Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rohini Thevi Guntnur, Nicolas Muzzio, Madison Morales, Gabriela Romero
Summary: The phase transition dynamics of POEGMA coatings in response to external temperature stimuli were investigated using QCM-D technology. The reversible phase transition nature of POEGMA brushes was revealed, showing potential as polymer coatings for controlled drug release.
Article
Polymer Science
D. M. Kamorin, A. S. Simagin, D. V. Orekhov, O. A. Kazantsev, E. A. Bolshakova, A. P. Sivokhin, M. V. Savinova, S. V. Orekhov
Summary: The synthesis and solution properties of thermoresponsive polymer molecular brushes based on five novel diblock macromonomers have been studied. The research showed the impact of synthesis conditions on the rate of radical solution polymerization, maximum conversions of macromonomers, and molecular weight characteristics of polymers. Furthermore, it demonstrated the influence of oligo(propylene glycol) block length on surface-active properties and aggregation behavior of the polymers.
Article
Polymer Science
Maria Simonova, Denis Kamorin, Oleg Kazantsev, Maria Nepomnyashaya, Alexander Filippov
Summary: Polymethacrylic molecular brushes with oligo(ethylene glycol)-block-oligo(propylene glycol) side chains were studied in various solvents, showing molecular dispersion in good solvents like tetrahydrofuran and acetonitrile, and micelle-like aggregate formation in chloroform and water. Critical micelle concentrations decreased with longer hydrophobic blocks, while thermosensitive behavior and lower phase separation temperatures were observed in aqueous solutions with higher oligo(propylene glycol) content.
Article
Polymer Science
Maria Simonova, Alexander Simagin, Denis Kamorin, Sergey Orekhov, Alexander Filippov, Oleg Kazantsev
Summary: The properties of polymer brushes based on three macromonomers were investigated, including their behavior in aqueous and organic solutions, solubility in water and organic solvents, equilibrium distribution between phases, surface activity in water-toluene system, thermo-responsibility in aqueous solutions, and critical concentration of micelle formation.
Article
Polymer Science
Lukas P. Sadowski, Andrew Singh, Daniel H. Luo, Michael J. Majcher, Ivan Urosev, Meghan Rothenbroker, Vitaliy Kapishon, Niels M. B. Smeets, Todd Hoare
Summary: In this study, brush co-polymer analogues were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and used to fabricate nanoparticles for drug delivery applications. These analogues exhibited high colloidal stability, favorable in vitro cytocompatibility, and effective drug loading. The functionalization of the hydrophobic block allowed for controlled release of the nanoparticles.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Kohei Sano, Koki Umemoto, Haruka Miura, Satoshi Ohno, Kyohei Iwata, Rin Kawakami, Masayuki Munekane, Toshihide Yamasaki, Daniel Citterio, Yuki Hiruta, Takahiro Mukai
Summary: Poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] (POEGMA) was investigated as a potential drug carrier for tumor diagnosis. Different derivatives of POEGMA with varying molecular weights and side chain lengths were synthesized and labeled with radioisotopes or fluorescence dyes. The results showed that the POEGMA derivatives were efficiently taken up by tumor cells and exhibited high accumulation in tumor tissues. In vivo fluorescence imaging using optimized POEGMA derivatives confirmed their suitability as drug carriers for sensitive tumor diagnosis.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Qiang Luo, Ling Lin, Qiaorong Huang, Zhenyu Duan, Lei Gu, Hu Zhang, Zhongwei Gu, Qiyong Gong, Kui Luo
Summary: In this study, an enzyme- and pH-responsive polymeric prodrug was developed by combining a dendronized structure with a poly(oligo-(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) backbone. The prodrug exhibited dual stimuli responsiveness and self-assembled into stable nanoparticles, which showed long-term circulation and enhanced cellular uptake. The nanoparticles demonstrated enhanced therapeutic effect and great hemocompatibility and biosafety. This strategy provides insights for the design of drug delivery carriers based on poly(oligo-(ethylene glycol) methacrylate).
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shuo Li, Ruchira Colaco, Anne Staubitz
Summary: Diazocine-functionalized initiators were synthesized for controlled radical polymerizations, and their efficiency in polymerizations of methyl acrylate and methacrylate was tested. The initiation of the reactions required high amounts of reducing agents and catalysts. Additionally, violet light irradiation during the reactions caused retardation or termination of the anilide compound.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Dmitry Orekhov, Denis M. Kamorin, Alexander S. Simagin, Ildar R. Arifullin, Oleg A. Kazantsev, Alexey P. Sivokhin, Maria Savinova
Summary: Three different types of amphiphilic copolymer molecular brushes with side chains consisting of alkyl and oligo(ethylene glycol) blocks were successfully synthesized via conventional radical polymerization in toluene. The reactivity ratios calculated for the copolymerization of different monomers showed independence of the alkyl group structure and ethoxylation degree, leading to compositionally homogeneous copolymers. Overall, the study demonstrated the applicability of reactivity ratios for estimating copolymer compositions at high conversions.
Article
Polymer Science
Andrew Chung, Burak Tavsanli, Elizabeth R. Gillies
Summary: Hydrogels have diverse applications, and OPF has attracted attention for its tunable degradation. By introducing protected amines into OPF, the degradation rate can be controlled by triggering the cleavage of the polymer backbone. This approach can be applied to other stimuli, providing a versatile method to control OPF degradation.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Micaela A. Macchione, Dariana Aristizabal Bedoya, Eva Rivero-Buceta, Pablo Botella, Miriam C. Strumia
Summary: Hybrid nanogels based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles were developed using ultrasound-assisted free radical precipitation/polymerization, characterized by various analytical techniques, and studied for their biological activity in cell lines and drug loading capacity. The results indicate excellent biocompatibility and drug release properties of these hybrid nanogels.
Article
Polymer Science
Khalid M. Alotaibi, Abdurrahman A. Almethen, Abeer M. Beagan, Latifah H. Alfhaid, Maqusood Ahamed, Ahmed M. El-Toni, Abdullah M. Alswieleh
Summary: A new pH-responsive nanosystem based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) was developed for cancer therapy, featuring a gatekeeper PDEAEMA and further modification to encapsulate the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). The fabricated nanoplatform exhibited significant drug release and cytotoxicity in acidic media, suggesting its potential as a nanocarrier for anti-cancer drugs.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Fei Xu, Chloe Dawson, Todd Hoare
Summary: A reactive cell electrospinning approach is introduced to create nanofibrous hydrogel scaffolds with controllable local cell gradients. This method utilizes hydrazide and aldehyde-functionalized polymers and a sequential all-aqueous process, without the need for additives or external energy. The cells can be encapsulated directly during the fabrication process, allowing for localized segregation of different cell types within the structure while maintaining their proliferative capacity. This approach shows promise in generating coculture fibrous hydrogel networks with controlled nanoscale architecture and cell distribution, essential for recreating complex tissues.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
David Pizzi, James Humphries, Joshua P. Morrow, Ayaat M. Mahmoud, Nicholas L. Fletcher, Stefan E. Sonderegger, Craig A. Bell, Kristofer J. Thurecht, Kristian Kempe
Summary: In this study, we synthesized a new water-soluble polymer and compared it with control polymers. The new polymer demonstrated a lower critical solution temperature behavior and a chiral secondary structure. Cellular association and mouse biodistribution studies confirmed the biocompatibility of this polymer and its higher immune cell association and organ accumulation compared to control polymers.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yu-Wei Cheng, Yen-Ting Lin, Kun-Ho Liu, Jung-San Chen, Shih-Hsuan Wang, Ting -Yu Liu
Summary: In this study, PEGMA polymer brushes were successfully immobilized on nonwoven cosmetic masks to enhance hydrophilicity and water retention, showing superior bacterial inhibitory effects and biocompatibility. PEGMA 500 exhibited broader zone of inhibition to resist bacteria compared with PEGMA 360 in three kinds of gas plasma functionalization.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sandip Kumar, Michael L. Cartron, Nic Mullin, Pu Qian, Graham J. Leggett, C. Neil Hunter, Jamie K. Hobbs
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Osama El Zubir, Sijing Xia, Robert E. Ducker, Lin Wang, Nic Mullin, Michael L. Cartron, Ashley J. Cadby, Jamie K. Hobbs, C. Neil Hunter, Graham J. Leggett
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhenyu J. Zhang, Mark Moxey, Abdullah Alswieleh, Steven P. Armes, Andrew L. Lewis, Mark Geoghegan, Graham J. Leggett
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alexander Johnson, Peng Bao, Claire R. Hurley, Michael Cartron, Stephen D. Evans, C. Neil Hunter, Graham J. Leggett
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Omed Al-Jaf, Abdullah Alswieleh, Steven P. Armes, Graham J. Leggett
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Maryam Raftari, Zhenyu J. Zhang, Steven R. Carter, Graham J. Leggett, Mark Geoghegan
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
J. Madsen, R. E. Ducker, O. Al Jaf, M. L. Cartron, A. M. Alswieleh, C. H. Smith, C. N. Hunter, S. P. Armes, G. J. Leggett
Article
Polymer Science
Zhenyu J. Zhang, Steve Edmondson, Matthew Mears, Jeppe Madsen, Steven P. Armes, Graham J. Leggett, Mark Geoghegan
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Graham J. Leggett
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anna Lishchuk, Evelin Csanyi, Brice Darroch, Chloe Wilson, Alexei Nabok, Graham J. Leggett
Summary: Plexcitonic antenna complexes, formed by attaching chlorophylls to polymer scaffolds grown on gold nanostructures, exhibit strong coupling between localized surface plasmon resonances and chlorophyll excitons. Modelling analysis shows that the coupling energies in these complexes are twice as large as those of natural light-harvesting complexes. The chlorophyll concentration in these complexes can be increased by controlling the grafting density and polymerization time. Additionally, synthetic plexcitonic antenna complexes display pH- and temperature-responsiveness.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Robert E. Ducker, Oscar Siles Bruegge, Anthony J. H. M. Meijer, Graham J. Leggett
Summary: We demonstrate the mechanochemical regulation of a photochemical reaction using an atomic force microscope (AFM) probe to remove photocleavable nitrophenyl protecting groups from alkylsilane films. This process enables nanoscale differentiation of chemical reactivity with high spatial resolution. The study also shows that functionalization of nanolines with nitrilo triacetic acid allows for site-specific immobilization of histidine-tagged green fluorescent protein.
Article
Polymer Science
Emma E. Brotherton, Edwin C. Johnson, Mark J. Smallridge, Deborah B. Hammond, Graham J. Leggett, Steven P. Armes
Summary: Surface-initiated activators regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) is used to polymerize a cis-diol-functional methacrylic monomer (GEO5MA) from planar silicon wafers. The hydrophilic PGEO5MA brush is selectively oxidized using sodium periodate to produce an aldehyde-functional hydrophilic PAGEO5MA brush. XPS analysis confirmed the successful oxidation and subsequent functionalization of the brushes. Moreover, protein adsorption was found to be minimal on the PGEO5MA brush-coated substrate, while strong protein adsorption occurred on the PAGEO5MA brush-coated substrate.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Edwin C. Johnson, Spyridon Varlas, Oleta Norvilaite, Thomas J. Neal, Emma E. Brotherton, George Sanderson, Graham J. Leggett, Steven P. Armes
Summary: This study demonstrates the chemical adsorption of aldehyde-functional diblock copolymer spherical nanoparticles onto amine-functionalized surface-grafted polymer brushes via dynamic Schiff base chemistry. The aldehyde-functional brushes were treated with excess small-molecule diamine, and the resulting imine linkages were converted into secondary amine bonds via reductive amination. Friction force microscopy studies showed that the nanoparticles formed multiple dynamic imine bonds with the brushes, leading to a mean surface coverage of approximately 0.33, regardless of the nanoparticle size.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Anna Lishchuk, Cvetelin Vasilev, Matthew P. Johnson, C. Neil Hunter, Paivi Torma, Graham J. Leggett
FARADAY DISCUSSIONS
(2019)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Christopher G. Clarkson, Alexander Johnson, Graham J. Leggett, Mark Geoghegan