Polymers Containing Lactone Groups

Polymers containing intact lactone groups are a new class of macromolecules with reactive groups, which are relatively easy to obtain by polymerization, polycondensation and polyaddition, as well as by reactions on existing macromolecules. Polymers with β-lactone Groups in particular can enter into numerous addition reactions, which can be used, for example, to obtain macromolecules containing hydroxy acid or amino acid groupings. The reactions proceed under mild conditions, and can even be carried out in aqueous media, frequently giving water-soluble polymers. The polymers can be cross-linked at low temperatures, even from the aqueous phase, by the addition of bifunctional or oligofunctional reagents. Polymers containing β-lactone groups can also be used as a basis for graft co-polymers; polyester or polyether branches can be grafted on, depending on whether monomeric lactones or monomeric epoxides are used.     

Effects of Polymer Modification of an Anti-Cancer Drug with Poly(ethylene oxide)

The hydrophobic anti-cancer drug paclitaxel was modified with the hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) to a water-soluble predrug. The modification of the polymer chain results in a different solution behaviour of the macromolecules compared with the unmodified polymer. The phase diagram of the (quasi)binary system predrug-water was investigated, and molecular simulations of the predrug were executed in vacuum and in the presence of water. The results are important for further engineering on active drug systems.     

聚丙烯酰胺类疏水缔合物的增黏因素研究

合成了6种不同修饰度的聚丙烯酰胺疏水聚合物(PAM1~PAM6), 考察了聚合度、 共聚物片段含量及疏水基团大小等内部因素和聚合物的抗剪切能力、 剪切恢复性及抗盐性等外部因素对这些疏水聚合物分子间、 分子内缔合的影响规律.     

Interpolymer complexes of poly(acrylic acid) with poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) in aqueous solutions

Complexes formed from poly(acrylic acid) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) were studied in aqueous solutions by viscometric, turbidimetric, FTIR spectroscopic, and thermogravimetric analysis methods. The formation of interpolymer complexes stabilized by hydrogen bonds was observed. It was found that the compositions of these interpolymer complexes are strongly dependent on the concentration of polymers, the order of mixing the solutions, and the pH. It was demonstrated that the complexation ability of poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) is relatively low compared to other known nonionic water-soluble polymers. However, it can be significantly increased via hydrophobic modification of the poly(acrylic acid) using cetyl pyridinium bromide.     

疏水性缔合作用的研究

在水溶性高分子中引入疏水性基团会对其性质产生重要影响,主要表现在疏水性基团在水溶液中发生疏水性缔合引起的流变学性能的改变。文章详细阐述了疏水性缔合的概念与表现形式,以及对水溶性高分子进行疏水改性的方法和对疏水性缔合进行研究的方法。     

Modular Toolkit of Multifunctional Block Copoly(2-oxazoline)s for the Synthesis of Nanoparticles

Post-polymerization modification provides an elegant way to introduce chemical functionalities onto macromolecules to produce tailor-made materials with superior properties. This concept was adapted to well-defined block copolymers of the poly(2-oxazoline) family and demonstrated the large potential of these macromolecules as universal toolkit for numerous applications. Triblock copolymers with separated water-soluble, alkyne- and alkene-containing segments were synthesized and orthogonally modified with various low-molecular weight functional molecules by copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) and thiol-ene (TE) click reactions, respectively. Representative toolkit polymers were used for the synthesis of gold, iron oxide and silica nanoparticles.     

New amphiphilic polymers: Poly(N-alkylacrylamide-CO-vinylpyridinium)

A series of new amphiphilic polymers containing various amounts of N-methyl-4-vinylpyridinium units as hydrophilic part and N-dodecylacrylamide or N-decylacrylamide units as hydrophobic part have been prepared by quaternizing the cognate copolymers. Their behaviour in aqueous solutions has been studied by viscometry, as well as by fluorescence spectroscopy and tensiometry. Results are discussed in detail and a conformational model of the macromolecules at the interface (water/methylcyclohexane) is proposed in relation to the formation of microdomains in the aqueous media.     

Molecular characteristics and antioxidant activity of polyethylene glycols modified by sterically hindered phenols

Chemical modification of polyethylene glycols by antioxidants belonging to the class of sterically hindered phenols is used to obtain water-soluble conjugates differing in the structure of the joined antioxidant and molecular weight. The inclusion of hydrophobic end groups in polyethylene glycol molecules leads to a decrease in the lower critical mixing point of the solution as compared to the original polymer. Dilute solution viscometry and light scattering are used to determine the molecular-mass characteristics of the polymers and the hydrodynamic radii of single conjugate molecules. The mass fraction of single molecules in aqueous solutions of the conjugates is greater than 95%. The aggregates are micellar-type particles whose core is formed by the hydrophobic moieties of sterically hindered phenols. It is shown that the antiradical activity of the antioxidants 3-(3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)-propionic acid and 3- (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionic acid, which are used for the modification, differs only slightly, whereas the activity of the relevant conjugates increases significantly.     

Hydrophobic encapsulation of hydrocarbon gases

[reaction: see text] Encapsulation data for hydrophobic hydrocarbon gases within a water-soluble hemicarcerand in aqueous solution are reported. It is concluded that hydrophobic interactions serve as the primary driving force for the encapsulation, which can be used for the design of gas-separating polymers with intrinsic inner cavities.     

New comb-like polymers: Synthesis,structures and reactivity

Comb-like polymers have been widely investigated mainly to correlate their structures with the thermal behaviour. Our interests are directed on the synthesis of new types of comb-like polymers bearing reactive groups in the side chains, main chain or as end groups. One part of the investigations deals with the behaviour of photosensible polymers containing azobenzene, cinnamic acid and mesoionic moieties. The use of enzymes as catalysts for the synthesis of new methacrylic derivatives and for the modification of polymers illustrates a fascinating contribution to polymer chemistry. The classical Diels-Alder addition was also used for the synthesis and modification of polymers. Finally, the construction of polymers containing rotaxanes in the side chains is presented.     

Measurement of Hydrodynamic Sizes of Ultralairge Water-Soluble Polymers by Nucleopore Filtration and Multicell Equilibrium Dialysis

Membrane filtration and equilibrium dialysis using Nucleopore membranes have been carried out to determine the hydrodynamic sizes of large water-soluble polymers. The macromolecules were found to have been significantly deformed even under very low stress. Multicell equilibrium was somewhat long. The hydro-dynamic radius obtained from this method was found to be in reasonable agreement with that found by ultracentrifugation and size exclusion chromatography.     

Influence of shape and surface properties of microstructured reaction areas on the deposition of silica

Differently shaped reaction areas for silica deposition were created by photochemical grafting of hydrophobic poly(acrylic acid 2-ethyl-hexylester) as barrier and a hydrophilic polymer employing a mask having hexagons, pentagons, squares and stripes. Poly(ethylene glycol), poly(acrylic acid), branched and linear poly(ethylene imine) and linear poly(methylpropylene imine) have been applied as hydrophilic polymer in the reaction area. These patterned films have been used in silica mineralization experiments by dipping them into a silica precursor solution. Investigations of the polymer films and silica depositions have been done by contact angle measurements, ellipsometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Silica deposition occurs only in the hydrophilically coated areas, resulting in regular arrays of lens-like silica particles. There are only minor differences due to the shape of the reaction area. The influence of the different hydrophilic polymers can be explained by their wetting behaviour.     

原子转移自由基聚合在制备水溶性聚合物中的应用

水溶性聚合物在工业、农业、医药等领域都有着广泛用途,但随着对水溶性聚合物精细化的要求,寻找新的结构可控的合成方法已成为迫切需求.而利用原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)则可能得到分子量可控、分子量分布窄的水溶性聚合物.本文主要讨论了利用ATRP合成水溶性聚合物过程中单体、引发剂、催化剂、溶剂、反应温度和时间的影响,并结合聚丙烯酸类、聚丙烯酰胺类以及聚苯乙烯和聚丙烯酸酯的衍生物等具体实例加以了分析.     

Self-assembly and hydrophobic clusters of amphiphilic polysaccharides

The objective of this work was to synthesize and characterize new polymeric surfactants deriving from natural polymers and designed for membrane protein solubilization. For this purpose, a set of hydrophobically-modified pullulans (HMCMPs) of moderate molar mass and differing in hydrophobic modification ratio, charge ratio and the nature of the hydrophobic chains introduced, were prepared. Their behaviour in aqueous dilute solutions was investigated by surface tension measurement and with a polarity probe, the Coomassie Brilliant Blue dye. Two distinct critical concentrations were evidenced, demonstrating the complex behaviour of HMCMPs. Amphiphilic pullulan derivatives may indeed establish hydrophobic associations in bulk solution while adsorbing at the air  water interface. The structural parameters of the polymers influence their aqueous behaviour. Self-assembly of HMCMPs occurs at smaller concentrations when the hydrophobic modification ratio or the alkyl hydrophobic chain length increases. It seems to be governed by the concentration of hydrophobic grafts, rather than by polymer concentration. Probably because of steric hindrance, 3-phenylpropyl grafts do not favour self-assembly, and lead to HMCMPs that preferentially adsorb at the air  water interface.     

Influence of the chain composition on the thermodynamic properties of binary and ternary polymer solutions

Thermodynamic properties of binary and ternary polymer solutions (one or two uncharged polymers in one solvent) were studied. Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), fully hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) homopolymers, and water-soluble poly(vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetal, -vinyl propional, and -vinyl butiral) copolymers with various acetal content and chain structure, respectively, were used in the experiments. The hydrophilic/hydrophobic character of the PVA-based macromolecules and their compatibility with the PVP homopolymer were systematically regulated by changing the chemical structure of the copolymers (acetal content and/or length of side chains). The water activities in binary and ternary solutions of the chemically different polymers were determined by a gel-deswelling method developed here for ternary solutions. On the basis of the Flory-Huggins theory, the relevant solvent-segment and segment-segment pair interaction parameters (chi) have been calculated. The chi12 segment-solvent interaction parameters proved to be sensitive indicators for changes in the chemical structure of the copolymers. With increase of either the acetal content or the length of side chains in the copolymer, chi12 approached the value characteristic of a theta condition. No significant differences could be revealed in the segment-segment interaction parameters obtained for the PVP-copolymer mixtures with various acetal derivatives, when the chi12 and chi13 interaction parameters determined in binary solutions were used in the calculations for chi23. Determination of the parameters chi1,23 as suggested by Panayiotou, however, showed that increasing the acetal content or the length of the hydrophobic side chains in the copolymer resulted in a reduction in the interaction between the PVA "acetals" and PVP molecules.     

Synthesis and characterization of polymers containing linear sugar moieties as side groups

The synthesis of a water-soluble monomer, namely 4-vinylphenyl-d-gluco(d-manno)hexitol (4) derived from d-gluconolactone, is here presented. The homopolymerization of the vinylsugar has been conducted in both aqueous and organic media using free-radical initiators. High-molar-mass water-soluble polymers are obtained. The copolymerization behavior of the vinylphenyl sugar monomer with a hydrophilic monomer such as acrylamide, as well as with a hydrophobic monomer such as styrene, has been investigated. Statistical- and block-type copolymers have thus been prepared. The structures of the polymers were confirmed by NMR and their thermal properties examined by DSC.     

Nucleic acid base grafted polyethylenimine. Cytosyl pendant groups: Elucidation of structure with solution spectroscopy

In a previous paper, potassium 2-(cytos-1-yl)propanoate was grafted onto polyethylenimine of various molecular weights. These water-soluble polynucleotide analogs exhibited remarkable properties in their solution ultraviolet spectra. High hypochromicity values of 50% and 54% have been observed in alkaline aqueous solution and 50% trifluoroethanol solution, respectively. Percent hypochromicity value was observed to be directly proportional to percent graft. Red shift and hyperchromicity as a function of pH were observed for both the monomer model and the graft polymers. Light-scattering experiments on nucleic acid base grafted hydrophilic polymer backbones were carried out. Radius of gyration and second virial coefficient values indicated stiff macromolecules, rodlike in nature. Therapeutic potential of cytosyl grafted polyethylenimine was suggested by the results from continuous mixing experiments with polyinosinic acid and polyguanylic acid. Job plots showed enhanced hypochromicity, whose magnitude was dependent upon the polynucleotide and the base-base distance.     

AMINE FUNCTIONALIZED POLYETHERS AS BILE ACID SEQUESTRANTS: SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION

A series of amine functionalized polymers based on polyether backbones was prepared by the chemical modification of poly(epichlorohydrin) and poly(2-chloroethylvinyl ether). Nucleophilic substitution of pendant chloroalkyl groups offers a versatile route to prepare hydrophilic, cationic polymers. Through the choice of appropriate experimental conditions, including solvent, temperature, and amine reagent, a high degree of substitution at the chloromethyl groups can be achieved. Depending on the nature of the amine used, both water-soluble and amphiphilic cationic polymers were obtained. Crosslinked hydrogels were prepared by either subsequent crosslinking of the amine functional polyethers or by reaction of chloroalkyl polyethers with multifunctional amines. These amine functional polyethers exhibited promising bile acid sequestration properties during in vivo experiments using hamsters as animal models, providing a novel approach for treating hypercholesterolemia. Some of these polymers show efficacy superior to commercially available bile acid sequestrants. The results suggest that these novel polyammonium gels may be useful as cholesterol lowering agents.     

Effect of solute hydrophobicity on phase behaviour in solutions of thermoseparating polymers

 Two-phase systems consisting of a polymer rich phase and polymer depleted phase, where the polymer is either ethyl(hydroxy ethyl)cellulose (EHEC) or Ucon (a random copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide), have been studied. Both of these polymers can be separated from an aqueous solution by either temperature increase or addition of cosolutes. The polymers are thermoseparating and phase separate in water solutions at the cloud point temperature. Two types of EHEC have been studied: one with a cloud point at 60 °C and the other at 37 °C. The Ucon polymer used in this study has a cloud point at 50 °C. Ternary phase diagrams of polymer/water/cosolute systems have been investigated. When a strongly hydrophilic or hydrophobic cosolute is added to an EHEC- or Ucon–water solution, a phase separation occurs already at, or below, room temperature. As cosolutes, hydrophobic molecules like phenol, butyric and propionic acid, and hydrophilic molecules like glycine, ammonium acetate, sodium carboxylates (acetate to valerate), were studied. The polymer rich phase formed when mixing polymer, water and cosolute was strongly enriched or depleted with hydrophobic or hydrophilic cosolutes, respectively. The two phase region increased for propionic acid, butyric acid and phenol as a result of increased cosolute hydrophobicity. The opposite occurred in the series sodium acetate, sodium butyrate and sodium valerate. The effect of temperature on the phase behaviour has also been investigated. Model calculations based on Flory–Huggins theory of polymer solutions are presented, in form of a phase diagram, which semiquantitatively reproduce some experimental results. Received: 5 July 1996 Accepted: 4 November 1996     

Application of water-soluble polymers as modifiers in electrophoretic analysis of phenols

A review of application of water-soluble cationic, anionic and nonionic polymers as pseudostationary phases in capillary electrophoresis (CE) and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) is presented. The effect of the structure of the polymers on the selectivity and efficiency of separation is discussed. A novel specially designed cationic polymer, 2,10-ionene, has been used for the separation of phenols. The polymer has hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts in its backbone. The polymer shows the best selectivity as a modifier in capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE)-mode, which allows the selective determination of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic phenols.