Synthesis and characterization of thermoresponsive isopropylacrylamide-acrylamide hydrogels

In this study, hydrogels of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide) having a thermoresponsive character were prepared by a redox polymerization method. NIPAM-co-AAm hydrogels with different thermoresponsive properties were obtained by changing the initial NIPAM/AAm mole ratio and crosslinker concentration.Equilibrium-swelling ratio, dynamic swelling ratio and dynamic deswelling ratio were evaluated for all hydrogel systems. The fast shrinking was observed with all gels. The time required for equilibrium shrinking increased with the increase of acrylamide content in the gel.     

Thermoresponsive nanostructured poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels made via inverse microemulsion polymerization

The synthesis of nanostructured poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (polyNIPA) hydrogels by a two-stage polymerization process is reported here. The process involves the synthesis of slightly crosslinked polyNIPA nanoparticles by inverse (w/o) microemulsion polymerization; then, these particles are dried, cleaned and dispersed in an aqueous solution of NIPA and a crosslinking agent (N,N-methylene-bis-acrylamide or NMBA) and polymerized to produce the nanostructured hydrogels. Their swelling and de-swelling kinetics, volume phase transition temperatures (T _VPT) and mechanical properties at the equilibrium swollen state are investigated as a function of the weight ratio of polyNIPA particles to monomer (NIPA). The nanostructured gels exhibit larger equilibrium water uptake, faster swelling and de-swelling rates and similar T _VPT than those of the conventional ones; moreover, the elastic and Young moduli are larger than those of the conventional hydrogels at similar swelling ratios. The fast swelling and de-swelling kinetics are explained in terms of the controlled inhomogeneities introduced by the method of synthesis.     

Preparation of biodegradable and thermoresponsive enzyme–polymer conjugates with controllable bioactivity via RAFT polymerization

The preparation of biodegradable and thermoresponsive enzyme–polymer bioconjugates with controllable enzymatic activity via reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and amidation conjugation reaction is presented. A new 2-mercaptothiazoline ester functionalized RAFT agent with intra-disulfide linkage was synthesized and used as chain transfer agent (CTA) to generate a biocompatible homopolymer, poly(ethyleneglycol) acrylate (polyPEG-A) and a thermoresponsive copolymer of poly(ethyleneglycol) acrylate with di(ethyleneglycol)ethyl ether acrylate [poly(PEG-A-co-DEG-A)]. These biodegradable and thermoresponsive polymers were then conjugated to the surface of glucose oxidase (GOx) under mild condition to afford the biodegradable and thermoresponsive enzyme–polymer conjugates. Cleavage of the polymer chains from the GOx surface obviously recovered the enzymatic activity. The thermoresponsive test of GOx-poly(PEG-A-co-DEG-A) revealed that the bioconjugate exhibited regular enzymatic activity fluctuation upon the temperature change below or above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The as-prepared enzyme–polymer conjugates were also characterized using ¹H NMR, UV–vis spectroscopy, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and biocatalytic activity tests. These smart enzyme–polymer conjugates would envision promising applications in biotechnology and biomedicine.     

沉淀聚合制备粒径可控的温度响应型蛋白纳米胶囊

以牛血清蛋白(BSA)为模型蛋白,N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(NIPAM)为单体,N,N'-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺(BIS)为交联剂,采用原位沉淀聚合法制备了单分散的温度响应型蛋白纳米胶囊(nBSA).通过调整单体与蛋白的比例制备了粒径大小不同的含有单个蛋白分子的BSA纳米胶囊.采用基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱仪(MALDI-TOF MS)、透射电镜(TEM)和动态光散射仪(DLS)等对BSA蛋白的修饰度,nBSA的形貌和结构,以及温度响应性能进行了表征,并用HeLa细胞对nBSA的体外安全性进行了初步评价.结果表明,在一定范围内,随着单体和蛋白比例的升高,蛋白纳米胶囊的粒径也逐渐增大,且在7.4～17 nm之间可控,而nBSA的响应温度则逐渐减小在33～41℃之间可控;制备的nBSA单分散性较好;nBSA具有温度响应性能,当环境温度高于其响应温度时,nBSA的粒径可显著增大16～33倍,且这种变化随温度呈现可逆性,并通过对nBSA细胞毒性的初步考察,评价将其用于生物领域的潜力.     

基于超支化温敏聚合物制备温敏金纳米粒子

通过对不同分子量的超支化聚乙烯亚胺(hyperbranched polyethyleni mine,HPEI)的端基进行部分或完全异丁酰胺(isobutyric amide,IBAm)化,可以制备一系列具有不同低临界溶解温度(Lower Critical SolutionTemperature,LCST)的超支化温敏聚合物HPEI-IBAm。通过离子键或氢键之间的相互作用,所得超支化温敏聚合物可以吸附于柠檬酸钠还原并稳定的14nm的金纳米粒子(AuNP)的表面,从而得到具有温敏性质的金纳米粒子。所得温敏金的LCST都低于其相应的温敏聚合物,其差值在0.8至6℃之间。在pH值为9.18的缓冲溶液中,通过改变所用聚合物的分子量以及异丁酰胺基团的取代度,所得温敏金的LCST可控制在21.7~48.2℃之间。此外,所得温敏金的LCST也是pH值敏感的,通过溶液pH值的改变,所得温敏金的LCST值可以在更宽的范围内调节。增加溶液的碱性,LCST可能变化不大或降低,减小溶液的碱性会使LCST升高,直到消失。在偏酸的条件下,所得金复合物通常发生聚集,变得不稳定。此外,溶液中的盐度对所得温敏金的LCST也有影响,氯化钠和硫酸钠会降低其LCST,尤其是硫酸钠的效果更显著。     

一种温敏型超大孔生物分离介质的制备及表征

采用改性琼脂糖对超大孔聚苯乙烯微球进行亲水化修饰(Agap-PS),通过酰基化反应在微球表面引入溴乙酰基(Agap-PS-Br),然后利用原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)反应在Agap-PS-Br表面接枝温敏聚合物刷,得到一种温敏型超大孔生物分离介质(Agap-PS-PNIPAM).考察了配体、催化剂、溶剂和温度对N-异丙基丙烯酰胺ATRP反应的影响,在优化条件下PNIPAM的接枝量达到了15.07 mg/m2.采用红外光谱(FTIR)、扫描电镜(SEM)、压汞分析、激光共聚焦和蛋白吸附等手段对温敏型超大孔生物分离介质进行一系列表征,结果表明接枝温敏聚合物刷后Agap-PS-PNIPAM具有良好的温敏性,没有堵塞微球的超大孔,微球对蛋白的非特异性吸附大大降低.由于温敏聚合物刷发生了从亲水到疏水构象的转变,40℃时Agap-PS-PNIPAM对蛋白的吸附量是25℃时的2.69倍.压力流速实验表明Agap-PS-PNIPAM柱具有背压低、渗透性和机械稳定性好的优点,同样地由于PNIPAM链在40℃时收缩,此时Agap-PS-PNIPAM柱的床层渗透系数比25℃时提高了15.7％.     

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.     

Effects of acrylic acid incorporation on the pressure–temperature behavior and the calorimetric properties of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) in aqueous solutions

 We studied the effects of pH on the pressure–temperature dependence of coil–collapse transition for aqueous solutions of copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide and acrylic acid (Ac). At low pressures, the transition temperature (T _tr) increased with pressure, but T _tr decrease with increasing pressure at pressures higher than 50–100 MPa. By increasing the pH, the transition contour shifted to a higher temperature. When the Ac content was increased, the effects of pH became more evident. From a calorimetric study at atmospheric pressure, ΔH _tr was found to become smaller by increasing the portion of the ionized residues in the copolymer. The ratio to the van't Hoff enthalpy changes became larger with an increase in pH, which indicated that the production of charge decreased the cooperative domain size. Received: 19 July 1999 /Accepted in revised form: 7 September 1999     

Synthesis and characterization of thermoresponsive hydrogels cross-linked with acryloyloxyethylaminopolysuccinimide

Biodegradable cross-linkers acryloyloxyethylaminopolysuccinimide (AEA-PSI) were obtained by microwave irradiation using maleic anhydride as materials. With AEA-PSI cross-linker, cross-linked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) [P(NIPAAm-co-AAc)] hydrogels were prepared, and their phase transition behavior, lower critical solution temperature (LCST), water content, thermodynamics stability, and enzymatic degradation properties were investigated. By alternating the NIPAAm/AAc molar ratio, hydrogels were synthesized to have LCST in the vicinity of 37 °C. The LCST of AEA-PSI-cross-linked P(NIPAAm-co-AAc) hydrogels was significantly influenced by monomer ratio of the NIPAAm/AAc but not by the cross-linking density within the polymer network. The water content of AEA-PSI-cross-linked P(NIPAAm-co-AAc) hydrogels was more than 90% even at 37 °C, which was controlled by the monomer molar ratio of NIPAAm/AAc, swelling media, and the cross-linking density. The thermodynamics stability was also characterized by thermogravimetry. In enzymatic degradation studies, breakdown of the AEA-PSI-cross-linked P(NIPAAm-co-AAc) hydrogels was dependent on the cross-linking density. Submitted to Colloid and Polymer Science, 2007-1-28.     

Factors influencing the synthesis and the post-modification of PEGylated pentafluorophenyl acrylate containing copolymers

Copolymerization reactions involving oligoethylene glycol acrylate (OEGA) or diethylene glycol acrylate (DEGA) with pentafluorophenyl acrylate (PFPA) have been performed by reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The effect of the reaction conditions on the nucleophilic acyl substitution reactions of PFPA was studied using a model amine (furfuryl amine). The resulting PEG/PFP functional copolymers were then used as scaffolds to produce a library of polymers by reaction with a range of amines.