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Bichler KJ, Jakobi B, Klapproth A, Mole RA, Schneider GJ. Position-Dependent Segmental Relaxation in Bottlebrush Polymers. Macromolecules 2024; 57:4729-4736. [PMID: 38827960 PMCID: PMC11140752 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.4c00243] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Segmental dynamics of specifically labeled poly(propylene oxide), PPO, based bottlebrush polymers, PNB-g-PPO, were studied using quasi-elastic neutron scattering. The focus was set to different parts of the side chains to investigate the hypothetical gradual relaxation behavior within the side chains of a bottlebrush polymer. Different sections of the side chains were highlighted for QENS via sequential polymerization of protonated and deuterated monomers to allow the study of the relaxation behavior of the inner and outer parts of the side chain separately. A comparison of these two parts reveals a slowdown due to the grafting process happening across the different regions. This is seen for the segmental relaxation time as well as on the time-dependent mean-square displacement. Additionally, the non-Gaussian parameter, α, shows a decreasing difference from Gaussian behavior with the distance to the backbone. Altogether, this leads to the conclusion that gradual relaxation behavior exists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin J. Bichler
- Department
of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Bruno Jakobi
- Department
of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Alice Klapproth
- Australian
Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights 2234, NSW, Australia
| | - Richard A. Mole
- Australian
Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights 2234, NSW, Australia
| | - Gerald J. Schneider
- Department
of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
- Department
of Physics & Astronomy, Louisiana State
University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
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2
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Dutta S, Sing CE. Brownian dynamics simulations of bottlebrush polymers in dilute solution under simple shear and uniaxial extensional flows. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:044901. [PMID: 38258921 DOI: 10.1063/5.0177113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
We study the dynamics of bottlebrush polymer molecules in dilute solutions subjected to shear and uniaxial extensional flows using Brownian dynamics simulations with hydrodynamic interaction (HI). Bottlebrush polymers are modeled using a coarse-grained representation, consisting of a set of beads interacting pairwise via a purely repulsive potential and connected by finitely extensible nonlinear springs. We present the results for molecular stretching, stress, and solution viscosity during the startup of flow as well as under steady state as a function of side chain length while keeping the backbone length fixed. In extensional flow, the backbone fractional extension and the first normal stress difference decrease with an increase in side chain length at a fixed Weissenberg number (Wi). Using simulation results both in the presence of and in the absence of HI, we show that this is primarily a consequence of steric interaction resulting from the dense grafting of side chains. In shear flow, we observe a shear-thinning behavior in all cases, although it becomes less pronounced with increasing side chain length. Furthermore, nonmonotonicity in the backbone fractional extension is observed under shear, particularly at high Wi. We contextualize our simulation results for bottlebrush polymers with respect to existing studies in the literature for linear polymers and show that the unique dynamical features characterizing bottlebrush polymers arise on account of their additional molecular thickness due to the presence of densely grafted side chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarit Dutta
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Charles E Sing
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
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3
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Huang Y, Zhao C, Zhang B, Li H, Zhao J. Marriage of Organic and Grubbs Catalysts for Tandem Synthesis of Bottlebrush Polyesters. ACS Macro Lett 2023; 12:1711-1717. [PMID: 38039396 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Bottlebrush polymers (BBPs) have gained wide attention for their special characters, such as rigid main/side chains, stemming from the exceedingly high graft density. This study aims to provide a simple synthetic approach to BBPs with polyester side chains by merging ring-opening alternating copolymerization (ROAP) and ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). A simple phosphazene base (tBuP1) is employed for the ROAP of phthalic anhydride and epoxide, after which Grubbs third-generation catalyst (G3) is added to in situ switch on ROMP of the macromonomer, i.e., norbornenyl-ended alternating polyester. The compatibility of tBuP1 with G3 and well-controlled ROMP is evidenced by DOSY-NMR of mixed catalysts, characterization of BBPs, and side-chain degradation. The method can also be extended to BBPs with one-step synthesized block copolyesters side chains. These results highlight the strength of the non-nucleophilic organobase catalyst for convenient construction of complex (degradable) polymers with compositional diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Huang
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenke Zhao
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, People's Republic of China
| | - Boru Zhang
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, People's Republic of China
| | - Heng Li
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, People's Republic of China
- College of Chemistry and Key Laboratory of Advanced Organic Functional Materials of Colleges and Universities of Hunan Province, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, People's Republic of China
| | - Junpeng Zhao
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, People's Republic of China
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4
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Tang S, Yang R, Gao Y, Zhu L, Zheng S, Zan X. Hydrazone-Based Amphiphilic Brush Polymer for Fast Endocytosis and ROS-Active Drug Release. ACS Macro Lett 2023; 12:639-645. [PMID: 37129207 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Due to the high reactivity of reactive oxygen species (ROS), it is essential to sweep them away in time. In this study, ClO--responsible amphiphilic brush polymers were prepared by free radical polymerization using two monomers consisting of polyethylene glycol as the hydrophilic part, and an alkyl chain connected by hydrazone as the hydrophobic part. The macromolecules assemble into particles with nanoscaled dimensions in a neutral buffer, which ensures quick cellular internalization. The polymer has a low critical micellization concentration and can encapsulate hydrophobic drug molecules up to 19% wt. The micelles formed by the polymer disassemble in a ClO--rich environment and release 80% of their cargo within 2 h, which possesses a faster release rate compared to the previous systems. The relatively small size and the quick response of hydrazone toward ClO- ensure a quick uptake and elimination of ROS in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sicheng Tang
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, China
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Perioperative Medicine, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou Institute, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325001, China
| | - Ruhui Yang
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, China
| | - Yuhan Gao
- School of Pharmacy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, China
| | - Limeng Zhu
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Perioperative Medicine, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou Institute, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325001, China
| | - Shengwu Zheng
- Wenzhou Celecare Medical Instruments Co., Ltd., Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Xingjie Zan
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, China
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Perioperative Medicine, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou Institute, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325001, China
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Hassler JF, Crabtree A, Liberman L, Bates FS, Hackel BJ, Lodge TP. Effect of Bottlebrush Poloxamer Architecture on Binding to Liposomes. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:449-461. [PMID: 36563027 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Poloxamers─triblock copolymers consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO)─have demonstrated cell membrane stabilization efficacy against numerous types of stress. However, the mechanism responsible for this stabilizing effect remains elusive, hindering engineering of more effective therapeutics. Bottlebrush polymers have a wide parameter space and known relationships between architectural parameters and polymer properties, enabling their use as a tool for mechanistic investigations of polymer-lipid bilayer interactions. In this work, we utilized a versatile synthetic platform to create novel bottlebrush analogues to poloxamers and then employed pulsed-field-gradient NMR and an in vitro osmotic stress assay to explore the effect of bottlebrush architectural parameters on binding to, and protection of, model phospholipid bilayers. We found that the binding affinity of a bottlebrush poloxamer (BBP) (B-E1043P515, Mn ≈ 26 kDa) is about 3 times higher than a linear poloxamer with a similar composition and number of PPO units (L-E93P54E93, Mn ≈ 11 kDa). Furthermore, BBP binding is sensitive to overall molecular weight, side-chain length, and architecture (statistical versus block). Finally, all tested BBPs exhibit a protective effect on cell membranes under stress at sub-μM concentrations. As the factors controlling membrane affinity and protection efficacy of bottlebrush poloxamers are not understood, these results provide important insight into how they adhere to and stabilize a lipid bilayer surface.
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Bichler KJ, Jakobi B, Klapproth A, Tominaga T, Mole RA, Schneider GJ. Side Chain Dynamics of Poly(norbornene)-g-Poly(propylene oxide) Bottlebrush Polymers. Macromol Rapid Commun 2022; 44:e2200902. [PMID: 36564928 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202200902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The segmental dynamics of the side chains of poly(norbornene)-g-poly(propylene oxide) (PNB-g-PPO) bottlebrush polymer in comparison to PPO is studied by quasi-elastic neutron scattering. Having experimental time and length scale information simultaneously allows to extract spatial information in addition to relaxation time. Tethering one end of the PPO side chain onto a stiff PNB backbone slows down the segmental relaxation, over the length and time scales investigated. The power law dependence of the relaxation time on the momentum transfer, Q, indicates a more heterogeneous relaxation pattern for the bottlebrush polymer, whereas the linear PPO has less deviations from a homogenous relaxation. Similar conclusions can be drawn from the time dependent mean square displacement, 〈r2 (t)〉, and the non-Gaussian parameter, α2 (t). Herein, the bottlebrush polymer shows a more restricted dynamics, whereas the linear PPO reaches 〈r2 (t)〉∝t0.5 at the highest temperature. The deviations from Gaussian behavior are evident at the α2 (t). Both samples show a decaying α2 (t). The non-Gaussian parameter supports the results from the power law dependence of the relaxation times, with lower α2 (t) values for PPO compared to those for PNB-g-PPO, pointing to less deviations from Gaussian behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin J Bichler
- Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Bruno Jakobi
- Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Alice Klapproth
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
| | - Taiki Tominaga
- Neutron Science and Technology Center, Comprehensive Research Organization for Science and Society (CROSS), Tokai, 319-1106, Japan
| | - Richard A Mole
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
| | - Gerald J Schneider
- Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA.,Department of Physics & Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
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7
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The structure and dynamics of bottlebrushes: Simulation and experimental studies combined. POLYMER 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2022.125409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Bichler KJ, Jakobi B, Honecker D, Stingaciu LR, Weldeghiorghis TK, Collins JHP, Schneider GJ. Dynamics of Bottlebrush Polymers in Solution by Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy. Macromolecules 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c01177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karin J. Bichler
- Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana70803, United States
| | - Bruno Jakobi
- Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana70803, United States
| | - Dirk Honecker
- ISIS Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, DidcotOX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Laura R. Stingaciu
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee37831, United States
| | | | - James H. P. Collins
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and Biology and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Box 100015, Gainesville, Florida32610-0015, United States
| | - Gerald J. Schneider
- Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana70803, United States
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana70803, United States
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Hassler JF, Van Zee NJ, Crabtree AA, Bates FS, Hackel BJ, Lodge TP. Synthesis and Micellization of Bottlebrush Poloxamers. ACS Macro Lett 2022; 11:460-467. [PMID: 35575325 PMCID: PMC9726453 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.2c00053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Bottlebrush polymers are characterized by an expansive parameter space, including graft length and spacing along the backbone, and these features impact various structural and physical properties such as molecular diffusion and bulk viscosity. In this work, we report a synthetic strategy for making grafted block polymers with poly(propylene oxide) and poly(ethylene oxide) side chains, bottlebrush analogues of poloxamers. Combined anionic and sequential ring-opening metathesis polymerization yielded low dispersity polymers, at full conversion of the macromonomers, with control over graft length, graft end-groups, and overall molecular weight. A set of bottlebrush poloxamers (BBPs), with identical graft lengths and composition, was synthesized over a range of molecular weights. Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize micelle formation in aqueous buffer. The critical micelle concentration scales exponentially with overall molecular weight for both linear and bottlebrush poloxamers; however, the bottlebrush architecture shifts micelle formation to a much higher concentration at a comparable molecular weight. Consequently, BBPs can exist in solution as unimers at significantly higher molecular weights and concentrations than the linear analogues.
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10
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Xu X, Xu WS. Melt Properties and String Model Description of Glass Formation in Graft Polymers of Different Side-Chain Lengths. Macromolecules 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c00327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, P. R. China
| | - Wen-Sheng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, P. R. China
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11
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Dearman M, Ogbonna ND, Amofa CA, Peters AJ, Lawrence J. Versatile strategies to tailor the glass transition temperatures of bottlebrush polymers. Polym Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2py00819j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The glass transition temperature (Tg) of bottlebrush polymers can be controlled via side-chain length, blend composition and brush topology. Elucidating interactions between these parameters and their design rules enables accurate targeting of Tg at arbitrary molecular weights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Dearman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 70803, USA
| | - Nduka D. Ogbonna
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 70803, USA
| | - Chamberlain A. Amofa
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 70803, USA
| | - Andrew J. Peters
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, Louisiana, 71272, USA
| | - Jimmy Lawrence
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 70803, USA
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12
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Xu X, Douglas JF, Xu WS. Influence of Side-Chain Length and Relative Rigidities of Backbone and Side Chains on Glass Formation of Branched Polymers. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, P. R. China
| | - Jack F. Douglas
- Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Wen-Sheng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, P. R. China
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