Article
Polymer Science
Mingtao Zhou, Shengfei Wang, Aishun Ding, Guolin Lu, Xiaoyu Huang, Xue Jiang, Binbin Xu
Summary: This study presents the controlled synthesis of polyallene-based diblock copolymers with tunable structure and low polydispersities via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, highlighting the in situ formation of unique nanofibers based on PNIPAM-b-PPOA diblock copolymer through polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA). The work opens a new avenue for synthesizing well-defined polyallene-based copolymers and nanoparticles for broad applications using living/controlled radical polymerization.
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Zongqian Yuan, Aishun Ding, Binbin Xu, Xiaoyu Huang, Guolin Lu, Hao Guo
Summary: This study presents a new method for producing reactive composite nanofibers through polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA). The method allows for the preparation of one-dimensional composite nanofibers with controlled molecular weights and narrow dispersities.
COMPOSITES COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Xuan Feng, Nan Yan, Jing Jin, Wei Jiang
Summary: The disassembly process of amphiphilic AB block copolymers in selective solvents was investigated using molecular dynamic simulation. The disassembly is controlled by thermodynamic processes that depend on the instability of the system. Bx can be converted to Ax in A2BxB18-x diblock copolymers by external stimuli, and the instability induced by Bx conversion is a function of x. Increasing x leads to the disassembly of the initial vesicles into various structures. In addition, the Bx conversion rate and the amount of converted polymer chains also affect the disassembly process.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Eri Fujita, Kosuke Kaneko, Tsubasa Oshima, Daiki Fujioka, Kimiyoshi Kaneko, Kiyomi Fuchigami, Tomonori Hanasaki
Summary: In this study, the role of amphiphilic triblock copolymers in suppressing the coalescence of polymers obtained by suspension polymerization was investigated. The researchers synthesized amphiphilic triblock copolymers and used them as polymeric surfactants in suspension polymerization to synthesize polymer beads. The size of monomer droplets before suspension polymerization and the resulting polymer beads were observed to understand the role of the amphiphilic triblock copolymers in suppressing coalescence.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING OF JAPAN
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Krishan Kumar, Pannuru Venkatesu
Summary: This study investigates the impact of proteins on the critical micellization temperature (CMT) and molecular interactions with a triblock copolymer PEG-PPG-PEG. Experimental findings show that proteins can modulate CMT and lead to anomalous behavior at specific concentrations, resulting in the formation of protein-copolymer assemblies with distinct biophysical properties. The use of multiple advanced techniques including molecular docking studies provides insights into the mechanism of CMT variation and the potential applications of the results in biosensors and targeted drug delivery systems.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Qiuchen Huang, Zhiqiang Cai, Ruonan Chen, Wei Zhang, Donatella Nardiello, Maurizio Quinto, Xianming Liu, Shaoqiang Hu, Tao Sun
Summary: In this study, a novel compound TCP-Bim was designed, synthesized, and used as the stationary phase for capillary gas chromatography. It showed moderate polarity and high efficiency, resulting in high resolutions and excellent separation capabilities compared to other columns.
MICROCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Thi Ha My Phan, Xiu-Hao Chen, Shiang-Ting Huang, Jeng-Shiung Jan
Summary: This study investigated the hydrogelation of amphiphilic triblock copolymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and sheet-like polypeptides. The triblock copolymers were synthesized using PEG-diamine and two L-cysteine derivatives as hydrophilic initiators and hydrophobic segments, respectively. The results showed that the chain length, block ratio, and functional group on the side chain played important roles in determining the amphiphilic balance and non-covalent interactions, which affected the hydrogelation and mechanical properties of the triblock copolymers. In particular, the sheet-like poly(S-benzyl-L-cysteine) was found to be a good hydrogelator. This study highlighted the potential of using amphiphilic triblock copolymers with sheet-like polypeptide segments for preparing hydrogels with tunable properties.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Cuiping Hou, Chulu Zhou, Jianhua Cheng
Summary: A series of well-defined ABA-triblock copolymers were synthesized by living ring-opening metathesis polymerization, leading to the subsequent formation of amphiphilic ABA-triblock azobenzene copolymers with light-responsive behavior and self-assembly capability. The reversible structural changes of the copolymers under alternating UV and visible light illumination were demonstrated.
Article
Polymer Science
Pei Huang, Meiwei Qi, Chuanshuang Chen, Fugui Xu, Shanlong Li, Qingsong Xu, Hui Pan, Yuling Wang, Chunyang Yu, Shaodong Zhang, Yongfeng Zhou
Summary: The asymmetric distribution of lipids on the inner and outer membranes of a cell is crucial for physiological and immunological activities. Synthetic asymmetric vesicles are prepared using amphiphilic block copolymers, or self-assembled by two hydrophilic segments. Effective fluorescence titration methods can be developed to determine the uneven distribution of segments in the vesicles. This work demonstrates the potential of sequence-controlled polymers for creating challenging self-assembled structures with important functions and properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jin-Wook Choi, Jongil An, Seung-Rak Son, Soyern Kim, Jisung Park, Chan Beom Park, Jun Hyup Lee
Summary: A hierarchical self-assembled nanoarchitecture based on the unique self-assembly of block copolymers has been developed for the nanofabrication of functionally versatile materials with a wide range of potential applications. The ultrafast responsive and highly reliable self-constructed polymer nanolayer was fabricated using template-assisted interfacial self-assembly, enabling automatic molecular alignment control. This approach demonstrated improved electro-optical switching speed and alignment stability compared to commercial polyimide layers.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Yu-Chuan Sung, Pei-Sun Huang, Shih-Hung Huang, Yeo-Wan Chiang, Jing-Cherng Tsai
Summary: In this study, sP4M1P-based stereoregular diblock copolymers were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization reaction, starting from alpha-bromoester-capped sP4M1P macroinitiator and chain extending with styrene and methyl methacrylate. This method offers an effective process for the preparation of stereoregular diblock copolymers, which have well-defined architectures and can undergo molecular self-assembly into ordered nanostructures.
Article
Polymer Science
Yakun Guo, Yuewen Yu, Keyu Shi, Wangqing Zhang
Summary: The ABA triblock copolymer nanoparticles of PHPMA-b-PS-b-PHPMA with a hydrophobic core of PS and a hydrophilic corona of PHPMA were synthesized by dispersion RAFT polymerization. It was found that these nanoparticles have a larger diameter and higher chain density compared to similar PHPMA-b-PS diblock copolymer nanoparticles, making them efficient emulsifiers that can decrease interfacial tension.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Li Zhou, Yong-Jie Wu, Kun Chen, Xing-Yu Zhou, Hui Zou, Shu-Ming Kang, Na Liu, Zong-Quan Wu
Summary: Two enantiomeric bidentate phosphine ligands LR-azo and LS-azo containing azobenene moiety were prepared and directly coordinated with (& pi;-allyl)NiOCOCF3 to generate two reversibly photoswitchable chiral Ni(ii) catalysts for living/controlled polymerization of allene monomers. The cis-trans photoisomerization of the azobenzene moiety on the catalyst under irradiation with different wavelengths resulted in different polymerization activities, regioselectivities, and enantioselectivities for Ni(ii)/LR-azo and Ni(ii)/LS-azo.
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Suraj Aswale, Minji Kim, Dongwoo Kim, Aruna Kumar Mohanty, Heung Bae Jeon, Hong Y. Cho, Hyun-jong Paik
Summary: In this study, a synthetic strategy for the preparation of a triblock copolymer containing a spirocyclic mid-block is reported. A spirocyclic polystyrene (cPS) mid-block was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and subsequent azidation and cycloaddition reactions. The resulting functional cPS was purified using liquid chromatography techniques. The cPS was then esterified to obtain a macro-ATRP initiator for the synthesis of a poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-cPS-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA-b-cPS-b-PMMA) triblock copolymer. This work provides a synthetic strategy for the preparation of a spirocyclic macroinitiator for the ATRP technique and introduces liquid chromatographic techniques for the purification of (spiro) cyclic polymers.
Article
Polymer Science
Yoko Mizoue, Ema Onodera, Kazutoshi Haraguchi, Shin-ichi Yusa
Summary: Poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) (PMEA) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) have protein-antifouling properties and blood compatibility. ABA triblock copolymers were prepared using single-electron transfer-living radical polymerization (SET-LRP) with a bifunctional PEO macroinitiator. These copolymers formed flower-shaped micelles with hydrophobic core and hydrophilic loop shells. The size and aggregation number of the micelles were independent of the polymerization degree of the hydrophobic block.
Article
Polymer Science
Paige A. Shaw, Maxime Klausen, Mark Bradley
Summary: A light-responsive polymer capable of controlled release of camptothecin and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was developed, which exhibited high cancer cell killing activity through both camptothecin release and ROS generation.
Article
Polymer Science
Donghui Zhang, Shiqi Liu, Zhihao Cai, Weizhe Luo, Guojian Liu, Runhui Liu
Summary: A straightforward and efficient method for synthesizing NPC monomers has been developed in this study, which enhances the availability of NPC monomers and facilitates the synthesis of polypeptides.
