New tetrafunctional monomer 1,3‐di(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methacryloyloxypropoxy)benzene in the synthesis of porous microspheres

Synthesis and properties of the new aromatic tetrafunctional methacrylate monomer 1,3‐di(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methacryloyloxypropoxy)benzene are presented. This monomer was applied for the synthesis of porous microspheres. It was copolymerized with trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate in the presence of pore‐forming diluents, decan‐1‐ol and chlorobenzene. Influence of diluents composition on their porous structures was studied. Thermal resistance and tendency to swell in different organic diluents for a chosen sample were also determined. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3190–3201, 2009     

Use of a new methacrylic monomer, 4,4′‐di(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methacryloyloxypropoxy)benzophenone,in the synthesis of porous microspheres

A new aromatic, tetrafunctional methacrylate monomer, 4,4′‐di(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methacryloyloxypropoxy)benzophenone, and its application to the synthesis of porous microspheres are presented. This new monomer was copolymerized with divinylbenzene in the presence of pore‐forming diluents. The properties of the obtained highly crosslinked microspheres were investigated as column packing for high‐performance liquid chromatography. Their porous structures in both dry and wet states were studied and compared with those of poly(divinylbenzene) and the less crosslinked copolymer of 2,3‐epoxypropyl methacrylate and divinylbenzene. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 7014–7026, 2006     

A humidity blocker approach to overcoming the humidity interference with cationic photopolymerization

A humidity blocker approach to overcoming the humidity interference with cationic photopolymerization is proposed and validated. Environmental humidity is one of the major interfering factors in cationic photopolymerization, and cationic photopolymerization is found to be inhibited by high humidity. When curing cycloaliphatic epoxide based cationic UV curable materials flexibilized by various reactive diluents under different humidity conditions, it was found that the more hydrophobic materials exhibited higher monomer conversion under higher humidity. To obtain cationic UV curable materials that are less influenced by humidity, a humidity blocker approach was proposed and monomer conversion of materials containing both hydroxy‐functional reactive diluents and epoxy‐siloxane were examined using real‐time FTIR. The hydroxy‐functional reactive diluents act as an internal hydroxyl source that enhances monomer conversion through chain transfer mechanism, and the hydrophobic epoxy‐siloxane acts as a humidity blocker, mitigating the inhibiting effects of humidity. Cationic UV curable materials with an optimized combination of these two components exhibited higher and more consistent monomer conversion under a range humidity conditions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4344–4351, 2008     

The effect of the N‐substituent s‐trans to the carbonyl group of N‐methylacrylamide derivatives on the stereospecificity of radical polymerizations

Radical polymerization of N‐methylacrylamide (NMAAm), N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAAm), and N‐methyl‐N‐phenylacrylamide (MPhAAm) was investigated in toluene at low temperatures. Atactic, isotactic, and syndiotactic polymers were obtained by the polymerization of NMAAm, DMAAm, and MPhAAm, respectively, indicating that the stereospecificity of the radical polymerization of acrylamide derivatives depended on the N‐substituents of the monomer used. From the viewpoint of monomer structure, the origin of the stereospecificity of radical polymerization of NMAAm derivatives is discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6534–6539, 2009     

Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐N,O‐dimethacryloylhydroxylamine) particles by dispersion polymerization

Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐N,O‐dimethacryloylhydroxylamine) particles were prepared by dispersion polymerization in toluene/2‐methylpropan‐1‐ol medium using cellulose acetate butyrate and dibenzoyl peroxide (BPO) as a steric stabilizer and initiator, respectively. The particle size was reduced with decreasing solvency of the reaction medium (more nuclei were generated) because the critical chain length of the precipitated oligomers decreased with an increasing toluene content, which is a poorer solvent for the polymer than 2‐methylpropan‐1‐ol. There is an optimum initiator concentration (2 wt % BPO relative to monomers) for producing low‐polydispersity particles under given conditions. Additionally, discrete spherical particles were obtained at a low monomer concentration and/or higher polymerization temperature. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1625–1632, 2002     

Ring‐opening polymerization of 1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one initiated by lanthanum isopropoxide in bulk

Lanthanum isopropoxide (La(OiPr)₃) has been synthesized and employed for ring‐opening polymerization of 1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one in bulk as a single‐component initiator. The influences of reaction conditions such as initiator concentration, reaction time, and reaction temperature on the polymerization were investigated. The kinetics indicated that the polymerization is first‐order with respect to the monomer concentration. The Mechanistic investigations according to ¹H NMR spectrum analysis demonstrated that the polymerization of PDO proceeded through a coordination‐insertion mechanism with a rupture of the acyl‐oxygen bond of the monomer rather than the alkyl‐oxygen bond cleavage. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5214–5222, 2008     

Atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene using the novel initiator ethyl 2‐N,N‐(diethylamino)dithiocarbamoyl‐butyrate

The atom transfer radical polymerizations (ATRPs) of styrene initiated by a novel initiator, ethyl 2‐N,N‐(diethylamino)dithiocarbamoyl‐butyrate (EDDCB), in both bulk and solution were successfully carried out in the presence of copper(I) bromide (CuBr) and N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine at 115 °C. The polymerization rate was first‐order with respect to the monomer concentration, and the molecular weights of the obtained polymers increased linearly with the monomer conversions with very narrow molecular weight distributions (as low as 1.17) up to higher conversions in both bulk and solution. The polymerization rate was influenced by various solvents in different degrees in the order of cyclohexanone > dimethylformamide > toluene. The molecular weight distributions of the produced polymers in cyclohexanone were higher than those in dimethylformamide and toluene. The results of ¹H NMR analysis and chain extension confirmed that well‐defined polystyrene bearing a photo‐labile N,N‐(diethylamino)dithiocarbamoyl group was obtained via ATRP of styrene with EDDCB as an initiator. The polymerization mechanism for this novel initiation system is a common ATRP process. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 32–41, 2006     

Optimal irradiation wavelength in iniferter‐based photocontrolled radical polymerization

In iniferter‐based photocontrolled radical polymerization optimal irradiation wavelength was examined for precise molecular design of star vectors, which can function as high‐performance gene carriers. Monochromatic light in the range from 330 to 400 nm with the interval of about 10 nm was irradiated to tetrafunctional iniferter, 1,2,4,5‐tetrakis(N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamylmethyl)benzene, in the presence of N,N‐dimethyaminopropylacrylamide (DMAPAAm), as a model monomer, in toluene. In all wavelengths tetrabranched polymers were produced except for 400‐nm‐irradiation. The highest conversion reaching to about 35% was observed at the wavelength of 370 nm after only 40 min of irradiation. There was no further increase in conversion by combination with another two wavelengths. HPLC analysis and NMR spectra showed that the polymerization at the optimal wavelength of 370 nm was occurred in a living manner with the ability to control the chain length (from about 5000 to 40,000) having very narrow polydispersity (about 1.6) by changing of the irradiation time, the intensity, and the monomer concentration. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4505–4512, 2008     

Control of various morphological changes of poly(meth)acrylate microspheres and their swelling degrees by SPG emulsification

Crosslinked poly(meth)acrylate polymers with a variety of morphologies were synthesized with two steps. In the first step, a microporous glass membrane (Shirasu Porous Glass, SPG) was employed to prepare uniform emulsion droplets by applying an adequate pressure to the monomer phase, which was composed of the ADVN initiator, solvent of toluene or heptane or their mixture, and a mixture of (meth)acrylate monomers. The droplets were formed continuously through the membrane and suspended in the aqueous solution, which contained a PVA‐127 suspending agent, SLS emulsifier, and NaNO₂ inhibitor to suppress the nucleation of secondary particles. SPG pore sizes of 0.90, 5.25, and 9.25 μm were used. Then the emulsion droplets were polymerized at 343 K with a rotation rate 160 rpm for 24 h. The (meth)acrylate monomers 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate (2‐EHA), 2‐ethylhexyl methacrylate (2‐EHMA), cyclohexyl acrylate (CHA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), lauryl acrylate (LA), and lauryl methacrylate (LMA) were used in this research. The influences of the ratios of the monomer and crosslinking agent EGDMA, the amount of diluents, the monomer type on the polymer particle morphology, the swelling degree, and the polymer particle size were investigated. It was found that an increase in the concentrations of EGDMA and heptane resulted in higher coarse porous spheres and smaller polymer particle sizes. A coefficient with a variation close to 10%, or a standard deviation of about 4, was obtained. The capacity of these spheres as solvent absorption materials was examined. The highest swelling degrees of heptane and toluene were obtained when LA was employed as the monomer with 30% (by weight) of EGDMA and 70% (by weight) of heptane as an inert solvent. The highest capacity of the solvent absorption was obtained when using a polymer particle size of 4.81 μm, as prepared by SPG pore size 0.9 μm. The polymer particles were able to absorb aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents, aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, and a mix of aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents and aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, such as toluene and heptane. The capacity of solvent absorption for the aromatic hydrocarbon solvents was higher than for the aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents. In addition, the particles did not rupture or collapse after absorption in solvents. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4038–4056, 2000     

Influence of diluent composition on the porous structure of methacrylate copolymers

The porous structure of copolymers obtained by suspension polymerization has been investigated. Three different copolymers were synthesized—styrene‐divinylbenzene, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate‐divinylbenzene, and 1,4‐phenylene dimethacrylate‐divinylbenzene. All the copolymers were porous. As a pore‐forming diluent, the mixture of toluene (good solvent) and n‐dodecane (nonsolvent) was used. The influence of the composition of two‐component diluent on the porous structure of the copolymers has been examined. Surface areas, pore volumes, pore size distributions, skeletal and apparent densities, and swellability coefficients were determined for the copolymers obtained in the presence of 0, 15, 50, 85, and 100% (v/v) toluene in the mixture with n‐dodecane. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3079–3085, 2002     

Anionic polymerization of 1,3‐cyclohexadiene with alkyllithium/amine system in an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent: Predominant formation of 1,2‐addition product

Steric hindrance of the amine strongly affected the formation of the dominant 1,2‐addition product from the anionic polymerization of 1,3‐cyclohexadiene (1,3‐CHD) initiated by the alkyllithium (RLi)/amine system in an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent. 1,2‐Cyclohexadiene (1,2‐CHD)/1,4‐cyclohexadiene (1,4‐CHD) unit molar ratios from 85/15 to 93/7 were obtained using an RLi/N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) system in toluene. The C? Li bonds of poly(1,3‐cyclohexadienyl)lithium (PCHDLi)/TMEDA complex in toluene appeared to be strongly polarized with small steric hindrance. Intermolecular forces contributing to the aggregation were strong for high‐molecular‐weight poly(1,3‐cyclohexadiene) (PCHD) consisting of almost all 1,2‐CHD units. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6604–6611, 2008     

Soluble tin(II) macroinitiator adducts for the controlled ring‐opening polymerization of lactones and cyclic carbonates

Polyesters and poly(ester carbonates) were synthesized via ring‐opening polymerization with new tin(II) macroinitiator adducts containing oligomeric L ‐lactide (LLA), rac‐lactide (rac‐LA), and ?‐caprolactone (CL). The novel initiating species were synthesized by the reaction of LLA, rac‐LA, or CL with Sn(OEt)₂ (monomer concentration/initiator concentration ≤20) and then were dissolved in methylene chloride or toluene and stored in a stoppered flask for the subsequent ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic esters and carbonates. The soluble tin alkoxide macroinitiators yielded predictable and quantitative initiation of polymerization for up to 1 month of storage time at room temperature. The resulting polymers displayed low polydispersity (≤1.5), and a high monomer conversion (>95%) was obtained within relatively short polymerization times (≤2 h). Adjusting the monomer/macroinitiator ratio effectively controlled the molecular weights of the polymers. NMR was used to characterize the initiating species and polymer microstructure, and size exclusion chromatography was used to determine the molecular weight properties of the polymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3434–3442, 2002     

Synthesis of chitosan‐based thermo‐ and pH‐responsive porous nanoparticles by temperature‐dependent self‐assembly method and their application in drug release

In this research, thermo‐ and pH‐responsive chitosan‐based porous nanoparticles were prepared by the temperature‐dependent self assembly method. The chitosan‐graft‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (CS‐g‐PNIPAAm) copolymer solution was prepared through polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) monomer in the presence of chitosan (CS) solution using cerium ammounium nitrate as the initiator. Then, CS‐g‐PNIPAAm solution was diluted by deionized water and heated to 40 °C for CS‐g‐PNIPAAm self‐assembly. After that, CS‐g‐PNIPAAm assembled to form micelles in which shell layer was CS. Crosslinking agent was used to reinforce the micelle structure to form nanoparticle. The molar ratio of CS/NIPAAm in the feed mixture was changed to investigate its effect on structure, morphology, thermal‐ and pH‐responsive properties of the nanoparticles. TEM images showed that a porous structure of nanoparticles was developed. The synthesized nanoparticles carried positive charges on the surface and exhibited stimuli‐responsive properties, and their mean diameter thus could be manipulated by changing pH value and temperature of the environment. The nanoparticles showed a continuous release of the encapsulated doxycycline hyclate up to 10 days during an in‐vitro release experiment. These porous particles with environmentally sensitive properties are expected to be utilized in hydrophilic drug delivery system. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5126–5136, 2009     

A novel tridentate nitrogen donor as ligand in copper catalyzed ATRP of methyl methacrylate

A tridentate ligand, BPIEP: 2,6‐bis[1‐(2,6‐diisopropyl phenylimino) ethyl] pyridine, having central pyridine unit and two peripheral imine coordination sites was effectively employed in controlled/“living” radical polymerization of MMA at 90°C in toluene as solvent, Cu^IBr as catalyst, and ethyl‐2‐bromoisobutyrate (EBiB) as initiator resulting in well‐defined polymers with polydispersities M_w/M_n ≤ 1.23. The rate of polymerization follows first‐order kinetics, k_app = 3.4 × 10^?5 s^?1, indicating the presence of low radical concentration ([P*] ≤ 10^?8) throughout the reaction. The polymerization rate attains a maximum at a ligand‐to‐metal ratio of 2:1 in toluene at 90°C. The solvent concentration (v/v, with respect to monomer) has a significant effect on the polymerization kinetics. The polymerization is faster in polar solvents like, diphenylether, and anisole, as compared to toluene. Increasing the monomer concentration in toluene resulted in a better control of polymerization. The molecular weights (M_n,SEC) increased linearly with conversion and were found to be higher than predicted molecular (M_n,Cal). However, the polydispersity remained narrow, i.e., ≤1.23. The initiator efficiency at lower monomer concentration approaches a value of 0.7 in 110 min as compared to 0.5 in 330 min at higher monomer concentration. The aging of the copper salt complexed with BPIEP had a beneficial effect and resulted in polymers with narrow polydispersitities and higher conversion. PMMA obtained at room temperature in toluene (33%, v/v) gave PDI of 1.22 (M_n = 8500) in 48 h whereas, at 50°C the PDI is 1.18 (M_n = 10,300), which is achieved in 23 h. The plot of lnk_app versus 1/T gave an apparent activation energy of polymerization as (ΔE^≠_app) 58.29 KJ/mol and enthalpy of equilibrium (ΔH⁰_eq) to 28.8 KJ/mol. Reverse ATRP of MMA was successfully performed using AIBN in bulk as well as solution. The controlled nature of the polymerization reaction was established through kinetic studies and chain extension experiments. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4996–5008, 2005     

Synthesis of adaptative and amphiphilic polymer model conetworks by versatile combination of ATRP,ROP, and “Click chemistry”

Well‐defined adaptative and amphiphilic polymer conetworks based on hydrophilic poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) and hydrophobic poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) have been prepared by combination of ATRP, ROP, and “Click chemistry.” Telechelic α,ω‐alkyne terminated PCL crosslinker was obtained by ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of CL in THF at 80 °C initiated by 1,4‐butanediol and catalyzed by tin(II) bis 2‐ethyl hexanoate (Sn(Oct)₂), followed by the quantitative esterification of hydroxyl end‐groups by activated 4‐pentynoic acid. In parallel, an azido‐containing PDMAEMA‐based copolymer was obtained in a three‐step strategy involving primarily the copolymerization of DMAEMA with newly synthesized 2‐(2‐azidoethoxy)ethyl methacrylate (AEEMA) monomer. The latter was obtained by nucleophilic substitution of chloride atom from 2‐(2‐chloroethoxy)ethanol by an azide group followed by the esterification reaction of the hydroxyl group with methacrylic anhydride. The copolymerization was carried out in an equivolumic mixture of H₂O and isopropanol at r.t. and initiated by a ω‐bromoisobutyryl oligo PEO macroinitiator in the presence of various ligated copper(I)‐based catalysts. In a last step, both polymer precursors were chemically linked by the Huisgen‐1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition in anhydrous THF at r.t. using CuBr complexed by 2,2′‐bipyridine ligand as catalyst. Final material was characterized by the means of DSC and SEM, both attesting of a homogeneous distribution of the PCL crosslinkers and a highly porous structure in this new amphiphilic model conetworks. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4997–5013, 2008     

Use of N‐methyliminodiacetic acid boronate esters in suzuki‐miyaura cross‐coupling polymerizations of triarylamine and fluorene monomers

Polytriarylamine copolymers can be prepared by Suzuki‐Miyaura cross‐coupling reactions of bis N‐methyliminodiacetic acid (MIDA) boronate ester substituted arylamines with dibromo arenes. The roles of solvent composition, temperature, reaction time, and co‐monomer structure were examined and (co)polymers prepared containing 9, 9‐dioctylfluorene (F8), 4‐sec‐butyl or 4‐octylphenyl diphenyl amine (TFB), and N, N′‐bis(4‐octylphenyl)‐N, N′‐diphenyl phenylenediamine (PTB) units, using a Pd(OAc)₂/2‐dicyclohexylphosphino‐2′,6′‐dimethoxybiphenyl (SPhos) catalyst system. The performance of a di‐functionalized MIDA boronate ester monomer was compared with that of an equivalent pinacol boronate ester. Higher molar mass polymers were produced from reactions starting with a difunctionalized pinacol boronate ester monomer than the equivalent difunctionalized MIDA boronate ester monomer in biphase solvent mixtures (toluene/dioxane/water). Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectroscopic analysis revealed that polymeric structures rich in residues associated with the starting MIDA monomer were present, suggesting that homo‐coupling of the boronate ester must be occurring to the detriment of cross‐coupling in the step‐growth polymerization. However, when comparable reactions of the two boronate monomers with a dibromo fluorene monomer were completed in a single phase solvent mixture (dioxane + water), high molar mass polymers with relatively narrow distribution ranges were obtained after only 4 h of reaction. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2798–2806     

Reaction control in radical polymerization of di‐n‐butyl itaconate utilizing a hydrogen‐bonding interaction

We have reported that intramolecular chain‐transfer reaction takes place in radical polymerization of itaconates at high temperatures and/or at low monomer concentrations. In this article, radical polymerizations of di‐n‐butyl itaconate (DBI) were carried out in toluene at 60 °C in the presence of amide compounds. The ¹³C‐NMR spectra of the obtained poly(DBI)s indicated that the intramolecular chain‐transfer reaction was suppressed as compared with in the absence of amide compounds. The NMR analysis of DBI and N‐ethylacetamide demonstrated both 1:1 complex and 1:2 complex were formed at 60 °C through a hydrogen‐bonding interaction. The ESR analysis of radical polymerization of diisopropyl itaconate (DiPI) was conducted in addition to the NMR analysis of the obtained poly(DiPI). It was suggested that the suppression of the intramolecular chain‐transfer reaction with the hydrogen‐bonding interaction was achieved by controlling the conformation of the side chain at the penultimate monomeric unit of the propagating radical with an isotactic stereosequence. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4895–4905, 2004     

One‐stage synthesis of narrowly dispersed polymeric core‐shell microspheres

A method of one‐stage soap‐free emulsion polymerization to synthesize narrowly dispersed core‐shell microspheres is proposed. Following this method, core‐shell microspheres of poly(styrene‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine), poly(styrene‐co‐methyl acrylic acid), and poly[styrene‐co‐2‐(acetoacetoxy)ethyl methacrylate‐co‐methyl acrylic acid] are synthesized by one‐stage soap‐free emulsion polymerization of a mixture of one or two hydrophobic monomers and a suitable hydrophilic monomer in water. The effect of the molar ratio of the hydrophobic monomer to the hydrophilic one on the size, the core thickness, and the shell thickness of the core‐shell microspheres is discussed. The molar ratio of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers and the hydrophilicity of the resultant oligomers of the hydrophilic monomer are optimized to synthesize narrowly dispersed core‐shell microspheres. A possible mechanism of one‐stage soap‐free emulsion polymerization to synthesize core‐shell microspheres is suggested and coagglutination of the oligomers of the hydrophilic monomers on the hydrophobic core is considered to be the key to form core‐shell microspheres. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1192–1202, 2008     

Living tert‐butyllithium initiated anionic polymerization of 2‐vinylnaphthalene in toluene‐tetrahydrofuran mixtures

The tert‐butyllithium (t‐BuLi) initiated polymerization of carefully purified 2‐vinylnaphthalene in toluene containing small amounts of tetrahydrofuran with respect to t‐BuLi proceeds on a timescale of several hours without significant deactivation and allows the synthesis of very narrow molecular weight distribution poly‐(2‐vinylnaphthalene) (P2VN) (polydispersities as low as 1.04) and molecular weights between 1000 and 20,000. The absence of P2VN‐Li deactivation at these conditions is also indicated by high degrees of trimethylsilyl end functionalization (>95%) and coupling with dibromoxylene. The respective polymerizations of conventionally purified monomer reveal a complex polymerization profile consistent with deactivation by 2‐acetylnaphthalene during the early stages of the reaction. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3034–3041, 2001     

Synthesis and characterization of stimuli‐responsive porous/hollow nanoparticles by self‐assembly of chitosan‐based graft copolymers and application in drug release

In this research, stimuli‐responsive porous/hollow nanoparticles were prepared by the self‐assembly method. First, chitosan‐graft‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (CS‐g‐PNIPAAm) copolymers were synthesized through polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) monomer in the presence of chitosan (CS) solution using ceric ammounium nitrate as the initiator. Then, the CS‐g‐PNIPAAm copolymers were dissolved in the acetic acid aqueous solution and heated to 40 °C to induce their self‐assembly. After CS‐g‐PNIPAAm assembled to form micelles, a cross‐linking agent was used to reinforce the structure to form nanoparticles. The molecular weight of grafted PNIPAAm on CS chains was changed to investigate its effect on the structure, morphology, thermo‐, and pH‐responsive properties of the nanoparticles. TEM images showed that a porous or hollow structure in the interior of nanoparticles was developed, depending on the medium temperature. The synthesized nanoparticles carried positive charges on the surface and exhibited stimuli‐responsive properties, and their mean diameter thus could be manipulated by changing the pH value and temperature of the environment. The nanoparticles showed a continuous release of the encapsulated doxycycline hyclate up to 10 days during an in vitro release experiment. These porous/hollow particles with environmentally sensitive properties are expected to be used in hydrophilic drug delivery system. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2377–2387, 2010