Polymer vesicles formed by amphiphilic diblock copolymers containing a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer block

New amphiphilic diblock copolymers composed of poly(ethylene glycol) and a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer have been synthesized and demonstrated to form well-defined unilamellar vesicles in water by cryo-electron microscopy.     

Formation of polymer vesicles by liquid crystal amphiphilic block copolymers

We report the formation of polymer vesicles (or polymersomes) by a new class of amphiphilic block copolymers in which the hydrophobic block is a side-on nematic liquid crystal polymer. Two series of these block copolymers, named PEG-b-PA444 and PEG-b-PMAazo444, with different hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratios were synthesized and characterized in detail. Polymersomes and nanotubes were formed by adding water into a solution of copolymers in dioxane. Polymersomes in water were finally obtained by dialyzing the resulting mixture against water. These self-assemblies have been studied by classical TEM and cryo-TEM. For the PEG-b-PA444 series, polymersomes were observed for hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratios ranging from 40/60 to 19/81. For PEG-b-PMAazo444 series, polymersomes were observed for hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratios ranging from 26/74 to 18/82. For a PEG-b-PA444 sample with hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio equal to 25/75, a tubular morphology with tube diameter of typically 100 nm and tube length of up to 10 mum was also observed together with polymersomes during addition of water into the polymer solution in dioxane.     

Photoresponsive and fluorescence behaviors of azobenzene‐containing amphiphilic block copolymers

The effects of solvency and mole fraction of azobenzene moieties (f_PAzoMA) on the photoresponsive and fluorescence behaviors of poly(acrylic acid)‐block‐poly(6‐[4‐(4′‐methoxyphenylazo)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate) (PAA‐PAzoMA) amphiphilic diblock copolymers were investigated using UV–vis spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. The photoresponsive behavior depended strongly on the solvency and f_PAzoMA. When dissolved in a PAA‐selective solvent, PAA‐PAzoMA formed micelles with PAzoMA in the micelle core. The confinement of azobenzene moieties caused a steric hindrance, thereby markedly reducing the kinetics of photoisomerization compared with that of the unconfined PAA‐PAzoMA in a nonselective solvent. Additionally, PAA‐PAzoMA dissolved in the PAA‐selective solvent caused a blue shift of the maximum absorbance, suggesting the formation of H‐aggregates of azobenzene mesogens. The high H‐aggregate content substantially reduced the fluorescence emission. Consequently, the fluorescence emission of PAA‐PAzoMA in the nonselective solvent was more intense than that in the PAA‐selective solvent. Upon UV irradiation, the enhanced bent‐shaped cis isomers disturbed the compact packing of azobenzene mesogens, which substantially enhanced the fluorescence emission. Both the photoisomerization rate and fluorescence emission decreased with an increase in f_PAzoMA. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 793–803     

Porous polymer films and honeycomb structures based on amphiphilic dendronized block copolymers

Fabrication of honeycomb patterned films from our synthesized amphiphilic dendronized block copolymer by "on-solid surface spreading" method and "on-water spreading" method was reported for the first time in this paper. The comparison of the two methods indicated honeycomb-patterned films with smaller size, and larger surface density of micropores can be fabricated by spreading on water but with lower regular arrangement. Furthermore, several influencing factors on the formation of the honeycomb structure and the different morphologies, such as the concentration of the copolymer solution and the relative humidity in the atmosphere and the substrates, were investigated. The results showed that comparably high relative humidity from 80% to 95% was needed, and the mica plate as a spreading substrate was suitable to form orderly porous films for such a copolymer. The best ordered pattern could be formed from the copolymer with concentration of 1.00 mg/mL at the relative humidity of 85% using a mica plate. Besides, strong periodicity, regularity, and a large, defect-free area were notable, which made this structure extremely interesting for applications for templated molecular objects formed via intramolecular metal or metal oxide synthesis.     

Biodegradable amphiphilic block copolymers containing functionalized PEO blocks:Controlled synthesis and biomedical potentials

A series of controllable amphiphilic block copolymers composed of poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO) as the hydrophilic block and poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL) as the hydrophobic block with the amino terminal group at the end of the PEO chain(PCL-b-PEO-NH2) were synthesized.Based on the further reaction of reactive amino groups,diblock copolymers with functional carboxyl groups(PCL-b-PEO-COOH) and functional compounds RGD(PCL-b-PEO-RGD) as well as the triblock copolymers with thermosensitive PNIPAAm blocks(PCL-b-PEO-b-P...     

Biodegradable amphiphilic block copolymers containing functionalized PEO blocks: Controlled synthesis and biomedical potentials

A series of controllable amphiphilic block copolymers composed of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as the hydrophilic block and poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) as the hydrophobic block with the amino terminal group at the end of the PEO chain (PCL-b-PEO-NH₂) were synthesized. Based on the further reaction of reactive amino groups, diblock copolymers with functional carboxyl groups (PCL-b-PEO-COOH) and functional compounds RGD (PCL-b-PEO-RGD) as well as the triblock copolymers with thermosensitive PNIPAAm blocks (PCL-b-PEO-b-PNIPAAM) were synthesized. The well-controlled structures of these copolymers with functional groups and blocks were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. These copolymers with functionalized hydrophilic blocks were fabricated into microspheres for the examination of biofunctions via cell culture experiments and in vitro drug release. The results indicated the significance of introducing functional groups (e.g., NH₂, COOH and RGD) into the end of the hydrophilic block of amphiphilic block copolymers for biomedical potentials in tissue engineering and controlled drug release.     

功能性两亲嵌段共聚物的研究进展

功能性两亲嵌段共聚物因自身独特的性质而在靶向输送、控制释放、分子识别等领域得到广泛的应用.本文对这类嵌段共聚物的合成方法、其胶束的形成机理、制备形式、表征手段以及一些常见的具有光学活性的两亲嵌段共聚物及其应用进行了综述.     

Time-dependent shrinkage of polymeric micelles of amphiphilic block copolymers containing semirigid oligocholate hydrophobes

Alkyne-derivatized poly(ethylene glycol) (M.W. 5000) was coupled to several azide-terminated oligocholates by the click reaction to form amphiphilic block copolymers. A copolymer with a cholate hexamer as the hydrophobic block formed polymeric micelles that shrank by ~50% over a period of 10 h at 25°C. Shrinkage was faster and more dramatic at 35°C. Shortening the oligocholate by two units or inserting a 4-aminobutyroyl spacer in the hexacholate eliminated or diminished the shrinkage. Metastable aggregates were proposed to form when the block copolymers began to aggregate in water. The large hydrophobic surface, awkward shape, rigidity, and facial amphiphilicity of the cholate repeat unit and the long chain made it difficult for the oligocholates to adjust within the micellar core. As the oligocholates rearranged to maximize hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen-bonding while minimizing conformational strain, the polymeric micelles became more compact over time.     

新型线状-树枝状两亲嵌段共聚物的合成

本文设计合成了一系列由不同链长的聚丙烯酸(PAA)为亲水嵌段和不同代数聚苄醚树枝体(Dendr.PBE)为疏水嵌段的杂化共聚物(PAA-Dendr.PBE)。     

Interfacial tension of demixed polymer solutions: augmentation by polymer additives

The interfacial tension between phase separated polymer solutions increases pronouncedly upon the addition of small amounts of incompatible polymers. This feature is demonstrated by means of measurements with solutions of polystyrene in cyclohexane and the following additives: poly(styrene-block-dimethylsiloxane), polyisobutylene and polydimethylsiloxane. Theoretical considerations based on a correlation between the lengths of tie lines and the corresponding interfacial tension corroborate this finding.     

Surface tension of polymer mixtures and copolymers

Contact angles θ of liquids of different polarity were measured on a series of mixtures of solid high polymers and a series of copolymers. The mixtures were composed of an alternating poly(ethylene-co-maleic anhydride) (EMA), and its addition product with n-octadecylamine, poly(ethylene-co-N-n-octadecylmaleamic acid) (EOM). The co-polymers were composed of the same monomeric units as the mixtures. The surface tension γ_s of EOM, calculated from θ by the Good-Fowkes-Owens-Wendt treatment, decreased slightly with increasing molecular weights and then reached a limiting value. Plots of γ_s against EOM concentration indicated large negative excess surface tension of the units with lower surface tension, EOM, in both series studied. For the mixture series, γ_a first sharply decreased with the EOM concentration; then it reached a limiting value, the γ_s of pure EOM, at a very low EOM concentration. This indicates phase separation of the two polymers, and the thickness of a monomolecular surface layer was calculated from these data. For the copolymers, γ_s varied logarithmically with the EOM concentration. Throughout the whole concentration range, the data fitted the equation developed by Belton and Evans for ideal mixtures.     

Synthesis and surface properties of amphiphilic block copolymers polyvinylpyrrolidone-block-polystyrene

Amphiphilic block copolymers of N-pyrrolidone and styrene were prepared by chain transfer to organogermanium compounds bis(pentafluorophenyl)germane and tris(pentafluorophenyl)germane. The relative chain-transfer constants were determined. The surface properties of the isolated block copolymers with various numbers of units in the hydrophilic block were studied. The polar and dispersive components of the surface tension of films of the amphiphilic block copolymers were calculated by the Zisman method.     

Organizing thermodynamic data obtained from multicomponent polymer electrolytes: Salt‐containing polymer blends and block copolymers

The objective of this review is to organize literature data on the thermodynamic properties of salt‐containing polystyrene/poly(ethylene oxide) (PS/PEO) blends and polystyrene‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide) (SEO) diblock copolymers. These systems are of interest due to their potential to serve as electrolytes in all‐solid rechargeable lithium batteries. Mean‐field theories, developed for pure polymer blends and block copolymers, are used to describe phenomenon seen in salt‐containing systems. An effective Flory–Huggins interaction parameter, χ_eff , that increases linearly with salt concentration is used to describe the effect of salt addition for both blends and block copolymers. Segregation strength, χ_effN , where N is the chain length of the homopolymers or block copolymers, is used to map phase behavior of salty systems as a function of composition. Domain spacing of salt‐containing block copolymers is normalized to account for the effect of copolymer composition using an expression obtained in the weak segregation limit. The phase behavior of salty blends, salty block copolymers, and domain spacings of the latter systems, are presented as a function of chain length, composition and salt concentration on universal plots. While the proposed framework has limitations, the universal plots should serve as a starting point for organizing data from other salt‐containing polymer mixtures. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 1177–1187     

Synthesis and aggregation behaviour of amphiphilic block copolymers with random middle block

The effect of microstructure on the aggregation behaviour of symmetrical di- and triblock copolymers P(BMA)-b-P(MAA) and P(BMA)-b-P(BMA-co-MAA)-b-P(MAA) with a molecular weight of 40,000 g/mol was studied. The critical micelle concentration, hydrodynamic radius and morphology of the micelles were determined by fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and scanning force microscopy (SFM). Whereas no effect of the microstructure on the critical micelle concentration could be detected, the hydrodynamic radius decreased from di- to triblock copolymer from 53 to 36 nm. The decrease of about 32% corresponds to the length of the random middle block within the triblock copolymer so that the reduction in hydrodynamic radius was caused by a complete orientation of the random middle block at the core corona interface. Finally, the SFM investigation showed that dehydration of micelles on a substrate is accompanied by formation of a physisorbed monolayer with a thickness of 2 nm on which the micelles are deposited.     

A new design of cleavable acetal‐containing amphiphilic block copolymers triggered by light

We report a new design of photolabile acetal‐containing amphiphilic block copolymers. Acetals as protecting groups for carbonyls or diols can be hydrolyzed under acidic condition but very stable with respect to hydrolysis at pH > 7. When combining light‐capturing chromophores with acetals, the hydrolysis of acetals can be activated by light to design dual responsive acetal‐containing polymers. Using acetalization reaction of 2,3‐dihydroxypropyl methacrylate with benzaldehyde derivatives, two new acetal‐containing photolyzable monomers have been designed. Comparable to commonly used photolabile monomers containing nitrobenzyl esters, the two acetal‐containing monomers are easy to polymerize using atom transfer radical polymerization with excellent molecular weight and dispersity control. We studied the cleavage kinetics and mechanism of acetal groups in both monomers and polyethylene oxide (PEO)‐containing amphiphilic block copolymers using ¹H NMR and UV–vis spectroscopy. o‐Nitrobenzaldehyde acetal showed a Norrish Type II rearrangement to form benzoic ester; while, 2,5‐dimethoxy benzaldehyde acetal was photolabile to completely release 2,3‐dihydroxypropyl methacrylate. The photocleavage of acetals is a zero‐order reaction in regardless of molecular states of acetals; while, the acid‐cleavage of acetals proves to be a first‐order kinetics and the cleavage becomes much slower for polymers. The self‐assembly of acetal‐containing amphiphilic block copolymers and the acid‐/light‐controlled dissociation of their vesicles have been investigated. We demonstrate that those acetal‐containing polymers are potentially useful as smart drug delivery systems where the release kinetics of payloads is tunable using light and pH as triggers. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1815–1824     

Interfacial behavior of a series of amphiphilic block co-dendrimers

Amphiphiles with a dendritic structure are attractive materials as they combine the features of dendrimers with the self-assembling properties and interfacial behavior of amphiphiles. We have designed and synthesized three series of segmented amphiphilic block co-dendrimers (Janus-type) and studied their interfacial properties on the Langmuir trough. Various behaviors are observed with, as a rule, the lowest generation dendrimers behaving more or less like traditional amphiphiles while the larger molecules tend to exhibit more complicated isotherms, with a non-straightforward temperature dependence, one particular molecule seemingly forming supramolecular assemblies spontaneously. The results presented here, obtained on a series of molecules where many parameters have been varied systematically, show the limits that should be kept in mind when designing amphiphilic dendrimers.     

Non-ionic amphiphilic block copolymers by RAFT-polymerization and their self-organization

Water-soluble, amphiphilic diblock copolymers were synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. They consist of poly(butyl acrylate) as hydrophobic block with a low glass transition temperature and three different nonionic water-soluble blocks, namely, the classical hydrophilic block poly(dimethylacrylamide), the strongly hydrophilic poly(acryloyloxyethyl methylsulfoxide), and the thermally sensitive poly(N-acryloylpyrrolidine). Aqueous micellar solutions of the block copolymers were prepared and characterized by static and dynamic light scattering analysis (DLS and SLS). No critical micelle concentration could be detected. The micellization was thermodynamically favored, although kinetically slow, exhibiting a marked dependence on the preparation conditions. The polymers formed micelles with a hydrodynamic diameter from 20 to 100 nm, which were stable upon dilution. The micellar size was correlated with the composition of the block copolymers and their overall molar mass. The micelles formed with the two most hydrophilic blocks were particularly stable upon temperature cycles, whereas the thermally sensitive poly(N-acryloylpyrrolidine) block showed a temperature-induced precipitation. According to combined SLS and DLS analysis, the micelles exhibited an elongated shape such as rods or worms. It should be noted that the block copolymers with the most hydrophilic poly(sulfoxide) block formed inverse micelles in certain organic solvents.     

Interfacial reactivity of block copolymers: understanding the amphiphile-to-hydrophile transition

Block copolymers offer an interesting platform to study chemically triggered transitions in self-assembled structures. We have previously reported the oxidative degradation of vesicles made of poly(propylene sulfide)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PPS-PEG) copolymers. Here we propose a mechanism for vesicle degradation deduced from copolymer conformational changes occurring at the air/water interface in a Langmuir trough together with a reactive subphase. The hydrophobic PPS block is converted into hydrophilic poly(propylene sulfoxide) and poly(propylene sulfone) by oxidation upon exposure to 1% aqueous H(2)O(2) subphase. As a result, a dramatic increase in area per molecule at constant surface pressure (Pi) was observed, followed by an apparent decrease (recorded as decrease in area at constant Pi) due to copolymer dissolution. For monolayers at the air/water surface, the large interfacial tensions present suppress increases in local curvature for alleviating the increased hydrophilicity of the copolymer chains. By contrast, vesicles can potentially rearrange molecules in their bilayers to accommodate a changing hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB). Similar time scales for monolayer rearrangement and vesicle degradation imply a common copolymer chain solubilization mechanism, which in vesicles lead to an eventual transition to aggregates of higher curvature, such as cylindrical and spherical micelles. Subtle differences in response to the applied surface pressure for the diblock compared to the triblock suggest an effect of the different chain mobility.     

Novel polymer capsules from amphiphilic graft copolymers and cross-metathesis

We report the synthesis of polymer capsules from amphiphilic graft copolymers composed of reactive, hydrophobic polyolefin backbones and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) grafts. The capsules are produced by self-assembly of the polymers at the oil-water interface, followed by cross-linking with bis-cyclooctene PEG derivatives. The fluorescence of these capsules results from integration of rhodamine B functionalized cyclooctene 1 into the polymer structure. The use of the graft copolymer architecture in capsule synthesis provides significant opportunities to tune both the surface properties, in terms of recognition, and the membrane properties, in terms of mechanical strength, encapsulation, and release.