Preparation and characterization of polypseudorotaxanes based on block-selected inclusion complexation between poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) triblock copolymers and alpha-cyclodextrin

A series of new polypseudorotaxanes were synthesized in high yields when the middle poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block of poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) (PPO-PEO-PPO) triblock copolymers was selectively recognized and included by alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) to form crystalline inclusion complexes (ICs), although the middle PEO block was flanked by two thicker PPO blocks, and a PPO chain had been previously thought to be impenetrable to alpha-CD. X-ray diffraction studies demonstrated that the IC domains of the polypseudorotaxanes assumed a channel-type structure similar to the necklace-like ICs formed by alpha-CD and PEO homopolymers. Solid-state CP/MAS (13)C NMR studies showed that the alpha-CD molecules in the polypseudorotaxanes adopted a symmetrical conformation due to the formation of ICs. The compositions and stoichiometry of the polypseudorotaxanes were studied using (1)H NMR, and a 2:1 (ethylene oxide unit to alpha-CD) stoichiometry was found for all polypseudorotaxanes although the PPO-PEO-PPO triblock copolymers had different compositions and block lengths, suggesting that only the PEO block was closely included by alpha-CD molecules, whereas the PPO blocks were uncovered. The hypothesis was further supported by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies of the polypseudorotaxanes. The glass transitions of the PPO blocks in the polypseudorotaxanes were clearly observed because they were uncovered by alpha-CD and remained amorphous, whereas the glass-transition temperatures increased, because the molecular motion of the PPO blocks was restricted by the hard crystalline phases of the IC domains formed by alpha-CD and the PEO blocks. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that the polypseudorotaxanes had better thermal stability than their free components due to the inclusion complexation. Finally, the kinetics of the threading process of alpha-CD onto the copolymers was also studied. The findings reported in this article suggested interesting possibilities in designing other cyclodextrin ICs and polypseudorotaxanes with block structures.     

Self-diffusion study of poly (ethylene oxide)-poly (propylene oxide)-poly (ethylene oxide) block copolymers in aqueous solution

The self-diffusion of poly (ethylene oxide)-poly (propylene oxide)-poly (ethylene oxide) block copolymers dissolved in deuterated water was investigated by means of pulsed field gradient NMR (PFG-NMR). The polymer forms micelles in the solution and, with increasing temperature, clouding and phase demixing occurs. The self-diffusion coefficient indicates the association of the polymer molecules in the vicinity of the cloud point because of its maximum with increasing temperature. Above the cloud point, two kinds of diffusing species are observed due to phase separation. The faster diffusing species is attributed to the polymer-poor phase. The self-diffusion coefficient of the polymer-rich phase species decreases with increasing temperature above the cloud point due to further association and dehydration. The correlation length of the diffusing associates, calculated from the self-diffusion coefficient and the viscosity by means of the Stokes-Einstein equation is nearly independent of temperature and concentration up to 30 wt-% polymer concentration. The correlation length is about 1.4 nm. It shows a slight maximum at the cloud point.     

Self-aggregation and phase behavior of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers in aqueous solution

The phase behavior and aggregation properties of block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (Pluronics, poloxamers) in aqueous solution have recently attracted much attention. Both experimental and theoretical studies are reviewed, not comprehensively, but with the focus on studies, partly cooperative, partly independent, performed by groups in Uppsala (light scattering and fluorescence), Roskilde (rheology and calorimetry), Risø (SANS), Graz (x-ray and speed of sound), and Lund (theoretical model calculations).The phase behavior of these copolymers is similar in many respects to that of conventional nonionic surfactants, with the appearance of hexagonal, cubic, and lamellar liquid crystalline phases at high concentrations. In the isotropic solution phase the critical concentration for micelle formation is strongly temperature dependent, and at a given concentration the monomer to micelle transition occurs gradually over a broad temperature range, partly due to the broad size polydispersity of both the PO- and EO-blocks. For some Pluronic copolymers a transition from globular to long rod-like micelles occurs above a transition temperature, resulting in a strong and sudden increase of viscosity and viscoelasticity of the solution.Size and aggregation numbers have been determined for the globular micelles in some cases, and also the rod-like micelles have been characterized. NMR and fluorescence measurements have provided further information on the properties of the micellar core and mantle. In combination, results from different measurements on the same Pluronics material indicate that the aggregation number of the micelles increases with the temperature, whereas the hydrodynmic radius varies much less. The PEO-mantle of the micelles seems to contract with increasing temperature. The core appears to contain appreciable amounts of PEO in addition to PPO (and also some water). The segregation between core and mantle is not as distinct as in normal micelles, a conclusion which is in line with the predictions from the model calculations.     

Characterization and demulsification of poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers

Four poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers with different molecular weights and PPO/PEO composition ratios were synthesized. The characterization of the PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymers was studied by surface tension measurement, UV-vis spectra, and surface pressure method. These results clearly showed that the CMC of PEO-PPO-PEO was not a certain value but a concentration range, in contrast to classical surfactant, and two breaks around CMC were reflected in both surface tension isotherm curves and UV-vis absorption spectra. The range of CMC became wider with increasing PPO/PEO composition ratio. Surface pressure Pi-A curves revealed that the amphiphilic triblock copolymer PEO-PPO-PEO molecule was flexible at the air/water interface. We found that the minimum area per molecule at the air/water interface increased with the proportion of PEO chains. The copolymers with the same mass fractions of PEO had similar slopes in the isotherm of the Pi-A curve. From the demulsification experiments a conclusion had been drawn that the dehydration speed increased with decreased content of PEO, but the final dehydration rate of four demulsifiers was approximate. We determined that the coalescence of water drops resulted in the breaking of crude oil emulsions from the micrograph.     

Molecular design of catalysts on the basis of functionalized poly(ethylene oxide) and block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide

Transition metal complexes based on polyethylene oxide and copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide functionalized by dipyridyl, acetylacetone and catechol have been prepared. Macrocomplexes showed high activity and selectivity as catalysts in oxidation of cyclohexane, hydroxylation of benzene, epoxidation of hexene and allylic alcohol bound by hydrogen peroxide, oxidation of ethylbenzene by dioxygen.     

Effect of acid on the aggregation of poly(ethylene xide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers

The acid effect on the aggregation of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers EO(20)PO(70)EO(20) has been investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size analyzer (PSA), Fourier transformed infrared, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The critical micellization temperature for Pluronic P123 in different HCl aqueous solutions increases with the increase of acid concentration. Additionally, the hydrolysis degradation of PEO blocks is observed in strong acid concentrations at higher temperatures. When the acid concentration is low, TEM and PSA show the increase of the micelle mean diameter and the decrease of the micelle polydispersity at room temperature, which demonstrate the extension of EO corona and tendency of uniform micelle size because of the charge repulsion. When under strong acid conditions, the aggregation of micelles through the protonated water bridges was observed.     

Synthesis and characterization of thermoresponsive amphiphilic block copolymers incorporating a poly(ethylene oxide‐stat‐propylene oxide) block

Amphiphilic BuO‐(PEO‐stat‐PPO)‐block‐PLA‐OH diblock and MeO‐PEO‐block‐(PEO‐stat‐PPO)‐block‐PLA‐OH triblock copolymers incorporating thermoresponsive poly(ethylene oxide‐stat‐propylene oxide) (PEO‐stat‐PPO) blocks were prepared by ring‐opening polymerization of lactide (LA) initiated by macroinitiators formed from treating BuO‐(PEO‐stat‐PPO)‐OH and MeO‐PEO‐block‐(PEO‐stat‐PPO)‐OH with AlEt₃. MeO‐PEO‐block‐(PEO‐stat‐PPO)‐OH was prepared by coupling MeO‐PEO‐OH and HO‐(PEO‐stat‐PPO)‐OH, followed by chromatographic purification. The cloud points of 0.2% aqueous solutions are between 36 and 46 °C for the diblock copolymers that contain a 50 wt % EO thermoresponsive block and 78 °C for the triblock copolymer that contains a 75 wt % EO thermoresponsive block. Variable temperature ¹H NMR spectra recorded on D₂O solutions of the diblock copolymers display no PLA resonances below the cloud point and fairly sharp PLA resonances above the cloud point, suggesting that desolvation of the thermoresponsive block increases the miscibility of the two blocks. Preliminary characterization of the micelles formed in aqueous solutions of BuO‐(PEO‐stat‐PPO)‐block‐PLA‐OH conducted using laser scanning confocal microscopy and pulsed gradient spin echo NMR point to significant changes in the size of the micellar aggregates as a function of temperature. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5156–5167, 2005     

Aggregation of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) block copolymers in aqueous solution: DPD simulation study

The dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation method was applied to simulate the aggregation behavior of three block copolymers, (EO)16(PO)18, (EO)8(PO)18(EO)8, and (PO)9(EO)16(PO)9, in aqueous solutions. The results showed that the size of the micelle increased with increasing concentration. The diblock copolymer (EO)16(PO)18 would form an intercluster micelle at a certain concentration range, besides the traditional aggregates (spherical micelle, cylindrical micelle, and lamellar phase); while the triblock copolymer (EO)8(PO)18(EO)8 would form a spherical micelle, cylindrical micelle, and lamellar phase with increasing concentration, and (PO)9(EO)16(PO)9 would form intercluster aggregates, as well as a spherical micelle and gel. New mechanisms were given to explain the two kinds of intercluster micelle formed by the different copolymers. It is deduced from the end-to-end distance that the morphologies of the diblock copolymer and triblock copolymer with hydrophilic ends were more extendible than the triblock copolymer with hydrophobic ends.     

Nanostructured latex films from poly(butyl methacrylate) latex cross-linked with poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) triblock macro-cross-linker

Biphasic polymer latexes were synthesized by a seeded swelling and polymerization method. The latexes were composed of a poly(butyl methacrylate) core and a poly(ethylene oxide) rich shell cross-linked with poly(ethylene oxide)-poly (propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock diol diacrylate macro-cross-linker. Nanostructured films were obtained by annealing the biphasic polymer latexes at a temperature between the glass-transition temperatures of the core latex and the cross-linked poly(ethylene oxide) based shell. Atomic force microscope images of the latex film revealed that the poly(butyl methacrylate) core phase is confined in the poly(ethylene oxide)-rich continuous phase with the form of separate nanosized spheres.     

Enzymatic synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and amylose

Amphiphilic A‐B block copolymers, ω‐methoxypoly(ethylene oxide)‐amylose copolymers (MPEO‐amylose), were synthesized by an enzymatic reaction using potato phosphorylase from an MPEO (M_w = 5.0×10³)‐maltopentaosylamine derivative as a primer and α‐D ‐glucose‐1‐phosphate as a substrate. MPEO‐amyloses with various molecular weights of amylose (DP = 26, 36, 73 and 112) were obtained. None of the MPEO‐amyloses (5 mg/ml) precipitate in water containing 10 vol.‐% DMSO even after 24 h. The MPEO‐amyloses effectively form complexes with iodine in water.     

Adsorption of PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymers with end-capped cationic chains of poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)

We study the adsorption of a symmetric triblock copolymer of ethylene oxide, EO, and propylene oxide, PO, end-capped with quarternized poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate), DMAEMA (DMAEMA(24)-EO(132)PO(50)EO(132)-DMAEMA(24)). Light scattering and tensiometry are used to measure the relative size of the associated structures and surface excess at the air-liquid interface. The adsorbed amount, the amount of coupled water, and the viscoelasticity of the adsorbed polymer layer are measured on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces (polypropylene, cellulose, and silica) by using quartz crystal microgravimetry (QCM) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at different ionic strengths and temperatures. The results of the experiments are compared with those obtained after adsorption of the uncharged precursor copolymer, without the cationic end-caps (EO(132)PO(50)EO(132)). DMAEMA(24)-EO(132)PO(50)EO(132)-DMAEMA(24) possesses higher affinity with the negatively charged silica and cellulose surfaces while the uncharged copolymer adsorbs to a larger extent on polypropylene surfaces. In this latter case, adsorption increases with increasing solution ionic strength and temperature. Adsorption of EO(132)PO(50)EO(132) on silica surfaces has little effect on the water contact angle (WCA), while adsorption of DMAEMA(24)-EO(132)PO(50)EO(132)-DMAEMA(24) increases the WCA of silica to 32°, indicating a large density of exposed PPO blocks upon adsorption. After adsorption of EO(132)PO(50)EO(132) and DMAEMA(24)-EO(132)PO(50)EO(132)-DMAEMA(24) on PP, the WCA is reduced by ≈14° and ≈28°, respectively, due to the exposed hydrophilic EO and highly water-soluble DMAEMA segments on the surfaces. The extent of surface coverage at saturation at the polypropylene/liquid interfaces (≈31 and 40 nm(2)/molecule obtained by QCM and SPR, respectively) is much lower, as expected, when compared with results obtained at the air/liquid interface, where a tighter packing is observed. The percentage of water coupled to the adsorbed cationic polymer decreases with solution ionic strength. Overall, these observations are ascribed to the effects of electrostatic screening, polymer hydrodynamic size, and solvency.     

Hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide)–aramide segmented block copolymers

The present paper discusses block copolymers with segments of either poly(ethylene oxide), poly(propylene oxide), or mixtures of poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(propylene oxide) and monodisperse aramide segments. The length of the polyether segments as well as the concentration of polyethylene oxide was varied. The synthesized copolymers were analyzed by DSC, FTIR, AFM and DMTA. In addition, the hydrophilicity was studied.The crystallinity of the monodisperse aramide segments was found to be high and the crystals, dispersed in the polyether phase, displayed a nano-ribbon morphology. The PEO segments were able to crystallize and this crystalline phase reduced the low-temperature flexibility. The PEO crystallinity and melting temperature could be strongly reduced by copolymerization with PPO segments. By using mixtures of PEO and PPO segments, hydrophilic copolymers with decent low-temperature properties could be obtained.     

Thermoreversible gelation of poly(ethylene oxide) biodegradable polyester block copolymers

The gel to sol transition of aqueous solutions of di‐ and triblock copolymers consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) and biodegradable polyesters was studied as a function of temperature. The molecular weight and the chemical composition of the biodegradable blocks, (poly(l ‐lactic acid), poly(dl ‐lactic acid), poly(dl ‐lactic acid‐co‐caprolactone), and poly(dl ‐lactic acid‐co‐glycolic acid)) were varied to investigate the effects of chain packing and relative hydrophobicity on the gel to sol transition. The block copolymers studied formed micelles at lower concentrations in water, while the concentrated solutions experienced a gel to sol transition as the temperature increased. Further increase in temperature resulted in the precipitation of polymers. With increasing molecular weight and chain packing tendency of hydrophobic biodegradable block, the gel to sol transition occurred at lower concentrations and the transition temperature ranged from 0°C to over 90°C in a relatively narrow concentration range. The results obtained in this study confirm the relationship between gelation properties and polymer structure, as well as provide more information for these polymers in drug delivery applications. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 751–760, 1999     

Melting behavior of ethylene oxide–propylene oxide (sym-PEP) block copolymers

Melting points and lamellar thicknesses have been measured for ethylene oxide–propylene oxide block copolymers (sym-PEP) with central poly(ethylene oxide) block lengths of 70–100 chain units and end poly(propylene oxide) block lengths of 0–30 chain units. Melting points of the block copolymers are lower than those of the corresponding poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer by an amount (up to 15°C) which increases as the poly(propylene oxide) block length increases. Most samples have more than one melting transition, which can be assigned to variously folded chain crystals. End interfacial free energies σ_e for the various crystals have been estimated by use of Flory's theory of melting of block copolymers. For a given crystal type (e.g., once-folded-chain) σ_e is higher the longer the chain length of the end poly(propylene oxide) blocks. For a given copolymer σ_e is lower, the more highly folded the poly(ethylene oxide) chain.     

Melting behavior of ethylene oxide–propylene oxide (sym-EPE) block copolymers

Melting points have been measured for several ethylene oxide–propylene oxide block copolymers (sym-EPE) chosen from the Pluronic range. Melting points of the block copolymers are lower than those of the corresponding poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer by up to 4°C. The melting point depressions are much smaller than those observed for comparable sym-PEP block copolymers.     

Self-consistent-field analysis of the micellization of carboxy-modified poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymers

The micellization properties of carboxy-modified Pluronics P85 (poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymers) are investigated by means of a molecularly realistic self-consistent-field theory. We consider the, so-called, carboxylic acid end-standing P85 (CAE-85) case where the carboxylic group is located at the end of both PEO parts and the carboxylic acid center-standing P85 (CAC-85) case where each of the carboxylic group presents between the PEO and PPO blocks. The micellization of these copolymers depends on the pH, the added electrolyte concentration phis, and the temperature. It is shown that the aggregation number (Nagg) decreases, whereas the critical micellization concentration (CMC) increases with pH. For the case of increasing phis, the Nagg increases and the CMC decreases. The critical micellization temperature (CMT) and cloud point temperature (CPT) increase with pH at low phis and decrease at increasing phis. The changing from CAE-85 to CAC-85 leads to increasing CMC and CMT, but lower CPT.     

Fluorescence probing of interior, interfacial, and exterior regions in solution aggregates of poly(ethylene oxide)- poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymers

Fluorescence spectroscopy is used to probe local environments within regions of different polarity and hydrophobicity in aqueous aggregates of PEO(109)-PPO(41)-PEO(109) triblock copolymers. These copolymer aggregates have well characterized microphases in aqueous solution. Concentrations and temperatures for our studies are chosen such that the copolymers are in unimer, micellar, or micellar hydrogel forms. The observed fluorescence spectra and lifetimes from solutions individually labeled with each of the three coumarin probes report on the changes in the local polarity of the core, exterior, interfacial, and corona regions of these copolymer aggregates. This multiple fluorescence probe methodology will be straightforward to apply in general to problems in polymer and biopolymer aggregates, especially those that display strong hydrophobic effects.     

Poly(vinyl chloride)–poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers: Synthesis and characterization

Poly(vinyl chloride)-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers have been synthesized in solution and emulsion. The polymers were made by first synthesizing macroazonitriles through the reaction of 4,4′-azobis-4-cyanovleryl chloride with hydroxy-terminated poly(ethylene oxide) of varying molecular weights. These macroazonitriles had molecular weights in the range of 3000–88,000 and degrees of polymerization from 5 to 24. Thermal decomposition of the azolinkages in the presence of vinyl chloride monomer yielded block copolymers containing form 2 to 20 wt % poly(ethylene oxide). The structures of the block copolymers were characterized by spectrometric, elemental and molecular weight analyses. The possibility of some graft polymerization occurring via free-radical extraction of a methylene hydrogen from the poly(ethylene oxide) was considered. Polymerization of vinyl chloride with an azonitrile initiator in the presence of a poly(ethylene oxide) yielded predominately homopolymer with some grafted poly(vinyl chloride).     

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