Synthesis of Chain-End Functionalized PP and Applications in Exfoliated PP/Clay Nanocomposites

This paper summarizes our research to the preparation of chain-end functionalized isotactic polypropylene (i-PP) having a terminal functional group, such as an OH and an NH₂. The chemistry involves metallocene-mediated propylene polymerization using the rac-Me₂Si[2-Me-4-Ph(Ind)]₂ZrCl₂/MAO complex in the presence of styrene derivatives (St-f) and hydrogen, which serve as the chain transfer agents. The molecular weight of the resulting i-PP polymers with terminal OH or NH₂ groups (i.e., PP-t-OH and PP-t-NH₂) are inversely proportional to the molar ratio of [St-f]/[propylene]. Despite the extremely low concentration of functional groups, the high molecular weight NH₃⁺-terminated PP (PP-t-NH₃⁺) exhibits a distinctive advantage over other functional PP polymers containing side chain functional groups or long functional blocks. The terminal hydrophilic NH₃⁺ cation, with good mobility and reactivity, effectively ion-exchanges the cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, etc.) located between the clay interlayers, and anchors the PP chain to the clay surfaces. On the other hand, the remaining rest of the unperturbed, end-tethered, high molecular weight PP tail exfoliates the clay layers. This exfoliated structure is maintained even after further mixing of the PP-bearing platelets with pure, neat PP polymers.     

Glyco-Modification of Protein With O-Cyanate Chain-End Functionalized Glycopolymer via Isourea Bond Formation

Glycoengineering aimed at the addition of carbohydrates to proteins is an attractive approach to alter the pharmacokinetic properties of proteins, such as enhancing stability and prolonging the duration of action. We report a novel protein glyco-modification of BSA and recombinant thrombomodulin with O-cyanate chain-end functionalized glycopolymer via isourea bond formation. The protein glycoconjugates were confirmed by SDS-PAGE, western blot, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Protein C activation activity of the glyco-modified recombinant thrombomodulin was confirmed, proving no interference with activity from the glycopolymer modification. The isourea bond formation under mild conditions was demonstrated as an alternative method for protein modification with polymers.     

Recent Advances in Polyurethane/POSS Hybrids for Biomedical Applications

Advanced organic-inorganic materials-composites, nanocomposites, and hybrids with various compositions offer unique properties required for biomedical applications. One of the most promising inorganic (nano)additives are polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS); their biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and phase separation ability that modifies the material porosity are fundamental properties required in modern biomedical applications. When incorporated, chemically or physically, into polyurethane matrices, they substantially change polymer properties, including mechanical properties, surface characteristics, and bioactivity. Hence, this review is dedicated to POSS-PU composites that have recently been developed for applications in the biomedical field. First, different modes of POSS incorporation into PU structure have been presented, then recent developments of PU/POSS hybrids as bio-active composites for scaffolds, cardiovascular stents, valves, and membranes, as well as in bio-imaging and cancer treatment, have been described. Finally, characterization and methods of modification routes of polyurethane-based materials with silsesquioxanes were presented.     

Recent Advances in the Synthesis and Biomedical Applications of Heterocyclic NO-Donors

Nitric oxide (NO) is a key signaling molecule that acts in various physiological processes such as cellular metabolism, vasodilation and transmission of nerve impulses. A wide number of vascular diseases as well as various immune and neurodegenerative disorders were found to be directly associated with a disruption of NO production in living organisms. These issues justify a constant search of novel NO-donors with improved pharmacokinetic profiles and prolonged action. In a series of known structural classes capable of NO release, heterocyclic NO-donors are of special importance due to their increased hydrolytic stability and low toxicity. It is no wonder that synthetic and biochemical investigations of heterocyclic NO-donors have emerged significantly in recent years. In this review, we summarized recent advances in the synthesis, reactivity and biomedical applications of promising heterocyclic NO-donors (furoxans, sydnone imines, pyridazine dioxides, azasydnones). The synthetic potential of each heterocyclic system along with biochemical mechanisms of action are emphasized.     

多肽聚合物合成新方法及生物医学应用

多肽聚合物是以多肽为主链的合成聚合物,由于其固有的生物相容性和生物降解性,在生物医学领域展现出广阔的应用前景,然而多肽聚合物的高效、快速、简便合成仍然具有很大挑战。近年来随着合成化学的快速发展,基于α-氨基酸的N-羧基环内酸酐(NCA)开环聚合法制备多肽聚合物取得了突破性进展,合成了大量基于多肽聚合物的新型材料。本文首先介绍了NCA单体的合成机理及最新改进,然后重点介绍了近年来新发展的NCA开环聚合快速、高效制备多肽聚合物的不同引发或催化体系,最后简要介绍了多肽聚合物在抗菌剂、药物递送及组织工程等领域的应用,并提出了多肽聚合物材料在生物医学领域应用所面临的挑战。     

双温度响应性新型糖聚合物的合成与表征

本文采用原子转移自由基聚合法(ATRP), 设计合成了具有双温度响应性质的新型糖聚合物, 并对其在水溶液中的胶束化行为进行了动态光散射研究. 结果表明, 该系列糖聚合物具有双温度响应区间, 并且在水中形成表面呈正电性的胶束, 因此可望将其作为带负电的生物大分子(如单链DNA等)的新型载体.     

含糖聚合物可控合成研究进展

活性聚合技术的进步,使设计合成结构可控的含糖聚合物成为可能.本文介绍了阴离子聚合、阳离子聚合、原子转移自由基聚合、可逆加成断裂链转移聚合、硝基氧介导聚合、开环聚合和开环易位聚合等一系列可控/"活性"聚合技术在合成含糖聚合物中的应用,并对这一领域所取得的研究进展及现状进行了综述.     

Processing and Properties of Nanofibrous Bacterial Cellulose-Containing Polymer Composites: A Review of Recent Advances for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an extracellular natural polymer produced by many microorganisms and its properties could be tailored via specific fabrication methods and culture conditions. There is a growing interest in BC derived materials due to the main features of BC such as porous fibrous structure, high crystallinity, impressive physico-mechanical properties, and high water content. However, pristine BC lacks some features, limiting its practical use in varied applications. Thus, fabrication of BC composites has been attempted to overcome these constraints. This review article overviews most recent advance in the development of BC composites and their potential in biomedicine including wound dressing, tissue engineering scaffolds, and drug delivery. Special emphasis is placed on the fabrication and applications of BC-containing nanofibrous composites for biomedical usage. It summarizes electrospinning of BC-based nanofibers and their surface modification with an outline on challenges and future perspective.     

Aggregation-Induced Emission: Recent Advances in Materials and Biomedical Applications

The concept of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) has opened new opportunities in many research fields. Motivated by the unique feature of AIE fluorogens (AIEgens), during the past decade, many AIE molecular probes and AIE nanoparticle (NP) probes have been developed for sensing, imaging and theranostic applications with excellent performance outperforming conventional fluorescent probes. This Review summarizes the latest advancement of AIE molecular probes and AIE NP probes and their emerging biomedical applications. Special focus is to reveal how the AIE probes are evolved with the development of new multifunctional AIEgens, and how new strategies have been developed to overcome the limitations of traditional AIE probes for more translational applications via fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging and image-guided photodynamic/photothermal therapy. The outlook discusses the challenges and future opportunities for AIEgens to advance the biomedical field.     

端基功能化聚烯烃的合成与应用

端基功能化聚烯烃（Cef-PO）在聚烯烃改性和构筑复杂结构聚合物方面有着重要应用。可通过控制烯烃配位聚合过程中的自发链转移反应,得到端基不饱和聚烯烃;或通过引入硼烷、磷烷、苯乙烯及其衍生物/氢气等链转移剂得到不同反应性基团封端的聚烯烃;再经进一步基团转化反应,得到多种不同性能的Cef-PO。另外,活性配位聚合过程中,通过对活性增长聚烯烃链选择性封端处理,或使用功能化的催化剂,也可以用来制备Cef-PO。通过配位链转移聚合,即聚烯烃链在催化剂金属中心和烷基金属链转移剂之间快速可逆链转移的聚合过程,可以直接得到具有高度反应活性的碳-金属键封端的聚烯烃,经化学转化得到Cef-PO。此外,叶立德活性聚合、共轭二烯烃的阴离子活性聚合和环烯烃的开环易位聚合也可以用来制备Cef-PO。向其他聚合方式（活性自由基聚合、活性阴离子聚合等）的转换及与点击化学的结合是Cef-PO应用的明显特点。Cef-PO的应用包括作为聚合物的改性剂以及用于合成具有复杂结构的聚合物。     

Recent Advances in Glycerol Polymers: Chemistry and Biomedical Applications

Glycerol polymers are attracting increased attention due to the diversity of polymer compositions and architectures available. This article provides a brief chronological review on the current status of these polymers along with representative examples of their use for biomedical applications. First, the underlying chemistry of glycerol that provides access to a range of monomers for subsequent polymerizations is described. Then, the various synthetic methodologies to prepare glycerol‐based polymers including polyethers, polycarbonates, polyesters, and so forth are reviewed. Next, several biomedical applications where glycerol polymers are being investigated including carriers for drug delivery, sealants or coatings for tissue repair, and agents possessing antibacterial activity are described. Fourth, the growing market opportunity for the use of polymers in medicine is described. Finally, the findings are concluded and summarized, as well as the potential opportunities for continued research efforts are discussed.

     

Unlocking the Drug Potential of the Bryostatin Family: Recent Advances in Product Synthesis and Biomedical Applications

Bryostatins are a class of naturally occurring macrocyclic lactones with a unique fast developing portfolio of clinical applications, including treatment of AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. This comprehensive account summarizes the recent progress (2014–present) in the development of bryostatins, including their total synthesis and biomedical applications. An emphasis is placed on the discussion of bryostatin 1 , the most-studied analogue to date. This review highlights the synthetic and biological challenges of bryostatins and provides an outlook on their future development.     

表面引发聚合新进展及应用

综述了近年来聚合物刷合成与应用方面的新进展.简要介绍了利用表面引发原子转移自由基聚合(SI-ATRP)制备聚合物刷的历程和重要进展.重点论述了通过电化学、光诱导以及牺牲阳极技术、仿生合成等发展了多种表面引发ATRP新方法,基于如何将聚合物从分子尺度过渡到微米尺度的思考,实现了多尺度聚合物刷结构的制备.简要综述了聚合物刷在以下3个方面的应用研究:(1)智能驱动,利用聚合物刷构象变化,实现微悬臂驱动、辅助放大的电驱动以及仿毛毛虫运动.(2)生物润滑,利用聚合物的环境响应行为实现了对摩擦系数的调控,并发展了球刷型润滑材料.(3)表面防污,表面接枝含离子液体官能团的聚合物刷,并与仿生技术相结合,利用化学组成和结构化协同效应,得到一系列高性能低毒海洋防污界面材料.     

壳聚糖基生物医用材料及其应用研究进展

壳聚糖是一种极具发展潜力的天然生物材料,其在生物医学领域的研究和应用越来越受到重视。阐述了壳聚糖及其衍生物作为生物医用材料的特性,介绍了壳聚糖基生物医用材料的应用现状和发展趋势。     

Synthesis of Functionalized Proline-Derived Azabicycloalkane Amino Acids and Their Applications in Drug Discovery: Recent Advances

After the first synthesis reported in 1994, azabicycloalkane amino acids have raised increasing interest, becoming one of the most important classes of constrained dipeptide mimics. Their incorporation into peptidomimetic structures allowed the obtainment of a wide range of biologically active compounds. Over the years, different research groups have worked at the development of synthetic strategies to gain these rigid dipeptide surrogates, nevertheless, methods affording functionalized and “easy-to-functionalize” derivatives are quite less described. The presence of a derivatizable azabicycloalkanone core could allow the introduction of chemical modifications aimed to improve the pharmaceutical properties of a biologically active compound without the need for redesigning its chemical synthesis. This account has collected and critically surveyed relevant approaches to the synthesis of functionalized azabicycloalkane amino acids, focusing the attention on the period of 2010 to the present. Moreover, recent applications of these compounds in drug discovery will be discussed.     

单原子材料类酶催化及生物医学应用研究进展

纳米酶因其经济、 稳定、 性质可调和可循环利用等诸多优势, 成功地克服了天然酶在实际应用中的不足. 单原子材料的出现使得对纳米酶的研究迈入原子水平, 其较高的原子利用率、 独特的配位环境和较强的金属-载体相互作用为揭示纳米酶构效关系及调控类酶活性提供了可能. 本文总结了近年来单原子材料类酶催化的研究进展, 重点讨论了单原子材料类酶活性的调控策略和催化机理, 概述了单原子类酶材料在癌症治疗、 抗氧化治疗、 抗菌以及生物传感等方面的应用, 并对单原子类酶材料的发展前景进行了展望.     

Design,Synthesis, and Biomedical Applications of Glycotripods for Targeting Trimeric Lectins

In the last decades, various efforts have been made to synthesize optimal glycotripods for targeting trimeric glycoproteins like asialoglycoprotein receptor, hemagglutinin, and langerin. All these trimeric glycoproteins have sugar binding pockets which are highly selective for a particular carbohydrate ligand. Optimized glycotripods are high affinity binders and have been used for delivering drugs or even applied as drug candidates. The selection of the tripodal base scaffold together with the length and flexibility of the linker between the scaffold and sugar residue, as important design parameters are discussed in this review.     

Advances in Electrostatic Spinning of Polymer Fibers Functionalized with Metal-Based Nanocrystals and Biomedical Applications

Considering the metal-based nanocrystal (NC) hierarchical structure requirements in many real applications, starting from basic synthesis principles of electrostatic spinning technology, the formation of functionalized fibrous materials with inorganic metallic and semiconductor nanocrystalline materials by electrostatic spinning synthesis technology in recent years was reviewed. Several typical electrostatic spinning synthesis methods for nanocrystalline materials in polymers are presented. Finally, the specific applications and perspectives of such electrostatic spun nanofibers in the biomedical field are reviewed in terms of antimicrobial fibers, biosensing and so on.     

Recent Advances in the Catalytic Synthesis of the Cyclopentene Core

Five-membered carbocycles are ubiquitously found in natural products, pharmaceuticals, and other classes of organic compounds. Within this category, cyclopentenes deserve special attention due to their prevalence as targets and as well as key intermediates for synthesizing more complex molecules. Herein, we offer an overview summarizing some significant recent advances in the catalytic assembly of this structural motif. A great variety of synthetic methodologies and strategies are covered, including transition metal-catalyzed or organocatalyzed processes. Both inter- and intramolecular transformations are documented. On this ground, our expertise in the application of C−H functionalization reactions oriented towards the formation of this ring and its subsequent selective functionalization is embedded.     

水滑石(LDHs)及其衍生物在生物医药领域的研究进展

生物医学涉及到人类健康相关的多个领域:临床医疗、公共卫生、医药研发等多个方面.其中在医药研发领域,基于插层结构的纳米药物载体的研发已经成为重要发展方向之一.水滑石(LDHs)及其衍生物具有成本低、合成简单、载药高效、细胞膜透过率高、生物相容性好、易降解等优点,在生物医药领域得到了广泛关注.本文主要介绍了LDHs及其衍生物的制备方法,以及在抗菌治疗、生物成像和肿瘤治疗等方面的应用.此外,还简述了LDHs材料的规模化生产方法和现状,进一步分析了LDHs的实际应用前景.最后,对LDHs材料在生物医药领域的未来发展方向进行了展望.