Controlled synthesis of new amphiphilic glycopolymers with liquid crystal grafts

End-functionalized polymers by controlled/living radical polymerizations: synthesis and applications

This review focuses on end-functionalized polymers synthesized by controlled/living radical polymerizations and the applications in fields including bioconjugate formation, surface modification, topology construction, and self-assembly.

Dextran-Coated Latex Nanoparticles via Photo-RAFT Mediated Polymerization Induced Self-Assembly

Polysaccharide coated nanoparticles represent a promising class of environmentally friendly latex to replace those stabilized by small toxic molecular surfactants. We report here an in situ formulation of free-surfactant core/shell nanoparticles latex consisting of dextran-based diblock amphiphilic copolymers. The synthesis of copolymers and the immediate latex formulation were performed directly in water using a photo-initiated reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer-mediated polymerization induced self-assembly strategy. A hydrophilic macromolecular chain transfer-bearing photosensitive thiocarbonylthio group (eDexCTA) was first prepared by a modification of the reducing chain end of dextran in two steps: (i) reductive amination by ethylenediamine in the presence of sodium cyanoborohydride, (ii) then introduction of CTA by amidation reaction. Latex nanoparticles were then formulated in situ by chain-extending eDexCTA using 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA) under 365 nm irradiation, leading to amphiphilic dextran-b-poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate) diblock copolymers (DHX). Solid concentration (SC) and the average degree of polymerization - Xn-- of PHPMA block (X) were varied to investigate their impact on the size and the morphology of latex nanoparticles termed here SCDHX. Light scattering and transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that SCDHX form exclusively spherical nano-objects. However, the size of nano-objects, ranging from 20 nm to 240 nm, increases according to PHPMA block length.

Polymerization induced self-assembly: an opportunity toward the self-assembly of polysaccharide-containing copolymers into high-order morphologies

Self-assembly of polysaccharide-containing amphiphilic copolymers: polymerization induced self-assembly versus traditional techniques.

Glycopolymers/PEI complexes as serum-tolerant vectors for enhanced gene delivery to hepatocytes

Serum stability is a crucial factor for ideal polymeric gene vectors. In this work, a series of serum-tolerant and low-toxicity glycopolymers/poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) complexes were designed for gene delivery. Atomic transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was used to synthesize the comb-shaped random copolymers dextran-g-poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate-co-2-lactobionamidoethyl methacrylate) (DDrL). Then DDrLs/PEI were investigated for their use as plasmid DNA (pDNA) vectors, which can completely condense the pDNA into nanoparticles. The DDrLs/PEI/pDNA complexes in serum-containing media showed better stability than PEI/pDNA complexes. in vitro gene transfection studies showed that DDrLs/PEI exhibited a remarkable transfection efficiency enhancement in the presence of serum compared to that in serum-free conditions. Moreover, the transfection level of DDrLs/PEI were two orders of magnitude higher than that of PEI alone in the presence of 30% serum. DDrLs/PEI complexes with galactose enhanced pDNA delivery to hepatocytes, with higher protein expression in ASGPr-presenting HepG2 than in HeLa cells, which lack the receptor. All of the DDrLs/PEI/pDNA complexes had lower cytotoxicity than PEI/pDNA.

In situ glyco-nanostructure formulation via photo-polymerization induced self-assembly

A broad set of advanced glyco-nanostructures, rarely obtained as vesicles or never reported as wormlike micelles, is obtained using photo-initiated Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly (Photo-PISA).

Polymersomes from Amphiphilic Glycopolymers Containing Polymeric Liquid Crystal Grafts

For the first time, polymersomes were obtained by self-assembly in water of amphiphilic grafted glycopolymers based on dextran polysaccharidic backbone and polymeric liquid crystal grafts (poly(diethylene glycol cholesteryl ether acrylate), PDEGCholA). After measuring the properties of these glycopolymers in term of surfactancy, the influence of their structural parameters on their self-assemblies once dispersed in water was investigated by static and dynamic light scattering and by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). Based on the results, a proper design of Dex-g^N-PDEGCholA^F leads to hollow vesicular structure formulation known as polymersome.