo2,3
  • Mu-Rong Wang2,3
  • Korneliya Gordeyeva2,3
  • Tomas Rosén1,2,3
  • Daniel Söderberg1,2,3
  • Eva Malmström1,2,3
  1. 1Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 56-58, Stockholm, Sweden, SE-100 44
  2. 2Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology
  3. 3KTH Royal Institute of Technology
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Abstract

Selective visualization of multiple organic components in small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies remains a major challenge in complex soft matter systems due to limited electron density contrast. Here, we introduce contrast-engineered polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) as organic probes for multicomponent SAXS imaging. Well-defined, monomodal cationic PNPs prepared by polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) were loaded with the iodine-containing molecule 1,4-diiodobenzene, increasing particle electron density while preserving particle size, morphology, colloidal stability, and surface properties. Incorporation of iodine increased the PNP scattering 2 signal by 57%, improving signal-to-noise ratios and expanding the experimental parameter space for SAXS imaging. To demonstrate the capabilities of the contrast-engineered nanoparticles, they were used to study the flow-induced alignment and spinning of cellulose nanofibril (CNF) filaments. The PNPs were used as spatially resolved tracers to simultaneously visualize and distinguish between sheath flows. The measurements showed that the gelling stream remains confined near the channel walls and does not penetrate the detaching sheath or CNF core, clarifying how the flow architecture supports filament formation. These findings establish contrastengineered polymer nanoparticles as versatile organic probes for SAXS and demonstrate a general strategy for resolving transport, segregation, and spatial organization in multicomponent soft matter systems.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@misc{jerlhagen2026contrastengineered,
  title = {{Contrast-Engineered Polymeric Nanoparticles Enable Multicomponent SAXS Imaging in Soft Matter}},
  author = {Åsa Jerlhagen and Olivia Wilson and Jonas Tejbo and Mu-Rong Wang and Korneliya Gordeyeva and Tomas Rosén and Daniel Söderberg and Eva Malmström},
  howpublished = {ChemRxiv},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.26434/chemrxiv.15008304/v1},
  url = {https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008304/v1},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - UNPB
TI  - Contrast-Engineered Polymeric Nanoparticles Enable Multicomponent SAXS Imaging in Soft Matter
AU  - Åsa Jerlhagen
AU  - Olivia Wilson
AU  - Jonas Tejbo
AU  - Mu-Rong Wang
AU  - Korneliya Gordeyeva
AU  - Tomas Rosén
AU  - Daniel Söderberg
AU  - Eva Malmström
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/04
PB  - ChemRxiv
DO  - 10.26434/chemrxiv.15008304/v1
UR  - https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008304/v1
AB  - Selective visualization of multiple organic components in small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies remains a major challenge in complex soft matter systems due to limited electron density contrast. Here, we introduce contrast-engineered polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) as organic probes for multicomponent SAXS imaging. Well-defined, monomodal cationic PNPs prepared by polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) were loaded with the iodine-containing molecule 1,4-diiodobenzene, increasing particle electron density while preserving particle size, morphology, colloidal stability, and surface properties. Incorporation of iodine increased the PNP scattering 2 signal by 57%, improving signal-to-noise ratios and expanding the experimental parameter space for SAXS imaging. To demonstrate the capabilities of the contrast-engineered nanoparticles, they were used to study the flow-induced alignment and spinning of cellulose nanofibril (CNF) filaments. The PNPs were used as spatially resolved tracers to simultaneously visualize and distinguish between sheath flows. The measurements showed that the gelling stream remains confined near the channel walls and does not penetrate the detaching sheath or CNF core, clarifying how the flow architecture supports filament formation. These findings establish contrastengineered polymer nanoparticles as versatile organic probes for SAXS and demonstrate a general strategy for resolving transport, segregation, and spatial organization in multicomponent soft matter systems.
ER  -