Review
Polymer Science
Ketan Kuperkar, Dhruvi Patel, Leonard Ionut Atanase, Pratap Bahadur
Summary: This article mainly introduces the self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers in aqueous media forming various core-shell structures, and discusses different types of polymer micelles. The latest updates on polymerization-induced self-assembly and crystallization-driven self-assembly, as well as discussions on polyion complexes and polyion complex micelles, are also mentioned.
Article
Polymer Science
Vladislav Y. Shevtsov, Ting-Yi Hsin, Yeong-Tarng Shieh
Summary: The multi-stimuli-responsiveness of tertiary amine-containing polyacrylates makes them highly attractive for use in a wide range of applications. The quaternization of PDMAEMA has been widely established due to its effective antibacterial activity. However, information about the hydrolysis of qPDMAEMA has been lacking. In this study, well-defined PDMAEMA was prepared and partially or completely quaternized. The hydrolysis of qPDMAEMA was studied, showing that it can be easily hydrolyzed in an alkaline solution, providing an alternative way of preparing PMAA with precise control.
Article
Polymer Science
Jie Li, Peng Liu
Summary: A hyperbranched polymer prodrug with high drug loading was designed as unimolecular micelles for enhanced intracellular drug delivery. The unique structure of the polymer enabled enhanced intracellular pH-triggered drug release, showing promising potential for overcoming drug resistance in cancer cells.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Marina de Souza Melchiors, Tsvetomir Ivanov, Iain Harley, Claudia Sayer, Pedro H. H. Araujo, Lucas Caire da Silva, Calum T. J. Ferguson, Katharina Landfester
Summary: Understanding the behavior and dynamics of cellular membranes is crucial for studying cellular division and fusion processes. In this study, a method for manipulating the membrane of giant polymersomes using a temperature responsive polymer is presented. The membrane can undergo deformation, phase separation, and division upon temperature changes.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Jinkang Dou, Ruiqi Yang, Kun Du, Yanran Li, Xiayun Huang, Daoyong Chen
Summary: This paper reports an efficient method for fabricating polymersomes with unique and nonequilibrium morphologies. By controlling a morphological transformation process, polymersomes with stable morphologies are prepared.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Zhe Zhang, Huaiqing Chen, Liang Fang, Huawei He, Chengde Mao, Hua Zuo
Summary: This study reports a simple and efficient solution-phase synthesis method to conjugate hydrophobic molecules to DNAs. The resulting amphiphilic DNAs can spontaneously assemble into nanomicelles, which may serve as nanocarriers for cellular delivery of nucleic acids and water-insoluble drugs.
BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Micael G. Gouveia, Justus P. Wesseler, Jobbe Ramaekers, Christoph Weder, Philip B. V. Scholten, Nico Bruns
Summary: Protein-based therapeutics are a rapidly growing family of drugs that offer an attractive alternative to traditional therapeutic approaches. However, the use of protective carriers, such as lipid-based structures, is sometimes necessary due to the sensitivity of proteins to denaturation. Despite the advantages of polymersome-based targeted drug-delivery systems over lipid-based structures, the translation of polymersome formulations into approved pharmaceuticals has been slow. This review article highlights key obstacles in the development of polymersomes as protein nanocarriers and suggests areas for further exploration to advance their clinical translation.
CHEMICAL SOCIETY REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Polymer Science
Lin-Lin Xiao, Xu Zhou, Kan Yue, Zi-Hao Guo
Summary: Conjugated block copolymers (cBCPs) are promising materials with high conductivity and morphological versatility, making the study of their self-assembly behaviors crucial for enhancing device performance.
Article
Polymer Science
Rui Qi, Yulin Zhu, Liang Han, Meijing Wang, Feng He
Summary: Fabrication of nanomaterials by hierarchical self-assembly is of great research interest, but controlling the sophisticated structures of hierarchical architectures is still challenging. In this study, a diblock copolymer was developed and used to fabricate ultrathin 2D micelles and 2D hierarchical architectures containing multiple 2D lamellar structures through a heating, cooling, and aging process. The number of layers in the 2D hierarchical architectures can be controlled by adjusting the polymer concentration.
Article
Polymer Science
Daisuke Aoki, Gota Aibara, Toshikazu Takata
Summary: The study presents a reversible cyclic-linear topological transformation of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) facilitated by a long-range rotaxane switch. The linear polymer is fixed by a protonated tert-amine/crown ether interaction at the center of the polymer chain and can be reversibly transformed into a cyclic polymer fixed by urethane linkage/crown ether interaction at the polymer end upon neutralization/acidification of the tert-amine moiety.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Sai Geetika Surapaneni, Shakeb N. Choudhari, Shankarrao V. Avhad, Ashootosh V. Ambade
Summary: A series of dual stimuli-responsive block copolymers were synthesized, composed of temperature-responsive PVCL and biodegradable pH-responsive PLL. The block copolymers formed micelles and polymersomes in response to temperature and pH changes, respectively, in aqueous solution. The release of the drug Doxorubicin (DOX) from the polymersomes was controlled by stimuli-induced increased permeability, and an increase in cellular uptake was observed at hyperthermia conditions.
BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Karolis Norinkevicius, Jeppe Madsen, Line Elmstrom Christiansen, Sebastian Meier, Andreas Horner, Radoslaw Gorecki, Torsten Hoybye Bak Regueira, Anders Egede Daugaard
Summary: The synthesis of block copolymers based on polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polycaprolactone (PCL) was reported. PEG-b-PCL diblock copolymers were prepared using enzymatic and tin-mediated ring-opening polymerization. Well-defined PEG-b-PCL-b-PEG triblock copolymers were synthesized through the coupling of PEG-b-PCL diblock copolymers. The aggregation behavior of diblock and triblock copolymers was studied using a direct hydration technique. The inclusion of amine-functional diblock copolymer favored cylindrical micelle formation.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fernando A. de Oliveira, Carin C. S. Batista, Lindomar J. C. Albuquerque, Peter Cernoch, Milos Steinhart, Vladimir Sincari, Alessandro Jager, Eliezer Jager, Fernando C. Giacomelli
Summary: The size and morphology of self-assemblies can be tuned for the development of delivery systems. The morphology of pH-triggered nanoplatforms based on block copolymers is influenced by the molecular weight of the copolymer and the method of self-assembly. The formation of core-shell nanoparticles or vesicular structures can be achieved by adjusting the molecular weight and using different self-assembly methods.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Lorella Izzo, Paola Lisa, Olga Sacco, Stefania Pragliola
Summary: In this study, PPO and PEPK di-block copolymers were successfully prepared using i-PrONa/i-Bu3Al as an anionic catalytic system. The copolymers showed almost 100% monomer conversion and controlled block lengths, with molecular weights close to theoretical values. The copolymer synthesis process was found to be efficient, with remarkable calorimetric properties and unique optical features.
Review
Polymer Science
Claudia Pinon-Balderrama, Cesar Leyva-Porras, Alain Salvador Conejo-Davila, Erasto Armando Zaragoza-Contreras
Summary: Scientific research has found that the self-assembly behavior of block copolymers comprising charged-neutral segments can optimize the generation and storage efficiency of electrical energy. The sulfonation reaction is a commonly used method to alter the self-assembly behavior of block copolymers. Recent studies have shown improvements in the mechanical properties, ionic conduction capabilities, and interface activity of block copolymers through the sulfonation reaction. Additionally, practical applications and challenges are discussed.
