1
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Sumura T, Nagao M, Matsumoto H, Masuda T, Takai M, Miura Y. Detailed Study of the Interactions between Glycopolymers in the Presence of Metal Ions through Quartz Crystal Microbalance Method. Biomacromolecules 2024. [PMID: 39235997 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Polymer self-assemblies driven by enthalpic interactions, such as hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions, exhibit distinct properties compared to those driven by hydrophobic interactions. Carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions, which are observed in physiological phenomena, also fall under enthalpic interactions. Our group previously reported on self-assemblies of methacrylate-type glycopolymers carrying mannose units in the presence of calcium ions; however, a detailed study of these interactions was lacking. In this work, we investigated the interactions between glycopolymers using the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) method. Our quantitative analysis revealed that the interactions between the glycopolymers were influenced by the carbohydrate structures in the side chains, the types of divalent metal ions, and the structures of the polymer main chains. Notably, the strongest interaction was observed in the combination of methacrylate-type glycopolymers carrying mannose units and calcium ions, demonstrating their potential as a driving force for polymer self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoya Sumura
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Masanori Nagao
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Hikaru Matsumoto
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Tsukuru Masuda
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Madoka Takai
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Miura
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
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2
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Li G, Duclos C, Ricarte RG. Impact of a poly(ethylene glycol) corona block on drug encapsulation during polymerization induced self-assembly. SOFT MATTER 2024. [PMID: 39224056 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00654b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Polymerization induced self-assembly (PISA) provides a facile platform for encapsulating therapeutics within block copolymer nanoparticles. Performing PISA in the presence of a hydrophobic drug alters both the nanoparticle shape and encapsulation efficiency. While previous studies primarily examined the interactions between the drug and hydrophobic core block, this work explores the impact of the hydrophilic corona block on encapsulation. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate) (PHPMA) are used as the model corona and core blocks, respectively, and phenylacetic acid (PA) is employed as the model drug. Attachment of a dithiobenzoate end group to the PEG homopolymer - transforming it into a macroscopic reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer agent - causes the polymer to form a small number of nanoscopic aggregates in solution. Adding PA to the PEG solution encourages further aggregation and macroscopic phase separation. During the PISA of PEG-PHPMA block copolymers, inclusion of PA in the reaction mixture promotes faster nucleation of spherical micelles. Although increasing the targeted PA loading from 0 to 20 mg mL-1 does not affect the micelle size or shape, it alters the drug spatial distribution within the PISA microenvironment. PA partitions into either PEG-PHPMA micelles, deuterium oxide, or other polymeric species - including PEG aggregates and unimer chains. Increasing the targeted PA loading changes the fraction of drug within each encapsulation site. This work indicates that the corona block plays a critical role in dictating drug encapsulation during PISA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanrui Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA.
| | - Cassie Duclos
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA.
| | - Ralm G Ricarte
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA.
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3
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Hou W, Yin X, Zhou Y, Zhou Z, Liu Z, Du J, Shi Y, Chen Y. Kinetically Controlled Preparation of Worm-like Micelles with Tunable Diameter/Length and Structural Stability. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:24094-24104. [PMID: 39141924 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c08206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Anisotropic nanoparticles such as worm-like micelles have aroused much attention due to their promising applications from templates to drug delivery. The fabrication of worm-like micelles with tunable structural stability and control over their diameter and length is of great importance but still challenging. Herein, we report a kinetically controlled ring-opening metathesis polymerization-induced self-assembly (ROMPISA) for the robust preparation of kinetically trapped worm-like micelles with tunable diameter/length at enlarged experimental windows by the rational manipulation of kinetic factors, including solvent property, temperature, and π-π stacking effects. The resultant worm structures were thermodynamically metastable and capable of excellent structural stability at room temperature due to the kinetic trapping effect. At elevated temperatures, these thermodynamically metastable worms could undergo morphology evolution into vesicular structures in a controlled manner. Moreover, the structural stability of worms could also be significantly enhanced by in situ cross-linking. Overall, this kinetically controlled ROMPISA opens a new avenue for PISA chemistry that is expected to prepare "smart" polymer materials by manipulating kinetic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wangmeng Hou
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiuzhe Yin
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yingqing Zhou
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhuo Zhou
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhijia Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jianzhong Du
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
- Department of Polymeric Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China
| | - Yi Shi
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yongming Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
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4
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Yang N, Wang Y, Yan Q. Dynamic Gas-Bridged Bond: An Opportunity of Fabricating Dynamic Assembled Materials with Gas. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:43093-43101. [PMID: 39116111 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c11420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Gas molecules, as a family of unique polyatomic building blocks, have long been considered hard to involve in molecular assembly or construct assembled materials due to their structural simplicity yet paucity of defined interacting sites. To solve this non-trivial challenge, a core idea is to break the limit of current ways of bonding gas molecules, endowing them with new modes of interactions that match the basic requirements of molecular assembly. In recent years, a new concept, named the dynamic gas-bridged bond (DGB), has emerged, which allows for gas molecules to constitute a dynamic bridging structure between other building blocks with the aid of frustrated Lewis pairs. This makes it possible to harness gas in a supramolecular or dynamic manner. Herein, this perspective discusses distinct dynamic natures of DGBs and manifests their particular functions in various fields, including the control of molecular/polymeric self-assembly nanostructures, creation of multidimensional assembled materials, and recyclable catalysts. The future research direction and challenges of dynamic gas-bridged chemistry toward gas-programmed self-assembly and gas-constructed adaptive materials are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers and Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangyang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers and Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers and Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
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5
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Tian X, Xu H, Qiu T, Wu F, Li X, Guo L. The Valence-Dependent Activity of Colloidal Molecules as Ice Recrystallization Inhibitors. ACS Macro Lett 2024; 13:935-942. [PMID: 39007898 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.4c00331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Inspired by advances in cryopreservation techniques, which are essential for modern biomedical applications, there is a special interest in the ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) of the antifreeze protein (AFPs) mimics. There are in-depth studies on synthetic materials mimicking AFPs, from simple molecular structure levels to complex self-assemblies. Herein, we report the valence-dependent IRI activity of colloidal organic molecules (CMs). The CMs were prepared through polymerization-induced particle-assembly (PIPA) of the ABC-type triblock terpolymer of poly(acryloxyethyl trimethylammonium chloride)-b-poly(benzyl acrylate)-b-poly(diacetone acrylamide) (PATAC-b-PBzA-b-PDAAM) at high monomer conversions. Stabilized by the cationic block of PATAC, the strong intermolecular H-bonding and incompatibility of the PDAAM block with PBzA contributed to the in situ formation of Janus particles (AX1) beyond the initial spherical seed particles (AX0), as well as the high valency clusters of linear AX2 and trigonal AX3. Their distribution was controlled mainly by the polymerization degrees (DPs) of PATAC and PDAAM blocks. IRI activity results of the CMs suggest that the higher fraction of AX1 results in the better IRI activity. Increasing the fraction of AX1 from 27% to 65% led to a decrease of the mean grain size from 39.8% to 10.9% and a depressed growth rate of ice crystals by 58%. Moreover, by replacing the PDAAM block with the temperature-responsive one of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), temperature-adjustable IRI activity was observed, which is well related to the reversible transition of AX0 to AX1, providing a new idea for the molecular design of amphiphilic polymer nanoparticle-based IRI activity materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqian Tian
- Key Laboratory of Carbon Fiber and Functional Polymers, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China
| | - Huangbing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Carbon Fiber and Functional Polymers, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Synthesis and Application of Waterborne Polymer, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China
| | - Teng Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Carbon Fiber and Functional Polymers, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Synthesis and Application of Waterborne Polymer, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China
| | - Fengjiao Wu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Synthesis and Application of Waterborne Polymer, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- Key Laboratory of Carbon Fiber and Functional Polymers, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Synthesis and Application of Waterborne Polymer, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China
| | - Longhai Guo
- Key Laboratory of Carbon Fiber and Functional Polymers, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Synthesis and Application of Waterborne Polymer, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China
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6
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Huo M, Zhu R. Statistical Copolymerization-Induced Self-Assembly. ACS Macro Lett 2024; 13:951-958. [PMID: 39023514 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.4c00278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Statistical copolymers have been extensively used in chemical industries and our daily lives, owing to their ease of synthesis and functionalization. However, self-assembly based on statistical copolymers has been haunted by high interfacial energy, poor stability, and low concentration. We proposed the statistical copolymerization-induced self-assembly (stat-PISA) as a general strategy for one-step preparing stable statistical copolymer assemblies with high solids content. The concept was demonstrated through a model dispersion polymerization system comprising a charged hydrophilic monomer and a core-forming monomer, producing spherical micelles via a spinodal decomposition mechanism with an interconnected network intermediate. The stat-PISA was tunable by varying the fraction of charged monomer, the polymer chain length, and the solids content. The statistical copolymer micelles were demonstrated to be a potential Pickering emulsifier with superior stabilizing performances compared to their block copolymer counterparts. The general applicability of stat-PISA was demonstrated by preparing statistical copolymer assemblies with varying surface charges and chemical compositions. Particularly, this strategy is feasible for conventional free radical polymerization, promising for industrial scale-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Huo
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Ruixue Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
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7
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Lin W, Jia S, Li Y, Zhang L, Liu H, Tan J. Aqueous RAFT Dispersion Polymerization Mediated by an ω,ω-Macromolecular Chain Transfer Monomer: An Efficient Approach for Amphiphilic Branched Block Copolymers and the Assemblies. ACS Macro Lett 2024; 13:1022-1030. [PMID: 39074066 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.4c00353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Herein, an ω,ω-macromolecular chain transfer monomer (macro-CTM) containing a RAFT (reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer) group and a methacryloyl group was synthesized and used to mediate photoinitiated RAFT dispersion polymerization of hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA) in water. The macro-CTM undergoes a self-condensing vinyl polymerization (SCVP) mechanism under RAFT dispersion polymerization conditions, leading to the formation of amphiphilic branched block copolymers and the assemblies. Compared with RAFT solution polymerization, it was found that the SCVP process was promoted under RAFT dispersion polymerization conditions. Morphologies of branched block copolymer assemblies could be controlled by varying the monomer concentration and the [HPMA]/[macro-CTM] ratio. The branched block copolymer vesicles could be used as seeds for seeded RAFT emulsion polymerization, and framboidal vesicles were successfully obtained. Finally, degrees of branching of branched block copolymers could be further controlled by using a binary mixture of the macro-CTM and a linear macro-RAFT agent or a small molecule CTM. We believe that this study not only provides a versatile strategy for the preparation of branched block copolymer assemblies but also offers important insights into polymer synthesis via heterogeneous RAFT polymerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihong Lin
- Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shuai Jia
- Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yingxiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment Ministry of Education, School of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Soft Condensed Matter, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment Ministry of Education, School of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Jianbo Tan
- Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Soft Condensed Matter, Guangzhou 510006, China
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8
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Kim HJ, Ishizuka F, Kuchel RP, Chatani S, Niino H, Zetterlund PB. RAFT Dispersion PISA with Poly(methyl methacrylate) as Stabilizer Block in Alcohol/Water: Unconventional PISA Morphology Transitions. Biomacromolecules 2024. [PMID: 39158737 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) dispersion polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) was conducted in the presence of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) stabilizer in ethanol/water mixture (80/20 by volume). Two different systems were explored by utilizing (i) 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate (EHMA) and (ii) n-butyl methacrylate (BMA). The morphology transitions of these systems were investigated by varying the polymerization conditions, i.e., the presence of the solvophilic comonomer MMA, the solids content, and the target degree of polymerization (DP). As observed in conventional PISA, the presence of solvophilic comonomer, increase in solids content and target DP promoted the formation of high-order morphology. However, unusual morphology transitions were observed whereby the morphology transformed from high-order morphologies to a mixture of spherical nanoparticles, worms, and vesicles and finally to vesicles with increasing target DP. This unusual evolution may be attributed to the limited solubility of PMMA in the ethanol/water solvent mixture, whereby PMMA is soluble at the polymerization temperature but insoluble at lower temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Jin Kim
- Cluster for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Fumi Ishizuka
- Cluster for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Rhiannon P Kuchel
- Electron Microscope Unit, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Shunsuke Chatani
- Hiroshima R&D Center, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, 20-1 Miyuki-cho, Otake, Hiroshima 739-0693, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Niino
- Polymer Laboratory, Science & Innovation Center, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, 1000 Kamoshida-cho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 227-8502, Japan
| | - 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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9
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Yu L, Cui Y, Xing M, Sun Y, Li Z, Liu Y, Qu X, Chen S. Crystallization-Driven Controlled 2D Self-Assemblies via Aqueous RAFT Emulsion Polymerization. Macromol Rapid Commun 2024:e2400549. [PMID: 39137300 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202400549] [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: 07/05/2024] [Revised: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Aqueous emulsion polymerization is a robust technique for preparing nanoparticles of block copolymers; however, it typically yields spherical nanoassemblies. The scale preparation of nanoassemblies with nonspherical high-order morphologies is a challenge, particularly 2D core-shell nanosheets. In this study, the polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) and crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) are combined to demonstrate the preparation of 2D nanosheets and their aggregates via aqueous reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) emulsion polymerization. First, the crucial crystallizable component for CDSA, hydroxyethyl methacrylate polycaprolactone (HPCL) macromonomer is synthesized by ring opening polymerization (ROP). Subsequently, the RAFT emulsion polymerization of HPCL is conducted to generate crystallizable nanomicelles by a grafting-through approach. This PISA process simultaneously prepared spherical latices and bottlebrush block copolymers comprising poly(N',N'-dimethylacrylamide)-block-poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate polycaprolactone) (PDMA-b-PHPCL). The latexes are now served as seeds for inducing the formation of 2D hexagonal nanosheets, bundle-shaped and flower-like aggregation via the CDSA of PHPCL segments and unreacted HPCL during cooling. Electron microscope analysis trace the morphology evolution of these 2D nanoparticles and reveal that an appropriate crystallized component of PHPCL blocks play a pivotal role in forming a hierarchical structure. This work demonstrates significant potential for large-scale production of 2D nanoassemblies through RAFT emulsion polymerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Functional Polymers, School of Chemical Engineering and Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401, P. R. China
| | - Yuhong Cui
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Functional Polymers, School of Chemical Engineering and Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401, P. R. China
| | - Mingxue Xing
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Functional Polymers, School of Chemical Engineering and Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401, P. R. China
| | - Yuemeng Sun
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Functional Polymers, School of Chemical Engineering and Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401, P. R. China
| | - Zhengxiao Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Functional Polymers, School of Chemical Engineering and Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401, P. R. China
| | - Yingchun Liu
- Jinghua Plastics Industry Co. Ltd., Langfang, 065800, P. R. China
| | - Xiongwei Qu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Functional Polymers, School of Chemical Engineering and Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401, P. R. China
| | - Shengli Chen
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Functional Polymers, School of Chemical Engineering and Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401, P. R. China
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10
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Parkinson SJ, Fielden SDP, Thomas M, Miller AJ, Topham PD, Derry MJ, O’Reilly RK. Harnessing Cytosine for Tunable Nanoparticle Self-Assembly Behavior Using Orthogonal Stimuli. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:4905-4912. [PMID: 39008804 PMCID: PMC11323014 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Nucleobases control the assembly of DNA, RNA, etc. due to hydrogen bond complementarity. By combining these unique molecules with state-of-the-art synthetic polymers, it is possible to form nanoparticles whose self-assembly behavior could be altered under orthogonal stimuli (pH and temperature). Herein, we report the synthesis of cytosine-containing nanoparticles via aqueous reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization-induced self-assembly. A poly(N-acryloylmorpholine) macromolecular chain transfer agent (mCTA) was chain-extended with cytosine acrylamide, and a morphological phase diagram was constructed. By exploiting the ability of cytosine to form dimers via hydrogen bonding, the self-assembly behavior of cytosine-containing polymers was altered when performed under acidic conditions. Under these conditions, stable nanoparticles could be formed at longer polymer chain lengths. Furthermore, the resulting nanoparticles displayed different morphologies compared to those at pH 7. Additionally, particle stability post-assembly could be controlled by varying pH and temperature. Finally, small-angle X-ray scattering was performed to probe their dynamic behavior under thermal cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam J. Parkinson
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
| | - Stephen D. P. Fielden
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
| | - Marjolaine Thomas
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
| | - Alisha J. Miller
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
| | - Paul D. Topham
- Aston
Institute for Membrane Excellence, Aston
University, Birmingham B4 7ET, United
Kingdom
| | - Matthew J. Derry
- Aston
Institute for Membrane Excellence, Aston
University, Birmingham B4 7ET, United
Kingdom
| | - Rachel K. O’Reilly
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
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11
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Siddharth K, Pérez-Mercader J. Non-Biochemical Gradient Sequence-Controlled Polymers with Tuned Kinetics and Self-Assembled Morphologies. Macromol Rapid Commun 2024:e2400392. [PMID: 39127993 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202400392] [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: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Two key challenges in the multidisciplinary field of sequence-controlled polymers are their efficient synthesis and the establishment of correlation with polymer properties. In this context, in this paper, gradient architecture in the hydrophobic tail of an amphiphile is implemented and synthesized for a fixed hydrophilic unit (polyethylene glycol, PEG), by means of two monomers (2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, HPMA, and diacetone acrylamide, DAAM) of contrasting reactivities. The resulting non-biochemical gradient sequence-controlled polymers are generated from a one-pot, homogeneous mixture through a PET-RAFT-PISA (photoinduced electron/energy transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer-polymerization-induced self-assembly) method. In addition, the initial concentration ratio of the monomers in the gradient is varied as an input for a set of fixed experimental parameters and conditions, and its correlation with kinetics, gradient and self-assembled morphologies is established, as the output of the process. These results are extensively corroborated via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy analysis, together with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) experiments. These results have implications for chemical computation carried out by PISA, programmable self-assembly, information storage, biomimetics, origins of life and synthetic protocell studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumar Siddharth
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Harvard Origins of Life Initiative, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Juan Pérez-Mercader
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Harvard Origins of Life Initiative, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- The Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, USA
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12
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Morrell AH, Warren NJ, Thornton PD. The Production of Polysarcosine-Containing Nanoparticles by Ring-Opening Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly. Macromol Rapid Commun 2024; 45:e2400103. [PMID: 38597209 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202400103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
N-carboxyanhydride ring-opening polymerization-induced self-assembly (NCA ROPISA) offers a convenient route for generating poly(amino acid)-based nanoparticles in a single step, crucially avoiding the need for post-polymerization self-assembly. Most examples of NCA ROPISA make use of a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrophilic stabilizing block, however this non-biodegradable, oil-derived polymer may cause an immunological response in some individuals. Alternative water-soluble polymers are therefore highly sought. This work reports the synthesis of wholly poly(amino acid)-based nanoparticles, through the chain-extension of a polysarcosine macroinitiator with L-Phenylalanine-NCA (L-Phe-NCA) and Alanine-NCA (Ala-NCA), via aqueous NCA ROPISA. The resulting polymeric structures comprise of predominantly anisotropic, rod-like nanoparticles, with morphologies primarily influenced by the secondary structure of the hydrophobic poly(amino acid) that enables their formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna H Morrell
- School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Nicholas J Warren
- School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Paul D Thornton
- Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour (LITAC), School of Design, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
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13
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Xie G, Wu J, Zhang L, Tan J. Efficient Synthesis of μ-A(BC)C Miktoarm Star Polymer Assemblies via Aqueous Photoinitiated Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024. [PMID: 39088262 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c02131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
In this study, green light-activated photoiniferter reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of glycerol methacrylate was performed using an ω,ω-heterodifunctional macro-RAFT agent. Because of the different RAFT controllability of two RAFT groups toward methacrylic monomers, only one RAFT group was activated under green light irradiation, leading to the formation of a diblock copolymer macro-RAFT agent with one RAFT group located at the chain end and the other RAFT group located between two blocks. The obtained diblock copolymer macro-RAFT agent was then used to mediate aqueous photoinitiated RAFT dispersion polymerization of diacetone acrylamide (DAAM), which formed μ-A(BC)C miktoarm star polymer assemblies with a diverse set of morphologies. Comparing with the ABC triblock copolymer, it was found that the architecture of the μ-A(BC)C miktoarm star polymer facilitated the formation of higher-order morphologies. Kinetic studies indicated that the aqueous photoinitiated RAFT dispersion polymerization exhibited ultrafast polymerization behavior, with quantitative monomer conversion being achieved within 5 min. Size exclusion chromatography analysis confirmed that good RAFT control was maintained during the polymerization. A morphological phase diagram for μ-A(BC)C miktoarm star polymer assemblies was constructed by varying the monomer concentration and the [DAAM]/[Macro-RAFT] ratio. We expect that this study not only develops an approach for the preparation of miktoarm star polymer assemblies but also provides mechanistic insights into the polymerization-induced self-assembly of nonlinear polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gangyu Xie
- Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jiarui Wu
- Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Soft Condensed Matter, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jianbo Tan
- Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Soft Condensed Matter, Guangzhou 510006, China
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14
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Francois F, Tran QH, Piogé S, Kornienko N, Maisonneuve V, Lhoste J, Guiet A, Pascual S. Terpyridine-Decorated Polymer Nanosphere Latex: Template Nanocarriers for the Synthesis of Cu-CeO 2 Hollow Spheres. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024. [PMID: 39049692 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c09575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Water-soluble polymers with the ability to complex metal ions through complexing ligands have attracted significant interest in diverse domains, such as optical or catalyst applications. In this paper, we successfully synthesized, through a one-pot process combining polymerization-induced self-assembly and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization, aqueous dispersions of terpyridine-decorated poly[poly(ethylene glycol)methyl ether methacrylate]-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) (tpy-PPEGMA-b-PMMA) amphiphilic block copolymers. The in-situ formation of well-defined amphiphilic block copolymers and their self-assembly led to nanosphere latex with the hydrodynamic diameters increasing from 17 to 52 nm and the length of the copolymers increasing from 21,000 to 51,000 g·mol-1. These aqueous dispersed tpy-PPEGMA-b-PMMA nanospheres effectively complex metal ions, such as Cu2+, in a stoichiometric ratio of 2:1. Subsequently, these metal-complexed nanospheres were employed as soft template nanocarriers to control, on the nanometer scale, the dispersion of metal on a nanostructured support. This is exemplified by the synthesis of copper supported on cerium oxide hollow spheres (Cu-CeO2) using Cu2+-tpy-PPEGMA-b-PMMA as template nanocarriers and CeO2 nanoparticles. This novel assembly engineering strategy for the preparation of atomically dispersed metal on a nanostructured support was highlighted through the utilization of Cu-CeO2 hollow spheres as an electrocatalyst for the nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) to NH3. These encouraging outcomes emphasize the potential of metal-metal oxide-nanostructured materials to treat contaminated water sources with nitrate while allowing the green production of ammonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Francois
- Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans (IMMM), UMR 6283 CNRS, Le Mans Université, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, Le Mans 72085 Cedex 9, France
| | - Quang Hy Tran
- Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans (IMMM), UMR 6283 CNRS, Le Mans Université, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, Le Mans 72085 Cedex 9, France
| | - Sandie Piogé
- Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans (IMMM), UMR 6283 CNRS, Le Mans Université, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, Le Mans 72085 Cedex 9, France
| | - Nikolay Kornienko
- Institut für anorganische Chemie, Universität Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, Bonn 53121, Germany
| | - Vincent Maisonneuve
- Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans (IMMM), UMR 6283 CNRS, Le Mans Université, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, Le Mans 72085 Cedex 9, France
| | - Jérôme Lhoste
- Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans (IMMM), UMR 6283 CNRS, Le Mans Université, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, Le Mans 72085 Cedex 9, France
| | - Amandine Guiet
- Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans (IMMM), UMR 6283 CNRS, Le Mans Université, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, Le Mans 72085 Cedex 9, France
| | - Sagrario Pascual
- Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans (IMMM), UMR 6283 CNRS, Le Mans Université, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, Le Mans 72085 Cedex 9, France
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15
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György C, Wagstaff JS, Hunter SJ, Etim EU, Armes SP. Effect of Added Salt on the RAFT Polymerization of 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate in Aqueous Media. Macromolecules 2024; 57:6816-6827. [PMID: 39071045 PMCID: PMC11271178 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.4c01078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
We report the effect of added salt on the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) in aqueous media. More specifically, poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC26) was employed as a salt-tolerant water-soluble block for chain extension with HEMA targeting PHEMA DPs from 100 to 800 in the presence of NaCl. Increasing the salt concentration significantly reduces the aqueous solubility of both the HEMA monomer and the growing PHEMA chains. HEMA conversions of more than 99% could be achieved within 6 h at 70 °C regardless of the NaCl concentration when targeting PMPC26-PHEMA800 vesicles at 20% w/w solids. Significantly faster rates of polymerization were observed at higher salt concentration owing to the earlier onset of micellar nucleation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to construct a pseudo-phase diagram for this polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) formulation. High-quality images required cross-linking of the PHEMA chains with glutaraldehyde prior to salt removal via dialysis. Block copolymer spheres, worms, or vesicles can be accessed at any salt concentration up to 2.5 M NaCl. However, only kinetically trapped spheres could be obtained in the presence of 3 M NaCl because the relatively low HEMA monomer solubility under such conditions leads to an aqueous emulsion polymerization rather than an aqueous dispersion polymerization. In this case, dynamic light scattering studies indicated a gradual increase in z-average diameter from 26 to 86 nm when adjusting the target PHEMA degree of polymerization from 200 to 800. When targeting PMPC26-PHEMA800 vesicles, increasing the salt content up to 2.5 M NaCl leads to a systematic reduction in the z-average diameter from 953 to 92 nm. Similarly, TEM analysis and dispersion viscosity measurements indicated a gradual reduction in worm contour length with increasing salt concentration for PMPC26-PHEMA600 worms. This new PISA formulation clearly illustrates the importance of added salt on aqueous monomer solubility and how this affects (i) the kinetics of polymerization, (ii) the morphology of the corresponding diblock copolymer nano-objects, and (iii) the mode of polymerization in aqueous media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Csilla György
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, Brook Hill, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
| | - Jacob S. Wagstaff
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, Brook Hill, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
| | - Saul J. Hunter
- Joseph
Banks Laboratories, School of Chemistry, University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN6 7TS, U.K.
| | - Esther U. Etim
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, Brook Hill, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
| | - Steven P. Armes
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, Brook Hill, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
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16
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Liu B, Fang R, Li W, Wu X, Liu T, Lin M, Sun J, Chen X. Fast Catalyst-Free Synthesis of Stereoselective Polypeptides via Hierarchical Chiral Assembly. J Am Chem Soc 2024. [PMID: 38858162 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c03281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Understanding how life's essential homochiral biopolymers arose from racemic precursors is a challenging quest. Herein, we present a groundbreaking approach involving hierarchical chiral assembly-driven stereoselective ring-opening polymerization of ε-benzyloxycarbonyl-l/d-lysine N-carboxyanhydrides assisted by ultrasonication in an aqueous medium. This method enabled a narrow dispersity within a few minutes and the achievement of high molecular weight for polypeptides, employing a living polymerization mechanism. The polymerization of l and d enantiomers yielded predominantly right- and left-handed superhelical assemblies in a one-pot preparation, respectively. Notably, stereoselective polypeptide segments were efficiently prepared through hierarchical assembly-driven polymerization of racemic monomers in the absence of a catalyst. This research offers an innovative strategy for the convenient preparations of stereoenriched polypeptides and, more importantly, sheds light on the plausible emergence of homochiral peptides in the origin of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 130012 Changchun, China
| | - Rui Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 130012 Changchun, China
| | - Wenlong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 130012 Changchun, China
| | - Xiaoyu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 130012 Changchun, China
| | - Tianli Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 130012 Changchun, China
| | - Min Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 130012 Changchun, China
| | - Jing Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 130012 Changchun, China
| | - Xuesi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 130012 Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 130022 Changchun, China
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17
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Farmer MH, Musa OM, Armes SP. Combining Crystallization-Driven Self-Assembly with Reverse Sequence Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly Enables the Efficient Synthesis of Hydrolytically Degradable Anisotropic Block Copolymer Nano-objects Directly in Concentrated Aqueous Media. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:16926-16934. [PMID: 38842535 PMCID: PMC11191691 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c06299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Herein we combine the well-known processing advantages conferred by polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) with crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) to achieve the efficient synthesis of hydrolytically degradable, highly anisotropic block copolymer nano-objects directly in aqueous solution at 30% w/w solids. This new strategy involves a so-called reverse sequence PISA protocol that employs poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) as the crystallizable core-forming block and poly(N,N'-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMAC) as the water-soluble non-ionic coronal block. Such syntheses result in PDMAC-rich anisotropic nanoparticles. Depending on the target diblock copolymer composition, either rod-like nanoparticles or diamond-like platelets can be obtained. Furthermore, N-Acryloylmorpholine is briefly evaluated as an alternative hydrophilic vinyl monomer to DMAC. Given that the PLLA block can undergo either hydrolytic or enzymatic degradation, such nanoparticles are expected to offer potential applications in various fields, including next-generation sustainable Pickering emulsifiers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew
A. H. Farmer
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
| | - Osama M. Musa
- Ashland
Specialty Ingredients, 1005 US 202/206, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807, United States
| | - Steven P. Armes
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
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18
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Haque F, Thompson SW, Ishizuka F, Kuchel RP, Singh D, Sanjayan GJ, Zetterlund PB. Block Copolymer Self-assembly: Exploitation of Hydrogen Bonding for Nanoparticle Morphology Control via Incorporation of Triazine Based Comonomers by RAFT Polymerization. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2401129. [PMID: 38837298 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202401129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Synthesis of polymeric nanoparticles of controlled non-spherical morphology is of profound interest for a wide variety of potential applications. Self-assembly of amphiphilic diblock copolymers is an attractive bottom-up approach to prepare such nanoparticles. In the present work, RAFT polymerization is employed to synthesize a variety of poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide)-b-poly[butyl acrylate-stat-GCB] copolymers, where GCB represents vinyl monomer containing triazine based Janus guanine-cytosine nucleobase motifs featuring multiple hydrogen bonding arrays. Hydrogen bonding between the hydrophobic blocks exert significant influence on the morphology of the resulting nanoparticles self-assembled in water. The Janus feature of the GCB moieties makes it possible to use a single polymer type in self-assembly, unlike previous work exploiting, e.g., thymine-containing polymer and adenine-containing polymer. Moreover, the strength of the hydrogen bonding interactions enables use of a low molar fraction of GCB units, thereby rendering it possible to use the present approach for copolymers based on common vinyl monomers for the development of advanced nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Haque
- Cluster for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Steven W Thompson
- Cluster for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Fumi Ishizuka
- Cluster for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Rhiannon P Kuchel
- Electron Microscope Unit, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Dharmendra Singh
- Organic Chemistry Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific, Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Gangadhar J Sanjayan
- Organic Chemistry Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific, Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - 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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19
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Havlicek D, Panakkal VM, Voska L, Sedlacek O, Jirak D. Self-Assembled Fluorinated Nanoparticles as Sensitive and Biocompatible Theranostic Platforms for 19F MRI. Macromol Biosci 2024; 24:e2300510. [PMID: 38217510 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Theranostics is a novel paradigm integrating therapy and diagnostics, thereby providing new prospects for overcoming the limitations of traditional treatments. In this context, perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are the most widely used tracers in preclinical fluorine-19 magnetic resonance (19F MR), primarily for their high fluorine content. However, PFCs are extremely hydrophobic, and their solutions often display reduced biocompatibility, relative instability, and subpar 19F MR relaxation times. This study aims to explore the potential of micellar 19F MR imaging (MRI) tracers, synthesized by polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA), as alternative theranostic agents for simultaneous imaging and release of the non-steroidal antileprotic drug clofazimine. In vitro, under physiological conditions, these micelles demonstrate sustained drug release. In vivo, throughout the drug release process, they provide a highly specific and sensitive 19F MRI signal. Even after extended exposure, these fluoropolymer tracers show biocompatibility, as confirmed by the histological analysis. Moreover, the characteristics of these polymers can be broadly adjusted by design to meet the wide range of criteria for preclinical and clinical settings. Therefore, micellar 19F MRI tracers display physicochemical properties suitable for in vivo imaging, such as relaxation times and non-toxicity, and high performance as drug carriers, highlighting their potential as both diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Havlicek
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Vídeňská 1958/9, Prague, 140 20, Czech Republic
- Institute of Biophysics and Informatics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Kateřinská 1660/32, Prague, 121 08, Czech Republic
| | - Vyshakh M Panakkal
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 8, Prague, 128 00, Czech Republic
| | - Ludek Voska
- Department of Clinical and Transplant Pathology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Vídeňská 1958/9, Prague, 140 20, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Sedlacek
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 8, Prague, 128 00, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Jirak
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Vídeňská 1958/9, Prague, 140 20, Czech Republic
- Institute of Biophysics and Informatics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Kateřinská 1660/32, Prague, 121 08, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Health Studies, Technical University of Liberec, 1402/2 Studentská, Liberec, 46117, Czech Republic
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20
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Hurst PJ, Yoon J, Singh R, Abouchaleh MF, Stewart KA, Sumerlin BS, Patterson JP. Hybrid Photoiniferter and Ring-Opening Polymerization Yields One-Pot Anisotropic Nanorods. Macromol Rapid Commun 2024; 45:e2400100. [PMID: 38520318 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202400100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) has emerged as a scalable one-pot technique to prepare block copolymer (BCP) nanoparticles. Recently, a PISA process, that results in poly(l-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) BCP nanoparticles coined ring-opening polymerization (ROP)-induced crystallization-driven self-assembly (ROPI-CDSA), was developed. The resulting nanorods demonstrate a strong propensity for aggregation, resulting in the formation of 2D sheets and 3D networks. This article reports the synthesis of poly(N,N-dimethyl acrylamide)-b-poly(l)-lactide BCP nanoparticles by ROPI-CDSA, utilizing a two-step, one-pot approach. A dual-functionalized photoiniferter is first used for controlled radical polymerization of the acrylamido-based monomer, and the resulting polymer serves as a macroinitiator for organocatalyzed ROP to form the solvophobic polyester block. The resulting nanorods are highly stable and display anisotropy at higher molecular weights (>12k Da) and concentrations (>20% solids) than the previous report. This development expands the chemical scope of ROPI-CDSA BCPs and provides readily accessible nanorods made with biocompatible materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Joshua Hurst
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Junsik Yoon
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Riya Singh
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | | | - Kevin A Stewart
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Brent S Sumerlin
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Joseph P Patterson
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
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21
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Nam J, Yoo C, Seo M. Polymerization/Depolymerization-Induced Self-Assembly under Coupled Equilibria of Polymerization with Self-Assembly. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:13854-13861. [PMID: 38717989 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Depolymerization breaks down polymer chains into monomers like unthreading beads, attracting more attention from a sustainability standpoint. When polymerization reaches equilibrium, polymerization and depolymerization can reversibly proceed by decreasing and increasing the temperature. Here, we demonstrate that such dynamic control of a growing polymer chain in a selective solvent can spontaneously modulate the self-assembly of block copolymer micellar nano-objects. Compared to polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA), where irreversible growth of a solvophobic polymer block from the end of a solvophilic polymer causes micellization, polymerization/depolymerization-induced self-assembly presented in this study allows us to reversibly regulate the packing parameter of the forming block copolymer and thus induce reversible morphological transitions of the nano-objects by temperature swing. Under the coupled equilibria of polymerization with self-assembly, we found that demixing of the growing polymer block in a more selective solvent entropically facilitates depolymerization at a substantially lower temperature. Taking ring-opening polymerization of δ-valerolactone initiated from the hydroxyl-terminated poly(ethylene oxide) as a model system, we show that polymerization/depolymerization/repolymerization leads to reversible morphological transitions, such as rod-sphere-rod and fiber-rod-fiber, during the heating and cooling cycle and accompanied by changes in macroscopic properties such as viscosity, suggesting their potential as dynamic soft materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyun Nam
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Changsu Yoo
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Myungeun Seo
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- KAIST Institute for the Nanocentury, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
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22
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Niu B, Huang H, Zhang L, Tan J. Grafting Block Copolymer Nanoparticles to a Surface via Aqueous Photoinduced Polymerization-induced Self-Assembly at Room Temperature. ACS Macro Lett 2024; 13:577-585. [PMID: 38648524 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.4c00098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The creation of well-defined surface nanostructures is important for a diverse set of applications such as cell adhesion, superhydrophobic coating, and lithography. In this study, we describe a robust bottom-up method for surface functionalization that involves surface-initiated reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) and the grafting of block copolymer nanoparticles to material surfaces via aqueous photoinduced polymerization-induced self-assembly (photo-PISA) at room temperature. Using silica nanoparticles as a model substrate, colloidal mesoscale hybrid assemblies with various morphologies were successfully prepared. The morphologies can be easily tuned by changing the lengths of macromolecular chain transfer agents and parameters of the silica nanoparticles. The surface-initiated photo-PISA approach can also be employed for other large-scale substrates such as silicon wafer. Taking advantage of mild reaction conditions of this method (room temperature, aqueous medium, and visible light), enzymatic deoxygenation was introduced to develop oxygen-tolerant surface-initiated photo-PISA that can fabricate well-defined nanostructures on large-scale substrates under open-to-air conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Niu
- Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Honggao Huang
- Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Soft Condensed Matter, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jianbo Tan
- Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Soft Condensed Matter, Guangzhou 510006, China
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23
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Sakamoto Y, Fujii S, Takano S, Fukushima J, Ando M, Kodera N, Nishimura T. Manipulation of Macrophage Uptake by Controlling the Aspect Ratio of Graft Copolymer Micelles. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:5838-5846. [PMID: 38661003 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c01054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Nanostructures of drug carriers play a crucial role in nanomedicine due to their ability to influence drug delivery. There is yet no clear consensus regarding the optimal size and shape (e.g., aspect ratio) of nanoparticles for minimizing macrophage uptake, given the difficulties in controlling the shape and size of nanoparticles while maintaining identical surface properties. Here, we employed graft copolymer self-assembly to prepare polymer micelles with aspect ratios ranging from 1.0 (spherical) to 10.8 (cylindrical) and closely matched interfacial properties. Notably, our findings emphasize that cylindrical micelles with an aspect ratio of 2.4 are the least susceptible to macrophage uptake compared with both their longer counterparts and spherical micelles. This reduced uptake of the short cylindrical micelles results in a 3.3-fold increase in blood circulation time compared with their spherical counterparts. Controlling the aspect ratio of nanoparticles is crucial for improving drug delivery efficacy through better nanoparticle design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Sakamoto
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shinshu University, 3-15-1, Tokida, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
| | - Shota Fujii
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Kitakyushu, 1-1 Hibikino, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 808-0135, Japan
| | - Shin Takano
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Kitakyushu, 1-1 Hibikino, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 808-0135, Japan
| | - Jokichi Fukushima
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shinshu University, 3-15-1, Tokida, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Ando
- Department of Regeneration Science and Engineering, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Kodera
- WPI Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Tomoki Nishimura
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shinshu University, 3-15-1, Tokida, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
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24
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Serkhacheva NS, Prokopov NI, Lysenko EA, Kozhunova EY, Chernikova EV. Modern Trends in Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1408. [PMID: 38794601 PMCID: PMC11125046 DOI: 10.3390/polym16101408] [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: 03/23/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) is a powerful and versatile technique for producing colloidal dispersions of block copolymer particles with desired morphologies. Currently, PISA can be carried out in various media, over a wide range of temperatures, and using different mechanisms. This method enables the production of biodegradable objects and particles with various functionalities and stimuli sensitivity. Consequently, PISA offers a broad spectrum of potential commercial applications. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current state of rational synthesis of block copolymer particles with diverse morphologies using various PISA techniques and mechanisms. The discussion begins with an examination of the main thermodynamic, kinetic, and structural aspects of block copolymer micellization, followed by an exploration of the key principles of PISA in the formation of gradient and block copolymers. The review also delves into the main mechanisms of PISA implementation and the principles governing particle morphology. Finally, the potential future developments in PISA are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia S. Serkhacheva
- Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies, MIREA—Russian Technological University, pr. Vernadskogo, 86, 119571 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Nickolay I. Prokopov
- Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies, MIREA—Russian Technological University, pr. Vernadskogo, 86, 119571 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Evgenii A. Lysenko
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, bld. 3, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (E.A.L.); (E.Y.K.)
| | - Elena Yu. Kozhunova
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, bld. 3, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (E.A.L.); (E.Y.K.)
- Faculty of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, bld. 2, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena V. Chernikova
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, bld. 3, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (E.A.L.); (E.Y.K.)
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25
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Buksa H, Johnson EC, Chan DHH, McBride RJ, Sanderson G, Corrigan RM, Armes SP. Arginine-Functional Methacrylic Block Copolymer Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Adsorption onto a Model Planar Substrate. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:2990-3000. [PMID: 38696732 PMCID: PMC11094727 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Recently, we reported the synthesis of a hydrophilic aldehyde-functional methacrylic polymer (Angew. Chem., 2021, 60, 12032-12037). Herein we demonstrate that such polymers can be reacted with arginine in aqueous solution to produce arginine-functional methacrylic polymers without recourse to protecting group chemistry. Careful control of the solution pH is essential to ensure regioselective imine bond formation; subsequent reductive amination leads to a hydrolytically stable amide linkage. This new protocol was used to prepare a series of arginine-functionalized diblock copolymer nanoparticles of varying size via polymerization-induced self-assembly in aqueous media. Adsorption of these cationic nanoparticles onto silica was monitored using a quartz crystal microbalance. Strong electrostatic adsorption occurred at pH 7 (Γ = 14.7 mg m-2), whereas much weaker adsorption occurred at pH 3 (Γ = 1.9 mg m-2). These findings were corroborated by electron microscopy, which indicated a surface coverage of 42% at pH 7 but only 5% at pH 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hubert Buksa
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, University
of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South
Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
| | - Edwin C. Johnson
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, University
of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South
Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
| | - Derek H. H. Chan
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, University
of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South
Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
| | - Rory J. McBride
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, University
of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South
Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
| | - George Sanderson
- GEO
Specialty Chemicals, Hythe, Southampton, Hampshire SO45 3ZG, U.K.
| | - Rebecca M. Corrigan
- School
of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TN, U.K.
- The
Florey Institute for Host−Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TN, U.K.
| | - Steven P. Armes
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, University
of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South
Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
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26
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Wang Y, Guo J, He Z, Zhou Z, Shi S, Cheng X, Zhang W. Regulating the Chiroptical Expression of Aggregated Solvophobic Core by Solvophilic Segments. Macromol Rapid Commun 2024:e2400178. [PMID: 38683103 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202400178] [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: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
The investigation of chiral supramolecular stacking is of essential significance for the understanding of the origin of homochirality in nature. Unlike structurally well-defined amphiphilic liposomes, it remains unclear whether the solvophilic segments of the amphiphilic block copolymer play a decisive role in the construction of asymmetric superstructures. Herein, insights are presented into the stacking patterns and morphological regulation in azobenzene-containing block copolymer assemblies solely by modulating the solvophilic chain length. The solvophilic poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) segments of different molecular weights could cause multi-mode chirality inversions involving stacking transitions between intra-chain π-π stacking, inter-chain H- and J-aggregation. Furthermore, the length of the solvophilic PMAA also affects the morphology of the chiral supramolecular assemblies; rice grain-like micelles, worms, nanofibers, floccules, and lamellae can be prepared at different solvophilic-solvophobic balance. The comprehensive mechanism is collectively revealed by utilizing various measurement methods, such as including circular dichroism (CD), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). This study highlights the critical importance of fully dissolved solvophilic segments for the chiroptical regulation of the aggregated core, providing new insights into the arrangement of chiral supramolecular structures in polymer systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Wang
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory of Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Jiaying Guo
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory of Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zixiang He
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory of Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zhenyang Zhou
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory of Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Shengyu Shi
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu, 241000, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Cheng
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory of Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory of Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu, 241000, China
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27
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Skandalis A, Sentoukas T, Selianitis D, Balafouti A, Pispas S. Using RAFT Polymerization Methodologies to Create Branched and Nanogel-Type Copolymers. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:1947. [PMID: 38730753 PMCID: PMC11084462 DOI: 10.3390/ma17091947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
This review aims to highlight the most recent advances in the field of the synthesis of branched copolymers and nanogels using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. RAFT polymerization is a reversible deactivation radical polymerization technique (RDRP) that has gained tremendous attention due to its versatility, compatibility with a plethora of functional monomers, and mild polymerization conditions. These parameters lead to final polymers with good control over the molar mass and narrow molar mass distributions. Branched polymers can be defined as the incorporation of secondary polymer chains to a primary backbone, resulting in a wide range of complex macromolecular architectures, like star-shaped, graft, and hyperbranched polymers and nanogels. These subcategories will be discussed in detail in this review in terms of synthesis routes and properties, mainly in solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Skandalis
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece; (D.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Theodore Sentoukas
- Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34 M. Curie-Sklodowska Street, 41-819 Zabrze, Poland
| | - Dimitrios Selianitis
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece; (D.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Anastasia Balafouti
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece; (D.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Stergios Pispas
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece; (D.S.); (A.B.)
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28
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Du R, Fielding LA. pH-Responsive Nanogels Generated by Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly of a Succinate-Functional Monomer. Macromolecules 2024; 57:3496-3501. [PMID: 38681060 PMCID: PMC11044572 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.4c00427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Colloidal nanogels formed from a pH-responsive poly(succinate)-functional core and a poly(sulfonate)-functional corona were prepared via a previously unreported reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT)-mediated aqueous emulsion polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) route. Specifically, a poly(potassium 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate) (PKSPMA50) macromolecular chain-transfer agent (macro-CTA) was synthesized via RAFT solution polymerization followed by chain-extension with a hydrophobic, carboxylic acid-functional, 2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl succinate (MES) monomer at pH 2. Colloidal nanoparticles with tunable diameters between 66 to 150 nm, depending on the core composition, and narrow particle size distributions were obtained at 20% w/w solids. Well-defined pH-responsive nanogels that swell on increasing the pH could be prepared even without the addition of a cross-linking comonomer, and introducing an additional cross-linker to the core led to smaller nanogels with lower swelling ratios. These nanogels could reversibly change in size on cycling the pH between acidic and basic conditions and remain colloidally stable over a wide pH range and at 70 °C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiling Du
- Department
of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
- Henry
Royce Institute, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Lee A. Fielding
- Department
of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
- Henry
Royce Institute, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
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29
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Yue Q, Wang S, Jones ST, Fielding LA. Multifunctional Self-Assembled Block Copolymer/Iron Oxide Nanocomposite Hydrogels Formed from Wormlike Micelles. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16. [PMID: 38592714 PMCID: PMC11056933 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c03007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
This article reports the preparation of multifunctional magnetic nanocomposite hydrogels formed from wormlike micelles. Specifically, iron oxide nanoparticles were incorporated into a temperature responsive block copolymer, poly(glycerol monomethacrylate)-b-poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate) (PGMA-b-PHPMA), and graphene oxide (GO) dispersion at a low temperature (∼2 °C) through high-speed mixing and returning the mixture to room temperature, resulting in the formation of nanocomposite gels. The optimal concentrations of iron oxide and GO enhanced the gel strength of the nanocomposite gels, which exhibited a strong magnetic response when a magnetic field was applied. These materials retained the thermoresponsiveness of the PGMA-PHPMA wormlike micelles allowing for a solid-to-liquid transition to occur when the temperature was reduced. The mechanical and rheological properties and performance of the nanocomposite gels were demonstrated to be adjustable, making them suitable for a wide range of potential applications. These nanocomposite worm gels were demonstrated to be relatively adhesive and to act as strain and temperature sensors, with the measured electrical resistance of the nanocomposite gels changing with applied strain and temperature sweeps. The nanocomposite gels were found to recover efficiently after the application of high shear with approximately 100% healing efficiency within seconds. Additionally, these nanocomposite worm gels were injectable, and the addition of GO and iron oxide nanomaterials seemed to have no significant adverse impact on the biocompatibility of the copolymer gels, making them suitable not only for 3D printing in nanocomposite engineering but also for potential utilization in various biomedical applications as an injectable magnetic responsive hydrogel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Yue
- Department
of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
- Henry
Royce Institute, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Shiyu Wang
- Department
of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
- Henry
Royce Institute, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Samuel T. Jones
- Department
of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
- Henry
Royce Institute, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Lee A. Fielding
- Department
of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
- Henry
Royce Institute, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
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30
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Maitland GL, Liu M, Neal TJ, Hammerton J, Han Y, Worrall SD, Topham PD, Derry MJ. Block copolymer synthesis in ionic liquid via polymerisation-induced self-assembly: a convenient route to gel electrolytes. Chem Sci 2024; 15:4416-4426. [PMID: 38516087 PMCID: PMC10952082 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06717c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
We report for the first time a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerisation-induced self-assembly (RAFT-PISA) formulation in ionic liquid (IL) that yields worm gels. A series of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-b-poly(benzyl methacrylate) (PHEMA-b-PBzMA) block copolymer nanoparticles were synthesised via RAFT dispersion polymerisation of benzyl methacrylate in the hydrophilic IL 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium dicyanamide, [EMIM][DCA]. This RAFT-PISA formulation can be controlled to afford spherical, worm-like and vesicular nano-objects, with free-standing gels being obtained over a broad range of PBzMA core-forming degrees of polymerisation (DPs). High monomer conversions (≥96%) were obtained within 2 hours for all PISA syntheses as determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy, and good control over molar mass was confirmed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Nanoparticle morphologies were identified using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and further detailed characterisation was conducted to monitor rheological, electrochemical and thermal characteristics of the nanoparticle dispersions to assess their potential in future electronic applications. Most importantly, this new PISA formulation in IL facilitates the in situ formation of worm ionogel electrolyte materials at copolymer concentrations >4% w/w via efficient and convenient synthesis routes without the need for organic co-solvents or post-polymerisation processing/purification. Moreover, we demonstrate that the worm ionogels developed in this work exhibit comparable electrochemical properties and thermal stability to that of the IL alone, showcasing their potential as gel electrolytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia L Maitland
- Aston Advanced Materials Research Centre, Aston University Birmingham B4 7ET UK
| | - Mingyu Liu
- Aston Advanced Materials Research Centre, Aston University Birmingham B4 7ET UK
| | - Thomas J Neal
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, The University of Edinburgh Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road Edinburgh EH9 3FJ UK
| | - James Hammerton
- Aston Advanced Materials Research Centre, Aston University Birmingham B4 7ET UK
| | - Yisong Han
- Department of Physics, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Stephen D Worrall
- Aston Advanced Materials Research Centre, Aston University Birmingham B4 7ET UK
| | - Paul D Topham
- Aston Advanced Materials Research Centre, Aston University Birmingham B4 7ET UK
| | - Matthew J Derry
- Aston Advanced Materials Research Centre, Aston University Birmingham B4 7ET UK
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31
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Zhang S, Li R, An Z. Degradable Block Copolymer Nanoparticles Synthesized by Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202315849. [PMID: 38155097 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202315849] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) combines polymerization and in situ self-assembly of block copolymers in one system and has become a widely used method to prepare block copolymer nanoparticles at high concentrations. The persistence of polymers in the environment poses a huge threat to the ecosystem and represents a significant waste of resources. There is an urgent need to develop novel chemical approaches to synthesize degradable polymers. To meet with this demand, it is crucial to install degradability into PISA nanoparticles. Most recently, degradable PISA nanoparticles have been synthesized by introducing degradation mechanisms into either shell-forming or core-forming blocks. This Minireview summarizes the development in degradable block copolymer nanoparticles synthesized by PISA, including shell-degradable, core-degradable, and all-degradable nanoparticles. Future development will benefit from expansion of polymerization techniques with new degradation mechanisms and adaptation of high-throughput approaches for both PISA syntheses and degradation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shudi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Ruoyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Zesheng An
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
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32
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Pearce S, Lin C, Pérez-Mercader J. Adaptive and Dissipative Hierarchical Population Crowding of Synthetic Protocells through Click-PISA under Gradient Energy Inputs. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:2457-2464. [PMID: 38373157 PMCID: PMC10906081 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c04035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
The ability of living objects to respond rapidly en masse to various stimuli or stress is an important function in response to externally applied changes in the local environment. This occurs across many length scales, for instance, bacteria swarming in response to different stimuli or stress and macromolecular crowding within cells. Currently there are few mechanisms to induce similar autonomous behaviors within populations of synthetic protocells. Herein, we report a system in which populations of individual objects behave in a coordinated manner in response to changes in the energetic environment by the emergent self-organization of large object swarms. These swarms contain protocell populations of approximately 60 000 individuals. We demonstrate the dissipative nature of the hierarchical constructs, which persist under appropriate UV stimulation. Finally, we identify the ability of the object populations to change behaviors in an adaptive population-wide response to the local energetic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Pearce
- Department
of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Origins of Life Initiative, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Chenyu Lin
- Department
of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Origins of Life Initiative, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Juan Pérez-Mercader
- Department
of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Origins of Life Initiative, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- The
Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, United States
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33
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Deane O, Mandrelier P, Musa OM, Jamali M, Fielding LA, Armes SP. Synthesis and Characterization of All-Acrylic Tetrablock Copolymer Nanoparticles: Waterborne Thermoplastic Elastomers via One-Pot RAFT Aqueous Emulsion Polymerization. CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS : A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 2024; 36:2061-2075. [PMID: 38435050 PMCID: PMC10902817 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.3c03115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) aqueous emulsion polymerization is used to prepare well-defined ABCB tetrablock copolymer nanoparticles via sequential monomer addition at 30 °C. The A block comprises water-soluble poly(2-(N-acryloyloxy)ethyl pyrrolidone) (PNAEP), while the B and C blocks comprise poly(t-butyl acrylate) (PtBA) and poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PnBA), respectively. High conversions are achieved at each stage, and the final sterically stabilized spherical nanoparticles can be obtained at 20% w/w solids at pH 3 and at up to 40% w/w solids at pH 7. A relatively long PnBA block is targeted to ensure that the final tetrablock copolymer nanoparticles form highly transparent films on drying such aqueous dispersions at ambient temperature. The kinetics of polymerization and particle growth are studied using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy, while gel permeation chromatography analysis confirmed a high blocking efficiency for each stage of the polymerization. Differential scanning calorimetry and small-angle X-ray scattering studies confirm microphase separation between the hard PtBA and soft PnBA blocks, and preliminary mechanical property measurements indicate that such tetrablock copolymer films exhibit promising thermoplastic elastomeric behavior. Finally, it is emphasized that targeting an overall degree of polymerization of more than 1000 for such tetrablock copolymers mitigates the cost, color, and malodor conferred by the RAFT agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver
J. Deane
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
| | - Pierre Mandrelier
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
| | - Osama M. Musa
- Ashland
Specialty Ingredients, 1005 US 202/206, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807, United States
| | - Mohammed Jamali
- Department
of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
- Henry
Royce Institute, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Lee A. Fielding
- Department
of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
- Henry
Royce Institute, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Steven P. Armes
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
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34
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Wang C, Zhao H. Polymer Brushes and Surface Nanostructures: Molecular Design, Precise Synthesis, and Self-Assembly. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:2439-2464. [PMID: 38279930 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c02813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
For over two decades, polymer brushes have found wide applications in industry and scientific research. Now, polymer brush research has been a significant research focus in the community of polymer science. In this review paper, we give an introduction to the synthesis, self-assembly, and applications of one-dimensional (1D) polymer brushes on polymer backbones, two-dimensional (2D) polymer brushes on flat surfaces, and three-dimensional (3D) polymer brushes on spherical particles. Examples of the synthesis of polymer brushes on different substrates are provided. Studies on the formation of the surface nanostructures on solid surfaces are also reviewed in this article. Multicomponent polymer brushes on solid surfaces are able to self-assemble into surface micelles (s-micelles). If the s-micelles are linked to the substrates through cleavable linkages, the s-micelles can be cleaved from the substrates, and the cleaved s-micelles are able to self-assemble into hierarchical structures. The formation of the surface nanostructures by coassembly of polymer brushes and "free" polymer chains (coassembly approach) or polymerization-induced surface self-assembly approach, is discussed. The applications of the polymer brushes in colloid and biomedical science are summarized. Finally, perspectives on the development of polymer brushes are offered in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Wang
- College of Chemistry and Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of the Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Hanying Zhao
- College of Chemistry and Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of the Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin 300071, China
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35
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Astier S, Johnson EC, Norvilaite O, Varlas S, Brotherton EE, Sanderson G, Leggett GJ, Armes SP. Controlling Adsorption of Diblock Copolymer Nanoparticles onto an Aldehyde-Functionalized Hydrophilic Polymer Brush via pH Modulation. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024. [PMID: 38320303 PMCID: PMC10883040 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Sterically stabilized diblock copolymer nanoparticles with a well-defined spherical morphology and tunable diameter were prepared by RAFT aqueous emulsion polymerization of benzyl methacrylate at 70 °C. The steric stabilizer precursor used for these syntheses contained pendent cis-diol groups, which means that such nanoparticles can react with a suitable aldehyde-functional surface via acetal bond formation. This principle is examined herein by growing an aldehyde-functionalized polymer brush from a planar silicon wafer and studying the extent of nanoparticle adsorption onto this model substrate from aqueous solution at 25 °C using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). The adsorbed amount, Γ, depends on both the nanoparticle diameter and the solution pH, with minimal adsorption observed at pH 7 or 10 and substantial adsorption achieved at pH 4. Variable-temperature QCM studies provide strong evidence for chemical adsorption, while scanning electron microscopy images recorded for the nanoparticle-coated brush surface after drying indicate mean surface coverages of up to 62%. This fundamental study extends our understanding of the chemical adsorption of nanoparticles on soft substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Astier
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K
| | - Edwin C Johnson
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K
| | - Oleta Norvilaite
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K
| | - Spyridon Varlas
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K
| | - Emma E Brotherton
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K
| | - George Sanderson
- GEO Specialty Chemicals, Hythe, Southampton, Hampshire SO45 3ZG, U.K
| | - Graham J Leggett
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K
| | - Steven P Armes
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K
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36
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Hunter SJ, Chohan P, Varlas S, Armes SP. Effect of Temperature, Oil Type, and Copolymer Concentration on the Long-Term Stability of Oil-in-Water Pickering Nanoemulsions Prepared Using Diblock Copolymer Nanoparticles. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024. [PMID: 38316052 PMCID: PMC10883058 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
A poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) (PGMA) precursor was chain-extended with 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFEMA) via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) aqueous emulsion polymerization. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies confirmed the formation of well-defined PGMA52-PTFEMA50 spherical nanoparticles, while dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies indicated a z-average diameter of 26 ± 6 nm. These sterically stabilized diblock copolymer nanoparticles were used as emulsifiers to prepare oil-in-water Pickering nanoemulsions: either n-dodecane or squalane was added to an aqueous dispersion of nanoparticles, followed by high-shear homogenization and high-pressure microfluidization. The Pickering nature of such nanoemulsion droplets was confirmed via cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The long-term stability of such Pickering nanoemulsions was evaluated by analytical centrifugation over a four-week period. The n-dodecane droplets grew in size significantly faster than squalane droplets: this is attributed to the higher aqueous solubility of the former oil, which promotes Ostwald ripening. The effect of adding various amounts of squalane to the n-dodecane droplet phase prior to emulsification was also explored. The addition of up to 40% (v/v) squalane led to more stable nanoemulsions, as judged by analytical centrifugation. The nanoparticle adsorption efficiency at the n-dodecane-water interface was assessed by gel permeation chromatography when using nanoparticle concentrations of 4.0, 7.0, or 10% w/w. Increasing the nanoparticle concentration not only produced smaller droplets but also reduced the adsorption efficiency, as confirmed by TEM studies. Furthermore, the effect of varying the nanoparticle concentration (2.5, 5.0, or 10% w/w) on the long-term stability of n-dodecane-in-water Pickering nanoemulsions was explored over a four-week period. Nanoemulsions prepared at higher nanoparticle concentrations were more unstable and exhibited a faster rate of Ostwald ripening. The nanoparticle adsorption efficiency was monitored for an aging nanoemulsion prepared at a copolymer concentration of 2.5% w/w. As the droplets ripened over time, the adsorption efficiency remained constant (∼97%). This suggests that nanoparticles desorbed from the shrinking smaller droplets and then readsorbed onto larger droplets over time. Finally, the effect of temperature on the stability of Pickering nanoemulsions was examined. Storing these Pickering nanoemulsions at elevated temperatures led to faster rates of Ostwald ripening, as expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saul J Hunter
- School of Chemistry, Joseph Banks Laboratories, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln LN6 7TS, U.K
| | - Priyanka Chohan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield S3 7HF, South Yorkshire, U.K
| | - Spyridon Varlas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield S3 7HF, South Yorkshire, U.K
| | - Steven P Armes
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield S3 7HF, South Yorkshire, U.K
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37
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Maffeis V, Heuberger L, Nikoletić A, Schoenenberger C, Palivan CG. Synthetic Cells Revisited: Artificial Cells Construction Using Polymeric Building Blocks. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2305837. [PMID: 37984885 PMCID: PMC10885666 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202305837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The exponential growth of research on artificial cells and organelles underscores their potential as tools to advance the understanding of fundamental biological processes. The bottom-up construction from a variety of building blocks at the micro- and nanoscale, in combination with biomolecules is key to developing artificial cells. In this review, artificial cells are focused upon based on compartments where polymers are the main constituent of the assembly. Polymers are of particular interest due to their incredible chemical variety and the advantage of tuning the properties and functionality of their assemblies. First, the architectures of micro- and nanoscale polymer assemblies are introduced and then their usage as building blocks is elaborated upon. Different membrane-bound and membrane-less compartments and supramolecular structures and how they combine into advanced synthetic cells are presented. Then, the functional aspects are explored, addressing how artificial organelles in giant compartments mimic cellular processes. Finally, how artificial cells communicate with their surrounding and each other such as to adapt to an ever-changing environment and achieve collective behavior as a steppingstone toward artificial tissues, is taken a look at. Engineering artificial cells with highly controllable and programmable features open new avenues for the development of sophisticated multifunctional systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Maffeis
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of BaselMattenstrasse 22BaselCH‐4002Switzerland
- NCCR‐Molecular Systems EngineeringBPR 1095, Mattenstrasse 24aBaselCH‐4058Switzerland
| | - Lukas Heuberger
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of BaselMattenstrasse 22BaselCH‐4002Switzerland
| | - Anamarija Nikoletić
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of BaselMattenstrasse 22BaselCH‐4002Switzerland
- Swiss Nanoscience InstituteUniversity of BaselKlingelbergstrasse 82BaselCH‐4056Switzerland
| | | | - Cornelia G. Palivan
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of BaselMattenstrasse 22BaselCH‐4002Switzerland
- NCCR‐Molecular Systems EngineeringBPR 1095, Mattenstrasse 24aBaselCH‐4058Switzerland
- Swiss Nanoscience InstituteUniversity of BaselKlingelbergstrasse 82BaselCH‐4056Switzerland
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38
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Farmer MH, Musa OM, Haug I, Naumann S, Armes SP. Synthesis of Poly(propylene oxide)-Poly( N,N'-dimethylacrylamide) Diblock Copolymer Nanoparticles via Reverse Sequence Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly in Aqueous Solution. Macromolecules 2024; 57:317-327. [PMID: 38222027 PMCID: PMC10782481 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c01939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Sterically-stabilized diblock copolymer nanoparticles comprising poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) cores are prepared via reverse sequence polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) in aqueous solution. N,N'-Dimethylacrylamide (DMAC) acts as a cosolvent for the weakly hydrophobic trithiocarbonate-capped PPO precursor. Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of DMAC is initially conducted at 80% w/w solids with deoxygenated water. At 30-60% DMAC conversion, the reaction mixture is diluted to 5-25% w/w solids. The PPO chains become less solvated as the DMAC monomer is consumed, which drives in situ self-assembly to form aqueous dispersions of PPO-core nanoparticles of 120-190 nm diameter at 20 °C. Such RAFT polymerizations are well-controlled (Mw/Mn ≤ 1.31), and more than 99% DMAC conversion is achieved. The resulting nanoparticles exhibit thermoresponsive character: dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy studies indicate the formation of more compact spherical nanoparticles of approximately 33 nm diameter on heating to 70 °C. Furthermore, 15-25% w/w aqueous dispersions of such nanoparticles formed micellar gels that undergo thermoreversible (de)gelation on cooling to 5 °C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew
A. H. Farmer
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
| | - Osama M. Musa
- Ashland
Specialty Ingredients, 1005 US 202/206, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807, United States
| | - Iris Haug
- Institute
of Polymer Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Stefan Naumann
- Institute
of Polymer Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Steven P. Armes
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
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39
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Liao G, Derry MJ, Smith AJ, Armes SP, Mykhaylyk OO. Determination of Reaction Kinetics by Time-Resolved Small-Angle X-ray Scattering during Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly: Direct Evidence for Monomer-Swollen Nanoparticles. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202312119. [PMID: 37996999 PMCID: PMC10952692 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202312119] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The kinetics of heterogeneous polymerization is determined directly using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). This important advancement is exemplified for the synthesis of sterically-stabilized diblock copolymer nanoparticles by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) dispersion polymerization of benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) in mineral oil at 90 °C. The principle of mass balance is invoked to derive a series of equations for the analysis of the resulting time-resolved SAXS patterns. Importantly, there is a continuous change in the X-ray scattering length density for the various components within the reaction mixture. This enables the volume fraction of unreacted BzMA monomer to be calculated at any given time point, which enables the polymerization kinetics to be monitored in situ directly without relying on supplementary characterization techniques. Moreover, SAXS enables the local concentration of both monomer and solvent within the growing swollen nanoparticles to be determined during the polymerization. Data analysis reveals that the instantaneous rate of BzMA polymerization is proportional to the local monomer concentration within the nanoparticles. In principle, this powerful new time-resolved SAXS approach can be applicable to other heterogeneous polymerization formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoxing Liao
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of SheffieldDainton BuildingSheffieldS3 7HFUK
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and TechnologySchool of Emergent Soft MatterGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional and Intelligent Hybrid Materials and DevicesSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhou510640China
| | - Matthew J. Derry
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of SheffieldDainton BuildingSheffieldS3 7HFUK
- Aston Advanced Materials Research CentreAston UniversityAston TriangleBirminghamB4 7ETUK
| | - Andrew J. Smith
- Beamline I22Diamond Light Source LtdDiamond HouseDidcotOX11 0DEUK
| | - Steven P. Armes
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of SheffieldDainton BuildingSheffieldS3 7HFUK
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40
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Xu Q, Yu C, Jiang L, Wang Y, Liu F, Jiang W, Zhou Y. Coacervate-Assisted Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly of Chiral Alternating Copolymers into Hierarchical Bishell Capsules with Sub-5 nm Ultrathin Lamellae. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2300136. [PMID: 37116085 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Hierarchical self-assembly of synthetic polymers in solution represents one of the sophisticated strategies to replicate the natural superstructures which lay the basis for their superb functions. However, it is still quite challenging to increase the degree of complexity of the as-prepared assemblies, especially in a large scale. Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) widely exists in cells and is assumed to be responsible for the formation of many cellular organelles without membranes. Herein, through integrating LLPS with the polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA), a coacervate-assisted PISA (CAPISA) methodology to realize the one-pot and scalable preparation of hierarchical bishell capsules (BCs) from nanosheets with ultrathin lamellae phase (sub-5 nm), microflakes, unishell capsules to final BCs in a bottom-up sequence is presented. Both the self-assembled structure and the dynamic formation process of BCs have been disclosed. Since CAPISA has combined the advantages of coacervates, click chemistry, interfacial reaction and PISA, it is believed that it will become a promising option to fabricate biomimetic polymer materials with higher structural complexity and more sophisticated functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingsong Xu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Chunyang Yu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Lingsheng Jiang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Yuling Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Feng Liu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Wenfeng Jiang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Yongfeng Zhou
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
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41
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Zhang Z, Chen K, Ameduri B, Chen M. Fluoropolymer Nanoparticles Synthesized via Reversible-Deactivation Radical Polymerizations and Their Applications. Chem Rev 2023; 123:12431-12470. [PMID: 37906708 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Fluorinated polymeric nanoparticles (FPNPs) combine unique properties of fluorocarbon and polymeric nanoparticles, which has stimulated massive interest for decades. However, fluoropolymers are not readily available from nature, resulting in synthetic developments to obtain FPNPs via free radical polymerizations. Recently, while increasing cutting-edge directions demand tailored FPNPs, such materials have been difficult to access via conventional approaches. Reversible-deactivation radical polymerizations (RDRPs) are powerful methods to afford well-defined polymers. Researchers have applied RDRPs to the fabrication of FPNPs, enabling the construction of particles with improved complexity in terms of structure, composition, morphology, and functionality. Related examples can be classified into three categories. First, well-defined fluoropolymers synthesized via RDRPs have been utilized as precursors to form FPNPs through self-folding and solution self-assembly. Second, thermally and photoinitiated RDRPs have been explored to realize in situ preparations of FPNPs with varied morphologies via polymerization-induced self-assembly and cross-linking copolymerization. Third, grafting from inorganic nanoparticles has been investigated based on RDRPs. Importantly, those advancements have promoted studies toward promising applications, including magnetic resonance imaging, biomedical delivery, energy storage, adsorption of perfluorinated alkyl substances, photosensitizers, and so on. This Review should present useful knowledge to researchers in polymer science and nanomaterials and inspire innovative ideas for the synthesis and applications of FPNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zexi Zhang
- Department of Macromolecular Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Kaixuan Chen
- Department of Macromolecular Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Bruno Ameduri
- Institute Charles Gerhardt of Montpellier (ICGM), CNRS, University of Montpellier, ENSCM, Montpellier 34296, France
| | - Mao Chen
- Department of Macromolecular Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
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42
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Zhou J, Huang Q, Zhang L, Tan J. Exploiting the Monomer-Feeding Mechanism of RAFT Emulsion Polymerization for Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly of Asymmetric Divinyl Monomers. ACS Macro Lett 2023; 12:1457-1465. [PMID: 37844283 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
We exploited the monomer-feeding mechanism of reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) emulsion polymerization to achieve the successful polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) of asymmetric divinyl monomers. Colloidally stable cross-linked block copolymer nanoparticles with various morphologies, such as vesicles, were directly prepared at high solids. Morphologies of the cross-linked block copolymer nanoparticles could be controlled by varying the monomer concentration, degree of polymerization (DP) of the core-forming block, and length of the macro-RAFT agent. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization confirmed the presence of unreacted vinyl groups within the obtained block copolymer nanoparticles, providing a landscape for further functionalization via thiol-ene chemistry. Finally, the obtained block copolymer nanoparticles were employed as additives to tune the mechanical properties of hydrogels. We expect that this study not only offers considerable opportunities for the preparation of well-defined cross-linked block copolymer nanoparticles, but also provides important insights into the controlled polymerization of multivinyl monomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxi Zhou
- Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qian Huang
- Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Soft Condensed Matter, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jianbo Tan
- Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Soft Condensed Matter, Guangzhou 510006, China
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43
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Deng Z, Sun Y, Guan S, Chen A. Azobenzene-Containing Liquid Crystalline Twisted Ribbons via Polymerization-Induced Hierarchical Self-Assembly. Macromol Rapid Commun 2023; 44:e2300361. [PMID: 37534616 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202300361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Polymerization-induced self-assembly incorporating liquid crystallization, as a polymerization-induced hierarchical self-assembly (PIHSA) method to produce polymeric particles with anisotropic morphologies facilely and efficiently, has drawn wide attention recently. However, the means of regulating the morphologies of liquid crystalline (LC) polymer assemblies still need to be explored. Herein, a route is presented to fabricate the twisted ribbons via PIHSA containing azobenzene based on poor reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) control, called poorly controlled PIHSA. Cyano-4-(dodecylsulfanylthiocarbonyl)sulfanyl pentanoic acid-2-(2-pyridyldithio) ethyl ester is used as the RAFT agent with poor controllability, and the morphological evolution from ribbons to twisted ribbons can be observed in the corresponding PIHSA system. The formation mechanism of the twisted ribbons is studied systematically and the broad molecular weight distribution is considered to be the decisive factor. Moreover, the supramolecular chirality induced by symmetry breaking is also related to the twist of the ribbons. This study enriches the methods of controlling the morphologies of LC polymer particles and is helpful for further clarifying the mechanism of PIHSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zichao Deng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yalan Sun
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Song Guan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Aihua Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
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44
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György C, Armes SP. Recent Advances in Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly (PISA) Syntheses in Non-Polar Media. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202308372. [PMID: 37409380 PMCID: PMC10952376 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202308372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
It is well-known that polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) is a powerful and highly versatile technique for the rational synthesis of colloidal dispersions of diblock copolymer nanoparticles, including spheres, worms or vesicles. PISA can be conducted in water, polar solvents or non-polar media. In principle, the latter formulations offer a wide range of potential commercial applications. However, there has been just one review focused on PISA syntheses in non-polar media and this prior article was published in 2016. The purpose of the current review article is to summarize the various advances that have been reported since then. In particular, PISA syntheses conducted using reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization in various n-alkanes, poly(α-olefins), mineral oil, low-viscosity silicone oils or supercritical CO2 are discussed in detail. Selected formulations exhibit thermally induced worm-to-sphere or vesicle-to-worm morphological transitions and the rheological properties of various examples of worm gels in non-polar media are summarized. Finally, visible absorption spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) enable in situ monitoring of nanoparticle formation, while small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) can be used to examine micelle fusion/fission and chain exchange mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Csilla György
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of SheffieldDainton BuildingSheffieldSouth YorkshireS3 7HFUK
| | - Steven P. Armes
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of SheffieldDainton BuildingSheffieldSouth YorkshireS3 7HFUK
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45
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Chen Y, Tan J, Shen L. Seeded RAFT Polymerization-Induced Self-assembly: Recent Advances and Future Opportunities. Macromol Rapid Commun 2023; 44:e2300334. [PMID: 37615609 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202300334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) has fully proved its versatility for scale-up production of block copolymer nanoparticles with tunable sizes and morphologies; yet, there are still some limitations. Recently, seeded PISA approaches combing PISA with heterogeneous seeded polymerizations have been greatly explored and are expected to overcome the limitations of traditional PISA. In this review, recent advances in seeded PISA that have expanded new horizons for PISA are highlighted including i) general considerations for seeded PISA (e.g., kinetics, the preparation of seeds, the selection of monomers), ii) morphological evolution induced by seeded PISA (e.g., from corona-shell-core nanoparticles to vesicles, vesicles-to-toroid, disassembly of vesicles into nanospheres), and iii) various well-defined nanoparticles with hierarchical and sophisticated morphologies (e.g., multicompartment micelles, porous vesicles, framboidal vesicles, AXn -type colloidal molecules). Finally, new insights into seeded PISA and future perspectives are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Vision Science, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Jianbo Tan
- Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Liangliang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Vision Science, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
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46
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Farmer MAH, Musa OM, Armes SP. Efficient Synthesis of Hydrolytically Degradable Block Copolymer Nanoparticles via Reverse Sequence Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly in Aqueous Media. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202309526. [PMID: 37522648 PMCID: PMC10952355 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202309526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Hydrolytically degradable block copolymer nanoparticles are prepared via reverse sequence polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) in aqueous media. This efficient protocol involves the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of N,N'-dimethylacrylamide (DMAC) using a monofunctional or bifunctional trithiocarbonate-capped poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) precursor. DMAC monomer is employed as a co-solvent to solubilize the hydrophobic PCL chains. At an intermediate DMAC conversion of 20-60 %, the reaction mixture is diluted with water to 10-25 % w/w solids. The growing amphiphilic block copolymer chains undergo nucleation to form sterically-stabilized PCL-core nanoparticles with PDMAC coronas. 1 H NMR studies confirm more than 99 % DMAC conversion while gel permeation chromatography (GPC) studies indicate well-controlled RAFT polymerizations (Mw /Mn ≤1.30). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) indicate spheres of 20-120 nm diameter. As expected, hydrolytic degradation occurs within days at 37 °C in either acidic or alkaline solution. Degradation is also observed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (pH 7.4) at 37 °C. However, no degradation is detected over a three-month period when these nanoparticles are stored at 20 °C in deionized water (pH 6.7). Finally, PDMAC30 -PCL16 -PDMAC30 nanoparticles are briefly evaluated as a dispersant for an agrochemical formulation based on a broad-spectrum fungicide (azoxystrobin).
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A. H. Farmer
- Department of ChemistryThe University of SheffieldBrook HillS3 7HFSheffieldSouth YorkshireUK
| | - Osama M. Musa
- Ashland Specialty Ingredients1005 US 202/20608807BridgewaterNJUSA
| | - Steven P. Armes
- Department of ChemistryThe University of SheffieldBrook HillS3 7HFSheffieldSouth YorkshireUK
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47
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Ulker D, Neal TJ, Crawford A, Armes SP. Thermoresponsive Poly( N, N'-dimethylacrylamide)-Based Diblock Copolymer Worm Gels via RAFT Solution Polymerization: Synthesis, Characterization, and Cell Biology Applications. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:4285-4302. [PMID: 37616242 PMCID: PMC10498450 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
RAFT solution polymerization is used to polymerize 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA). The resulting PHPMA precursor is then chain-extended using N,N'-dimethylacrylamide (DMAC) to produce a series of thermoresponsive PHPMA-PDMAC diblock copolymers. Such amphiphilic copolymers can be directly dispersed in ice-cold water and self-assembled at 20 °C to form spheres, worms, or vesicles depending on their copolymer composition. Construction of a pseudo-phase diagram is required to identify the pure worm phase, which corresponds to a rather narrow range of PDMAC DPs. Such worms form soft, free-standing gels in aqueous solution at around ambient temperature. Rheology studies confirm the thermoresponsive nature of such worms, which undergo a reversible worm-to-sphere on cooling below ambient temperature. This morphological transition leads to in situ degelation, and variable temperature 1H NMR studies indicate a higher degree of (partial) hydration for the weakly hydrophobic PHPMA chains at lower temperatures. The trithiocarbonate end-group located at the end of each PDMAC chain can be removed by treatment with excess hydrazine. The resulting terminal secondary thiol group can form disulfide bonds via coupling, which produces PHPMA-PDMAC-PHPMA triblock copolymer chains. Alternatively, this reactive thiol group can be used for conjugation reactions. A PHPMA141-PDMAC36 worm gel was used to store human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for up to three weeks at 37 °C. MSCs retrieved from this gel subsequently underwent proliferation and maintained their ability to differentiate into osteoblastic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damla Ulker
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, University
of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South
Yorkshire S3 7HF, UK
- Faculty
of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Basic Sciences, Near East University, Nicosia, Northern Cyprus TR-99138, Turkey
| | - Thomas J. Neal
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, University
of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South
Yorkshire S3 7HF, UK
| | - Aileen Crawford
- School
of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Claremont Crescent, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TA, UK
| | - Steven P. Armes
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, University
of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South
Yorkshire S3 7HF, UK
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48
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Guild J, Knox ST, Burholt SB, Hilton E, Terrill NJ, Schroeder SL, Warren NJ. Continuous-Flow Laboratory SAXS for In Situ Determination of the Impact of Hydrophilic Block Length on Spherical Nano-Object Formation during Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly. Macromolecules 2023; 56:6426-6435. [PMID: 37637307 PMCID: PMC10448749 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c00585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
In situ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is a powerful technique for characterizing block-copolymer nano-object formation during polymerization-induced self-assembly. To work effectively in situ, it requires high intensity X-rays which enable the short acquisition times required for real-time measurements. However, routine access to synchrotron X-ray sources is expensive and highly competitive. Flow reactors provide an opportunity to obtain temporal resolution by operating at a consistent flow rate. Here, we equip a flow-reactor with an X-ray transparent flow-cell at the outlet which facilitates the use of a low-flux laboratory SAXS instrument for in situ monitoring. The formation and morphological evolution of spherical block copolymer nano-objects was characterized during reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of diacetone acrylamide in the presence of a series of poly(dimethylacrylamide) (PDMAm) macromolecular chain transfer agents with varying degrees of polymerization. SAXS analysis indicated that during the polymerization, highly solvated, loosely defined aggregates form after approximately 100 s, followed by expulsion of solvent to form well-defined spherical particles with PDAAm cores and PDMAm stabilizer chains, which then grow as the polymerization proceeds. Analysis also indicates that the aggregation number (Nagg) increases during the reaction, likely due to collisions between swollen, growing nanoparticles. In situ SAXS conducted on PISA syntheses using different PDMAm DPs indicated a varying conformation of the chains in the particle cores, from collapsed chains for PDMAm47 to extended chains for PDMAm143. At high conversion, the final Nagg decreased as a function of increasing PDMAm DP, indicating increased steric stabilization afforded by the longer chains which is reflected by a decrease in both core diameter (from SAXS) and hydrodynamic diameter (from DLS) for a constant core DP of 400.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan
D. Guild
- School
of Chemical and Processing Engineering, University of Leeds, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
| | - Stephen T. Knox
- School
of Chemical and Processing Engineering, University of Leeds, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
| | - Sam B. Burholt
- Diamond
House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Diamond Light Source, Didcot OX11 0DE, U.K.
| | - Eleanor.M. Hilton
- School
of Chemical and Processing Engineering, University of Leeds, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
| | - Nicholas J. Terrill
- Diamond
House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Diamond Light Source, Didcot OX11 0DE, U.K.
| | - Sven L.M. Schroeder
- School
of Chemical and Processing Engineering, University of Leeds, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
| | - Nicholas J. Warren
- School
of Chemical and Processing Engineering, University of Leeds, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
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49
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Brotherton EE, Josland D, György C, Johnson EC, Chan DHH, Smallridge MJ, Armes SP. Histidine-Functionalized Diblock Copolymer Nanoparticles Exhibit Enhanced Adsorption onto Planar Stainless Steel. Macromol Rapid Commun 2023; 44:e2200903. [PMID: 36534428 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202200903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
RAFT aqueous emulsion polymerization of isopropylideneglycerol monomethacrylate (IPGMA) is used to prepare a series of PGEO5MA46 -PIPGMAy nanoparticles, where PGEO5MA is a hydrophilic methacrylic steric stabilizer block bearing pendent cis-diol groups. TEM studies confirm a spherical morphology while dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis indicated that the z-average particle diameter can be adjusted by varying the target degree of polymerization for the core-forming PIPGMA block. Periodate oxidation is used to convert the cis-diol groups on PGEO5MA46 -PIPGMA500 and PGEO5MA46 -PIPGMA1000 nanoparticles into the analogous aldehyde-functionalized nanoparticles, which are then reacted with histidine via reductive amination. In each case, the extent of functionalization is more than 99% as determined by 1 H NMR spectroscopy. Aqueous electrophoresis studies indicate that such derivatization converts initially neutral nanoparticles into zwitterionic nanoparticles with an isoelectric point at pH 7. DLS studies confirm that such histidine-derivatized nanoparticles remain colloidally stable over a wide pH range. A quartz crystal microbalance is employed at 25°C to assess the adsorption of both the cis-diol- and histidine-functionalized nanoparticles onto planar stainless steel at pH 6. The histidine-bearing nanoparticles adsorb much more strongly than their cis-diol counterparts. For the highest adsorbed amount of 70.5 mg m-2 , SEM indicates a fractional surface coverage of 0.23 for the adsorbed nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma E Brotherton
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Daniel Josland
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Csilla György
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Edwin C Johnson
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Derek H H Chan
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Mark J Smallridge
- GEO Specialty Chemicals, Hythe, Southampton, Hampshire, SO45 3ZG, UK
| | - Steven P Armes
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
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50
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Korpanty J, Wang C, Gianneschi NC. Upper critical solution temperature polymer assemblies via variable temperature liquid phase transmission electron microscopy and liquid resonant soft X-ray scattering. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3441. [PMID: 37301949 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38781-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we study the upper critical solution temperature triggered phase transition of thermally responsive poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate-co-poly(ethylene glycol) phenyl ether acrylate-block-polystyrene nanoassemblies in isopropanol. To gain mechanistic insight into the organic solution-phase dynamics of the upper critical solution temperature polymer, we leverage variable temperature liquid-cell transmission electron microscopy correlated with variable temperature liquid resonant soft X-ray scattering. Heating above the upper critical solution temperature triggers a reduction in particle size and a morphological transition from a spherical core shell particle with a complex, multiphase core to a micelle with a uniform core and Gaussian polymer chains attached to the surface. These correlated solution phase methods, coupled with mass spectral validation and modeling, provide unique insight into these thermoresponsive materials. Moreover, we detail a generalizable workflow for studying complex, solution-phase nanomaterials via correlative methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Korpanty
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute for Nanotechnology, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Simpson Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Cheng Wang
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Nathan C Gianneschi
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute for Nanotechnology, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Simpson Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
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