Diblock Copolymer Formation via Self-Assembly of Cyclodextrin and Adamantyl End-Functionalized Polymers

Synthesis of cationic β-cyclodextrin functionalized silver nanoparticles and their drug-loading applications

Silver nanoparticles have attracted great attention owing to their distinct physicochemical properties, which inspire the development of their synthesis methodology and their potential biomedical applications. In this study, a novel cationic β-cyclodextrin (C-β-CD) containing a quaternary ammonium group and amino group was applied as a reducing agent as well as a stabilizing agent to prepare C-β-CD modified silver nanoparticles (CβCD-AgNPs). Besides, based on the inclusion complexation between drug molecules and C-β-CD, the application of CβCD-AgNPs in drug loading was explored by the inclusion interaction with thymol. The formation of AgNPs was confirmed by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed the prepared CβCD-AgNPs were well dispersed with particle sizes between 3-13 nm, and the zeta potential measurement result suggested that the C-β-CD played a role in preventing their aggregation in solution. 1H Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed the encapsulation and reduction of AgNPs by C-β-CD. The drug-loading action of CβCD-AgNPs was demonstrated by UV-vis and headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS), and the results of TEM images showed the size increase of nanoparticles after drug loading.

Double cross-linked supramolecular hydrogels with tunable properties based on host-guest interactions

We report a novel double cross-linked hydrogel system based on polyacrylamide and poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) (PMOXA) network chains, as well as on supramolecular host-guest interactions with on-demand tailored mechanical properties. Well-defined vinyl-bearing PMOXA macromonomers, functionalized with either β-cyclodextrin units (β-CD-PMOXA) or adamantane units (Ada-PMOXA), were synthesized and confirmed using 1H NMR, MALDI-TOF-MS and GPC measurements. The complexation between adamantane and β-CD modified macromonomers in solution towards bismacromonomers was confirmed by 2D NOESY NMR and DLS. After introducing these bismacromonomers into the polyacrylamide hydrogel, the supramolecular non-covalent Ada/β-CD bond was responsible for the presence of PMOXA network chains to form a dense network. Once the interactions broke, the PMOXA chains no longer contributed to the network, but became dangling graft side chains in a predominated polyacrylamide network. Their dissociative nature influenced the physical properties, including the swelling behavior and mechanics of the final hydrogel. Rheological experiments proved that the E-modulus of the network was significantly increased by the supramolecular host-guest interactions. Tuning the lengths of PMOXA network chains even allowed the modification of the changes in mechanical strength, also through the addition of free β-CD. The tunable properties of the double cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel proved their unique strength for future applications.

Mechanochemical Preparation of Stable Sub-100 nm γ-Cyclodextrin:Buckminsterfullerene (C60) Nanoparticles by Electrostatic or Steric Stabilization

Buckminster fullerene (C₆₀ )'s main hurdle to enter the field of biomedicine is its low bioavailability, which results from its extremely low water solubility. A well-known approach to increase the water solubility of C₆₀ is by complexation with γ-cyclodextrins. However, the formed complexes are not stable in time as they rapidly aggregate and eventually precipitate due to attractive intermolecular forces, a common problem in inclusion complexes of cyclodextrins. In this study we attempt to overcome the attractive intermolecular forces between the complexes by designing custom γ-cyclodextrin (γCD)-based supramolecular hosts for C₆₀ that inhibit the aggregation found in native γCD-C₆₀ complexes. The approach entails the introduction of either repulsive electrostatic forces or increased steric hindrance to prevent aggregation, thus enhancing the biomedical application potential of C₆₀ . These modifications have led to new sub-100 nm nanostructures that show long-term stability in solution.

β-Cyclodextrin- and adamantyl-substituted poly(acrylate) self-assembling aqueous networks designed for controlled complexation and release of small molecules

Three aqueous self-assembling poly(acrylate) networks have been designed to gain insight into the factors controlling the complexation and release of small molecules within them. These networks are formed between 8.8% 6^A-(2-aminoethyl)amino-6^A-deoxy-6^A-β-cyclodextrin, β-CDen, randomly substituted poly(acrylate), PAAβ-CDen, and one of the 3.3% 1-(2-aminoethyl)amidoadamantyl, ADen, 3.0% 1-(6-aminohexyl)amidoadamantyl, ADhn, or 2.9% 1-(12-aminododecyl)amidoadamantyl, ADddn, randomly substituted poly(acrylate)s, PAAADen, PAAADhn and PAAADddn, respectively, such that the ratio of β-CDen to adamantyl substituents is ca. 3:1. The variation of the characteristics of the complexation of the dyes methyl red, methyl orange and ethyl orange in these three networks and by β-cyclodextrin, β-CD, and PAAβ-CDen alone provides insight into the factors affecting dye complexation. The rates of release of the dyes through a dialysis membrane from the three aqueous networks show a high dependence on host–guest complexation between the β-CDen substituents and the dyes as well as the structure and the viscosity of the network as shown by ITC, ¹H NMR and UV–vis spectroscopy, and rheological studies. Such networks potentially form a basis for the design of controlled drug release systems.

Analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: An update for 2011-2012

This review is the seventh update of the original article published in 1999 on the application of MALDI mass spectrometry to the analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates and brings coverage of the literature to the end of 2012. General aspects such as theory of the MALDI process, matrices, derivatization, MALDI imaging, and fragmentation are covered in the first part of the review and applications to various structural types constitute the remainder. The main groups of compound are oligo- and poly-saccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycosides, and biopharmaceuticals. Much of this material is presented in tabular form. Also discussed are medical and industrial applications of the technique, studies of enzyme reactions, and applications to chemical synthesis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 36:255-422, 2017.

Non-covalent marriage of β-cyclodextrin-polyethylene glycol and functional polyacrylamide via host–guest interaction: construction, characterization and performances

This paper reports the non-covalent marriage of bridged β-cyclodextrin and functional acrylamide polymers via host–guest interactions.

Access to Multiblock Copolymers via Supramolecular Host-Guest Chemistry and Photochemical Ligation

We combine supramolecular host-guest interactions of β-cyclodextrin (CD) with light-induced Diels-Alder reactions of 2-methoxy-6-methylbenzaldehyde (photoenol, PE) for the formation of multiblock copolymers. Via the synthesis of a new bifunctional chain transfer agent (CTA) and subsequent reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, we introduce a supramolecular recognition unit (tert-butyl phenyl) and a photoactive unit (photoenol) to a polymer chain in order to obtain an α,ω-functionalized polymeric center block, having orthogonal recognition units at each chain end. Multiblock copolymers are formed via the light-induced reaction of the photoenol with a maleimide-functionalized polymer chain and the supramolecular self-assembly of the tert-butyl phenyl group with the β-CD end group of a third polymer chain. By employing the fast and efficient photoinduced Diels-Alder reaction in combination with supramolecular host-guest interactions, a novel method for macromolecular modular ligation is introduced.

Temperature sensitive supramolecular self assembly of per-6-PEO-β-cyclodextrin and α,ω-di-(adamantylethyl)poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) in water

The host/guest interactions in water of a star polymer consisting of a β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) core bearing six poly(ethylene oxide) arms linked to the C6 positions of β-CD (β-CD-PEO7, Mn 5000 g mol(-1)) and α,ω-di-(adamantylethyl)poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (Ad-PNIPAM-12K, Mn 12,000 g mol(-1)) were studied by 1D and 2D (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, isothermal calorimetry (ITC), and light scattering (LS). In cold water (T < 26 °C) supramolecular "dumbbell" assemblies, consisting of PNIPAM chains with β-CD/Ad inclusion complexes at each end, formed viaβ-CD-insertion of the terminal Ads through the β-CD secondary face. Light scattering, microcalorimetry (DSC), and DOSY NMR studies indicated that mixed aqueous solutions of β-CD-PEO7 and Ad-PNIPAM-12K undergo a reversible heat-induced phase transition at ∼32 °C, accompanied by a release of a fraction of the Ad-bound β-CD-PEO7 into bulk solution and the formation of aggregated Ad-PNIPAM-12K stabilized by a β-CD-PEO7 shell.

Supramolecular glycopolymers with thermo-responsive self-assembly and lectin binding

Incorporating monomers into sequence-defined synthetic macromolecules endows them to mimic nature which results in key residues being anchored in the molecular recognition pattern.

Linkage of α-cyclodextrin-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxanes) by inclusion of quasi bifunctional ferrocene

We report the noncovalent linkage of terminally substituted oligo(dimethylsiloxanes) bearing α-cyclodextrins (α-CD) as host end groups for the cyclopentadienyl rings of ferrocene. This double complexation of unsubstituted ferrocene leads to a supramolecuar formation of the siloxane strands. Structural characterization was performed by the use of (1)H NMR and IR spectroscopy and by mass spectrometry. Electron microscopy studies and dynamic light scattering measurements show a significant decrease of the derivative size after the complexation with ferrocene. In addition, further evidence for the successful complexation of the end groups was verified by the shifts of the protons in the (1)H NMR spectra and in the correlation signals of the 2D ROESY NMR spectra.

Synthesis of multifunctional polymers by combination of controlled radical polymerization (CRP) and effective polymer analogous reactions

The combination of controlled radical polymerization (CRP) reactions and click chemistry offers high potential for the preparation of multifunctional polymers and significantly broadens the application scope of functional soft matter materials. In order to demonstrate the strategies as well as the potential of this methodology combination, examples for end-group and side-chain modification of polymers produced by CRP methods and the use of the resulting materials in functional polymer films are given.

One-Pot Endgroup-Modification of Hydrophobic RAFT Polymers with Cyclodextrin by Thiol-ene Chemistry and the Subsequent Formation of Dynamic Core–Shell Nanoparticles Using Supramolecular Host–Guest Chemistry

Poly(methyl methacrylate) PMMA, synthesized using reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, was heated in a solvent at 100°C for 24 h leading to the loss of the RAFT endfunctionality and the complete conversion into a vinyl group. Mono(6-deoxy-6-mercapto)-β-cyclodextrin (β-CD-SH) was subsequently clicked onto the polymer by a thiol-ene reaction leading to PMMA with one β-CD as a terminal group (PMMA70–β-CD). Meanwhile, a RAFT agent with an adamantyl group has been prepared for the polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) leading to PHEA95–Ada. Two processes were employed to generate core–shell nanoparticles from these two polymers: a one-step approach that employs a solution of both polymers at stoichiometric amounts in DMF, followed by the addition of water, and a two step process that uses PMMA solid particles with surface enriched with β-CD in water, which have a strong tendency to aggregate, followed by the addition of PHEA95–Ada in water. Both pathways led to stable core–shell nanoparticles of ~150 nm in size. Addition of free β-CD competed with the polymer bound β-CD releasing the PHEA hairs from the particle surface. As a result, the PMMA particles started agglomerating resulting in a cloudy solution. A similar effect was observed when heating the solution. Since the equilibrium constant between β-CD and adamantane decreases with increasing temperature, the stabilizing PHEA chains cleaved from the surface and the solution turned cloudy due to the aggregation of the naked PMMA spheres. This process was reversible and with decreasing temperature the core–shell nanoparticles formed again leading to a clear solution.