Direct Synthesis of PVA‐g‐PDMS in Microsuspension

The synthesis of P(VA‐co‐VAc)‐graft‐PDMS copolymers has been achieved in microsuspension by direct reaction between an epoxy‐terminated PDMS and some pendant alcohol groups in P(VA‐co‐VAc). In this synthesis, the copolymer is used both as dispersant and reactant. The hydrophilic/hydrophobic character of the final material can be varied at will by incorporating various contents of epoxy‐functionalized PDMS through optimized reaction conditions. The final composition was determined by TGA and ¹H NMR. Products prepared from monofunctional PDMS were easily redispersed in water whereas a film of crosslinked materials, arising from difunctional PDMS, showed the best waterproofing as shown by contact angle analysis.

     

Vapor‐Based Synthesis of Poly[(4‐formyl‐p‐xylylene)‐co‐(p‐xylylene)] and Its Use for Biomimetic Surface Modifications

Summary: The vapor‐based synthesis and characterization of a reactive polymer, poly[(4‐formyl‐p‐xylylene)‐co‐(p‐xylylene)] ( 1 ), have been reported. The reactive polymer coating enables the immobilization of oligosaccharides via the chemoselective aldehyde‐hydrazide coupling reaction.

     

Ultrafast Responsive Poly‐ (N‐isopropylacrylamide) Gel Produced by Cryostructuring of Self‐crosslinkable Polymer Microgels

A macroporous material composed of closely aggregated particles was prepared by cryo‐structuration of N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐N‐hydroxymethylacrylamide (NIPA‐co‐HMAm) particle suspensions. The formed structure was maintained by the formation of covalent bonds through self‐crosslinking between the particles while the system was in a semi‐frozen state thus avoiding the need to freeze‐dry the sample. This resulted in macroporous structure composed of closely aggregated thermoresponsive particles which exhibit an ultrafast temperature response. The response rate can be attributed both to the macroporous structure as well as the fast responsive properties of the individual particles.

     

Supramolecular Assembly of Gold Nanoparticles Mediated by Polypseudorotaxane with Thiolated β‐Cyclodextrin

Summary: A water‐soluble gold nanoparticle aggregate 2 was prepared by chloroauric acid and a polypseudorotaxane 1 of mono‐6‐thio‐β‐cyclodextrin with poly(propylene glycol) bis(2‐aminopropyl ether) ( ≈ 2 000) in the presence of sodium borohydride in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) solution. The investigative results indicated that the gold nanoparticle aggregate 2 might act as an efficient DNA‐cleavage reagent.

A typical TEM image of gold nanoparticle aggregate 2 .     

Synthesis of Strong Electrolyte Temperature‐Sensitive Hydrogels by Radiation Polymerization and Application in Protein Separation

Strong electrolyte temperature‐sensitive hydrogels were synthesized by radiation polymerization using N‐isopropylacrylamide and sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonate. The influence of irradiation dose and mole ratio of the monomers was examined by swelling measurements in aqueous solution and organic solvents. The hydrogels without any pollution were applied in concentrating protein.

Effect of irradiation dose on swelling ratios of P(NIPA‐co‐NaAMPS) hydrogels.     

Graphene Enhances the Shape Memory of Poly (acrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid) Grafted on Graphene

Acrylamide and acrylic acid are grafted on graphene by free‐radical polymerization to produce a series of graphene–poly(acrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid) hybrid materials with different contents of graphene. The materials demonstrate shape memory effect and self‐healing ability when the content of graphene is in the range of 10%–30% even though poly(acrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid) itself had poor shape memory ability. The permanent shape of the materials can be recovered well after 20 cycles of cut and self‐healing. The result is attributed to the hard–soft design that can combine nonreversible “cross‐link” by grafting copolymer on graphene and reversible “cross‐link” utilizing the “zipper effect” of poly(acrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid) to form or dissociate the hydrogen‐bond network stimulated by external heating.

     

Resilient Amorphous Networks Prepared by Photo‐Crosslinking High‐Molecular‐Weight D,L‐Lactide and Trimethylene Carbonate Macromers: Mechanical Properties and Shape‐Memory Behavior

Tough networks are prepared by photo‐crosslinking high‐molecular‐weight DLLA and TMC macromers. These amorphous networks exhibit tunable thermal and mechanical properties and have excellent shape‐memory features. Variation of the monomer ratio allows adjustment of T_g between approximately ?13 and +51 °C. The elastic moduli at room temperature can be varied between 4.5 and 2730 MPa. The crosslinks allow the networks to return to their original shape after deformation. 60:40 DLLA:TMC networks have T_g values between room temperature and body temperature, with mechanical properties at body temperature close to soft tissues. Several medical devices are prepared from these networks.

     

Antioxidant Activity of Graft Chitosan Derivatives

Graft chitosan derivatives (CMCTS‐g‐MAAS and CMCTS‐g‐AAS) were prepared by the graft copolymerization of methacrylic acid sodium (MAAS) and acrylic acid sodium (AAS) onto the etherification product of chitosan‐carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCTS). Their antioxidant activity was estimated as superoxide anion scavengers by chemiluminescence techniques. The derivatives with low grafting percentages have a relatively low 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀), which could be related to the fact that they have different contents of hydroxyl and amino groups in the polymer chains.

Superoxide radical scavenging activity of CMCTS‐g‐MAAS.     

Encapsulation of a Single Metal Nanoparticle with Tunable Size in a Monodisperse Polymer Microcapsule

A versatile approach to fabricate monodisperse poly[styrene‐co‐(divinyl benzene)] (PS‐co‐DVB) microcapsules that contain a single gold nanoparticle (AuNP) has been demonstrated. Using the PS‐co‐DVB microcapsule as a microreactor, aqueous HAuCl₄ and NaBH₄ solutions are subsequently infiltrated. The size of the resulting AuNP inside of the PS‐co‐DVB microcapsules is easily tunable by controlling the repeated infiltration cycles of aqueous HAuCl₄ and NaBH₄. PS‐co‐DVB microcapsules that contain a single silver and palladium nanoparticle are also obtained by following a similar protocol.

     

Supramolecular Gels Based on Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes Bearing Covalently Attached Cyclodextrin and Water‐Soluble Guest Polymers

The preparation of associative networks containing multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with covalently attached cyclodextrin (CD) rings and poly[(isobutylene)‐co‐(maleic anhydride)‐co‐(maleic acid‐(4‐tert‐butylphenyl)amide)] in water is described in this study. The synthesis of CD containing MWCNTs is realized by an amidation reaction of oxidized MWCNTs with propargylamine followed by a 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition with CD‐azide. Dispersion behavior indicated the high stability of these networks. An increase in viscosity compared to a solution of pure polymer as a cause of network formation is observed. The addition of a CD‐decomposing enzyme (taka‐diastase from Aspergillus oryzae) let the network collapse and results in sedimentation of the modified MWCNTs.

     

In situ Synthesis of Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Thermally Responsive Alginate‐Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) Semi‐Interpenetrating Polymer Networks

A novel semi‐interpenetrating polymer network based on alginate and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAAm) has been synthesized that shows response to temperature and magnetic fields. Highly homogeneous porous hydrogels are obtained by copolymerizing N‐isopropylacrylamide and bis‐acrylamide in the presence of an aqueous alginate solution. The synthesis of magnetic iron oxides by in‐situ oxidation of iron cations coordinated to the alginate network results in a hydrogel with an enhanced deswelling rate with respect to pure PNiPAAm.

     

Novel Shape‐Memory Polymer with Two Transition Temperatures

Summary: This communication describes a novel kind of PMMA‐PEG semi‐interpenetrating network (semi‐IPN) which shows excellent shape‐memory behavior at two transition temperatures, the T_m of the PEG crystal and the T_g of the semi‐IPN. Based on a reversible order‐disorder transition of the crystals below and above the T_m of PEG, and the large difference in storage modulus below and above the T_g of the semi‐IPN, the polymer has a recovery ratio of 91 and 99%, respectively.

Shape‐memory phenomena of PMMA‐PEG2000 semi‐IPN.     

Stimuli‐Responsive A‐b‐(B‐co‐C) Diblock Terpolymers Bearing Polyampholyte Sequences

Summary: Diblock terpolymers that consist of homopolymer and statistical copolymer (polyampholyte) building blocks are synthesized by group transfer polymerization. Two types of block tepolymers are explored in aqueous media: the amphiphilic poly{[(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate]‐co‐(methacrylic acid)}‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) and the double hydrophilic poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate]‐block‐poly{[(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate]‐co‐(methacrylic acid)}. The first terpolymer self‐assembles in aqueous media to form responsive micelles that change their corona charge sign upon switching pH. The second terpolymer exhibits a multi‐responsive behavior. It forms neutral, positive, or negative micelles depending on a combination of different environmental conditions such as temperature, pH, and ionic strength.

P(DEAEMA‐co‐MAA)‐b‐PMMA pH‐sensitive micelles.     

Low‐Band Gap Polyplatinaynes with Electron‐Accepting Silole Units

Summary: The synthesis and thermal, redox and photoluminescence properties of a soluble donor‐acceptor polyplatinayne with the electron‐accepting silole ring and its model compound are described. The polymer has an optical band gap of 2.10 eV which is much lower than that of thienyl‐ or silyl‐bridged congeners. The incorporation of electron‐accepting silole unit in the metallopolymer main chain creates a new π‐conjugated system that features unique donor‐acceptor characteristics.

     

Advancing the Solid State Properties of Metallo‐Supramolecular Materials: Poly(ε‐caprolactone) Modified π‐Conjugated Bis(terpyridine)s and their Zn(II) Based Metallo‐Polymers

A set of rigid π‐conjugated bis(terpyridine) macroligands with poly(ε‐caprolactone) (pCL) on their side chains was synthesized and investigated. The introduced pCL chains gave rise to enhanced processability and film‐forming properties of the materials. Blue photoluminescence with high quantum yields was observed in dilute solution and in the solid state, indicating that intermolecular aggregation of the π‐conjugated systems was effectively suppressed. The macroligands were further used for coordination with zinc(II) ions leading to new metallo‐polymers with high solubility, improved film‐forming behavior and promising photophysical properties with respect to potential OLED applications.

     

A Polydiacetylene Supramolecular System That Emits Red,Green, and Blue Fluorescence

A polymer system based on polydiacetylene (PDA) supramolecules that emits red, green, and blue fluorescence has been constructed. The three‐color emitting system is comprised of red‐fluorescent PDA vesicles in which green‐fluorescent fluorescein molecules are encapsulated. Finally, the blue‐fluorescence component is introduced by reacting terminal amine groups on the PDA vesicle surfaces with fluorescamine. Thin PDA‐polymer‐containing poly(vinyl alcohol) films formed by using this strategy display red, green, and blue fluorescence upon excitation with light at specific wavelengths.

     

Synthesis of Thermosensitive PNIPAM‐co‐MBAA Nanotubes by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization within a Porous Membrane

Summary: Thermosensitive polymer nanotubes can be fabricated within an aminopropylsilane‐modified porous anodic aluminum oxide membrane by surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) followed by template removal. DSC experiments prove that the synthesized PNIPAM‐co‐MBAA copolymer nanotubes have a reversible thermosensitive behavior. The temperature‐induced changes in dimension and shape of the nanotubes were studied by AFM in real time in an aqueous environment. It indicates that the nanotubes undergo a shape alteration from an “ellipse” to “circular” shape in water upon heating to LCST or above.

DSC curves of PNIPAM‐co‐MBAA nanotubes.     

Hydration Changes during Thermosensitive Association of a Block Copolymer Consisting of LCST and UCST Blocks

Summary: Thermosensitive association of a diblock copolymer consisting of poly(3‐dimethyl(methacryloyloxyethyl) ammonium propane sulfonate) (PdMMAEAPS), as an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) block, and poly(N,N‐diethylacrylamide) (PdEA), as a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) block, has been investigated by using IR spectroscopy. The ν(CO) and ν(SO) bands of the PdMMAEAPS block and the amide I band of PdEA block critically changed at the UCST and LCST, respectively, indicating that the segmental interaction of each block is altered at each transition.

The double temperature responsiveness of a UCST block and LCST block containing diblock copolymer. Micelles form at temperatures both below the UCST and above the LCST of the blocks.     

Electromechanical Response of Nanostructured Polymer Systems with no Mechanical Pre‐Strain

A dielectric elastomer derived from a polystyrene‐block‐poly(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐block‐polystyrene triblock copolymer swollen with a midblock‐selective solvent is reported to show promise as a nanostructured organic actuator requiring no pre‐strain. This might provide an attractive alternative to conventional acrylic, siloxane, and polyurethane elastomers since the electromechanical properties are composition‐tunable.

     

Novel Chromophore‐Functionalized Poly[2‐(trifluoromethyl) adamantyl acrylate‐methyl vinyl urethane]s with High Poling Stabilities of the Nonlinear Optical Effect

Nonlinear optical vinyl polymers with high glass transition temperature (T_g) were prepared by the functionalization of a fluorinated acrylate‐methyl vinyl isocyanate copolymer. A modified pathway to obtain a thiophene bridged chromophore was worked out. Poled films of the polymers show a fairly high and stable nonlinear optical response, even at elevated temperatures.

The thiophene‐bridged chromophore, based on a substituted dicyanomethylene‐dihydrofuran acceptor, synthesized here.