A novel poly(p-phenylene) containing alternating poly(perfluorooctylethyl acrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene grafts by combination of atom transfer radical polymerization and Suzuki coupling processes

Self-Assembled Amphiphilic Fluorinated Random Copolymers for the Encapsulation and Release of the Hydrophobic Combretastatin A-4 Drug

Water-soluble amphiphilic random copolymers composed of tri(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (TEGMA) or poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) and perfluorohexylethyl acrylate (FA) were synthesized by ARGET-ATRP, and their self-assembling and thermoresponsive behavior in water was studied by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and UV-vis spectroscopy. The copolymer ability to self-fold in single-chain nano-sized structures (unimer micelles) in aqueous solutions was exploited to encapsulate Combretastatin A-4 (CA-4), which is a very hydrophobic anticancer drug. The cloud point temperature (T_cp) was found to linearly decrease with increasing drug concentration in the drug/copolymer system. Moreover, while CA-4 was preferentially incorporated into the unimer micelles of TEGMA-ran-FA, the drug was found to induce multi-chain, submicro-sized aggregation of PEGMA-ran-FA. Anyway, the encapsulation efficiency was very high (≥81%) for both copolymers. The drug release was evaluated in PBS aqueous solutions both below and above T_cp for TEGMA-ran-FA copolymer and below T_cp, but at two different drug loadings, for PEGMA-ran-FA copolymer. In any case, the release kinetics presented similar profiles, characterized by linear trends up to ≈10–13 h and ≈7 h for TEGMA-ran-FA and PEGMA-ran-FA, respectively. Then, the release rate decreased, reaching a plateau. The release from TEGMA-ran-FA was moderately faster above T_cp than below T_cp, suggesting that copolymer thermoresponsiveness increased the release rate, which occurred anyway by diffusion below T_cp. Cytotoxicity tests were carried out on copolymer solutions in a wide concentration range (5–60 mg/mL) at 37 °C by using Balb/3T3 clone A31 cells. Interestingly, it was found that the concentration-dependent micro-sized aggregation of the amphiphilic random copolymers above T_cp caused a sort of “cellular asphyxiation” with a loss of cell viability clearly visible for TEGMA-ran-FA solutions (T_cp below 37 °C) with higher copolymer concentrations. On the other hand, cells in contact with the analogous PEGMA-ran-FA (T_cp above 37 °C) presented a very good viability (≥75%) with respect to the control at any given concentration.

Fluorinated vs. Zwitterionic-Polymer Grafted Surfaces for Adhesion Prevention of the Fungal Pathogen Candida albicans

Fluorinated (F6) and zwitterionic, as well as phosphorylcholine (MPC) and sulfobetaine (MSA), copolymers containing a low amount (1 and 5 mol%) of 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (PTMSi) were prepared and covalently grafted to glass slides by using the trimethoxysilyl groups as anchorage points. Glass-surface functionalization and polymer-film stability upon immersion in water were proven by contact angle and angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AR-XPS) measurements. Antifouling performance of the grafted films was assayed against the yeast Candida albicans, the most common Candida species, which causes over 80% of candidiasis. Results revealed that the F6 fluorinated, hydrophobic copolymers performed much better in reducing the adhesion of C. albicans, with respect to both corresponding zwitterionic, hydrophilic MPC and MSA counterparts, and were similar to the glass negative control, which is well-known to inhibit the adhesion of C. albicans. A composition-dependent activity was also found, with the films of copolymer with 99 mol% F6 fluorinated co-units performing best.

Fluorinated glycidyl azide polymers as potential energetic binders

A novel fluorinated GAP energetic polymer was synthesized through copolymerization and azidation reaction.

Copolymer films containing amphiphilic side chains of well-defined fluoroalkyl-segment length with biofouling-release potential

Novel methacrylate copolymers containing polysiloxane (SiMA) and mixed poly(ethyleneglycol)-perfluorohexyl side chains (MEF) were synthesised and dispersed as surface-active additives in crosslinked PDMS films.

Microphase Structure, Crystallization Behavior, and Wettability Properties of Novel Fluorinated Copolymers Poly(perfluoroalkyl acrylate-co-stearyl acrylate) Containing Short Perfluorohexyl Chains

Novel fluorinated copolymers of stearyl acrylate (SA) and (perfluorohexyl)ethyl acrylate (C6A), (perfluorohexyl)ethyl methacrylate (C6MA), 2-[[[[2-(perfluorohexyl)]-sulfonyl]methyl] amino]ethyl acrylate (C6SA), and methacrylate (C6SMA) were synthesized via miniemulsion copolymerization. The extremely hydrophobic monomers perfluoroalkyl acrylate (FA) and SA acted as the reactive costabilizer in the miniemulsion system. The microstructure and surface wetting properties of the copolymers were characterized by (1)H NMR, FT-IR, and dynamic contact angle test. The crystallization behaviors and fine surface structures of the copolymer films were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) analysis. The self-assembled aggregation and roughness of the copolymer films were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results showed that the fluorinated side chains interrupted and impeded the crystallizable side chains of SA from forming complete crystals. And the Tm and ΔHf of the copolymers were decreased as a consequence of this effect. The fluorinated side chains in P(C6A/SA) and P(C6MA/SA) arranged between the crystallizable hydrocarbon side chains of SA, while the crystallization structure of fluorinated and nonfluorinated pendant groups existed all at once in copolymers P(C6SA/SA) and P(C6SMA/SA). The four copolymers exhibited very low surface free energy and excellent dynamic water repellency attributed to the restriction of perfluoroalkyl groups combined with crystallization of stearyl pendant groups.

Propargyl ether-functionalized poly(m-phenylene): a new precursor for the preparation of polymers with high modulus and high Tg

A propargyl ether-functionalized poly(m-phenylene) (PE-PMP) is reported here.

From invisible structures of SWCNTs toward fluorescent and targeting architectures for cell imaging

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are unique nanostructures used as cargo systems for variety of diagnostic and therapeutic agents. For taking advantage of these structures in biological processes, they should be visible. Therefore, fluorescence labeling of SWCNTs with various probes is a significant issue. Herein, we demonstrate a simple approach for cell specific imaging and diagnosis by combining SWCNTs with a copolymer poly(para-phenylene) (PPP) containing polystyrene (PSt) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) side chains (PPP-g-PSt-PCL). In this approach PPP-g-PSt-PCL is noncovalently attached on carboxyl functional SWCNTs. The obtained fluorescent probe is bound to folic acid (FA) for targeted imaging of folate receptor (FR) positive HeLa cells. In vitro studies demonstrate that this conjugate can specifically bind to HeLa cells and indicate great potential for targeting and imaging studies.