Swelling behaviour of thermo-sensitive hydrogels based on oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylates

The thermo-sensitive swelling behaviour of hydrogels based on 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate (MEO₂MA) and synthesized by free radical polymerization has been investigated. The homopolymer hydrogel presents a low critical solution temperature (LCST) close to room temperature, which can be modulated by copolymerization with longer oligo(ethylene glycol) side chain methacrylates (OEG_xMA). Then, three series of copolymeric hydrogels synthesized with MEO₂MA and several low ratios of OEG_xMA with M_n = 475 g mol⁻¹ (OEG₈MA), M_n = 1100 g mol⁻¹ (OEG₂₃MA) and M_n = 2080 g mol⁻¹ (OEG₄₅MA) were studied. In addition to conventional tetra(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) crosslinker, the use of biodegradable oligo(caprolactone) dimethacrylate (OCLDMA) was also tested. The hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance, function of the short and the long OEG side chains, establishes a swelling behaviour depending on monomer composition, side chain length and temperature. The swelling at equilibrium increases with increasing the amount of OEG_xMA in the copolymer and, at the same time, the collapsing moves progressively to higher temperature. The temperature dependent volumetric response of some of these hydrogels can be compare with the most extended thermo-sensitive hydrogel, which is based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (P(N-iPAAm)). Therefore, they are potential candidates to replace it in applications where biocompatibility is required.     

Segmented block copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(ethylene terephthalate)

A new series of segmented copolymers were synthesized from poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) oligomers and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) by a two‐step solution polymerization reaction. PET oligomers were obtained by glycolysis depolymerization. Structural features were defined by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The copolymer composition was calculated via ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The content of soft PEG segments was higher than that of hard PET segments. A single glass‐transition temperature was detected for all the synthesized segmented copolymers. This observation was found to be independent of the initial PET‐to‐PEG molar ratio. The molar masses of the copolymers were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4448–4457, 2004     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ϵ-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymer

Poly(ϵ-caprolactone)–poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(ϵ-caprolactone) triblock copolymers (PECL) covering a wide range of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) lengths were synthesized with alkali metal alkoxide derivatives of poly(ethylene glycol). The effects of various factors, such as amount of the initiator, reaction time and temperature, polarity of solvent, length of PEG segment, and counterion on the polymerization were investigated. The copolymers were characterized by ¹H-NMR, IR, GPC, and DSC. It was found that THF system is superior to toluene system. The conversion of the monomer increased with increase of the initiator concentration. High molecular weight of the copolymer and high conversion of the monomer was obtained at below 30°C within 5 min. The polymerization process was studied by GPC and the coexistence of propagation and transesterification reaction was found, which leaded to relatively broad molecular weight distribution of the copolymers. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

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     

Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable block copolymers of ϵ-caprolactone and D,L-lactide initiated by potassium poly(ethylene glycol)ate

Poly(D ,L -lactide)–poly(ϵ-caprolactone)–poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(ϵ-caprolactone)–poly(D ,L -lactide) block copolymer (PLA–PCL–PEG–PCL–PLA) was prepared by copolymerization of ϵ-caprolactone (ϵ-CL) and D ,L -lactide (D ,L -LA) initiated by potassium poly(ethylene glycol)ate in THF at 25°C. The copolymers with different composition were synthesized by adjusting the mole ratio of reaction mixture. The resulted copolymers were characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, IR, DSC, and GPC. Efforts to prepare copolymers with the corresponding structure of PCL–PLA–PEG–PLA–PCL and D ,L -lactide/ϵ-caprolactone random copolymers were not successful. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

An aqueous-based surface modification of poly(dimethylsiloxane) with poly(ethylene glycol) to prevent biofouling

We report a simple modification of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) surfaces with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) through the adsorption of a graft copolymer, poly(l-lysine)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL-g-PEG) from aqueous solution. In this approach, the PDMS surface was treated with oxygen plasma, followed by immersion into aqueous solution containing PLL-g-PEG copolymers. Due to the hydroxyl/carboxylic groups generated on the PDMS surface after oxygen plasma, the polycationic PLL backbone is attracted to the negatively charged surface and PEG side chains exhibit an extended structure. The PEG/aqueous interface generated in this way revealed a near-perfect resistance to nonspecific protein adsorption as monitored by means of optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy (OWLS) and fluorescence microscopy.     

嵌段共聚酯的合成研究

采用直接酯化法合成了一系列含间苯二甲酸的PEIT－PEG嵌段共聚酯,研究了聚合时间,聚合效率及聚酯的特性粘度与产物中间苯二甲酸含量及共聚酯分子量的关系,得出适于纺丝工艺及工业化生产的共聚酯分子量和间苯二甲酸的含量。     

Characterization of amphiphilic hydrocarbon modified Poly(ethylene glycol) synthesized through ring-opening reaction of 2-(1-octadecenyl)succinic anhydride

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) triblock and diblock amphiphilic block copolymers were synthesized from poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether, respectively. The hydroxyl groups of PEG readily react with 2-(1-octadecenyl) succinic anhydride (OSA) at 140 °C through ring-opening reaction of the succinic anhydride. Both the PEG-OSA diblock and triblock copolymers are produced without use of any solvent or catalyst. The molecular structure of the copolymers was characterized by ¹H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy, and the thermal properties by DSC. The behavior of the copolymers in selective and nonselective solvents was studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy in deuterium oxide and d-chloroform. The aggregation of the polymers in water was studied with a particle size analyzer and a transmission electron microscope (TEM) in bright field mode. The results show that the hydrophobic C₁₈ chain with intramolecular succinic anhydride linker can be attached to the hydrophilic PEG chain, an ester bond forming between the blocks. The copolymers exhibit flexible, liquid-like hydrophobic blocks even in water, which is a nonsolvent for OSA. PEG-OSA block copolymers self-organize in water, forming micellar polymer aggregates in nanoscale.     

Micellization and Thermogelation of Poly(ether urethane)s Comprising Poly(ethylene glycol) and Poly(propylene glycol)

A series of multiblock poly(ether urethane)s comprising poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) segments were synthesized. Their aqueous solutions exhibited thermogelling behavior at critical gelation concentrations (CGC) ranging from 8 to 12 wt%. The composition and structural information of the copolymers were studied by GPC and ¹H NMR. The critical micellization concentration (CMC) and thermodynamic parameters for micelle formation were determined at different temperatures. The temperature response of the copolymer solutions were studied and found to be associated with the composition of the copolymers.     

Synthesis of polyvinyltrimethylsilane-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers and properties of gas-separating membranes formed on their basis

A method is developed for the synthesis of the graft copolymer polyvinyltrimethylsilane-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) via the interaction of a brominated polymer with the methyl ether of a low-molecular-mass poly(ethylene glycol). Graft copolymer samples containing up to 79 wt % poly(ethylene glycol) are synthesized through this method. The properties of the graft copolymers and blends formed on their basis with a specially synthesized low-molecular-mass PEG derivative with a terminal trimethylsilyl group are investigated. Physical blends are prepared in order to increase the content of ethylene oxide groups while the film-forming properties of the composite materials are preserved. As shown by structural studies, the graft copolymers are amorphous single-phase systems, while the related blends are two-phase disperse systems, in which one phase is enriched in polytrimethylvinylsilane and the other is enriched in PEG. Studies of the gas-transport behavior of the samples reveal that the introduction of PEG, in contrast to the nonselective initial polymer, results in the formation of PVTMS-based materials that are selective for CO₂ in mixtures with H₂.     

Polycaprolactone–poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymer,I: synthesis and degradability in vitro

A new type of biodegradable polymer material, poly(caprolactone)–poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymer (PCL-b-PEG), was synthesized by means of direct copolycondensation of ε-caprolactone with poly(ethylene glycol) in the presence of a Ti(OBu)₄ catalyst. The degradability of the polycaprolactone was improved by introducing a PEG component into it. The degradation of PCL-b-PEG copolymer increase with a decreasing crystallinity of the copolymer, and can be controlled by adjusting the component ratio of the copolymer.     

Synthesis of double hydrophilic graft copolymer containing poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(methacrylic acid) side chains via successive ATRP

A well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymer, with polyacrylate as backbone, hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(methacrylic acid) as side chains, was synthesized via successive atom transfer radical polymerization followed by the selective hydrolysis of poly(methoxymethyl methacrylate) side chains. The grafting‐through strategy was first used to prepare poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate] comb copolymer. The obtained comb copolymer was transformed into macroinitiator by reacting with lithium diisopropylamine and 2‐bromopropionyl chloride. Afterwards, grafting‐from route was employed for the synthesis of poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate]‐g‐poly(methoxymethyl methacrylate) amphiphilic graft copolymer. The molecular weight distribution of this amphiphilic graft copolymer was narrow. Poly(methoxymethyl methacrylate) side chains were connected to polyacrylate backbone through stable C? C bonds instead of ester connections. The final product, poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate]‐g‐poly(methacrylate acid), was obtained by selective hydrolysis of poly(methoxymethyl methacrylate) side chains under mild conditions without affecting the polyacrylate backbone. This double hydrophilic graft copolymer was found be stimuli‐responsive to pH and ionic strength. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4056–4069, 2008     

Synthesis and pyrolysis of ABC type miktoarm star copolymers with polystyrene,poly(lactic acid) and poly(ethylene glycol) arms

An ABC type miktoarm star copolymer possessing polystyrene (PS), poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) arms was synthesized by combining Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) and Ring Opening Polymerization (ROP) with two click chemistries, namely thiol–ene and copper catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). For this purpose, a core 1-(allyloxy)-3-azidopropan-2-ol with allyl and azide functionalities was synthesized in two steps. Then, clickable polymers, polystyrene with thiol functionality (PS–SH) and poly(ethylene glycol) with alkyne functionality (PEG–acetylene) were independently prepared. As the first step of the grafting onto process, PS–SH was thiol–ene clicked onto the core to yield PS–N₃–OH. The second arm was then incorporated onto the core by the Ring Opening Polymerization (ROP) of l-(?)-Lactide (LA) using as PS–N₃–OH initiator and tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate as catalyst. Finally, alkyne–PEG–acetylene was bonded to the resulting PLA–PS–N₃ using CuAAC click reaction. All intermediates, related polymers at different stages and final PS–PLA–PEG miktoarm star copolymer were characterized by ¹H NMR, FT-IR, SEC and DP-MS analyses. Direct pyrolysis mass spectrometry, (DP-MS) analyses of PS–PLA–PEG and all intermediate polymers indicated that the decomposition of PS and PEG chains occurred almost independently, following the degradation mechanisms of the corresponding homopolymers. On the other hand, during the pyrolysis of PS–PLA–PEG, elimination of H₂O during the decomposition of PEG chains at the early stages of pyrolysis caused hydrolysis of PLA chains and increased the yields of CO₂, CO and units involving unsaturation and/or crosslinked structure.     

Aqueous solution properties of amphiphilic triblock copolymer poly(p-dioxanone-co-l-lactide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)

A poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based new amphiphilic block copolymer bearing the poly(p-dioxanone-co-l-lactide) (PPDO/PLLA) hydrophobic moieties was prepared. Depending on the copolymer composition and molecular weights, solubility of the polymeric samples in water was varied. Its diluted aqueous solution properties were studied by viscometry, dye solubilization, ¹H-NMR and dynamic light scattering. 1,6-Diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene solubilization and ¹H-NMR spectra carried out in CDCl₃ and D₂O were used to prove the existence of hydrophobic domains as the core of micelle. Average particle size of 60-165 nm with low polydispersity and lower negative zeta (ξ) potential of −3 to −14 mV were observed on the aqueous copolymer dispersion.     

Poly(ethylene glycol) Surface Coated Magnetic Particles

Summary: A methacrylate‐functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) macromonomer was copolymerized at the surface of methacrylate‐derivatized maghemite nanoparticles. After silylation of the magnetic core with methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, two grafting procedures based on either a direct copolymerization reaction in water or an inverse emulsion polymerization were compared. A direct copolymerization led to low polymer surface amounts, whereas an inverse emulsion process allowed nanocomposite particles containing up to 90 wt.‐% polymer to be obtained.

TEM picture of maghemite‐PEG hybrid particles.     

Adsorption properties of poly(l-lysine)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL-g-PEG) at a hydrophobic interface: influence of tribological stress, pH, salt concentration, and polymer molecular weight

The adsorption properties of a graft copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with a polycationic backbone, namely, poly( l-lysine)- graft-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL- g-PEG), onto nonpolar, hydrophobic PDMS surfaces from aqueous solution and the lubrication properties of the self-mated sliding contacts of PDMS surfaces modified with PLL- g-PEG have been investigated. Whereas PLL- g-PEG is spontaneously attracted to negatively charged surfaces as a result of the polycationic PLL backbone, the collective interaction of (CH 2) 4 hydrocarbon moieties on the lysine units in the PLL backbone with nonpolar, hydrophobic surfaces also enables the adsorption of PLL- g-PEG onto hydrophobic surfaces such as PDMS. The adsorption and lubrication properties of PLL- g-PEG have been investigated by varying the aqueous solution parameters, such as pH (2, 7, and 12) and KCl concentration (0, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 M) as well as the length of the PLL backbone of the copolymer (20 vs 375 kDa). In the absence of tribological stress, the adsorption of PLL- g-PEG onto PDMS surfaces was mainly governed by the KCl concentration, whereas the role of pH or the molecular weight of the copolymer was of relatively minor importance; for all pH values, the adsorbed mass decreased with increasing KCl concentration. Under tribological stress, however, a clear dependence of the lubrication properties of PLL- g-PEG on all of the studied parameters, including pH, KCl concentration, and backbone molecular weight, was observed. The adsorption strength of PLL- g-PEG on PDMS surfaces, rather than the adsorbed mass itself, appeared to be the most critical parameter in determining the lubrication properties.     

A facile approach to biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol)-based polyurethanes containing pendant amino groups

A novel biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol)-based polyurethanes (PCL-PEG-PU) with pendant amino groups was synthesized by direct coupling of PEG ester of NH₂-protected-(aspartic acid) (PEG-Asp-PEG diols) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) diols with hexamethylene dissocyanate (HDI) under mild reaction conditions and by subsequent deprotection of benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz) groups. GPC, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR studies confirmed the polymer structures and the complete deprotection. DSC and WXRD results indicated that the crystallinity of the copolymer was enhanced with increasing PCL diols in the copolymer. The content of amino group in the polymer could be adjusted by changing the molar ratio of PEG-Asp-PEG diols to PCL diols. Thus the results of this study provide a good way to prepare polyurethanes bearing hydrophilic PEG segments and reactive amino groups without complicated synthesis.     

Photodegradation Behavior of Polycaprolactone-Poly(ethylene glycol) Block Copolymer

Polycaprolactone-poly(ethyleneglycol)(PCE)blockcopolymerisabiodegradablepolymer.ThebiodegradationcharacterisationinvitFoandinvivoofthePCEwasreported"'.ItwasfoundthatthedegradationrateofthePCEwasincreasedwithincreasingpoly(ethyleneglycol)content,temperature,acidityandalkalinityanditwasacceleratedbythepresenceofenzyme.Thefastestdegradationratewasobservedinthephysiologicalconditionofthesamplebeingimplantedinthebodyofanimals.SoPCEcopolymerpossessesagoodprospecttobebio-medicalmaterials3.Mostp…     

Synthesis of poly(ethylene glycol)/polypeptide/poly(D,L‐lactide) copolymers and their nanoparticles

Core‐shell structured nanoparticles of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/polypeptide/poly(D ,L ‐lactide) (PLA) copolymers were prepared and their properties were investigated. The copolymers had a poly(L ‐serine) or poly(L ‐phenylalanine) block as a linker between a hydrophilic PEG and a hydrophobic PLA unit. They formed core‐shell structured nanoparticles, where the polypeptide block resided at the interface between a hydrophilic PEG shell and a hydrophobic PLA core. In the synthesis, poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(L ‐serine) (PEG‐PSER) was prepared by ring opening polymerization of N‐carboxyanhydride of O‐(tert‐butyl)‐L ‐serine and subsequent removal of tert‐butyl groups. Poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(L ‐phenylalanine) (PEG‐PPA) was obtained by ring opening polymerization of N‐carboxyanhydride of L ‐phenylalanine. Methoxy‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐amine with a MW of 5000 was used as an initiator for both polymerizations. The polymerization of D ,L ‐lactide by initiation with PEG‐PSER and PEG‐PPA produced a comb‐like copolymer, poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐[poly(L ‐serine)‐g‐poly(D ,L ‐lactide)] (PEG‐PSER‐PLA) and a linear copolymer, poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(L ‐phenylalanine)‐b‐poly(D ,L ‐lactide) (PEG‐PPA‐PLA), respectively. The nanoparticles obtained from PEG‐PPA‐PLA showed a negative zeta potential value of ?16.6 mV, while those of PEG‐PSER‐PLA exhibited a positive value of about 19.3 mV. In pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution at 36 °C, the nanoparticles of PEG/polypeptide/PLA copolymers showed much better stability than those of a linear PEG‐PLA copolymer having a comparable molecular weight. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

pH-induced micelle formation of poly(histidine-co-phenylalanine)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) in aqueous media

Poly[(L-histidine)-co-(L-phenylalanine)]-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (HF-b-PEG) diblock copolymers were synthesized to be used for preparation of pH-sensitive polymeric micelles. First, HF block was synthesized by ring opening copolymerization of L-histidine and L-phenylalanine N-carboxyanhydride, and then the resulting copolymer was coupled with PEG. The pKa value of diblock copolymer can be controlled by adjusting the histidine/phenylalanine ratio in HF block. It is observed that the block copolymers form micelles in aqueous media and that the micelles are spherical in shape with a unimodal distribution. The micelle is formed at pH higher than pKa of block copolymer while it is not formed at lower pH. This is because the protonation of histidine residue in the HF block converts the hydrophobic core into hydrophilic one at lower pH. Acid-Base titration profile of HF41(5600)-b-PEG, HF56(5500)-b-PEG, H(5100)-b-PEG and 0.1 N NaCl.