Raman Spectroscopic Study of the Conformation and Melting of Poly(dG) · Poly(dC) and Poly(dG-dC) · Poly(dG-dC) in Aqueous Solution

Raman spectroscopic measurements on aqueous solutions of poly(dG) · poly(dC)indicate that the conformation of the polynucleotides in this double helicalcomplex are distributed between the A and B types at room temperature, the Aform being predominant at –15°C and decreasing progressively upon raising thetemperature to 65°C. A reversible pretransition has been found in this complexnear 70°C. Modifications in the spectra at this temperature indicate no majorconformational changes, but rather suggest altered base pairing and hydration ofthe carbonyl groups, accompanied by a slight distortion of the double helix,resulting in a slightly reduced stacking of the cytosine bases. Measurements inself-pressurized solutions of the complex at high temperature show that it meltsat 103°C in 0.1M NaCl solution (107°C in 0.5M NaCl). These values are somewhatlower than those we have determined in the same manner for the complexpoly(dG-dC) · poly(dG-dC): 117°C in 0.1M MgCl₂ and 113°C or higher in 0.1MNaCl solution.     

Electrospun Aligned Poly(L-lactide)/Poly(ϵ-caprolactone) /Poly(ethylene glycol) Blend Fibrous Membranes

Aligned poly(L-lactide) (PLLA)/poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL)/poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) fibrous membranes were fabricated by electrospinning. Their morphology, thermal stability, mechanical properties, hydrophilic properties and in vitro degradation behaviors were investigated. With increasing the content of PEG, the PLLA/PCL/PEG blend fibers become thinner due to the increment in solution conductivity and decrease in solution viscosity. The thermal stability, hydrophilic properties, the tensile strength and elongation-at-break of PLLA/PCL/PEG blend fibrous membranes were improved, but porosity were decreased with the content of PEG changing from 10 wt% to 30 wt%. Furthermore, the incorporation of PEG enhanced the degradation of the PLLA/PCL/PEG fibrous membranes due to the better hydrophilic properties. In addition, the PLLA/PCL/PEG fibrous membranes have no toxic effect on proliferation of adipose-derived stem cells.     

Structural Characterization of Poly(α-Fluoroacrylonitrile) and Poly(Ethyl α-Fluoroacrylate)

Abstract

Monomers α-fluoroacrylonitrile (FAN) and ethyl α-fluoroacrylate (EFA) and homopolymers poly(α-fluoroacrylonitrile) (PFAN) and poly-(ethyl α-fluoroacrylate) (PEFA) have been synthesized and spectroscopi-cally characterized in detail for the first time. The ¹³C- and ¹⁹F-NMR spectroscopic results are reported, and the results are correlated to the tacticity and microstructure of both homopolymers. The major portion of the polymers is atactic. TGA analysis of PFAN indicates that the polymer is stable to about 200°C with subsequent loss of HF. PEFA is stable to 300 °C. Molecular weights determined by intrinsic viscosity (M_v ) are found to be about 130,000 for PFAN, and GPC analysis of PEFA indicates a molecular weight (M_n ) of about 36,000. Dielectric permittivities (ε) for PFAN and PEFA were determined to be 8.9 and 4.0, respectively, at 50 Hz.     

Polylactones. 13. Transesterification of Poly(L-Lactide) with Poly(Glycoude), Poly(β-Propio-Lactone), and Poly[ε -Caprolactone)

Homogeneous blends of poly(L-lactide) (M _n = 30 000 to 40 000) and poly(β-propiolactone) or poly(ε-caprolactone) were prepared in solution. The solvent-free blends were subjected to transesterification catalyzed by means of methyl triflate, triflic acid, boron trifluoride, or tributyltin methoxide at 100 or 150°C. At 100°C, transesterification was barely detectable even after 96 h. When poly(β-propiolactone) was used as the reactant at 150°C, degradation was faster than transesterification regardless of the catalyst. The same negative result was obtained for heterogeneous blends of poly(L-lactide) and poly(glycolide). In the case of poly(ε-caprolactone), copolyesters with slightly blocky sequences were obtained with tributyltin methoxide as catalyst, whereas the acidic catalysts caused rapid degradation. The copolyesters were characterized by means of ¹H-NMR spectroscopy with regard to their molar composition, by means of ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy with regard to their sequences, and by means of differential scanning calorimetry with regard to crystallinity.     

Crystallization of Poly(ethylene adipate) within γ-Phase Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Matrix

The effects of PEA on the γ-phase PVDF crystal structure and the crystallization of PEA within the pre-existing γ-phase PVDF spherulites have been investigated by optical microscopy(OM), infrared spectroscopy(IR) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM). The results demonstrate that the γ-phase PVDF spherulites consist of the lamellae exhibiting a highly curved scroll-like morphology and develop preferentially in PEA-rich blend. With increasing PEA concentration, the scroll diameter increases and the scrolls are better separated from each other. PEA crystallizes first in the interspherulitic region and transcrystalline layer develops. Subsequently, the transcrystalline layer of PEA continues to grow within the γ-phase PVDF spherulites, e.g., in the region between the scrolls, until impinging on other PEA transcrystalline layers or spherulites. The crystallization kinetics results indicate that the growth rate of PEA crystals in the intraspherulitic region of γ-phase PVDF shows a positive correlation with content of PEA, but a negative one with the crystallization temperature of γ-phase PVDF.     

Crystallizability of Poly(ε-caprolactone) Blends with Poly(vinylphenol) under Different Conditions

The intermolecular interaction between poly（vinylphenol） （PVPh） and polycaprolactone （PCL） and the crystallization behavior of PCL in PCL/PVPh blends with different compositions and under different conditions were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectra （FTIR） and differential scanning calorimetry （DSC）. It has been shown that the PCL in the blends with different blend ratios all exists in crystalline state after solution casting, even though the crystallinity decreases with increasing PVPh content. For the melt crystallized samples, PCL in its 80/20 PCL/PVPh sample can still crystallize. The crystallinity is, however, lower than that of the solution cast sample. For blends containing 50% or 20% PCL, the as-cast samples are semicrystalline and can change to compatible amorphous state after heat treatment process. FTIR analysis shows the existence of hydrogen bonding between PCL and PVPh and the fraction of hydrogen bonds increases remarkably after heat treatment process.     

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Poly(ε-caprolactone)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) and Poly(lactide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)

Summary: This study reported the preparation and characterization of PCL-b-mPEG (poly(ε-caprolactone)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)) and PLL-b-mPEG (poly(L-lactide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)) diblock copolymers by microwave heating and comparison of resulted products the ones with prepared by conventional heating. Diblock copolymers were synthesized successfully by the microwave-assisted ROP in the presence of stannous octoate (SnOct₂) as catalyst under nitrogen atmosphere in different monomer ratios. Structural and functional characterization of copolymers were performed by FTIR, ¹H-NMR and DSC. Molecular weight values were determined by GPC and also calculated from ¹H-NMR. According to the results, microwave irradiation allowed to obtain polymers with very narrow size distribution in very short reaction time. Similar polymers prepared by conventional heating were also synthesized for comparison. Molecular weight and conversion of polymers were increased by irradiation time. This change was continued until a certain time point after which no more increase was observed. It was concluded that microwave irradiation is a succesful method to obtain these diblock copolymers in very short reaction time and with a similar conversion obtained by conventional method.     

Poly(ethylene glycol)-supported Piperazine——Synthesis and Application in Knoevenagel Condensation

A soluble,poly(ethylene glycol)-supported piperazine catalyst was prepared.This soluble catalyst efficiently catalyzes the Knoevenagel condensation of various aromatic aldehydes with diethyl malonate or ethyl acetoacetate in a homogeneous phase to afford the desired alkenes in good purity and yield with a facile work-up process.It was found that the polymer reagent could be repeatedly used at least four times without the too much loss of activity.The catalyst has shown a good activity,stability,and recyclin...     

Compressive Elastic Moduli of Poly(N‐Isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogels Crosslinked with Poly(Dimethyl Siloxane)

Hydrophobically modified and thermally reversible neutral and ionic copolymer hydrogels were prepared from N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), vinyl terminated poly (dimethylsiloxane) (VTPDMS) and itaconic acid (IA) by free radical solution polymerization, and their properties such as swelling ratio and compression modulus were studied at the 25°C. The incorporation of VTPDMS as a hydrophobic macrocrosslinker into the structures of neutral NIPAAm hydrogels increased their mechanical strength around 10 times than those of the ones crosslinked with conventional tetra functional monomer, i.e., N,N′‐methylene bisacrylamide (BIS). Compression modulus decreased with an increase in IA content for ionic samples and increased with increasing molecular weight and content of VTPDMS for neutral samples. It was assumed that in the first case, electrostatic repulsive forces resulting from the ionized carboxyl groups of IA were responsible for decreasing mechanical strength, while in the second case, hydrophobic interactions between dimethylsiloxane units of VTPDMS chains enhanced the compression moduli. According to the results presented in this work, it can be said that the right balance of hydrophobic and hydrophilic constituents and adjustment of the number of ionized groups, as well as crosslinking degree, change the structure and physical properties of NIPPAAm hydrogels.     

Biodegradable Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/Poly(glycolic acid) Films:Effect of Poly(glycolic acid) Crystal on Mechanical and Barrier Properties

Binary biodegradable polymers films, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT) and poly(glycolic acid)(PGA), were prepared through batch melt mixing to obtain Film Ⅰ and Film Ⅱ under two different processing conditions. PGA crystals played a major role in enhancing the mechanical and barrier properties of the films. For Film Ⅰ, there were initial PGA crystals before the film blowing process, the PGA molecular chain further crystallized, forming the oriented crystallization of PGA. Moreover, ...     

Phase Behavior of Poly(Oxyethylene)–Poly(Oxypropylene)–Poly(Oxyethylene) Block Copolymer in Water and Water–C12EO5 Systems

Abstract

The binary phase diagram of a triblock copolymer poly(oxyethylene) (PEO) poly(oxypropylene) (PPO) poly(oxyethylene) (PEO), (PEO)₃₇(PPO)₅₈(PEO)₃₇ or P105 in water and the ternary system of P105, water, and pentaoxyethylene dodecyl ether (C₁₂EO₅) has been studied to understand the miscibility of a small amphiphile, C₁₂EO₅ and a copolymer, as well as the mixing effect on the formed liquid crystalline structures. Phase diagrams, small angle x‐ray scattering (SAXS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterize these systems. The phase diagram of the binary system is presented together with the characteristic parameters for founded phases, namely, cubic, hexagonal, and lamellar phases. In the ternary system it was found that the small amphiphile and the block copolymer, despite having very different chain lengths are essentially miscible forming single phases. A large amount of C₁₂EO₅ can be solubilized in the P105 aggregates whereas P105 is most difficult to dissolve in the C₁₂EO₅ aggregates because of the difference in the molecular size. The copolymer is practically insoluble in the lamellar phase of C₁₂EO₅ due to the packing constraint. Hence, two lamellar phases coexist in a surfactant‐rich region, at W _s  = 0.66, where W _s is the weight fraction of the total amphiphile in the system. This indicates that the thickness of the lipophilic part of the C₁₂EO₅ lamellar phase is too small to allocate the large lipophilic chain of the P105 triblock copolymer.     

Studies on the Miscibility of Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and Poly(ethylene oxide) Blends

Miscibility characteristics of poly[2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate] (PHEMA) and poly[ethylene oxide] (PEO) have been investigated by solution viscometry, ultrasonic and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) methods. The interaction parameters were obtained using the viscosity data. Ultrasonic velocity and adiabatic compressibility vs. blend composition have been plotted and are found to be linear. A single glass transition temperature was observed by differential scanning calorimetry. Variation of glass transition temperature (T_g) with composition follows Garden‐Taylor equation. T_g values have also been calculated from the Fox equation. The results obtained reveal that PHEMA forms a miscible blend with PEO in the entire composition range.     

Thermal Degradation of Poly(ε-caprolactone), Poly(L-lactic acid) and their Blends with Poly(3-hydroxy-butyrate) Studied by TGA/FT-IR Spectroscopy

Summary: The thermal degradation behavior of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA) have been studied in different environment. It was found that these polymers undergo completely different degradation processes in nitrogen and oxygen atmosphere. In oxygen environment PCL and PLA mainly decompose to CO₂, CO, water and short-chain acids. In nitrogen atmosphere PCL releases 5-hexenioc acid, CO₂, CO and ε-caprolactone, whereas PLA decomposes to acetaldehyde, CO₂, CO and lactide. The polymer blends of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) with PCL and PLA decompose similar to the individual homopolymers with crotonic acid as the initial decomposition product of PHB.     

Preparation of Poly(ε-caprolactone)/Poly(ester amide) Electrospun Membranes for Vascular Repair

With adjustable amphiphilicity and anionic/cationic charge, biodegradability and biocompatibility, amino acid-based poly(ester amide)s(PEAs) have drawn attention in the research of tissue engineered vascular grafts. In this work, L-phenylalanine-based PEAs with or without L-lysine were synthesized through polycondensation, and ultrafine fibrous grafts consisted of PEAs and poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL) in given mass ratios were further prepared via blend electrospinning. Surface characterizations by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the chemical structure, and the wettability indicated that the prepared PCL/PEAs electrospun membranes exhibited less hydrophobic than PCL. Tensile results showed that the PCL/PEAs membranes possessed suitable mechanical properties, which could meet the requirements of artificial blood vessels. Cell culture and hemolytic tests exhibited that the PCL/PEAs electrospun membranes are biocompatible. In general, the electrospun grafts of PCL/PEAs could be applied for vascular repair.     

Thoroughly Hydrophilized Electrospun Poly(L-Lactide)/ Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Sponges for Tissue Engineering Application

Biodegradable electrospun sponges are of interest for various applications including tissue engineering, drug release, dental therapy, plant protection, and plant fertilization. Biodegradable electrospun poly(l -lactide)/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PLLA/PCL) blend fiber-based sponge with hierarchical pore structure is inherently hydrophobic, which is disadvantageous for application in tissue engineering, fertilization, and drug delivery. Contact angles and model studies for staining with a hydrophilic dye for untreated, plasma-treated, and surfactant-treated PLLA/PCL sponges are reported. Thorough hydrophilization of PLLA/PCL sponges is found only with surfactant-treated sponges. The MTT assay on the leachates from the sponges does not indicate any cell incompatibility. Furthermore, the cell proliferation and penetration of the hydrophilized sponges are verified by in vitro cell culture studies using MG63 and human fibroblast cells.     

Soil and Microbial Degradation Study of Poly(ϵ-caprolactone) – Poly(vinyl butyral) Blends

Biodegradation of blends of poly(ϵ-caprolactone) [PCL] with poly(vinyl butyral) [PVB] was studied in the soil and by bacterial strains of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia Coli isolated from the soil. Miscibility of the blends was also analyzed using FT-IR and optical microscopy at room temperature. Biodegradation of the blends was followed by weight loss, visual observations and scanning electron microscopy [SEM]. Blends with low polyester concentration, i.e., 30 wt% PCL and less, were clear and transparent and no spherulite formation was observed. Above 30 wt% PCL spherulites appeared, the size of which increased with increasing PCL concentration. Infra-red studies of the blends with less than 30 wt% PCL showed that only the amorphous phase of PCL was present. Above 30 wt% PCL indicated the presence of both crystalline and blended PCL. The second derivative of the carbonyl peak of PCL also supported the presence of two phases in blends with more than 30 wt% PCL and only one peak for blends with 30 wt% or less PCL. Weight loss was observed in all the blends. PCL rich blends showed more degradation, which was faster in the natural environment than in the laboratory. Physical appearance and microscopic examination showed the films deteriorated in soil. Blends in the Bacillus subtilis strain showed more degradation as compared to the E. Coli. strain.     

Preparation And Characterization of a New Blend of Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) And Poly(ethylene glycol)

Poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate)(PHEMA)isahydroge1widelyusedinthefieldsofcontactlenses,atificialcorneasandsofttissuesubstitutes.However,theuseofPHEMAhydrogelisrestrictedduetoitsinsufficientlypermeablecharacterandlimitedwaterintake.Therefore,modificationsofthePHEMAhydrogelp1ayakeyroleinitspracticalaPplications'.Poly(ethyleneglycol)(PEG)isanonionicwatersolublematerialthathascomplexsolubilityproperties'.Meanwhile,PEGisnontoxic.Water-swellable,water-insolublehydrogelsmaybemadefromPEGbym…     

Synthesis of New Ointment-like Poly(ortho esters)

Poly(orthoesters)isaclassofbiodegradablepolymersandtheirdegrada-tionratecanbereadilycontrolledbytheincorporationofacidicorbasicexcipi-entsintothepo1ymermatrix[1J.Severaltypes0fbiocompatiblepoly(orthoes-ters)havebeenextensivelyinvestigatedasthecarrierfordrugdeliverysys-tem[2J.However,lessw0rkhasbeendone0nointment-1ikepoly(orthoesters).Asadrugcarrier,theointment-likepoly(orthoesters)hastheadvan-tageofincorporatingtherapeuticagentsatr0omtemperatureandwithouttheuseofsolvents,andisidealf0rthedeliv…     

The Synthesis of Poly(ethylene oxide)-Block-Polybutylacrylate

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