Synthesis of tertiary amine‐based pH‐responsive polymers by RAFT Polymerization

Well‐defined tertiary amine‐based pH‐responsive homopolymers and block copolymers were synthesized via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using 4‐cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate (CPAD) as the RAFT agent for homopolymers and a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) macro‐RAFT agent for the block copolymers. ¹H NMR and gel permeation chromatography results confirmed the successful synthesis of these homopolymers and block copolymers. Kinetics studies indicated that the formation of both the homopolymers and the block copolymers were well defined. The pKa titration experiments suggested that the homopolymers and the related block copolymers have a similar pKa. The dynamic light scattering investigation showed that all of the block copolymers underwent a sharp transition from unimers to micelles around their pKa and the hydrodynamic diameter (D_h) was not only dependent on the molecular weight but also on the composition of the block copolymers. The polymer solution of PEG‐b‐PPPDEMA formed the largest micelle compare to the PEG‐b‐PDPAEMA and PEG‐b‐PDBAEMA with a similar molecular weight. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1010–1022     

Recyclable and reusable Pd(OAc)2/PPh3/PEG‐2000 system for homocoupling reaction of arylboronic acids under air without base

A stable and efficient Pd(OAc)₂/PPh₃/PEG‐2000 catalytic system for homocoupling of arylboronic acids has been developed. In the presence of Pd(OAc)₂ and PPh₃, the homocoupling reaction of arylboronic acids was carried out smoothly in PEG‐2000 at 70 °C under air without base to afford a variety of symmetric biaryls in good to excellent yields. The isolation of the products was readily performed by extraction with diethyl ether, and the Pd(OAc)₂/PPh₃/PEG‐2000 system could be easily recycled and reused six times without significant loss of catalytic activity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of New Targeted Inulin Complex Nanoaggregates for siRNA Delivery in Antitumor Therapy

Here, a novel strategy of formulating efficient polymeric carriers based on the already described INU-IMI-DETA for gene material whose structural, functional, and biological properties can be modulated and improved was successfully investigated. In particular, two novel derivatives of INU-IMI-DETA graft copolymer were synthesized by chemical functionalisation with epidermal growth factor (EGF) or polyethylenglycol (PEG), named INU-IMI-DETA-EGF and INU-IMI-DETA-PEG, respectively, in order to improve the performance of already described “inulin complex nanoaggregates” (ICONs). The latter were thus prepared by appropriately mixing the two copolymers, by varying each component from 0 to 100 wt% on the total mixture, named EP-ICONs. It was seen that the ability of the INU-IMI-DETA-EGF/INU-IMI-DETA-PEG polymeric mixture to complex siGL3 increases with the increase in the EGF-based component in the EP-ICONs and, for each sample, with the increase in the copolymer:siRNA weight ratio (R). On the other hand, the susceptibility of loaded siRNA towards RNase decreases with the increase in the pegylated component in the polymeric mixture. At all R values, the average size and the zeta potential values are suitable for escaping from the RES system and suitable for prolonged intravenous circulation. By means of biological characterisation, it was shown that MCF-7 cells are able to internalize mainly the siRNA-loaded into EGF-decorated complexes, with a significant difference from ICONs, confirming its targeting function. The targeting effect of EGF on EP-ICONs was further demonstrated by a competitive cell uptake study, i.e., after cell pre-treatment with EGF. Finally, it was shown that the complexes containing both EGF and PEG are capable of promoting the internalisation and therefore the transfection of siSUR, a siRNA acting against surviving mRNA, and to increase the sensitivity to an anticancer agent, such as doxorubicin.     

基于聚乙二醇接枝丙烯酸树酯光固化电解质的制备及性能研究

聚氧化乙烯(PEO)(聚乙二醇(PEG))和丙烯酸树脂在聚合物基电解质中具有很好的应用,本文通过紫外光引发单/双官能度的聚乙二醇接枝丙烯酸树脂单体聚合构建了离子电导率高、易于封装,可避免电解质泄漏的准固态聚合物电解质.通过调控聚乙二醇二甲基丙烯酸酯(PEGDA)和甲氧基聚乙二醇单甲基丙烯酸酯(PEGMA)2种单体的比例以及锂盐溶液的含量,成功制备出具有高离电导率的准固态聚合物电解质.采用傅里叶变换红外光谱仪(FTIR),电化学工作站对PEGMA/PEGDA基聚合物电解质进行表征,研究各组分比例对电解质的电化学性能影响.当PEGMA/PEGDA单体比例为75/25,锂盐溶液的占比为75%时,形成的薄膜状态电解质表现出1.96×10^?3 S·cm^?1的高离子电导率,较原始配比提高了14倍.将制备的电解质应用于电致变色器件,在580个变色循环后,器件依然可以实现稳定快速的颜色切换,2种颜色变换时间均在3 s以内,本文中研究的聚醚接枝丙烯酸树酯基电解质材料在电致变色器件中有较好的应用前景.     

Loss of PEG chain in routine SDS‐PAGE analysis of PEG‐maleimide modified protein

SDS‐PAGE represents a quick and simple method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of protein and protein‐containing conjugates, mostly pegylated proteins. PEG‐maleimide (MAL) is frequently used to site‐specifically pegylate therapeutic proteins via free cysteine residue by forming a thiosuccinimide structure for pursuing homogeneous products. The C–S linkage between protein and PEG‐MAL is generally thought to be relatively stable. However, loss of intact PEG chain in routine SDS‐PAGE analysis of PEG‐maleimide modified protein was observed. It is a thiol‐independent thioether cleavage and the shedding of PEG chain exclusively happens to PEG‐MAL modified conjugates although PEG‐vinylsulfone conjugates to thiol‐containing proteins also through a C–S linkage. Cleavage kinetics of PEG40k‐MAL modified ciliary neurotrophic factor showed this kind of degradation could immediately happen even in 1 min incubation at high temperature and could be detected at physiological temperature and pH, although the rate was relatively slow. This may provide another degradation route for maleimide‐thiol conjugate irrespective of reactive thiol, although the specific mechanism is still not very clear for us. It would also offer a basis for accurate characterization of PEG‐MAL modified protein/peptide by SDS‐PAGE analysis.     

自然光照下PEG/PAA凝胶在Fe~(3+)/CA溶液中的凝胶-溶胶转化行为

将PEG/PAA凝胶浸入铁/柠檬酸(Fe3+/CA)溶液中,自然光照一定时间可实现凝胶-溶胶的相互转化,而且转化行为受溶液的组成及其p H影响。只有当溶液中[Fe3+]0∶[CA]0≤1∶2,且溶液的p H在1~6之间,该转化才会发生,通过改变溶液中[Fe3+]0∶[CA]0的值或溶液的p H可以有效地控制其转化速率。此外,结果还表明,当凝胶转化为溶胶后,向其中加入高价金属阳离子,例如Fe3+、Al3+、Ce4+、Cu2+等,溶胶又会再次转化为凝胶。由于这种新颖的特性,该凝胶有望应用于药物释放、细胞培养等领域。     

超分子水凝胶作为胰岛素缓释体系的研究

利用α-环糊精(α-CD)与含有聚乙二醇(PEG)链段的聚合物Pluronic F127的超分子作用制备水凝胶.该物理交联水凝胶的交联点包括α-CD与PEG链包合物堆积形成的微晶区和聚合物疏水链段聚集区.优化水凝胶组分,得到具有较低固含量和较短凝胶化时间的体系用于胰岛素的负载和释放研究.通过X射线衍射(XRD),扫描显微镜(SEM)对水凝胶结构进行表征.通过紫外分光光度计监测胰岛素的释放过程,结果表明,水凝胶释药时间约为65 h,且释放曲线较为平缓.细胞毒性实验结果表明该水凝胶材料对细胞生长无明显抑制作用.小鼠体内释药实验结果表明该水凝胶载体对延长胰岛素的释药时间有一定效果,可作为多肽类药物的缓释体系.     

聚乙二醇和液体石蜡介质对完全液相法制Cu-Zn-Al催化剂结构及CO加氢催化性能的影响

催化剂的形成和使用环境对催化剂的结构和性能会产生重要的影响.我们采用完全液相法,以PEG-400和液体石蜡分别作为热处理介质制备Cu-Zn-Al催化剂,用X射线粉末衍射、H2程序升温还原、N2吸附、X射线光电子能谱对其进行表征,考察热处理介质对催化剂结构的影响;以相应的热处理介质作为浆态床反应介质,考察介质对CO加氢催化反应性能的影响.结果表明,PEG-400作为热处理介质有助于提高催化剂的比表面积、Zn O的分散度和表面铜含量,催化剂中存在难还原的Cu+,有利于形成Cu+-Cu0之间的协同作用;在反应过程中,PEG-400作为反应介质可以抑制铜晶粒的长大,有利于乙醇的生成及C5烃选择性的提高,但催化剂的结构和表面组成会发生较大的变化.     

Effect of polyethylene glycol on the crystallization and impact properties of polylactide‐based blends

Polylactide (PLA) was plasticized by polyethylene glycols (PEGs) with five different molecular weights (M_w = 200–20,000 g/mol). The effects of content and molecular weight of PEG on the crystallization and impact properties of PLA were studied by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and V‐notched impact tests, respectively. The results revealed that PEG‐10,000 could significantly improve the crystallization capacity and impact toughness of PLA. When the PEG‐10,000 content ranged from 0 to 20 wt%, the increases in both V‐notched Izod and Charpy impact strengths of PLA/PEG‐10,000 blends were 206.10% and 137.25%, respectively. Meanwhile, the crystallinity of PLA/PEG‐10,000 blends increased from 3.95% to 43.42%. For 10 wt% PEG content, the crystallization and impact properties of PLA/PEG blends mainly depended upon PEG molecular weight. With increasing the M_w of PEG, the crystallinity and impact strength of PLA/PEG blends first decreased and then increased. The introduction of PEG reduced the intermolecular force and enhanced the mobility of PLA chains, thus improving the crystallization capacity and flexibility of PLA. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.