Novel Peptide‐Shelled Dendrimer with Dramatically Changeable Thermo‐Responsive Character

The preparation of a novel peptide/dendrimer hybrid is reported in which an elastin‐like oligopeptide is successfully assembled onto a poly(amidoamine) dendrimer surface (G4‐ELP), and its unique thermo‐responsive behavior is discussed. As a result, the G4‐ELP is found to exhibit LCST behavior in the pH range 3–10 including physiological temperature range under neutral‐pH conditions. Moreover, cooperative interplay between the folding state of the ELP shell and the ionization state of the dendrimer core enables the G4‐ELP to control its LCST widely by pH variation. This achievement provides a new insight for the design of dual‐responsive materials with a potential in biological applications.

     

Sharp Hydrophilicity Switching and Conformality on Nanostructured Surfaces Prepared via Initiated Chemical Vapor Deposition (iCVD) of a Novel Thermally Responsive Copolymer

A novel thermally responsive copolymer p(NIPAAm‐co‐DEGDVE) is synthesized using the substrate independent method of iCVD and exhibits a sharp lower critical solution temperature (LCST) transition centered at ≈28.5 ± 0.3 °C determined via quartz crystal microbalance measurements with dissipation monitoring (QCM‐D). Swelling with water below the LCST produces a reversible change of ≈3× in film thickness. The layer is conformal on nanostructured surfaces including MWCNT forests and electrospun nanofiber mats. Modified planar substrates exhibit ≈30°change in static contact angle over the LCST, while through conformal coating on nanostructured substrates changes in static contact angle up to 135° are achieved. Additionally, coated surfaces exhibit temperature sensitive BSA adsorption measured by QCM‐D and is reversible as shown through fluorescence imaging of a coated electrospun nanofiber mat.

     

Reversible Thermally Responsive and Luminescent Coil–Rod–Coil Triblock Copolymers

A functional coil–rod–coil triblock copolymer containing a terfluorene unit as the rigid segment and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) as the flexible block was successfully synthesized via reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization using terfluorene‐based dithioester as the RAFT agent. The temperature‐responsive optical properties were investigated with the aid of dynamic light scattering and fluorescence techniques. Additionally, the relationship between the optical properties and the reversible phase transition of the doping system formed by blending the copolymer with tetraphenylporphine tetrasulfonic acid was studied. Above the lower critical solution temperature, the energy transfer efficiency decreased as a result of the globule–to–coil transition from PNIPAAm segments. The result indicates that these copolymers have a potential to be used as responsive fluorescent probes in facile detection of dye‐labeled biopolymers.

     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Thermo‐Sensitive Copolymer of N‐Isopropylacrylamide and Dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6‐diacrylamide

Summary: A series of novel, thermo‐sensitive copolymers with different molar ratios of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and hydrophobic cis‐dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6‐diacrylamide (cis‐DBCAm) were prepared via free‐radical copolymerization. cis‐DBCAm with polymerizable end groups was successfully synthesized by reacting the corresponding amino crown ether with acryloyl chloride. The copolymers were characterized by FT‐IR and elemental analysis, and the thermo‐sensitivities of the copolymers were evaluated by measuring their lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) in the absence or presence of various metal ions. The results indicated that incorporation of cis‐DBCAm lowered LCSTs, and that the LCSTs of the copolymers decreased with the increase in cis‐DBCAm content in the copolymers. When the cavities of the crown ether units captured either K⁺ or Cs⁺ ions, the LCST of the respective copolymer–metal ion complex was further decreased, whereas the capture of Na⁺ or Li⁺ ions did not have a significant influence on the LCSTs of the copolymers.

Incorporation of cis‐DBCAm into PNIPAM resulted in a lower LCST. The LCST was decreased more when the cavities of the crown ether units captured K⁺ ions.     

PNIPAM Copolymers Containing Light‐Responsive Chromophores: A Method Toward Molecular Logic Gates

A series of thermo‐responsive PNIPAM copolymers containing different amounts of fulgimide moieties has been synthesized via a polymer analogous reaction of poly(pentafluorophenyl acrylate). All copolymers were designed to exhibit a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in water, which was only weakly dependent on the amount of incorporated chromophoric fulgimide groups. The copolymers showed a photocyclization of the fulgimide side groups upon irradiation with UV‐light accompanied with a color change. The closed form of the chromophore had a halftime of 136 min for the visible reisomerization and did not affect the LCST of the polymer. This led to the realization of a logic “NOT A” for the fulgimide containing PNIPAM, while a corresponding azobenzene containing PNIPAM resulted in a different logic “A implies B”.

     

Synthesis of Ferrocene‐Branched Chitosan Derivatives: Redox Polysaccharides and their Application to Reagentless Enzyme‐Based Biosensors

Ferrocene‐branched chitosan derivatives (CHIT‐Fc) are synthesized by reductive N‐alkylation of chitosan with ferrocenecarboxaldehyde. The structures of the products are determined by ¹H NMR and FT‐IR spectra. CHIT‐Fc is used as a functionalized matrix to immobilize GOD on glassy carbon electrodes. Ferrocenyls in CHIT‐Fc exhibit an excellent redox activity and establish efficient electrical communication between GOD and the electrodes for the oxidation of glucose. The development of a reagentless glucose biosensor is described.

     

Nanotube Friendly Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)

Poly(N‐ispropylacrylamide) [PNIPAM] is a widely studied polymer for use in biological applications due to its lower critical solution temperature (LCST) being so close to the human body temperature. Unfortunately, attempts to combine carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with PNIPAM have been unsuccessful due to poor interactions between these two materials. In this work, a PNIPAM copolymer with 1 mol‐% pyrene side group [p‐PNIPAM] was used to produce a thermoresponsive polymer capable of stabilizing both single and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in water. The presence of pyrene in the polymer chain lowers the LCST less than 4 °C and the interaction with nanotubes does not show any influence on LCST. Moreover, p‐PNIPAM stabilized nanotubes show a temperature‐dependent dispersion in water that allows the level of nanotube exfoliation/bundling to be controlled. Cryo‐TEM images, turbidity, and viscosity of these suspensions were used to characterize these thermoresponsive changes. This ability to manipulate the dispersion state of CNTs in water with p‐PNIPAM will likely benefit many biological applications, such as drug delivery, optical sensors, and hydrogels.

     

New Thiol‐Responsive Mono‐Cleavable Block Copolymer Micelles Labeled with Single Disulfides

Thiol‐responsive symmetric triblock copolymers having single disulfide linkages in the middle blocks (called mono‐cleavable block copolymers, ss‐ABP₂) were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization in the presence of a disulfide‐labeled difunctional Br‐initiator. These brush‐like triblock copolymers consist of a hydrophobic polyacrylate block having pendent oligo(propylene oxide) and a hydrophilic polymethacrylate block having pendent oligo(ethylene oxide). Gel permeation chromatography and ¹H NMR results confirmed the synthesis of well‐defined mono‐cleavable block copolymers and revealed that polymerizations were well controlled. Because of amphiphilic nature, these copolymers self‐assembled to form colloidally stable micelles above critical micellar concentration of 0.032 mg · mL⁻¹. In response to reductive reactions, disulfides in thiol‐responsive micelles were cleaved. Atomic force microscopy and dynamic light scattering analysis suggested that the cleavage of disulfides caused dissociation of micelles to smaller‐sized assembled structures in water. Moreover, in a biomedical perspective, the mono‐cleavable block copolymer micelles are not cytotoxic and thus biocompatible.

     

Hydration Changes during Thermosensitive Association of a Block Copolymer Consisting of LCST and UCST Blocks

Summary: Thermosensitive association of a diblock copolymer consisting of poly(3‐dimethyl(methacryloyloxyethyl) ammonium propane sulfonate) (PdMMAEAPS), as an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) block, and poly(N,N‐diethylacrylamide) (PdEA), as a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) block, has been investigated by using IR spectroscopy. The ν(CO) and ν(SO) bands of the PdMMAEAPS block and the amide I band of PdEA block critically changed at the UCST and LCST, respectively, indicating that the segmental interaction of each block is altered at each transition.

The double temperature responsiveness of a UCST block and LCST block containing diblock copolymer. Micelles form at temperatures both below the UCST and above the LCST of the blocks.     

3‐Ethylated N‐Vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone with LCST Properties in Water

The monomer 3‐ethyl‐1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone ( 3 ) and the homopolymer poly(3‐ethyl‐1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) ( 5 ) have been synthesized. Polymer 5 is soluble in water and shows a critical temperature (T_c) of 27 °C. The presence of cyclodextrin causes a slight shift of the T_c. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) could be varied between 27 and 40 °C by copolymerization with N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone. A linear correlation between the T_c and the copolymer composition is observed.

     

Modification of Polysaccharides Through Controlled/Living Radical Polymerization Grafting—Towards the Generation of High Performance Hybrids

This review covers the literature concerning the modification of polysaccharides through controlled radical polymerizations (NMP, ATRP and RAFT). The different routes to well‐defined polysaccharide‐based macromolecules (block and graft copolymers) and graft‐functionalized polysaccharide surfaces as well as the applications of these polysaccharide‐based hybrids are extensively discussed.

     

Synthesis of Well‐Defined Rod‐Coil‐Rod Polyhexylisocyanate‐block‐polystyrene‐block‐polyhexylisocyanate via One‐Pot Anionic Polymerization

A rod‐coil‐rod block copolymer, polyhexylisocyanate‐block‐polystyrene‐block‐polyhexylisocyanate, of controlled molecular weight was synthesized quantitatively via living anionic polymerization using potassium naphthalenide in the presence of sodium tetraphenylborate. The use of K⁺ as the counterion for the polymerization of styrene, and Na⁺ (NaBPh₄) for the polymerization of isocyanate leads to the formation of a well‐controlled novel triblock copolymer.

     

Bernoullian,Terminal, Penultimate or Third Order Markov Statistics?

Summary: A series of 7 homogeneous ethylene‐propylene copolymers is modeled by a Bernoullian, a terminal, a penultimate and a third order Markov model and it is found that the penultimate model describes this series best. The Bernoullian and terminal model prove to be insufficient and the third order Markov model is statistically not justified. Based on these results, a criterion to select the optimal Markovian order of homogeneous, single site catalyst produced copolymers is developed.

Schematic of the [(3‐MePh)(4‐MePh)C(2,7‐di‐tert‐BuFlu)(Cp)]ZrCl₂ metallocene copolymerizing ethene and propene.     

Light‐Responsive Block Copolymers

Stimuli‐responsive polymers are the subject of intense research because they are able to show responses to various environmental changes. Among those stimuli, light has attracted much attention since it can be localized in time and space and it can also be triggered from outside of the system. In this paper, we review light‐responsive block copolymers (LRBCs) that combine characteristic features of block copolymers, e.g., self‐assembly behavior, and light‐responsive systems. The different photo‐responsive moieties that have been incorporated so far in block copolymers as well as the proposed applications are discussed.

     

Fabrication of a Thermoresponsive Biohybrid Double Hydrophilic Block Copolymer by a Cofactor Reconstitution Approach

The fabrication of a thermoresponsive biohybrid double hydrophilic block copolymer (DHBC) by a cofactor reconstitution approach is reported. Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) bearing a porphyrin moiety at the chain terminal, PPIXZn‐PNIPAM, is synthesized by the combination of ATRP and a click reaction. The subsequent cofactor reconstitution process between apomyoglobin and PPIXZn‐PNIPAM affords well‐defined myoglobin‐b‐PNIPAM protein–polymer bioconjugates. Behaving as typical responsive DHBCs, the obtained myoglobin‐b‐PNIPAM biohybrid diblock copolymer exhibits thermo‐induced aggregation behavior in aqueous solution as a result of the presence of the thermoresponsive PNIPAM block, as revealed by temperature‐dependent transmittance, dynamic laser light scattering measurements, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. This work represents the first report of the preparation of responsive biohybrid DHBCs by the cofactor reconstitution process.

     

New Heteroaromatic Polymers Consisting of Alkyl‐ and Amino‐1,3,5‐triazine Units. Their Basic Optical Properties and n‐Type Time‐of‐Flight Drift Mobility

Summary: Alternating copolymers between substituted 1,3,5‐triazine (substituent = alkyl or amine) and thiophene or bithiophene are synthesized. The copolymer of amino‐1,3,5‐triazine with thiophene is soluble in organic solvents, transparent in most parts of the visible region, and photoluminescent. The copolymer receives electrochemical n‐doping with an E_pc of −2.08 V vs Ag⁺/Ag and shows a time‐of‐flight electron drift mobility of 2.0 × 10⁻⁴ cm² · V⁻¹ · s⁻¹, which is larger than that of widely used Al(8‐quinolinolato)₃.

Structure of the poly(1,3,5‐triazine)s.     

Pyrene‐Functionalised,Alternating Copolyimide for Sensing Nitroaromatic Compounds

A novel, pyrene‐functionalised copolymer has been synthesised in a single step via imidisation of poly(maleic anhydride‐alt‐1‐octadecene) with 1‐pyrenemethylamine, and its potential for the detection of volatile nitro aromatic compounds (NACs) evaluated. The new copolymer forms complexes in solution with NACs such as 2,5‐dinitrobenzonitrile, as shown by ¹H NMR, UV‐vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Moreover, thin films of this copolymer, cast from THF solution, undergo almost instantaneous fluorescence quenching when exposed to the vapour of 2,5‐dinitrobenzonitrile (a model for TNT) at ambient temperatures and pressures.

     

pH Responsive Polymeric Brush Nanostructures: Preparation and Characterization by Scanning Probe Oxidation and Surface Initiated Polymerization

pH‐responsive PHEMA‐based polymeric nanostructures were grown in a controlled manner by ATRP‐based surface‐initiated polymerization. Initiator nanopatterns were obtained on silicon wafers covered with OTS resists made by AFM scanning probe oxidation lithography. AFM images confirmed isolated grafting of stimuli‐responsive hedge and dot brush structures exhibiting dimensions corresponding to a few tens of chains.

     

Unique Insertion Mode of 1,7‐Octadiene in Copolymerization with Ethylene by a Constrained‐Geometry Catalyst

Summary: The copolymerization of ethylene and 1,7‐octadiene (OD) was investigated with a constrained‐geometry catalyst. The ¹³C NMR spectrum of the copolymer indicated cyclization insertion of the OD unit in the penultimate position after a single ethylene insertion step. This unique insertion mode of OD forms a 1,5‐disubstituted cyclononane unit in the main chain of polyethylene.

Copolymerization of ethylene and 1,7‐octadiene (OD) with a constrained‐geometry catalyst.     

Spatioselective Modification of Bicompartmental Polymer Particles and Fibers via Huisgen 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition

Precise nano‐ and microscale control of the architecture of biodegradable biomaterials is desirable for several biotechnological applications such as drug delivery, diagnostics, and medical imaging. Herein, we combine electrohydrodynamic co‐jetting and highly specific surface modification (via Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition) to prepare particles and fibers with spatioselective surface modification. We first prepared biphasic particles and fibers from commercial poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) copolymers via electrohydrodynamic co‐jetting of two organic solutions loaded with fluorescent macromolecules and acetylene‐modified PLGA derivatives. (i) Spatially controlled reaction of poly[lactide‐co‐(propargyl glycolide)] with O‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐O′‐(2‐azidoethyl)heptaethylene glycol and (ii) subsequent conversion of the newly introduced amino groups with fluorescence probes resulted in particles and fibers with surface modification of one hemisphere only.