Synthesis and aqueous solution properties of sterically stabilized pH-responsive polyampholyte microgels

Emulsion copolymerization of poly(methacrylic acid) and poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PMAA/PDEA) yielded pH-responsive polyampholyte microgels of 200-300 nm in diameter. These microgels showed enhanced hydrophilic behavior in aqueous medium at low and high pH, but formed large aggregates of approximately 2500 nm at intermediate pH. To achieve colloidal stability at intermediate pH, a second batch of microgels of identical monomer composition were synthesized, where monomethoxy-capped poly(ethylene glycol)methacrylate (PEGMA) was grafted onto the surface of these particles. Dynamic light-scattering measurements showed that the hydrodynamic radius, Rh, of sterically stabilized microgels was approximately 100 nm at intermediate pH and increased to 120 and 200 nm at pH 2 and 10, respectively. Between pH 4 and 6, these microgels possessed mobility close to zero and a negative second virial coefficient, A2, due to overall charge neutralization near the isoelectric pH. From the Rh, mobility, and A2, cross-linked MAA-DEA microgels with and without PEGMA retained their polyampholytic properties in solution. By varying the composition of MAA and DEA in the microgel, it is possible to vary the isoelectric point of the colloidal particles. These new microgels are being explored for use in the delivery of DNA and proteins.     

Microgels containing methacrylic acid: effects of composition on pH-triggered swelling and gelation behaviours

pH-responsive microgels are cross-linked polymer colloids that swell when the pH approaches the pK _a of the particles. In this work, we present a comprehensive investigation of pH-triggered particle swelling and gel formation for a range of microgels containing methacrylic acid (MAA). The microgels investigated have the general composition poly(A/MAA/X), where A and X are the primary co-monomer and cross-linking monomer, respectively. The primary co-monomers were methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethyl acrylate (EA) or butyl methacrylate. The cross-linking monomers were either butanediol diacrylate (BDDA) or ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). The microgels were studied using scanning electron microscopy, photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) and dynamic rheology measurements. Gel phase diagrams were also constructed. The particles swelled significantly at pH values greater than approximately 6.0. It was shown that poly(EA/MAA/X) microgels swelled more strongly than poly(MMA/MAA/X) microgels. Furthermore, greater swelling occurred for particles prepared using EGDMA than BDDA. Concentrated dispersions of all the microgels studied exhibited pH-triggered gel formation. It was found that the fluid-to-gel transitions for the majority of the six microgel dispersions investigated could be explained using PCS data. In those cases, gelation was attributed to a colloidal glass transition. Interestingly, the microgels that were considered to have the highest hydrophobic content gelation occurred under conditions where little particle swelling was evident from PCS. The data presented show that gelled poly(EA/MAA/BDDA) and poly(MMA/MAA/EGDMA) microgel dispersions have the strongest elasticities at pH = 7.     

在卵磷脂体系中合成EuF3纳米线

利用大豆卵磷脂在水中自发形成的囊泡作模板, 先制备出含有Eu3+的卵磷脂乳液, Eu3+与卵磷脂亲水头部的磷氧键相结合形成Eu—O—P键, 经用NH4F沉淀后制得前驱体, 该前驱体在600 ℃灼烧, 得到EuF3纳米线, 其直径约为10-20 nm. 通过对各阶段产物的荧光光谱、傅里叶变换红外(FTIR)光谱、热重-差热分析(TG-DTA)、透射电镜(TEM)等的对比分析, 确认形成了Eu—O—P键, 所得到的纳米线是多晶相EuF3.     

Preparation of PEGMA-functionalized latex particles. 2. System styrene/<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vinylcaprolactam

In a previous paper [Pich A, Lu Y, Adler H-J (2003) Colloid Polym Sci (submitted)], the synthesis of polystyrene-poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PST/PEGMA) particles has been described. In the present paper polymeric particles have been prepared by emulsion co-polymerization of styrene/N-vinylcaprolactam (ST/VCL) or styrene/n-butylacrylate (ST/BA) mixtures in presence of poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA). The influence of the monomer composition and PEGMA concentration on the particle size and particle size distribution was studied. Increase of VCL content in reaction mixture leads to dramatic increase of the final particle size. Particle size distribution becomes broader at higher VCL contents. Poly(ST/VCL) particles show dramatic change of the size with the temperature.     

Preparation of a novel pH-responsive silver nanoparticle/poly(HEMA-PEGMA-MAA) composite hydrogel

In this paper, series of novel pH-responsive silver (Ag) nanoparticle/poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA)-methacrylic acid (MAA)) composite hydrogel were successfully prepared by in situ reducing Ag⁺ ions anchored in the hydrogel by the deprotonized carboxyl acid groups. X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electric conductivity tests were used to characterize the composite system. It was found that the size and morphology of the reduced Ag nanoparticles in the composite hydrogels could be changed by loading the Ag⁺ ions at various swelling ratios of hydrogel. Moreover, compared to the pure poly(HEMA-PEGMA-MAA) hydrogel, not only did the Ag nanoparticle/poly(HEMA-PEGMA-MAA) composite hydrogels exhibit much higher swelling ratio and faster deswelling rate, but also higher pH switchable electrical properties upon controlling the interparticle distance under pH stimulus. The pH responsive nanocomposite hydrogel reported here might be a potentially smart material in the range of applications including electronics, biosensors and drug-delivery devices.     

Deswelling comparison of temperature‐sensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) microgels containing functional ?OH groups with different hydrophilic long side chains

Two monomers containing functional ? OH groups with different hydrophilic long side chains (viz., triethyleneglycol methacrylate (TREGMA) and polyethyleneglycol methacrylate (PEGMA)) were selected to modify the swelling/deswelling behavior of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) microgels. Dynamic scattering technique, turbidimetric method, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were employed to investigate the deswelling behavior of the microgels. Experimental results show that the two series of microgels are identical in that incorporation of hydrophilic chains containing ? OH groups causes the volume‐phase transition temperature (VPTT) of pNIPAM microgels to shift to higher temperature; the more hydrophilic the side chains, the more the VPTTs shift. Although PEGMA are more effective in elevating the VPTTs of pNIPAM microgels than TREGMA, p(NIPAM‐co‐TREGMA) microgels show better deswelling properties than p(NIPAM‐co‐PEGMA) microgels, i.e., they have much larger deswelling ratios (α) and display less continuous volume‐phase transition. The VPTTs of the modified microgels can be modulated to well close to the normal body temperature of human beings. These characteristics along with the functional ? OH groups they contain make the microgels competitive candidates for biomaterials. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 3575–3583, 2005     

Preparation and characterization of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)/polyvinylamine core-shell microgels

In this paper, well-defined temperature- and pH-sensitive core-shell microgels were synthesized by graft copolymerization in the absence of surfactant and stabilizer. The microgel particles consisted of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm)) core crosslinked with N, N′-methylene-bisacrylamide (MBA) and polyvinylamine (PVAm) shell. The effect of MBA content and NIPAm/PVAm ratio on microgel size was investigated. SEM showed that the microgels were spherical and had narrow particle-size distribution. TEM images of the microgels clearly displayed well-defined core-shell morphologies. Zeta-potential measurement further elucidated that the microgels possessed positively charged PVAm molecules on the microgel surface. Turbidity measurement and ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments indicated that the VPTT of microgels was the same as the LCST of PNIPAm. ¹H-NMR experiments also inferred that the methyl proton of N-isopropylacrylamide appeared three peaks and responded to hydrogen-bonding interaction including polymer chain with water molecular, intramolecular interaction and intermolecular interaction, respectively.     

含β-CD单元VCL共聚物微凝胶的合成与性能研究

采用无皂沉淀聚合法,在水溶液中通过N-乙烯基己内酰胺(VCL)与一种单取代乙烯基β-环糊精单体(GMA-EDA-β-CD)的共聚反应,合成出了含有β-CD结构单元的温敏性VCL/GMA-EDA-β-CD共聚物微凝胶.用红外光谱仪(FTIR)、1H核磁共振仪(1H-NMR)、透射电镜(TEM)及激光粒度仪(DLS)对其结构、形态和性能进行了表征.研究结果表明,β-CD结构单元的加入使共聚物微凝胶的粒径减小,粒径分布变窄,但其温敏性降低.     

Synthesis of pH and temperature sensitive, core-shell nano/microgels, by one pot, soap-free emulsion polymerization

The synthesis and properties of thermal/pH-sensitive core-shell copolymer nano/microgels were investigated. The crosslinked core consisted of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) while the shell was stabilized by poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) and 2-methacryloyloxybenzoic acid (2MBA) using a "one pot" soapless emulsion polymerization method. Monodisperse particles were produced with average hydrodynamic diameters ranging from 40 to 880 nm, as determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) in water at 25°C, depending on the synthetic recipe used. The influence of PEGMA and 2MBA content on size and temperature transition at different pH values was studied. Zeta potential measurements and acid-base titration studies demonstrated almost complete incorporation of acid comonomer (2MBA) into the nano/microgels. Two different crosslinkers, a stable and an acid labile, were compared. The crosslinker used has a major influence on the size and charge density of the nano/microgels produced. Microscopic studies confirmed the core-shell morphology of the nano/microgels.     

N,N′-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺与4-乙烯基吡啶共聚微凝胶的γ-射线辐照合成

通过γ 射线辐照技术 ,在稀水溶液中实现了N ,N′ 亚甲基双丙烯酰胺 (Bis)与 4 乙烯基吡啶 (4 VP)的无皂乳液共聚 ,得到平均流体力学半径 (Rh)为 5 6～ 15 2nm的一系列微凝胶 ,并通过红外光谱、热分析、透射电镜进行了表征 .通过测定Rh、吸光度、凝胶比 ,研究了与Bis共聚的单体及比例、剂量和剂量率对微凝胶合成的影响 .结果表明 ,微凝胶的大小可以通过吸收剂量、单体相对含量的改变来进行控制 .最后 ,对微凝胶的形成机理进行了初步探讨 .     

RAFT copolymerization of methacrylic acid and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate in the presence of a hydrophobic chain transfer agent in organic solution and in water

RAFT polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA, 1100 g mol^?1) was first performed using cyanoisopropyl dithiobenzoate (CPDB). The control of PEGMA homopolymerization, carried out in THF ([PEGMA] = 40 wt %) at 65 °C (reflux) using 2,2′‐Azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) as initiator, was shown by the linear increase of molar masses and the low polydispersity indices (PDI) observed with conversion and also by the determination of a high chain transfer constant (C_tr = 9.1) for CPDB in this system. Copolymerization of PEGMA with methacrylic acid (MAA) ([PEGMA]/[MAA] = 40/60) was then undertaken first in dioxane at 85 °C. High conversion (89%) was obtained in 3 h without any composition drift and with a good level of control (PDI < 1.40). When the polymerization was performed in water, a strong increase in polymerization rate was observed with almost quantitative conversion (98%) in 2 h without affecting the level of control of the final copolymers (PDI ～ 1.30). These last results were tentatively explained by the formation of hydrophobic domains in which the polymerization occurred as in bulk. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3045–3055, 2009     

Microgel particles containing methacrylic acid: pH-triggered swelling behaviour and potential for biomaterial application

pH-responsive microgels are crosslinked polymer particles that swell when the pH approaches the pK(a) of the ionic monomer incorporated within the particles. In recent work from our group it was demonstrated that the mechanical properties of degenerated intervertebral discs (IVDs) could be restored to normal values by injection of poly(EA/MAA/BDDA) (ethylacrylate, methacrylic acid and butanediol diacrylate) microgel dispersions [J.M. Saunders, T. Tong, C.L. Le Maitre, T.J. Freemont, B.R. Saunders, Soft Matter 3 (2007) 486]. In this work we report the pH dependent swelling and rheological properties of poly(MMA/MAA/EGDMA) (methylmethacrylate and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate) microgel dispersions. This system was investigated because it contains monomers that are already used as biomaterials. The poly(MMA/MAA/EGDMA) particles exhibit pH-triggered volume swelling ratios of up to ca. 250. The swelling onset for these particles occurs at pH values greater than ca. 6.0. A pK(a) for these particles of ca. 6.7 is consistent with titration and swelling data. Fluid-to-gel phase diagrams for concentrated poly(MMA/MAA/EGDMA) dispersions were determined as a function of polymer volume fraction and pH using tube-inversion measurements. The rheological properties for the gelled microgel dispersions were investigated using dynamic rheology measurements. The elastic modulus data for the poly(MMA/MAA/EGDMA) gelled dispersions were compared to data for poly(EA/MAA/BDDA) microgels. A similar pH-dependence for the elastic modulus was apparent. The maximum elastic modulus was achieved at a pH of about 7.0. The elastic modulus is an exponentially increasing function of polymer volume fraction at pH 7.0. Preliminary cell challenge experimental data are reported that indicate that gelled poly(MMA/MAA/EGDMA) microgel dispersions are biocompatible with cells from human intervertebral discs. However, the duration over which these experiments could be performed was limited by gradual redispersion of the gelled microgel dispersions. Based on the results presented it is suggested that poly(MMA/MAA/EGDMA) microgel would be a good candidate as a biomaterial for structural support of soft connective tissues.     

New Biocompatible Microgels

Summary: Microgel particles have received an increasing interest in the biomedical field. Temperature-sensitive microgels gained particular interest due to their potential use as controlled drug delivery systems. With the objective to produce new thermoresponsive biocompatible microgels, the synthesis and characterization of two families of microgel particles obtained by using N-vinylcaprolactam (VCL) as main monomer and N,N′-methylenbisacrylamide (BA) or poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) as crosslinkers are described. Evidence of hydrolysis VCL during polymerization is also presented.     

侧链含不同功能性羟基的温敏性N-异丙基丙烯酰胺共聚物微凝胶的制备及性能比较

选择含有活性羟基的亲水单体多缩乙二醇单甲基丙烯酸酯(PEGMA)、甲基丙烯酸羟乙酯(HEMA),分别和N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(NIPAM)交联共聚,制备了侧链含有功能性羟基、链长不同的温敏性微凝胶.研究发现,亲水单体HEMA和PEGMA的引入对微凝胶的去溶胀性能有不同的影响,PEGMA的引入使得微凝胶的体积相转变温度升高,微凝胶的去溶胀比随着PEGMA投料比的增加而降低.而HEMA的引入使得微凝胶的体积相转变温度降低;微凝胶的去溶胀比随着HEMA投料比的增加先是增加然后降低,当HEMA的投料比为8mol%时,去溶胀比达到最大.     

Preparation and properties of thermo-sensitive organic/inorganic hybrid microgels

By utilizing the hydrolysis and condensation of the methoxysilyl groups, thermo-sensitive organic/inorganic hybrid poly[ N-isopropylacrylamide- co-3-(trimethoxysilyl)propylmethacrylate] [P(NIPAm- co-TMSPMA)] microgels were successfully prepared via two different methods without addition of any surfactant. First, the microgels were obtained by a two-step method; that is, the linear copolymer P(NIPAm- co-TMSPMA) was first synthesized by free radical copolymerization, and the aqueous solution of the copolymer was then heated above its low critical solution temperature (LCST) to give colloid particles, which were subsequently cross-linked via the hydrolysis and condensation of the methoxysilyl groups to form the microgels. Second, the microgels were also prepared via conventional surfactant-free emulsion polymerization (SFEP) of the monomers NIPAm and TMSPMA. TMSPMA can act as the cross-linkable monomer. No surfactant was involved in the preparation of the hybrid microgels. The obtained microgels were rather spherical and exhibited reversible thermo-sensitive behavior. The size, morphology, swellability, and phase transition behavior of the microgels were dependent on the initial copolymer or monomer concentration, preparation temperature, and the content of TMSPMA. The size of microgels obtained by SFEP was found to be more uniform than that by the two-step method. The hybrid microgels obtained by these two methods had more homogeneous microstructures than those prepared via conventional emulsion polymerization with chemical cross-linker N, N'-methylene-bisacrylamide.     

Efficient Structural Characterization of Poly(Methacrylic Acid) by Activated-Electron Photodetachment Dissociation

Characterization of end-groups in poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) was achieved using tandem mass spectrometry after activated-electron photodetachment dissociation (activated-EPD). In this technique, multiply deprotonated PMAA oligomers produced in the negative-ion mode of electrospray ionization were oxidized into radical anions upon electron photodetachment using a 220 nm laser wavelength, and further activated by collision. In contrast to conventional collision induced dissociation of negatively charged PMAA, which mainly consists of multiple dehydration steps, fragmentation of odd-electron species is shown to proceed via a radical-induced decarboxylation, followed by reactions involving backbone bond cleavages, giving rise to product ions containing one or the other oligomer termination. A single radical-induced mechanism accounts for the four main fragment series observed in MS/MS. The relative position of the radical and of the anionic center in distonic precursor ions determines the nature of the reaction products. Experiments performed using PMAA sodium salts allowed us to account for relative abundances of product ions in series obtained from PMAA, revealing that ion stability is ensured by hydrogen bonds within pairs of MAA units.     

BaY2F8∶Ce, Eu中Ce3+→Eu2+的能量传递和Ce3+→Eu3+的电子转移

采用高温固相反应法制备了 Ba Y2 F8∶ Ce3 + ,Ba Y2 F8∶ Eu2 + 和 Ba Y2 F8∶ Ce,Eu,测定了它们的激发、发射和漫反射光谱 .首次发现并研究了在 Ba Y2 F8共掺 Ce F3 和 Eu F3 体系中存在 Ce3 + → Eu2 + 的能量传递和Ce3 +→ Eu3 +的电子转移两种过程及其竞争 .根据光谱数据 ,讨论了 Ce4 +的可能取代格位     

pH响应性P(MMA-co-MAA-co-HEMA)微凝胶的制备及其性能

利用预乳化乳液法制备了不同单体配比的聚(甲基丙烯酸甲酯-co-甲基丙烯酸-co-甲基丙烯酸羟乙酯)(P(MMA-co-MAA-co-HEMA))微凝胶分散液;采用透射电子显微镜、动态光散射仪研究了微凝胶的微观形态、粒径大小及其溶胀率;利用试管倒转法对微凝胶分散液的凝胶化相转变行为进行了研究,借助椎板流变仪考察了所形成胶态凝胶的储能模量与单体配比、微凝胶分散液浓度和温度的关系.结果表明,所制备的微凝胶的数均粒径为90 nm左右,当MMA与MAA的投料质量不变时,随着HEMA含量的增加,分散液凝胶化所需的临界最小浓度增大,临界最大pH值减小,胶态凝胶的储能模量增加.当保持单体MMA与HEMA的投料质量不变时,随着单体MAA投料质量的增多,微凝胶的数均粒径和溶胀率增大,胶态凝胶的储能模量先升高后降低;当MAA占单体总摩尔数的25%时,浓度为15 wt%的微凝胶分散液在扫描频率为100 rad/s时,胶态凝胶的储能模量最高可达2×104Pa.这类微凝胶分散液在组织工程支架材料方面有潜在的应用价值.     

Drying Mechanism of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Microgel Dispersions

The drying mechanism of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAm) microgel dispersions was investigated. The microgels were synthesized by temperature-programmed aqueous free radical precipitation polymerization using NIPAm, N,N'-methylenebis(acrylamide), and water-soluble initiator. Drying processes of the microgel dispersions were observed with a digital camera and an optical microscope, and the resultant dried structures were observed by scanning electron microscopy. We found that the presence of the microgels changed the behavior of the drying process of water. In particular, the microgels were adsorbed at the air/water interface selectively within a few minutes irrespective of the microgel concentration. The relationship between the drying mechanism and structure of the resultant microgel thin film has been clarified by changing the microgel concentration of the dispersions.     

Luminescent core–shell nanoparticles with crosslinked aggregation-induced emission core structures: Emission both in solution and solid states

Luminescent core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) with crosslinked aggregation-induced emission (AIE) core structures, which exhibited excellent emission independent of the dispersion state of the NPs, have been developed by a facile one-pot method based on the self-assembly of an amphiphilic block copolymer poly(PEGMA)-b-poly(DB3VT). Core–shell micelles with a poly(DB3VT) core were formed from poly(PEGMA)-b-poly(DB3VT) in tetrahydrofuran (THF)/H₂O condition, and the crosslinked AIE-based structure was selectively incorporated into the core by the Suzuki coupling reaction between poly(DB3VT) blocks and tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-based coupling monomers at the same time. This method afforded a uniform NP with a crosslinked TPE-based AIE core structure. The obtained NP exhibited excellent emission both in diluted solution and solid states. This result indicated that the formed TPE-based AIE core structure was always aggregated regardless of NP dispersion owing to the crosslinking as we expected. The crosslinked TPE-based AIE core structure, which was related to the emission property, was readily tuned by the selection and combination of coupling monomers in the Suzuki coupling reaction. By incorporating electron-deficient units into the core, the emission color could be successfully tuned from yellow-green to orange and red while maintaining the emission property independent of the state of the NP dispersion. These results demonstrated that NPs with the crosslinked AIE core structures are a promising luminescent material design motif to realize emission independent on molecular dispersion.