1
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Clothier GKK, Guimarães TR, Thompson SW, Howard SC, Muir BW, Moad G, Zetterlund PB. Streamlining the Generation of Advanced Polymer Materials Through the Marriage of Automation and Multiblock Copolymer Synthesis in Emulsion. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202320154. [PMID: 38400586 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202320154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic polymers are of paramount importance in modern life - an incredibly wide range of polymeric materials possessing an impressive variety of properties have been developed to date. The recent emergence of artificial intelligence and automation presents a great opportunity to significantly speed up discovery and development of the next generation of advanced polymeric materials. We have focused on the high-throughput automated synthesis of multiblock copolymers that comprise three or more distinct polymer segments of different monomer composition bonded in linear sequence. The present work has exploited automation to prepare high molar mass multiblock copolymers (typically>100,000 g mol-1) using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in aqueous emulsion. A variety of original multiblock copolymers have been synthesised via a Chemspeed robot, exemplified by a multiblock copolymer comprising thirteen constituent blocks. Moreover, libraries of copolymers of randomized monomer compositions (acrylates, acrylamides, methacrylates, and styrenes), block orders, and block lengths were also generated, thereby demonstrating the robustness of our synthetic approach. One multiblock copolymer contained all four monomer families listed in the pool, which is unprecedented in the literature. The present work demonstrates that automation has the power to render complex and laborious syntheses of such unprecedented materials not just possible, but facile and straightforward, thus representing the way forward to the next generation of complex macromolecular architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenn K K Clothier
- Cluster for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Thiago R Guimarães
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), CNRS (UMR 5629), ENSCPB, Université de Bordeaux, 16 avenue Pey Berland, 33607, Pessac, France
| | - Steven W Thompson
- Cluster for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Shaun C Howard
- CSIRO Manufacturing, Bag 10, Clayton South, VIC, 3169, Australia
| | - Benjamin W Muir
- CSIRO Manufacturing, Bag 10, Clayton South, VIC, 3169, Australia
| | - Graeme Moad
- CSIRO Manufacturing, Bag 10, Clayton South, VIC, 3169, Australia
| | - Per B Zetterlund
- Cluster for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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2
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Schuett T, Kimmig J, Zechel S, Schubert US. Fully Automated Multi-Step Synthesis of Block Copolymers. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:292. [PMID: 35054696 PMCID: PMC8780857 DOI: 10.3390/polym14020292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
An automated synthesis protocol is developed for the synthesis of block copolymers in a multi-step approach in a fully automated manner. For this purpose, an automated dialysis setup is combined with robot-based synthesis protocols. Consequently, several block copolymerizations are executed completely automated and compared to the respective manual synthesis. As a result, this study opens up the field of autonomous multi-step reactions without any human interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo Schuett
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstr. 10, 07743 Jena, Germany; (T.S.); (J.K.); (S.Z.); (U.S.S.)
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Julian Kimmig
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstr. 10, 07743 Jena, Germany; (T.S.); (J.K.); (S.Z.); (U.S.S.)
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Stefan Zechel
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstr. 10, 07743 Jena, Germany; (T.S.); (J.K.); (S.Z.); (U.S.S.)
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Ulrich S. Schubert
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstr. 10, 07743 Jena, Germany; (T.S.); (J.K.); (S.Z.); (U.S.S.)
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
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3
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Hevus I, Webster DC, McNamara J, Ricapito NG, Tymoshenko S. Parallel esterification of bio‐based dicarboxylic acids in small scale film reactors: A
h
igh‐
t
hroughput
study. JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pol.20210059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Hevus
- Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials North Dakota State University Fargo North Dakota USA
| | - Dean C. Webster
- Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials North Dakota State University Fargo North Dakota USA
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4
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Ng G, Li M, Yeow J, Jung K, Pester CW, Boyer C. Benchtop Preparation of Polymer Brushes by SI-PET-RAFT: The Effect of the Polymer Composition and Structure on Inhibition of a Pseudomonas Biofilm. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:55243-55254. [PMID: 33233878 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c15221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We report a high-throughput method for producing surface-tethered polymeric brushes on glass substrates via surface-initiated photoinduced electron transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (SI-PET-RAFT). Due to its excellent oxygen tolerance, SI-PET-RAFT allows brush growth using low reagent volumes (30 μL) without prior degassing. An initial 28 homopolymer brush library was successfully prepared and screened with respect to their antifouling performance. The high-throughput approach was further exploited to expand the library to encompass statistical, gradient, and block architectures to investigate the effect of monomer composition and distribution using two monomers of disparate performance. In this manner, the degree of attachment from Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) bacterial biofilms could be tuned between the bounds set by the homopolymer brushes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gervase Ng
- Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design and Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052 Australia
| | - Mingxiao Li
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Jonathan Yeow
- Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design and Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052 Australia
| | - Kenward Jung
- Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design and Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052 Australia
| | - Christian W Pester
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Cyrille Boyer
- Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design and Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052 Australia
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5
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Tamasi M, Kosuri S, DiStefano J, Chapman R, Gormley AJ. Automation of Controlled/Living Radical Polymerization. ADVANCED INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 2:1900126. [PMID: 35586369 PMCID: PMC9113399 DOI: 10.1002/aisy.201900126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Controlled/living radical polymerization (CLRP) techniques are widely utilized to synthesize advanced and controlled synthetic polymers for chemical and biological applications. While automation has long stood as a high-throughput (HTP) research tool to increase productivity as well as synthetic/analytical reliability and precision, oxygen intolerance of CLRP has limited the widespread adoption of these systems. Recently, however, oxygen-tolerant CLRP techniques, such as oxygen-tolerant photoinduced electron/energy transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (PET-RAFT), enzyme degassing of RAFT (Enz-RAFT), and atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), have emerged. Herein, the use of a Hamilton MLSTARlet liquid handling robot for automating CLRP reactions is demonstrated. Synthesis processes are developed using Python and used to automate reagent handling, dispensing sequences, and synthesis steps required to create homopolymers, random heteropolymers, and block copolymers in 96-well plates, as well as postpolymerization modifications. Using this approach, the synergy between highly customizable liquid handling robotics and oxygen-tolerant CLRP to automate advanced polymer synthesis for HTP and combinatorial polymer research is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Tamasi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Shashank Kosuri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Jason DiStefano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Robert Chapman
- Australian Centre for Nanomedicine (ACN) and the Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Chemistry, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Adam J Gormley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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6
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Wang M, Zhang J, Guerrero-Sanchez C, Schubert US, Feng A, Thang SH. Enzyme Degassing for Oxygen-Sensitive Reactions in Open Vessels of an Automated Parallel Synthesizer: RAFT Polymerizations. ACS COMBINATORIAL SCIENCE 2019; 21:643-649. [PMID: 31498991 DOI: 10.1021/acscombsci.9b00082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
An enzyme degassing method for oxygen-intolerant polymerizations was implemented in a commercially available automated parallel synthesizer and tested for reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerizations performed in open vessels. For this purpose, a recently reported methodology that employs the enzyme glucose oxidase (GOx) to deplete oxygen in reaction media was utilized. The effectiveness of this approach to perform unattended parallel polymerization reactions in open vessels was demonstrated by comparing experimental results to those obtained under similar experimental conditions but utilizing the common degassing method of sparging N2 to remove oxygen. The proposed experimental technique displayed good precision in performing RAFT polymerizations and good control of the obtained polymers and could be easily adapted to other systems where the removal of oxygen is mandatory. This alternative high-throughput/high-output method may have the potential to increase productivity in research projects where oxygen-intolerant reactions are involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mu Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Junliang Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Material Physics and Chemistry under Extraordinary Conditions, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science and Technology, Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shanxi 710072, P. R. China
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Carlos Guerrero-Sanchez
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Ulrich S. Schubert
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Anchao Feng
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
| | - San H. Thang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Victoria 3800 Australia
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7
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Oliver S, Zhao L, Gormley AJ, Chapman R, Boyer C. Living in the Fast Lane—High Throughput Controlled/Living Radical Polymerization. Macromolecules 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.8b01864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adam J. Gormley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
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8
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Yeow J, Chapman R, Gormley AJ, Boyer C. Up in the air: oxygen tolerance in controlled/living radical polymerisation. Chem Soc Rev 2018; 47:4357-4387. [PMID: 29718038 PMCID: PMC9857479 DOI: 10.1039/c7cs00587c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 256] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The requirement for deoxygenation in controlled/living radical polymerisation (CLRP) places significant limitations on its widespread implementation by necessitating the use of large reaction volumes, sealed reaction vessels as well as requiring access to specialised equipment such as a glove box and/or inert gas source. As a result, in recent years there has been intense interest in developing strategies for overcoming the effects of oxygen inhibition in CLRP and therefore remove the necessity for deoxygenation. In this review, we highlight several strategies for achieving oxygen tolerant CLRP including: "polymerising through" oxygen, enzyme mediated deoxygenation and the continuous regeneration of a redox-active catalyst. In order to provide further clarity to the field, we also establish some basic parameters for evaluating the degree of "oxygen tolerance" that can be achieved using a given oxygen scrubbing strategy. Finally, we propose some applications that could most benefit from the implementation of oxygen tolerant CLRP and provide a perspective on the future direction of this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Yeow
- Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.,Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Robert Chapman
- Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.,Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Adam J. Gormley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, NJ, USA
| | - Cyrille Boyer
- Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.,Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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9
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Lo MC, Wang S, Singh S, Damodaran VB, Ahmed I, Coffey K, Barker D, Saste K, Kals K, Kaplan HM, Kohn J, Shreiber DI, Zahn JD. Evaluating the in vivo glial response to miniaturized parylene cortical probes coated with an ultra-fast degrading polymer to aid insertion. J Neural Eng 2018; 15:036002. [PMID: 29485103 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/aa9fad] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite the feasibility of short-term neural recordings using implantable microelectrodes, attaining reliable, chronic recordings remains a challenge. Most neural recording devices suffer from a long-term tissue response, including gliosis, at the device-tissue interface. It was hypothesized that smaller, more flexible intracortical probes would limit gliosis by providing a better mechanical match with surrounding tissue. APPROACH This paper describes the in vivo evaluation of flexible parylene microprobes designed to improve the interface with the adjacent neural tissue to limit gliosis and thereby allow for improved recording longevity. The probes were coated with an ultrafast degrading tyrosine-derived polycarbonate (E5005(2K)) polymer that provides temporary mechanical support for device implantation, yet degrades within 2 h post-implantation. A parametric study of probes of varying dimensions and polymer coating thicknesses were implanted in rat brains. The glial tissue response and neuronal loss were assessed from 72 h to 24 weeks post-implantation via immunohistochemistry. MAIN RESULTS Experimental results suggest that both probe and polymer coating sizes affect the extent of gliosis. When an appropriate sized coating dimension (100 µm × 100 µm) and small probe (30 µm × 5 µm) was implanted, a minimal post-implantation glial response was observed. No discernible gliosis was detected when compared to tissue where a sham control consisting of a solid degradable polymer shuttle of the same dimensions was inserted. A larger polymer coating (200 µm × 200 µm) device induced a more severe glial response at later time points, suggesting that the initial insertion trauma can affect gliosis even when the polymer shuttle degrades rapidly. A larger degree of gliosis was also observed when comparing a larger sized probe (80 µm × 5 µm) to a smaller probe (30 µm × 5 µm) using the same polymer coating size (100 µm × 100 µm). There was no significant neuronal loss around the implantation sites for most device candidates except the group with largest polymer coating and probe sizes. SIGNIFICANCE These results suggest that: (1) the degree of mechanical trauma at device implantation and mechanical mismatches at the probe-tissue interface affect long term gliosis; (2) smaller, more flexible probes may minimize the glial response to provide improved tissue biocompatibility when used for chronic neural signal recording; and (3) some degree of glial scarring did not significantly affect neuronal distribution around the probe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Chen Lo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States of America
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10
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Ricapito NG, Ghobril C, Zhang H, Grinstaff MW, Putnam D. Synthetic Biomaterials from Metabolically Derived Synthons. Chem Rev 2016; 116:2664-704. [PMID: 26821863 PMCID: PMC5810137 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The utility of metabolic synthons as the building blocks for new biomaterials is based on the early application and success of hydroxy acid based polyesters as degradable sutures and controlled drug delivery matrices. The sheer number of potential monomers derived from the metabolome (e.g., lactic acid, dihydroxyacetone, glycerol, fumarate) gives rise to almost limitless biomaterial structural possibilities, functionality, and performance characteristics, as well as opportunities for the synthesis of new polymers. This review describes recent advances in new chemistries, as well as the inventive use of traditional chemistries, toward the design and synthesis of new polymers. Specific polymeric biomaterials can be prepared for use in varied medical applications (e.g., drug delivery, tissue engineering, wound repair, etc.) through judicious selection of the monomer and backbone linkage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole G. Ricapito
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Cynthia Ghobril
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Heng Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Mark W. Grinstaff
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, United States
| | - David Putnam
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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11
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Lo MC, Wang S, Singh S, Damodaran VB, Kaplan HM, Kohn J, Shreiber DI, Zahn JD. Coating flexible probes with an ultra fast degrading polymer to aid in tissue insertion. Biomed Microdevices 2015; 17:34. [PMID: 25681971 PMCID: PMC4827618 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-015-9927-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We report a fabrication process for coating neural probes with an ultrafast degrading polymer to create consistent and reproducible devices for neural tissue insertion. The rigid polymer coating acts as a probe insertion aid, but resorbs within hours post-implantation. Despite the feasibility for short term neural recordings from currently available neural prosthetic devices, most of these devices suffer from long term gliosis, which isolates the probes from adjacent neurons, increasing the recording impedance and stimulation threshold. The size and stiffness of implanted probes have been identified as critical factors that lead to this long term gliosis. Smaller, more flexible probes that match the mechanical properties of brain tissue could allow better long term integration by limiting the mechanical disruption of the surrounding tissue during and after probe insertion, while being flexible enough to deform with the tissue during brain movement. However, these small flexible probes inherently lack the mechanical strength to penetrate the brain on their own. In this work, we have developed a micromolding method for coating a non-functional miniaturized SU-8 probe with an ultrafast degrading tyrosine-derived polycarbonate (E5005(2K)). Coated, non-functionalized probes of varying dimensions were reproducibly fabricated with high yields. The polymer erosion/degradation profiles of the probes were characterized in vitro. The probes were also mechanically characterized in ex vivo brain tissue models by measuring buckling and insertion forces during probe insertion. The results demonstrate the ability to produce polymer coated probes of consistent quality for future in vivo use, for example to study the effects of different design parameters that may affect tissue response during long term chronic intra-cortical microelectrode neural recordings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-chen Lo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA,
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12
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Baudis S, Lendlein A, Behl M. High-Throughput Synthesis as a Technology Platform for Copolymer Libraries. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/masy.201400159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marc Behl
- Institute of Biomaterial Science and Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies; Helmholtz-ZentrumGeesthacht; Teltow Germany
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13
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Haven JJ, Guerrero-Sanchez C, Keddie DJ, Moad G, Thang SH, Schubert US. One pot synthesis of higher order quasi-block copolymer librariesviasequential RAFT polymerization in an automated synthesizer. Polym Chem 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c4py00496e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The utility of automated high-throughput methods for the one pot synthesis of functional polymers of increased complexity is reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joris J. Haven
- CSIRO
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Clayton South MDC, Australia
- Polymer Reaction Design Group Institute for Materials Research (IMO-IMOMEC)
- Universiteit Hasselt
| | - Carlos Guerrero-Sanchez
- CSIRO
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Clayton South MDC, Australia
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC)
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena
| | - Daniel J. Keddie
- CSIRO
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Clayton South MDC, Australia
- Chemistry
- School of Science and Technology
| | - Graeme Moad
- CSIRO
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Clayton South MDC, Australia
| | - San H. Thang
- CSIRO
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Clayton South MDC, Australia
| | - Ulrich S. Schubert
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC)
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena
- 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM) and Polymer Libraries
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena
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14
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Lewitus DY, Rios F, Rojas R, Kohn J. Molecular design and evaluation of biodegradable polymers using a statistical approach. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE. MATERIALS IN MEDICINE 2013; 24:2529-2535. [PMID: 23888354 PMCID: PMC3809329 DOI: 10.1007/s10856-013-5008-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2013] [Accepted: 07/16/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The challenging paradigm of bioresorbable polymers, whether in drug delivery or tissue engineering, states that a fine-tuning of the interplay between polymer properties (e.g., thermal, degradation), and the degree of cell/tissue replacement and remodeling is required. In this paper we describe how changes in the molecular architecture of a series of terpolymers allow for the design of polymers with varying glass transition temperatures and degradation rates. The effect of each component in the terpolymers is quantified via design of experiment (DoE) analysis. A linear relationship between terpolymer components and resulting Tg (ranging from 34 to 86 °C) was demonstrated. These findings were further supported with mass-per-flexible-bond analysis. The effect of terpolymer composition on the in vitro degradation of these polymers revealed molecular weight loss ranging from 20 to 60 % within the first 24 h. DoE modeling further illustrated the linear (but reciprocal) relationship between structure elements and degradation for these polymers. Thus, we describe a simple technique to provide insight into the structure property relationship of degradable polymers, specifically applied using a new family of tyrosine-derived polycarbonates, allowing for optimal design of materials for specific applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Y Lewitus
- Department of Plastics and Polymer Engineering, The Shenkar College of Engineering and Design, 52526, Ramat-Gan, Israel,
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15
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Haven JJ, Guerrero-Sanchez C, Keddie DJ, Moad G. Rapid and Systematic Access to Quasi-Diblock Copolymer Libraries Covering a Comprehensive Composition Range by Sequential RAFT Polymerization in an Automated Synthesizer. Macromol Rapid Commun 2013; 35:492-7. [DOI: 10.1002/marc.201300459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2013] [Revised: 08/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joris J. Haven
- CSIRO, Materials Science and Engineering; Bag 10, Clayton South MDC Victoria 3169 Australia
- Department of Chemical Engineering; Eindhoven University of Technology; Den Dolech 2 Eindhoven 5612AZ The Netherlands
| | | | - Daniel J. Keddie
- CSIRO, Materials Science and Engineering; Bag 10, Clayton South MDC Victoria 3169 Australia
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Technology; University of New England; Armidale New South Wales 2351 Australia
| | - Graeme Moad
- CSIRO, Materials Science and Engineering; Bag 10, Clayton South MDC Victoria 3169 Australia
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Guerrero-Sanchez C, Harrisson S, Keddie DJ. High-Throughput Method for RAFT Kinetic Investigations and Estimation of Reactivity Ratios in Copolymerization Systems. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/masy.201200038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Guerrero-Sanchez C, O'Brien L, Brackley C, Keddie DJ, Saubern S, Chiefari J. Quasi-block copolymer libraries on demand via sequential RAFT polymerization in an automated parallel synthesizer. Polym Chem 2013. [DOI: 10.1039/c3py21135e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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18
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Chan-Seng D, Zamfir M, Lutz JF. Polymer-Chain Encoding: Synthesis of Highly Complex Monomer Sequence Patterns by Using Automated Protocols. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2012; 51:12254-7. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201206371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Chan-Seng D, Zamfir M, Lutz JF. Polymer-Chain Encoding: Synthesis of Highly Complex Monomer Sequence Patterns by Using Automated Protocols. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201206371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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20
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Guerrero-Sanchez C, Keddie DJ, Saubern S, Chiefari J. Automated parallel freeze-evacuate-thaw degassing method for oxygen-sensitive reactions: RAFT polymerization. ACS COMBINATORIAL SCIENCE 2012; 14:389-94. [PMID: 22709484 DOI: 10.1021/co300044w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
An automated and parallel freeze-evacuate-thaw degassing method in a commercially available synthesizer is disclosed and tested for its applicability to reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The effectiveness of this method to eliminate oxygen in polymerization reactions is demonstrated by directly comparing it against experiments performed using conventional laboratory techniques. Apart from the demonstrated accuracy, the proposed method has also shown significant precision when performing RAFT polymerizations. The reported experimental technique can be easily adapted to other chemical systems where the removal of oxygen is mandatory. This new high-throughput method has the potential to significantly increase the productivity and/or research outcomes in laboratories where oxygen-sensitive reactions are carried out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Guerrero-Sanchez
- Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Materials Science and Engineering, Bag 10, Clayton South VIC 3169, Australia
| | - Daniel J. Keddie
- Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Materials Science and Engineering, Bag 10, Clayton South VIC 3169, Australia
| | - Simon Saubern
- Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Materials Science and Engineering, Bag 10, Clayton South VIC 3169, Australia
| | - John Chiefari
- Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Materials Science and Engineering, Bag 10, Clayton South VIC 3169, Australia
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21
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Luk A, Murthy N, Wang W, Rojas R, Kohn J. Study of nanoscale structures in hydrated biomaterials using small-angle neutron scattering. Acta Biomater 2012; 8:1459-68. [PMID: 22227373 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2011.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2011] [Revised: 12/15/2011] [Accepted: 12/18/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Distribution of water in three classes of biomedically relevant and degradable polymers was investigated using small-angle neutron scattering. In semicrystalline polymers, such as poly(lactic acid) and poly(glycolic acid), water was found to diffuse preferentially into the non-crystalline regions. In amorphous polymers, such as poly(d,l-lactic acid) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), the scattering after 7 days of incubation was attributed to water in microvoids that form following the hydrolytic degradation of the polymer. In amorphous copolymers containing hydrophobic segments (desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine ethyl ester) and hydrophilic blocks (poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)), a sequence of distinct regimes of hydration were observed: homogeneous distribution (∼10Å length scales) at <13 wt.% PEG (∼1 water per EG), clusters of hydrated domains (∼50Å radius) separated at 24 wt.% PEG (1-2 water per EG), uniformly distributed hydrated domains at 41 wt.% PEG (∼4 water per EG) and phase inversion at >50 wt.% PEG (>6 water per EG). Increasing the PEG content increased the number of these domains with only a small decrease in distance between the domains. These discrete domains appeared to coalesce to form submicron droplets at ∼60°C, above the melting temperature of crystalline PEG. The significance of such observations on the evolution of micrometer-size channels that form during hydrolytic erosion is discussed.
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Kou PM, Pallassana N, Bowden R, Cunningham B, Joy A, Kohn J, Babensee JE. Predicting biomaterial property-dendritic cell phenotype relationships from the multivariate analysis of responses to polymethacrylates. Biomaterials 2011; 33:1699-713. [PMID: 22136715 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.10.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2011] [Accepted: 10/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) play a critical role in orchestrating the host responses to a wide variety of foreign antigens and are essential in maintaining immune tolerance. Distinct biomaterials have been shown to differentially affect the phenotype of DCs, which suggested that biomaterials may be used to modulate immune response toward the biologic component in combination products. The elucidation of biomaterial property-DC phenotype relationships is expected to inform rational design of immuno-modulatory biomaterials. In this study, DC response to a set of 12 polymethacrylates (pMAs) was assessed in terms of surface marker expression and cytokine profile. Principal component analysis (PCA) determined that surface carbon correlated with enhanced DC maturation, while surface oxygen was associated with an immature DC phenotype. Partial square linear regression, a multivariate modeling approach, was implemented and successfully predicted biomaterial-induced DC phenotype in terms of surface marker expression from biomaterial properties with R(prediction)(2) = 0.76. Furthermore, prediction of DC phenotype was effective based on only theoretical chemical composition of the bulk polymers with R(prediction)(2) = 0.80. These results demonstrated that immune cell response can be predicted from biomaterial properties, and computational models will expedite future biomaterial design and selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Meng Kou
- Wallace H Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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Lewitus D, Smith KL, Shain W, Kohn J. Ultrafast resorbing polymers for use as carriers for cortical neural probes. Acta Biomater 2011; 7:2483-91. [PMID: 21345383 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2011.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2010] [Revised: 02/10/2011] [Accepted: 02/15/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We have identified a polymeric system based on a novel tyrosine-derived terpolymer that offers desirable insertion capability for flexible neural prosthetic devices. To test this concept, flexible films were coated with this terpolymer and their suitability for peranchyma insertion was visualized. The effect of the polymer on neural recording was evaluated using coated microwire probes. The stiff but readily resorbable polymer rapidly degrades (molecular weight half-life of 170 min) while turning into a soft gel, followed by complete resorption within 240 min. This polymeric platform maintains sufficient stiffness to facilitate pial penetration with a dry elastic modulus of 393±44 MPa but loses its strength within 30 min once immersed in saline. In vitro, the polymer's ability to locally deliver dexamethasone has been confirmed through a first order release profile over a 360 min period. In vitro, coated microwire probes regained their original impedance values of 0.5 KΩ within 20 min of wetting via water absorption and polymer resorption. In vivo, the retention of electrical recording capability was also demonstrated through multiple waveform detection in live animals. The ultrafast resorbing polymer as a platform to facilitate the implantation of micronized flexible probes can be utilized in future designs of chronic neural devices.
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Ghosh J, Lewitus DY, Chandra P, Joy A, Bushman J, Knight D, Kohn J. Computational modeling of in vitro biological responses on polymethacrylate surfaces. POLYMER 2011; 52:2650-2660. [PMID: 21779132 PMCID: PMC3138629 DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2011.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this research was to examine the capabilities of QSPR (Quantitative Structure Property Relationship) modeling to predict specific biological responses (fibrinogen adsorption, cell attachment and cell proliferation index) on thin films of different polymethacrylates. Using 33 commercially available monomers it is theoretically possible to construct a library of over 40,000 distinct polymer compositions. A subset of these polymers were synthesized and solvent cast surfaces were prepared in 96 well plates for the measurement of fibrinogen adsorption. NIH 3T3 cell attachment and proliferation index were measured on spin coated thin films of these polymers. Based on the experimental results of these polymers, separate models were built for homo-, co-, and terpolymers in the library with good correlation between experiment and predicted values. The ability to predict biological responses by simple QSPR models for large numbers of polymers has important implications in designing biomaterials for specific biological or medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayeeta Ghosh
- New Jersey Center for Biomaterials, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08854-8087, United State
| | - Dan Y Lewitus
- New Jersey Center for Biomaterials, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08854-8087, United State
| | - Prafulla Chandra
- New Jersey Center for Biomaterials, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08854-8087, United State
| | - Abraham Joy
- New Jersey Center for Biomaterials, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08854-8087, United State
| | - Jared Bushman
- New Jersey Center for Biomaterials, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08854-8087, United State
| | - Doyle Knight
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08854-8058, United States
| | - Joachim Kohn
- New Jersey Center for Biomaterials, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08854-8087, United State
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Lewitus D, Vogelstein RJ, Zhen G, Choi YS, Kohn J, Harshbarger S, Jia X. Designing tyrosine-derived polycarbonate polymers for biodegradable regenerative type neural interface capable of neural recording. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2010; 19:204-12. [PMID: 21147598 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2010.2098047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Next-generation neuroprosthetic limbs will require a reliable long-term neural interface to residual nerves in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). To this end, we have developed novel biocompatible materials and a fabrication technique to create high site-count microelectrodes for stimulating and recording from regenerated peripheral nerves. Our electrodes are based on a biodegradable tyrosine-derived polycarbonate polymer system with suitable degradation and erosion properties and a fabrication technique for deployment of the polymer in a porous, degradable, regenerative, multiluminal, multielectrode conduit. The in vitro properties of the polymer and the electrode were tuned to retain mechanical strength for over 24 days and to completely degrade and erode within 220 days. The fabrication technique resulted in a multiluminal conduit with at least 10 functioning electrodes maintaining recording site impedance in the single-digit kOhm range. Additionally, in vivo results showed that neural signals could be recorded from these devices starting at four weeks postimplantation and that signal strength increased over time. We conclude that our biodegradable regenerative-type neural interface is a good candidate for chronic high fidelity recording electrodes for integration with regenerated peripheral nerves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Lewitus
- New Jersey Center for Biomaterials, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, 08854, USA
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Majoros LI, Dekeyser B, Haucourt N, Castelein P, Paul J, Kranenburg JM, Rettler E, Hoogenboom R, Schubert US. Preparation of polyurethane elastomers (PUEs) in a high-throughput workflow. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1002/pola.24397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Fonseca GE, Dubé MA, Penlidis A. A Critical Overview of Sensors for Monitoring Polymerizations. MACROMOL REACT ENG 2009. [DOI: 10.1002/mren.200900024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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29
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Moad G, Rizzardo E, Thang SH. Living Radical Polymerization by the RAFT Process - A Second Update. Aust J Chem 2009. [DOI: 10.1071/ch09311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 811] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
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.
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