Temperature-Responsive Polymer Brush Coatings for Advanced Biomedical Applications

Modern biomedical technologies predict the application of materials and devices that not only can comply effectively with specific requirements, but also enable remote control of their functions. One of the most prospective materials for these advanced biomedical applications are materials based on temperature-responsive polymer brush coatings (TRPBCs). In this review, methods for the fabrication and characterization of TRPBCs are summarized, and possibilities for their application, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the TRPBCs, are presented in detail. Special attention is paid to the mechanisms of thermo-responsibility of the TRPBCs. Applications of TRPBCs for temperature-switchable bacteria killing, temperature-controlled protein adsorption, cell culture, and temperature-controlled adhesion/detachment of cells and tissues are considered. The specific criteria required for the desired biomedical applications of TRPBCs are presented and discussed.

Biodegradable Polymeric Architectures via Reversible Deactivation Radical Polymerizations

Reversible deactivation radical polymerizations (RDRPs) have proven to be the convenient tools for the preparation of polymeric architectures and nanostructured materials. When biodegradability is conferred to these materials, many biomedical applications can be envisioned. In this review, we discuss the synthesis and applications of biodegradable polymeric architectures using different RDRPs. These biodegradable polymeric structures can be designed as well-defined star-shaped, cross-linked or hyperbranched via smartly designing the chain transfer agents and/or post-polymerization modifications. These polymers can also be exploited to fabricate micelles, vesicles and capsules via either self-assembly or cross-linking methodologies. Nanogels and hydrogels can also be prepared via RDRPs and their applications in biomedical science are also discussed. In addition to the synthetic polymers, varied natural precursors such as cellulose and biomolecules can also be employed to prepare biodegradable polymeric architectures.

Polymer nanostructures synthesized by controlled living polymerization for tumor-targeted drug delivery

The development of drug delivery systems based on well-defined polymer nanostructures could lead to significant improvements in the treatment of cancer. The design of these therapeutic nanosystems must account for numerous systemic and circulation obstacles as well as the specific pathophysiology of the tumor. Nanoparticle size and surface charge must also be carefully selected in order to maintain long circulation times, allow tumor penetration, and avoid clearance by the reticuloendothelial system (RES). Targeting ligands such as vitamins, peptides, and antibodies can improve the accumulation of nanoparticle-based therapies in tumor tissue but must be optimized to allow for intratumoral penetration. In this review, we will highlight factors influencing the design of nanoparticle therapies as well as the development of modern controlled "living" polymerization techniques (e.g. ATRP, RAFT, ROMP) that are leading to the creation of sophisticated new polymer architectures with discrete spatially-defined functional modules. These innovative materials (e.g. star polymers, polymer brushes, macrocyclic polymers, and hyperbranched polymers) combine many of the desirable properties of traditional nanoparticle therapies while substantially reducing or eliminating the need for complex formulations.

A simple route to deuterated polystyrene block copolymers by reverse iodine transfer polymerisation

For the first time, deuterated polystyrene block copolymers were synthesized by RITP and analysed by advanced fractionation and spectroscopic methods.

Efficient and versatile synthesis of star polymers in water and their use as emulsifiers

Core cross-linked star polymers of low polydispersity were efficiently prepared in high yield by RAFT-mediated emulsion and dispersion polymerizations in water at high solid content. These star polymers were demonstrated to be effective emulsifiers, and the emulsion was successfully used as template to fabricate polymer particles.

A Bipedal Silica-Immobilized Azo-Initiator for Surface-Confined Radical Polymerizations

The present study introduces the silica-anchored azo-initiator 4,4′-azobis(4-cyano-N-(3″-triethoxysilylpropyl)-valeric amide) (ACTA) for the surface-initiated polymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) with and without additional grafted reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agents 1,4-bis(3′-trimethoxysilylpropyltrithiocarbonylmethyl)benzene and 1,6-bis(o,p-2′-trimethoxysilylethylbenzyltrithiocarbonyl)hexane. While the sole use of silica-linked ACTA produced grafted poly(methyl acrylate) (pMA) of high molecular weight, due to a 2D Trommsdorff effect, the polymerization in combination with the fixed RAFT agents exhibited living behaviour with increasing molecular weights during polymerization. Silica-pMA hybrids were further analyzed via thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy, which revealed significant differences between the three approaches.

Spherical Glycopolymer Architectures using RAFT: From Stars with a ?-Cyclodextrin Core to Thermoresponsive Core–Shell Particles

Glycopolymers with a seven-arm star architectures based on a β-cyclodextrin core (β-CD-RAFT) were successfully prepared using reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. A bimodal molecular weight distribution was observed in the early stages of the polymerization. At monomer conversions of N-acryloyl glucose (AGA) above 10% the polymerization proceeded according to a living behaviour and molecular weights of more than 200000 g mol–1 were obtained. However, the resulting star polymers did not undergo well-controlled chain extension with N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAm) and the formation of block structures in each arm was prevented. Alternatively, the arm-first technique was employed. Block copolymers based on AGA and PNIPAAm were self-assembled into micelles at a solution temperature above the lower critical solution temperature. Subsequent core-crosslinking with hexan-1,6-diol diacrylate resulted in unimolecular micelles with thermoresponsive properties. Dynamic light scattering studies, surface tensiometry, and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of core–shell particles.

Living Radical Polymerization by the RAFT Process - A Second Update

This paper provides a second update to the review of reversible deactivation radical polymerization achieved with thiocarbonylthio compounds (ZC(=S)SR) by a mechanism of reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) that was published in June 2005 (Aust. J. Chem. 2005, 58, 379–410). The first update was published in November 2006 (Aust. J. Chem. 2006, 59, 669–692). This review cites over 500 papers that appeared during the period mid-2006 to mid-2009 covering various aspects of RAFT polymerization ranging from reagent synthesis and properties, kinetics and mechanism of polymerization, novel polymer syntheses and a diverse range of applications. Significant developments have occurred, particularly in the areas of novel RAFT agents, techniques for end-group removal and transformation, the production of micro/nanoparticles and modified surfaces, and biopolymer conjugates both for therapeutic and diagnostic applications.