无规共聚物自组装球形胶束表面亲水性的耗散粒子动力学模拟

建立了含不同亲疏水粒子比的双亲性无规共聚物粗粒化模型. 采用耗散粒子动力学方法模拟了两亲性无规共聚物选择性溶剂自组装球形胶束表面的亲水性能. 模拟结果表明, 无规共聚物在选择性溶剂中自组装得到实心球形胶束, 球形胶束表面的亲水性与聚合物链亲水粒子含量、溶剂的选择性有关. 随着聚合物链所含亲水粒子增加, 球形胶束表面的亲水性增强. 球形胶束表面的亲水性随着疏水粒子与溶剂粒子间的排斥参数增大而增强, 模拟结果与实验结论一致. 该模拟方法给出的胶束微结构信息可以为双亲无规共聚物分子设计及自组装双亲胶束制备提供一定的理论指导.     

Polyvinylpyrrolidone–polycaprolactone block copolymer micelles as nanocarriers of anti-TB drugs

A range of polyvinylpyrrolidone–polycaprolactone diblock copolymers with varying chain lengths were synthesized by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerisation (ATRP) using bromo-polycaprolactone as macroinitiator and copper(I) bromide/bipyridine catalytic system. The copolymers self-assembled in solution into core–shell micelles with sizes varying from 150 to 205 nm and critical micelle concentration of the order of 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻⁶ M. Front line anti-Tuberculosis drugs Rifampicin (RIF), Pyrazinamide (PZA) and Isoniazid (INH) were successfully encapsulated within the micelle hydrophobic core singly or in dual combination. The effect of length of hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments on drug loading, micelle size and drug release was investigated. Determination of binding constants showed that RIF binds more strongly to the micelle core than PZA and INH, leading to highest drug loading content. All drugs were released in vitro (PBS solution at 37 °C) in a sustained manner with zero-order kinetics and followed the order INH > PZA > RIF.     

Study of hierarchical microstructures self-assembled by π-shaped ABC block copolymers in dilute solution using self-consistent field theory

Microstructures self-assembled by amphiphilic ABC π-shaped block copolymers in dilute solution have been investigated by self-consistent field theory. The effects of architectural parameters and the interaction strength among the three blocks have been studied systematically. Our calculation results show that the distance of the two graft blocks has stronger effect than the length of graft blocks and the position of the first graft point on the phase behavior. The interaction strength among the three blocks is another important factor in controlling the resulting microstructures. Compound-core, multicompartment, and multicore micelles are observed in the case of π-shaped ABC block copolymers with hydrophilic backbone block A and hydrophobic graft blocks B and C. Core-shell-corona, incomplete skin-layered and hamburger micelles are formed when graft block C is hydrophilic and blocks A and B are hydrophobic. The wormlike multicore micelles have drawn our attention. We find that the morphology of wormlike multicore micelle can be controlled by changing the distance of the two graft blocks of the π-shaped block copolymers. In all of the wormlike multicore micelles, the streamline wormlike micelle is more stable than other wormlike micelles from the free energy analysis.     

New amphiphilic diblock copolymers: surfactant properties and solubilization in their micelles

Several series of amphiphilic diblock copolymers are investigated as macrosurfactants in comparison to reference low-molar-mass and polymeric surfactants. The various copolymers share poly(butyl acrylate) as a common hydrophobic block but are distinguished by six different hydrophilic blocks (one anionic, one cationic, and four nonionic hydrophilic blocks) with various compositions. Dynamic light scattering experiments indicate the presence of micelles over the whole concentration range from 10(-4) to 10 g x L(-1). Accordingly, the critical micellization concentrations are very low. Still, the surface tension of aqueous solutions of block copolymers decreases slowly but continuously with increasing concentration, without exhibiting a plateau. The longer the hydrophobic block, the shorter the hydrophilic block, and the less hydrophilic the monomer of the hydrophilic block is, the lower the surface tension is. However, the effects are small, and the copolymers reduce the surface tension much less than standard low-molar-mass surfactants. Also, the copolymers foam much less and even act as anti-foaming agents in classical foaming systems composed of standard surfactants. The copolymers stabilize O/W emulsions made of methyl palmitate as equally well as standard surfactants but are less efficient for O/W emulsions made of tributyrine. However, the copolymer micelles exhibit a high solubilization power for hydrophobic dyes, probably at their core-corona interface, in dependence on the initial geometry of the micelles and the composition of the block copolymers. Whereas micelles of copolymers with strongly hydrophilic blocks are stable upon solubilization, solubilization-induced micellar growth is observed for copolymers with moderately hydrophilic blocks.     

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.     

pH-labile sheddable block copolymers by RAFT polymerization: Synthesis and potential use as siRNA conjugates

Well-defined amphiphilic block copolymers composed of hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks linked through an acid-labile acetal bond were synthesized directly by RAFT polymerization using a new poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) macroRAFT agent modified with an acid-labile group at its R-terminal. The new macroRAFT agent was used for polymerization of poly(t-butyl methacrylate) (PtBMA) or poly(cholesterol-methacrylate) (PCMA) to synthesize well-defined block copolymers with a PEG block sheddable under acidic conditions. The chain extension polymerization kinetics showed known traits of RAFT polymerization. The molecular weight distributions of the copolymers prepared using the new macroRAFT agent remained below 1.2 during the polymerizations and the molecular weight of the copolymers was linearly proportional to monomer conversions. The acid-catalyzed hydrolysis behavior of the PEG-macroRAFT agent and the PEG-b-PtBMA (Mn = 13,600 by GPC, PDI = 1.10) was studied by GPC, ¹H NMR and UV–vis spectroscopy. The half-life of acid-hydrolysis was 70 min at pH 2.2 and 92 h at pH 4.0. The potential use of the pH-labile shedding behavior of the copolymers was demonstrated by conjugating a thiol-modified siRNA to ω-pyridyldisulfide modified PEG-b-PCMA. The resultant PEG-b-PCMA-b-siRNA triblock modular polymer released PCMA-b-siRNA segment in acidic and siRNA segment in reductive conditions, as confirmed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

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.     

Di(n-butyl) itaconate end-functionalized polymers: Synthesis by group transfer polymerization and solution characterization

In this study we present our efforts to homo- and co-polymerize, using group transfer polymerization (GTP), a dialkyl diester of itaconic acid, a naturally-derived unsaturated dicarboxylic acid. The monomer employed, di(n-butyl) itaconate (DBI), did not seem to polymerize by GTP to high conversion, but it displayed the remarkable ability to contribute to the polymer 1–2 units, suggesting that it would make a good end-functionalizing reagent for GTP. This was demonstrated by preparing by GTP hydrophilic homopolymers, and in situ adding to them DBI which is hydrophobic. The thus-obtained amphiphilic end-functionalized copolymers formed in water small micelles, whose aggregation numbers and radii of gyration were characterized using small-angle neutron scattering.     

Role of the tracer in characterizing the aggregation behavior of aqueous block copolymer solutions using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

The hydrodynamic radii of micelles formed by amphiphilic poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline) diblock copolymers in aqueous solution determined using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) depend on the nature of the fluorescent tracer used. We have compared the values of the hydrodynamic radii of the unimers and the micelles as well as the critical micelle concentrations (CMC), using as tracers (1) the identical diblock copolymers being fluorescence-labeled at the hydrophilic or the hydrophobic block terminus [Bonné et al. Colloid Polym Sci (2004) 282:833–843], and (2) a low molar mass fluorescence dye, rhodamine 6G. Whereas similar values for the CMC were found for both probes, the hydrodynamic radius of micelles is significantly underestimated using a free dye as a tracer in FCS, especially near the CMC. We attribute this discrepancy to the fast exchange of the dye between micelles and solution.     

Synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic diblock copolymers of methyl tri(ethylene glycol) vinyl ether and isobutyl vinyl ether

Water-soluble diblock copolymers of methyl tri(ethylene glycol) vinyl ether (hydrophilic block) and isobutyl vinyl ether (hydrophobic block) of different molecular weights and composition were synthesized by living cationic polymerization. The molecular weight and comonomer composition of these copolymers were determined by GPC and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, respectively. Aqueous solutions of the copolymers were characterized in terms of their micellar behavior using dynamic light scattering, aqueous GPC, and dye solubilization. All the copolymers formed aggregates with the exception of a diblock copolymer with only two hydrophobic monomer units. The micellar hydrodynamic size scaled with the 0.61 power of the number of hydrophobic units, in good agreement with a theoretical exponent of 0.73. An increase in the length of the hydrophobic block at constant hydrophilic block length or an increase in the overall polymer size at constant block length ratio both resulted in lower critical micelle concentrations (cmcs). The cloud points of 1% w/w aqueous solutions of the polymers were determined by turbidimetry. An increase in the length of the hydrophobic block at constant hydrophilic block length caused a decrease in the cloud points of the copolymers. However, an increase in the overall polymer size at constant block length ratio led to an increase in the cloud point. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and characterisation of new shell cross-linked micelles with amine-functional coronas

Shell cross-linked (SCL) micelles with amine-functional coronas have been constructed in aqueous solution by exploiting the micellar self-assembly of new thermo-responsive ABC triblock copolymers. These copolymers were prepared via atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) in convenient one-pot syntheses and comprised a thermo-responsive core-forming poly(propylene oxide) [PPO] block, a cross-linkable central poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) [GMA] block and an amine-functional outer block based on either poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) [DMA] or poly([2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethyl ammonium chloride) [QDMA]. DMF GPC analysis indicated an M_n of 17,700 and an M_w/M_n of 1.46 for the PPO-PGMA-PDMA triblock copolymer. The DMA residues of the PPO-PGMA-PDMA triblock copolymer were reacted with methyl iodide to prepare copolymers with differing degrees of quaternisation. Each triblock copolymer dissolved molecularly in aqueous solution at 5 °C and formed micelles with amine-functional coronas above a critical micelle temperature (CMT) of around 12 °C, which corresponded closely to the cloud point of the PPO macro-initiator. Cross-linking of the GMA residues in the inner shell using divinyl sulfone produced SCL micelles that remained intact at 5 °C, i.e. below the cloud point of the core-forming PPO block. Aqueous electrophoresis studies confirmed that these SCL micelles had considerable cationic surface charge, as expected. The cationic SCL micelles were adsorbed onto a near-monodisperse anionic silica sol, which was used as a model colloidal substrate. Thermogravimetric analyses indicated SCL micelle mass loadings of 6.1-15.5 wt.%, depending on the initial micelle concentration. Aqueous electrophoresis studies confirmed that surface charge reversal occurred on adsorption of the SCL micelles and scanning electron microscopy studies revealed the presence of SCL micelles on the silica particles.     

嵌段序列对聚合物囊泡形成过程影响的Monte Carlo模拟

采用Monte Carlo模拟方法研究了具有相同链长和组分比的不同嵌段序列的AB两嵌段共聚物与ABA三嵌段共聚物在选择性溶剂中形成囊泡的动力学过程. 模拟结果表明, AB两嵌段共聚物囊泡的形成与ABA三嵌段共聚物囊泡的形成的动力学过程不同. 在慢速退火条件下, ABA三嵌段共聚物囊泡是通过亲水链段向胶束的表面和中心扩散而形成的, 而AB两嵌段共聚物囊泡则由片层弯曲闭合而形成. 相对而言, 退火速度对AB两嵌段共聚物囊泡形成的动力学过程没有显著影响, 其改变仅影响亲水链段与疏水链段发生相分离的难易程度. 当退火速度较快时, 亲水链段和疏水链段发生相分离的速度较快且相分离发生在囊泡形成之前; 而当退火速度较慢时亲水链段和疏水链段之间的相分离在囊泡形成之后仍在进行.     

From well‐defined diblock copolymers prepared by a versatile atom transfer radical polymerization method to supramolecular assemblies

The synthesis of well‐defined diblock copolymers by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was explored in detail for the development of new colloidal carriers. The ATRP technique allowed the preparation of diblock copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (number‐average molecular weight: 2000) and ionic or nonionizable hydrophobic segments. Using monofunctionalized PEG macroinitiator, ionizable and hydrophobic monomers were polymerized to obtain the diblock copolymers. This polymerization method provided good control over molecular weights and molecular weight distributions, with monomer conversions as high as 98%. Moreover, the copolymerization of hydrophobic and ionizable monomers using the PEG macroinitiator made it possible to modulate the physicochemical properties of the resulting polymers in solution. Depending on the length and nature of the hydrophobic segment, the nonionic copolymers could self‐assemble in water into nanoparticles or polymeric micelles. For example, the copolymers having a short hydrophobic block (5 < degree of polymerization < 9) formed polymeric micelles in aqueous solution, with an apparent critical association concentration between 2 and 20 mg/L. The interchain association of PEG‐based polymethacrylic acid derivatives was found to be pH‐dependent and occurred at low pH. The amphiphilic and nonionic copolymers could be suitable for the solubilization and delivery of water‐insoluble drugs, whereas the ionic diblock copolymers offer promising characteristics for the delivery of electrostatically charged compounds (e.g., DNA) through the formation of polyion complex micelles. Thus, ATRP represents a promising technique for the design of new multiblock copolymers in drug delivery. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3861–3874, 2001     

Preparation and surface properties of latexes with fluorine enriched in the shell by silicon monomer crosslinking

A series of core-shell acrylic copolymer latexes containing fluorine enriched in the shell have been prepared by emulsion polymerization of a variety of hydrocarbon monomers with (perfluoroalkyl)methyl methacrylate and vinyltriethoxysilicone. In the presence of a reactive anionic and a long chain anionic-nonionic emulsifier, the core-shell latexes were prepared and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (AFM). From AFM and contact angle measurements, it was observed that the resulting fluorine and silicon-containing acrylic copolymers with surface energy as low as 15.5 mN/m formed a dense and gradient film containing a surface layer with high a fluorine content, and that the fluorinated particles can be fixed on the surface due to the crosslinking reaction of multi-functional silicon monomer even though the fluorinated carbon number was not enough to crystallize.     

Polyether nanoparticles from covalently crosslinked copolymer micelles

Double hydrophilic block copolymers poly(ethylene oxide)-b-polyglycidol were synthesized using living anionic polymerization. The polyglycidol blocks were made hydrophobic by the esterification of a part of hydroxyl groups with cinnamic acid, thus simultaneously attaching UV-sensitive double bonds to the polymer backbone. The block copolymers were found to spontaneously associate in aqueous solution forming well-defined micelles, where the corona of the micelles was formed of EO units and the cores consisted of hydrophobic glycidyl cinnanamate units. The critical micelle concentration was determined by light-scattering measurements and fluorescence spectroscopy. Stabilization of micelles was obtained by covalently crosslinking the cores of polyether micelles formed from amphiphilic block copolymers of the type poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(glycidol-co-glycidyl cinnamate) (denoted EO(113)-b-(Gl(33)-co-GlCA(33-x))). To obtain stable nanoparticles double bonds of cinnamate units contained in core were crosslinked under UV irradiation. The kinetics of the stabilization process was investigated using SEC-MALLS and UV spectroscopy. The parameters of the micelles and nanogels were calculated from the light-scattering data.     

Synthesis and Self-Assembly Behaviors of Four-Arm Star Block Copolymers Poly(ϵ-caprolactone)-b-poly(2- (diethylamino) ethyl methacrylate)) in Aqueous Solution

Four-arm star block polymers consisting of hydrophobic poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) block and hydrophilic poly(2-(diethylamino) ethyl methacrylate)) (PDEAEMA) block were successfully synthesized by ring opening polymerization (ROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Chain lengths of PDEAEMA segments were varied to obtain a series of star copolymers with different hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio, which were desired for self-assembly study. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) were used to study their self-assembly behavior. In the PBS solution with different pH value, the star polymers formed micelles or nanoparticles. Furthermore, the morphologies of the micelles were also pH-dependent. Critical micelle concentrations of star copolymers changed from 5.0 to 17.5 mg/L with the increase of hydrophilic block length or the pH decrease. Moreover, a steady increase was found on the micelles diameters when the pH decreased from 7.0 to 3.0. The low CMC value and slight changes on micelle diameter indicated that the micelle remained stable under the changing external stimulus.     

Synthesis of end‐functionalized AB copolymers. II. Synthesis and characterization of carboxyl‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(amino acid) block copolymers

AB block copolymers composed of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydrophobic poly(amino acid) with a carboxyl group at the end of PEG were synthesized with α‐carboxylic sodium‐ω‐amino‐PEG as a macroinitiator for the ring‐opening polymerization of N‐carboxy anhydride. Characterizations by ¹H NMR, IR, and gel permeation chromatography were carried out to confirm that the diblock copolymers were formed. In aqueous media this copolymer formed self‐associated polymer micelles that have a carboxyl group on the surface. The carboxyl groups located at the outer shell of the polymeric micelle were expected to combine with ligands to target specific cell populations. The diameter of the polymer micelles was in the range of 30–80 nm. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3527–3536, 2004     

Synthesis of fluorine-18 functionalized nanoparticles for use as in vivo molecular imaging agents

Nanoparticles containing fluorine-18 were prepared from block copolymers made by ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Using the fast initiating ruthenium metathesis catalyst (H2IMes)(pyr)2(Cl)2Ru=CHPh, low polydispersity amphiphilic block copolymers were prepared from a cinnamoyl-containing hydrophobic norbornene monomer and a mesyl-terminated PEG-containing hydrophilic norbornene monomer. Self-assembly into micelles and subsequent cross-linking of the micelle cores by light-activated dimerization of the cinnamoyl groups yielded stable nanoparticles. Incorporation of fluorine-18 was achieved by nucleophilic displacement of the mesylates by the radioactive fluoride ion with 31% incorporation of radioactivity. The resulting positron-emitting nanoparticles are to be used as in vivo molecular imaging agents for use in tumor imaging.     

Self-assembly of amphiphilic ABC star triblock copolymers and their blends with AB diblock copolymers in solution: self-consistent field theory simulations

The self-assembled morphologies of amphiphilic ABC star triblock copolymers consisting of hydrophilic A blocks and hydrophobic B and C blocks and the blends with their counterpart linear AB diblock copolymers in solution are investigated by 2D real-space implementation of self-consistent field theory (SCFT) simulation. The star triblock copolymers self-assemble in solution to form various micellar structures from hamburger, to segmented wormlike, to toroidal segmented micelles, and finally to vesicles with simultaneously increasing hydrophobic lengths of blocks B and C. When the length of hydrophobic blocks B and C is asymmetric, specific bead-on-string worm micelles are found. Particularly, when the star ABC triblock copolymer is in a strong segregation regime and both B and C blocks are strongly hydrophobic, quite long segmented wormlike micelles are obtained, which had not been found in previously investigated diblock and linear ABC triblock copolymers solution. Additionally, raspberry micelles with beads dispersed on the core also occur in the strong segregation regime of bulk star ABC triblock copolymers. Furthermore, the aggregate morphology of ABC star triblock copolymers is strongly influenced by the addition of linear AB diblock copolymers. The most significant feature is that the long segmented worms will become shorter, to form hamburger micelles with the addition of AB diblock copolymers. These simulations are in good agreement with the experimental findings by Lodge's group.     

Surfactant‐free synthesis of amphiphilic copolymer of poly(styrene‐co‐acrylamide) in aqueous emulsion with the assistance of ultrasound

The hydrophilic monomer acrylamide (AM) and hydrophobic monomer styrene (St) have been directly copolymerized in a surfactant‐free aqueous emulsion with the assistance of powerful ultrasound. Fourier Transform Infrared spectrocopy (FT‐IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements revealed that copolymers of AM and St were obtained. Elemental analysis was used to calculate the composition of the copolymer. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) measurement showed that the molecular weight (M_w) of the copolymer is 1.86 × 10⁵ g/mol and the polydispersity index (PDI( = 2.31. The self‐assembly behavior in different solvents was investigated utilizing laser light scattering (LLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM); the copolymer film showed amphiphilicity, as measured by contact angle goniometry. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.