Photo-grafting Poly(acrylic acid) onto Poly(lactic acid) Chains in Solution

Poly(lactic acid)(PLA)is one of the most important bio-plastics,and chemical modification of the already-polymerized poly(lactic acid)chains may enable optimization of its material properties and expand its application areas.In this study,we demonstrated that poly(lactic acid)can be readily dissolved in acrylic acid at room temperature,and acrylic acid can be graft-polymerized onto poly(lactic acid)chains in solution with the help of photoinitiator benzophenone under 254 nm ultraviolet(UV)irradiation.Similar photo-grafting polymerization of acrylic acid(PAA)has only been studied before in the surface modification of polymer films.The graft ratio could be controlled by various reaction parameters,including irradiation time,benzophenone content,and monomer/polymer ratios.This photo-grafting reaction resulted in high graft ratio(graft ratio PAA/PLA up to 180%)without formation of homopolymers of acrylic acid.When the PAA/PLA graft ratio was higher than 100%,the resulting PLA-g-PAA polymer was found dispersible in water.The pros and cons of the photo-grafting reaction were also discussed.     

THE EFFECT OF MODIFICATION OF COORDINATING GROUPS ON THE CATALYTIC BEHAVIORS OF POLYMER CATALYSTS

Several polymer-supported palladium complex catalysts containing two different coordinatinggroups were prepared and the cooperative effect of the coordinating groups on the catalytic behaviorsof polymer catalysts was studied. It was found that poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylonitrile)-Pd complex(PAA-AN-Pd) is a more active and stable catalyst for hydrogenation than both poly(acrylic acid)-Pd and poly(acrylonitrile)-Pd complexes. A marked change of catalytic behaviors of poly(N-substituted maleamic acid-co-styrene)-Pd complexes was observed in comparison with poly(maleicacid-co-styrene)-Pd complex. Acetophenone was reduced to 1-phenyl ethanol by poly(N-phenylmaleamic acid-Co-styrene)-Pd complex (N-1-Pd), but ethylbenzene was obtained using poly(maleicacid-co-styrene)-Pd complex as a catalyst. The influence of solvents, additives and N/Pd gramatomic ratio on the catalytic behaviors of the polymer complexes was investigated.     

Probing the effects of external species on poly(acrylate acid) chain dynamics by using cationic AIE-active fluorophore

We report here our results on the investigation of the chain dynamics of poly(acrylic acid) in aqueous solution. The concentration of poly(acrylic acid) was approximately 3.8×10~(-4) mol/L, two orders of magnitude higher than that reported in the literature. The p H value of the solution was 3.9, and the hydrogen bonds between the intrinsic and ionized carboxylic acid groups formed dynamic networks, which captured aggregation-induced emission-active molecules(a tetra-quaternary ammonium modified tetraphenylethene derivative) inside the polymer coils and induced fluorescence emission. The hydrogen bonds can be classified as intra- or intermolecular; both can be probed based on the emission change of the tetra-quaternary ammonium modified tetraphenylethene probes. The effects of different external stimuli on the polymer chain dynamics were investigated using different metal cations(including Na~+, Li~+, Zn~(2+), Ni~(2+), Ca~(2+), and Co~(2+)), different cation concentrations(1×10~(-6) to 4×10~(-4) mol/L), different poly(acrylic acid) molecular weights(5, 240, and 450 k Da), and different copolymers. The experimental results indicate that the long poly(acrylic acid) chains(high molecular weight) tend to form dense globular coils and exclude the probe molecules outside, which are robust and unsusceptible to water-soluble metal cations. However, the shorter poly(acrylic acid) chains tend to form intermolecular hydrogen bonds, which are helpful in capturing more probe molecules inside the networks, thus inducing stronger emission. Because of the dual functions of forming hydrogen bonds with carboxylic groups and acting as an acceptor of protons from the carboxylic acid group to form cationic species, copolymerization with acrylate amide [poly(acrylic acid)-co-poly(acrylamide)] can greatly affect the chain dynamics of poly(acrylic acid) segments, which is reflected by the drastically decreased emission intensity from the fluorescent probes.     

Pegylated single-walled carbon nanotubes with gelable block copolymers

Functional amphiphilic block copolymer poly（ethylene glycol）-block-poly[（3-（triethoxysilyl）propyl methacrylate）-co -（1-pyrene-methyl） methacrylate],PEG₁₁₃-b-P(TEPM₂₆-co-PyMMA₄),was synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization（ATRP） initiated by monomethoxy capped poly（ethylene glycol） bromoisobutyratc.This polymer exhibited strong ability to disperse and exfoliate single-walled carbon nanotubes（SWNTs） in different solvents due to the adhesion of pyrene units to surface of SWNTs.In aqueous solution,the PTEPM segments that were located on the nanotube surfaces with the pyrene units could be gelated and,as a result,the silica oxide networks with PEG coronas were formed on the surface of nanotubes,which ensured the composites with a good dispersibility and stability.Furthermore,functional silane coupling agents,3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilanc,were introduced during dispersion of SWNTs using the block copolymers.They were co-gelated with PTEPM segments,and the-SH and-NH₂ functionalities were introduced into the silica oxide coats respectively.     

PREPARATION OF POLY（ETHYLENEGLYCOL-co-ACRYLIC ACID） MICROSPHERES WITH DIVINYLBENZNE AS CROSSLINKER BY DISTILLATION-PRECIPITATION POLYMERIZATION

Monodisperse poly（poly（ethyleneglycol） methyl ether acrylate-co-acrylic acid） （poly（PEGMA-co-AA）） microspheres were prepared by distillation-precipitation polymerization with divinylbenzene （DVB） as crosslinker with 2,2＇- azobisisobutyronitrile （AIBN） as initiator in neat acetonitrile without stirring. Under various reaction conditions, four distinct morphologies including the sol, microemulsion, microgels and microspheres were formed during the distillation of the solvent from the reaction system. A 2D morphological map was established as a function of crosslinker concentration and the polar monomer AA concentration, in comonomer feed in the transition between the morphology domains. The effect of the covalent crosslinker DVB on the morphology of the polymer network was investigated in detail at AA fraction of 40 vol%. The ratios of acid to ethylene oxide units presenting in the comonomers dramatically affected the polymer-polymer interaction and hence the morphology of the resultant polymer network. The covalent crosslinking by DVB and the hydrogen bonding crosslinking between two acid units as well as between the acid and ethylene oxide unit played key roles in the formation of monodisperse polymer microspheres.     

Directed Self-assembly of Vertical PS-b-PMMA Nanodomains Grown on Multilayered Polyelectrolyte Films

Layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte self-assembly, a common method for preparing high-quality ultra-thin films, was employed to direct the self-assembly behavior of polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate)(PS-b-PMMA) block copolymer for the first time. Differing from the previous neutral polymer brushes anchored to silicon substrates via chemical modification, polyelectrolyte multilayers(PEMs) were anchored by electrostatic interaction and provided a stable, smooth, and neutral interface. In the present study, PS-b-PMMA was deposited on poly(acrylamide hydrochloride)/poly(acrylic acid)(PAH/PAA) PEMs prepared by layer-by-layer self-assembly to successfully yield vertical nanodomains after thermal annealing. Seven layered PEMs revealed an excellent, smooth surface, with a low roughness of 0.6 nm. The periodic structure with interlamellar spacing of 47 nm was determined by grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering(GISAXS). The morphology of the PS-b-PMMA nanodomains depended on the polyanion-to-polycation concentration ratio, which is related to the interaction between the block copolymer and the substrate. Our results demonstrate that layer-by-layer self-assembly is a helpful method for the phase separation of block polymers and the fabrication of vertical, ordered nanodomains.     

Synthesis and Application of a New Acrylic Ester Resin for Recycling SIPA from its Water Solution

A new acrylic ester polymer YWB-7 resin was prepared and characterized. The properties of YWB-7 resin were compared with those of the commercial Amberlite XAD-7, Diaion HP2MG and hypercrosslinked macroporous polymer NDA-150 resins. Both surface area and micropore area of YWB-7 resin were bigger than those of XAD-7 resin and HP2MG resin. The YWB-7 resin was successfully employed to recycle 5-sodiosulfoisophthalic acids （SIPA） from its solutions with and without methanol.     

Surface functionalization of polystyrene to bind with FMRF peptides for novel biocompatibility

<正>A generic method was described to change surface biocompatibihty by introducing reactive functional groups onto surfaces of polymeric substrates and covalently binding them with biomolecules.A block copolymer with protected carboxylic acid functionality,poly(styrene-b-tert-butyl acrylate)(PS-PtBA),was spin coated from solutions in toluene on a bioinert polystyrene(PS) substrate to form a bilayer structure:a surface layer of the poly(tert-butyl acrylate)(PtBA) blocks that order at the air-polymer interface and a bottom layer of the PS blocks that entangle with the PS substrate.The thickness of the PtBA layer and the area density of tert-butyl ester groups of PtBA increased linearly with the concentration of the spin coating solution until a 2 nm saturated monolayer coverage of PtBA was achieved at the concentration of 0.4%W/W.The protected carboxylic acid groups were generated by exposing the tert-butyl ester groups of PtBA to trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) for bioconjugation with FMRF peptides via amide bonds.The yield of the bioconjugation reaction for the saturated surface was calculated to be 37.1%based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) measurements.The success of each functionalization step was demonstrated and characterized by XPS and contact angle measurements.This polymer functionalization/modification concept can be virtually applied to any polymeric substrate by choosing appropriate functional block copolymers and biomolecules to attain novel biocompatibility.     

基于聚硫堇膜对DNA杂交的直接电化学检测

In this work, the application of a conducting polymer, poly（thionine）, modified electrode as matrix to DNA immobilization as well as transducer to label-free DNA hybridization detection was introduced. The electropolymerization of thionine onto electrode surface was carried out by a simple two-step method, which involved a preanodization of glassy carbon electrode at a constant positive potential in thionine solution following cyclic voltammetry scans in the solution. Electrochemical detection was performed by differential pulse voltammetry in the electroactivity potential domain of poly（thionine）. The resulting poly（thionine） modified electrode showed a good stability and electroactivity in aqueous media during a near neutral pH range. Additionally, the pendant amino groups on the poly（thionine） chains enabled poly（thionine） modified electrode to immobilize phosphate group terminated DNA probe via covalent linkage. Hybridization process induced a clear decrease in poly（thionine） redox current, which was corresponding to the decrease in poly（thionine） electroactivity after double stranded DNA was formed on the polymer film. The detection limit of this electrochemical DNA hybridization sensor was 1.0 × 10^-10mol/L. Compared with complementary sequence, the hybridization signal values of 1-base mismatched and 3-base mismatched samples were 63.9% and 9.2%, respectively.     

Analysis of spherical polyelectrolyte brushes by small angle X-ray scattering

Spherical polyelectrolyte brushes （SPBs） with PS core and poly（acrylic acid） （PAA） brushes were prepared and analyzed by SAXS in this article. A radial electron density profile of SPB was brought up, which fits well with the SAXS result and shows a core-shell structure. The effect of pH on SPB form was represented by SAXS and it proves that the chains of SPB will stretch in response to increased pH owning to the increased electrostatic repulsion. SPBs immobilized with magnetic nanoparticles or bovine serum albumin （BSA） were prepared and analyzed by SAXS as well. SAXS could characterize the changes of electron density inside brushes of SPBs due to the immobilization of magnetic nanoparticles or BSA. This provides significant supports for further application of immobilized metal nanoparticles or proteins.     

聚氨酯接枝多壁碳纳米管的制备及表征

采用两步法成功地将聚氨酯分子链以共价键连接到碳纳米管表面. 首先将聚丙烯酰氯通过与强酸氧化后多壁碳纳米管表面产生的羟基及少量羧基之间的化学反应共价接枝到碳纳米管表面; 然后将接枝到碳纳米管表面的聚丙烯酰氯与端羟基聚氨酯发生酯化反应, 实现了聚氨酯对碳纳米管的表面共价接枝. 采用傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)、透射电镜(TEM)、扫描电镜(SEM) 和热重分析(TGA)等对接枝后的产物进行了表征, 结果表明, 聚氨酯已共价接枝到碳纳米管表面, 被接枝的聚合物的含量接近90%.     

Controlled functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes with various molecular-weight poly(L-lactic acid)

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were functionalized with poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) with different molecular weights using a "grafting to" technique. The oxidized MWNT (MWNT-COOH) were converted to the acyl-chloride-functionalized MWNT (MWNT-COCl) by treating them with thionyl chloride (SOCl2) and reacting them with PLLA to prepare the MWNT-g-PLLA. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy revealed that the PLLA was covalently attached to the MWNT, and the weight gain due to the functionalization was determined by thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). The Raman signals of the MWNT were greatly weakened as a result of the PLLA grafting. The morphology of the grafted PLLA was examined by using SEM and TEM. The amount of grafted PLLA depended on the molecular weight of the PLLA. The PLLA coated on the MWNT became thicker and more uniform with increasing PLLA molecular weight from 1000 to 3000. However, the amount of grafted PLLA became lower when the molecular weight of PLLA was further increased to 11,000 and 15,000, and the PLLA attached to the MWNT showed a squid leglike morphology forming blobs and leaving much of the MWNT surface bare.     

Preparation of poly 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate functionalized carbon nanotubes as novel biomaterial nanocomposites

We report a simple method for the functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with a biomedically important polymer, poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (poly(HEMA)), by chemical grafting of HEMA monomer followed by free radical polymerization. The nanotubes were first oxidized with a mixture of conc. nitric acid and sulfuric acid (1:3), in order to obtain carboxylic acid functionalized MWNTs. Then the grafting of HEMA on to the surface of MWNTs was carried by chemical functionalization of HEMA with acid chloride-bound nanotubes by esterification reaction. FT-IR was used to identify functionalization of -COOH and HEMA groups attached to the surface of the nanotubes. The presence of poly(HEMA) on the nanotubes were confirmed by FESEM, TEM, and TGA analyses. Additionally, the dispersibility of the polymer functionalized nanotubes in methanol was also demonstrated. Considering the biomedical importance of poly(HEMA) and the recent successful in vivo studies on CNTs, in future, these materials are expected to be useful in the pharmaceutical industry as novel biomaterials composites with potential applications in drug delivery.     

Preparation of Amino-functionalized Multiwall Carbon Nanotube/Gold Nanoparticle Composites

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were modified orderly with carboxyl groups and amino groups. The MWNT/gold nanoparticle composites were formed when the amino‐functionalized MWNT was interacted with gold colloids. The functionalized MWNT was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The amino‐functionalized MWNT allows further attaching gold nanoparticles through electrostatic interaction between the negatively charged gold nanoparticles and amino groups on the surface of the MWNT. The composite of gold nanoprticles and amino‐functionalized MWNT was characterized by transmission electron microscopy. This method decorating carbon nanotubes can be used to identify the location of functional groups, i.e. defect sites on carbon nanotubes.     

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Functionalized by Hyperbranched Poly(urea‐urethane)s by a One‐Pot Polycondensation

Summary: Hyperbranched poly(urea‐urethane)‐functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT‐HPUs) have been synthesized by a one‐pot polycondensation of tolylene 2,4‐diisocyanate and diethanolamine in the presence of MWNTs terminated with multiple hydroxy groups. FT‐IR, Raman, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectra reveal that the HPU trees are covalently grafted onto the MWNT surfaces. After a high density of HPU trees (83.5 wt.‐%) is attached to the MWNTs, core‐shell nanostructures with MWNTs as the core and the HPU trees as the shell are formed. A loose and uniform nanotube network can be observed by TEM, SEM, and AFM. The resulting MWNT‐HPUs are soluble in polar solvents such as dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamine, 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, and dimethyl sulfoxide.

Hyperbranched poly(urea‐urethane)s functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes.     

Glass bead grafting with poly(carboxylic acid) polymers and maleic anhydride copolymers

Glass beads were etched with acids and bases to increase the surface porosity and the number of silanol groups that could be used for grafting materials to the surfaces. The pretreated glass beads were functionalized using 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) coupling agent and then further chemically modified by reacting the carboxyl groups of carboxylic acid polymers with the amino groups of the pregrafted APS. Several carboxylic acid polymers and poly(maleic anhydride) copolymers, such as poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA), poly(styrene‐alt‐maleic anhydride) (PSMA), and poly(ethylene‐alt‐maleic anhydride) (PEMA) were grafted onto the bead surface. The chemical modifications were investigated and characterized by FT‐IR spectroscopy, particle size analysis, and tensiometry for contact angle and porosity changes. The amount of APS and the different polymer grafted on the surface was determined from thermal gravimetric analysis and elemental analysis data. Spectroscopic studies and elemental analysis data showed that carboxylic acid polymers and maleic anhydride copolymers were chemically attached to the glass bead surface. The improved surface properties of surface modified glass beads were determined by measuring water and hexane penetration rates and contact angle. Contact angles increased and porosity decreased as the molecular weights of the polymer increased. The contact angles increased with the hydrophobicity of the attached polymer. The surface morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and showed an increase in roughness for etched glass beads. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of interaction between poly(ethylene terephthalate) and carbon nanotubes on the morphology and properties of their nanocomposites

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) nanocomposites were prepared by melt‐extruding mixtures of PET and functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with some interaction with PET molecules. For the functionalization of MWNTs, benzyl isocyanate and phenyl isocyanate with different molecular flexibility were employed on the surface of the MWNTs via chemical modification, respectively. The reaction for functionalization of MWNTs was confirmed by FTIR and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements. TEM observations indicated that both benzyl and phenyl isocyanate groups covered the surface of the MWNTs after functionalization. The PET nanocomposites containing isocyanate groups showed improved mechanical properties, including the tensile strength and tensile modulus, compared with those with pristine and acid‐treated nanotubes. These improvements were ascribed to π–π interactions between the aromatic rings of PET molecules and the isocyanate group in MWNTs. The functionalized MWNTs showed a better dispersion of carbon nanotubes in the matrix polymer and a different fractured cross‐section morphology in scanning electron microscope measurements relative to the pristine MWNTs. The crystallinity of the functionalized MWNT‐PET nanocomposites was significantly higher than that of the pristine and acid‐treated MWNTs. FTIR results indicated that the presence of carbon nanotubes induced trans‐conformation of PET chains, and trans conformation was particularly dominant in PET composites incorporating MWNT‐phenyl. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 900–910, 2008     

表面引发原子转移自由基聚合制备聚电解质修饰的碳纳米管

利用聚电解质对多壁碳纳米管(MWNT)的表面进行修饰,能有效改善碳纳米管在溶剂中的分散性.首先将经硝酸氧化的碳纳米管与二甲亚砜和乙二醇反应,得到羟基修饰的碳纳米管.然后利用羟基与α-溴异丁酰溴(或α-氯丙酰氯)的酯化反应,在碳纳米管的表面引入了原子转移自由基聚合(atom transfer radical polymerization,ATRP)引发基团,引发丙烯酸叔丁酯(tBA)或4-乙烯基吡啶(4VP)聚合,通过投料比的改变,得到接入量不同的聚合物修饰的碳纳米管.利用热重分析(TGA)和红外对聚合物修饰的碳纳米管进行表征.将聚合物修饰的碳纳米管进行水解(或季胺化),制备得到在水溶液中良好分散的聚电解质修饰的碳纳米管.     

Phase separation of polymer‐functionalized SWNTs within a PMMA/polystyrene blend

Phase separation of polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends was used as a means to segregate PS‐ or PMMA‐functionalized single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in thin films. Dilute solutions (5 wt % in THF) of 1:1 PS/PMMA blends containing the functionalized nanotubes were spin cast and annealed at 180 °C for 12 h. Two different polymer molecular weights were used (M_n = 8000 or M_n = 22,000), and were of approximately equivalent molecular weight to those attached to the surface of the nanotubes. Nanotube functionalization was accomplished using the Cu(I)‐catalyzed [3 + 2] Huisgen cycloaddition, in which alkyne‐decorated nanotubes were coupled with azide‐terminated polymers, resulting in polymer‐SWNT conjugates that were soluble in THF. Characterization of the annealed films by scanning Raman spectroscopy, which utilized the unique Raman fingerprint of carbon nanotubes, enabled accurate mapping of the functionalized SWNTs within the films relative to the two phase‐separated polymers. It was found that nanotube localization within the phase‐separated polymer films was influenced by the type of polymer attached to the nanotube surface, as well as its molecular weight. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 450–458, 2009     

Surface covalent encapsulation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes with poly(acryloyl chloride) grafted poly(ethylene glycol)

Multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT) was grafted with polyacrylate‐g‐poly (ethylene glycol) via the following two steps. First, hydroxyl groups on the surface of acid‐treated MWNT reacted with linear poly(acryloyl chloride) to generate graft on MWNT; secondly, the remaining acryloyl chloride groups were subjected to esterification with poly(ethylene glycol) leading the grafted chains on the surface of MWNTs. Thus obtained grafted MWNT was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the weight fraction of grafted polymers amounted to 80% of the modified MWNT. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6880–6887, 2006