Construction of photoresponsive supramolecular micelles based on ethyl cellulose graft copolymer

In this work, a UV-Visible light controlled supramolecular system based on ethyl cellulose(EC) was constructed, combining the host-guest interaction of β-cyclodextrin(β-CD) group and trans-isomer of azobenzene(tAzo) group. To link β-CD to the hydrophobic section, renewable EC was used as macroinitiator to initiate the polymerization of ε-caprolactone(ε-CL) to form biocompatible and biodegradable comb copolymer EC-g-PCL, and β-CD was attached to the end of PCL side chain via click reaction. Meanwhile, hydrophilic PEG-tAzo was obtained by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide(DCC) coupling. Then, the structures of the products were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) and gel permeation chromatography(GPC). Subsequently, with the formation of inclusion complexes by β-CD and tAzo groups, the obtained EC-g-PCL-β-CD/PEG-tAzo supramolecular system self-assembled in water with hydrophobic EC-g-PCL-β-CD as core and hydrophilic PEG-tAzo as shell. Furthermore, dynamic light scattering(DLS) and transmission electron microscopy(TEM) were utilized to investigate the particle size and size distribution, while NMR and UV-Vis spectra were applied to explore the UV-Visible light stimuli-responsiveness of the micelles.     

Densely grafting copolymers of ethyl cellulose through atom transfer radical polymerization

Densely grafting copolymers of ethyl cellulose with polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) were synthesized through atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). First, the residual hydroxyl groups on the ethyl cellulose reacted with 2‐bromoisobutyrylbromide to yield 2‐bromoisobutyryloxy groups, known to be an efficient initiator for ATRP. Subsequently, the functional ethyl cellulose was used as a macroinitiator in the ATRP of methyl methacrylate and styrene in toluene in conjunction with CuBr/N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine as a catalyst system. The molecular weight of the graft copolymers increased without any trace of the macroinitiator, and the polydispersity was narrow. The molecular weight of the side chains increased with the monomer conversion. A kinetic study indicated that the polymerization was first‐order. The morphology of the densely grafted copolymer in solution was characterized through laser light scattering. The individual densely grafted copolymer molecules were observed through atomic force microscopy, which confirmed the synthesis of the densely grafted copolymer. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4099–4108, 2005     

Synthesis and self-assembly of a triarm star-shaped rod-rod block copolymer

We designed and synthesized a triarm star-shaped rod-rod block copolymer(BCP),(poly{2,5-bis[(4-methoxyphenyl)-oxycarbonyl]styrene}-block-poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate))3,(PMPCS-b-PBLG)3. The triarm core with three PMPCS-N3 segments was prepared by copper-mediated atom transfer radical polymerization of 2,5-bis[(4-methoxyphenyl)-oxycarbonyl]styrene initiated by a trifunctional initiator and a subsequent azide reaction. And the PBLG block with alkyne functionality was synthesized through ring-opening polymerization of γ-benzyl-L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride initiated by propargylamine. Finally, Huisgen's 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition was employed to combine the triarm(PMPCS-N3)3 and PBLG segments. The chemical structure of the BCP was confirmed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatographic analysis. Results from differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light microscopy, one-dimensional and two-dimensional wide-angle X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy techniques demonstrate that the triarm star-shaped rod-rod BCP self-assembles into a hexagon-in-lamella morphology, with the PMPCS block in the columnar nematic phase and the PBLG block in the hexagonal columnar arrangement packed in bilayers due to the rigid nature of the two blocks and the covalent connections in the star-shaped BCP.     

Controlled grafting of ethyl cellulose with azobenzene‐containing polymethacrylates via atom transfer radical polymerization

Graft copolymers of ethyl cellulose with azobenzene‐containing polymethacrylates were synthesized through atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The residual hydroxyl groups on ethyl cellulose were first esterified with 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide to yield 2‐bromoisobutyryloxy groups, which was then used to initiate the polymerization of 6‐[4‐(4‐methoxyphenylazo)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate (MMAzo) in the presence of CuBr/N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethylenetriamine (PMDETA) as catalyst and anisole as solvent. The graft copolymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and ¹H‐NMR. The molecular weights of the graft copolymers increased relatively to the macroinitiator, and the polydispersities were narrow. The thermal and liquid crystalline property of the graft copolymers were investigated by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and polarizing optical microscope (POM). Photoresponsive property was studied under the irradiation of UV–vis light in THF solution. The graft copolymers have potential applications, including sensors and optical materials. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1653–1660, 2007     

Synthesis of block and graft copolymers of β-pinene and styrene by transformation of living cationic polymerization to atom transfer radical polymerization

The transformations of living cationic polymerization to ATRP to form the block and graft copolymers of β-pinene with styrene were performed. Poly(β-pinene) carrying benzyl chloride terminal [poly(β-p)StCl] was prepared by capping the living poly(β-pinene), which was obtained with 1-phenylethyl chloride/TiCl₄/Ti(OiPr)₄/nBu₄NCl initiating system, with a few units of styrene. Poly(β-p)StCl, in conjunction with CuCl and bpy, could initiate the ATRP of styrene and gave well-defined block copolymer of β-pinene and styrene. In contrast, tert-alkyl-chlorine-capped poly(β-pinene) [poly(β-p)Cl] obtained by living cationic polymerization of β-pinene per se without capping of styrene gave a mixture of desired block copolymers and unreacted poly(β-p)Cl due to the low initiating reactivity of poly(β-p)Cl. Brominated poly(β-pinene) synthesized by the quantitative bromination of poly(β-pinene) using NBS was also used to initiate the ATRP of styrene in the presence of CuBr and bpy to prepare the graft copolymer of β-pinene and styrene. The first-order kinetic characteristic and linear increment of molecule weight with the increasing of monomer conversion indicated the living nature of this ATRP grafting.     

Synthesis,self-assembly and pH sensitivity of a novel fluorinated triphilic block copolymer

A novel fluorinated triblock copolymer incorporating 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate (EHMA),tert-butyl methacrylate (tBMA) and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyl acrylate (FA) (PEHMA-b-PtBMA-b-PFA) was first synthesized using three successive reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and the subsequent hydrolyzing at acidic condition.The as-fabricated triblock copolymer exhibited an interesting morphology evolution from the multi-compartment rod-like structure to spherical structure along with the addition of a selective solution.At the same time,a visible phase separation domain could be seen in the core area due to the existence of fluorocarbon segments.Furthermore,the selfassembly behavior of the triphilic copolymer at different pH was also verified by transmission electron microscopy,as well as the dynamic light scattering.These stimuli-responsive multi-compartment nanostructures may have potential applications in drug delivery.     

Single-step synthesis of proton conducting poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) graft copolymer electrolytes

The single-step synthesis of proton conducting poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) graft copolymer electrolytes is demonstrated. The graft copolymers of PVDF backbone with poly(sulfopropyl methacrylate) (PVDF-g-PSPMA) and poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PVDF-g-PSSA) were synthesized using PVDF as a macroinitiator for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). ¹H NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy show that the “grafting from” method using ATRP was successful and the maximum grafting degrees were 35 and 25 wt% for PVDF-g-PSPMA and PVDF-g-PSSA, respectively. The IEC values were 0.63 and 0.45 meq/g, the water uptakes were 46.8 and 33.4 wt% and the proton conductivities were 0.015 and 0.007 S/cm at room temperature, for PVDF-g-PSPMA and PVDF-g-PSSA, respectively. Both membranes exhibited excellent thermal stability up to around 350 °C, verified by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA).     

Synthesis and flocculation performance of graft and random copolymer microgels of acrylamide and diallyldimethylammonium chloride

Graft (from linear homopolymers) and random (from a linear random copolymer) copolymer microgels of diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC) and acrylamide were synthesized via a free-radical mechanism using a γ-radiation technique. These copolymer microgels were evaluated as flocculants on a model dilute TiO₂ colloid suspension using a turbidimeter and a disc centrifuge photosedimentometer, and their performances were compared with the linear homopolymers and their blends. It was found that microgels produced after an appropriate irradiation time showed improved flocculation behavior over their nonirradiated linear counterparts. The graft microgels performed better than the corresponding random microgels. For a γ-radiation dosage of 100 krad/h, the graft microgels obtained by irradiating a 30% DADMAC (by weight) homopolymer blend for 3 h showed the maximum reduction in the relative turbidity of the TiO₂ suspension as well as the largest fraction of larger particles flocculated. Received: 18 May 1999 Accepted in revised form: 1 June 1999     

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.     

酶促开环聚合合成双亲性H型嵌段共聚物及其自组装

通过固定化酶Novozyme435（NV435）催化聚乙二醇（PEG）开环聚合己内酯（CL）得到端基带有羟基的ABA型三嵌段聚合物,用2,2-二氯代乙酰氯将聚合物的端羟基功能化形成H型大分子引发剂,在CuCl／HMTETA体系中引发4-乙烯基吡啶（4VP）进行原子转移自由基聚合反应（ATRP）,得到了具有两亲性的H型五嵌段聚合物（PVP）2-b—PCL-b．PEG-PCL-（PVP）2,用红外光谱（FT IR）,核磁共振（^1H NMR）,凝胶渗透色谱（GPC）对其结构与分子量及其分子量分布进行了表征,结果表明：H型五嵌段聚合物分子量46121g／mol,分子量分布1．30．并利用动态光散射（DLS）和原子力显微镜（AFM）对聚合物在水溶液中的自组装行为进行了研究,H型嵌段聚合物的胶束呈球形结构,平均直径为70nm左右．     

Synthesis of graft copolymer derivatives of brominated poly(isobutylene-co-isoprene)

Strategies for preparing graft copolymers from brominated poly(isobutylene-co-isoprene) (BIIR) are demonstrated. Selective dehydrohalogenation of the allylic bromide functionality within BIIR to give an exo-conjugated diene is described, along with subsequent cycloadditions of maleic anhydride (MAn) and its mono-ester and di-ester derivatives. Alcoholysis of the bicyclic anhydride product of BIIR dehydrobromination/MAn cycloaddition is used to produce an IIR-g-PE copolymer in low yield. An alternate approach involving bromide displacement from BIIR by the salts of maleate half-esters is shown to be an efficient means of generating isobutylene-rich copolymers containing polyethylene, polyethylene oxide and polycaprolactone grafts.     

Synthesis and characterization of syndiotactic polystyrene-graft-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) copolymer by atom transfer radical polymerization

Syndiotactic polystyrene-graft-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (sPS-graft-PGMA) copolymer was synthesized by a heterogenous atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using 2-bromo-2-methylpropanoyl bromide modified syndiotactic polystyrene (BMPsPS) as macroinitiator and copper bromide combined with 2,2′-bipyridine as catalyst in anisole at room temperature. The macroinitiator with 7.0 mol% bromine content was prepared from Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction of sPS with 2-bromo-2-methylpropanoyl bromide in a heterogeneous process. It was found that BMsPS macroinitiator was well swelled in the mixture of anisole and GMA, the equilibrium swelling degree could reach 370%. The resultant polymer was characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopies. In addition, the thermal properties of the graft copolymers were also investigated with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).     

Nano cellulose particles covered with block copolymer of cellulose and methyl methacrylate produced by solid mechano chemical polymerization

Nano cellulose particles covered with a block copolymer of microcrystalline cellulose and poly(methyl methacrylate) (MCC-block-PMMA) were produced by a solid mechano-chemical polymerization. The polymerization of methyl methacrylate was initiated by chain-end-type microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) radicals (i.e., MCC mechano radicals) on the surface of MCC that were induced by mechanical fracture of β-1,4 glycosidic linkages. The chemically modified cellulose particles with MCC-block-PMMA were fractionated by Soxhlet extraction with chloroform, and resulted in MCC-block-PMMA residue from residue on the filter and MCC-block-PMMA filtrate from filtrate solution. The surface of the MCC particles chemically modified with MCC-block-PMMA in MCC-block-PMMA residue was partially covered with PMMA chains of the MCC-block-PMMA. In contrast, the surfaces of the MCC nanoparticles chemically modified with MCC-block-PMMA in MCC-block-PMMA filtrate were fully covered with PMMA chains of the MCC-block-PMMA. A dispersion of the chemically fully modified MCC nanoparticles in chloroform was optically transparent. The average diameter of the chemically fully modified MCC nanoparticles in chloroform was estimated to be 52 nm. These were confirmed by electron spin resonance, Fourier transform infrared, and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, by gel permeation chromatography and dynamic light scattering.     

Effect of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate on the graft copolymerization of ethyl acrylate onto hydroxypropyl methylcellulose in aqueous medium

Graft copolymerization of an ethyl acrylate (EA) and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) monomer mixture onto water-soluble hydroxypropyl methylcellulose was investigated with potassium persulfate (KPS) as the initiator in an aqueous medium. The effects of introducing DMAEMA onto the graft copolymerization and the properties of the resulting latex that was produced were studied systematically. The optimum conditions for the graft copolymerization in terms of percentage of grafting and grafting efficiency were determined. The graft copolymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, elemental analyses, nuclear magnetic resonance, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering methods. The results suggest that the introduction of the DMAEMA monomer clearly accelerates the initial rate of the graft copolymerization, whereas the grafting parameters decrease significantly with increasing amounts of DMAEMA. These results can be attributed to the relatively large size of the DMAEMA molecule, its redox reaction with KPS, its hydrophilicity in water, and its chain transfer effect. The equilibrium humidity adsorption behavior and acid solubility of graft the copolymer films were also studied.     

Controlled grafting of acetylated starch by atom transfer radical polymerization of MMA

Graft copolymers of acetylated starch oligomer (AS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were polymerized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). AS was converted to an ATRP macroinitiator by converting a part of the hydroxyl groups of AS to 2-bromoisobutyryl groups. Macroinitiators with varying degrees of substitution for the 2-bromoisobutyryl group were prepared. The polymerizations were conducted using CuBr/BiPy catalyst system, either in bulk or in 1:1 v/v THF solution. They proceeded with first-order kinetics and the molecular weights of the polymers increased linearly with conversion. Graft copolymers with different graft densities and graft lengths were prepared in a controlled manner. The hydrophobicity of these copolymers was studied by contact angle measurements.     

Synthesis and characterization of graft copolymer (alginate-g-poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide))

<正>The graft copolymerization of N,N-dimethylacrylamide onto alginate by free radical polymerization using potassium peroxymonosulphate-sarbose as a redox pair in an inert atmosphere was investigated.The reaction conditions for maximum grafting have been optimized by varying the reaction variables,including the concentration of N,N-dimethylacrylamide(7×10~(-2) mol/L to 23×10~(-2) mol/L),potassium peroxymonosulphate(2×10~(-3) mol/L to 18×10~(-3) mol/L),sarbose(0.4×10~(-3) mol/L to 3.4×10~(-3) mol/L),sulphuric acid(1×10~(-3) mol/L to 8×10~(-3) mol/L) and alginic acid(0.4 g/L to 1.8 g/L) along with time duration(60 min to 180 min) and temperature(25℃to 45℃).Water swelling capacity,metal ion sorption and flocculation studies of the synthesized graft copolymer have been performed.The graft copolymer has been characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis.     

Synthesis of pH-responsive amphiphilic diblock copolymers containing polyisobutylene via oxyanion-initiated polymerization and their multiple self-assembly morphologies

 Two pH-responsive amphiphilic diblock copolymers, namely polyisobutylene-block-poly[2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PIB-b-PDMAEMA) and polyisobutylene-block-poly(metharylic acid) (PIB-b-PMAA), were synthesized via oxyanion-initiated polymerization, and their multiple self-assembly behaviors have been studied. An exo-olefin-terminated highly reactive polyisobutylene (HRPIB) was first changed to hydroxyl-terminated PIB (PIB-OH) via hydroboration-oxidation of C＝C double bond in the chain end, and then reacted with KH to yield a potassium alcoholate of PIB (PIB-O^-K⁺). PIB-O^-K⁺ was immediately used as a macroinitiator to polymerize DMAEMA monomer, resulting in a cationic diblock copolymer PIB-b-PDMAEMA. With the similar synthesis procedure, the anionic diblock copolymer PIB-b-PMAA could be prepared via a combination of oxyanion-initiated polymerization of tert-butyl methacrylate (tBMA) and subsequent hydrolysis of tert-butyl ester groups in PtBMA block. The functional PIB and block copolymers have been fully characterized by ¹H-NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). These samples allowed us to systematically investigate the effects of block composition on the pH responsivity and various self-assembled morphologies of the copolymers in THF/water mixed solvent. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed that these diblock copolymers containing small amount of original PIB without exo-olefin-terminated group are able to self-assemble into micelles, vesicles with different particle sizes and cylindrical aggregates, depending on various factors including block copolymer composition, solvent polarity and pH value.     

Effects of reaction conditions on the structure of graft copolymer

In order to advance the studies of radiation graft copolymerization, we have presented the theory of coupling graft copolymerization and apply it to the investigation of the grafting of methylmethacrylate on to pre-irradiated polystyrene.     

Synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic triblock polymers by copper mediated living radical polymerization

2-Dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and 2-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA) block copolymers have been synthesized by using poly(ethylene glycol), poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF) and poly(ethylene butylenes) macroinitiators with copper mediated living radical polymerization. The use of difunctional macroinitiator gave ABA block copolymers with narrow polydispersities (PDI) and controlled number average molecular weights (M_n’s). By using DMAEMA, polymerizations proceed with excellent first order kinetics indicative of well-controlled living polymerization. Online ¹H NMR monitoring has been used to investigate the polymerization of DEAEMA. The first order kinetic plots for the polymerization of DEAMA showed two different rate regimes ascribed to an induction period which is not observed for DMAEMA. ABA triblock copolymers with DMAEMA as the A blocks and PTHF or PBD as B blocks leads to amphiphilic block copolymers with M_n’s between 22 and 24 K (PDI 1.24-1.32) which form aggregates/micelles in solution. The critical aggregation concentrations, as determined by pyrene fluorimetry, are 0.07 and 0.03 g dm⁻¹ for PTHF- and PBD-containing triblocks respectively.