Synthesis and solution properties of anionic linear–dendritic block amphiphiles

The design and synthesis of novel linear–dendritic diblock amphiphiles with linear poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as the hydrophilic block and dendritic poly(benzyl ether) as the hydrophobic block are described. The synthetic process consisted of two steps: a poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA)–poly(benzyl ether) dendrimer series were synthesized with atom transfer radical polymerization, and through the hydrolysis of linear PMA block into PAA, amphiphilic block copolymers, the PAA–poly(benzyl ether) dendrimer series, were obtained. The copolymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, Fourier transform infrared, and size exclusion chromatography and exhibited well‐defined architectures and low polydispersities. When the generation number of the dendritic block (G_i) less or equal to 3 and the degree of polymerization of the linear chain (n) was greater than 10, the amphiphiles were water‐soluble. The solution intrinsic viscosity increased with both the length of linear chain and the generation number of the dendritic block. The results obtained demonstrate that dendritic blocks play an unusual role in aqueous solutions of amphiphiles. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4282–4288, 2000     

聚醚树枝体线性聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)不对称嵌段共聚物的 合成及自组装

采用原子转移聚合方法合成了聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺和聚醚树技体的不对嵌段共聚物Dendr.PE-PNI-PAM。实验结果表明Dendr.PE-PNIPAM分子在水中能通过疏水缔合作用形成具有双分子膜结构的超分子聚集体。临界缔合浓度(CAC)、聚集体的大小及形貌对树枝体的代数具有明显的依赖关系。该聚集体对温度刺激具有响应性,并在人体体温温度(37.5℃)发生相转变。在高于相转变温度时,Dendr.PE-PNIPAM分子形成管状、带状等多重形态的超级结构的聚集体。     

Photophysical and self‐assembly behavior of poly(amidoamine) dendrons with chromophore as scaffold: The effect of dendritic architecture

Two series of amphiphiles composed of hydrophilic poly(amidoamine) dendrons (from the first to the third generation) as the shell and hydrophobic aromatic chromophores (3,6‐di(maleimidyl)‐9‐phenyl carbazole and 9‐(4′‐maleimidyl phenyl)‐3‐maleimidyl carbazole) as the central scaffold were synthesized. The effect of dendritic architecture on the photophysical properties and the self‐assembly behavior of these amphiphiles were studied by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements. Both the generation of dendritic shell and the location of dendrons at the chromophoric scaffold had great effect on the photophysical properties of these amphiphiles. In addition, different spherical aggregates were formed from these amphiphiles in the aqueous solution at different concentrations. Because of the combined effects of steric hindrance and architecture of dendritic shells, the amphiphiles from G2 dendron with central chromophore self‐organized into ordered aggregates more readily than that from G1 and G3. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4584–4593, 2008     

Pyrimidine-containing poly[bis(itaconimides)]

Heat-resistant pyrimidine-containing poly[bis(itaconimides)] with a glass transition temperature of 240–250°C were synthesized via the polyaddition reaction. The film materials based on a pyrimidine-containing poly[bis(itaconimide)] and an aromatic polybenzimidazole acquired good electric and mechanical characteristics after doping with phosphoric acid.     

Miscibility and phase structure of binary blends of polylactide and poly(methyl methacrylate)

Blends of amorphous poly(DL‐lactide) (DL‐PLA) and crystalline poly(L‐lactide) (PLLA) with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were prepared by both solution/precipitation and solution‐casting film methods. The miscibility, crystallization behavior, and component interaction of these blends were examined by differential scanning calorimetry. Only one glass‐transition temperature (T_g) was found in the DL‐PLA/PMMA solution/precipitation blends, indicating miscibility in this system. Two isolated T_g's appeared in the DL‐PLA/PMMA solution‐casting film blends, suggesting two segregated phases in the blend system, but evidence showed that two components were partially miscible. In the PLLA/PMMA blend, the crystallization of PLLA was greatly restricted by amorphous PMMA. Once the thermal history of the blend was destroyed, PLLA and PMMA were miscible. The T_g composition relationship for both DL‐PLA/PMMA and PLLA/PMMA miscible systems obeyed the Gordon–Taylor equation. Experiment results indicated that there is no more favorable trend of DL‐PLA to form miscible blends with PMMA than PLLA when PLLA is in the amorphous state. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 23–30, 2003     

聚醚树枝体－聚丙烯酸嵌段共聚物的水溶液自组装行为

应用UV－Vis、荧光、光物理探针、动态激光光散射和透射电镜(TEM)方法研究了聚醚树枝体与聚丙烯酸两亲嵌段共聚物(Dendr,PE-PAA)在水溶液中分子自组装行为。实验结果表明通过聚醚树枝体嵌段的疏水作用,易缔合形成聚集体,具有很低(10^-6～10^-7mol·L^-1)的临界缔合浓度(cac)。透过电镜观察到聚集体具有双层膜结构的球状、单室囊泡。临界缔合浓度(cac)以及聚集体的大小对枝状体的代数(Gi)及线性体的聚合度(n)具有明显的依赖关系。     

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

Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(L-lactic acid) (PEO-PLLA) diblock copolymers were synthesized via a ring opening polymerization from poly(ethylene oxide) and l -lactide. Stannous octoate was used as a catalyst in a solution polymerization with toluene as the solvent. Their physicochemical properties were investigated by using infrared spectroscopy, ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry, as well as the observational data of gel-sol transitions in aqueous solutions. Aqueous solutions of PEO-PLLA diblock copolymers changed from a gel phase to a sol phase with increasing temperature when their polymer concentrations are above a critical gel concentration. As the PLLA block length increased, the gel-sol transition temperature increased. For comparison, diblock copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(l -lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) [PEO-P(LLA/GA)] and poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(dl -lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) [PEO-P(DLLA/GA)] were synthesized by the same methods, and their gel-sol transition behaviors were also investigated. The gel-sol transition properties of these diblock copolymers are influenced by the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance of the copolymer, block length, hydrophobicity, and stereoregularity of the hydrophobic block of the copolymer. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2207–2218, 1999     

Characteristics of the biodegradability and physical properties of stereocomplexes between poly(L‐lactide) and poly(D‐lactide) copolymers

Random and block copolymerizations of L ‐ or D ‐lactide with ε‐caprolactone (CL) were performed with a novel anionic initiator, (C₅Me₅)₂SmMe(THF), and they resulted in partial epimerization, generating D ,L ‐ or meso‐lactide polymers with enhanced biodegradability. A blend of PLLA‐r‐PCL [82/18; PLLA = poly(L ‐LA) and PCL = poly(ε‐caprolactone)] and PDLA‐r‐PCL [79/21; PDLA = poly(D ‐LA)] prepared by the solution‐casting method generated a stereocomplex, the melting temperature of which was about 40 °C higher than that of the nonblended copolymers. A blend of PLLA‐b‐PCL (85/15) and PDLA‐b‐PCL (82/18) showed a lower elongation at break and a remarkably higher tensile modulus than stereocomplexes of PLLA‐r‐PCL/PDLA‐r‐PCL and PLLA/PDLA. The biodegradability of a blend of PLLA‐r‐PCL (65/35) and PDLA‐r‐PCL (66/34) with proteinase K was higher than that of PLLA‐b‐PCL (47/53) and PDLA‐b‐PCL (45/55), the degradability of which was higher than that of a PLLA/PDLA blend. A blend film of PLLA‐r‐PDLLA (69/31)/PDLA‐r‐PDLLA (68/32) exhibited higher degradability than a film of PLLA/PDLLA [PDLLA = poly(D ,L ‐LA)]. A stereocomplex of PLLA‐r‐PCL‐r‐PDMO [80/18/2; PDMO = poly(L ‐3,D ,L ‐6‐dimethyl‐2,5‐morpholinedion)] with PDLA‐r‐PCL‐r‐PDMO (81/17/2) showed higher degradability than PLLA‐r‐PDMO (98/2)/PDLA‐r‐PDMO (98/2) and PLLA‐r‐PCL (82/18)/PDLA‐r‐PCL (79/21) blends. The tensile modulus of a blend of PLLA‐r‐PCL‐r‐PDMO and PDLA‐r‐PCL‐r‐PDMO was much higher than that of a blend of PLLA‐r‐PDMO and PDLA‐r‐PDMO. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 438–454, 2005     

Interfacial interactions between poly[L-lysine]-based branched polypeptides and phospholipid model membranes

The interaction of five poly[L-lysine]-derived branched chain polypeptides of poly[Lys(X(i))] (X(i)K) or poly[Lys(X(i)-DL-Ala(m))] (XAK) with lipid bilayers (DPPC and DPPC/PG, 8:2) was studied by fluorescence polarization techniques. Two fluorescent probes, DPH and TMA-DPH, were utilized to monitor changes of motion in the internal and/or in the polar head regions, respectively. Results indicate that the interaction of polypeptides with neutral (DPPC) bilayers is mainly dependent on the polarity and electrical charge of side chains. The amphoteric E(i)K shows the highest level of interaction. Polycationic polypeptides (H(i)K, P(i)K, TAK) have a relatively small effect on the transition temperature of the lipids, while the polyanionic Succ-EAK has no effect at the alkyl chain region of the bilayer. Data with TMA-DPH indicate the lack of pronounced interaction between the polypeptides and the outer surface of the liposome. Similar tendency was documented for DPPC/PG vesicles. Polypeptides, H(i)K, and P(i)K induce significant changes in the transition temperature, thus indicating their insertion into the hydrophobic core of the bilayer without marked effect on the polar head region. Results suggest that these polypeptides (except E(i)K) have no destabilizing effect on liposomes studied. These properties are considered as beneficial for their use as safe carriers for bioactive molecules.     

Nonisothermal crystallization behavior of the poly(ethylene glycol) block in poly(L‐lactide)–poly(ethylene glycol) diblock copolymers: Effect of the poly(L‐lactide) block length

The confined crystallization behavior, melting behavior, and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of the poly(ethylene glycol) block (PEG) in poly(L ‐lactide)–poly(ethylene glycol) (PLLA–PEG) diblock copolymers were investigated with wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The analysis showed that the nonisothermal crystallization behavior changed from fitting the Ozawa equation and the Avrami equation modified by Jeziorny to deviating from them with the molecular weight of the poly(L ‐lactide) (PLLA) block increasing. This resulted from the gradual strengthening of the confined effect, which was imposed by the crystallization of the PLLA block. The nucleation mechanism of the PEG block of PLLA15000–PEG5000 at a larger degree of supercooling was different from that of PLLA2500–PEG5000, PLLA5000–PEG5000, and PEG5000 (the numbers after PEG and PLLA denote the molecular weights of the PEG and PLLA blocks, respectively). They were homogeneous nucleation and heterogeneous nucleation, respectively. The PLLA block bonded chemically with the PEG block and increased the crystallization activation energy, but it provided nucleating sites for the crystallization of the PEG block, and the crystallization rate rose when it was heterogeneous nucleation. The number of melting peaks was three and one for the PEG homopolymer and the PEG block of the diblock copolymers, respectively. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3215–3226, 2006     

A novel synthesis of linear high-molecular-weight poly(4-vinylphenol) and poly[styrene-co-(4-vinylphenol)]

A novel synthesis of linear high-molecular-weight poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVPh) and poly[styrene-co-(4-vinylphenol)] (STVPh, 2 ) via demethylation reaction is developed. The parent polymers, poly(4-methoxystyrene) and poly[styrene-co-(4-methoxystyrene)] produced by free-radical polymerization, are converted to PVPh and STVPh ( 2 ), respectively, by being treated with trimethylsilyl iodide (TMSI) at room temperature. Both ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR data show that methoxy is completely cleaved and converted to hydroxy after hydrolysis without crosslinking and other side reactions. In addition, size-exclusion chromatography data show that no chain scission occurs during group conversion.     

Synthesis and drug controlled release of block copolymers of poly(l-lactide) with poly(d,l-lactide) and related monomers

Four types of new biodegradable block copolymers AB, ABA, AC and AD, where A is poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), B is poly(D, L-lactide) (PDLLA), C is poly(p-dioxanone) (PDON) and D is poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) with different block lengths were synthesized and characterized by GPC, IR, ¹H-NMR and DSC. There are phase-separated and biodegradable block copolymers. Their in vitro biodegradation rates with the change of composition ratio were studied as well as the biodegradation rates of homopolymers with the series as PDON > PDLLA > PLLA in parallel with their crystallinities, i.e. from amorphous to semicrystalline. All these block copolymers were used as matrix to test their controlled release behavior of levo-norgestrel (LNG) in the form of microspheres through solvent evaporation preparation with thoroughly long-time washing to minimize the generally occurring bursting effect. As a result all of them showed almost constant rate of release even from the initial stage,     

Temperature sensitive poly[N-isopropylacrylamide-co-(acryloyl beta-cyclodextrin)] for improved drug release

The model drugs ibuprofen (IBU) and tegafur (T-Fu) were loaded into poly[N-isopropylacrylamide-co-(acryloyl beta-cyclodextrin)] [P(NIPA-co-A-CD)] and PNIPA hydrogels by immersing dried gels in IBU or T-Fu alcohol solutions until they reached equilibrium. Drug release studies were carried out in water at 25 degrees C. In contrast to the release time of conventional PNIPA hydrogel, that of IBU from the beta-CD incorporated hydrogel was significantly prolonged and the drug loading was also greatly increased, which may be the result of the formation of inclusion complexes between CD and ibuprofen. However, another hydrophilic drug, tegafur, did not display these properties because it could not form a complex with the CD groups. [diagram in text].     

NIR-Ⅱ probe modified by poly(L-lysine) with efficient ovalbumin delivery for dendritic cell tracking

Dendritic cell(DC) vaccine is an effective strategy for cancer immunotherapy by carrying antigen into DCs and migrating these DCs to drain lymph nodes after inoculation. In this article, second near-infrared window(NIR-II) fluorescent nanoparticles have been used to uptake antigen and activate DCs. Ovalbumin(OVA), an antigen for immunization, can be loaded on the surface of these NIR-II fluorescent nanoparticles via electrostatic interaction by virtue of their functionalized poly(L-lysine)(PLL), which exhibits biocompatibility and strong selective interaction with OVA. In addition, these antigen-loaded complexes can efficiently be engulfed by immature DCs to induce DC maturation and cytokine secretion. After subcutaneous injection, highly sensitive NIR-II fluorescence signal from nanoparticles indicates that nanoparticle-labeled DCs can successfully migrate into lymph nodes in vivo, showing great promise in immunotherapy against cancer.     

Synthesis of new poly(propylenimine) dendrimers DAB-dendr-[NH(O)COCH2CH2OC(O)C5H4Rh(NBD)](n) [n=4, 8, 16, 32, 64] functionalized with alkoxycarbonylcyclopentadienyl complexes of rhodium(I)

The reaction between [Rh[C5H4CO2(CH)2OH](NBD)] (1) and 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) leads to the new CO2-imidazole functionalized alkoxycarbonylcyclopentadienyl complex [Rh[C5H4CO2(CH2)2O2C-Im](NBD)] (2) (Im=imidazole). The latter was treated with five generations of poly(propylenimine) dendrimers DAB-dendr-(NH2)(n) [n=4, 8, 16, 32, 64] (DAB=diaminobutane) to accomplish the synthesis of the new organometallic dendritic macromolecules DAB-dendr-[NH(O)COCH2CH2OC(O)C5H4Rh(NBD)](n) [n=4 (4), 8 (5), 16 (6), 32 (7), 64 (8)] based on flexible poly(propylenimine) dendrimer cores, built up to the fifth generation. Spectroscopic characterization of all the new compounds will be presented and discussed.     

Gas-phase reactivity of heterobinuclear oxometalate anions [CrMoO6(OR)]-, [CrWO6(OR)]-, and [MoWO6(OR)]- (R = H, nBu)

Heterobinuclear oxometalate anions based upon [CrMoO7]2-, [CrWO7]2-, and [MoWO7]2- were generated and transferred to the gas phase by the electrospray process from acetonitrile solutions containing two of the salts (Bu4N)2[MO4] (M = Cr, Mo, W). Their reactivities were examined and compared with those of the related homobinuclear anions based upon [M2O7]2- (M = Cr, Mo, W). Particular emphasis was placed upon reactions relevant to gas-phase catalytic cycles described previously for oxidation of alcohols by [Mo2O6(OH)]- (Waters, T.; O'Hair, R. A. J.; Wedd, A. G. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 3384-3396). The protonated anions [MM'O6(OH)]- each reacted with methanol with loss of water to form [MM'O6(OCH3)]- at a rate that was intermediate between those of [M2O6(OH)]- and [M'2O6(OH)]-. The butylated anions [MM'O6(OBu)]- were generated by collisional activation of the ion-pairs {Bu4N+ [MM'O7]2-}-. Collisional activation of [MM'O6(OBu)]- resulted in either the loss of butanal (redox reaction) or the loss of butene (elimination reaction), with the detailed nature of the observations depending on the nature of both M and M'. Selective 18O labeling indicated that the butoxo ligands of [CrMoO6(OBu)]- and [CrWO6(OBu)]- were located on molybdenum and tungsten, respectively. This structural insight allowed a more detailed comparison of reactivity with the homobinuclear species, and highlighted the importance of the neighboring metal center in these reactions.     

Spectroelectrochemical characterisation of poly[Ni(saltMe)]-modified electrodes

Electrogenerated polymers based on the nickel(II) complex 2,3-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(salicylidene)butane-2,3-diaminatonickel(II), poly[Ni(saltMe)], were characterised by in situ FTIR and UV/Vis spectroscopy and ex-situ EPR spectroscopy in order to gain insights into film structure, electronic states and charge conduction. The role of the nickel ions during film oxidation was probed by using EPR to study naturally abundant Ni and 61Ni-enriched polymers. The data from all the spectroscopic techniques are consistent, and clearly indicate that polymerisation and redox switching are associated with oxidative ligand based processes; coulometry suggests that one positive charge was delocalised through each monomer unit. EPR provided evidence for the non-direct involvement of the metal in polymer oxidation: the polymer is best described as a polyphenylene-type compound (conducting polymer), rather than an aggregation of nickel complexes (redox polymer), and the main charge carriers are identified as polarons. An explanation for the high electrochemical stability and conductivity of poly[Ni(saltMe)] with respect to that of poly[Ni(salen)] is proposed. based on stereochemical repulsion between monomeric units; this can impose a less compact supramolecular structure on polymers with bulkier substituents.     

Syntheses of poly[N-(1-pyrenyl)acetyl ethylenimine] [pyrene-substituted linear poly(ethylenimine)] and poly[methyl 2-(1-pyrenyl)acetamidopropenoate] [pyrene-substituted poly(dehydroalanine methyl ester)]

The syntheses of two new pyrene-containing monomers—2-(1-pyrenyl)methyl-2-oxazoline ( 6 ) and methyl 2-(1-pyrenyl)acetamidopropenoate ( 12 )—and their polymerization are described. Cationic isomerization polymerization of 6 with ethylene glycol ditosylate initiator gave poly[N-(1-pyrenyl)acetyl ethylenimine] ( 7 ) and free-radical polymerization of 12 with AIBN initiator gave poly[methyl 2-(1-pyrenyl)acetamidopropenoate] ( 15 ). The monomer model compounds of the two polymers, namely, N,N-diethyl(1-pyrenyl)acetamide ( 9 ) and methyl 2-methyl-2-(1-pyrenyl)acetamidopropanoate ( 14 ), were also synthesized. The polymers were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and a comparison of their ¹H-NMR spectra with those of the respective monomer model compounds.     

Swelling of poly(methacrylic acid) gels and adsorption of L-lysine and its polymer on the gels

Poly (methacrylic acid) gels (PMAA gels) of various degrees of crosslinking were prepared and the dissociation behavior of these gels was examined; the swelling behavior was investigated as a function of the solution pH values. A reentrant phenomenon of swelling was observed and interpreted based on the Flory-Huggins equation and the Donnan equilibrium formula. Moreover, adsorption of L-lysine, oligo(L-lysine)s (Lys-n,n=3, 9, and 19) and poly(L-lysine) onto PMAA gels from aqueous solutions was investigated under different conditions of pH and concentration of adsorbate. The adsorption ratio of L-lysine onto PMAA gel is dependent on both the pH of solution and the degree of crosslinking. In a pH range between 8 and 9, the protonated form of L-lysine is strongly adsorbed on the PMAA gel by electrostatic interactions. Oligomers and polymer of L-lysine are adsorbed in a somewhat different way from the monomeric L-lysine. In addition, the desorption behavior of L-lysine from PMAA gels by a change in pH was also investigated.     

Linear and four‐armed poly(l‐lactide)‐block‐poly(d‐lactide) copolymers and their stereocomplexation with poly(lactide)s

Linear and four‐armed poly(l ‐lactide)‐block‐poly(d ‐lactide) (PLLA‐b‐PDLA) block copolymers are synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of d ‐lactide on the end hydroxyl of linear and four‐armed PLLA prepolymers. DSC results indicate that the melting temperature and melting enthalpies of poly (lactide) stereocomplex in the copolymers are obviously lower than corresponding linear and four‐armed PLLA/PDLA blends. Compared with the four‐armed PLLA‐b‐PDLA copolymer, the similar linear PLLA‐b‐PDLA shows higher melting temperature (212.3 °C) and larger melting enthalpy (70.6 J g^?1). After these copolymers blend with additional neat PLAs, DSC, and WAXD results show that the stereocomplex formation between free PLA molecular chain and enantiomeric PLA block is the major stereocomplex formation. In the linear copolymer/linear PLA blends, the stereocomplex crystallites (sc) as well as homochiral crystallites (hc) form in the copolymer/PLA cast films. However, in the four‐armed copolymer/linear PLA blends, both sc and hc develop in the four‐armed PLLA‐b‐PDLA/PDLA specimen, which means that the stereocomplexation mainly forms between free PDLA molecule and the inside PLLA block, and the outside PDLA block could form some microcrystallites. Although the melting enthalpies of stereocomplexes in the blends are smaller than that of neat copolymers, only two‐thirds of the molecular chains participate in the stereocomplex formation, and the crystallization efficiency strengthens. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 1560–1567