One-pot controlled synthesis of double thermoresponsive N-vinylcaprolactam-based copolymers with tunable LCSTs

in Polymer Chemistry (2013), 4(8), 2575-2583

N-Vinylcaprolactam (NVCL) was copolymerized statistically for the first time in a controlled manner with hydrophilic N-vinylamide or hydrophobic vinylester monomers in order to precisely tune up and down ... [more ▼]

N-Vinylcaprolactam (NVCL) was copolymerized statistically for the first time in a controlled manner with hydrophilic N-vinylamide or hydrophobic vinylester monomers in order to precisely tune up and down the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the resulting copolymers. The incorporation of these segments in complex architectures was also considered. Several narrowly distributed NVCL-based copolymers were prepared by cobalt-mediated radical polymerization (CMRP) using the bis-(acetylacetonato)cobalt(II) complex as a controlling agent and N-methyl-N-vinylacetamide (NMVA), N-vinylacetamide (NVA), vinyl acetate (VAc) or vinyl pivalate (VPi) as comonomers. PNVCL-containing block copolymers having two discrete LCSTs were also synthesized following a one-pot strategy based on the sequential CMRP of NVCL followed by the copolymerization of NMVA with the residual NVCL. Upon gradual heating of aqueous solutions of such double thermoresponsive copolymers, we noticed a transition from free chains to micelles before full dehydration and collapse of the block copolymers. These advances represent a significant step towards the development of a platform based on thermoresponsive PNVCL copolymers with a single phase separation or multistep assembly behaviors. [less ▲]

Study of the Influence of Pure Ionic Liquids on the Lipase-catalyzed (Trans)esterification of Mannose Based on their Anion and Cation Nature

in Current Organic Chemistry (2013), 17

Catechols as versatile platforms in polymer chemistry

in Progress in Polymer Science (2013), 38(1), 236-270

Catechols represent an important and versatile building block for the design of mussel-inspired synthetic adhesives and coatings. Indeed, their ability to establish large panoply of interactions with both ... [more ▼]

Catechols represent an important and versatile building block for the design of mussel-inspired synthetic adhesives and coatings. Indeed, their ability to establish large panoply of interactions with both organic and inorganic substrates has promoted catechol as a universal anchor for surface modifications. In addition to its pivotal role in adhesive interfaces, the catechol unit recently emerged as a powerful building block for the preparation of a large range of polymeric materials with intriguing structures and fascinating properties. The importance of catechols as efficient anchoring groups has been highlighted in recent excellent reviews partly dedicated to the characterization of their adhesive mechanisms onto surfaces and to their applications. The aim of this paper is to review for the first time the main synthetic approaches developed for the design of novel catechol-based polymer materials. We will also highlight the importance of these groups as versatile platforms for further functionalization of the macromolecular structures, but also surfaces. This will be illustrated by briefly discussing some advanced applications developed from these catechol-modified polymers. The review is organized according to the chemical structure of the functionalized catechol polymers. Chapter 1 discusses polymers bearing catechols embedded into the polymer main chain. Chapter 2 focuses on the attachment of catechol moieties as pendant groups and Chapter 3 describes the different approaches for incorporation of the catechol unit at the extremity of well-defined polymers. [less ▲]

Novel functional degradable block copolymers for the building of reactive micelles

in Polymer Chemistry (2013), 4(4), 1025-1037

Amphiphilic biocompatible copolymers are promising materials for the elaboration of nanosystems for drug delivery applications. This paper aims at reporting on the synthesis of new functional amphiphilic ... [more ▼]

Amphiphilic biocompatible copolymers are promising materials for the elaboration of nanosystems for drug delivery applications. This paper aims at reporting on the synthesis of new functional amphiphilic copolymers based on biocompatible and bioeliminable blocks. Poly(ethylene oxide) was selected as the hydrophilic block, whereas an aliphatic polyester, i.e. poly(epsilon-caprolactone), or a polycarbonate, i.e. poly(trimethylene carbonate), were chosen as the degradable hydrophobic block. In order to allow a post-functionalization of the micelles core, azide groups were introduced on the hydrophobic segment to provide reactivity towards functional alkyne derivatives by the copper azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). For this purpose, a functional lactone, i.e. alpha-chloro-epsilon-caprolactone was introduced during the polymerization of the hydrophobic block before being converted into azide on the preformed copolymer. Such reactivity of the block copolymers and their self-assemblies is of prime interest for drugs or fluorescent dyes grafting, so as for micelles cross-linking. The influence of the azides distribution along the degradable block on the micelles post-functionalization ability has been studied by using alkyne bearing fluorescent dyes as model for drugs. The hydrophilicity of the dye on the micelles post-functionalization efficiency has also been investigated. [less ▲]

Synthesis of poly(vinyl acetate)-b-poly(vinyl chloride) block copolymers by cobalt-mediated radical polymerization (CMRP)

in Polymer Chemistry (2013), 4(5), 1685-1693

The synthesis of poly(vinyl acetate)-b-poly(vinyl chloride) (PVAc-b-PVC) block copolymers by Cobalt-Mediated Radical Polymerization (CMRP) is investigated for the first time in this paper. A PVAc–Co(acac ... [more ▼]

The synthesis of poly(vinyl acetate)-b-poly(vinyl chloride) (PVAc-b-PVC) block copolymers by Cobalt-Mediated Radical Polymerization (CMRP) is investigated for the first time in this paper. A PVAc–Co(acac)2 macroinitiator is prepared by CMRP using the V-70/Co(acac)2 binary system or a preformed alkylcobalt(III) compound. Then, the block copolymerization occurs in the bulk at 40 °C by the addition of VC. The addition of water to the polymerization medium or the slow generation of alkyl radicals during the whole polymerization is beneficial to the process by consuming part of the excess of deactivator (Co(acac)2) that blocks the polymer chains into the dormant form. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements and AFM analyses evidence that the PVAc-b-PVC forms core–shell micelles in a selective solvent of the PVAc block, i.e. methanol, evidencing the blocky structure of the copolymer. PVAc-b-P(VC-co-VAc) copolymers are also successfully prepared by initiating the radical copolymerization of VC and VAc at 40 °C from a PVAc–Co(acac)2 macroinitiator. [less ▲]

One-way and two-way shape memory study of chemically cross-linked star poly(ε-caprolactone)

Poster (2012, December 03)

Smart nanocarriers for pH-triggered targeting and release of hydrophobic drugs

in Acta Biomaterialia (2012), 8(12), 4215-4223

The use of hybrid pH-sensitive micelles mainly based on the PEO129-P2VP43-PCL17 ABC miktoarm star copolymer as potential triggered drug delivery systems has been investigated. Co-micellization of this ... [more ▼]

The use of hybrid pH-sensitive micelles mainly based on the PEO129-P2VP43-PCL17 ABC miktoarm star copolymer as potential triggered drug delivery systems has been investigated. Co-micellization of this star copolymer with a second copolymer labeled by a targeting ligand, i.e. biotin, on the pH sensitive block (poly-2-vinylpyridine, P2VP) has been considered here in order to impart possible active targeting of the tumor cells. Two architectures have been studied for these labeled copolymers, i.e. a miktoarm star or a linear ABC terpolymer and the respective hybrid micelles have been compared in terms of cytotoxicity (cells viability) and cellular uptake (by using fluorescent dye loaded micelles). Finally, the triggered drug release in the cytosol of tumor cells was investigated by studying on one hand the lysosomal integrity after internalization and on the other hand the release profile in function of the pH. [less ▲]

Synthesis and physico-chemical characterization of fatty esters

Poster (2012, November 16)

Specific antioxidant molecules (e.g. phenolics) help to prevent oxidation reaction of the cell membrane. A fatty chain grafted on these compounds should enhance their capacity to interact with the ... [more ▼]

Specific antioxidant molecules (e.g. phenolics) help to prevent oxidation reaction of the cell membrane. A fatty chain grafted on these compounds should enhance their capacity to interact with the membrane lipids. In our study, three fatty esters comprising an aromatic part were synthesized. They differentiate the aromatic substituent and the number of carbons between the aromatic ring and the ester function. A structure-function relationships study was performed to identify the structural pattern affecting the interfacial properties and the membrane interaction properties. The behavior of their monolayer film at an air-water interface was studied. The interactions with membrane were assessed on living cells and were predicted by a computational approach. In the future, we will investigate the effect of the presence of a sugar unit on these molecules. [less ▲]

Cobalt-mediated radical (co)polymerization of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate

in Polymer Chemistry (2012), 3(10), 2880-2891

The cobalt mediated radical polymerization (CMRP) of vinyl chloride (VC) in the presence of bis(acetylacetonato)cobalt(II) (Co(acac)2) as a controlling agent is presented for the first time. Using an ... [more ▼]

The cobalt mediated radical polymerization (CMRP) of vinyl chloride (VC) in the presence of bis(acetylacetonato)cobalt(II) (Co(acac)2) as a controlling agent is presented for the first time. Using an alkyl-Co(III) compound (R0–(CH2–CHOAc)<4–Co(acac)2; R0 = (H3C)2(OCH3)C–CH2–C(CH3)(CN)–) as an initiator, the bulk polymerization under non-isotherm conditions is controlled. 1H NMR spectra of the resulting PVC show that the CMRP process does not significantly affect the level of defects compared to a PVC prepared by a conventional free radical polymerization at the same temperature. Using the same alkyl-cobalt(III) compound, the copolymerization of VC and VAc is controlled at 40 °C provided that enough VAc (about 40 mol%) is present in the polymerization medium to moderate the VC polymerization. In line with reactivity ratios, VC is preferentially incorporated in the polymer at the early stages of the polymerization, leading to copolymers with a high VC content at moderate conversions. This is the first report of a CMRP of VC and of the synthesis of well-defined statistical PVC-co-PVAc copolymers by this technique. [less ▲]

Stimuli-responsive Magnetic Nanohybrids for Triggered Drug Release and Potential Tumor Treatment via Hyperthermia

Poster (2012, September 13)

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