Graft copolymers having hydrophobic backbone and hydrophilic branches. XVIII. Poly(styrene) nanospheres with novel thermosensitive poly(N-vinylisobutyramide)s on their surfaces

Poly(styrene) nanospheres having poly(N-vinylisobutyramide)s (PNVIBA)s, which are structurally the same composition as well-known thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)s (PNIPAAm)s and show the thermosensitive property as well, on their surfaces were synthesized by the free radical polymerization of hydrophilic PNVIBA macromonomers and hydrophobic styrene with AIBN as a radical initiator in ethanol as a polar solvent and were characterized in regard to their thermosensitive properties. Both the NVIBA oligomers and PNVIBA macromonomers that we synthesized showed a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at around 40°C, as was predicted by our previous research. The nanospheres were spherical in form and have a narrow size distribution. Their sizes could be controlled by varying the molecular weight of the macromonomers and the amount of it in feed. The size in the nanosphere became small above the LCST of the corresponding macromonomer, possibly due to thermosensitive shrinking of the PNVIBA on the nanosphere surface, while transmittance of its dispersion did not change at all at studied temperature range. The nanospheres having the PNVIBA on their surfaces, which response sharply to atmospheres such as dispersion temperature, can be significant and useful materials in technological and medical fields. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2581–2587, 1998     

Graft copolymers having hydrophobic backbone and hydrophilic branches. XXIII. Particle size control of poly(ethylene glycol)-coated polystyrene nanoparticles prepared by macromonomer method

Monodisperse polymeric nanospheres, which consist of polystyrene cores and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) branches on their surfaces, were prepared by the dispersion copolymerization of styrene (St) with PEG macromonomers that had a methacryloyl (MMA-PEG) or p-vinylbenzyl (St-PEG) end group in various organic solvent/water media. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) of the nanosphere surfaces indicated that PEG macromonomer chains were favorably located on their surfaces. The morphologies of the nanospheres were observed via a scanning electron micrograph (SEM), and particle sizes were estimated by a submicron particle analyzer. When both the concentration of macromonomers and molecular weight were higher, small nanospheres in diameter were obtained. Larger nanospheres in diameter were obtained using macromonomers with low molecular weight at lower concentration. The functions that correlate the diameter (D_n) on different concentration units were D_n = K[St]^0.64[MMA-PEG]^{−0.53±0.01}[I]^−0.49 and D_n = K[St]^0.80[St-PEG]^{−0.69±0.01}[I]^−0.22, where [I], [St], [MMA-PEG], and [St-PEG] are initiator, styrene, MMA-PEG, and St-PEG macromonomer concentration in feed, respectively. When the reaction parameters such as the molecular weight of the macromonomers were properly chosen, the particle size could be controlled in a range from ca. 80 to 3100 nm. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2155–2166, 1999     

Nanosphere formation in copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with poly(ethylene glycol) macromonomers

Polymeric nanospheres consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) cores and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) branches on their surfaces were prepared by free radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with PEG macromonomers in ethanol/water mixed solvents. PEG macromonomers having a methacryloyl (MMA‐PEG) and p‐vinylbenzyl (St‐PEG) end group were used. It has become clear that the obtained polymer dispersions form three kinds of states, particle dispersion (milky solution), clear solution, and gel/precipitation. It was found that the reaction parameters such as MMA concentration, molecular weight, and concentration of PEG macromonomers, and water content can affect nanosphere formation in a copolymerization system. The water volume fraction of mixed ethanol/water solvents affected the particle size of the nanospheres. These differences in the formation of nanospheres were due to the solvophilic/solvophobic balance between the copolymers and solvents during the self‐assembling process of the copolymers. The sizes of nanospheres can be controlled by varying concentration of PEG macromonomer and water content in solvents. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1811–1817, 2000     

Core‐shell functional nanospheres for oligonucleotide delivery. II

Two polymethylmethacrylate functional nanosphere series, specifically designed for the reversible adsorption of oligonucleotides, were prepared by emulsion polymerization in the presence of two structurally different ionic comonomers, namely two quaternary ammonium salts of 2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate. The nanosphere size is substantially affected by the ionic comonomer structure and amount. The width of the size distribution tends to decrease with increasing the comonomer amount in solution, and monosized nanosphere samples are obtained at a high comonomer amount. The ionic comonomer weight percentage on the nanospheres increases monotonically in both sample series as the comonomer concentration increases. In contrast, the trend of the quaternary ammonium group surface density is different in the two sample series displaying a regular increase or a maximum value as the ionic comonomer concentration increases. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1110–1117, 2000     

Organic/inorganic hybrid nanospheres coated with palladium/P4VP shells from surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization

Crosslinked poly(4‐vinylbenzyl chloride) (PVBC) nanospheres of about 160 nm were first synthesized by emulsion copolymerization of 4‐vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) in the presence of a crosslinking agent, p‐divinylbenzene. Subsequent modification of the nanosphere surfaces via surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of 4‐vinylpyridine, using the VBC units of PVBC on the nanosphere surface as the macroinitiators, produced a well‐defined and covalently tethered poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (P4VP) shells of 24–27 nm in thickness. Activation of the P4VP shells in a PdCl₂ solution, followed by reactions with CO or H₂S gas, gave rise to the corresponding P4VP composite shells containing densely dispersed palladium metal or palladium sulfide nanoparticles. The chemical composition of the nanosphere surfaces at various stages of surface modification was characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the morphology of the organic/inorganic hybrid nanospheres coated with palladium/P4VP shells. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2119–2131, 2008     

Core‐shell functional nanospheres for oligonucleotide delivery. III. Stealth nanospheres

Polymethyl methacrylate‐based stealth and functional nanospheres, specifically designed for the reversible adsorption of oligonucleotides (ODN), were prepared by emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of an ionic comonomer, namely a quaternary ammonium salt of 2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate, and a nonionic comonomer, namely a poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate. The nanosphere size is substantially affected by the amount of both the nonionic and ionic comonomers. By appropriately adjusting the concentrations of the ionic and nonionic comonomers, the quaternary ammonium group and PEG chain surface densities can be finely tuned. Accordingly, a great variety of core‐shell‐type nanospheres, able to bind ODN and to induce dysopsonic effect, can be obtained. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3347–3354, 2000     

Synthesis of comb‐branched polyacrylamide with cationic poly[(2‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate dimethylsulfate] quat

Comb‐branched polyelectrolytes with polyacrylamide backbones and poly[(2‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate methylsulfate] (polyDMAEMA‐DMS) side chains were prepared by free‐radical macromonomer polymerization. PolyDMAEMA‐DMS macromonomers bearing terminal styrenic moieties were synthesized by living anionic polymerization with lithium 4‐vinylbenzylamide (LiVBA) and lithium N‐isopropyl‐4‐vinylbenzylamide (LiPVBA) as initiators. In the presence of LiCl, LiPVBA initiated a living polymerization of 2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and produced polymers with well‐controlled molecular weights and low polydispersities. LiVBA could not directly initiate DMAEMA polymerization. After being capped with two units of dimethylacrylamide, DMAEMA polymerized with an initiator efficiency of 63%. The quaternization of the poly[(2‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] macromonomer with dimethyl sulfate yielded the cationic polyDMAEMA‐DMS macromonomer. The polyDMAEMA‐DMS macromonomer had a much higher reactivity than acrylamide in free‐radical polymerization. This might have been due to the formation of polyDMAEMA‐DMS micelles in the polymerization system. The high macromonomer reactivity caused composition drift in a batch process. A semibatch method with a constant polyDMAEMA‐DMS feed rate was used to control the copolymer composition. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2394–2405, 2002     

Micellar polymerization of amphiphilic poly(vinyl alcohol) macromonomer having a methacrylate end group prepared by aldol‐type group‐transfer polymerization

Amphiphilic and heterotactic‐rich poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) macromonomer, that is, PVA having a phenyl or phenoxyethyl methacrylate unit as the polymerizable end group, was synthesized via the aldol‐type group‐transfer polymerization (aldol‐GTP) technique. Aldol‐GTPs of vinyloxytriethylsilane (VOTES) were carried out in dichloromethane with 4‐methacryloylbenzaldehyde and 4‐(2‐methacryloylethoxy)benzaldehyde as the initiators with various Lewis acids. The polymerizations proceeded smoothly to give silylated PVA macromonomers (number‐average molecular weights: 1.3 × 10³–1.96 × 10⁴). Poly(VOTES) was easily desilylated to give heterotactic‐rich PVA macromonomer in good yield. The critical micelle concentration of the PVA macromonomer was determined by surface‐tension measurement. Micellar polymerization of the amphiphilic macromonomer gave comb‐shaped (graft) polymer having PVA side chains effectively (conversion: 80–82%), whereas polymerization in dimethyl sulfoxide (homogeneous state) did not. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4477–4484, 2002     

Thermoresponsive PPEGMEA‐g‐PPEGEEMA well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymer synthesized by successive SET‐LRP and ATRP

A series of well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymers containing poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate] (PPEGMEA) backbone and poly[poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate] (PPEGEEMA) side chains were synthesized by the combination of single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The backbone was first prepared by SET‐LRP of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate macromonomer using CuBr/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as catalytic system. The obtained comb copolymer was treated with lithium diisopropylamide and 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide to give PPEGMEA‐Br macroinitiator. Finally, PPEGMEA‐g‐PPEGEEMA graft copolymers were synthesized by ATRP of poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate macromonomer using PPEGMEA‐Br macroinitiator via the grafting‐from route. The molecular weights of both the backbone and the side chains were controllable and the molecular weight distributions kept narrow (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.20). This kind of double hydrophilic copolymer was found to be stimuli‐responsive to both temperature and ion (0.3 M Cl^? and SO). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 647–655, 2010     

Synthesis of poly[N‐isopropylacrylamide‐g‐poly(ethylene glycol)] with a reactive group at the poly(ethylene glycol) end and its thermosensitive self‐assembling character

Poly[N‐isopropylacrylamide‐g‐poly(ethylene glycol)]s with a reactive group at the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) end were synthesized by the radical copolymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide with a PEG macromonomer having an acetal group at one end and a methacryloyl group at the other chain end. The temperature dependence of the aqueous solutions of the obtained graft copolymers was estimated by light scattering measurements. The intensity of the light scattering from aqueous polymer solutions increased with increasing temperature. In particular, at temperatures above 40°C, the intensity abruptly increased, indicating a phase separation of the graft copolymer due to the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) segment. No turbidity was observed even above the LCST, and this suggested a nanoscale self‐assembling structure of the graft copolymer. The dynamic light scattering measurements confirmed that the size of the aggregate was in the range of several tens of nanometers. The acetal group at the end of the PEG graft chain was easily converted to the aldehyde group by an acid treatment, which was analyzed by ¹H NMR. Such a temperature‐induced nanosphere possessing reactive PEG tethered chains on the surface is promising for new nanobased biomedical materials. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1457–1469, 2006     

Nanosphere-antibody conjugates with releasable fluorescent probes

Surface-functionalized, probe-containing, polymeric nanospheres with diameters between 10 nm and 40 nm (depending on the probe) were used to provide a fluorescent endpoint for nonextractive immunoassay. The probes inside the nanospheres were lanthanoid ions. Methyl methacrylate was used as the monomer to reduce random adsorption of proteins onto the nanosphere surfaces. The acid-group surface functionalization allowed the nanospheres to be conjugated to the amine groups on the antibodies (IgG). The surfaces were further functionalized with alcohol and ester groups to improve the suspension characteristics of the nanospheres. As many as four probe ions may be quantified simultaneously, although only three with a single ligand. Co-measurement of four probes required a combination of two ligands. The intensity of the fluorescence produced by these complexes allows detection with a sensitivity equivalent to enzyme-linked immunoassay. Received: 24 October 2000 / Revised: 18 December 2000 / Accepted: 21 December 2000     

Multisensitive polymers based on 2‐vinylpyridine and N‐isopropylacrylamide *

Poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (P2VP) containing functionalized end groups was synthesized using nitroxyl‐mediated radical polymerization with a hydroxy‐functionalized stable free radical. It was shown that P2VP could be synthesized with variable molar masses and low polydispersities. The transformation of the hydroxy groups to an acrylic ester led to the formation of macromonomers. A free‐radical copolymerization of these macromonomers with N‐isopropylacrylamide gave a graft copolymer with a poly(N‐ispopropylacrylamide) backbone and P2VP side chains. Polymers containing different amounts of the monomers were synthesized. It was possible to vary both the amount of P2VP side chains at a constant chain length of the macromonomer and the chain length at a nearly constant chain number. The behavior of the multifunctional macromolecules at different temperatures and pH values was investigated using dynamic light scattering and DSC. The macromolecules were found to retain the specific properties of the homopolymers. The hydrodynamic radii of the synthesized graft copolymers were both dependent on the temperature and pH value. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3797–3804, 2001     

Magnetic poly(glycidyl methacrylate) particles prepared in the presence of surface‐modified γ‐Fe2O3

Maghemite (γ‐Fe₂O₃) colloid has been synthesized by coprecipitation of ferrous and ferric salts in alkaline medium and oxidation. The obtained nanoparticles were complexed with a phosphate macromonomer—penta(propylene glycol) methacrylate phosphate (PPGMAP). Complexes with the weight ratio PPGMAP/γ‐Fe₂O₃ 0.01–10 were investigated using a range of characterization methods. The amount of PPGMAP attached to the particles was about 22 wt %. The size and size distribution of the γ‐Fe₂O₃ core particles in the dry state was measured by TEM. To complete the TEM images, the hydrodynamic size of the nanoparticles including polymer shell and the maghemite core was determined by DLS measurements in toluene. Magnetic poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) nanospheres were obtained by Kraton G 1650‐stabilized and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile‐initiated polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) in toluene or toluene/cyclohexane mixture in the presence of PPGMAP‐coated γ‐Fe₂O₃ colloid. The effect of Kraton G 1650 concentration on the morphology, PGMA nanosphere size and polydispersity was investigated. The particles were characterized also by both thermogravimetric analysis and magnetic measurements. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4982–4994, 2009     

Graft copolymers having hydrophobic backbone and hydrophilic branches. XI. Preparation and thermosensitive properties of polystyrene microspheres having poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) branches on their surfaces

Thermosensitive microspheres with 0.4–1.2 μm diameter consisting of a polystyrene core and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (polyNIPAAm) branches on their surfaces were prepared by the free radical polymerization of a polyNIPAAm macromonomer and styrene in ethanol. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) of the microsphere surface suggested that polyNIPAAm chains were favorably located on the surface of the microspheres. The morphology of the microspheres was observed by transmission electron micrograph (TEM) and the particle size of was estimated by submicron particle analyzer. The molecular weight of the polyNIPAAm macromonomer, the ratio of the macromonomer and styrene, and the polymerization temperature affected the particle size. Thermosensitive properties of polyNIPAAm-coated polystyrene microspheres were evaluated by the turbidity of their dispersion solutions and the hydrodynamic size of the miocrospheres. The transmittance in dispersion solutions changed clearly, similar to oligoNIPAAm and polyNIPAAm macromonomers. In addition, the particle size of microspheres decreased with rising temperature. These results were explained by the thermosensitivity of polyNIPAAm branches on the microsphere surface. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polystyrene‐graft‐poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers prepared by macromonomer technique in dispersion. I. Liquid chromatographic separation of product mixtures

Products of the radical dispersion copolymerization of methacryloyl‐terminated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) macromonomer and styrene were separated and characterized by size exclusion chromatography (SEC), full adsorption‐desorption (FAD)/SEC coupling and eluent gradient liquid adsorption chromatography (LAC). In dimethylformamide, which is a good solvent for PEO side chains but a poor solvent for polystyrene (PS), amphiphilic PS‐graft‐PEO copolymers formed aggregates, which were very stable at room temperature even upon substantial dilution. The aggregates disappeared at high temperature or in tetrahydrofuran (THF), which is a good solvent for both homopolymers and for PS‐graft‐PEO. FAD/SEC procedure allowed separation of homo‐PS from graft‐copolymer and determination of both its amount and molar mass. Effective molar mass of graft‐copolymer was estimated directly from the SEC calibration curve determined with PS standards. Presence of larger amount of the homo‐PS in the final graft‐copolymer products was also confirmed with LAC measurements. The results indicate that there are at least two or maybe three polymerization loci; namely the continuous phase, the particle surface layer and the particle core. The graft copolymers are produced mainly in the continuous phase while PS or copolymer rich in styrene units is formed mostly in the core of monomer‐swollen particles. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2284–2291, 2000     

Successive SET‐LRP and ATRP synthesis of ferrocene‐based PPEGMEA‐g‐PAEFC well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymer

A series of ferrocene‐based well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymers, consisting of hydrophilic poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate] (PPEGMEA) backbone and hydrophobic poly(2‐acryloyloxyethyl ferrocenecarboxylate) (PAEFC) side chains were synthesized by successive single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The backbone was prepared by SET‐LRP of PEGMEA macromonomer, and it was then treated with lithium di‐isopropylamide and 2‐bromopropionyl bromide at ?78 °C to give PPEGMEA‐Br macroinitiator. The targeted well‐defined graft copolymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.32) were synthesized via ATRP of AEFC initiated by PPEGMEA‐Br macroinitiator, and the molecular weights of the backbone and side chains were both controllable. The electro‐chemical behaviors of graft copolymers were studied by cyclic voltammetry, and it was found that graft copolymers were more difficult to be oxidized, and the reversibility of electrode process became less with raising the content of PAEFC segment. The effects of the preparation method, the length of hydrophobic PAEFC segment, and the initial water content on self‐assembly behavior of PPEGMEA‐g‐PAEFC graft copolymers in aqueous media were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The morphologies of micelles could transform from cylinders to spheres or rods with changing the preparation condition and the length of side chains. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Modification of the ω‐bromo end group of poly(methacrylate)s prepared by copper(I)‐mediated living radical polymerization

Four different approaches to introduce a specific functional group at the ω terminus of poly(methacrylate)s (PMMAs) prepared via copper(I)bromide/pyridinalimine‐mediated atom transfer polymerization, under polymerization conditions, are reported. Method 1 involves the homolysis of the ω‐C Br bond with a subsequent reaction, via coupling or disproportionation, with an external radical species. The reaction with 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐N‐oxyl shows a high conversion (>78%) of the ω‐bromo PMMA chains into their corresponding macromonomer analogues. Method 2 utilizes monomers that are able to undergo radical addition followed by subsequent fragmentation. Reactions with trimethyl[1‐(trimethylsiloxy)phenylethenyloxy]silane and allyl bromide show quantitative and 57% transformation, respectively. Method 3 is the reaction of a monomer that yields a relatively more stable secondary, or primary, carbon–halogen bond. Reactions with divinylbenzene, n‐butylacrylate, and ethylene showed quantitative, 62%, and quantitative additions, respectively. Method 4 is the addition of nonhomopropagating monomers, that is, maleic anhydride. This reaction proceeds quantitatively. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2678–2686, 2000     

Graft copolymers having hydrophobic backbone and hydrophilic branches. X. Preparation and properties of water-dispersible polyanionic microspheres having poly(methacrylic acid) branches on their surfaces

The free radical copolymerization of poly(t-butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) macromonomer with styrene in ethanol give monodispersed microspheres with 0.8-1.6 μm diameter. The resulting microspheres were treated with HCl solution to convert into anionic microspheres having poly(methacrylic acid) chains. ESCA analysis of the microsphere surface suggested that PBMA chains were favorably located on the surface of the microspheres. The particle size of the microspheres decreased with increasing molecular weight and concentration of the macromonomer. Water dispersibilities of the microspheres were evaluated by measuring the relative turbidity of the suspension of microspheres as a function of pH. The results show that they were strongly dependent on pH. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Controlling the formation of long‐subchain hyperbranched polystyrene from seesaw‐type AB2 macromonomers: Solvent polarity and solubility

Through atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene with 1,3‐dibromomethyl‐5‐propargyloxy‐benzene as initiator followed by the conversion of bromine end‐groups into azide end‐groups, well‐defined seesaw‐type polystyrene (PSt) macromonomers with two molecular weights (M_n = 8.0 and 28.0 k) were obtained. Thus, a series of long‐subchain hyperbranched (lsc‐hp) PSt with high overall molar masses and regular subchain lengths were obtained via copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition click chemistry performed in THF and DMF, respectively. The polycondensation of seesaw‐type macromonomers was monitored by gel permeation chromatography. Because DMF is the reaction medium with higher polarity, click reaction proceeds more easily in DMF. Therefore, the growth of lsc‐hp PSt in DMF has faster rate than that in THF for the shorter seesaw‐type macromonomer (Seesaw‐8k). However, THF is the solvent with better solubility to PSt and leads to looser conformation of PSt chains. Thus, for the longer seesaw macromonomer (Seesaw‐28k), lsc‐hp PSt in THF has higher overall molar mass. As well, the self‐cyclization of seesaw‐type macromonomers also depends on both solvent and molar mass of macromonomer. The self‐cyclization degrees of Seesaw‐8k in DMF and THF are almost the same while that of Seesaw‐28k macromonomer is obviously lower in THF. The experimental results suggest a physical consideration to control the growth of hyperbranched polymers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Star polymers by cross‐linking of linear poly(benzyl‐L‐glutamate) macromonomers via free‐radical and RAFT polymerization. A simple route toward peptide‐stabilized nanoparticles

Poly(benzyl‐L ‐glutamate) (PBLG) macromonomers were synthesized by N‐carboxyanhydride (NCA) polymerization initiated with 4‐vinyl benzylamine. MALDI‐ToF analysis confirmed the presence of styrenic end‐groups in the PBLG. Free‐radical and RAFT polymerization of the macromonomer in the presence of divinyl benzene produced star polymers of various molecular weights, polydispersity, and yield depending on the reaction conditions applied. The highest molecular weight (M_w) of 10,170,000 g/mol was obtained in a free‐radical multibatch approach. It was shown that the PBLG star polymers can be deprotected to obtain poly(glutamic acid) star polymers, which form water soluble pH responsive nanoparticles. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010