Poly(propylene imine) dendrimers as hydrogen donor in Type II photoinitiated free radical polymerization

The interaction of the excited states of safranine-O with low generation carboxyl terminated PAMAM dendrimers in an aqueous medium

The interaction of the singlet and triplet excited states of the synthetic dye safranine-O with carboxyl-terminated poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers was investigated in a buffer solution at pH 8. Low half-generation PAMAM dendrimers (G -0.5; G +0.5: G 1.5) were employed. The UV-vis absorption spectrum of the dye presents only a very small red shift in the presence of dendrimers. Fluorescence quenching was detected and it was interpreted by a static mechanism in terms of the association of the dye with the dendrimer. Laser flash photolysis experiments were carried out and transient absorption spectra of the triplet and radicals were obtained. The triplet state is quenched by the dendrimers with rate constants well below the diffusional limit. The quenching process was characterized as an electron transfer process and the quantum yield of radicals was estimated. It was found that radicals are formed with a high efficiency in the triplet quenching reaction.

Benzodioxinone Photochemistry in Macromolecular Science: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities

This paper reviews the photoinduced reactions of benzodioxinones and how they function in polymer synthesis and UV curing applications. The mechanistic characteristics of the ketene and benzophenone production from the photolysis of benzodioxinone indicate that, under certain conditions, each intermediate may undergo further reactions expedient for the formation of various polymeric structures. While ketenes are efficient contributors to step-growth polymerization when subjected to reaction with the compounds possessing hydroxyl or amine groups, the released benzophenone can be utilized as a photoinitiator in both the free radical and cationic polymerizations. It has been shown that the photolysis of heterobifunctional monomers equipped with benzodioxinone and aliphatic hydroxyl groups leads to the formation of oligoesters with a narrow molecular weight distribution. We also validated the photochemical ability of benzodioxinone to induce the synthesis of block and graft copolymers, hybrid and branched polymers, and cross-linked monofunctional vinyl monomers or hydroxyl group-containing linear polymers.

Photoinduced Electron Transfer Reactions for Macromolecular Syntheses

Photochemical reactions, particularly those involving photoinduced electron transfer processes, establish a substantial contribution to the modern synthetic chemistry, and the polymer community has been increasingly interested in exploiting and developing novel photochemical strategies. These reactions are efficiently utilized in almost every aspect of macromolecular architecture synthesis, involving initiation, control of the reaction kinetics and molecular structures, functionalization, and decoration, etc. Merging with polymerization techniques, photochemistry has opened up new intriguing and powerful avenues for macromolecular synthesis. Construction of various polymers with incredibly complex structures and specific control over the chain topology, as well as providing the opportunity to manipulate the reaction course through spatiotemporal control, are one of the unique abilities of such photochemical reactions. This review paper provides a comprehensive account of the fundamentals and applications of photoinduced electron transfer reactions in polymer synthesis. Besides traditional photopolymerization methods, namely free radical and cationic polymerizations, step-growth polymerizations involving electron transfer processes are included. In addition, controlled radical polymerization and "Click Chemistry" methods have significantly evolved over the last few decades allowing access to narrow molecular weight distributions, efficient regulation of the molecular weight and the monomer sequence and incredibly complex architectures, and polymer modifications and surface patterning are covered. Potential applications including synthesis of block and graft copolymers, polymer-metal nanocomposites, various hybrid materials and bioconjugates, and sequence defined polymers through photoinduced electron transfer reactions are also investigated in detail.

Sequential shape-selective adsorption and photocatalytic transformation of acrylonitrile production wastewater

Acrylonitrile production wastewater has been widely recognized as one type of refractory organic wastewater because of its complicated composition and low bioavailability. It usually contains plenty of micromolecular nitrile and pyridine, resulting in high chemical oxygen demand (CODCr), total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations. In this study, a novel microporous zeolite, CS-Z1, was developed as an adsorbent for rapidly shape-selective adsorption of the micromolecular pollutants from the acrylonitrile production wastewater, and a visible light-driven Ti-β-Bi2O3 photocatalysis was introduced to sequentially treat the residual macromolecular pollutants for complete purification. The adsorption processes by CS-Z1 were mostly achieved within the first 5 min, and the equilibrium was reached quickly after 30 min, where the CODCr, TOC and TN removal efficiencies of the wastewater were as high as 93.5%, 92.2% and 96.8%, respectively, much higher than those by other adsorbents. Furthermore, the adsorption efficiencies of CS-Z1 were barely affected by the variation of pH value and temperature, which was mainly attributed to the shape-selective adsorption mechanism of the CS-Z1 zeolite. The Ti-β-Bi2O3 photocatalysis could remove more than 95% of the residual macromolecular pollutants in the wastewater, where a synergistic mechanism of reduction-oxidation/polymerization was proposed. In a 108 h of CS-Z1 adsorption and Ti-β-Bi2O3 photocatalysis sequential process, the CODCr, TOC and TN concentrations was reduced to below 20, 7 and 5 mg L(-1), respectively, demonstrating the excellent practical potential of the sequential treatment system for acrylonitrile production wastewater.

Photo-irradiation paradigm: Mapping a remarkable facile technique used for advanced drug, gene and cell delivery

Undoubtedly, the progression of photo-irradiation technique has provided a smart engineering tool for the state-of-the-art biomaterials that guide the biomedical and therapeutic domains for promoting the modern pharmaceutical industry. Many investigators had exploited such a potential technique to create/ameliorate numerous pharmaceutical carriers. These carriers show promising applications that vary from small drug to therapeutic protein delivery and from gene to living cell encapsulation design. Harmony between the properties of precisely engineered precursors and the formed network structure broadens the investigator's intellect for both brilliant creations and effective applications. As well, controlling photo-curing at the formulation level, through manipulating the absorption of light stimuli, photoinitiator system and photo-responsive precursor, facilitates the exploration of novel distinctive biomaterials. Discussion of utilizing different photo-curing procedures in designing/formulation of different pharmaceutical carriers is the main emphasis of this review. In addition, recent applications of these intelligent techniques in targeted, controlled, and sustained drug delivery with understanding of photo-irradiation concept and mechanism are illustrated.

Shining a light on an adaptable photoinitiator: advances in photopolymerizations initiated by thioxanthones

This review focuses on the advancements and progress in photoinitiated polymerization techniques mediated by thioxanthone (TX) and its derivatives.

Photochemical Methods for the Preparation of Complex Linear and Cross-linked Macromolecular Structures

In this contribution, the current state of the art is summarized and an overview of photoinitiating systems for both radical and cationic polymerizations and their potential application in the preparation of complex linear and cross-linked macromolecular structures are described. Recent relevant studies have been devoted to developing novel free radical and cationic photoinitiators having spectroscopic sensitivity in the near-UV or visible range. Photoinitiated controlled radical polymerization methods leading to tailor-made polymers with predetermined structure and architecture are briefly presented. Several synthetic methodologies for the preparation of epoxy and (meth)acrylate based formulations containing clay or metal nanoparticles are also summarized. The nanoparticles are homogenously distributed in the network without macroscopic agglomeration. Applicability to both free radical and cationic systems is demonstrated.

An Electrochemical DNA Biosensor Developed on a Nanocomposite Platform of Gold and Poly(propyleneimine) Dendrimer

An electrochemical DNA nanobiosensor was prepared by immobilization of a 20mer thiolated probe DNA on electro-deposited generation 4 (G4) poly(propyleneimine) dendrimer (PPI) doped with gold nanoparticles (AuNP) as platform, on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Field emission scanning electron microscopy results confirmed the co-deposition of PPI (which was linked to the carbon electrode surface by C-N covalent bonds) and AuNP ca 60 nm. Voltammetric interrogations showed that the platform (GCE/PPI-AuNP) was conducting and exhibited reversible electrochemistry (E°′ = 235 mV) in pH 7.2 phosphate buffer saline solution (PBS) due to the PPI component. The redox chemistry of PPI was pH dependent and involves a two electron, one proton process, as interpreted from a 28 mV/pH value obtained from pH studies. The charge transfer resistance (R_ct) from the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) profiles of GCE/PPI-AuNP monitored with ferro/ferricyanide (Fe(CN)₆^3-/4-) redox probe, decreased by 81% compared to bare GCE. The conductivity (in PBS) and reduced R_ct (in Fe(CN)₆^3-/4-) values confirmed PPI-AuNP as a suitable electron transfer mediator platform for voltammetric and impedimetric DNA biosensor. The DNA probe was effectively wired onto the GCE/PPI-AuNP via Au-S linkage and electrostatic interactions. The nanobiosensor responses to target DNA which gave a dynamic linear range of 0.01 - 5 nM in PBS was based on the changes in R_ct values using Fe(CN)₆^3-/4- redox probe.