Superhydrophobic surfaces of microspheres obtained by self-assembly of poly[2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl acrylate-<Emphasis Type="Italic">ran</Emphasis>-2-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate] in supercritical carbon dioxide

Superhydrophobic surfaces were obtained by coating with microspheres formed by the self-assembly of poly[2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl acrylate-ran-2-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate] (P[POA-r-DAA]) in the presence of dicarboxylic acids in supercritical carbon dioxide. The P[POA-r-DAA] random copolymer aggregated into micellar microspheres through the hydrogen bond cross-linking of the amino groups via the carboxylic acids. The size of the microspheres and the amount of the acids needed to produce them were dependent on the kinds of acids. Glutaric acid (Glu) and perfluorosuccinic acid (Psuc) provided microspheres at a 0.5 molar ratio of the acid/DAA. Psuc produced smaller microspheres than Glu. Maleic acid (Ma), succinic acid (Suc), and azelaic acid (Az) required a higher molar ratio to produce the microspheres. These acids provided spherical particles at the ratio of 1.0. The microspheres produced by Suc and Az contained particles with a several hundred nanometer size. The surface coated with the microspheres showed high water contact angles of 164°–172°.

Morphology control of poly[2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl acrylate-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co-tert</Emphasis>-butyl acrylate] by pressure in supercritical carbon dioxide

The morphology control was attained in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) for poly[2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl acrylate (POA)-co-tert-butyl acrylate (TBA)] random copolymers with POA/TBA molar ratios of 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, 6:4, 5:5, and 4:6. The copolymers showed a different solubility and morphology in scCO₂ depending on the POA/TBA ratio. There was a tendency that the copolymers with a lower TBA content, such as 9:1, 8:2, and 7:3, showed a higher solubility in scCO₂ and formed a fiber-like structure in the heterogeneous state below their cloud point. On the other hand, the copolymers with the higher TBA contents of 6:4, 5:5, and 4:6 provided micrometer-sized spherical particles. Furthermore, the morphology was controlled by the CO₂ pressure because the fiber-like morphology for the copolymer with the 6:4 ratio changed to spherical by decreasing the CO₂ pressure.     

Synthesis of poly[2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl acrylate-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate] and its control of enzyme activity in supercritical carbon dioxide

Poly[2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl acrylate-co-poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate], P(POA-co-PEGm) was prepared as a new surfactant for scCO₂. The random copolymer was obtained by the radical polymerization of 2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl acrylate (POA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGm) in DMF. The molar ratio of the POA and PEGm units in the copolymer was POA/PEGm = 0.972/0.028 by ¹H NMR. The molecular weight and molecular weight distribution were estimated by size exclusion chromatography to be Mn = 133,000 and Mw/Mn = 8.25, respectively. It was suggested that the copolymer formed micellar aggregates with the cores of the PEGm chains in scCO₂, based on the analyses of the copolymer in hexafluorobenzene by ¹H NMR and dynamic light scattering. The copolymer was soluble in scCO₂ and had a cloud point at a much higher pressure than the critical pressure. It was found that the copolymer solubilized CO₂-insoluble proteins such as bovine serum albumin and subtilisin Carlsberg in scCO₂. The solubility of the copolymer was not influenced by the presence of the proteins; however, the solubility decreased in the presence of a small amount of water along with the protein. The activity of the subtilisin slightly decreased when only placed in scCO₂, whereas a marked decrease in the activity was observed for the subtilisin in the presence of the copolymer in scCO₂. The subtilisin activity decreased as the CO₂ pressure increased.     

Synthesis of spherical particles by self-assembly of poly[2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl acrylate-co-acrylic acid] in supercritical carbon dioxide

Spherical particles were prepared from poly[2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl acrylateco-acrylic acid] random copolymers (P(POA-co-AA)) by self-assembly in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2). The P(POA-co-AA) copolymers with 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, and 6:4 molar ratios of the POA/AA unit completely dissolved in scCO2, however, the solubility was dependent on the POA/AA ratio. The copolymer with the higher AA content had a lower solubility. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed that the spherical particles were obtained in a heterogeneous state at pressures lower than the cloud point pressure. Dynamic light scattering and 1H NMR studies demonstrated that the copolymers formed random copolymer micelles consisting of the shells of the CO2-philic POA units and the cores of the CO2-phobic AA units and main chains. It was found that the formation of spherical particles could be optimized by the manipulation of the CO2 pressure and temperature for the different compositions of the copolymers.     

Synthesis of gradient copolymers with complexing groups by RAFT polymerization and their solubility in supercritical CO2

We report the synthesis of new gradient fluorinated copolymers with complexing groups and soluble in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂). Poly(1,1,2,2‐tetrahydroperfluorodecyl acrylate‐co‐acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate) (poly(FDA‐co‐AAEM)) and poly(1,1,2,2‐tetrahydroperfluorodecyl acrylate‐co‐vinylbenzylphosphonic acid diethylester) (poly(FDA‐co‐VBPDE)) gradient copolymers were synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization in α,α,α‐trifluorotoluene. Poly(1,1,2,2‐tetrahydroperfluorodecyl acrylate‐co‐vinylbenzylphosphonic diacid) (poly(FDA‐co‐VBPDA)) gradient copolymer was efficiently obtained by cleavage of the phosphonic ester groups of poly(FDA‐co‐VBPDE). The cloud points of these gradient copolymers in dense CO₂ were measured in a variable volume view cell at temperatures between 25 and 65 °C. The gradient copolymers show very good solubility in compressed CO₂ with the decreasing order: poly(FDA‐co‐AAEM) ≈ poly(FDA‐co‐VBPDE) > poly(FDA‐co‐VBPDA). Following a green chemistry strategy, poly(FDA‐co‐AAEM) gradient copolymer was successfully synthesized in scCO₂ with a good control over number‐average molecular weight and composition. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5448–5460, 2009     

PNIPAM‐b‐(PEA‐g‐PDMAEA) double‐hydrophilic graft copolymer: Synthesis and its application for preparation of gold nanoparticles in aqueous media

A series of well‐defined double‐hydrophilic graft copolymers, consisting of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐b‐poly(ethyl acrylate) (PNIPAM‐b‐PEA) backbone and poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate) (PDMAEA) side chains, were synthesized by the combination of single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) and atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). PNIPAM‐b‐PEA backbone was first prepared by sequential SET‐LRP of N‐isopropylacrylamide and 2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate at 25 °C using CuCl/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as catalytic system followed by the transformation into the macroinitiator by treating the pendant hydroxyls with 2‐chloropropionyl chloride. The final graft copolymers with narrow molecular weight distributions were synthesized by ATRP of 2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate initiated by the macroinitiator at 40 °C using CuCl/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as catalytic system via the grafting‐from strategy. These copolymers were employed to prepare stable colloidal gold nanoparticles with controlled size in aqueous solution without any external reducing agent. The morphology and size of the nanoparticles were affected by the length of PDMAEA side chains, pH value, and the feed ratio of the graft copolymer to HAuCl₄. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1811–1824, 2009     

Adsorption of protein on the surface of thermosensitive poly(methyl methacrylate) microspheres modified with the N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide and 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine moieties

A series of microspheres composed of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA), and/or 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC), i.e., binary copolymer microspheres [poly(HPMA-co-MMA)_KPS and poly(HPMA-co-MMA)_ABIP] and ternary ones [poly(HPMA/MPC-co-MMA)_KPS and poly(HPMA/MPC-co-MMA)_ABIP], were prepared by emulsifier-free emulsion copolymerization using potassium peroxodisulfate (KPS) or 2,2′-azobis[2-(imidazolin-2-yl)propane] dihydrochloride (ABIP) as initiators. The decrease in ζ-potential of the polymer microspheres is caused by the addition of the HPMA and/or MPC moieties. Equilibrium water content of poly(HPMA-co-MMA)_ABIP showed a remarkable swelling change with a change in response to temperature: the hydrated conformation at 28°C and the dehydrated one at above 40°C. The adsorption of protein on the polymer microspheres also changed in response to change in temperature. The ternary polymer microspheres effectively suppressed the adsorption both of Alb and Glo, less than binary ones. A series of polymer microspheres are expected to apply as a novel drug carrier with both thermosensitive and nonthrombogenic functions. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 3349–3357, 1997     

Preparation,characterization and thermal stability of poly[2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate]

Poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate] (PDAEA) and polymer complexes of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate (DAEA) with nickel(II), copper(II), iron(III) and cobalt(II) chlorides were prepared and characterized by means of IR, electronic spectra and elemental analysis. The thermal stability of the homopolymer was compared with those of the polymer complexes, and the order of stability was given. The activation energies of the polymer complexes were calculated.     

Tuning the Molar Composition of “Charge‐Shifting” Cationic Copolymers Based on 2‐(N,N‐Dimethylamino)Ethyl Acrylate and 2‐(tert‐Boc‐Amino)Ethyl Acrylate

Copolymers of 2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate (DMAEA) and 2‐(tert‐Boc‐amino)ethyl acrylate (t BocAEA) are synthesized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization in a controlled manner with defined molar masses and narrow molar masses distributions (Ð ≤ 1.17). Molar compositions of the P(DMAEA‐co‐t BocAEA) copolymers are assessed by means of ¹H NMR. A complete screening in molar composition is studied from 0% of DMAEA to 100% of DMAEA. Reactivity ratios of both comonomers are determined by the extended Kelen–Tüdos method (r _DMAEA = 0.81 and r_{t BocAEA} = 0.99).

     

Thermoresponsive terpolymers based on methacrylate monomers: Effect of architecture and composition

A series of amphiphilic thermoresponsive copolymers was synthesized by group transfer polymerization. Seven copolymers were prepared based on the nonionic hydrophobic n‐butyl methacrylate (BuMA), the ionizable hydrophilic and thermoresponsive 2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and the nonionic hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol)methyl methacrylate (PEGMA). In particular, one diblock copolymer and six tricomponent copolymers of different architectures and compositions, one random and five triblock copolymers, were synthesized. The polymers and their precursors were characterized in terms of their molecular weight and composition using gel permeation chromatography and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively. Aqueous solutions of the polymers were studied by turbidimetry, hydrogen ion titration, and light scattering to determine their cloud points, pK_as, and hydrodynamic diameters and investigate the effect of the polymers' composition and architecture. The thermoresponsive behavior of the copolymers was also studied. By increasing the temperature, all polymer solutions became more viscous, but only one polymer, the one with the highest content of the hydrophobic BuMA, formed a stable physical gel. Interestingly, the thermoresponsive behavior of these triblock copolymers was affected not only by the terpolymers' composition but also by the terpolymers' architecture. These findings can facilitate the design and engineering of injectable copolymers for tissue engineering that could enable the in situ formation of physical gels at body temperature. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 775–783, 2010     

Synthesis of Amphiphilic Azobenzene Functionalized Branched-Type Copolymer Based on Branched Poly(2-(Dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) and Investigation of Its Drug Release Properties

Here, we reported the synthesis of branched poly(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) via a combination of activator generated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (AGET ATRP) and self-condensing vinyl polymerization (SCVP) techniques. The typical linear kinetics of the AGET ATRP of DMAEMA with the initiation of 2-(2-bromoisobutyryloxy) ethyl methacrylate (BIEM) was observed. The molecular weight (M_n ) of the branched PDMAEMA increased with the monomer conversion. The GPC traces of these polymers were unimodal and the molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n ) were in the range of 1.30–2.10. The degree of branching (DB) determined by NMR spectra agreed with theoretical value. The branched amphiphilic copolymer functionalized with azobenzene was then prepared via AGET ATRP chain-extension of branched PDMAEMA with azobenzene monomer, 6-[4-(4-methoxyphenylazo)phenoxy]hexyl(meth)acrylate as the second monomer. The GPC traces of these branched copolymers showed the mono-peaks, which proved the successful preparation of copolymers. The properties of this branched copolymer in controlling drug release were also investigated. It was found that the drug release rate of chlorambucil can be controlled by various factors, such as polymer structure, light, temperature and pH values.     

Preparation of macromonomers by copolymerization of methyl acrylate dimer involving β fragmentation

The unsaturated dimer of methyl acrylate [CH₂C(CO₂CH₃)CH₂CH₂CO₂CH₃, or MAD] was copolymerized with various monomers to prepare copolymers bearing the ω-unsaturated end group [CH₂C(CO₂CH₃)CH₂ ] arising from β fragmentation of the MAD propagating radical. Copolymerizations of MAD with cyclohexyl and n-butyl acrylate resulted in copolymers with ω-unsaturated end groups, and increasing the temperature up to 180 °C resulted in an increase in the rate of β fragmentation of MAD radicals relative to propagation. Only a small amount of unsaturated end groups was introduced by copolymerization with ethyl methacrylate (EMA), and the EMA content in the copolymer increased with temperature. These findings could be explained by the reversible addition of the poly(EMA) radical to MAD. The copolymerization with ethyl α-ethyl acrylate (EEA) did yield a copolymer containing unsaturated end groups with MAD units as part of the main chain, although the steric hindrance of the ethyl group suppressed homopropagation and crosspropagation of EEA, resulting in low polymerization rates. Therefore, the copolymerization of MAD with acrylic esters at high temperatures was noted as a convenient route for obtaining acrylate–MAD copolymers bearing unsaturated end groups at the ω end (macromonomer). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 597–607, 2004     

Amphiphilic depsipeptide‐based block copolymers as nanocarriers for controlled release of ibuprofen with doxorubicin

Well‐defined amphiphilic multiblock copolymers PDMAEMA‐b‐P(IBMD‐co‐PDO)‐b‐PEG‐b‐P(IBMD‐co‐PDO)‐b‐PDMAEMA [PDMAEMA‐PIBMD‐PPDO‐PEG], based on poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) block (PDMAEMA), poly(3(S)‐isobutyl‐morpholine‐2,5‐dione‐co‐p‐dioxanone) block (P(IBMD‐co‐PDO)), and poly(ethylene glycol) block (PEG) were successfully synthesized by combination of ring‐opening polymerization (using 3(S)‐isobutyl‐morpholine‐2,5‐dione and p‐dioxanone initiated by hydroxyl end of PEG) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Furthermore, all these copolymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, Fourier transformed‐infrared, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis measurements. The degradation experiments showed that the molecular weight of PDMAEMA‐PIBMD‐PPDO‐PEG decreased along with degradation time. In addition, these copolymers could readily self‐assemble into nanosized microspheres in phosphate buffered solution. Ibuprofen (IBU) and doxorubicin (DOX) as a kind of combined model drugs were loaded into these microspheres by the combination of ionic interaction and hydrophobic effect. These copolymer microspheres exhibited high loading capacity (LC, up to 26.88%), encapsulation efficiency (EE, up to 61.29%), and sustained release behavior of IBU–DOX in phosphate buffered solution. The results of transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering showed that the microspheres were well‐defined uniform spherical particles with average diameter less than 120 nm. Therefore, it can be envisaged that these copolymer systems are promising candidates for controlled release application. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3213–3226     

Copolymerization of ethyl α-(hydroxymethyl)acrylate with maleimide and characterization of the resulting copolymer

Copolymerization of maleimide (MI) and ethyl α-(hydroxymethyl)acrylate (EHMA) was performed at 60°C with AIBN as the initiator in THF. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined as r₁ (MI) = 0.13 and r₂ (EHMA) = 2.20. As the molar fraction of MI in the monomer feed increased, the initial rate of copolymerization decreased. TGA diagrams suggested the crosslinking reaction of the copolymer on heating. DSC and WAXD results suggested the existence of incomplete crystallinity in the copolymer. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1291–1299, 1998     

“Smart” poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate‐ran‐9‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐9H‐carbazole) copolymers synthesized by nitroxide mediated radical polymerization

A series of poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate‐ran‐9‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐9H‐carbazole) (poly(DMAEMA‐ran‐VBK)) random copolymers, with VBK molar feed compositions f_VBK,0 = 0.02–0.09, were synthesized using 10 mol % [tert‐butyl[1‐(diethoxyphosphoryl)‐2,2‐dimethylpropyl]amino] nitroxide (SG1) relative to 2‐([tert‐butyl[1‐(diethoxyphosphoryl)‐2,2‐dimethylpropyl]amino]oxy)‐2‐methylpropionic acid (BlocBuilder) at 80 °C and 90 °C. Controlled polymerizations were observed, even with f_VBK,0 = 0.02, as reflected by a linear increase in number average molecular weight (M_n) versus conversion X ≤ 0.6 with final copolymers characterized by relatively narrow, monomodal molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n ≈ 1.5). Poly(DMAEMA‐ran‐VBK) copolymers were deemed sufficiently pseudo‐“living” to reinitiate a second batch of N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAA), with very few apparent dead chains, as indicated by the monomodal shift in the gel permeation chromatography chromatograms. Poly(DMAEMA‐ran‐VBK) random copolymers exhibited tuneable lower critical solution temperature (LCST), in aqueous solution, by modifying copolymer composition, solution pH and by the addition of the water‐soluble poly(DMAA) segment. ¹H NMR analysis determined that, in water, the VBK units of the poly(DMAEMA‐ran‐VBK) random copolymer were segregated to the interior of the copolymer aggregate regardless of solution temperature and that poly(DMAEMA‐ran‐VBK)‐b‐poly(DMAA) block copolymers formed micelles above the LCST. In addition, the final random copolymer and block copolymer exhibited temperature dependent fluorescence due to the VBK units. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Thermoresponsive PPEGMEA‐g‐PPEGEEMA well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymer synthesized by successive SET‐LRP and ATRP

A series of well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymers containing poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate] (PPEGMEA) backbone and poly[poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate] (PPEGEEMA) side chains were synthesized by the combination of single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The backbone was first prepared by SET‐LRP of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate macromonomer using CuBr/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as catalytic system. The obtained comb copolymer was treated with lithium diisopropylamide and 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide to give PPEGMEA‐Br macroinitiator. Finally, PPEGMEA‐g‐PPEGEEMA graft copolymers were synthesized by ATRP of poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate macromonomer using PPEGMEA‐Br macroinitiator via the grafting‐from route. The molecular weights of both the backbone and the side chains were controllable and the molecular weight distributions kept narrow (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.20). This kind of double hydrophilic copolymer was found to be stimuli‐responsive to both temperature and ion (0.3 M Cl^? and SO). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 647–655, 2010     

Synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic star copolymers of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate: Effects of architecture and composition

Six amphiphilic star copolymers comprising hydrophilic units of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and hydrophobic units of methyl methacrylate (MMA) were prepared by the sequential group transfer polymerization (GTP) of the two comonomers and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) cross-linker. Four star-block copolymers of different compositions, one miktoarm star, and one statistical copolymer star were synthesized. The molecular weights (MWs) and MW distributions of all the star copolymers and their linear homopolymer and copolymer precursors were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), while the compositions of the stars were determined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy. Tetrahydrofuran (THF) solutions of all the star copolymers were characterized by static light scattering to determine the absolute weight-average MW () and the number of arms of the stars. The of the stars ranged between 359,000 and 565,000 g mol⁻¹, while their number of arms ranged between 39 and 120. The star copolymers were soluble in acidic water at pH 4 giving transparent or slightly opaque solutions, with the exception of the very hydrophobic DMAEMA₁₀-b-MMA₃₀-star, which gave a very opaque solution. Only the random copolymer star was completely dispersed in neutral water, giving a very opaque solution. The effective pKs of the copolymer stars were determined by hydrogen ion titration and were found to be in the range 6.5-7.6. The pHs of precipitation of the star copolymer solutions/dispersions were found to be between 8.8-10.1, except for the most hydrophobic DMAEMA_10-b-MMA₃₀-star, which gave a very opaque solution over the whole pH range.     

Thermo‐ and pH‐responsive gradient and block copolymers based on 2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization and the formation of thermoresponsive surfaces

A series of gradient and block copolymers, based on 2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate (MEO₂MA) and tert‐butyl acrylate (^tBA), were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in a first step. The MEO₂MA monomer leads to the production of thermosensitive polymers, exhibiting lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at around room temperature, which could be adjusted by changing the proportion of ^tBA in the copolymer. In a second step, the tert‐butyl groups of ^tBA were hydrolyzed with trifluoroacetic acid to form the corresponding block and gradient copolymers of MEO₂MA and acrylic acid (AA), which exhibited both temperature and pH‐responsive behavior. These copolymers showed LCST values strongly dependent on the pH. At acid pH, a slightly decrease of LCST with an increase of AA in the copolymer was observed. However, at neutral or basic conditions, ionization of acid groups increases the hydrophilic balance considerably raising the LCST values, which even become not observable over the temperature range under study. In the last step, these carboxylic functionalized copolymers were covalently bound to biocompatible and biodegradable films of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) [P(HB‐co‐HHx)] obtained by casting and, previously treated with ethylenediamine (ED) to render their surfaces with amino groups. Thereby, thermosensitive surfaces of modified P(HB‐co‐HHx) could be obtained. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Metal‐free synthesis of responsive polymers: Cloud point tuning by controlled “click” reaction

Nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization has been used for the preparation of pentafluorostyrene (PFS) homopolymers and random copolymers of PFS and oligo(ethyleneglycol) methacrylate (OEGMA_8.5). The poly(pentafluorostyrene) homopolymers were reacted with thiophenol at different ratios at room temperature in the presence of triethylamine. The “clicked” polymers were characterized by ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography. Moreover, the copolymerization kinetics of the PFS and OEGMA_8.5 copolymers was followed, and the phase transition behavior of random copolymers with different compositions was discussed. Furthermore, copolymers of PFS and 2‐(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) were prepared at various mole ratios, and the copolymer with a 10:90 ratio, respectively, was soluble in water at room temperature. Turbidimetry measurements were performed for PFS and OEGMA_8.5 or DMAEMA copolymers to determine their cloud points. Finally, the PFS and OEGMA_8.5 copolymer with a mole ratio of 60:40 was reacted further with thiophenol to increase the hydrophobic part in the copolymer. The cloud points of the obtained copolymers could be tuned from 87 to 33 °C by using not only the controlled radical polymerization but also the “click” reaction in a controlled fashion. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1278–1286, 2010     

pH‐ and temperature‐sensitive statistical copolymers poly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate‐stat‐2‐vinylpyridine] with Functional succinimidyl‐ester chain ends synthesized by nitroxide‐mediated polymerization

Statistical copolymerizations of 2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) with 2‐vinylpyridine (2VP) with 80 to 99 mol % DMAEMA in the feed utilizing a succinimidyl ester‐terminated alkoxyamine unimolecular initiator (NHS‐BlocBuilder) at 80 °C in bulk were performed. The effectiveness of 2VP as a controlling comonomer is demonstrated by linear increases in number‐average molecular weight versus conversion, relatively low PDI (1.5–1.6 with up to 98% DMAEMA) and successful chain extensions with 2VP. Additional free nitroxide does not significantly improve control for the DMAEMA/2VP copolymerizations. The succinimidyl ester on the initiator permits coupling to amine‐terminated poly(propylene glycol) (PPG), yielding an effective macroinitiator for synthesizing a doubly thermo‐responsive block copolymer of PPG‐block‐P(DMAEMA/2VP). A detailed study of the thermo‐ and pH‐sensitivities of the statistical and block copolymers is also presented. The cloud point temperature of the statistical copolymers is fine tuned from 14 to 75 °C by varying polymer composition and pH. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012.