Synthesis of Amphiphilic ABCBA-Type Pentablock Copolymer from Consecutive ATRPs and Self-Assembly in Aqueous Solution

Summary: A novel amphiphilic ABCBA-type pentablock copolymer with properties that are sensitive to temperature and pH, poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone)-block-poly(2,2,2- trifluoroethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA- b-PTFEMA-b-PCL-b-PTFEMA-b-PDMAEMA), was synthesized via consecutive atom transfer radical polymerizations (ATRPs). The copolymers obtained were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, respectively. The aggregation behaviors of the pentablock copolymers in aqueous solution with different pH (pH = 4.0, 7.0 and 8.5) were studied. Transmission electron microscopic images revealed that spherical micelles from self-assembly of the pentablock copolymer were prevalent in all cases. The mean diameters of these micelles increased from 34, 46, to 119 nm when the pH of the aqueous solution decreased from 8.5, 7.0, to 4.0, respectively.     

Drug and plasmid DNA co-delivery nanocarriers based on abctype polypeptide hybrid miktoarm star copolymers

We report on the fabrication of self-assembled micelles from ABC-type miktoarm star polypeptide hybrid copolymers consisting of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(L-lysine), and poly(ε-caprolactone) arms, PEO(-b-PLL)-b-PCL, and their functional applications as co-delivery nanocarriers of chemotherapeutic drugs and plasmid DNA. Miktoarm star copolymer precursors, PEO(-b-PZLL)-b-PCL, were synthesized at first via the combination of consecutive "click" reactions and ring-opening polymerizations (ROP), where PZLL is poly(ε-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine). Subsequently, the deprotection of PZLL arm afforded amphiphilic miktoarm star copolymers, PEO(-b-PLL)-b-PCL. In aqueous media at pH 7.4, PEO(-b-PLL)-b-PCL self-assembles into micelles consisting of PCL cores and hydrophilic PEO/PLL hybrid coronas. The hydrophobic micellar cores can effectively encapsulate model hydrophobic anticancer drug, paclitaxel; whereas positively charged PLL arms within mixed micellar corona are capable of forming electrostatic polyplexes with negatively charged plasmid DNA (pDNA) at N/P ratios higher than ca. 2. Thus, PEO(-b-PLL)-b-PCL micelles can act as co-delivery nanovehicles for both chemotherapeutic drugs and genes. Furthermore, polyplexes of pDNA with paclitaxel-loaded PEO(-b-PLL)-b-PCL micelles exhibited improved transfection efficiency compared to that of pDNA/blank micelles. We expect that the reported strategy of varying chain topologies for the fabrication of co-delivery polymeric nanocarriers can be further applied to integrate with other advantageous functions such as targeting, imaging, and diagnostics.     

pH-Responsive PEGylated nanogels as targetable and low invasive endosomolytic agents to induce the enhanced transfection efficiency of nonviral gene vectors

A pH-responsive PEGylated nanogel was successfully prepared by means of emulsion copolymerization of 2-(N,N-diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (AMA) with heterobifunctional poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) bearing a 4-vinylbenzyl group at the α-end and a lactose moiety at the ω-end in the presence of potassium persulfate and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linker. Polyplex micelle composed of PEG-block-poly(l-lysine) copolymer and plasmid DNA (PEG-b-PLL/pDNA) exhibited a far more efficient transfection ability in the presence of lac-nanogel-8k-1.0% (PEG, M _n = 8000; cross-linking density, 1.0%) than the PEG-b-PLL/pDNA polyplex micelle alone (in the absence of lac-nanogel-8k-1.0%), suggesting that an appreciable fraction of lac-nanogel-8k-1.0% along with the PEG-b-PLL/pDNA polyplex micelle is taken up into the HuH-7 cells through the asialoglycoprotein receptor-mediated endocytosis process mediated by the cluster of a large number of lactose moieties on the surface of lac-nanogel-8k-1.0%, followed by the effective disruption of the endosome by the buffer effect of the unprotonated PAMA core in lac-nanogel-8k-1.0%. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Thermal characterization of biodegradable methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(d,l-lactide)/methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) blend nanoparticles

Biodegradable methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(d,l-lactide) (MPEG-b-PDLL) and methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) (MPEG-b-PCL) diblock copolymers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of DLL and CL monomers in bulk using stannous octoate, and MPEG as the initiating system. Surfactant-free MPEG-b-PDLL/MPEG-b-PCL blend nanoparticles were prepared by the nanoprecipitation method. The influences of block length and blend ratio on morphology, average size, and thermal properties of the blend nanoparticles were determined. The blend nanoparticles were spherical in shape. The average particle sizes slightly decreased as the MPEG-b-PCL blend ratio increased. ¹H-NMR and thermogravimetry revealed the different MPEG-b-PDLL/MPEG-b-PCL blend ratios of the nanoparticles. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that the MPEG-b-PCL crystallinity steadily decreased as the MPEG-b-PDLL blend ratio increased, suggesting miscible blending between the MPEG-b-PDLL and MPEG-b-PCL in the amorphous phase of the nanoparticle matrix.     

Preparation of stable gold nanoparticles by using diblock copolymer mixture as encapsulating agent

Gold nanoparticles by using the mixture of polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinyl pyridine)/poly(2-vinyl pyridine)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-P2VP/P2VP-b-PEO) block copolymers as encapsulating agent was prepared. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy and contact angle. It is demonstrated that the obtained gold nanoparticles are covered with mixed block copolymer shells. The hydrophilic property of the nanoparticles can be varied by the change of the dispersion medium. The obtained gold nanoparticles with mixed block copolymer shells are stable in organic solvents (such as tetrahydrofuran and toluene) and water.     

Cisplatin-loaded polymer/magnetite composite nanoparticles as multifunctional therapeutic nanomedicine

Multifunctional nanocarriers with multilayer core-shell architecture were prepared by coating superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles with diblock copolymer folate-poly（ethylene glycol）-b-poly（glycerol monomethacrylate） （FA-PEG-b- PGMA）, and triblock copolymer methoxy poly（ethylene glycol）-b-poly（2-（dimethylamino） ethyl methacrylate）-b- poly（glycerol monomethacrylate） （MPEG-b-PDMA-b-PGMA）. The PGMA segment was attached to the surfaces of Fe304 nanoparticles, and the outer PEG shell imparted biocompatibility. In addition, folate was conjugated onto the surfaces of the nanocarriers. Cisplatin was then loaded into the nanocarrier by coordination between the Pt atom in cisplatin and the amine groups in the inner shell of the multilayer architecture. The loaded cisplatin showed pH-responsive release： slower release at pH 7.4 （i.e. mimicking the blood environment） and faster release at more acidic pH （i.e. mimicking endosome/lysosome conditions）. All of the cisplatin-loaded nanoparticles showed concentration-dependent cytotoxicity in HeLa cells. However, the folate-conjugated cisplatin-loaded carriers exhibited higher cytotoxicity in HeLa cells than non-folate conjugated cisplatin-loaded carriers.     

Hybrid supramolecular hydrogels induced by Au nanoparticles protected with MPEG-b-PCL copolymers with α-cyclodextrin

To fabricate supramolecular hydrogel hybridised with well-dispersed gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), water-soluble AuNPs protected with methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(?-caprolactone) (MPEG-b-PCL) self-assembled monolayers (MPEG-b-PCL/AuNPs) were synthesised and used as guest molecules to interact with α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) in aqueous solutions. Transmission electron microscopy measurement results showed that the diameter of the AuNPs produced was about 6–10 nm with a narrow particle size distribution, and stained MPEG-b-PCL/AuNPs micelles made in water clearly displayed the formation of a core-shell structure with a single gold core per micelle. X-ray diffraction measurement results confirmed that there existed the characteristic peaks of both AuNPs and polypseudorotaxanes formed via the inclusion complexation of MPEG-b-PCL moieties with α-CD in as-obtained hydrogels. UV–visible spectra displayed that the same surface plasma resonance absorption peaks appeared at 526 nm for both aqueous dispersion of MPEG-b-PCL/AuNPs and resultant hybrid hydrogel with α-CD. Rheological measurements showed that the hybrid hydrogel has a lower mechanical strength and viscosity, and a relatively prolonged gelation time in comparison with the corresponding native hydrogel. The mechanical strength of the hydrogel nanocomposites could be tailored by modulating the concentration of MPEG-b-PCL/AuNPs and α-CD as well as the composition of MPEG-b-PCL/AuNPs.     

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.     

Study on Self-assembly of Poly(ethylene glycol)- block-poly(γ-benzyl L -glutamate)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) Copolymer and Poly(γ-benzyl L -glutamate)- block-poly(ethylene glycol) Copolymer in Ethanol

Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG) copolymer was synthesized by the ester exchange reaction of poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PBLG-block-PEG) copolymer with PEG chain, and PBLG-block-PEG copolymer was prepared by a standard N-carboxyl-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate anhydride (NCA) method. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to confirm the components of PBLG-block-PEG and PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG. The self-association behaviors of PBLG-block-PEG and PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG in ethanol were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic laser scattering (DLS), and viscometry. The experimental results revealed that the different molecular structures could exert marked effects on the self-assembly behaviors of PBLG-block-PEG and PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG in ethanol. PBLG-block-PEG and PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG could self-assemble to form polymeric micelles with a core-shell structure in the shapes of plump spherical and regular rice-like, respectively. Effects of the introduction of PBLG homopolymer on the average particle diameter of the micelles of PBLG-block-PEG and PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG and influence of testing temperature on the critical micelle concentration of different copolymers were studied.     

Novel organotin-containing diblock copolymer with tunable nanostructures: Synthesis, self-assembly and morphological change

Interesting self-assembly behavior and morphological change of a novel organotin-containing diblock copolymer were firstly reported. The organotin-containing diblock copolymer, poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-poly(acetoxydibutyltin methacrylate) (PMMA-b-PADBTMA), was prepared via RAFT polymerization of ADBTMA with PMMA as the macroCTA and AIBN as the initiator in toluene. Both the FT-IR and TG analysis revealed an incorporation of both co-monomers in the resulted polymer backbone. The ratio of two segments was determined indirectly by TG analysis, gravimetric method and derivative process. All results from the different methods were well matched. And it was found that the morphology of the diblock copolymer could be changed easily from vesicles to nano-particle or cross-linked nano-composite under the ultrasonication or additional Ph₂SnCl₂, respectively. All the morphologies were analyzed by SEM, TEM and DLS. The self-assembly and the morphological change attributed to the strong coordination action between tin atoms and the carbonyl groups among PADBTMA segments.     

Synthesis, self-assembly and responsive properties of PEG-b-PDMAEMA-b-PMMAzo triblock copolymers

A novel amphiphilic copolymer poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(N,N-dimethylamino-2-ethylmethacrylate)-blockpoly[6-(4-methoxy-azobenzene-4’-oxy) hexyl methacrylate](PEG-b-PDMAEMA-b-PMMAzo) was prepared by ATRP polymerization.The self-assembly and responsive behaviors were investigated by SEM,TEM,LLS and UV-Vis spectra.The results indicated that the copolymers can self-assemble into spherical structures in aqueous media.The aggregate size can be tuned by pH and temperature.The trans-cis isomerization behavior of the formed aggregates was also examined.Upon irradiation with a linear polarized light,the elongation degree of the aggregates was increased with the irradiation time.     

Synthesis of polypropylene block copolymers from brominated styrene-terminated isotactic polypropylene

Isotactic polypropylene block copolymers, isotactic-polypropylene-block-poly (methyl methacrylate) (i-PP-b-PMMA) and isotactic-polypropylene-block-polystyrene (i-PP-b-PS), were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using a brominated styrene-terminated isotactic polypropylene macroinitiator synthesized from bromination of styrene-terminated isotactic polypropylene. The styrene-terminated isotactic polypropylene can be obtained by polymerization of propylene in the presence of styrene and hydrogen chain transfer agents using a rac-Me₂Si[2-methyl-4-(1-naphyl)Ind]₂ZrCl₂ as catalyst. The molecular weights of isotactic polypropylene block copolymers were controlled by altering the amount of hydrogen used in the polymerization of propylene and the amount of monomer used in the blocking reaction. The effect of i-PP-b-PS block copolymer on PP-PS blends and that of i-PP-b-PMMA block copolymer on PP-PMMA blends were studied by scanning electron microscopy.     

Preparation of nanoparticle colloids of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-poly(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">D</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">L</Emphasis>-lactide): effects of surfactant and organic solvent

Nanoparticle colloids of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(D,L-lactide) (MPEG-b-PDLL) diblock copolymer were prepared by a modified spontaneous emulsification solvent diffusion method using acetone/ethanol as the mixture organic solvents. The MPEG-b-PDLL was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of D,L-lactide using stannous octoate and MPEG with molecular weight of 5,000 g/mol as the initiating system. The MPEG-b-PDLL obtained was an amorphous polymer with molecular weight of 73,600 g/mol. Influences of acetone/ethanol (v/v) ratios and Tween 80 surfactant concentrations on characteristics of the colloidal nanoparticles were investigated and discussed. Light-scattering analysis showed that average diameters of the surfactant-free colloidal nanoparticles were in the range of 86–124 nm. The nanoparticle sizes decreased as the ethanol ratio increased. The Tween 80 did not show the significant effect on the nanoparticle sizes. Scanning electron micrographs of dried nanoparticles that demonstrated the aggregation of most particles suggested they were the soft nanoparticles. However, the dried nanoparticle morphology can be observed from scanning electron microscopy as having a spherical shape and smooth surfaces.     

Effects of denaturing acid on the self-association behaviour of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(γ-benzyl l-glutamate)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer in ethanol

Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(γ-benzyl l-glutamate)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG) copolymer was synthesised by the ester exchange reaction of PEG-block-PBLG copolymer with mPEG. The self-association behaviour of PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG in mixtures of ethanol, chloroform, and trifluoroacetic acid as denaturing acid was investigated by transmission electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and viscometry. It was revealed that the increase in denaturing acid content in the mixed system not only promoted the critical micelle concentration but also changed the morphology of the polymeric micelles from elliptical to spherical.     

Surface patterns of block copolymers in thin layers after vapor treatment

A systematic study of formation of surface patterns in block copolymer thin layers after their exposure to solvent vapors was performed. The studied effect involves layers of thickness approximately equal to the ordering size of polymers - about 45 nm. Experiments were performed on three styrene - methacrylate derivative block copolymers, synthesized by living anionic polymerization: poly(4-octylstyrene)-block-poly(butyl methacrylate), poly(4-fluorostyrene)-block-poly(butyl methacrylate) and poly(p-octylstyrene)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate). The polymers were exposed to vapors of chloroform, 1,4-dioxane, hexane, acetone and tetrahydrofuran.     

Aggregation Behavior of Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly (γ-benzyl L-glutamate)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) Copolymer and its Blends with Poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate) Homopolymer in Mixed Solvents

Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG) copolymer was synthesized by the ester exchange reaction of PBLG-block-PEG copolymer with mPEG. The self-association behaviors of PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG and its blends with PBLG homopolymer in the mixtures of ethanol and dimethylformamide (DMF) were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and viscometry. Effects of the introduction of PBLG homopolymer, the grafting ratio, and the DMF content on the self-association behaviors of PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG copolymer in the mixtures of ethanol and DMF were mainly researched. It was revealed that PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG copolymer could self-assemble to form polymeric micelles with a core-shell structure in various shapes from different preparation conditions. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the average particle diameter of the micelles formed by PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG copolymer in the mixed solvents also changed with different preparation conditions.     

Morphological evolution of aggregates induced by the hydrophobic effect and hydrogen bonding interaction

The aggregation behavior of poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(methylmethacrylate) (PEO-b-PMMA) in toluene without and with the addition of polar small-molecules has been characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The preparation method involved copolymer dissolution in toluene which is a selective solvent for polymethylmethacrylate at room temperature, followed by the addition of polar small-molecules. By increasing polarity of the small-molecules at the same copolymer concentrations, these aggregates were found to undergo morphological transformations from spherical aggregates to multiple morphologies, including bean-pod liked structures (the morphologies are biomimetic), spheres and vesicles. A possible mechanism for the formation of this aggregate is proposed.     

Properties of a poly(ethylene glycol)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">block</Emphasis>-poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis>-benzyl <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-glutamate)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">graft</Emphasis>-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer membrane

Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(γ-benzyl l-glutamate)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-block-PBLG-graft-PEG) copolymer was synthesized by the ester exchange reaction of PBLG-block-PEG copolymer with a PEG chain. Surface morphology of the PEG-block-PBLG-graft-PEG copolymer membrane was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Mechanical and chemical properties of the PEG-block-PBLG-graft-PEG copolymer membrane were investigated by tensile testing and contact angle testing. The effects of grafting ratio on the properties of PEG-block-PBLG-graft-PEG copolymer membrane were primarilly studied.     

Photolysis-induced micellization of a poly(4-tert-butoxystyrene)-block-polystyrene diblock copolymer

A novel micellization induced by photolysis was attained using a poly(4-tert-butoxystyrene)-block-polystyrene diblock copolymer (PBSt-b-PSt). BSt-b-PSt showed no self-assembly in dichloromethane and existed as isolated copolymers. Dynamic light scattering demonstrated that the copolymer produced spherical micelles in dichloromethane by the irradiation with a high-pressure mercury lamp in the presence of photoacid generators, such as bis(alkylphenyl)iodonium hexafluorophosphate (BAI), diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate (DPI), and triphenylsulfonium triflate (TPS). The irradiation time to promote the micellization increased in the order of BAI < DPI < TPS, depending on the UV absorption intensity of the photoacid generators. The efficiency to promote the micellization was also dependent on the block length of the copolymer. Under an identical PBSt block length, the copolymer with the shorter PSt block length more easily formed micelles. The ¹H NMR analysis confirmed that the PBSt-b-PSt copolymer was converted into poly(4-vinyl phenol)-block-PSt, resulting in micelles by self-assembly.     

Application of pH-responsive poly(2-dimethyl-aminoethylmethacrylate)-block-poly(acrylic acid) coatings for the open-tubular capillary electrochromatographic analysis of acidic and basic compounds

A new type of stimuli-responsive polymeric (SRP) coating has been prepared for use in open tubular capillary electrochromatography (OT-CEC), by grafting poly(2-dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate)-block-poly(acrylic acid) (PDMAEMA-b-PAA) as a Y-shaped block copolymer with two dissimilar chain compositions onto the inner walls of aminopropyl-modified silica capillaries. The grafting process introduced weakly charged functional groups from the PAA and PDMAEMA, enabling the generation of electroendosmotic flow with magnitude and direction adjustable by changing the pH of the running buffer electrolyte. This stimuli-responsive PDMAEMA-b-PAA block copolymer was found to provide excellent resolution of various acidic and basic compounds, leading to efficient analyte separation. When operated in the OT-CEC mode, separation selectivities could be readily manipulated via differential contributions from chromatographic and electrophoretic mechanisms, simply by changing the pH or the ionic strength of the running buffer electrolyte.