Development of Smart Polymer Microparticles through Suspension Polymerization for Treatment of Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that affects millions of people, especially low‐income people, and is considered a major public health problem in underdeveloped countries. The drug used most often for the treatment of the disease is praziquantel (PZQ), which has a strong and characteristic bitter taste that makes treatment of children inconvenient. For this reason, the present work investigates the development of smart pH‐sensitive polymer microparticles produced through suspension polymerizations to be used as vehicles for the controlled release of praziquantel in the body. The microparticles are produced through copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and the cationic comonomers diethylaminoethyl methacrylate or dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate. The obtained results indicate that microparticles with sizes in the range of 10–1100 µm can be formed successfully, allowing high PZQ encapsulation efficiencies (>80%). Zeta potential analyses and drug release assays confirm the pH‐sensitive responses of the cationic copolymers, leading to effective release of PZQ (around 80% in pH 1.2) in acidic media that simulate the organic fluids present in the stomach.     

High performance DNA separation media using synergistic radiation grafting

Simultaneous radiation grafting technique was carried out using 2-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate as monomer to introduce positively charged groups into polyethylene and polyamide microcarriers. Special selection of diverse solvents and comonomers like N-vinylpyrrolidone, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate leads to high grafting yields. The functionality of the cationic carriers were examined with regard to their DNA binding properties using a high molecular weight phage λ DNA. Comparative examinations with commercial DNA and cationic separation gels revealed an up to 50% higher DNA binding capacity of the grafted carriers.     

Kinetic study of all-or-none hemolysis induced by cationic amphiphilic polymethacrylates with antimicrobial activity

To gain an understanding of the toxicity of antimicrobial polymers to human cells, their hemolytic action was investigated using human red blood cells (RBCs). We examined the hemolysis induced by cationic amphiphilicmethacrylate random copolymers, which have amino ethyl sidechains as cationic units and either butyl or methyl methacrylate as hydrophobic units. The polymer with 30 mol% butyl sidechains (B30) displayed higher hemolytic toxicity than the polymer with 59 mol% methyl sidechains (M59). B30 also induced faster release of hemoglobin from RBCs than M59. A new theoretical model is proposed based on two consecutive steps to form active polymer species on the RBC membranes, which are associated to RBC lysis. This model takes the all-or-none release of hemoglobin by the rupture of RBCs into account, providing new insight into the polymer-induced hemolysis regarding how individual or collective cells respond to the polymers.     

Ziegler-Natta catalysed polymerisation for the preparation of copolymers with pendant sucrose moieties

The copolymerisations of the monomers 1 (1′,2,3,3′,4,4′,6-hepta-O-benzyl-6′-O-crotonyl-sucrose) and 2 (1′,2,3,3′,4,4′,6-hepta-O-benzyl-6′-O-methacryloyl-sucrose) with styrene/methyl methacrylate have been examined in the presence of Ziegler-Natta catalyst TiCl₄/AlEt₃. A study of the effect of the reaction conditions, the monomer structure and the initial quantity of the comonomers on the sugar incorporation and molecular mass of the final copolymers has been carried out. In this way, by the coordination mechanism of polymerisation we had obtained novel linear unbranched polymers and copolymers, potentially useful for biomedical applications.     

The effect of formulation variables on the characteristics of insulin-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres prepared by a single phase oil in oil solvent evaporation method

Biodegradable polymeric microspheres are ideal vehicles for controlled delivery applications of drugs, peptides and proteins. Amongst them, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) has generated enormous interest due to their favorable properties and also has been approved by FDA for drug delivery. Insulin-loaded PLGA microparticles were prepared by our developed single phase oil in oil (o/o) emulsion solvent evaporation technique. Insulin, a model protein, was successfully loaded into microparticles by changing experimental variables such as polymer molecular weight, polymer concentration, surfactant concentration and stirring speed in order to optimize process variables on drug encapsulation efficiency, release rates, size and size distribution. A 2⁴ full factorial design was employed to evaluate systematically the combined effect of variables on responses. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) confirmed spherical shapes, smooth surface morphology and microsphere structure without aggregation. FTIR and DSC results showed drug–polymer interaction. The encapsulation efficiency of insulin was mainly influenced by surfactant concentration. Moreover, polymer concentration and polymer molecular weight affected burst release of drug and size characteristics of microspheres, respectively. It was concluded that using PLGA with higher molecular weight, high surfactant and polymer concentrations led to a more appropriate encapsulation efficiency of insulin with low burst effect and desirable release pattern.     

Effect of surfactant adsorbed on encapsulation of fine inorganic powder with soapless emulsion polymerization

The encapsulation of fine inorganic powder was carried out with the soapless emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in water in the presence of the powder, a layer of surfactant being adsorbed. The powder used was titanium dioxide. Surfactants added prior to the polymerization were sodium dodecyl sulfate, dodecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate. The encapsulation state of the powder with polymer was closely related to the amount of surfactant adsorbed on the powder; and an amount of adsorption above a certain value was necessary for uniform encapsulation. Ionic surfactants were more useful than nonionic in the surfactants used, and could be adsorbed utilizing the electrostatic interaction between powder and the ionic end group. The combination of electric charges between the ionic end groups of surfactant and initiator was found to influence the molecular weight of capsulating polymer.     

超临界CO2中的高分子合成研究进展

本文介绍以超临界CO₂流体为介质的高分子合成的研究进展。说明可在超临界二氧化碳中实施氟代单体的自由基溶液聚合、甲基丙烯酸甲酯和苯乙烯的分散聚合、丙烯酸的沉淀聚合、丙烯酰胺的反相乳液聚合以及异丁基乙烯基醚的阳离子聚合等多种聚合反应。这显示出超临界CO₂是一种对环境无污染且价廉的替代溶剂。     

Synthesis of crown ether-terminated poly(methyl methacrylate) by radical chain transfer polymerization

Mercapto-16-crown-5 was prepared starting from tetraethyleneglycol and 3-chloro-2-chloromethyl-1-propene. Radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate was carried out in the presence of mercapto-16-crown-5 as a chain transfer agent to give crown ether-terminated poly(methyl methacrylate). The end crown group was characterized by IR and ¹H-NMR spectra. Sodium cation was selectively extracted by this crown-containing polymer. The molecular weight of the obtained polymer had influence upon the ability of extraction of sodium cation.     

Terpolymerization of methyl methacrylate, poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate or poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate with methacrylic acid and sodium styrene sulfonate: determination of the reactivity ratios

Materials bearing ionic monomers were obtained through free radical terpolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PMEM) or poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate (PEEM) with methacrylic acid (MA) and sodium styrene sulfonate (NaSS). The reactions were carried out in dimethyl sulfoxide using azobis(isobutyronitrile) as initiator. The reactivity ratios of the different couple of monomers were calculated according to the general copolymerization equation using the Finnemann-Ross, Kelen-Tüdos and Tidwell-Mortimer methods. The values of the reactivity ratios indicate that the different monomer units can be considered as randomly distributed along the chains for terpolymerizations of MMA, PMEM or PEEM with MA and NaSS. The average composition of the comonomers in the different terpolymers were calculated, showing a good agreement between the experimental and theoretical compositions. The instantaneous compositions are constant until about 70% of conversion. For higher conversions, the insertion of ionic monomers increases or decreases according to the system studied.     

Development and in vitro cytotoxicity of microparticle drug delivery system for proteins using <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-tyrosine polyphosphate

l-Tyrosine polyphosphate (LTP), a “pseudo” poly (amino acid) polymer is characterized by a rapid degradation rate. Subsequently, formulation of a drug delivery system has been investigated by encapsulating fluorescein isothiocyanate–bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) within LTP microparticles. Characterization of surface morphology shows a mixture of spherical and discoid particles with a slightly rough surface morphology for all microparticle formulations. Dynamic laser light scattering (DLS) shows a decrease in particle diameters and size distribution upon FITC-BSA encapsulation. LTP microparticles are found to degrade over a period of 7 days, and complete release of FITC-BSA is observed over a period of 6 days. Cytotoxicity evaluation of LTP microparticles indicates that these microparticles do not cause severe cell death in cultured primary human dermal fibroblasts over a period of 10 days. Therefore, the LTP microparticles are promising candidates for short-term protein delivery applications.     

Quenching of photo-excited state of copolymer pendant Ru(bpy) complexes with methylviologen

Copolymer pendant tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complexes were prepared from the copolymers of 4-methyl-4′-vinyl-2,2′-bipyridine with styrene, acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile, N-vinylpyrrolidone, 4-vinylpyridine, and quaternized 4-vinylpyridine. The quenching of the photo-excited state of the polymer complexes by methylviologen was studied. Pendant anionic groups such as acrylate enhanced remarkably the quenching of the cationic sensitizer by the cationic substrate, however, pendant cationic groups such as quaternized pyridine did not affect the reaction. The polymer chain showed generally retarding effect on the quenching reaction.     

Properties of polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate copolymers of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes: A molecular dynamics study

Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out on copolymers of both styrene and methyl methacrylate with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) derivatives to identify the origin of the property changes imparted upon the chemical incorporation of POSS. Simulations were carried out on these hybrid copolymers and the parent homopolymers to elucidate the effect of the T₈, T₁₀, and T₁₂ POSS cages. These POSS comonomers were derivatized with a single polymerizable function and 7, 9, and 11 nonpolymerizable hydrocarbon moieties, respectively. Glass transition temperatures (T_g) were computed from specific volume versus temperature plots. The packing of POSS units around the polymer backbone was analyzed via their radial distribution functions. The effect of POSS on polymer motion was analyzed through the mean square displacement function. The improvements in the elastic moduli upon incorporation of POSS were computed by employing the static deformation method. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 234–248, 2006     

Radical Copolymerization Behavior of Alkyl Vinyl Sulfides

In order to clarify the effects of the sulfur atom and the alkyl groups in alkyl vinyl sulfides (RVS) on their reactivities, the radical copolymerizations of eight RVS (M₂) with styrene, methyl methacrylate, and acrylonitrile (Mi) were investigated at 60°C, and the copolymerization parameters were determined. It was found that the Q and e values for RVS were estimated as 0.3 ～ 0.5 and -1.1 ～ -1.7, respectively, from the copolymerizations with styrene, and these values were almost unchanged, regardless of the type of alkyl group in RVS. These results indicated that the electron-sharing, 3d orbital resonance between the growing radical derived from electron-donating RVS monomer and the adjacent sulfur atom was important in the transition state of copolymerizations.

It was also found that the copolymer composition curves in the copolymerizations of RVS varied widely with the comonomers used, and the tendency for alternative copolymerizations increased with an increase in the electron-accepting nature of the comonomers in the order: styrene ≤ methyl methacrylate ≤ acrylonitrile. The selectivities between RVS and alkyl vinyl ether toward various polymer radicals were determined, and they were found to correlate with the e values of the monomers corresponding to the attacking polymer radicals.     

pH-responsive capsules derived from nanocrystal templating

In the current work we demonstrate a facile and versatile way to create hydrophilic polymeric capsules by integration of Au nanocrystal templating, surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization, and selective chemical cross-linking of polymer shells. Capsules of the homopolymer of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and its copolymers with 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate were constructed. They swell at low pH and shrink at high pH. On the basis of the pH sensitivity of the resulting capsules, encapsulation and release of a drug model, rhodamine 6G, were realized. Furthermore, by cleaving Au-S bonds between Au cores and polymer shells, capsules containing free Au cores were generated, paving a simple pathway to introduce more functionality to the polymeric capsules.     

Preparation and Cytotoxicity of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Nanoparticles for Drug Encapsulation

Summary: This work aimed to produce poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles for use in drug encapsulation. The polymer nanoparticles were produced using miniemulsion polymerization technique. Monomer miniemulsion showed moderate stability and polymer average particle size was about 90 nm. PMMA nanoparticles were tested for toxicity in human leukemic cell strain K562 and they did not show any adverse effect on cell viability. Therefore, poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles are suitable to encapsulate antitumor agents.     

Fluorinated and ring‐substituted bisbenzimidazole copper complexes for ethylene/acrylate copolymerization

Bisbenzimidazole copper dichloride complexes (CuBBIMs), when activated with methylaluminoxane, catalyze the random copolymerization of ethylene with acrylates to produce highly linear functional copolymers. To probe the sensitivity of the copolymerization to the catalyst structure, a series of CuBBIM catalysts with various steric, electronic, and geometric ligand characteristics was prepared, including CuBBIMs having benzimidazole ring substituents and ligand backbones of various lengths. Four different acrylates were also evaluated as comonomers (t‐butyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, t‐butyl methacrylate, and methyl methacrylate). Although no obvious ligand‐based influences on copolymerization were identified, the structure of the acrylate comonomer was found to exert significant effects. Copolymers prepared with t‐butyl methacrylate comonomer exhibited the highest ethylene contents (31–63%), whereas those prepared with methyl acrylate contained only minor amounts of ethylene (<15%). Copolymerizations carried out at lowered acrylate feed levels generally had increased ethylene contents but showed smaller yields, lowered molecular weights, and increased branching. Unusual ketoester structures were also observed in the methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate containing copolymers, suggesting that the acrylate ester group size may be an important controlling factor for copolymerization. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1817–1840, 2006     

Effects of particle volume fraction on distortion of particle-arrayed structure during immobilization of colloidal crystals formed by poly(methyl methacrylate)-grafted silica in acetonitrile

Changes of particle array structure with particle volume fraction during immobilization of colloidal crystals, formed by poly(methyl methacrylate)-grafted silica in acetonitrile, were investigated. Immobilization of colloidal crystals formed in acetonitrile was carried out by two-step photo-radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and ethylene dimethacrylate to make organogel, followed by solidification after exchanging the solvent with methyl methacrylate. Crystallite size in colloidal crystals formed in acetonitrile was mostly unchanged with particle volume fraction in the range of 0.11–0.18, while the size and number of single crystals decreased during gelation. Disordering in particle array in immobilized colloidal crystals in gel and poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix was observed to decrease with increasing particle volume fraction less than 0.18 due to strong electrostatic repulsion between particles.     

Controlled‐release systems based on the intercalation of polymeric metribuzin onto montmorillonite

A series of polymer–clay composites carrying metribuzin as herbicide moieties were prepared. Linear copolymers containing metribuzin via an imide linkage were prepared by the free‐radical polymerization of metribuzin monomer (N,N‐diacryloyl metribuzin) with different comonomers. The intercalation of the copolymers onto montmorillonite through a cationic exchange process was carried out and yielded metribuzin composite products. The prepared materials were characterized with a wide variety of analytical techniques, including gel permeation chromatography, NMR, IR, elemental microanalysis, gravimetric analysis (calcination), and swelling measurements. The release rates for the prepared materials were investigated in media of different pHs with an ultraviolet spectrophotometer. Also, these compounds were studied for the control of herb growth. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2513–2525, 2002     

Chemical recycling of poly(methyl methacrylate) by pyrolysis. Potential use of the liquid fraction as a raw material for the reproduction of the polymer

Pyrolysis of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was studied as an effective way to recycle this polymer and recover its monomer methyl methacrylate (MMA). Experiments were carried out in a laboratory fixed bed reactor using either a model polymer or a commercial product based on PMMA as feedstock. Gaseous and liquid products obtained from polymer degradation were analysed and it was found that the oil fraction constituted mainly of the MMA monomer. Thus, the possibility of directly using the liquid product for the reproduction of the polymer was further investigated. Polymerizations accomplished in a differential scanning calorimeter using azo-bis-isobutyronitrile as initiator and different reaction temperatures. Results obtained were compared to corresponding data from polymerization of neat monomer. It was found that the pyrolysis liquid fraction can be polymerized and produce a polymer similar to the original PMMA. However, even small amounts of other organic compounds (mainly methyl esters) included in this fraction act as non-ideal reaction retarders, altering the reaction rate curve and lowering the glass transition temperature and the average molecular weight of the polymer produced.     

Thermoresponsive copolymers of methacrylic acid and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate

Copolymers of methacrylic acid (MAA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) were prepared and their cloud points in aqueous solution were studied as a function of comonomer ratio, solution pH, and presence of hydrophobic comonomers. Under acidic conditions, the cloud point falls below 0 °C for copolymers with between 25% to 60% ether content, because of the formation of hydrophobic H‐bonded ether–acid complexes. The cloud point also decreases with solution pH. For equivalent ether to acid ratios, the cloud point decreases with decreasing PEG chain length, because of the presence of a larger number of hydrophobic methyl and methacrylate groups. Similarly, the cloud point decreases upon incorporation of hydrophobic comonomers such as butyl, lauryl, or glycidyl methacrylates. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6095–6104, 2005