Swelling and deswelling of adsorbed microgel monolayers triggered by changes in temperature, pH, and electrolyte concentration

The formation and characterization of close-packed monolayers of negative, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based microgel particles onto positively charged silicon wafers is described. The silicon wafers were rendered positive by first oxidizing their surface to silica and then adsorbing a layer of poly(ethyleneimine). The thickness of the deposited microgel monolayers (under aqueous conditions) has been determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry as a function of temperature (20-60 degrees C), pH (3-8), and added NaCl concentration (0-1 M). No actual desorption of the microgel particles was evident on changing the conditions, but a swelling/deswelling transition was observed around 32 degrees C. The thickness of the monolayer has been compared with the hydrodynamic diameter of the free microgel particles, dispersed in aqueous solution. For the poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgel particles, without any bulk ionisable comonomer groups present, the temperature dependence of the ellipsometric thickness of the monolayer mirrors closely that of the hydrodynamic diameter of the free particles. When ionizable (-COOH) groups are introduced into the microgel particles, however, this correspondence is largely lost because the microgel particles forming the deposited monolayer now contract strongly onto the oppositely charged substrate surface.     

pH- and thermosensitive polyaniline colloidal particles prepared by enzymatic polymerization

Polyaniline colloids were prepared by enzymatic polymerization using chitosan and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) as steric stabilizers. The resulting nanoparticles undergo flocculation by changing the pH or temperature of the aqueous dispersions. The environmentally responsive behavior of these colloids contrasts with that of polyaniline colloids synthesized using poly(vinyl alcohol) as the steric stabilizer. The colloid size was a function of the steric stabilizers and ranged from approximately 50 nm for polyaniline particles prepared in the presence of chitosan and partially hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol) up to 350 nm for the particles synthesized using poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). UV-visible and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies indicate that polyaniline colloids are spectroscopically similar to those obtained by traditional dispersion polymerization of aniline by chemical oxidation. These polyaniline colloids have potential applications in thermochromic windows and smart fluids.     

含环糊精的温度敏感性聚合物的合成及自组装

合成了侧基含环糊精的聚异丙基丙烯酰胺(PnipamCD), 该聚合物在水溶液中具有较高的最低临界溶解温度(LCST). 快速升温到溶液的LCST以上可形成球形胶束, 慢速升温到LCST以上可形成空心囊泡. 在PNIPAM的选择性溶剂中, PnipamCD形成棒状组装体.     

Self-assembled complexes of non-cross-linked amphiphilic polymeric ligands with inorganic species: highly active and reusable solid-phase polymeric catalysts

I present herein the development of highly active and reusable polymeric catalysts produced by self-assembly process of non-cross-linked amphiphilic polymeric ligands with inorganic species. Thus, PWAA 1 prepared from H3PW12O40 and poly[(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-(acrylamide with ammonium salt)] is suitable for oxidation of alcohols, amines, and sulfides in aqueous hydrogen peroxide. PdAS 2 produced by self-organization of (NH4)2PdCl4 and poly[(N-isopropylacrylamide)10-co-diphenylphosphinostyrene] is an excellent recyclable catalyst for Suzuki-Miyaura reaction in water, water-organic solvent, and organic solvent. It is commercially available from Tokyo Kasei Kogyo (TCI). PdAS-V 3 assembled from (NH4)2PdCl4 and poly[(N-isopropylacrylamide)5-co-diphenylphosphinostyrene] provides recycling system of itself for Mizorogi-Heck reaction. TiSS 4 made from Ti(O-i-Pr)4 and poly(styryl-linked binaphtholate-co-styrene) promotes an enantioselective carbonyl-ene reaction as a recyclable catalyst.     

Thermoresponsive nanostructures by self-assembly of a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-lipid conjugate

The synthesis and purification of a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-lipid conjugate and its use in the preparation of a thermoresponsive lipid mesophase is described. Specifically, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) with a single carboxyl group at one end was activated with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide to form an active ester. This N-hydroxysuccinimide ester was then used to form a dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine conjugate with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) via an amide bond, rendering the conjugate amphiphilic. Quaternary phases comprising the conjugate, a phosopholipid, dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine, and a cosurfactant, N,N-dimethyldodecylamine-N-oxide, dispersed in water were found to self-assemble at room temperature to form liquid crystalline gels, adopting an expanded lamellar structure. A modest increase in temperature triggered the reversible conversion of the aggregate to a collapsed lamellar structure, while a modest reduction in temperature resulted in its conversion to a nonlamellar phase. The phases were characterized by polarized optical microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS).     

Fast responsive poly(N-sopropylacrylamide) hydrogels prepared by γ-ray irradiation

γ-ray irradiation of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) monomer. solution resulted in the formation of the opaque poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) gel having a microporous structure. The thermo-responsive properties of the microporous gel were the same as that of a homogeneous gel prepared by conventional methods. The gel swelled below and shrunk above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) (33 °C). The rapid and reversible volume change was observed by changing temperature.     

Efficient formation of multicompartment hydrogels by stepwise self-assembly of thermoresponsive ABC triblock terpolymers

The gelation behavior of a poly(ethylene-alt-propylene)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PON) triblock terpolymer and a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (NON) triblock copolymer was studied by rheology over the concentration range 1-5 wt %. In comparison to the NON copolymer, gelation of the PON terpolymer was achieved at a much lower concentration, with a much sharper sol-gel transition. This is due to a stepwise gelation of PON terpolymers involving micellization at room temperature and gelation at elevated temperatures. The separation of micellization and gelation leads to the formation of a two-compartment network as observed by cryoTEM. The results highlight the intricate and tunable nanostructures and new properties accessible from ABC terpolymer hydrogels.     

聚丙烯酸-b-聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)嵌段共聚物的合成及其温度和pH值敏感性自组装研究

通过原子转移自由基聚合方法, 在丁酮/异丙醇混合溶剂中合成了分子量可控和分布较窄的聚丙烯酸叔丁酯-b-聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(PtBA-b-PNIPAM)嵌段共聚物, 用GPC和 1 H NMR对其结构进行了表征. PtBA-b-PNIPAM在甲苯中水解得到聚丙烯酸-b-聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(PAA-b-PNIPAM). 用动态光散射技术对PAA-b-PNIPAM在水溶液中的自组装行为随pH值和温度变化的响应进行了初步研究.     

Supramolecular self-assembly and controllable drug release of thermosensitive hyperbranched multiarm copolymers

A novel temperature-responsive hyperbranched multiarm copolymer with a hydrophobic hyperbranched poly(3-ethyl-3-(hydroxymethyl)oxetane)(HBPO) core and thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAM) arms was synthesized via the atom transfer radical polymerization(ATRP) of NIPAM monomers from a hyperbranched HBPO macroinitiator.It was found that HBPO-star-PNIPAM self-assembled into multimolecular micelles(around 60 nm) in water at room temperature according to pyrene probe fluorescence spectrometry,1H N...     

Thermodynamic considerations of microgel swelling behavior

A simple but novel thermodynamic model is presented, based upon van't Hoff analysis, for the reversible swelling behavior of colloidal microgels. The swelling, as a function of temperature, of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide/N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide) as well as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide/vinylpyridine/N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide/acrylic acid/N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide) microgel dispersions in H2O and D2O has been studied by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). PCS data was used to obtain the hydrodynamic diameter and hence the volume of the microgels (before and after reconstitution following freeze-drying) as a function of temperature. The choice of standard reference states, for analyzing the data attained, is discussed, and the one selected is that of the volume of the microgels at 333 K in H2O. For all microgels examined the volume, at this temperature, is shown to be independent of solvent (H2O, D2O). The derived data has allowed the exploration of a novel thermodynamic approach to the study of the swelling behavior of the microgels. The constant volume, at 333 K, for each of the polymer systems constituting the microgels is suggested to be an intrinsic property of the polymers themselves.     

Temperature-responsive stationary phase utilizing a polymer of proline derivative for hydrophobic interaction chromatography using an aqueous mobile phase

A new method of chromatography is proposed, utilizing a thermo-responsive polymer carrying an amino acid ester residue for the stationary phase of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We have been investigating the new concept of chromatography, a temperature-responsive chromatography, using temperature-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm)-modified surface for HPLC with a constant aqueous media as the mobile phase. In this study, we designed and synthesized thermo-responsive poly(acryloyl-L-proline methyl ester) and its copolymer with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm). Homopolymers of acryloyl-L-proline methyl ester and copolymer were prepared by the reaction of radical telomerization. These polymers underwent a reversible phase transition from water-soluble forms into aggregates by changing the temperature, similar to PNIPAAm. The surface properties and functions of stationary phases modified with poly(acryloyl-L-proline methyl ester) were controlled by the external temperature. In the chromatographic system, we separated steroids and amino acids with a variety of hydrophobicities using a sole aqueous mobile phase. In contrast to a PNIPAAm-modified surface, a poly(acryloyl-L-proline methyl ester)-modified surface showed a greater affinity for hydrophobic amino acids.     

温敏两亲性接枝物PAM-g-PNIPAm的合成及表征

以巯基乙胺为分子量调节剂,以丙烯酰氯作为链端转化剂合成了不同分子量的端丙烯酰胺基聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)(PNIPAm)大分子单体;与丙烯酰胺共聚合,合成了以PNIPAm为侧链的接枝聚丙烯酰胺.用FTIR和¹HNMR方法表征了接枝聚合物与大分子单体的组成.该接枝聚合物在水溶液中具有热缔合特性及明显的温敏增稠性,水溶液的粘度在32～50℃之间随温度增加而增加.     

Preparation and characterization of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-modified poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) hydrogels by interpenetrating polymer networks for sustained drug release

In order to investigate the influence of hydrophobic moieties formed by poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) in a hydrogel matrix on the release behavior of the hydrogel, a series of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm)-modified poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate-co-2-hydroxyethyl 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (P(HEA-co-HEMA)) via interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were prepared by a sequential UV solution polymerization. Interestingly, it was found that P(HEA-co-HEMA)/PNIPAm IPN indicated a single glass transition temperature (T(g)) and the T(g)s of the IPNs increased with an increase in the PNIPAm component. This phenomenon may be attributed to hydrogen bonding between the two polymer networks, but the hydrogen bonding exerts less influence on the swelling behavior of the IPNs, due to the fact that IPNs can respond to changes in temperature like PNIPAm. Using 2-[(diphenylmethyl)sulphiny]acetamide (modafinil, MOD) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) as model drug compounds, the release behavior of the IPNs was studied at body temperature, and it was found that the presence of PNIPAm could retard drug release regardless of the solubility of the drugs. Release profiles of HBA from the IPNs and their component samples as a function of time at 37 degrees C.     

Direct observation of time and temperature dependent transition from spherical micelles to vesicles

An interesting transition from spherical micelles to vesicles, which was time and temperature dependent, was observed for the first time; it is tentatively attributed to the thermal hysteresis of temperature-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide).     

Ibuprofen induced drug loaded polymeric micelles

Three model drugs with different function groups were chosen to dialyze with dextran-graft-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide).Only ibuprofen could induce the formation of drug loaded micelles,which was confirmed with dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscope.Hydrogen-bonding between the amide groups of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and the carboxyl groups of ibuprofen was driving force for the drug-loaded micelle.It was also found that the diameter of the ibuprofen-loaded micelles changed reversibly against temperature.     

Assembly of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-acrylic acid microgel thin films on polyelectrolyte multilayers: Effects of polyelectrolyte layer thickness, surface charge, and microgel solution pH

Temperature- and pH-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)?Cco-acrylic acid (pNIPAm-co-AAc) microgels were deposited on glass substrates coated with polyelectrolyte multilayers composed of the polycation poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and the polyanion poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS). The microgel density and structure of the resultant films were investigated as a function of: (1) the number of PAH/PSS layers (layer thickness); (2) the charge on the outer layer of the polyelectrolyte multilayer film; and (3) the pH of microgel deposition solution. The resultant films were studied by differential interference contrast optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the coverage of the microgels on the surface was a complex function of the pH of the deposition solution, the charge on the outer layer of the polyelectrolyte thin film and the PAH/PSS layer thickness; although it appears that microgel charge plays the biggest role in determining the resultant surface coverage.     

利用超分子接枝聚合物体系制备具有pH响应能力的高分子囊泡及其在药物控制释放方面的应用

利用自由基聚合的链转移反应,制备了以羧基为端基的聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)(PNIPAM-COOH),然后以该聚合物作为亲水的侧链,利用其羧端基和聚(4-乙烯基吡啶)(PVPy)疏水主链上的吡啶基团间的相互作用,在共溶剂DMF中形成超分子两亲接枝聚合物体系,在上述体系中逐滴加入水可以使其通过自组装形成高分子囊泡.通过控制PVPy与PNIPAM-COOH的质量比在1～3之间,可以控制囊泡尺寸在130～330nm之间.由于囊泡中含有吡啶基团,因而该囊泡具有pH敏感性.以日落黄为药物模型,以这些pH敏感性囊泡作为药物载体,通过调节环境的pH值可以实现对药物的控制释放.     

Temperature-responsive chromatography using poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel-modified silica.

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) has the sharpest phase transition of the class of thermo-sensitive N-alkyl acrylamide polymers. We developed a new method of HPLC using packing materials modified with cross-linked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) hydrogel. A temperature-responsive surface was prepared by polymerization of NIPAAm in the presence of a cross-linker on the silica support. The surface properties and functions of the stationary phases change in response to the external temperature. Therefore it easily changes the interaction of a solute with the surface with a constant aqueous mobile phase. A temperature-responsive elution behavior was observed on the separation of steroids and PTH-amino acids. The method is expected to be applicable to separation in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields.     

纳米TiO2/聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺复合水凝胶的合成及其表征

通过利用偶联剂和超声分散将TiO₂表面功能化, 在其表面引入烯键, 与聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺在交联剂存在下共聚, 制备了不同纳米TiO₂含量的聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺复合水凝胶．采用红外光谱、扫描电镜、紫外光谱、热重分析、动态粘弹谱仪等表征了复合水凝胶的微观结构和形貌, 测试了复合凝胶材料对紫外线的吸收、热稳定性、机械强度及其韧性. 结果表明: 纳米TiO₂粒子的引入, 使得复合凝胶材料对紫外线吸收效果显著, 凝胶的稳定性、机械强度及韧性得到明显改善.     

聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺/β-环糊精离子聚合物的合成与表征

基于β-环糊精(β-CD)的超分子包合特性,最近几年我们对环糊精聚合物的药物控制释行为进行了广泛的探索性研究,通过分子设计合成并表征了一系列基于温度敏感性聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(PNIPAM)和β-CD的但却具有不同结构与性能的新型聚合物,研究发现,这些聚合物不但具有PNIPAM的热敏性,也具有β-CD的超分子包合性,并表现出独特的药物控释性能。