Effect of pH on Poly(acrylic acid) Solution Polymerization

The free-radical redox-initiated aqueous solution polymerization of fully and partially neutralized acrylic acid was carried out at room temperature under full exposure to air. The effect of neutralization degree on the polymerization rate and product properties was studied. Increasing neutralization of the reaction mixture with sodium hydroxide resulted in greater conversion of acrylic acid to sodium acrylate. The rate of polymerization, determined from a gravimetric off-line water removal technique, was shown to decrease significantly with decreasing degree of neutralization. Molecular weight also decreased with decreasing degree of neutralization. The glass transition temperature and hydrophilicity of the polymer product decreased with increasing degree of neutralization. In-line infrared monitoring was also used to monitor the reaction progress and was shown to be an effective tool for this purpose.     

氧化偶联聚合的方法合成新型电活性聚醚砜及其结构表征

通过氧化偶联聚合的方法我们制备了一种新型电活性聚芳醚砜,这种聚合物主链上含有苯基封端的苯胺四聚体齐聚物单元。我们通红外、核磁和XRD对其结构进行了表征。在1.0M的硫酸水溶液介质中我们对其电活性进行了研究,聚合物展现出两对氧化还原峰。此外,我们使用TGA测试手段对其热稳定性也做了研究。在室温质子酸掺杂的条件下聚合物的导电率为1.37 × 10-7 S·cm-1。     

Synthesis of Comblike Poly（methyl methacrylate） by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization with Poly（ethyl 2-bromoacrylate） as Macroinitiator

Comblike poly(methyl methacrylate) was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate with poly(ethyl 2-bromoacrylate) as a macroinitiator, which was prepared by conventional free radical polymerization of ethyl 2-bromoacrylate. The obtained comblike polymers were characterized by GPC and ^1H NMR.     

Fluorescence Spectra of the Poly (N-vinylcarbazole) Obtained with Asymmetric Polymerization

Introduction.Poly(N-vinylcarbazole)(PVCZ)hasreceivedmuchattentionasarepresentativephotoconductivepolymerandextensivestudiesonmechanical,physical,chemicalandelectricalpropertieshavebeenreported"'.Ingeneral,thePVCZobtainedbyradicalandordinarycanonpolym...     

Kinetics and Modeling of Vinyl Acetate Graft Polymerization from Poly(ethylene glycol)

A kinetic model for the graft polymerization of VAc from PEG was developed using the method of moments. Experiments were carried out to verify the model. The effect of various parameters, such as initiator concentration, temperature, and PEG molecular weight on the polymerization kinetics was examined. Polymerization rate, grafting efficiency, graft copolymer molecular weight, and PEG grafted ratio were measured. The model was in good agreement with the experimental data. No gel effect was observed at the studied PEG/VAc weight ratio of 1:1. The chain transfer constant to PEG was correlated to be . The model was also applied in a semi‐batch reaction and compared with the experimental results.

     

表面引发的原子转移自由基聚合法在聚偏二氟乙烯表面制备可控的聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯刷

采用表面引发的原子转移自由基聚合法(ATRP)在聚偏二氟乙烯(PVDF)表面制备结构可控的聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯刷。通过碱处理和紫外光照溴代的方法,将ATRP引入到PVDF表面; 然后采用ATRP法将甲基丙烯酸甲酯接枝到溴代的PVDF表面。采用傅里叶变换红外光谱和X-射线光电子能谱对改性前后PVDF表面的结构进行了表征。结果表明甲基丙烯酸甲酯成功地接枝到了PVDF表面。     

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.

     

Functional Polyolefins: Poly(ethylene)‐graft‐Poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) via Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization From a Polybrominated Alkane

Poly(cis‐cyclooctene) is synthesized via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization in the presence of a chain‐transfer agent and quantitatively hydrobrominated. Subsequent graft polymerization of tert‐butyl acrylate (tBA) via Cu‐catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) from the non‐activated secondary alkyl bromide moieties finally results in PE‐g‐PtBA copolymer brushes. By varying the reaction conditions, a series of well‐defined graft copolymers with different graft densities and graft lengths are prepared. The maximum extent of grafting in terms of bromoalkyl groups involved is approximately 80 mol%. DSC measurements on the obtained graft copolymers reveal a decrease in T_m with increasing grafting density.     

Quantum Chemical Investigation of Secondary Reactions in Poly(vinyl chloride) Free‐Radical Polymerization

Free‐radical polymerization of vinyl chloride is investigated computationally with special attention to the secondary reactions involving mid‐chain radicals (MCRs). Namely, the rate constants of backbiting, chain scission, chain transfer, and propagation reactions are evaluated using a density functional theory method. The rate coefficients of such reactions are estimated taking into account the position of the radical along the chain as well as its distance from the chain‐end. In particular 1:5, 5:1, and 5:9 backbiting are the most relevant secondary reactions, followed by the slower propagation of MCRs. Finally, a kinetic model of suspension polymerization including the investigated reactions is developed, in order to determine their impact on the quality of the final polymer.

     

Dually Responsive Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)-b-poly(dimethylsiloxane)-b-poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) Polymersomes for Controlled Delivery

Limited tissue selectivity and targeting of anticancer therapeutics in systemic administration can produce harmful side effects in the body. Various polymer nano-vehicles have been developed to encapsulate therapeutics and prevent premature drug release. Dually responsive polymeric vesicles (polymersomes) assembled from temperature-/pH-sensitive block copolymers are particularly interesting for the delivery of encapsulated therapeutics to targeted tumors and inflamed tissues. We have previously demonstrated that temperature-responsive poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL)-b-poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-b-PVCL polymersomes exhibit high loading efficiency of anticancer therapeutics in physiological conditions. However, the in-vivo toxicity of these polymersomes as biocompatible materials has not yet been explored. Nevertheless, developing an advanced therapeutic nanocarrier must provide the knowledge of possible risks from the material’s toxicity to support its future clinical research in humans. Herein, we studied pH-induced degradation of PVCL₁₀-b-PDMS₆₅-b-PVCL₁₀ vesicles in-situ and their dually (pH- and temperature-) responsive release of the anticancer drug, doxorubicin, using NMR, DLS, TEM, and absorbance spectroscopy. The toxic potential of the polymersomes was evaluated in-vivo by intravenous injection (40 mg kg⁻¹ single dose) of PVCL₁₀-PDMS₆₅-PVCL₁₀ vesicles to mice. The sub-acute toxicity study (14 days) included gravimetric, histological, and hematological analyses and provided evidence for good biocompatibility and non-toxicity of the biomaterial. These results show the potential of these vesicles to be used in clinical research.     

Poly(lactic acid) Synthesis in Solution Polymerization

The step-growth polymerization of L-lactic acid in solution was studied in this work. In order to attain a polymer with high molecular weight, the water formed during the polymerization must be continuously removed. The use of organic solvents with high boiling point, drying agents and reduced pressure led to poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with high molecular weight, directly from the monomer. Tin (II) chloride dihydrate, SnCl₂.2H₂O, was the best of the catalysts tested as it allowed achieving PLA with a molecular weight close to 80 000 g.mol⁻¹. However, the stereoregurarity control is a severe problem in PLA synthesis by step-growth due to transesterification reactions, which lead to an inversion of the conformation and a decrease of the optical purity of the polymer. Specific rotation measurements were used in this work and showed to be a powerful technique to evaluate the racemization extent. The thermal stability of the PLA samples was evaluated by DSC which exhibits a thermal behaviour similar to the commercial Polylactide.     

原子转移自由基聚合法制备侧链型磺化聚醚醚酮阳离子交换膜

以二氟二苯甲酮、双酚A和邻甲基氢醌为单体先经缩聚反应生成聚醚醚酮(PEEK),PEEK经修饰合成含有溴异丙基侧基的聚醚醚酮,以此为原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)大分子引发剂,通过ATRP法聚合,在PEEK主链上接枝引入聚苯乙烯磺酸钠侧链,得到侧链型PEEK接枝聚合物(PEEK-g-StSO3Na)。 用傅里叶变换红外(FTIR) 光谱、核磁共振氢谱(1H NMR)、热重分析(TG)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)等技术手段对PEEK-g-StSO3Na的结构进行表征。 结果表明,苯乙烯磺酸钠成功的被接枝到聚醚醚酮主链上,PEEK-g-StSO3Na膜具有明显的亲水疏水微相分离结构,磺酸基团相互聚集形成离子通道,离子交换容量为2.034 mmol/g的PEEK-g-StSO3Na膜的电导率为8.34×10-2 S/cm,膜的尺寸稳定性优于Nafion 117。     

Cobalt‐Mediated Radical Polymerization of Vinyl Acetate in Miniemulsion: Very Fast Formation of Stable Poly(vinyl acetate) Latexes at Low Temperature

Summary: Poly(vinyl acetate) macroinitiators end‐capped by a Co(acac)₂ complex (PVAc–Co(acac)₂), prepared in bulk by cobalt‐mediated radical polymerization (CMRP), are used for the controlled radical polymerization of vinyl acetate in miniemulsion to give high‐molecular‐weight polymers and high monomer conversion. Stable poly(vinyl acetate) latexes with solid contents ranging from 25 to 30 wt.‐% are prepared within unusually short reaction times (∼1 h) at low temperatures (0–30 °C).

SEC chromatograms for the PVAc–Co(acac)₂ macroinitiator and PVAc latex obtained under ultrasonication for 6 min at 0 °C (79% monomer conversion).     

Synthesis of Poly(methyl acrylate) Grafted onto Silica Particles by Z-supported RAFT Polymerization

RAFT polymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) mediated by silica-supported 3-(methoxycarbonyl-phenyl-methylsulfanylthiocarbonylsulfanyl) propionic acid (Si- MPPA) and 3-(benzylsulfanylthiocarbonylsulfanyl) propionic acid (Si-BSPA) was investigated. The molecular weight and polydispersity of grafted polymeric chains and the grafted chain transfer agent (CTA) efficiency (G_e) were strongly dependent on the types and loading of Si-CTAs and free CTA used in solution. Under similar reaction conditions, the graft polymerization mediated by Si-MPPA was better controlled than that using Si-BSPA. The introduction of a free CTA in solution during Si-MPPA mediated polymerization could significantly decrease the polydispersity of free and grafted polymeric chains and enhance the grafted CTA efficiency, and longer polymeric chains could be grafted onto silica support when Si-MPPA with a higher CTA loading was used to mediate the polymerization. In all cases, the RAFT polymerization using 2-(2-cyanopropyl) dithiobenzoate (CPDB) as a free CTA could afford well-defined grafted PMA and significantly increased G_e value, while the polymerization rate was also decreased.     

Preparation of Functional Poly(aroyltriazole)s by Metal-Free Click Polymerization

Functional poly(aroyltriazoles) (PATAs) were synthesized by heating mixtures of bis(aroylacetylene)s and diazides in polar solvents such as DMF/toluene at a moderate temperature of 100 °C with high molecular weights (M_w up to 17 200) and regioregularities (1,4-regioisomeric ratio up to ∼95%) in high yields (up to ∼95%). The obtained polymers are soluble in common organic solvents and are thermally stable. The PATAs containing triphenylamine units emit visible light and show unique solvatochromism, exhibiting large two-photon absorption cross sections due to the intramolecular charge transfer between their electron-donating triphenylamine and electron-accepting aroyltriazole units. The tetraphenylethene (TPE)-functionalized polymer shows intriguing aggregation-induced emission phenomenon, that is, the polymer is weakly emissive in its solution state but emit strongly in its aggregate/solid state with quantum yield of ∼7.1%.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Thermo-responsive Poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone)-block-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Micelles

A novel thermo-responsive diblock copolymer of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone)-block-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNVP-b-PNIPAM) was synthesized. FT-IR, ¹H-NMR and SEC results confirmed the successful synthesis of PNVP-b-PNIPAM diblock copolymer via anionic polymerization. The polymeric micelles formed from PNVP-b-PNIPAM copolymer in aqueous solution were developed and characterized as a potential thermo-responsive and biocompatible drug delivery system. Micellization of the diblock copolymer in aqueous solution was characterized by dynamic laser scattering (DLS), turbidity measurement, tension measurement and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The thermo-responsive polymeric micelles with the size ranges of 200 to 260 nm and thickness of 30 nm are localized, selected and targeted for drug release, having a great potential in response to external-stimulus such as temperatures from 35 to 39°C. The critical micellization concentration (cmc) of PNVP-b-PNIPAM in aqueous solution is 0.0026 wt% determined by turbidity measurement. The size of micelles determined by DLS increased from 163 to 329 nm with increasing concentration of PNVP-b-PNIPAM from 0.25 to 0.5 wt% in aqueous solution at 40°C, which is determined by DLS.     

Competition between Polymerization and Dissolution of Poly(3-methylthiophene) Films

Films of electrically conducting polymer, poly(3-methylthiophene), are dissolved in monomer-free solutions at positive potentials to become thin, whereas they are polymerized in monomer-rich solutions at the same potentials as for the dissolution. A question arises whether they are dissolved or polymerized in solutions including a given concentration of the monomer when a positive potential is applied to the film. Conditions of the competition between the polymerization and the dissolution were searched at potentiostatic experiments for poly(3-methylthiophene) films at various concentrations of monomers and potentials. The dissolution prevailed over the polymerization as the concentration decreased and the potential was less positive. Chronoamperometric currents exhibited oscillation under the competition conditions. The oscillation was explained in terms of the Lotka–Volterra model for a simple oscillation reaction, in which competitive species were the conducting polymer and the monomer.     

乙基纤维素接枝聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺共聚物合成及其胶束化研究

通过单电子转移“活性”/可控自由基聚合的方法制备了具有双亲性及温度响应性的乙基纤维素接枝聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺共聚物(EC-g-PNIPAm). 通过凝胶渗透色谱、核磁氢谱和红外光谱等对合成的接枝共聚物进行了表征. 我们发现此反应在混合溶剂四氢呋喃/甲醇的混合溶剂中是活性可控的. EC-g-PNIPAm接枝共聚物能够在选择性溶剂水中发生自组装现象, 形成稳定的以乙基纤维素为核、聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺为壳的球形胶束. 并且随着温度的升高, 支链聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺发生塌缩使得球形胶束发生收缩.     

Biodegradable Poly(ester hydrazide)s via Enzymatic Polymerization

Summary: The reaction of hydrazine with ethyl glycolate results in 1,2‐bisglycoylhydrazine, a monomer that was used for the lipase‐catalyzed synthesis of biodegradable poly(ester hydrazide)s. The polymers derived from the hydrazide‐containing monomer and vinyl‐activated adipic, suberic, and sebacic acid, respectively, showed low melting temperatures of 136 to 141 °C and are thermally stable up to 300 °C. The aliphatic poly(ester hydrazide)s (PEHs) are highly crystalline, as proven by polarization microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Further, the PEHs represent the first described biodegradable poly(hydrazide)s. They degrade in the presence of lipase at 37 °C within a few weeks.

Synthetic route to poly(ester hydrazide)s.     

Design,Synthesis and Characterization of A Novel Cationic Polymer Poly(lactic acid-b-L-lysine)

A novel biodegradable block copolymer poly(lactic acid-b-lysine) (PLA-b-PLL) has been synthesized and characterized in this study. This product was synthesized via a five-step reaction: Synthesis of hydroxyl-tailed poly(lactic acid) (PLA) by the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of D,L-lactide in the presence of stannous octoate (Sn(OCt)₂) as initiator; coupling N-t-butoxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanine to hydroxyl-tailed PLA using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP); the amino-tailed PLA was obtained through de-protection of the Boc-protective group in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solution; and then ring-opening polymerization of N ^ε -(Z)-lysine-N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) using the amino-tailed PLA as macro-initiator; finally removal of the Cbz-protective group of PLA-b-poly(N ^ε -(Z)-L-lysine) (PLA-b-PLL(Z) in a mixed hydrobromic acid/acetic acid solution to give the target copolymer. The characterization of this copolymer and its precursors were performed by ¹H-NMR, FTIR and GPC. The block copolymer PLA-b-PLL, combining the characteristics of an aliphatic polyester and poly(amino acids), could be of potential interest in a variety of medical applications, such as the fields of targeted drug delivery and gene delivery systems.