Cytocompatible Polymer Grafting from Individual Living Cells by Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization

A cytocompatible method of surface‐initiated, activator regenerated by electron transfer, atom transfer radical polymerization (SI‐ARGET ATRP) is developed for engineering cell surfaces with synthetic polymers. Dopamine‐based ATRP initiators are used for both introducing the ATRP initiator onto chemically complex cell surfaces uniformly (by the material‐independent coating property of polydopamine) and protecting the cells from radical attack during polymerization (by the radical‐scavenging property of polydopamine). Synthetic polymers are grafted onto the surface of individual yeast cells without significant loss of cell viability, and the uniform and dense grafting is confirmed by various characterization methods including agglutination assay and cell‐division studies. This work will provide a strategic approach to the generation of living cell–polymer hybrid structures and open the door to their application in multitude of areas, such as sensor technology, catalysis, theranostics, and cell therapy.     

Bio‐Inspired Renewable Surface‐Initiated Polymerization from Permanently Embedded Initiators

Herein, we describe a simple and robust approach to repeatedly modify surfaces with polymer brushes through surface‐initiated atomic transfer radical polymerization (SI‐ATRP), based on an initiator‐embedded polystyrene sheet that does not rely on specific surface chemistries for initiator immobilization. The surface‐grafted polymer brushes can be wiped away to expose fresh underlying initiator that re‐initiates polymerization. This strategy provides a facile route for modification of molded or embossed surfaces, with possible applications in the preparation of fluidic devices and polymer‐embedded circuits.     

Atom‐Transfer Radical Batch and Semibatch Polymerization of Styrene

Batch and semibatch styrene polymerizations are carried out using a heterogeneous ATRP catalyst system that provides excellent molecular‐weight control. The observed initiator efficiency is lower for semibatch operation due to the high initiator concentrations required to make a low‐MW polymer. Experiments verified that the insoluble metal complex does not participate in the polymerization and that Cu(I) solubility is an order of magnitude higher than that of Cu(II). A mechanistic model, using kinetic coefficients from literature and the solubility data from this study, provides a good representation of the experimental results.

     

Polymer‐Grafted Carbon Spheres by Surface‐Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Summary: In situ atom transfer radical polymerization techniques have been used to produce polymer‐grafted carbon spheres (CSs). The surfaces of as‐prepared CSs were functionalized in the presence of CS‐supported macroinitiators. The resulting materials were characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, TGA, SEM, TEM, and HRTEM. The amount of polymer grafted onto the surfaces of the spheres can be controlled by varying the monomer/initiator feed ratio. The wetting ability and dispersibility of the polymer‐grafted CSs were improved significantly, compared with crude CSs, enabling stable dispersions in organic solvents to be produced. SEM and TEM studies indicate that a uniform distribution of the carbon spheres in the continuous polymer phase can be produced.

SEM image (left) of poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) grafted carbon spheres, inset shows the structure. HRTEM image (right) of a polystyrene grafted carbon sphere, inset is the SAED pattern.     

Spatial Control over Brush Growth through Sunlight‐Induced Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization Using Dye‐Sensitized TiO2 as a Photocatalyst

Simulated‐sunlight induced atom transfer radical polymerization is used for spatial control over polymer brush growth by in situ photo‐generation of the Cu^I/L activator complex from its higher oxidation state Cu^II/L deactivator complex using dye sensitized titanium dioxide nano­particles. The polymerization is well controlled under sunlight irradiation. Another attractive feature of this method is the possibility of creating various patterned surfaces of brushes using photomasks. When a nanoporous alumina oxide membrane is used as the template for confinement diffusion of photogenerated Cu^I/L catalyst, patterns with sub‐50 nm resolution are obtained.

     

Mathematical Modeling of Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization Using Bifunctional Initiators

Summary: Bifunctional initiators can produce polymers with higher molecular weight at higher initiator concentrations than monofunctional initiators. In this study, we developed a mathematical model for ATRP with bifunctional initiators. The most important reactions in ATRP were included in the model. The method of moments was used to predict monomer conversion, average molecular weights and polydispersity index as a function of polymerization time in batch reactors. The model was used to understand the mechanism of ATRP and to quantify how polymerization conditions affect monomer conversion and polymer properties by examining the effect of several rate constants (activation, deactivation, propagation and chain termination) and of catalyst and initiator concentration on polymerization kinetics and polymer properties. When compared to monofunctional initiators, bifunctional initiators not only produce polymers with higher molecular weight averages at higher polymerization rates, but also control their molecular weight distributions more effectively.

Effect of initial catalyst concentration on polydispersity index as a function of time.     

Ab Initio Emulsion Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization

Stable latexes of poly(meth)acrylates with predetermined molecular weights, narrow molecular‐weight distributions, and controlled architecture were prepared by true ab initio emulsion atom‐transfer radical polymerization. Water‐soluble (macro)initiators in combination with a hydrophilic catalyst, Cu/tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine, initiated the polymerization in the aqueous phase. The catalyst strongly interacted with the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), thereby tuning the polymerization within nucleated hydrophobic polymer particles. Long‐term stable latexes were obtained, even with SDS loading below 3 wt % relative to monomer. Block and gradient copolymers were prepared in situ. The reaction volume and solid content were successfully increased to 100 mL and 40 vol %, respectively, thus suggesting facile scale‐up of this technique. The proposed setup could be integrated in existing industrial plants used for emulsion polymerization.     

Synthesis of Polymer Brushes Using Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is a robust method for the preparation of well‐defined (co)polymers. This process has also enabled the preparation of a wide range of polymer brushes where (co)polymers are covalently attached to either curved or flat surfaces. In this review, the general methodology for the synthesis of polymer brushes from flat surfaces, polymers and colloids is summarized focusing on reports using ATRP. Additionally, the morphology of ultrathin films from polymer brushes is discussed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and other techniques to confirm the formation of nanoscale structure and organization.

Formation of polymer brushes by ATRP.     

Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) Film Surface Functionalization with 2‐Bromoisobutyryl Bromide as Initiator for Surface‐Initiated Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization

A PTFE film surface was modified using a combined plasma/ozone‐activated process. The modified PTFE film was further reacted with 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide to incorporate ATRP initiators in the film surface. Surface‐initiated ATRP on PTFE films was performed using sodium styrene sulfate as a monomer. The poly(sodium styrene sulfate) chain length grafted onto PTFE film surfaces increased with increasing reaction time. Analysis using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and a contact angle analyzer gave evidence of the success of the PTFE surface modifications.

     

Reverse Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization at Room Temperature

This paper aims at reporting on the “living”/controlled radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated with the benzoyl peroxide (BPO)/Cu^IX (X=Br,Cl)/2,2'‐bipyridine (bpy) redox system at room temperature. No control is observed for the polymerization conducted in bulk and in toluene, whereas a polymer with predetermined molecular weight and rather narrow molecular weight distribution is formed in butanone. The solvent has thus a decisive effect on the reverse atom‐transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated with the BPO/Cu^IX (X = Br,Cl)/bpy ternary system at 25°C.     

Silica‐Polymethacrylate Hybrid Particles Synthesized Using High‐Pressure Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Hybrid nanoparticles with a silica core and grafted poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or poly(n‐butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) chains were prepared via activators generated by electron transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization (AGET ATRP) at room temperature under high pressure. Due to enhanced propagation rate constant and reduced termination rate constant for polymerizations conducted under high pressure, the rate of polymerization was increased, while preserving good control over polymerization when compared to ATRP under ambient pressure. Molecular weights of greater than 1 million were obtained. The PMMA and PBMA brushes exhibited “semi‐diluted” or “diluted” brush architecture with the highest grafting densities ≈0.3 chain·nm⁻².

     

In Situ Monitoring of RAFT Polymerization by Tetraphenylethylene‐Containing Agents with Aggregation‐Induced Emission Characteristics

A facile and efficient approach is demonstrated to visualize the polymerization in situ. A group of tetraphenylethylene (TPE)‐containing dithiocarbamates were synthesized and screened as agents for reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerizations. The spatial‐temporal control characteristics of photochemistry enabled the RAFT polymerizations to be ON and OFF on demand under alternating visible light irradiation. The emission of TPE is sensitive to the local viscosity change owing to its aggregation‐induced emission characteristic. Quantitative information could be easily acquired by the naked eye without destroying the reaction system. Furthermore, the versatility of such a technique was well demonstrated by 12 different polymerization systems. The present approach thus demonstrated a powerful platform for understanding the controlled living radical polymerization process.     

Mathematical Modeling of Atom‐Transfer Radical Copolymerization

A comprehensive mathematical model for atom transfer radical copolymerization in a batch reactor is presented using the concept of pseudo‐kinetic rate constants and the method of moments. The model describes molecular weight, monomer conversion, polydispersity index, and copolymer composition as a function of polymerization time. Model predictions were compared with experimental data for styrene and butyl acrylate copolymerization and excellent agreement was obtained. We have also tested the model with styrene‐acrylonitrile copolymerization data obtained in our laboratory. Finally, we used the model to study the effect of comonomer reactivity ratio, feed composition, activation and deactivation rate constants on the copolymer composition.

     

Electrochemically Mediated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization from a Substrate Surface Manipulated by Bipolar Electrolysis: Fabrication of Gradient and Patterned Polymer Brushes

We report the first ever use of electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (eATRP) employing a bipolar electrochemical method for the fabrication of both gradient and patterned polymer brushes. A potential gradient generated on a bipolar electrode allowed the formation of a concentration gradient of a Cu^I polymerization catalyst through the one‐electron reduction of Cu^II, resulting in the gradient growth of poly(NIPAM) brushes from an initiator‐modified substrate surface set close to a bipolar electrode. These polymer brushes could be fabricated in three‐dimensional gradient shapes with control over thickness, steepness, and modified area by varying the electrolytic conditions. Moreover, by site‐selective application of potential during bipolar electrolysis, a polymer brush with a circular pattern was successfully formed. Polymerization was achieved using both a polar monomer (NIPAM) and a nonpolar monomer (MMA) with the eATRP system.