Cellulose-Based Dual Graft Molecular Brushes as Potential Drug Nanocarriers: Stimulus-Responsive Micelles, Self-Assembled Phase Transition Behavior, and Tunable Crystalline Morphologies

Construction of intelligent drug delivery system based on polysaccharide-derived polymer micelles: A review

Micelles are nanostructures developed via the spontaneous assembly of amphiphilic polymers in aqueous systems, which possess the advantages of high drug stability or active-ingredient solubilization, targeted transport, controlled release, high bioactivity, and stability. Polysaccharides have excellent water solubility, biocompatibility, and degradability, and can be modified to achieve a hydrophobic core to encapsulate hydrophobic drugs, improve drug biocompatibility, and achieve regulated delivery of the loaded drug. Micelles drug delivery systems based on polysaccharides and their derivatives show great potential in the biomedical field. This review discusses the principles of self-assembly of amphiphilic polymers and the formation of micelles; the preparation of amphiphilic polysaccharides is described in detail, and an overview of common polysaccharides and their modifications is provided. We focus on the review of strategies for encapsulating drugs in polysaccharide-derived polymer micelles (PDPMs) and building intelligent drug delivery systems. This review provides new research directions that will help promote future research and development of PDPMs in the field of drug carriers.

Chemistry and engineering of brush type polymers: Perspective towards tissue engineering

In tissue engineering, it is imperative to control the behaviour of cells/stem cells, such as adhesion, proliferation, propagation, motility, and differentiation for tissue regeneration. Surfaces that allow cells to behave in this way are critical as support materials in tissue engineering. Among these surfaces, brush-type polymers have an important potential for tissue engineering and biomedical applications. Brush structure and length, end groups, bonding densities, hydrophilicity, surface energy, structural flexibility, thermal stability, surface chemical reactivity, rheological and tribological properties, electron and energy transfer ability, cell binding and absorption abilities for various biological molecules of brush-type polymers were increased its importance in tissue engineering applications. In addition, thanks to these functional properties and adjustable surface properties, brush type polymers are used in different high-tech applications such as electronics, sensors, anti-fouling, catalysis, purification and energy etc. This review comprehensively highlights the use of brush-type polymers in tissue engineering applications. Considering the superior properties of brush-type polymer structures, it is believed that in the future, it will be an effective tool in structure designs containing many different biomolecules (enzymes, proteins, etc.) in the field of tissue engineering.

Morphology-controllable amphiphilic cellulose microgels made from self-assembly of hydrophobic long-chain bromide-alkylated-cellulose/gelatin copolymer

A cellulose-based microgel is firstly synthesized via chemically coupling gelatin and cellulose, and then amphiphilic cellulose copolymers (HMGC) are prepared by alkylated cellulose-based microgel from different long-chain alkyl groups. The long-chain alkyl group is mainly bonded onto the residual hydroxyl group at C₆ from the AGU of cellulose and the imino groups of gelatin, respectively. The results of self-assembly behavior of HMGC demonstrate that the critical aggregation concentrations of the microgels are in the range from 0.628 to 0.075 mg/mL, and the corresponding hydrodynamic diameters are between 104-1000 nm. Besides, the HMGC can self-assemble into microgels of various morphologies including cotton flocculence, sphere, rod-like, vesicle, flower-like cluster, snowflake-like, urchin-like, and coral shapes. These novel morphologies can be controlled by adjusting the degree of alkylation, the length of the alkyl chain, and the concentration of microgel. Furthermore, the possible formation mechanism of the multiform microgels is proposed from the chain conformation.

Wood-Derived Functional Polymeric Materials

In recent years, tremendous efforts have been dedicated to developing wood-derived functional polymeric materials due to their distinctive properties, including environmental friendliness, renewability, and biodegradability. Thus, the uniqueness of the main components in wood (cellulose and lignin) has attracted enormous interest for both fundamental research and practical applications. Herein, the emerging field of wood-derived functional polymeric materials fabricated by means of macromolecular engineering is reviewed, covering the basic structures and properties of the main components, the design principle to utilize these main components, and the resulting wood-derived functional polymeric materials in terms of elastomers, hydrogels, aerogels, and nanoparticles. In detail, the natural features of wood components and their significant roles in the fabrication of materials are emphasized. Furthermore, the utilization of controlled/living polymerization, click chemistry, dynamic bonds chemistry, etc., for the modification is specifically discussed from the perspective of molecular design, together with their sequential assembly into different morphologies. The functionalities of wood-derived polymeric materials are mainly focused on self-healing and shape-memory abilities, adsorption, conduction, etc. Finally, the main challenges of wood-derived functional polymeric materials fabricated by macromolecular engineering are presented, as well as the potential solutions or directions to develop green and scalable wood-derived functional polymeric materials.

Cellulose-based thermo-enhanced fluorescence micelles

Recently, cellulose-based stimuli-responsive nanomaterials have received significant attention because of its natural source and biocompatibility. In this study, cellulose-graft-poly(nisopropylacrylamide)-co-2-methyl-acrylic acid 2-carbazol-9-yl-ethyl ester (cellulose-g-(PNIPAAm&PCz)) block polymers were successfully synthesized by homogeneous atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in LiCl/N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) dissolution system. The block polymers showed different properties due to the different PCz content. The block polymer with low PCz content (cellulose-g-(PNIPAAm&PCz)1) was dispersed in water at 25 °C and self-assembled into micelles at 37 °C. On the other hand, the block polymer with high PCz content (cellulose-g-(PNIPAAm&PCz)2) was dissolved in DMF, THF, DMSO firstly, and dialyzed at 25 °C, 37 °C and 60 °C respectively to obtain the micelles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) indicated that the distribution range of micelles formed by cellulose-g-(PNIPAAm&PCz)1 was narrower than cellulose-g-(PNIPAAm&PCz)2. And the sizes of the micelles formed by cellulose-g-(PNIPAAm&PCz)2 had little difference under different solvents, but became bigger with the temperature increased. The micelles displayed thermo-enhanced fluorescence due to the thermal-driven chain dehydration of the grafted PNIPAAm brushes, which is contrary to the decrease of the fluorescence of the monomer when the temperature increased. The results provided a potential for the application of cellulose-based stimuli-responsive micelles in the field of drug delivery and fluorescent probes.

A one pot one step combined radical and ring-opening route for the dual functionalization of starch in aqueous medium

Starch based materials are attractive bio-based alternative to fully synthetic polymers. Native starch has however limited thermoprocessability and properties and must be modified. In order to improve the properties of starch-graft-poly(butyl-acrylate-co-styrene) copolymers via a process as green as possible, we report herein a new method for the dual functionalization of the polysaccharide via a one pot one step reaction in aqueous medium combining free radical polymerizations and ring-opening chemistry. Poly(butyl acrylate) or poly(butyl acrylate-co-styrene) (ca. 60 000 g/mol) and oligo(ε-caprolactone) were grafted on starch with a grafting percentage up to 75 %. The copolymers show two glass transition temperatures: one around 55-60 °C related to starch and a second attributed to the grafted vinyl polymers, from -46 °C to 20 °C depending on butyl acrylate/styrene ratio. The resulting dual functionalized materials exhibit excellent mechanical properties, with elongation at break in the range 20-210 %, while single functionalized starch shows less than 5 %.

Micellar Carriers Based on Amphiphilic PEG/PCL Graft Copolymers for Delivery of Active Substances

Amphiphilic copolymers of alkyne functionalized 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (AlHEMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (MPEGMA) with graft or V-shaped graft topologies were synthesized. The functionalization of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with azide group enabled attachment to P(AlHEMA-co-MPEGMA) copolymers via a "click" alkyne-azide reaction. The introduction of PCL as a second side chain type in addition to PEG resulted in heterografted copolymers with modified properties such as biodegradability. "Click" reactions were carried out with efficiencies between 17-70% or 32-50% (for lower molecular weight PCL, 4000 g/mol, or higher molecular weight PCL, 9000 g/mol, respectively) depending on the PEG grafting density. The graft copolymers were self-assembled into micellar superstructures with the ability to encapsulate active substances, such as vitamin C (VitC), arbutin (ARB) or 4-n-butylresorcinol (4nBRE). Drug loading contents (DLC) were obtained in the range of 5-55% (VitC), 39-91% (ARB) and 42-98% (4nBRE). In vitro studies carried out in a phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution (at pH 7.4 or 5.5) gave the maximum release levels of active substances after 10-240 min depending on the polymer system. Permeation tests in Franz chambers indicated that the bioactive substances after release by micellar systems penetrated through the artificial skin membrane in small amounts, and a majority of the bioactive substances remained inside the membrane, which is satisfactory for most cosmetic applications.

Amphiphilic multicomponent molecular brushes

Multicomponent molecular brushes containing amphiphilic polymer moieties are promising objects of research of macromolecular chemistry. The development of stimulus-responsive systems sensitive to changes in environmental parameters, based on the molecular brushes, opens up new possibilities for their applications in medicine, biochemistry and microelectronics. The review presents the current understanding of the structures of main types of amphiphilic multicomponent brushes, depending on the chemical nature and type of coupling of the backbone and side chains. The approaches to the controlled synthesis of multicomponent molecular brushes of different architecture are analyzed. Self-assembly processes of multicomponent molecular brushes in selective solvents are considered.

The bibliography includes 259 references.

Combining Cellulose and Cyclodextrins: Fascinating Designs for Materials and Pharmaceutics

Cellulose and cyclodextrins possess unique properties that can be tailored, combined, and used in a considerable number of applications, including textiles, coatings, sensors, and drug delivery systems. Successfully structuring and applying cellulose and cyclodextrins conjugates requires a deep understanding of the relation between structural, and soft matter behavior, materials, energy, and function. This review focuses on the key advances in developing materials based on these conjugates. Relevant aspects regarding structural variations, methods of synthesis, processing and functionalization, and corresponding supramolecular properties are presented. The use of cellulose/cyclodextrin conjugates as intelligent platforms for applications in materials science and pharmaceutical technology is also outlined, focusing on drug delivery, textiles, and sensors.

Advances in thermosensitive polymer-grafted platforms for biomedical applications

Studies on "smart" polymeric material performing environmental stimuli such as temperature, pH, magnetic field, enzyme and photo-sensation have recently paid much attention to practical applications. Among of them, thermo-responsive grafted copolymers, amphiphilic steroids as well as polyester molecules have been utilized in the fabrication of several multifunctional platforms. Indeed, they performed a strikingly functional improvement comparing to some original materials and exhibited a holistic approach for biomedical applications. In case of drug delivery systems (DDS), there has been some successful proof of thermal-responsive grafted platforms on clinical trials such as ThermoDox®, BIND-014, Cynviloq IG-001, Genexol-PM, etc. This review would detail the recent progress and highlights of some temperature-responsive polymer-grafted nanomaterials or hydrogels in the 'smart' DDS that covered from synthetic polymers to nature-driven biomaterials and novel generations of some amphiphilic functional platforms. These approaches could produce several types of smart biomaterials for human health care in future.

A versatile platform for precise synthesis of asymmetric molecular brush in one shot

Asymmetric molecular brushes emerge as a unique class of nanostructured polymers, while their versatile synthesis keeps a challenge for chemists. Here we show the synthesis of well-defined asymmetric molecular double-brushes comprising two different side chains linked to the same repeat unit along the backbone by one-pot concurrent atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and Cu-catalyzed azide/alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. The double-brushes are based on a poly(Br-acrylate-alkyne) homopolymer possessing an alkynyl for CuAAC reaction and a 2-bromopropionate initiating group for ATRP in each repeat unit. The versatility of this one-shot approach is demonstrated by CuAAC reaction of alkynyl/poly(ethylene oxide)-N3 and ATRP of various monomers. We also show the quantitative conversion of pentafluorophenyl ester groups to amide groups in side chains, allowing for the further fabrication of diverse building blocks. This work provides a versatile platform for facile synthesis of Janus-type double-brushes with structural and functional control, in a minimum number of reactions.Producing well-defined polymer compositions and structures facilitates their use in many different applications. Here the authors show the synthesis of well-defined asymmetric double-brushes by a one-pot concurrent atom transfer radical polymerization and Cu-catalyzed Click reaction.

Construction of catechol-containing semi-fluorinated asymmetric polymer brush via successive RAFT polymerization and ATRP

This article reports the synthesis of a semi-fluorinated compositional heterogeneous polymer brush for anti-fouling surface.

A completely controlled sphere-to-bilayer micellar transition: the molecular mechanism and application on the growth of nanosheets

The combination of a simple modification of the sample addition method to generate a sort of continuously accumulated external stimulation with only minute increments in amplitude and the introduction of probe molecules (herein aniline) within the micelle allow the direct continuous in situ spectroscopic monitoring of possible micellar transitions. In this way, a sphere-to-ellipsoid and further an ellipsoid-to-bilayer micellar transition of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) induced by camphor sulfuric acid (CSA) is observed to experience four stages in the time sequence: (i) the accumulated protons released from CSA in the hydration layer of the micelle stimulate the rearrangement of SDS micelles; (ii) the micelles transform into ellipsoidal shapes as evidenced by the characteristic chemical shift anisotropy and the corresponding molecular dynamic properties from probe molecules; (iii) further protonation of aniline induces the micelle to turn into lamellar structures; (iv) aniline is freed from the micelle while leaving the SDS bilayers undistorted. Moreover, polyaniline nanosheets incorporating SDS bilayers in sandwich structures, which can display excellent capacitive behavior at relatively high current densities for the fabricated supercapacitors, are prepared from the aniline oriented by the bending energy of the SDS bilayers.

Preparation of photochromic paper, using fibre-attached spiropyran polymer networks

Spiropyran-based photochromic paper was prepared by covalent immobilisation of functional polymer networks. The sensitivity of the UV-induced colour change was dynamically adjusted by a damping method. Thereby, a colourimetric UV sensor was designed.

Surface-immobilised micelles via cucurbit[8]uril-rotaxanes for solvent-induced burst release

The fabrication, characterisation and controlled burst release of naphthol-functionalised micellar (NFM) nanostructures, which were grafted onto gold surfaces through cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) mediated host-guest interactions are described. NFMs undergo a facile change in morphology from micelles to diblock copolymers in direct response to exposure to organic solvents, including tetrahydrofuran (THF), toluene and chloroform. This induced transition in conformation lends itself to potential applications including nanocarriers for triggered burst-release of guest molecules. Nile Red was investigated as a NFM encapsulated model hydrophobic cargo inside the surface-attached micelles, which could be fully released upon exposure to THF as measured by both atomic force microscopy and UV/vis spectroscopy.

Preparation of corn starch-g-polystyrene copolymer in ionic liquid: 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate

The copolymer of starch grafted with polystyrene (starch-g-PS) was synthesized with high grafting percentage by utilizing the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM]Ac) as solvent and potassium persulfate as initiator. The effect of various parameters upon the polymerization were studied including: initiator concentration, styrene:starch weight ratio, the reaction time and temperature. Grafting percentages were calculated using an FT-IR calibration method, with values up to 114%. The resulting copolymer was characterized using FT-IR, SEM, WAXD and TGA, which demonstrated that polystyrene side chains were evenly distributed on the starch backbone. Our results indicate that ionic liquid dissolution of starch, prior to polystyrene grafting, is a versatile methodology for the synthesis of amphiphilic, polysaccharide-based graft copolymers, having high grafting percent.

Thermal-sensitive Starch-g-PNIPAM prepared by Cu(0) catalyzed SET-LRP at molecular level

Starch-g-PNIPAM with controlled graft chains and its hydrogels with rapid shrinking rate were preparedviaSET-LRP at molecular level.

Cationic polymer brush-modified cellulose nanocrystals for high-affinity virus binding

Surfaces capable of high-affinity binding of biomolecules are required in several biotechnological applications, such as purification, transfection, and sensing. Therein, the rod-shaped, colloidal cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are appealing due to their large surface area available for functionalization. In order to exploit electrostatic binding, their intrinsically anionic surfaces have to be cationized as biological supramolecules are predominantly anionic. Here we present a facile way to prepare cationic CNCs by surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization of poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) and subsequent quaternization of the polymer pendant amino groups. The cationic polymer brush-modified CNCs maintained excellent dispersibility and colloidal stability in water and showed a ζ-potential of +38 mV. Dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy showed that the modified CNCs electrostatically bind cowpea chlorotic mottle virus and norovirus-like particles with high affinity. Addition of only a few weight percent of the modified CNCs in water dispersions sufficed to fully bind the virus capsids to form micrometer-sized assemblies. This enabled the concentration and extraction of the virus particles from solution by low-speed centrifugation. These results show the feasibility of the modified CNCs in virus binding and concentrating, and pave the way for their use as transduction enhancers for viral delivery applications.

The preparation of graft copolymers of cellulose and cellulose derivatives using ATRP under homogeneous reaction conditions

Atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) is used to modify cellulose and cellulose derivatives under homogeneous conditions, yielding novel materials for application in areas such as drug delivery.