Colloidlike behaviour of a polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-co-propylene) diblock copolymer dissolved in n-decane investigated by pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance

The self-diffusion of a polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-co-propylene) diblock copolymer dissolved in a preferential solvent for the aliphatic block, n-decane, was investigated by pulsed field gradient NMR. The diblock copolymer forms micelles in solution, the structure of the solid polymer being preserved in the native solution because the polystyrene is in the glassy state. The equilibrium state is attained upon heating which again freezes in upon cooling to room temperature. The hydrodynamic radius of the micelles decreases by about 50% during this heating–cooling process. The concentration dependence of the self-diffusivity shows typical colloidlike behaviour, and it can be described by a Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann-like equation. No indications of crystallization at higher concentrations are observed in the micellar solution because the micellar sizes are slightly polydisperse. The self-diffusivity was measured up to the glasslike state, where in-cage- diffusion and dynamic heterogeneities could be detected. Received: 14 April 1999 Accepted in revised form: 14 June 1999     

Functional and site-specific macromolecular micelles as high potential drug carriers

Since several years, macromolecular micelles based on amphiphilic block copolymers have attracted much interest as drug carriers. These micelles show a long term blood circulation time resulting from their small diameter and the steric repulsion created by the poly(ethylene oxide) chains which constitute micelle corona, as well as from their high thermodynamic stability. Besides this long term blood circulation time generating a passive targeting, an active targeting, chemical or physical affinity targeting, might allow the preparation of more efficient drug carriers. In order to obtain such double targeting properties, we have prepared two kinds of macromolecular micelles. The first one is based on amphiphilic poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(β-benzyl -aspartate) ---PEO/PBLA--- block copolymers having hydroxy groups at the free end of PEO chains. As a result of their structure, such micelles have hydroxy groups on their outer-shell which can be further modified in order to introduce a targeting moiety (sugar, etc.). The characteristics (diameter, critical micellar concentration (cmc), drug loading capacity) have been determined. Moreover, doxorubicin loaded -hydroxy PEO/PBLA micelles have been shown to be slightly more cytotoxic than the corresponding -methoxy PEO/PBLA micelles. The second type of micelles is based on thermosensitive amphiphilic poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide)/polystyrene ---PIPAAm/PSt--- block copolymers. Such micelles have a small diameter and a low cmc in addition to thermosensitivity properties which are similar to those of PIPAAm.     

Precision Sequence-Defined Polymers: From Sequencing to Biological Functions

Precise sequence-defined polymers (SDPs) with uniform chain-to-chain structure including chain length, unit sequence, and end functionalities represent the pinnacle of sophistication in the realm of polymer science. For example, the absolute control over the unit sequence of SDPs allows for the bottom-up design of polymers with hierarchical microstructures and functions. Accompanied with the development of synthetic techniques towards precision SDPs, the decoding of SDP sequences and construction of advanced functions irreplaceable by other synthetic materials is of central importance. In this Minireview, we focus on recent advances in SDP sequencing techniques including tandem mass spectrometry (MS), chemically assisted primary MS, as well as other non-destructive sequencing methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), and nanopore sequencing. Additionally, we delve into the promising prospects of SDP functions in the area of cutting-edge biological research. Topics of exploration include gene delivery systems, the development of hybrid materials combining SDPs and nucleic acids, protein recognition and regulation, as well as the interplay between chirality and biological functions. A brief outlook towards the future directions of SDPs is also presented.     

Synthesis of Microporous Transition Metal Oxide Molecular Sieves with Bifunctional Templating Molecules

Systematic tuning of the micropore size in microporous transition metal oxide molecular sieves can be achieved by varying the length of the hydrocarbon chain of the diamine molecules used as templating agents. The large bifunctional molecules self-assemble with much smaller cross-sectional micellar dimensions than their monofunctional counterparts. The resulting family of porous materials offers exciting new flexibility in designing molecular sieves targeted for size selectivity and chemical functionality.     

Micelle-Bound Metalloporphyrins as Highly Selective Catalysts for the Epoxidation of Alkenes

The porphyrin–surfactant interaction determines the activity of the title catalysts. Amphiphilic porphyrin derivatives (e.g. 1 with M=MnCl, R=CH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)₂OH) are easy to prepare and can be included in micellar phases.     

Study of the Interactions between Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

Polymer–surfactant interactions are operative in a variety of industrial processes and important consumer products. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy is a powerful method for investigating the complex formation and was used to study the well-known reference system involving the aggregation of sodium dodecyl sulfate (█) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (█) in the presence of a fluorescence-marked sodium decylsulfate probe (█, see picture). C_T=surfactant concentration, d_fl=hydrodynamic size of the probe.     

聚（异丙基丙烯酰胺）-b-聚（4-乙烯基吡啶）胶束负载铂纳米粒子的温度响应性催化

嵌段共聚物聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)-b-聚(4-乙烯基吡啶)(PNPIAM-b-P4VP)在pH6.5的水溶液中自组装成,以聚(4-乙烯基吡啶)为胶束的核,以热响应聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)为胶束壳的球形胶束.通过与4VP基络合作用,将氯铂酸(H2PtCl6)导入胶束的核中,原位还原获得胶束负载2~4nm的铂纳米粒子的温度敏感型催化体系.结果显示,最低临界溶解温度(LCST)为33℃,在LCST以下,催化反应速率会随着温度的升高而提高;在LCST以上,PNPIAM嵌段变成疏水而塌缩在催化剂表面,阻碍了反应物的扩散,因此胶束负载的铂纳米粒子的催化活性会随着温度的上升而下降.     

Micellar selectivity triangle for classification of chemical selectivity in electrokinetic chromatography

A novel micellar selectivity triangle (MST) is developed and used to characterize and classify the chemical selectivities of pseudo-phases in electrokinetic chromatography (EKC). The MST scheme is, in concept, similar to the widely known solvent selectivity triangle (SST) originally developed by Snyder. However, the MST is based on linear solvation energy relationships. Thus it incorporates the solvation characteristics of both the pseudo-phase and the bulk solvent; while the SST is basically for classification of pure solvents. The similarities and differences of these pseudo-phases are determined by the relative scales of hydrogen bond donating ability (X_b), hydrogen bond accepting ability (X_a) and dipolarity (X_s). The MST scheme is used for characterization and classification of a wide range of pseudo-phases such as micelles, polymers, vesicles, liposomes, as well as mixed systems such as mixed micelles, mixed polymer–surfactants, organically modified pseudo-phases, etc. Over seventy pseudo-phases were examined and four clusters of pseudo-phases with different selectivity patterns are recognized that include pseudo-phases with strong hydrogen bond acidities (e.g. fluorinated micelles or micelles modified with fluorinated alcohols), strong hydrogen bond acceptor pseudo-phases (such as bile salts, liposomes, microemulsions, as well as biphasic octanol–water system), strong dipolar phase of a class of polymeric pseudo-phase, and pseudo-phases with intermediate hydrogen bonding and dipolarity [like sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and its analogs as well as organically modified SDS]. The MST scheme is also useful in identifying pseudo-phases that closely resemble the selectivities of octanol–water for determination of octanol–water partition coefficients by EKC.     

Utilization of solid-phase microextraction–high-performance liquid chromatography in the determination of aromatic analyte partitioning to imidazolium-based ionic liquid micelles

A solid-phase microextraction (SPME)–high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) approach is used, for the first time, to study the partitioning behavior of eight aromatic analytes to three imidazolium-based ionic liquid micelles, namely, 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (HDMIm-Br), 1-hexadecyl-3-butylimidazolium bromide (HDBIm-Br), and 1,3-didodecylimidazolium bromide (DDDDIm-Br). The model used to calculate the partition coefficients is improved by determining the accurate critical micelle concentration (CMC) value of the studied IL-micelles, which considers the nature and amount of organic modifier used in the experiments. Proper CMC values in the model improve the quality of the results and decrease the differences between theoretical and experimental intercepts. Surface tensiometry has been utilized to determine the CMC values for the micelles at different acetonitrile contents (1% and 1.5%, v/v). The calculated partition coefficient values for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) oscillate between 631 and 5980, whereas aromatic analytes with a lower number of fused rings in their structures suffer non-partitioning to any of the IL-micelles. The obtained partition coefficients to IL-micelles were highest with the DDDDIm-Br IL and were always higher than those obtained with the traditional surfactant cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB).     

Enhanced Stability of Electrochemical Detection with Surfactant Containing Mobile Phases in Liquid Chromatography and Flow Injection Analysis

Abstract

The use of surfactant containing mobile phases to prevent or reduce the effects of adsorptive fouling of glassy carbon electrodes is reported. Both cationie and antonic surfactants are studied at concentrations above and below the critical micelle concentration. For the oxidative reactions studied here, anionic surfactants have little effect on the fouling problem, likely because of electrostatic attraction of the generated cattonic intermediate to surfactant adsorbed on the electrode surface. Cationic surfactants, however, have the desired effect. Two cationic surfactants, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride and n-decylamine were studied with solutes p-nitrophenol, phenylenediamine and chlorpromazine. With these surfactants present in the mobile phase there was generally no loss of electrochemical response after up to 55 sequential injections. Adsorption of the electroactive specie prior to the electron-transfer process is shown to be a significant cause of poor chromatographic efficiency for some solutes.