A new method to control the morphology and functionality of micelles is reported. Triblock copolymer micelles with atom transfer radical polymerization initiators at the interface are prepared in aqueous solution. After in‐situ polymerization at the interface, the structures of the interface and corona change, and micelles with PDMAEMA‐PEG comb–coil coronal chains are obtained. In aqueous solution, the pH exerts an influence on the morphology of the micelles. The coronal chains adopt different conformations at different pH values. Upon drying, the two coronal chains phase separate and form nanometer‐sized domains.
Mussel adhesives function as tools for surface modifications of a wide variety of materials due to their remarkable adhesion properties. Herein, a combination of bioinspired mussel adhesives based on a dopamine derivative, polymer chemistry, and well‐established Diels–Alder (DA) chemistry leads to a bioinspired switchable surface system that possesses the capability of attaching and detaching specific polymers on demand. A dopaminemaleimide compound, which has been attached to a gold surface under maritime conditions undergoes DA‐ and retro‐DA‐click‐conjugations with cyclopentadiene‐carrying PEG chains. The surface attachment and the subsequent DA/rDA cycles are evidenced via XPS analysis.
A folate‐conjugated copolymer PEG‐PLA‐PLL/folate was synthesized and mixed with pure PEG‐PLA‐PLL and a fluorescent model drug mFITC to prepare folate‐conjugated micelles. The distribution of micelles was studied on cancer‐cell‐bearing mice via frozen slicing. The r e sults show that mFITC is successfully encapsulated into folate(+) and folate(?)micelles; PEG‐PLA‐PLL micelles the latter can be internalized by both HeLa and CHO cells without selectivity due to their cationic surface charges, while folate(+)micelles exhibit more preferential endocytosis by HeLa cells than by CHO cells. The folate(?)micelles showed retention in both organs and tumors. The folate(+)micelles are a promising active targeting drug delivery system for FR over‐expressing cells and they accumulate in tumor beds.
The morphology of a H‐shaped block copolymer (poly(ethylene glycol) backbone and polystyrene branches (PS)2PEG(PS)2) in a thin film has been investigated. A peculiar square lamella that has a phase‐separated microdomain at its surface is obtained after spin coating. The experimental temperature plays a critical role in the lamellar formation. The copolymer first self‐assembles into square lamellar micelles with an incomplete crystalline core due to the crystallizability of PEG. In the subsequent process of solvent evaporation, phase separation between PS and non‐crystalline PEG attached at the chain‐folded PEG surface takes place, which results in phase‐separated microdomains being formed at the lamellar surface.
PS‐b‐PAA spherical micelles with a liquid core and a PAA shell are prepared with the assistance of 1,2‐dichloroethane. During the process of adding a mixture of PNIPAM‐b‐P4VP and PEG‐b‐P4VP, multi‐layered micelles with a mixed corona that consists of both PNIPAM and PEG chains are constructed through the electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding between the PAA block and the P4VP block. When heating above the LCST, the PNIPAM chains collapse onto the PAA/P4VP complex layer while the PEG chains still stretch into the solution through the collapsed PNIPAM layer, which leads to the formation of hydrophilic channels around the PEG chains. The ibuprofen encapsulated in the hollow space can diffuse through the channels and its release rate can be controlled by changing the ratio of PEG chains to PNIPAM chains in the corona.
We herein develop a facile catalyst‐free method to prepare hyperbranched hydroxyl‐enriched aliphatic polycarbonate according to SCROP strategy. PEG‐attached multiarm hyperbranched copolymer HEHDO‐star‐mPEG was further designed. It was found that HEHDO‐star‐mPEG can self‐assemble into supramolecular multimolecular micelles in water. HEHDO‐star‐mPEG micelle showed excellent stability with respect to micellar size upon dilution, and displayed good cell‐biocompatibility. An anticancer drug of doxorubicin with hydrogen‐bonding functionality was incorporated into obtained micelles to establish a drug delivery system model. A high drug‐loading content as well as sustained release pattern for HEHDO‐star‐mPEG based delivery system was achieved.
A series of amphiphilic poly(L ‐leucine)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(L ‐leucine) (PLL‐PEG‐PLL) hybrid triblock copolymers have been synthesized. All the blocks in this system have good biocompatibility and low toxicity. The PLL‐PEG‐PLL copolymers could self‐assemble into micelles with PLL blocks as the hydrophobic core and PEG blocks as the hydrophilic shell, which were characterized by FT‐IR, 1H NMR, and transmission electron microscopy analysis. The critical micellar concentration of the copolymer was 95.0 mg · L−1. The circular dichroism spectrum shows that the PLL segments adopt a unique α‐helical conformation, which is found to play an important role in controlling the drug release rate. The drug release could be effectively sustained by encapsulation in the micelles. The copolymers may have potential applications in drug delivery.
Worm‐like aggregates with a PAA/P4VP complex core and a PEG/PNIPAM mixed shell were prepared in ethanol by the comicellization of poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(acrylic acid) (PEG‐b‐PAA) and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PNIPAM‐b‐P4VP) through hydrogen‐bonding. The formed aggregates were studied by dynamic light scattering, static light scattering, 1H NMR, and transmission electron microscopy. The length of worm‐like aggregates could be adjusted by changing the weight ratio of W(PNIPAM‐b‐P4VP)/W(PEG‐b‐PAA). When the ratio changed from 20 to 150%, the length changed from about 100 nm to several microns, and the diameter stayed almost unchanged at about 15 nm.
This article provides a comprehensive review of the synthesis, properties and applications of organometallic polymers of the transition metals. The different classes of organometallic polymers are described according to their structural make‐up, as well as by their methods of synthesis. A number of examples of each class are given to emphasize the richness and diversity in these areas of research. In addition to linear polymers, hyperbranched, crosslinked, star and dendritic polymers are also described. The properties that transition metal‐containing organometallic polymers possess, as well as the applications that these materials have found in various domains are highlighted.
Highly exfoliated poly(propylene) (PP)/clay nanocomposites with obvious improvements in both the tensile strength and toughness have been prepared by a novel TiCl4/MgCl2/imidazolium‐modified montmorillonite (IOHMMT) compound catalysts. Through this approach, in situ propylene polymerization can actually take place between the silicate layers and lead not only to PP with a high isotacticity and molecular weight, but also to a highly exfoliated structure even at high clay content levels (as high as 19 wt.‐%).
The ability of star‐shaped, block copolymer‐based unimolecular micelles to encapsulate and transport guest molecules was studied. Analytical ultracentrifugation studies clearly showed that methyl‐orange guest molecules could be encapsulated and transported, together with unimolecular micelles consisting of 5‐arm, star‐shaped block copolymers with a poly(ethylene glycol) core and a poly(ε‐caprolactone) corona. Sedimentation‐velocity and equilibrium measurements were performed to determine the sedimentation coefficients, molar masses, and diffusion coefficients of the loaded, unimolecular micelles. It was observed that the transport of guest molecules by unimolecular micelles was a function of the molecular weight of the star‐shaped block copolymers and therefore also of their size.
A chiral polymeric micelle is described, formed from the self‐assembly of TPPS and PEG114‐b‐P(4VP)38 in aqueous media based on their electrostatic interaction. The self‐assembly behavior is studied by DLS, SLS, TEM, UV‐vis absorption spectroscopy, and CD spectroscopy. The experimental results indicate that the resultant hybrid spherical micelles with a hybrid P(4VP)/TPPS core and a PEG shell show chiral signatures. In addition, the chiral micelles have a large dimension and biphasic segregated structure because of the formation of H‐aggregates and J‐aggregates in the micellar core.
Well‐defined amphiphilic block‐graft copolymers PCL‐b‐[DTC‐co‐(MTC‐mPEG)] with polyethylene glycol methyl ether pendant chains were designed and synthesized. First, monohydroxyl‐terminated macroinitiators PCL‐OH were prepared. Then, ring‐opening copolymerization of 2,2‐dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC) and cyclic carbonate‐terminated PEG (MTC‐mPEG) macromonomer was carried out in the presence of the macroinitiator in bulk to give the target copolymers. All the polymers were characterized by 1H NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The polymers have unimodal molecular weight distributions and moderate polydispersity indexes. The amphiphilic block‐graft copolymers self‐assemble in water forming stable micelle solutions with a narrow size distribution.
Herein we describe a novel and simple conjugated polymer‐fluorescent probe based platform for trypsin detection from protein mixtures in homogeneous solution. This platform takes advantage of specific interaction between the probe and the active site of trypsin and the electrostatic interaction between the polymer and the protein to mediate energy transfer between the polymer and the probe. This method does not require any separation steps, which should facilitate high‐throughput protease screening and drug discovery.
Some new water‐soluble bis‐porphyrins, constituted of two porphyrin units spaced by means of aliphatic bridges of different lengths, were synthesized and characterized by MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry, 1H NMR and UV‐vis spectroscopy. The hydrosolubility of these uncharged compounds was guaranteed from the presence of six long PEG chains bound on the peripheral positions of the two porphyrins. Cobalt and zinc derivatives were also prepared. In the case of Co‐bis‐porphyrin, the appearance of induced circular dichroism (ICD) signals in water solution confirmed the formation of stable complexes with some amino acids, in which the bis‐porphyrin behaves like molecular tweezers.
The synthesis of a rapidly forming redox responsive poly(ferrocenylsilane)‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PFS‐PEG)‐based hydrogel is described, achieved by a thiol‐Michael addition click reaction. PFS bearing acrylate side groups (PFS‐acryl) was synthesized by side group modification of poly(ferrocenyl(3‐iodopropyl)methylsilane) (PFS‐I) and characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and FT‐IR spectroscopy. The equilibrium swelling ratio, morphology, rheology, and redox responsive properties of the PFS‐PEG‐based hydrogel are reported.
Graft copolymers of bacterial polyesters were prepared by direct condensation of poly(3‐hydroxyoctanoate‐co‐9‐carboxy‐3‐hydroxydecanoate) (PHOD) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) or poly(lactic acid) (PLA). Nanoparticles from PHO, PHOD, PHOD‐g‐PEG, and PHOD‐g‐PLA were obtained by solvent displacement without stabilizer, and their stability in different aqueous media with different salt concentrations were studied. The results showed that the presence of hydrophilic PEG on the particle surface prevents the aggregation promotion by salts in aqueous solution. PHOD‐g‐PEG appears to be a promising candidate for site‐specific drug delivery systems.
An aqueous solution of a poly(ethylene glycol)‐polycaprolactone‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG‐PCL‐PEG) with a composition of EG13CL23EG13 undergoes multiple transitions, from sol‐to‐gel (hard gel)‐to‐sol‐to‐gel (soft gel)‐to‐sol, in the concentration range 20.0∼35.0 wt.‐%. Through dynamic mechanical analysis, UV‐vis spectrophotometry, small angle X‐ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, microcalorimetry and 13C NMR spectroscopy, the mechanism of these transitions was investigated. The hard gel and soft gel are distinguished by the crystalline and amorphous state of the PCL. The extent of PEG dehydration and the molecular motion of each block also played a critical role in the multiple transitions. This paper suggests a new mechanism for these multiple transitions driven by temperature changes.
Hierarchical nanoporous structures are fabricated by adsorption of micelles of diblock copolymer‐templated Au‐nanoparticles onto a hydrophilic solid substrate. Gold nanoparticles are prepared using micelles (19 nm) of polystyrene‐block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐b‐P4VP) as nanoreactors. Deposition of thin films of the micellar solution, modified with a non‐selective solvent (THF), on hydrophilic surfaces leads to the formation of hierarchical nanoporous morphologies. The thin films exhibit two different pore diameters and a total pore density of 15 × 108 holes per cm2. The structure was analyzed in terms of topography and chemical composition using AFM, TEM and XPS measurements. The PS‐b‐P4VP template was subsequently removed by oxygen plasma etching, to leave behind metallic nanopores that mimic the original thin film morphology.
In this work, the formation of two‐compartment micelles from symmetric pentablock copolymers in selective solvents was studied using the dissipative particle dynamics simulation technique, and the effects of block lengths and solvent quality were investigated. The simulations revealed several new morphologies and their formation mechanisms were elucidated at the molecular level, providing useful information that may contribute to the future rational design and synthesis of novel multicompartment micelles with tailored structures.
