Non-activated Esters as Reactive Handles in Direct Post-Polymerization Modification

Non-activated esters are prominently featured functional groups in polymer science, as ester functional monomers display great structural diversity and excellent compatibility with a wide range of polymerization mechanisms. Yet, their direct use as a reactive handle in post-polymerization modification has been typically avoided due to their low reactivity, which impairs the quantitative conversion typically desired in post-polymerization modification reactions. While activated ester approaches are a well-established alternative, the modification of non-activated esters remains a synthetic and economically valuable opportunity. In this review, we discuss past and recent efforts in the utilization of non-activated ester groups as a reactive handle to facilitate transesterification and aminolysis/amidation reactions, and the potential of the developed methodologies in the context of macromolecular engineering.

Drug–polymer conjugates with dynamic cloud point temperatures based on poly(2-oxazoline) copolymers

A shift in cloud point temperatures of poly(2-oxazoline)/ACE inhibitor polymer drug conjugates occurs on release of the drug.

Living Polymerization of 2-Ethylthio-2-oxazoline and Postpolymerization Diversification

The postpolymerization modification of polymers produced by living polymerization is an attractive method to create precision nanomaterials. We describe the living cationic ring-opening polymerization of a 2-alkylthio-2-oxazoline to furnish a polythiocarbamate. The polythiocarbamate is activated toward substitution by N- and S-nucleophiles via oxidation of the S to an SO2. Mild substitution conditions provide broad functional group tolerance, constituting a versatile postpolymerization modification platform with access to a diversity of polyureas and polythiocarbamates. We further demonstrate the utility of this strategy by synthesizing and functionalizing block copolymers.

Fructose-sensitive thermal transition behaviour of boronic ester-bearing telechelic poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline)

Boronic ester-bearing telechelic poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) (B-PiPrOx-B) exhibited a hydrophilic–hydrophobic phase transition near human-body temperature in aqueous media.

Structure-Reactivity Relationships in Boronic Acid-Diol Complexation

Boronic acids have found widespread use in the field of biomaterials, primarily through their ability to bind with biologically relevant 1,2- and 1,3-diols, including saccharides and peptidoglycans, or with polyols to prepare hydrogels with dynamic covalent or responsive behavior. Despite a wide range of boronic acid architectures that have been previously considered, there is a need for greater understanding of the structure-reactivity relationships that govern binding affinity to diols. In this study, various boronic acids and other organoboron compounds were investigated to determine their pK a and their binding constants with the biologically relevant diols including sorbitol, fructose, and glucose. Boronic acid pK a values were determined through spectroscopic titration, whereas binding constants were determined by fluorescence spectroscopy during competitive binding studies. Key structure-reactivity relationships clearly indicated that both boronic acid structure and solution pH must be carefully considered. By considering a variety of boronic acids with systematically varied electronics and sterics, these results provide guidance during selection of organoboron compounds in sensing, delivery, and materials chemistry.

Preparation of lactic acid- and glucose-responsive poly(ε-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer micelles using phenylboronic ester as a sensitive block linkage

The present study describes the synthesis, self-assembly and responsiveness to glucose and lactic acid of biocompatible and biodegradable block copolymer micelles using phenylboronic ester as the linkage between hydrophobic poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). The PCL block with pendant phenylboronic acid (PCLBA) was synthesized by combining ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) ring-opening polymerisation (ROP), using 4-hydroxymethyl(phenylboronic) acid pinacolate as the initiator, and pinacol deprotection. The glucose-terminated PEO (PEOGlc) was prepared by 1,3-dipolar, Cu(i)-catalysed, alkyne-azide cycloaddition of α-methoxy-ω-propargyl poly(ethylene oxide) and 1-azido-1-deoxy-d-glucopyranose. All new compounds were evaluated by 1H NMR spectroscopy and by SEC analysis. PCLBA and PEOGlc blocks were linked in NaOH acetone solution, which was indirectly confirmed by Alizarin Red S fluorescence and directly by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Dialysis against Milli-Q water induced the self-assembly of PCLBA-b-PEOGlc nanoparticles, which were characterised by static (SLS) and dynamic (DLS) light scattering and by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). Furthermore, the microscopic properties of the charged interface between the hydrophobic PCLBA core and the hydrophilic PEOGlc shell were examined by electrophoretic light scattering (zeta potential) and by fluorescence spectroscopy using the fluorescent probe 5-(N-dodecanoyl)aminofluorescein (DAF) as a pH indicator. Subsequently, the nanoparticles were transferred to a phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution supplemented with different concentrations of glucose to simulate the physiological conditions in blood or lactic acid to simulate acidic cytosolic or endosomal conditions in tumour cells. Adding a surplus of glucose or lactic acid, which competitively binds to PBA, removes the stabilising hydrophilic PEOGlc blocks, thereby triggering marked nanoparticle aggregation. However, the rate of aggregation induced by lactic acid is considerably faster than that induced by glucose, as confirmed by light scattering. Thus, this novel block copolymer may contribute to the field of selective, lactic acid- and/or glucose-responsive drug delivery vehicle design under both pathological and physiological conditions.

A novel polymeric micelle-decorated Fe3O4/Au core–shell nanoparticle for pH and reduction-responsive intracellular co-delivery of doxorubicin and 6-mercaptopurine

The synergistic antitumor activity against MCF-7 cells was confirmed by co-delivery of doxorubicin and 6-mercaptopurine via dual pH/reduction-responsive nanoparticles.

A synthetic approach toward a pH and sugar-responsive diblock copolymer via post-polymerization modification

A novel pH- and sugar-responsive diblock copolymer containing phenylboronic acid was synthesized by RAFT and a post-polymerization modification strategy.

Poly(2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline) as a versatile platform towards thermoresponsive copolymers

Thermoresponsive (co)polymers with LCST behavior based on a well-defined PiPOx scaffold showing high versatility in tuning up the T_CP as well as the interval of response.

Temperature, ultrasound and redox triple-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) block copolymer: synthesis, characterization and controlled release

Triple stimuli-responsive polymers PNiPAAm-S-S-PXCL containing a disulfide (–S–S–) bond as a junction point between hydrophilic and hydrophobic chains were synthesized and characterized.