Synthesis and properties of a novel poly(aryl ether sulfone) functionalized with pinacol phenylboronate pendants

A novel poly(arylene ether sulfone) (PAES) with pinacol phenylboronate pendants (PAES-B) was prepared by the borylation of brominated PAES (PAES-Br). The reaction was carried out under mild conditions in the presence of cuprous iodide and tri- n-butylphosphine in tetrahydrofuran solution. After heat treatment at 150°C for 132 h, the PAES-B exhibited an interesting solvent resistance. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal analysis were performed to investigate the reason. FTIR spectra showed that heat treatment could facilitate losing of pinacol groups and formation of phenylboronic acid in the polymer. Meanwhile, differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) curves demonstrated that the polymer had cross-linking behaviors during heat treatment. In addition, the thermal oxidative stability of PAES-B was researched by the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).

BODIPY-thiophene copolymers as p-channel semiconductors for organic thin-film transistors

The synthesis and physicochemical properties of a new class of BODIPY-based donor-acceptor π-conjugated polymers are presented. Solution-processed top-gate/bottom-contact (TG-BC) thin-film transistors on flexible plastic substrates exhibit air-stable p-channel activities with charge carrier mobilities as high as 0.17 cm(2) /V·s and current on/off ratios of 10(5) -10(6) , the highest reported to date for a BODIPY-based semiconductor. The results shown here indicate a significant charge-transport improvement (>10000×) in BODIPY-based polymeric semiconductors, demonstrating its potential in future organic optoelectronic applications.

Aromatic difluoroboron β-diketonate complexes: effects of π-conjugation and media on optical properties

Aromatic difluoroboron β-diketonate complexes (BF2bdks) are classic fluorescent molecules that have been explored as photochemical reagents, two-photon dyes, and oxygen sensors. To gain a better understanding of their emissive properties in both solution and polymer matrices, BF2bdks with varying aromatic groups were synthesized and their photophysical properties were investigated in both methylene chloride and poly(lactic acid) (PLA). Absorption spectra showed systematic variations that are well correlated with structural features, including the size of the aryl substituent and the presence of a para electron-donating methoxy substituent. Computational modeling of the absorption spectra with the TD-B3LYP/6-311+G(d)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) formulation of density functional theory and a polarizable continuum model of dichloromethane solvent shows that all systems show intense π-π* one-electron excitations, usually from one of the highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO - k, k = 0, 1, 2) to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). Emission properties are sensitive to the dye structure and medium. Based on spectroscopic and lifetime studies, BF2bdks exhibit comparable fluorescence properties in both solutions and polymers when the diketonate group is functionalized with smaller aromatic ring systems such as benzene. For BF2bdks with larger arene ring systems, such as anthracene, emission from a strong intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) state was also noted in both solution and in PLA. There are differences in relative intensities of peaks arising from π-π* and ICT excitations depending upon dye loading in PLA. Substituent effects were also observed. Electron-donating methoxyl groups on the aromatic rings lead to enhanced fluorescence quantum yields. For certain dyes, phosphorescence is detected at low temperature or under a nitrogen atmosphere in PLA matrices.

Glucose-Responsive Disassembly of Polymersomes of Sequence-Specific Boroxole-Containing Block Copolymers under Physiologically Relevant Conditions

Polymers containing organoboronic acids have recently gained interest as sugar-responsive materials owing to the reversible binding of saccharides to boronic acids, which triggers a change in the physical and chemical properties of these polymers, such as their water solubility. In particular, the ability of these polymers to bind glucose has attracted considerable attention because of the promise of these materials for the development of sensors and drug delivery systems for glucose-related human diseases, such as diabetes. We report here a new class of sugar-responsive polymers that are based on a sequence-specific copolymer of styreneboroxole and N-functionalized maleimide. The reversible addition-fragmentation and chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of this pair of monomers ensured that a glucose receptor alternates with a nonresponsive solubilizing group throughout the sugar-responsive polymer chain. Due to the presence of hydrophilic solubilizing groups beween the solubility-switching boroxole moieties in the membrane-forming block, the polymersomes of the block copolymers responded to a lower level of glucose in the medium, resulting in diassembly of the bilayer membrane under a physiologically relevant pH and glucose level.

Boron as a platform for new drug design

INTRODUCTION

Boron lies on the borderline between metals and non-metals in the periodic table. As such, it possesses peculiarities which render it suitable for a variety of applications in chemistry, technology and medicine. However, boron's peculiarities have been exploited only partially so far.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, the authors highlight selected areas of research which have witnessed new uses of boron compounds in recent times. The examples reported illustrate how difficulties in the synthesis and physicochemical characterization of boronated molecules, encountered in past years, can be overcome with positive effects in different fields.

EXPERT OPINION

Many potentialities of boron-based systems reside in the peculiar properties of both boron atoms (the ability to replace carbon atoms, electron deficiency) and of boronated compounds (hydrophobicity, lipophilicity, versatile stereochemistry). Taken in conjunction, these properties can provide innovative drugs. The authors highlight the need to further investigate the assembly of boronated compounds, in terms of drug design, since the mechanisms required to obtain supramolecular structures may be unconventional compared with the more standard molecules used. Furthermore, the authors propose that computational methods are a valuable tool for assessing the role of multicenter, quasi-aromatic bonds and its peculiar geometries.

Glucose-Sensitivity of Boronic Acid Block Copolymers at Physiological pH

Well-defined boronic acid block copolymers were demonstrated to exhibit glucose-responsive disassembly at physiological pH. A boronic acid-containing acrylamide monomer with an electron-withdrawing substituent on the pendant phenylboronic acid moiety was polymerized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization to yield a polymer with a boronic acid pK_a = 8.2. Below this value, a block copolymer of this monomer with poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) self-assembled into aggregates. Addition of base to yield a pH > pK_a or addition of glucose at pH = 7.4 resulted in aggregate dissociation that may prove promising for controlled delivery applications under physiological relevant conditions.

Phenylboronic-acid-modified amphiphilic polyether as a neutral gene vector

A phenylboronic-acid-modified amphiphilic block polyether is prepared via reaction of polyglycidol-block-poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide)-block-polyglycidol (Pluronic-PG) with 2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)-5-aminomethyl phenylboronic acid using phosgene as a coupling reagent. The boronic-acid-modified non-cationic polymer binds plasmid pGL3 effectively, forms sub-µm polymer/DNA complex particles, and greatly facilitates the cell uptake of the plasmid. The efficiency of the polymer as a gene vector is evaluated in vitro by transfection of pGL3 to HeLa, COS-7 and HepG2 cells. Pluronic-PG-BA enhances the transfection efficiency by 100 to 1000 times compared with Pluronic-PG. The presence of serum does not significantly affect the transfection efficiency.