Fabrication and in vitro drug release study of microsphere drug delivery systems based on amphiphilic poly-alpha,beta-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-aspartamide]-g-poly(L-lactide) graft copolymers

Biodegradable amphiphilic graft copolymers with different compositions were synthesized by grafting poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) sequences onto a water-soluble poly-alpha,beta-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-aspartamide] (PHEA) backbone. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the graft polymers was determined by fluorescence probe technique. Using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, the graft polymers were proved to have low cytotoxicity. Based on the specific physicochemical property of the graft copolymers, submicron sized microsphere drug delivery systems were prepared by a very convenient "ultrasonic dispersion method", which did not involve toxic organic solvents. The drug-loaded microspheres had a regular spherical shape with a narrow size distribution. A hydrophobic drug, prednisone acetate, was encapsulated into polymeric microspheres and the in vitro drug release was studied.     

Amphiphilic copolymers with increased affinity for substrates

The copolymers of methyl quaternized 2-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate and styrene, 2-vinyl naphthalene, acrylic acid iso-octyl ester, or acrylic acid n-butyl ester have been prepared. Studies were made of the binding of a “binding probe,” methyl orange, by the copolymers in aqueous solution. The first binding constants and the thermodynamic parameters in the course of the binding were evaluated. Furthermore, the intensity of fluorescence of a hydrophobic fluorescent probe, 2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate, in the presence of these polymers was investigated. In addition, the fluorescence spectra of monomer and excimer emissions of the polymers with aromatic residues were measured. The excimer/monomer fluorescence intensity ratio was studied in the presence of various additives such as methyl orange, urea, methanol, and NaCl to gain an insight into the nature of microdomains in the polymer. The nature and phenomena of dye binding and hydrophobic fluorescent probe binding with the polymers are discussed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Miniemulsion polymerization of styrene using well-defined cationic amphiphilic comblike copolymers as the sole stabilizer

Well-defined, positively charged, amphiphilic copolymers containing long alkyl side chains were used as stabilizers in the miniemulsion polymerization of styrene. The copolymers were prepared by controlled free-radical copolymerization of styrene and vinyl benzyl chloride using either the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer method or TEMPO-mediated polymerization. The benzyl chloride moities were modified by two different long alkyl chain tertiary amines (N,N-dimethyldodecyl amine and N,N-dimethylhexadecyl amine) to yield the amphiphilic copolymers with vinylbenzyl dimethyl alkyl ammonium chloride units. Owing to their high structural quality, only a small amount of these copolymers was required to stabilize the latex particles (0.5–2 wt% vs styrene). Moreover, in the absence of any hydrophobic agent, the amphiphilic comblike copolymer preserved the colloidal stability of both the initial liquid miniemulsion and the final latex. Ill-defined, analogous copolymers were synthesized by conventional free-radical polymerization and in comparison, exhibited poor stabilization properties.     

Synthesis, characterization and self-assembly of ion-bonded amphiphilic A2B miktoarm star copolymers containing an azobenzene unit at the core

An azobenzene-containing supramolecular copolymers, consisted of two polystyrene (PSt) arms and one poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) arm linked via ionic bond, has been designed and successfully synthesized. Monomethoxy PEO with phenylazobenzenesulfonic acid as the terminus (PEO-NN-SO₃H) was utilized to react with polystyrene carrying tertiary amino group at the middle of the polymer chain (PSt₂-N(CH₃)₂) to form ion-bonded supramolecular star copolymers (PSt₂-NN-PEO) with an azobenzene group at the core based on the interaction between sulfonic acid group and amino group. The obtained copolymers were characterized by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) techniques. The self-assembly behavior of the copolymers with different molecular weight of PSt was investigated, which shows solid spherical aggregates in water. The aggregation leads to the lower isomerization degree (54%) at the photostationary state in water compared with that in 1,4-dioxane (82%).     

Synthesis of styrene/methyl methacrylate copolymers by atom transfer radical polymerization: 2D NMR investigations

Copolymers of styrene and methyl methacrylate were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization using methyl 2‐bromopropionate as initiator and CuBr/N,N,N′,N′,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine as catalyst. Molecular weight distributions were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The composition of the copolymer was determined by ¹H NMR. The comonomer reactivity ratios, determined by both Kelen–Tudos and nonlinear error‐in‐variables methods, were r_S = 0.64 ± 0.08, r_M = 0.63 ± 0.08 and r_S = 0.66, r_M = 0.65, respectively. The α‐methyl and carbonyl carbon resonances were found to be compositionally and configurationally sensitive. Complete spectral assignments of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of the copolymers were done by distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer and two‐dimensional NMR techniques such as heteronuclear single quantum coherence and heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2076–2085, 2006     

The preparation of t‐butyl acrylate,methyl acrylate,and styrene block copolymers by atom transfer radical polymerization: Precursors to amphiphilic and hydrophilic block copolymers and conversion to complex nanostructured materials

Atom transfer radical polymerization conditions with copper(I) bromide/pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (CuBr/PMDETA) as the catalyst system were employed for the polymerization of tert‐butyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, and styrene to generate well‐defined homopolymers, diblock copolymers, and triblock copolymers. Temperature studies indicated that the polymerizations occurred smoothly in bulk at 50 °C. The kinetics of tert‐butyl acrylate polymerization under these conditions are reported. Well‐defined poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) (PtBA; polydispersity index = 1.14) and poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA; polydispersity index = 1.03) homopolymers were synthesized and then used as macroinitiators for the preparation of PtBA‐b‐PMA and PMA‐b‐PtBA diblock copolymers in bulk at 50 °C or in toluene at 60 or 90 °C. In toluene, the amount of CuBr/PMDETA relative to the macroinitiator was important; at least 1 equiv of CuBr/PMDETA was required for complete initiation. Typical block lengths were composed of 100–150 repeat units per segment. A triblock copolymer, composed of PtBA‐b‐PMA‐b‐PS (PS = polystyrene), was also synthesized with a well‐defined composition and a narrow molecular weight dispersity. The tert‐butyl esters of PtBA‐b‐PMA and PtBA‐b‐PMA‐b‐PS were selectively cleaved to form the amphiphilic block copolymers PAA‐b‐PMA [PAA = poly(acrylic acid)] and PAA‐b‐PMA‐b‐PS, respectively, via reaction with anhydrous trifluoroacetic acid in dichloromethane at room temperature for 3 h. Characterization data are reported from analyses by gel permeation chromatography; infrared, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies; differential scanning calorimetry; and matrix‐assisted, laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. The assembly of the amphiphilic triblock copolymer PAA₉₀‐b‐PMA₈₀‐b‐PS₉₈ within an aqueous solution, followed by conversion into stable complex nanostructures via crosslinking reactions between the hydrophilic PAA chains comprising the peripheral layers, produced mixtures of spherical and cylindrical topologies. The visualization and size determination of the resulting nanostructures were performed by atomic force microscopy, which revealed very interesting segregation phenomena. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4805–4820, 2000     

Characterization of azo-containing polydimethylsiloxanes and their copolymers with methyl methacrylate

Azo group-containing polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS–ACP), macroazoinitiators, were prepared by polycondensation reaction of 4,4′-azobis-4-cyanopentanoyl chloride (ACPC) with hydroxybutyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) of varying molecular weights. The activation energy (E_a), activation enthalpy (ΔH^‡), and activation entropy (ΔS^‡) of the thermodecomposition of PDMS-ACP in toluene increased with increase in poly-dimethyl-siloxane chain length (SCL) in PDMS moieties, while the activation free energy (ΔG^‡) was independent on the SCL. The polydimethylsiloxane-poly(methyl methacrylate) block copolymers (PDMS-b-PMMA) were prepared by the use of PDMS-ACP macroazoinitiators, and they were characterized by ¹H-, ²⁹Si-, and ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. The microstructure and morphology of copolymers were investigated by proton spin–spin relaxation measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Structural effects of amphiphilic block copolymers on the gold nanoplates synthesis. Experimental and theoretical study

Geometric and multi-arms gold nanoplates were synthesized by direct reaction between two different amphiphilic block copolymers and KAuCl₄ in aqueous solution. Amphiphilic copolymers containing blocks of ε-caprolactone and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone were used. The block copolymer structures and concentration play a key role on the morphology and size of gold nanoparticles. Copolymers have a dual function as reductant and stabilizer agent. The gold nanoparticles obtained were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). On the other hand, electronic structure calculations, based on density functional theory were performed to support the experimental results. The simple models built with small clusters of gold and co-monomer units provide planar structures complexes with higher stabilization energies. These results agree with the nanoplates obtained experimentally. Moreover, the reactivity analysis based on monoelectronic properties suggests that the formation of aggregates between complexes is favored.     

Synthesis of pH-responsive amphiphilic diblock copolymers containing polyisobutylene via oxyanion-initiated polymerization and their multiple self-assembly morphologies

 Two pH-responsive amphiphilic diblock copolymers, namely polyisobutylene-block-poly[2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PIB-b-PDMAEMA) and polyisobutylene-block-poly(metharylic acid) (PIB-b-PMAA), were synthesized via oxyanion-initiated polymerization, and their multiple self-assembly behaviors have been studied. An exo-olefin-terminated highly reactive polyisobutylene (HRPIB) was first changed to hydroxyl-terminated PIB (PIB-OH) via hydroboration-oxidation of C＝C double bond in the chain end, and then reacted with KH to yield a potassium alcoholate of PIB (PIB-O^-K⁺). PIB-O^-K⁺ was immediately used as a macroinitiator to polymerize DMAEMA monomer, resulting in a cationic diblock copolymer PIB-b-PDMAEMA. With the similar synthesis procedure, the anionic diblock copolymer PIB-b-PMAA could be prepared via a combination of oxyanion-initiated polymerization of tert-butyl methacrylate (tBMA) and subsequent hydrolysis of tert-butyl ester groups in PtBMA block. The functional PIB and block copolymers have been fully characterized by ¹H-NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). These samples allowed us to systematically investigate the effects of block composition on the pH responsivity and various self-assembled morphologies of the copolymers in THF/water mixed solvent. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed that these diblock copolymers containing small amount of original PIB without exo-olefin-terminated group are able to self-assemble into micelles, vesicles with different particle sizes and cylindrical aggregates, depending on various factors including block copolymer composition, solvent polarity and pH value.     

Study of amphiphilic poly(1-dodecene-co-para-methylstyrene)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol). Part II: Preparation and micellization behavior of the amphiphilic copolymers

Poly(1-dodecene-co-pMS) copolymers were brominated by HBr/H₂O₂ system with high selectivity at the methyl groups of pMS units. It was found that longer reaction time, higher pMS content, and lower molecular weight of the copolymers were helpful for higher degree of bromination. Through a modified Williamson ether synthesis, poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ethers (PEG) were grafted onto the brominated copolymers, and the amphiphilic poly(1-dodecene-co-pMS)-graft-PEG copolymers which can be readily dissolved in n-octane were successfully synthesized. Due to their amphiphilic characteristics, they can self-assemble spontaneously into reverse micelles in n-octane. Their micellization behaviors were investigated by fluorescence probe technique, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The critical micelle concentrations of the three copolymers in n-octane were determined at about 1.26 × 10⁻⁴, 1.58 × 10⁻⁴, and 1.95 × 10⁻⁴ g ml⁻¹ by fluorescence measurements. The morphologies of micelles were preliminarily explored by TEM and were found to be spheres.     

Synthesis and surface characterization of an amphiphilic fluorinated copolymer via emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of RAFT

The hydrophobic monomer dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate has been copolymerized with hydrophilic monomer methacrylic acid in aqueous solution without any additional emulsifier used via a two-step polymerization process of RAFT. The FTIR and GPC results indicated that amphiphilic copolymers with a narrow molecular weight distribution and well-defined blocks have been synthesized successfully. And the copolymers are likely to form steady micelles in the emulsion. Indicated by TEM, it is clear that micelles with a diameter of 70-120 nm have been formed. Despite a content of 22 wt% of hydrophilic carboxyl, films formed by casting the emulsion onto the baseplate can be hydrophobic after heating treatment.     

Synthesis and characterization of H-type amphiphilic liquid crystalline block copolymers by ATRP

H-type amphiphilic liquid crystalline block copolymers containing azobenzene were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization （ATRP）. Macroinitiators prepared by the esterification between poly（ethylene oxide） （PEG） and 2,2-dichloroacetyl chloride were utilized to initiate the polymerization of 6-[4-（4-ethoxyphenylazo）phenoxy]hexyl rnethacrylate （M6C）. The resulting macroinitiators and block copolymers were characterized by ^1H NMR, gel permeation chromatography （GPC）. Polarizing optical microscopy （POM） and differential scanning calorimetry （DSC） preliminarily revealed the liquid crystalline property of these block copolymers. This series of liquid crystalline block copolymers are promising in some areas, such as optical data storage, optical switch, and molecular devices.     

Preparation and characterization of star ABC triblock copolymer of ethylene oxide,styrene and methyl methacrylate

A universally significant method,which combines the anionic polymerization with photoinduced charge transfer polymerization,for preparation of soluble star ABC triblock copolymer of ethylene oxide,styrene and methyl methacrylate,was described.The poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block was formed by initiation of phenoxy an-ions using p-aminophenol protected by Schiff's base as the parent compound Then the charge transfer system composed of PEO chains with deprotected-amino end groups and benzophenone initiated the polymerization of styrene and methyl metnacrylate sequentially under UV irradiation.The formed star triblock copolymer of styrene,ethylene oxide and methyl methacrylate could be purified by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and characterized by IR,1H NMR,GPC (gel permeation chromatogrphy) and PGC (pyrolysis gas chromatography).     

Synthesis and properties of amphiphilic vinyl acetate triblock copolymers prepared by copper mediated living radical polymerisation

Polymerisation of vinyl acetate by conventional free radical polymerisation using a diazo initiator followed by copper mediated living radical polymerisation with a range of monomers was studied. This method led to the synthesis of triblock copolymers. We have thus successfully prepared several new ABA triblock copolymers where B is poly(vinyl acetate) and A is (dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), (polyethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (MeO(PEG)MA) or solketal methacrylate (SMA). The sequential conventional/living radical polymerisation approach provided an efficient route to synthesis of new block copolymers. The properties of these amphiphilic polymers have been subsequently investigated by ¹H NMR, fluorescence spectroscopy, tensiometry and dynamic light scattering to investigate their behaviour as potential surfactants.     

Synthesis, characterization and surface properties of amphiphilic polystyrene-b-polypropylene glycol block copolymers

The new macroazoinitiators containing poly (propylene glycol), (PPG), with molecular weight 400 and 2000, having hydrophilic character, were synthesized and polymerized with styrene to prepare PS-b-PPG block copolymers. Cast films and e-spun films were prepared and contact angles of these films with water drop were measured to examine hydrophilic/hydrophobic behavior of the copolymers. Each e-spun film with average fiber diameters from 0.25 to 2.20 μm was prepared in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) under controlled electrospinning process parameters such as polymer concentration, applied voltage and tip-to-collector distance. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the electrospun films were taken to determine the fiber diameters. Surface compositions of the block copolymers were also determined by using an electron spectrometer with Mg Kα X-rays. NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopic, and GPC measurements were employed to characterize and determine the PPG contents (6-43%). From the results, electrospinning process increased the hydrophilic properties of the block copolymers obtained, compared their cast film forms. Our results suggest that these polymers are favorable in biological applications in cases where high ratio of the surface to volume and hydrophilicity are required simultaneously. Both chemical structure and topology of the films are important in wetting and hydrophobicity.     

Synthesis and characterization of linear ABC triblock copolymer of ethylene oxide,methyl methacrylate,and styrene

A well‐defined linear ABC triblock copolymer of ethylene oxide (EO), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and styrene (St) was prepared by sequential living anionic and photo‐induced charge transfer polymerization (CTP) using p‐aminophenol as parent compound. In the first step, the diblock copolymer of PEO‐b‐PMMA with a protected aniline end group at PEO end was prepared by initiating of phenoxo‐anion the polymerization of EO and MMA successively, then the diblock copolymer of PEO‐b‐PMMA via deprotection of aniline at PEO end constituted a binary initiation system with benzophenone (BP) by charge transfer complex mechanism to initiate the polymerization of St under UV‐irradiation. The GPC and NMR measurements support that in copolymerization, either in the first or second step, neither homopolymer nor side reactions, such as chain transfer or chain termination, was found. The effect of the concentration of PEO_a‐b‐PMMA and St, and the polarity of solvent on the polymerization rate (R_p) of CTP is discussed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 825–833, 1999     

Preparation of amphiphilic copolymers for covalent loading of paclitaxel for drug delivery system

A novel drug‐polymer conjugate was prepared by the copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction between an azide‐functional diblock copolymer and an alkyne‐functional paclitaxel (PTX). The well‐defined azide‐functional diblock copolymer, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐b‐P(OEGEEMA‐co‐AzPMA), was synthesized via the atom transfer radical polymerization of oligo(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate (OEGEEMA) and 3‐azidopropyl methacrylate (AzPMA), using PEG‐Br as macroinitiator and CuBr/PMDETA as a catalytic system. The alkyne‐functional PTX was covalently linked to the copolymer via a click reaction, and the loading content of PTX could be easily tuned by varying the feeding ratio. Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering results indicated that the drug loaded copolymers could self‐assemble into micelles in aqueous solution. Moreover, the drug release behavior of PEG‐b‐P(OEGEEMA‐co‐AzPMA‐PTX) was pH dependent, and the cumulative release amount of PTX were 50.0% at pH 5.5, which is about two times higher than that at pH 7.4. The in vitro cytotoxicity experimental results showed that the diblock copolymer was biocompatible, with no obvious cytotoxicity, whereas the PTX‐polymer conjugate could efficiently deliver PTX into HeLa and SKOV‐3 cells, leading to excellent antitumor activity. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 366–374     

Synthesis and properties of polyether nitrile copolymers with pendant methyl groups

Polyether nitrile and polyether nitrile copolymers with pendant methyl groups were prepared by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of 2,6^′-dichlorobenzonitrile with hydroquinone (HQ) and with varying mole proportions of HQ and methyl hydroquinone (MeHQ) using N-methyl pyrrolidone solvent in the presence of anhydrous K₂CO₃. The polymers were characterised by different physico-chemical techniques. The crystallinity of the polymers was found to decrease with increase in concentration of the MeHQ units in the polymer. Thermogravimetric studies showed that all the polymers were stable up to 450 °C with a char yield above 50% at 900 °C in N₂ atmosphere. The glass transition temperature and activation energy of the polymers was found to increase with increase in concentration of the MeHQ units in the polymer.     

A study on free volume of acrylonitrile‐styrene copolymer and methyl methacrylate‐styrene copolymer by using positron annihilation

The o‐Ps lifetime τ₃ and the intensity I₃ of ST‐AN copolymers and ST‐MMA copolymers have been determined by using the positron annihilation technique. The average free volume hole radius R is estimated according to Tao's and Eldrup's model. The result shows that the average free volume hole size mainly attributes to lateral group volume and polarity of macromolecular chain as well as polymerizing temperature, and the o‐Ps intensity I₃ to the effect of the lateral group volume and the polarity. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 465–472, 1999     

Synthesis and micelle formation of triblock copolymers of poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) in aqueous solution

Amphiphilic triblock copolymers of poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA-b-PEO-b-PMMA) with well-defined structure were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated by the PEO macroinitiator. The macroinitiator and triblock copolymer with different PMMA and/or PEO block lengths were characterized with ¹H and ¹³C NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The micelle formed by these triblock copolymers in aqueous solutions was detected by fluorescence excitation and emission spectra of pyrene probe. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) ranged from 0.0019 to 0.016 mg/mL and increased with increasing PMMA block length, while the PEO block length had less effect on the CMC. The partition constant K_v for pyrene in the micelle and in aqueous solution was about 10⁵. The triblock copolymer appeared to form the micelles with hydrophobic PMMA core and hydrophilic PEO loop chain corona. The hydrodynamic radius R_h,app of the micelle measured with dynamic light scattering (DLS) ranged from 17.3 to 24.0 nm and increased with increasing PEO block length to form thicker corona. The spherical shape of the micelle of the triblock copolymers was observed with an atomic force microscope (AFM). Increasing hydrophobic PMMA block length effectively promoted the micelle formation in aqueous solutions, but the micelles were stable even only with short PMMA blocks.