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Polymers

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...

Polymers

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...

Polymers

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the generated carbocation,...

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

The polymerization process that involves carbanion as an intermediate is called anionic polymerization. It is also a type of addition or chain-growth polymerization. Anionic polymerization gets initiated by a strong nucleophile such as an organolithium or a Grignard reagent. The most commonly used initiator for anionic polymerization is butyl lithium. Monomers involved in anionic polymerization must possess a vinyl group bonded to one or two electron-withdrawing groups. For instance,...

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Modulating Shape of Polyester Based Polymersomes using Osmotic Pressure

Modulating Shape of Polyester Based Polymersomes using Osmotic Pressure

Published on: April 21, 2021

Polymersomes with PEG corona: structural changes and controlled release induced by temperature variation.

Sabrina Hocine¹, Di Cui, Marie-Noelle Rager

¹Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, 75248 Paris, France.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids

|January 9, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Thermoresponsive polymersomes exhibit structural changes driven by polyethylene glycol (PEG) dehydration. Liquid crystalline polymersomes show irreversible changes, enabling controlled release applications and proving non-cytotoxic.

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Area of Science:

Polymer Science
Materials Science
Nanotechnology

Background:

Polymersomes are self-assembled vesicles formed from amphiphilic block copolymers.
Their thermoresponsive behavior is crucial for applications like drug delivery and sensing.
Understanding the influence of hydrophobic block properties on polymersome structure is key.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the thermoresponsive behavior of polymersomes with different hydrophobic blocks.
To correlate structural changes with the critical dehydration temperature of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) corona.
To evaluate the potential of liquid crystalline (LC) polymersomes for controlled release applications.

Main Methods:

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) for structural analysis.
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for visualizing morphology.
Proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) for molecular insights.
Calcein release assay to assess controlled release capabilities.
Cytotoxicity studies to evaluate biocompatibility.

Main Results:

Polymersomes with liquidlike hydrophobic blocks showed no structural changes up to 75 °C.
Glassy and liquid crystalline (LC) polymersomes exhibited structural changes around 55 °C, linked to PEG dehydration.
LC polymersomes displayed reversible aggregation (glassy) or irreversible structural changes (LC) upon heating.
Nematic LC polymersomes formed thick-walled capsules, while smectic LC polymersomes collapsed.
LC polymersomes demonstrated thermal-responsive controlled release of calcein and were non-cytotoxic.

Conclusions:

The hydrophobic block's properties significantly influence the thermoresponsive behavior of polymersomes.
LC polymersomes offer tunable, irreversible structural changes for controlled release applications.
LC polymersomes are biocompatible and suitable for potential in vivo applications.