Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives

Five general routes for the preparation of polyoxyethylene [generally referred to as poly(ethylene glycol) or PEG] derivatives are described. These routes are (1) nucleophilic displacements with the alkoxide of PEG, (2) nucleophilic displacement on PEG–tosylate, –mesylate, or –bromide, (3) reductive amination of PEG–aldehyde, (4) reductive amination of PEG–amine, and (5) nucleophilic displacements on the s-triazine derivatives prepared from s-triazine trichloride (cyanuric chloride) and PEG. Eighteen derivatives are prepared and potential applications to catalysis, cell purifications, and other areas are discussed briefly.     

Polymeric formulations based on alicyclic polyimide and poly(ethylene glycol)

New polymeric composites based on alicyclic polyimide with poly(ethylene glycol) having a molecular mass of 2000, 3000, and 8000 were obtained and their basic physicomechanical, optical, and electrical properties were studied. It is shown that the new film-type composite material has better thermal characteristics in comparison with the starting polyimide.     

Electron self-exchange reaction of viologen and its derivatives in poly(ethylene glycol)

The electron self-exchange rates (k_ex) of viologen and its derivatives are estimated by using microelectrode voltammetry in poly(ethylene glycol) films. The dependences of supporting electrolyte concentration and sizes of viologen and its derivatives on k_ex and diffusion coefficients (D) are discussed. Results show that k_ex increases with the decrease of supporting electrolyte concentration and sizes of reactants.     

聚谷氨酸苄酯-聚乙二醇-聚谷氨酸苄酯嵌段共聚物的圆二色光谱分析

用三乙胺和双端氨基聚乙二醇分别引发经酯化、环化等处理的谷氨酸开环聚合制备聚谷氨酸苄酯（PBLG）和聚谷氨酸苄酯-聚乙二醇-聚谷氨酸苄酯嵌段共聚物（PBLG-PEG-PBLG,GEG）。采用圆二色光谱对聚合物溶液的旋光性进行分析,以确定共聚物中PBLG嵌段的构型和含量。结果表明,均聚物和共聚物中的PBLG嵌段都以α-螺旋构型存在,中间的PEG不扰乱其构型,通过聚合物的圆二色性（circular dichroism,CD）计算出的PBLG嵌段含量与核磁共振（nuclear magnetic resonance,NMR）所得结果基本一致。     

Rate and product studies with benzyl and p-nitrobenzyl chloroformates under solvolytic conditions

The specific rates of solvolysis of p-nitrobenzyl chloroformate are well correlated using the extended Grunwald-Winstein equation, with a high sensitivity (l) to changes in solvent nucleophilicity (N(T)) and a moderate sensitivity (m) to changes in solvent ionizing power (Y(Cl)). The values are consistent with a rate-determining association within an association-dissociation pathway. The selectivity values (S) for the attack at the acyl carbon show a modest preference for ethanol over water and a relatively high preference for ethanol over 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE). The solvolyses of benzyl chloroformate show similar characteristics in solvents of relatively high nucleophilicity and/or low ionizing power. In solvents with considerable fluoro alcohol content, an ionization mechanism, accompanied by loss of carbon dioxide, leads to benzyl chloride, benzyl alcohol, and benzyl alkyl ether. A new correlation now applies, with a much lower l value and somewhat higher m value. The S values for this pathway are close to unity, even in TFE-ethanol mixtures, consistent with the components of the binary solvent capturing a highly reactive carbocation.     

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     

Micropallet arrays with poly(ethylene glycol) walls

Arrays of releasable micropallets with surrounding walls of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were fabricated for the patterning and sorting of adherent cells. PEG walls were fabricated between the SU-8 pallets using a simple, mask-free strategy. By utilizing the difference in UV-transmittance of glass and SU-8, PEG monomer was selectively photopolymerized in the space surrounding the pallets. Since the PEG walls are composed of a cross-linked structure, the stability of the walls is independent of the pallet array geometry and the properties of the overlying solution. Even though surrounded with PEG walls, the individual pallets were detached from the array by the mechanical force generated by a focused laser pulse, with a release threshold of 6 microJ. Since the PEG hydrogels are repellent to protein adsorption and cell attachment, the walls localized cell growth to the pallet top surface. Cells grown in the microwells formed by the PEG walls were released by detaching the underlying pallet. The released cells/pallets were collected, cultured and clonally expanded. The micropallet arrays with PEG walls provide a platform for performing single cell analysis and sorting on chip.     

Thermoresponsive self-assembly of short elastin-like polypentapeptides and their poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives

Short polypeptides with four pentad repeats, (VPGVG)(4) and (VPAVG)(4), were synthesised by manual fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl/tert-butyl (Fmoc/t-Bu) solid phase peptide synthesis using a convergent approach. In the next step, the peptides were coupled via their N-terminus with activated semi-telechelic poly(ethylene glycol) O-(N-Fmoc-2-aminoethyl)-O'-(2-carboxyethyl)undeca(ethylene glycol) (Fmoc-PEG-COOH) to yield monodisperse Fmoc-PEG-peptide diblock copolymer. Both the presence of the terminal hydrophobic Fmoc group and the hydrophilic PEG chain in the copolymers were shown to play a crucial role in their self-associative behaviour, leading to reversible formation of supramolecular thermoresponsive assemblies. The peptides and their PEG derivatives were characterised by HPLC, NMR and MALDI-TOF MS. The associative behaviour of the peptides and their PEG derivatives was studied by dynamic light scattering, MAS NMR and phase contrast microscopy. [image: see text]     

Complex formation of daunomycin with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and poly(ethylene glycol)

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - Complexes of the anthracycline antitumor antibiotic daunomycin with biocompatible polymer carriers, poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and poly(ethylene glycol), have...     

Observation of poly(ethylene glycol) clusters with the chlorine anion in the gas phase under electrospray conditions

It is demonstrated herein that poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) oligomers can form stable complexes with the chlorine anion in the gas phase as evidenced by results from electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) and molecular dynamics simulation. While the formation of crown‐ether‐like structures by acyclic polyethers in their complexes with alkali metal cations coordinated by the ether oxygen atoms has been extensively studied, the possibility of forming ‘inversed’ quasi‐cyclic structures able to bind a monoatomic anion has not been proved till now. We have observed the formation of stable gas‐phase complexes of oligomers of PEG‐400 with the Cl^? anion experimentally by ESI‐MS for the first time. It is suggested that a necessary precondition for obtaining the polyether‐chlorine anion clusters is the prevention of the formation of neutral ion pairs. Molecular dynamics simulation has demonstrated the wrapping of the Cl^? anion by the PEG chain, to stabilize the PEG_n?Cl^? clusters in the gas phase. The conformation of the polyether chain in such quasi‐cyclic or quasi‐helical complexes is ‘inversed’ compared with that in the complexes with cations: that is its hydrogen atoms are turned towards the central anion. Awareness of the possibility of the Cl^? anion being trapped in quasi‐cyclic PEG structures may be of practical importance when considering the intermolecular interactions of PEGs. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of chalcones under poly(ethylene glycol)-supported Cinchona ammonium salt catalyzed conditions

Dimeric cinchonine, cinchonidine, and quinine have been anchored (via nitrogen) to long linear PEG chains to afford soluble polymer-supported chiral ammonium salts, which were employed as phase-transfer catalysts in the asymmetric epoxidation of chalcones. The highest enantiomeric excess obtained was 86%.     

Creating patterned poly(dimethylsiloxane) surfaces with amoxicillin and poly(ethylene glycol)

This paper reports a simple microwave plasma patterning of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) surfaces, which is accomplished by allowing selective surface areas to microwave plasma exposure in the presence of gaseous monomer. When maleic anhydride is used for microwave plasma reaction in the presence of physical barrier on the PDMS substrate, the resulting patterned surfaces with chemically bonded maleic anhydride and carboxylic acid groups are generated. In this particular study we attached amoxicillin via ammonolysis under weak base conditions in the presence of a catalyst as well as poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG). A combination of internal reflection IR imaging (IRIRI) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that amoxicillin and PEG can be readily reacted on the microwave plasma patterned PDMS surfaces. Surface areas directly exposed to microwave plasmons exhibit the highest reactivity due to higher content of functional groups. These studies also show that molecular weight of PEG has also significant effect on kinetics of surface reactions.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether endcapped poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Linear and branched poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) copolymers with polyethylene glycol) (PEG) methyl ether (700 or 2000 g/mol) end groups were synthesized using conventional melt polymerization. DSC analysis demonstrated that low levels of PEG end groups accelerated PET crystallization. The incorporated PEG end groups also decreased the crystallization temperature of PET dramatically, and copolymers with a high content of PEG (>17.6 wt%) were able to crystallize at room temperature. Rheological analysis demonstrated that the presence of PEG end groups effectively decreased the melt viscosities and facilitated melt processing. XPS and ATR-FTIR revealed that the PEG end groups tended to aggregate on the surface, and the surface of compression molded films containing 34.0 wt% PEG were PEG rich (85 wt% PEG). PEG end-capped PET (34.0 wt% PEG) and PET films were immersed into a fibrinogen solution (0.7 mg/mL BSA) for 72 h to investigate the propensity for protein adhesion. XPS demonstrated that the concentration of nitrogen (1.05%) on the surface of PEG endcapped PET film was statistically lower than PET (7.67%). SEM analysis was consistent with XPS results, and revealed the presence of adsorbed protein on the surface of PET films.     

叶酸和聚乙二醇接枝作基因载体用壳聚糖的合成与表征

本研究将叶酸和聚乙二醇接枝到四种不同分子量的壳聚糖氨基侧链上,以改善壳聚糖的靶向性和水溶性作基因载体。用FTIE、1HNMR、UV-Vis、DSC和TEM对产物进行了表征,结果表明,叶酸和聚乙二醇被成功地接枝到壳聚糖上,所制得的载体有望作为潜在的肿瘤细胞靶向基因载体。     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene glycol) grafted poly(L-lactide)

Poly(ethylene glycol) grafted poly(L -lactide) was prepared by ring opening polymerization of L -lactide and epoxy-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (PEGME). Stannous octoate and Al(Et)₃·0.5 H₂O were tested as polymerization catalysts, and Al(Et)₃·0.5 H₂O was found to be more effective for the ring-opening of the epoxy group of the modified PEGME monomer. The synthesized polymers were characterized by NMR and the efficiency of the incorporation of epoxy-terminated PEGME in the copolymer was determined.     

Viscoelastic properties of single poly(ethylene glycol) molecules.

The viscoelastic properties of single poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) molecules were measured by analysis of thermally and magnetically driven oscillations of an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever/molecule system. The molecular and monomer stiffness and friction of the PEG polymer were derived using a simple harmonic oscillator (SHO) model. Excellent agreement between the values of these two parameters obtained by the two approaches indicates the validity of the SHO model under the experimental regimes and the excellent reproducibility of the techniques. A sharp minimum in the monomeric friction is seen at around 180 pN applied force which we propose is due to a force induced change in the shape of the energy landscape describing the conformational transition of PEG from a helical to a planar state, which in turn affects the timescale of the transition and therefore modifies the measured internal friction. A knowledge of the viscoelastic response of PEG monomers is particularly important since PEG is widely used as a linker molecule for tethering groups of interest to the AFM tip in force spectroscopy experiments, and we show here that care must be exercised because of the force-dependent viscoelastic properties of these linkers.     

Phase separation in mixtures of poly(ethylene glycol monomethylether) and poly(propylene glycol) oligomers

Time-resolved light scattering was employed to investigate kinetics of phase separation in mixtures of poly (ethylene glycol monomethylether) (PEGE)/poly (propylene glycol) (PPG) oligomers. Phase diagrams for PEGE/PPG of varying molecular weights were established by means of cold point measurements. The oligomer mixtures reveal an upper critical solution temperature (UCST). Several temperature quench experiments were carried out with a 60/40 PEGE/PPG blend by rapidly quenching from a single phase (69°C) to two-phase temperatures (66–61°C) at 1°C intervals. As is typical for oligomer mixtures, the early stage of spinodal decomposition (SD) was not detected. The kinetics of phase decomposition was found to be dominated by the late stage of SD. Time-evolution of scattering intensity was analyzed in accordance with nonlinear and dynamical scaling theories. The time dependence of the peak intensity I_m and the corresponding peak wavenumber q_m was found to follow the power-law {I_m(t)? t^α, q_m(t)? t^-β} with the values of α = 3 ± 0.3 and β = 1 ± 0.2, which are very close to the values predicted by Siggia. This process has been attributed to a coarsening mechanism driven by surface tension. In the temporal scaling analysis, the structure function reveals university with time, suggesting self-similarity. Phase separation dynamics in 60/40 PEGE/PPG resembles the behavior predicted for off-critical mixtures.     

Ion conductivity studies of blends of poly(methyl methacrylate)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(ethylene glycol) complexed with LiCF3 SO3

Polymer electrolytes which are adhesive, transparent, and stable to atmospheric moisture have been prepared by blending poly(methyl methacrylate)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) with poly(ethylene glycol)/LiCF₃ SO₃ complexes. The maximum ionic conductivities at room temperature were measured to be in the range of 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻⁵ s cm⁻¹. The clarity of the sample was improved as the graft degree increased for all the samples studied. The graft degree of poly(methyl methacrylate)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) was found to be important for the compatibility between the poly(methyl methacrylate) segments in poly(methyl methacrylate)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) and the added poly(ethylene glycol), and consequently, for the ion conductivity of the polymer electrolyte. These properties make them promising candidates for polymer electrolytes in electrochromic devices. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether)-b-poly(ethylenimine) and its derivatives containing thymine and amino acids as pendants

Poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether)tosylate was prepared and used to initiate the polymerization of 2-methyl-2-oxazoline. The resulting poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether)-b-poly(N-acetyl ethylenimine) was hydrolyzed and neutralized to give poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether)-b-poly(ethyl-enimine) (PEO–PEI). 2-(thymin-1-yl)propionic acid, N-Cbz-alanine, N-Cbz-proline, N-Cbz-O-t-Bu-serine. and N-FMOC-proline were grafted onto the PEO–PEI copolymer; attempts were then made to remove the Cbz and FMOC protecting groups.     

Photopolymerization of enzymatically synthesized methacrylated poly(caprolactone) with poly(ethylene glycol) macromonomer

Polycaprolactone (PCL) based α,ω-methacrylated macromonomer (DMPCL) was synthesized via enzymatic ring-opening polymerization (eROP) by using Novozyme 435 as the enzyme immobilized catalyst. DMPCL was further photopolymerized with monofunctional poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA-950) macromonomer and trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) as tri-functionalized crosslinking agent in glass vials when CHCl₃ was the solvent and Irgacure 819 was the photoinitiator. Ultraviolet (UV) Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs enabled photoinduced reactions at room temperature with low heat generation and high reaction efficiency. The obtained gels were characterized with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). DMPCL participated as an effective crosslinking agent in the photopolymerization of PEGMA-950. Combined usage of DMPCL and PEGMA-950 resulted in significantly more effective polymerization than the separate photopolymerizations of these macromonomers.