Biocompatibility evaluation of self‐assembled micelles prepared from poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide)‐poly(ethylene glycol) diblock copolymers

In this work, a series of PLGA‐PEG diblock copolymers were synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of L‐lactide and glycolide using mPEG as macroinitiator and stannous octoate as catalyst. Spherical micelles were obtained from the various copolymers by using co‐solvent evaporation method. The biocompatibility of micelles was evaluated with the aim of assessing their potential in the development of drug delivery systems. Various aspects of biocompatibility were considered, including MTT assay, agar diffusion test, release of cytokines, hemolytic test, dynamic clotting time, protein adsorption in vitro, and zebrafish embryonic compatibility in vivo. The combined results revealed that the micelles present good cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility in vitro. Moreover, the cumulative effects of micelles throughout embryos developing stages have no toxicity in vivo. It is thus concluded that micelles prepared from PLGA‐PEG copolymers present good biocompatibility as potential drug carrier.     

Thermosensitive behavior of poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) double hydrophilic block copolymers

The poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PEG/PDMAEMA) double hydrophilic block copolymers were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization using mPEG‐Br or Br‐PEG‐Br as macroinitiators. The narrow molecular weight distribution of PEG/PDMAEMA block copolymers was identified by gel permeation chromatography results. The thermosensitivity of PEG/PDMAEMA block copolymers in aqueous solution was revealed to depend significantly on pH, ionic strength, chain structure, and concentration of the block copolymers. By optimizing these factors, the cloud point temperature of PEG/PDMAEMA block copolymers can be limited within body temperature range (30–37 °C), which suggests that PEG/PDMAEMA block copolymers could be a good candidate for drug delivery systems. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 503–508, 2010     

Synthesis,pH‐ and temperature‐induced micellization and gelation of doubly hydrophilic triblock copolymer of poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethylmethacrylate)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethylmethacrylate) in aqueous solutions

A doubly hydrophilic triblock copolymer of poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethyl methacrylate)‐b‐Poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethylmethacrylate) (PDMAEMA‐b‐PEG‐b‐PDMAEMA) with well‐defined structure and narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 1.21) was synthesized in aqueous medium via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethylmethacrylate (DMAEMA) initiated by the PEG macroinitiator. The macroinitiator and triblock copolymer were characterized with ¹H NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DSL), transmittance measurement, and rheological characterization were applied to investigate pH‐ and temperature‐induced micellization in the dilute solution of 1 mg/mL when pH > 13 and gelation in the concentrated solution of 25 wt % at pH = 14 and temperatures beyond 80 °C. The unimer of R_h = 3.7 ± 0.8 nm coexisted with micelle of R_h = 45.6 ± 6.5 nm at pH 14. Phase separation occurred in dilute aqueous solution of the triblock copolymer of 1 mg/mL at about 50 °C. Large aggregates with R_h = 300–450 nm were formed after phase separation, which became even larger as R_h = 750–1000 nm with increasing temperature. The gelation temperature determined by rheology measurement was about 80 °C at pH 14 for the 25 wt % aqueous solution of the triblock copolymer. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5869–5878, 2008     

Biodegradable electrospun mat: Novel block copolymer of poly (p‐dioxanone‐co‐L‐lactide)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol)

Ultrafine fibers of a laboratory‐synthesized new biodegradable poly(p‐dioxanone‐co‐L ‐lactide)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer were electrospun from solution and collected as a nonwoven mat. The structure and morphology of the electrospun membrane were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), and a mercury porosimeter. Solutions of the copolymer, ranging in the lactide fraction from 60 to 80 mol % in copolymer composition, were readily electrospun at room temperature from solutions up to 20 wt % in methylene chloride. We demonstrate the ability to control the fiber diameter of the copolymer as a function of solution concentration with dimethylformamide as a cosolvent. DSC and WAXD results showed the relatively poor crystallinity of the electrospun copolymer fiber. Electrospun copolymer membrane was applied for the hydrolytic degradation in phosphate buffer solution (pH = 7.5) at 37 °C. Preliminary results of the hydrolytic degradation demonstrated the degradation rate of the electrospun membrane was slower than that of the corresponding copolymers of cast film. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1955–1964, 2003     

AB2‐type amphiphilic block copolymers composed of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) via single‐electron transfer living radical polymerization: Synthesis and characterization

Novel AB₂‐type amphiphilic block copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide), PEG‐b‐(PNIPAM)₂, were successfully synthesized through single‐electron transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP). A difunctional macroinitiator was prepared by esterification of 2,2‐dichloroacetyl chloride with poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (PEG). The copolymers were obtained via the SET‐LRP of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) with CuCl/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine (Me₆TREN) as catalytic system and DMF/H₂O (v/v = 3:1) mixture as solvent. The resulting copolymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography and ¹H NMR. These block copolymers show controllable molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (PDI < 1.15). Their phase transition temperatures and the corresponding enthalpy changes in aqueous solution were measured by differential scanning calorimetry. As a result, the phase transition temperature of PEG₄₄‐b‐(PNIPAM₅₅)₂ is similar to that in the case of PEG₄₄‐b‐PNIPAM₁₁₀; however, the corresponding enthalpy change is much lower, indicating the significant influence of the macromolecular architecture on the phase transition. This is the first study into the effect of macromolecular architecture on the phase transition using AB₂‐type amphiphilic block copolymer composed of PEG and PNIPAM. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4420–4427, 2009     

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 and Herbicidal Activity of Novel N‐(2‐Fluoro‐5(3‐methyl‐2,6‐dioxo‐4‐(trifluoromethyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐pyrimidin‐1(6H)‐yl)phenyl)‐2‐phenoxyacetamide Derivatives

Thirteen novel N‐(2‐fluoro‐5‐(3‐methyl‐2,6‐dioxo‐4‐(trifluoromethyl)‐2,3‐dihydropyrimidin‐1(6H)‐yl)phenyl)‐2‐phenoxy)acetamides were designed and synthesized utilizing 4‐fluoro‐aniline and ethyl 3‐amino‐4,4,4‐trifluoro‐but‐2‐enoate as starting materials. The chemical structures of all compounds were confirmed by ¹H NMR, IR, mass spectrum and elemental analyses. Subsequently, the herbicidal activities of the as‐prepared compounds were evaluated in the greenhouse. Bioassay results indicated that most of compounds had better herbicidal activities against dicotyledonous weeds. Among all the tested compounds, compounds 4a – 4i showed good herbicidal activities at both pre‐emergence and post‐emergence treatment against two or three kinds of dicotyledonous weeds, such as Abutilon theophrasti Medic, Amaranthus ascendens L, and Chenopodium album L at the dosage of 75 g ai/ha.     

Synthesis and properties of biodegradable copolymers based on 4,4′‐(adipoyldioxy)dicinnamic acid, 1,6‐hexanediol,and poly(ethylene glycol)s

4,4′‐(Adipoyldioxy)dicinnamic acid (CAC) was synthesized by a condensation of adipoyl chloride and 4‐hydroxycinnamic acid. The CAC6 copolymers were prepared by a high‐temperature solution polycondensation of a diacyl chloride of CAC, 1,6‐hexanediol (6), and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in which the molecular weights of PEG are 1000, 2000, and 8300. Differential scanning calorimetric curves of the copolymers exhibited a glass‐transition temperature because of PEG moiety and two melting endotherms (T_m's); the one at the higher T_m was due to CAC6 moiety, and the other at the lower T_m was due to PEG moiety, suggesting that these copolymers are the block type. The incorporation of the PEG component decreased the tensile strength and initial modulus, but increased the elongation extremely. The enzymatic degradation was performed in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.2) with Ps. cepacia lipase at 37 °C. The degradation rate of the copolymers increased significantly with an increasing content of PEG, which was correlated to the water absorption of the copolymers. All copolymers could undergo photocuring by ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation (λ > 280 nm) at ambient temperature, as examined by UV spectroscopy and solubility. The CAC6/E2000(50/50) film photocured for 3 min exhibited a good elastic property with a maximum tensile strength of 3.7 MPa and maximum elongation of 640%. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2930–2938, 2003     

Dual‐responsive supramolecular inclusion complexes of block copolymer poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly[(2‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] with α‐cyclodextrin

A new class of temperature and pH dual‐responsive and injectable supramolecular hydrogel was developed, which was formed from block copolymer poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly[(2‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PEG‐b‐PDMAEMA) and α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CD) inclusion complexes (ICs). The PEG‐b‐PDMAEMA diblock copolymers with different ratio of ethylene glycol (EG) to (2‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) (102:46 and 102:96, respectively) were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). ¹H NMR measurement indicated that the ratio of EG unit to α‐CD in the resulted ICs was higher than 2:1. Thermal analysis showed that thermal stability of ICs was improved. The rheology studies showed that the hydrogels were temperature and pH sensitive. Moreover, the hydrogels were thixotropic and reversible. The self‐assembly morphologies of the ICs in different pH and ionic strength environment were studied by transmission electron microscopy. The formed biocompatible micelles have potential applications as biomedical and stimulus‐responsive material. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2143–2153, 2010     

Effect of the structure of amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol)‐containing graft copolymers on styrene emulsion polymerization

Amphiphilic graft copolymers consisting of monomeric units of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether acrylate, lauryl or stearyl methacrylate, and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate were synthesized and characterized. The effectiveness of these poly(ethylene glycol)‐containing graft copolymers in stabilizing styrene emulsion polymerization was evaluated. The polymerization rate (R_p) increases with increasing graft copolymer concentration, initiator concentration, or temperature. At a constant graft copolymer concentration, R_p increases, and the amount of coagulum decreases with the increasing hydrophilicity of graft copolymers. The polymerization system does not follow Smith–Ewart case II kinetics. The desorption of free radicals out of latex particles plays an important role in the polymerization kinetics. The overall activation energy and the activation energy for the radical desorption process are 85.4 and 34.3 kJ/mol, respectively. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1608–1624, 2002     

A one‐dimensional silver(I) coordination polymer based on an asymmetric flexible N‐donor carboxylate ligand: catena‐poly[(μ3‐4‐{[(1‐phenyl‐1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)sulfanyl]methyl}benzoato‐κ3O:O′:N4)silver(I)]

The title compound, [Ag(C₁₅H₁₁N₄O₂S)]_n, was synthesized by the reaction of 4‐{[(1‐phenyl‐1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)sulfanyl]methyl}benzoic acid (Hptmba) with silver nitrate and triethylamine at room temperature. The asymmetric unit contains one crystallographically independent Ag^I cation and one ptmba⁻ ligand. Each Ag^I cation is tricoordinated by two carboxylate O atoms and one tetrazole N atom from three different ptmba⁻ ligands, displaying a distorted T‐shaped geometry. Three Ag^I cations are linked by tris‐monodentate bridging ptmba⁻ ligands to form a one‐dimensional double chain along the c axis, which is further consolidated by an intrachain π–π contact with an offset face‐to‐face distance of 4.176 (3) Å between the centroids of two adjacent aromatic rings in neighbouring benzoate groups. The one‐dimensional chains are linked into a three‐dimensional supramolecular framework by additional π–π interchain interactions, viz. of 3.753 (3) Å between two phenyl substituents of the tetrazole rings and of 4.326 (2) Å between a benzoate ring and a tetrazole ring. Thermogravimetric analysis and the fluorescence spectrum of the title compound reveal its good thermal stability and a strong green luminescence at room temperature.     

Calixarene‐centered amphiphilic A2B2 miktoarm star copolymers based on poly(ε‐caprolactone) and poly(ethylene glycol): Synthesis and self‐assembly behaviors in water

Novel calixarene‐centered amphiphilic A₂B₂ miktoarm star copolymers composed of two PCL arms and two PEG arms with calix[4]arene as core moiety were synthesized by the combination of CROP and “click” chemistry. First, a heterotetrafunctional calix[4]arene derivative with two hydroxyl groups and two alkyne groups was designed as a macroinitiator to prepare calixarene‐centered PCL homopolymers (C4‐PCL) by CROP in the presence of Sn(Oct)₂ as catalyst at 110 °C. Next, azide‐terminated PEG (A‐PEG) was synthesized by tandem treating methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)s (mPEG) with 4‐chlorobutyryl chloride and NaN₃. Finally, copper(I)‐catalyzed cycloaddition reaction between C4‐PCL and A‐PEG led to A₂B₂ miktoarm star copolymer [C4S(PCL)₂‐(PEG)₂]. ¹H NMR, FT‐IR, and SEC analyses confirmed the well‐defined miktoarm star architecture. These amphiphilic miktoarm star copolymers could self‐assemble into multimorphological aggregates in water. The calix[4]arene moieties with a cavity <1 nm on the hydrophilic/hydrophobic interface of these aggregates may provide potential opportunities to entrap guest molecules for special applications in supermolecular science. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

A new two‐dimensional CoII coordination polymer based on bis[4‐(2‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)phenyl] ether and biphenyl‐4,4′‐diyldicarboxylic acid: synthesis,crystal structure and photocatalytic degradation activity

A novel two‐dimensional Co^II coordination framework, namely poly[(μ₂‐biphenyl‐4,4′‐diyldicarboxylato‐κ²O⁴:O^4′){μ₂‐bis[4‐(2‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)phenyl] ether‐κ²N³:N^3′}cobalt(II)], [Co(C₁₄H₈O₄)(C₂₀H₁₈N₄O)]_n, has been prepared and characterized by IR, elemental analysis, thermal analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The crystal structure reveals that the compound has an achiral two‐dimensional layered structure based on opposite‐handed helical chains. In addition, it exhibits significant photocatalytic degradation activity for the degradation of methylene blue.     

A new one‐dimensional nickel metal–organic framework: catena‐poly[[[diaquabis(4‐{[(1‐phenyl‐1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)sulfanyl]methyl}benzoato‐κO)nickel(II)]‐μ‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐κ2N:N′] monohydrate]

The title complex, {[Ni(C₁₅H₁₁N₄O₂S)₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)(H₂O)₂]·H₂O}_n, was synthesized by the reaction of nickel chloride, 4‐{[(1‐phenyl‐1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)sulfanyl]methyl}benzoic acid (HL) and 4,4′‐bipyridine (bpy) under hydrothermal conditions. The asymmetric unit contains two half Ni^II ions, each located on an inversion centre, two L⁻ ligands, one bpy ligand, two coordinated water molecules and one unligated water molecule. Each Ni^II centre is six‐coordinated by two monodentate carboxylate O atoms from two different L⁻ ligands, two pyridine N atoms from two different bpy ligands and two terminal water molecules, displaying a nearly ideal octahedral geometry. The Ni^II ions are bridged by 4,4′‐bipyridine ligands to afford a linear array, with an Ni...Ni separation of 11.361 (1) Å, which is further decorated by two monodentate L⁻ ligands trans to each other, resulting in a one‐dimensional fishbone‐like chain structure. These one‐dimensional fishbone‐like chains are further linked by O—H...O, O—H...N and C—H...O hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions to form a three‐dimensional supramolecular architecture. The thermal stability of the title complex was investigated via thermogravimetric analysis.