Heinz Gerrens Revisited: A New Look at the Impact of Reactor Type on Polymer Chain Morphology

The equations for predicting molecular weight distribution, copolymer composition distribution, and copolymer sequence distribution for three polymerization mechanisms (monomer linkage with termination, monomer linkage without termination, and polymer linkage), and three reactor types (batch/plug flow, homogenous continuous stirred tank, and segregated continuous stirred tank) are assembled from various sources and compared and contrasted.     

Controlled free-radical copolymerization of maleic anhydride and divinyl ether in the presence of reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer agents

The free-radical alternating cyclocopolymerization of maleic anhydride and divinyl ether is studied at 60–80°C in the presence of benzyl dithiobenzoate and dibenzyl trithiocarbonate as reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer agents. It is shown that the structure of the repeating unit of the cyclocopolymer prepared in the presence of a reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer agent coincides with the structure of the repeating unit of the copolymer synthesized under the conditions of conventional free-radical cyclocopolymerization. When the cyclocopolymer is used as a reversible addition-fragmentation chaintransfer agent, a successive increase in the molecular mass of the copolymer with conversion and formation of the block copolymer in the polymerization of styrene are unambiguous evidence that the copolymerization proceeds according to the pseudoliving radical mechanism.     

Reversible photoswitching aggregation and dissolution of spiropyran- functionalized copolymer and light-responsive FRET process

Well-defined, reversibly light-responsive amphiphilic diblock copolymer grafted with spiropyran, was prepared by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer(RAFT) polymerization. The copolymer self-assembles into polymeric micelles in water and exhibits reversible dissolution and re-aggregation characteristics upon ultraviolet(UV) and visible(Vis)-light irradiation. The fluorescence response of spiropyran immobilized onto the copolymer was light switchable. When nitrobenzoxadiazolyl derivative(NBD) dyes are encapsulated into the core of the micelles, a reversible, light-responsive, dual-color fluorescence resonance energy transfer(FRET) system is constructed and processed, which is well regulated by alternatively UV/vis irradiation. We anticipate these photoswitchable and FRET lighting up nanoparticles will be useful in drug delivery and cell imaging or tracking synchronously.     

Novel pH‐responsive mixed‐charge copolymer brushes based on carboxylic acid and quaternary amine monomers

In this study, we report on the fabrication of tunable mixed‐charged copolymer brushes consisting of negatively charged carboxylic acid monomer (4‐vinylbenzoic acid, VBA) and positively charged quaternary amine monomer ((ar‐vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium chloride) via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer‐mediated polymerization. The copolymer brushes have negative charge under neutral and basic conditions, and are positively charged under acidic conditions owing to the protonation of the carboxylate groups. The copolymer brushes revealed a unique reversible wetting behavior with pH. The reversible properties of the copolymer brushes can be employed to regulate the adsorption of charged biomacromolecules such as DNA and proteins. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

甲基丙烯酸3-磺酸钾丙酯-苯乙烯共聚物与N,N,N-三甲基十六烷基溴化铵相互作用研究

两亲分子由于具有自组装性质,如表面活性剂分子自组装形成胶束,囊泡,天然的磷脂分子自组装形成脂质体,继而参于生物膜的形成,这是大家所熟悉的．高分子两亲分子尤其是两亲性两嵌段高分子具有自组装性质,并形成规整性好的聚集体［１～３］．聚电介质 表面活性剂体系...     

Parametric uniqueness of deficiency zero reaction networks

In this paper it is shown that deficiency zero mass action reaction networks containing one terminal linkage class are parametrically and therefore structurally unique with a fixed complex set. Clearly, weakly reversible deficiency zero networks with one linkage class belong to this class. However, it is shown through an illustrative example that deficiency zero networks with several linkage classes can have multiple dynamically equivalent realizations, even if the individual linkage classes are weakly reversible.     

Photoreversible Gelation of a Triblock Copolymer in an Ionic Liquid

The reversible micellization and sol–gel transition of block copolymer solutions in an ionic liquid (IL) triggered by a photostimulus is described. The ABA triblock copolymer employed, denoted P(AzoMA‐r‐NIPAm)‐b‐PEO‐b‐P(AzoMA‐r‐NIPAm)), has a B block composed of an IL‐soluble poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). The A block consists of a random copolymer including thermosensitive N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm) units and a methacrylate with an azobenzene chromophore in the side chain (AzoMA). A phototriggered reversible unimer‐to‐micelle transition of a dilute ABA triblock copolymer (1 wt %) was observed in an IL, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₄mim]PF₆), at an intermediate “bistable” temperature (50 °C). The system underwent a reversible sol–gel transition cycle at the bistable temperature (53 °C), with reversible association/fragmentation of the polymer network resulting from the phototriggered self‐assembly of the ABA triblock copolymer (20 wt %) in [C₄mim]PF₆.     

硼酚醛树脂的合成与固化机理的研究

本文研究了硼酚醛树脂的合成与固化反应过程的机理, 结果表明, 甲阶段的硼酚醛树脂主要是硼酸苄酯, 固化过程中形成硼酸苯酯, 反应过程中有醚键生成, 醚键断裂产生羰基。     

In Situ Synthesis of Block Copolymer Nano-assemblies by Polymerization-induced Self-assembly under Heterogeneous Condition

Controlled synthesis of amphiphilic block copolymer nanoparticles in a convenient way is an important and interest topic in polymer science. In this review, three formulations of polymerization-induced self-assembly to in situ synthesize block copolymer nanoparticles are briefly introduced, which perform by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer(RAFT) polymerization under heterogeneous conditions, e.g., aqueous emulsion RAFT polymerization, dispersion RAFT polymerization and especially the recently proposed seeded RAFT polymerization. The latest developments in several selected areas on the synthesis of block copolymer nano-assemblies are highlighted.     

pH‐Responsive Non‐Ionic Diblock Copolymers: Ionization of Carboxylic Acid End‐Groups Induces an Order–Order Morphological Transition

A carboxylic acid based reversible additionfragmentation transfer (RAFT) agent is used to prepare gels composed of worm‐like diblock copolymers using two non‐ionic monomers, glycerol monomethacrylate (GMA) and 2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA). Ionization of the carboxylic acid end‐group on the PGMA stabilizer block induces a worm‐to‐sphere transition, which in turn causes immediate degelation. This morphological transition is fully reversible as determined by TEM and rheology studies and occurs because of a subtle change in the packing parameter for the copolymer chains. A control experiment where the methyl ester derivative of the RAFT agent is used to prepare the same diblock copolymer confirms that no pH‐responsive behavior occurs in this case. This end‐group ionization approach is important for the design of new pH‐responsive copolymer nano‐objects as, unlike polyacids or polybases, only a minimal amount of added base (or acid) is required to drive the morphological transition.     

Synthesis of amphiphilic tri-block copolymerpoly(vinylpyrrolidone)-b-poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-poly(vinylpyrrolidone) for the modification of polyethersulfone membrane

Well-defined amphiphilic tri-block copolymer PVP-b-PMMA-b-PVP was prepared for the first time via successive reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer(RAFT) polymerization using carboxyl-terminated trithiocarbonate as the RAFT agent.The structure of the copolymer was characterized using FTIR,GPC and ~1H NMR.The block copolymer could be directly blended with polyethersulfone(PES) as a macromolecule additive using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone(NMP) as the solvent to prepare membranes. The water contact angles for the modified membranes decreased obviously,and therefore,the protein adsorption amount on the membrane surface decreased.     

Synthesis of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) block copolymers via RAFT polymerization and micellization behavior in aqueous solution

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PNIPAM-b-P2VP) block copolymers were synthesized for the first time via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in the presence of S-1-dodecyl-S(')-(a,a(')-dimethyl-a(')-acetic acid)trithiocarbonate as chain transfer agent (CTA) and 2,2(')-azobis(isobutyronitrile) as initiator. Both pH- and thermo-induced micellization behavior of the PNIPAM(59)-b-P2VP(102) block copolymer in dilute aqueous solution was investigated by pyrene fluorescence, dynamic and static light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and (1)H NMR. The results show that the critical aggregation pH value of the block copolymer is around 5 and the critical aggregation temperature of the block copolymer is around 42 degrees C. A reversible transition between P2VP-core and PNIPAM-core micelles can be observed through an intermediate unimer state in aqueous solution.     

Séparation d'un copolymère greffé de l'homopolymère correspondant par formation de gels réversibles perfectionnements et applications aux résines abs

From a mixture containing a graft copolymer A-B in the presence of homopolymers A and B, it is possible to separate for instance the homopolymer B, corresponding to the grafts, by the reversible gel technique. The reversible crosslinking is achieved by fixing selectively COONa groups on polymer A. Improvements of this separation method are proposed in the case of ABS resins, obtained by grafting styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymers on polybutadiene. Carboxylation of the polybutadiene part can be achieved, after grafting, by treatment with thioglycolic acid. The separation is performed for two different carboxy contents of the polybutadiene. The high efficiency of the separation is shown. It is also confirmed that there is no fractionation in composition of the graft copolymer during this separation.     

新型聚苯撑乙烯类阳离子共轭聚合物的合成及其荧光猝灭行为

通过Wittig反应合成了新型聚对苯乙烯撑类阳离子共轭聚合物, 并进行了相关结构表征和光学性质表征. 从1H NMR 谱图分析得知, 该聚合物具有一定含量的顺式构型. 经过季铵化以后得到相应的阳离子共轭聚合物. 荧光猝灭行为研究表明, 该阳离子共轭聚合物表现出不完全荧光猝灭.     

P(NIPAM-co-NVP)共聚物分子链水溶液中的可逆聚集研究

用溶液聚合方法合成了线型聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺-co-N-乙烯基吡咯烷酮)共聚物,通过弹性光散射(elastic light scattering,ELS)、荧光光谱与动态光散射研究了共聚物水溶液分子链可逆聚集的温度和时间依赖性.研究表明,升温时,ELS强度增加,分子链聚集;降温时,ELS强度降低,聚集的分子链解离.荧...     

Reversible fluorescence modulation through energy transfer with ABC triblock copolymer micelles as scaffolds

The micelle system formed by an amphiphilic triblock copolymer in water serves as a novel scaffold for fluorescence resonance energy transfer as well as light-induced reversible fluorescence modulation for a hydrophobic fluorescent dye.     

Synthesis and characterization of tapered copolymer brushes via surface-initiated atom transfer radical copolymerization

Tapered copolymer brushes of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were synthesized via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) by gradual addition of HEMA to a reaction mixture that originally only had MMA as monomer. The copolymer brush grew linearly with polymerization time. The tapered copolymer brushes responded to selective solvent treatments. For the same tapered copolymer brush, pretreating the surface with methylene chloride made the surface more hydrophobic; pretreating the surface with methanol increased the surface hydrophilicity. This change in surface properties was reversible and considered to be caused by the solvent induced rearrangement of the polymer brushes, which is supported by atomic force microscopy images of the surface. Our work demonstrates that the properties of the tapered copolymer brush could be finely tuned by careful control of the composition profile.     

Polymer micelles as building blocks for the incorporation of azobenzene: enhancing the photochromic properties in layer-by-layer films

We described the use of block copolymer micelles as building blocks for the incorporation of water-insoluble photochromic species of azobenzene and the fabrication of multilayer films by alternating the deposition of the block copolymer micelles of poly(styrene-b-acrylic acid), incorporating azobenzene and poly(diallyl-dimethylammonium chloride). The azobenzene incorporated into the block copolymer micelles can undergo a reversible photoisomerization under the irradiation of UV and visible light sources. An interesting finding is that the photoisomerization of the azobenzene in the multilayer film is faster than it is in its normal solid film, but very similar to that in its diluted solution. Furthermore, the amount of azobenzene incorporated into the micelles can influence the photoisomerization rates in the films. Therefore, we expect that the block copolymer micelles may provide a proper microenvironment for the photoisomerization of azobenzene and the as-prepared polyelectrolyte/block copolymer micelle thin films will be useful for photoswitching materials.     

Supramolecular self-assembly of multiblock copolymers in aqueous solution

A unique pH-dependent phase behavior from a copolymer micellar solution to a collapsed hydrogel with micelles ordered in a hexagonal phase was observed. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) was used to follow the pH-dependent structural evolution of micelles formed in a solution of a pentablock copolymer consisting of poly((diethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-b-(ethylene oxide)-b-(propylene oxide)-b-(ethylene oxide)-b-(diethylaminoethyl methacrylate)) (PDEAEM25-b-PEO100-b-PPO65-b-PEO100-b-PDEAEM25). Between pH 3.0 and pH 7.4, we observed the presence of charged spherical micelles. Increasing the pH of the micelle solution above pH 7.4 resulted in increasing the size of the micelles due to the increasing hydrophobicity of the PDEAEM blocks above their pKa of 7.6. The increase in size of the spherical micelles resulted in a transition to a cylindrical micelle morphology in the pH range 8.1-10.5, and at pH >11, the copolymer solution undergoes macroscopic phase separation. Indeed, the phase separated copolymer sediments and coalesces into a hydrogel structure that consists of 25-35 wt % water. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) clearly indicated that the hydrogel has a hexagonal ordered phase. Interestingly, the process is reversible, as lowering of the pH below 7.0 leads to rapid dissolution of the solid into homogeneous solution. We believe that the hexagonal structure in the hydrogel is a result of the organization of the cylindrical micelles due to the increased hydrophobic interactions between the micelles at 70 degrees C and pH 11. Thus we have developed a pH-/temperature-dependent, reversible hierarchically self-assembling block copolymer system with structures spanning nano- to microscale dimensions.     

Thermoresponsive reversible behavior of multistimuli pluronic-based pentablock copolymer at the air-water interface

Surface behavior of the pH- and thermoresponsive amphiphilic ABCBA pentablock copolymer has been studied with respect to the environmental conditions. We demonstrate that the pentablock copolymer poly((diethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-b-(ethylene oxide)-b-(propylene oxide)-b-(ethylene oxide)-b-(diethylaminoethyl methacrylate)) possesses reversible temperature changes at the air-water interface in a narrow pH range of the water subphase. Significant diversity in the surface morphology of pentablock copolymer monolayers at different pH and temperatures observed were related to the corresponding reorganization of central and terminal blocks. Remarkable reversible variations of the surface pressure observed for the Langmuir monolayers at pH 7.4 in the course of heating and cooling between 27 and 50 degrees C is associated with conformational transformations of terminal blocks crossing the phase line in the vicinity of the lower critical solution temperature point. The observed thermoresponsive surface behavior can be exploited for modeling of the corresponding behavior of pentablock copolymers adsorbed onto various biointerfaces for intracellular delivery for deeper understanding of stimuli-responsive transformations relevant to controlled drug and biomolecules release and retention.