Uni‐molecular nanoparticles of poly(2‐oxazoline) showing tunable thermoresponsive behaviors

Herein, cylindrical molecular bottlebrushes grafted with poly(2‐oxazoline) (POx) as a shaped tunable uni‐molecular nanoparticle were synthesized via the grafting‐onto approach. First, poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) backbones with azide pendant units were prepared via reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization followed by post‐modification. The degree of polymerization (DP) of the backbones was tuned in a range from 20 to 800. Alkynyl‐terminated POx side chains were synthesized by living cationic ring opening polymerization (LCROP) of 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline (EtOx) and 2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline (MeOx), respectively. The DP of side chains was varied between 20 and 100. Then, the copper‐catalyzed azide‐alkynyl cycloaddition (CuAAC) click chemistry was conducted with a feed ratio of [alkynyl]:[azide] = 1.2:1 to yield a series of brushes. Depending on the DP of side chains, the grafting density ranged between 47 and 85%. The resulting brushlike nanoparticles exhibited shapes of sphere, rod and worm. Aqueous solutions of PEtOx brushes demonstrated a thermoresponsive behavior as a function of the length of backbones and side chains. Surprisingly, it was found that the lower critical solution temperature of PEtOx brushes increased with a length increase of backbones. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 174–183     

Tuning the LCST of poly(2‐cyclopropyl‐2‐oxazoline) via gradient copolymerization with 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline

Poly(2‐propyl‐oxazoline)s can be prepared by living cationic ring‐opening polymerization of 2‐oxazolines and represent an emerging class of biocompatible polymers exhibiting a lower critical solution temperature in aqueous solution close to body temperature. However, their usability is limited by the irreversibility of the transition due to isothermal crystallization in case of poly(2‐isopropyl‐2‐oxazoline) and the rather low glass transition temperatures (T_g < 45 °C) of poly(2‐n‐propyl‐2‐oxazoline)‐based polymers. The copolymerization of 2‐cyclopropyl‐2‐oxazoline and 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline presented herein yields gradient copolymers whose cloud point temperatures can be accurately tuned over a broad temperature range by simple variation of the composition. Surprisingly, all copolymers reveal lower T_gs than the corresponding homopolymers ascribed to suppression of interchain interactions. However, it is noteworthy that the copolymers still have T_gs > 45 °C, enabling convenient storage in the fridge for future biomedical formulations. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3118–3122     

Synthesis and characterization of degradable hyperbranched poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline)

Hyperbranched poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) was synthesized by a combination of cationic ring‐opening polymerization and the oxidation of thiol to disulfide groups. A three‐arm star poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) (PEtOx) was first synthesized using 1,3,5‐tris(bromomethyl) benzene as an initiator. The star PEtOx was end‐capped with potassium ethyl xanthate. Similarly, a linear PEtOx was synthesized and end‐capped with potassium ethyl xanthate using benzyl bromide as an initiator. Hyperbranched PEtOx was then obtained by in situ cleaving and subsequent oxidation of the star PEtOx and linear PEtOx mixture with n‐butylamine as both a cleaving agent and a base in tetrahydrofuran. The linear PEtOx was used to prevent the formation of gel. The hyperbranched PEtOx can be cleaved with dithiothreitol to trithiol and monothiol polymer. The hyperbranched PEtOx shows no remaining thiols using Ellman's assay. The resulting hyperbranched PEtOx was hydrolyzed to a novel hyperbranched polyethyleneimine with degradable disulfide linkages. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 2030–2037     

Toward the design of LPEI containing block copolymers: Improved synthesis protocol,selective hydrolysis,and detailed characterization

The synthesis of poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline)‐b‐linear poly(ethylenimine) (PEtOx‐b‐LPEI) copolymers by selective basic hydrolysis of PEtOx‐b‐poly(2‐H‐2‐oxazoline) (PEtOx‐b‐PHOx) is described. For this purpose, an easy method for the preparation of the 2‐H‐2‐oxazoline (HOx) monomer was developed. Based on the microwave‐assisted polymerization kinetics for this monomer, PEtOx‐b‐PHOx copolymers were prepared. Subsequently, the block copolymers were selectively hydrolyzed to PEtOx‐b‐LPEI under basic conditions. The success of the polymerizations and subsequent post‐polymerization reactions was demonstrated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and MALDI‐TOF‐MS investigations of the obtained polymers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Thermo‐/moisture‐responsive shape‐memory effect of poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) networks

In this work, poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) (PEtOx) is crosslinked to realize a moisture‐ and thermo‐responsive shape‐memory polymer. The obtained PEtOx networks exhibit excellent shape‐memory properties with storable strains of up to 650% and recovery values of 100% over at least 10 shape‐memory cycles. The trigger temperature (T_trig) of 68 °C of a PEtOx network at a relative humidity (RH) of 0% decreases with increasing moisture and equals room temperature at an RH of 40%. Thus, programmed PEtOx networks trigger sensitively on a certain temperature/moisture combination and, further, can be programmed as well as triggered at room temperature exclusively by varying humidity. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 1053–1061     

Main‐chain chiral poly(2‐oxazoline)s: Influence of alkyl side‐chain on secondary structure formation in solution

The synthesis and microwave‐assisted polymerization of a series of chiral 2‐oxazolines with varying alkyl pendant groups, namely R‐2‐ethyl‐4‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline (R‐EtEtOx), R‐2‐butyl‐4‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline (R‐BuEtOx), R‐2‐octyl‐4‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline, 2‐nonyl‐4‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline, and R‐2‐undecyl‐4‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline (R‐UndeEtOx), are reported. A kinetic investigation of the polymerization of R‐EtEtOx revealed a living polymerization mechanism. The poly(2‐oxazoline)s containing an ethyl, butyl, and octyl pendant group form similar chiral structures according to circular dichroism measurements. When the pendant group is further elongated, the chiral structure becomes more flexible in trifluoroethanol and the thermal response in hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) significantly changes. The short‐range structure of poly‐R‐BuEtOx dissolved in HFIP is thermoresponsive in a complex way, due to HFIP hydrogen bonding to the polymeric amide groups, whereas the long‐range structure determined from small angle neutron scattering is insensitive to temperature demonstrating that only the local secondary structure changes with temperature. In addition, the chiral structure of poly‐R‐UndeEtOx depends on the polarity of the solvent. The short‐range structure becomes more flexible in polar solvents, most likely due to interactions with the amide groups disturbing the secondary structure. In contrast, the long‐range structural transition from an ellipsoid in the apolar n‐hexane to a rod structure in the polar n‐butanol is ascribed to better solvation of the long aliphatic side chains. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis and characterization of near‐monodisperse electron acceptor homopolymers of 2‐[(3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl)oxy]ethyl methacrylate

Homopolymers of 2‐(trimethylsiloxy)ethyl methacrylate of degrees of polymerization from 5 to 50 were synthesized by group transfer polymerization in tetrahydrofuran (THF) using 1‐methoxy‐1‐(trimethylsiloxy)‐2‐methyl propene as the initiator and tetrabutylammonium bibenzoate as the catalyst. These polymers were first converted to poly[2‐(hydroxy)ethyl methacrylate]s by removal of the trimethylsilyl‐protecting groups by acidic hydrolysis, and subsequently transformed to poly{2‐[(3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl)oxy]ethyl methacrylate}s by reaction with 3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine. Gel permeation chromatography in THF and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy in CDCl₃ and d₆ dimethyl sulfoxide were used to characterize the polymers in terms of their molecular weight and composition. The molecular weights were found to be close to the values expected from the polymerization stoichiometry and the molecular weight distributions were narrow, with polydispersity indices around 1.1. The hydrolysis and reesterification steps were found to be almost quantitative for all polymers. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis were also employed to measure the glass transition temperatures (T_g 's) and decomposition temperatures, which were determined to be approximately 80 and 320 °C, respectively. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1457–1465, 2000     

Concentration effects in the cationic ring‐opening polymerization of 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline in N,N‐dimethylacetamide

The monomer concentration for the cationic ring‐opening polymerization of 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline in N,N‐dimethylacetamide was optimized utilizing high‐throughput experimentation methods. Detailed ¹H‐NMR spectroscopic investigations were performed to understand the mechanistic aspects of the observed concentration effects. Finally, the improved polymerization concentration was applied for the synthesis of higher molecular weight (> 10,000 Da) poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline)s. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1487–1497, 2005     

Poly(L‐glutamic acid) grafted with oligo(2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl methacrylate): Thermal phase transition,secondary structure,and self‐assembly

Thermoresponsive and pH‐responsive graft copolymers, poly(L ‐glutamate)‐g‐oligo(2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl methacrylate) and poly(L ‐glutamic acid‐co‐(L ‐glutamate‐g‐oligo(2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl methacrylate))), were synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of N‐carboxyanhydride (NCA) monomers and subsequent atom transfer radical polymerization of 2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl methacrylate. The thermoresponsiveness of graft copolymers could be tuned by the molecular weight of oligo(2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl methacrylate) (OMEO₃MA), composition of poly(L ‐glutamic acid) (PLGA) backbone and pH of the aqueous solution. The α‐helical contents of graft copolymers could be influenced by OMEO₃MA length and pH of the aqueous solution. In addition, the graft copolymers exhibited tunable self‐assembly behavior. The hydrodynamic radius (R_h) and critical micellization concentration values of micelles were relevant to the length of OMEO₃MA and the composition of biodegradable PLGA backbone. The R_h could also be adjusted by the temperature and pH values. Lastly, in vitro methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay revealed that the graft copolymers were biocompatible to HeLa cells. Therefore, with good biocompatibility, well‐defined secondary structure, and mono‐, dual‐responsiveness, these graft copolymers are promising stimuli‐responsive materials for biomedical applications. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Aqueous self‐assembly of pullulan‐b‐poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) double hydrophilic block copolymers

The self‐assembly of a novel double hydrophilic block copolymer in water without the application of external triggers is described, namely pullulan‐b‐poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) (Pull‐b‐PEtOx). The biomacromolecules, Pull (8–38 kg mol^?1), is modified and conjugated to biocompatible PEtOx (22 kg mol^?1) via modular conjugation. Moreover, the molecular weight of the Pull blocks are varied to investigate the effect of molecular weight on the self‐assembly behavior. Spherical particles with sizes between 300 and 500 nm are formed in diluted aqueous solution (0.1–1.0 wt %) as observed via dynamic light scattering and static light scattering. Additionally, cryo scanning electron microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy are performed to support the finding from light scattering. The block ratio study shows an optimum ratio of Pull and PEtOx of 0.4/0.6 for self‐assembly in water in the concentration range of 0.1–1.0 wt %. At higher concentrations of 20 wt %, vesicular structures with sizes above 1 µm can be observed via optical microscopy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 3757–3766     

Comparative studies on miscibility and phase behavior of linear and star poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) blends with poly(vinylidene fluoride)

The comparative studies on the miscibility and phase behavior between the blends of linear and star‐shaped poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) were carried out in this work. The linear poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) was synthesized by the ring opening polymerization of 2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline in the presence of methyl p‐toluenesulfonate (MeOTs) whereas the star‐shaped poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) was synthesized with octa(3‐iodopropyl) polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane [(IC₃H₆)₈Si₈O₁₂, OipPOSS] as an octafunctional initiator. The polymers with different topological structures were characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. It is found that the star‐shaped poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) was miscible with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), which was evidenced by single glass‐transition temperature behavior and the equilibrium melting‐point depression. Nonetheless, the blends of linear poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) with PVDF were phase‐separated. The difference in miscibility was ascribed to the topological effect of PMOx macromolecules on the miscibility. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 942–952, 2006     

The Effect of Hofmeister Salts on the LCST Transition of Poly(2‐oxazoline)s with Varying Hydrophilicity

The influence of Hofmeister salts was investigated on the cloud point of three poly(2‐oxazoline)s, namely poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) [PEtOx], poly(2‐n‐propyl‐2‐oxazoline) [PnPropOx], and poly(2‐isopropyl‐2‐oxazoline) [PiPropOx]. In addition, a comb polymer based on oligo‐2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline side chains and a methacrylate backbone (POEtOxMA) was included in this investigation. It was found that the ionic response of the poly(2‐oxazoline)s strongly depends on their hydrophilicity. The comb polymer POEtOxMA revealed a strikingly similar response to the salts as linear PEtOx even though the cloud points of the polymers in water differ. This indicates that the architecture does not significantly influence the effect of the Hofmeister ions, even though there is a difference in the absolute cloud point.

     

Association of hydrophobically α,ω‐end‐capped poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) in water

The α,ω‐end‐capped poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) (C_n‐POXZ‐C_n) have been synthesized by a one‐pot process using cationic ring‐opening polymerization with an appropriate initiator and terminating agent. The polymers bearing different alkyl groups C₁₂ and C₁₈ have molecular weight in the range of 2.4 × 10³ to 14 × 10³ with a small polydispersity index. The solution behavior of the free chains has been analyzed in a nonselective solvent, dichloromethane, by small‐angle neutron scattering and dynamic light scattering. These amphiphilic polymers associate in water to form flower‐like micellar structures. Critical micelle concentrations, investigated by fluorescence technique, are in the range of 0.03–0.5 g L^?1 and are dependent on the hydrophilic/lipophilic balance. The structural properties of the aggregates have also been investigated by viscometry. Intrinsic viscosities of these polymers are in the same range as that of the precursors poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) (POXZ) and mono‐functionalized polymers. Large viscosity increase corresponding to intermicellar bridging was observed in the vicinity of the micelle overlap concentration. Addition of hydroxypropyl β‐cyclodextrin (HβCD) has dissociated the aggregates and the intrinsic viscosities of the HβCD‐end‐capped chains have become comparable with the ones of POXZ precursor chains. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2477–2485, 2010     

Thermoresponsive Poly(2‐oxazine)s

The monomers 2‐methyl‐2‐oxazine (MeOZI), 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazine (EtOZI), and 2‐n‐propyl‐2‐oxazine (nPropOZI) were synthesized and polymerized via the living cationic ring‐opening polymerization (CROP) under microwave‐assisted conditions. pEtOZI and pnPropOZI were found to be thermoresponsive, exhibiting LCST behavior in water and their cloud point temperatures (T_CP) are lower than for poly(2‐oxazoline)s with similar side chains. However, comparison of poly(2‐oxazine) and poly(2‐oxazoline)s isomers reveals that poly(2‐oxazine)s are more water soluble, indicating that the side chain has a stronger impact on polymer solubility than the main chain. In conclusion, variations of both the side chains and the main chains of the poly(cyclic imino ether)s resulted in a series of distinct homopolymers with tunable T_CP.     

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     

PPEGMEA‐g‐PDEAEMA: Double hydrophilic double‐grafted copolymer stimuli‐responsive to both pH and salinity

A series of well‐defined double hydrophilic double‐grafted copolymers, consisting of polyacrylate backbone, hydrophilic poly(2‐(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) and poly(ethylene glycol) side chains, were synthesized by successive atom transfer radical polymerization. The backbone, poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate] (PPEGMEA) comb copolymer, was firstly prepared by ATRP of PEGMEA macromonomer via the grafting‐through route followed by reacting with lithium diisopropylamide and 2‐bromopropionyl chloride to give PPEGMEA‐Br macroinitiator of ATRP. Finally, poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate]‐g‐poly(2‐(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) graft copolymers were synthesized by ATRP of 2‐(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate using PPEGMEA‐Br macroinitiator via the grafting‐from route. Poly(2‐(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) side chains were connected to polyacrylate backbone through stable C? C bonds instead of ester connections, which is tolerant of both acidic and basic environment. The molecular weights of both backbone and side chains were controllable and the molecular weight distributions kept relatively narrow (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.39). The results of fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic laser light scattering and transmission electron microscopy showed this double hydrophilic copolymer was stimuli‐responsive to both pH and salinity. It can aggregate to form reversible micelles in basic surroundings which can be conveniently dissociated with the addition of salt at room temperature. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3142–3153, 2009     

Oxazoline‐terminated macromonomers by the alkylation of 2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline

Well‐defined macromonomers of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(tert‐butyl methacrylate) were obtained by anionic polymerization induced directly by the carbanion issued from 2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline. When ethylene oxide was added to this carbanion with lithium as the counterion, a new compound able to initiate the polymerization of ε‐caprolactone in an anionically coordinated way was synthesized, and this led to well‐defined poly(ε‐caprolactone) macromonomers. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2440–2447, 2005     

Well‐Defined SiO2@P(EtOx‐stat‐EI) Core–Shell Hybrid Nanoparticles via Sol‐Gel Processes

Positively charged nanoparticles (NPs) are very interesting for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications, such as nonviral gene delivery. Here, the synthesis of SiO₂ nanoparticles with a covalently grafted poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) (PEtOx) shell (SiO₂@PEtOx) is presented. PEtOx with a degree of polymerization of 20 and 38 is synthesized via microwave supported cationic ring‐opening polymerization and subsequently end‐functionalized with a triethoxysilyl linker for subsequent grafting to silica particles with hydrodynamic radii of 7, 31, and 152 nm. The resulting SiO₂@PEtOx particles are characterized by using dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM, cryoTEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine changes in particle size. Thermal gravimetrical analysis is used to quantify the amount of polymer on the silica surface. Subsequent in situ transformation of SiO₂@PEtOx particles into SiO₂@P(EtOx‐stat‐EI) (poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline‐stat‐ethylene imine) grafted silica particles) under acidic conditions inverts the surface charge from negative to positive according to ζ‐potential measurements. The P(EtOx‐stat‐EI) shell could be used for the deposition of Au NP afterward.

     

Synthesis of well‐defined PNIPAM‐b‐(PEA‐g‐P2VP) double hydrophilic graft copolymer via sequential SET‐LRP and ATRP and its “schizophrenic” Micellization behavior in aqueous media

A series of well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymers, consisting of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐b‐poly(ethyl acrylate) backbone and poly(2‐vinylpyridine) 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 sequential SET‐LRP of N‐isopropylacrylamide and 2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate at 25 °C using CuCl/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as the catalytic system. The obtained diblock copolymer was transformed into the macroinitiator by reacting with 2‐chloropropionyl chloride. Next, grafting‐from strategy was used for the synthesis of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐b‐[poly(ethyl acrylate)‐g‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine)] double hydrophilic graft copolymer. ATRP of 2‐vinylpyridine was initiated by the macroinitiator at 25 °C using CuCl/hexamethyldiethylenetriamine as the catalytic system. The synthesis of both the backbone and the side chains are controllable. Thermo‐ and pH‐responsive schizophrenic micellization behaviors were investigated by ¹H NMR, fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. Unimolecular micelles with PNIPAM‐core formed in acidic environment (pH = 2) with elevated temperature (T ≥ 32 °C), whereas the aggregates turned into spheres with PEA‐g‐P2VP‐core accompanied with the lifting of pH values (pH ≥ 5.3) at room temperature. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 15–23, 2010     

Synthesis and in vitro activity of platinum containing 2‐oxazoline‐based glycopolymers

We report the synthesis of glyco(poly(2‐oxazoline)s) functionalized with Pt(II) units for targeted tumor applications. To this end, poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline‐block‐2‐(3‐butenyl)‐2‐oxazoline) is modified with thiol‐modified acetyl protected glucose and galactose, respectively, and terpyridine (tpy) units using thiol‐ene photoaddition. Deprotection of the sugars with sodium methoxide and treatment with Pt(COD)Cl₂ applying a mild synthesis route yields polymers with monosaccharide targeting moieties and cytotoxic Pt(II) units. The polymers and intermediates are characterized by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography. Subsequently, the hemolytic activity, induction of erythrocyte aggregation as well as the cytotoxicity against mouse fibroblast L929 cells, human embryonic kidney cells HEK 293, and human hepatocytes HepG2 are studied. The comparison to cisplatin, the standard for cancer therapy, demonstrates the potential of the presented system. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2703–2714