Poly Ethylene Glycol Methyl Ether Research Articles

Facile synthesis and polymerization of 1,4,5-oxadithiepan-2-one for disulfide-based redox-responsive drug delivery

Chemotherapeutic drugs have been shown to be promising for the treatment of tumors, however, they are associated with several disadvantages including low aqueous solubility, non-specificity, and poor plasma stability. Hence, they accumulate in the health organs and create several adverse effects. Drug encapsulated stimuli-responsive nanoparticles bearing redox-responsive disulfide linkages have emerged as promising delivery vehicle to address these limitations. A glutathione (GSH) responsive disulfide-based drug delivery system based on a polyethylene glycol methyl ether (PEGME) and a polydisulfide (PDS) diblock copolymer has been developed. The cyclic lactone containing a disulfide link, 1,4,5-oxadithiepan-2-one, was prepared using a thiol-free method utilizing the reaction of 2-bromoethyl bromoacetate with sodium disulfide. Ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of 1,4,5-oxadithiepan-2-one using 1-butanol in the presence of Sn(oct)2 generated the homopolymer PDS whereas the diblock copolymer PEGME-b-PDS was obtained when PEGME was used as a macroinitiator. In aqueous solution, PEGME-b-PDS self-assembled into spherical-shaped micelles with a hydrodynamic radius of 146 and 116 nm as measured by Field-emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), respectively. At pH = 7.4, a Doxorubicin (DOX) loaded PEGME-b-PDS micelle showed a cumulative release of ∼98.2, ∼9.9, and ∼1.9 % in presence of 2 mM, 2 μM DTT and in absence of DTT, respectively clearly demonstrating the redox responsiveness of the PDS block. The best fit of kinetic data using with the Korsmeyer-Peppas model suggests a Fickian diffusion as well as chain-relaxation controlled drug release process. DOX loaded micelles and free DOX displayed similar cytotoxicity towards both 4T1 and MCF-7 cells indicating that the encapsulation inside the micelle did not affect the anticancer efficacy of the drug. The drug loaded micelle showed higher cellular uptake than free DOX in both 4T1 and MCF-7 lines and lower cellular uptake than free DOX in 3T3-L1 cell lines. This polymeric micellar nanoparticle may be further exploited for encapsulation of other hydrophobic drugs.

Thermoresponsive hollow polymeric shell nano/microparticles with interconnected nanoholes

AbstractPNIPAAm‐grafted thermoresponsive hollow nano‐holed polymeric‐shell (HHPS) particles were fabricated from surface‐modified colloidal silica (CS) with poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether‐3‐(triethoxysilyl)propyl isocyanate (PEGME‐IPTES) and 3‐(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (MPS) as templates. The polymeric shells were then synthesized through a “grafting‐through” approach via surface‐initiated polymerization of N‐isopropyl acrylamide (PNIPAAm) using potassium persulfate (KPS) as an initiator, followed by the etching of CS with hydrofluoric acid to remove the CS core templates. CS nanoparticles and PEGME‐IPTES were presynthesized using tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and distilled water in methanol with ammonia solution as a catalyst by the sol–gel method and using 3‐(triethoxysilyl) propyl isocyanate (IPTES) with poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (PEGME) in the presence of dibutyltin dilaurate. The chemical structures of bare and modified CS, PNIPAAm, PNIPAAm‐CS, and HHPS particles were characterized by FT‐IR and NMR spectroscopies. SEM and TEM images confirmed that the resulting HHPS particles had a significant number of interconnected nanoholes. To evaluate the LCST behaviors of HHPS particles, the transition of transmittance and the changes in particle diameter according to the temperature change were measured through UV‐vis spectroscopy, DLS, and microscopy.

Poly(ethylene Glycol) Methyl Ether Methacrylate-Based Injectable Hydrogels: Swelling, Rheological, and In Vitro Biocompatibility Properties with ATDC5 Chondrogenic Lineage.

Here, we present the synthesis of a series of chemical homopolymeric and copolymeric injectable hydrogels based on polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEM) alone or with 2-dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate (DMAEM). The objective of this study was to investigate how the modification of hydrogel components influences the swelling, rheological attributes, and in vitro biocompatibility of the hydrogels. The hydrogels' networks were formed via free radical polymerization, as assured by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR). The swelling of the hydrogels directly correlated with the monomer and the catalyst amounts, in addition to the molecular weight of the monomer. Rheological analysis revealed that most of the synthesized hydrogels had viscoelastic and shear-thinning properties. The storage modulus and the viscosity increased by increasing the monomer and the crosslinker fraction but decreased by increasing the catalyst. MTT analysis showed no potential toxicity of the homopolymeric hydrogels, whereas the copolymeric hydrogels were toxic only at high DMEAM concentrations. The crosslinker polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) induced inflammation in ATDC5 cells, as detected by the significant increase in nitric oxide synthase type II activity. The results suggest a range of highly tunable homopolymeric and copolymeric hydrogels as candidates for cartilage regeneration.

Ultra-thin and high-voltage-stable Bi-phasic solid polymer electrolytes for high-energy-density Li metal batteries

Solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) are essential materials in all-solid-state lithium-metal batteries. However, a comprehensive SSE possessing high ionic conductivity, broad electrochemical window, and high thermal stability remains elusive. In this work, a novel bi-phase SSE featuring a shape memory effect is developed by in-situ thermal cross-linking of 2-ethyl cyanoacrylate (CA), polyethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA), succinonitrile (SN), and fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) additives. Due to the phase separation phenomenon and interfacial Li-ion conduction, the bi-phase SSE exhibits a room-temperature ionic conductivity of 1.9 mS cm−1. Meanwhile, the bi-phase SSE exhibits a high oxidation potential of 4.9 V (vs Li/Li+), and a lithium-ion transference number (tLi+) of 0.56. Coupling with LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM 811) cathode and 11 µm bi-phase SSE, solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) demonstrate long-term cycling stability (capacity retention > 92% after 250 cycles), excellent rate performance (126 mA h g−1 at 2 C, and high-voltage stability (208 mA h g−1 at 4.5 V). This investigation demonstrates the potential of bi-phase SSEs as a promising material for the development of high-performance SSLMBs.

Highly aqueously stable C60‐polymer nanoparticles with excellent photodynamic property for potential cancer treatment

AbstractFullerenes are a class of carbon nanomaterials that find a wide range of applications in biomedical fields, especially for photodynamic cancer therapy because of its photosensitive effect. However, hydrophobic fullerenes can only be dispersed in organic solvents which hinders their biomedical applications. Here, we report a facile method to prepare highly water‐dispersible fullerene (C60)‐polymer nanoparticles with hydrodynamic sizes of 50–70 nm. Hydrophilic random copolymers containing different ratios of polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate and 2‐aminoethylmethacrylamide were synthesized for conjugating with C60 molecules through efficient nucleophilic Michael addition reaction between amine groups from hydrophilic polymer and carbon‐carbon double bonds from C60. As a result, the amphiphilic C60‐polymer conjugates could be well dispersed and nano‐assembled in water with a C60 concentration as high as 7.8 mg/mL, demonstrating a significant improvement for the solubility of C60 in an aqueous system. Owing to the high C60 content, the C60‐polymer nanoparticles showed a strong photodynamic therapy effect on human lung cancer cells (A549) under light irradiation (450 nm) in both 2D cell culture and 3D spheroid culture, while demonstrating ignorable cytotoxicity under dark. This highly efficient and convenient method to prepare water‐dispersible C60‐polymer conjugates may have a great impact on the future biomedical applications of fullerenes.

Fabrication of a reusable electrochemical platform based on acid-responsive host-guest interaction with β- cyclodextrin

A reusable electrochemical glassy carbon electrode (GCE) platform based on the acid-responsive host-guest interaction between β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and benzimidazole (BM) derivatives was developed. The β-CD can specifically recognize the BM derivative through the acid -responsive host-guest interaction. The electrode was first modified by eletrografting to immobilize a diamine linker (Boc-EDA), resulting in GCEBoc-EDA in which one amine was used for covalent immobilization to the electrode and another Boc protected amine was used to solid-phase synthesis on following step-by-step modifications on the electrode. After deprotection of the Boc group on the GCEBoc-EDA, carbonyldiimidazole (CDI)-activated β-CD was coupled with –NH2 on the electrode to result in GCEβ-CD. Due to the nonspecific interaction, we further improved the GCEβ-CD electrode by introducing immobilized poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (PEG-Me) to result in GCEβ-CD/PEG-Me, along with optimized procedures. CV, DPV, and EIS methods were applied for recording the electrochemistry signals. We utilized GCEβ-CD/PEG-Me to investigate the host-guest interaction and found the electrochemical signal exhibited dynamic behavior. The GCEβ-CD/PEG-Me was able to regenerate the β-CD surface more than 20 times after HCl acidic washes. We further investigated the interaction of carbendazim (CBZ), a commonly used fungicide in the agriculture and food industry, and observed a positive electrochemical response. The sensor design has potential applications in ensuring food safety.

Extractive denitrogenization of liquid model fuel using polyethylene glycol methyl ether 350

AbstractIn the present study, we studied the effectiveness of the water‐soluble polymer polyethylene glycol methyl ether 350 (PEG ME‐350) on the extraction of nitrogen‐containing heterocyclic compounds—quinoline and indole—from n‐hexane. The dependences of the quantitative characteristics of the extraction of N‐compounds on the contact time of the phases, the content of PEG ME‐350 in the n‐hexane–water system, the initial concentration of nitrogen‐containing heterocyclic compounds in the organic phase, and the volumetric ratio of the phases were obtained. It has been established that PEG ME‐350 is an effective extractant in the process of stepwise extraction of quinoline and indole, and the mechanisms of their extraction have also been proposed and proven. The results can be further used in the purification of light hydrocarbon fractions from nitrogen‐containing heterocyclic compounds.

Effect of Polyethylene Glycol Methyl Ether Methacrylate on the Biodegradability of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Starch Blend Films.

Blend copolymers (PVA/S) were grafted with polyethylene glycol methyl methacrylate (PEGMA) with different ratios. Potassium persulfate was used as an initiator. The blend copolymer (PVA/S) was created by combining poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with starch (S) in various ratios. The main idea was to study the effect of different ratios of the used raw materials on the biodegradability of plastic films. The resulting polymers (PVA/S/PEGMA) were analyzed using FTIR spectroscopy to investigate the hydrogen bond interaction between PVA, S, and PEGMA in the mixtures. TGA and SEM analyses were used to characterize the polymers (PVA/S/AA). The biodegradability and mechanical properties of the PVA/S/PEGMA blend films were evaluated. The findings revealed that the mechanical properties of the blend films are highly influenced by PEGMA. The time of degradation of the films immersed in soil and Coca-Cola increases as the contents of PVA and S and the molecular weight (MW) of PEGMA increase in the terpolymer. The M8 sample (PVA/S/PEGMA in the ratio of 3:1:2, respectively) with a MW of 950 g/mol produced the lowest elongation at break (67.5%), whereas M1 (PVA/S/PEGMA in the ratio of 1:1:1, respectively) with a MW of 300 g/mol produced the most (150%). The film's tensile strength and elongation at break were improved by grafting PEGMA onto the blending polymer (PAV-b-S). Tg and Tm increased when the PEGMA MW increased from 300 to 950. Tg (48.4 °C) and Tm (190.9 °C) were the lowest in M1 (300), while Tg (84.8 °C) and Tm (190.9 °C) were greatest in M1 (950) at 209.3 °C. The increased chain and molecular weight of PEGMA account for the increase in Tg and Tm of the copolymers.

Functionalization of Poly (1‐hexene) with Maleic Anhydride: The Effect of Reaction Parameters

AbstractThe functionalization of poly (1‐hexene) with maleic anhydride (MA) in the presence of benzoyl peroxide as initiator was investigated and the effect of reaction parameters such as initiator content, maleic anhydride concentrations, reaction temperature and reaction time were studied. Furthermore, changing the catalyst system from a commercial Ziegler‐Natta (TiCl4/MgCl2/Internal donor) to α‐diimine Nickel catalyst led to a higher degree of functionalization (DOF) thanks to higher unsaturation content of polymer chains made by the Nickel catalyst system. The obtained polymer moreover was contacted with polyethylene glycol methyl ether to ensure the attachment of the functionalizing agent on the poly (1‐hexene) chains. Different analyses were used to support the observations. For instance, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) exhibited no weight loss at 210 °C for the sample confirming, the complete reaction of maleic anhydride, or FTIR analysis, where the presence of ester group bands was evidence for the reaction.

Antioxidant Polymers with Enhanced Neuroprotection Against Insulin Fibrillation.

Lipoic acid (LA) and dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) are well established antioxidants to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, they are carboxylates with ≈4.7pKa making them negatively charged at physiological pH (7.4) reducing their passive diffusion through cell membranes. LA is known to be capable of reducing protein fibrillation. Incorporation of LA and especially DHLA in polymer side chains are scarce. Herein, the first examples of the anti-amyloidogenic effect of LA and DHLA incorporated into the side-chain of a block copolymer with a water-soluble poly(polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate) (PPEGMA) segment are presented. The resultant polymers show improved ROS scavenging activity and improved ability to reduce insulin fibrillation compared to free LA and DHLA. Furthermore, the resultant polymers are also capable of disintegrating preformed insulin firbrils. Interestingly, polymers with dihydro-lipoate moieties showed 93% free radical scavenging activity with 91% anti-fibrillating efficacies for insulin protein confirmed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and Thioflavin T (ThT) dye binding study, respectively. Further, the antioxidant polymers increase the cell viability against fibrillar insulin aggregates that may be involved in the etiology of several diseases. Overall, this work reveals that antioxidant polymer-based therapeutic agents can serve as a powerful modulation strategy for developing novel drugs in future against amyloid-related disorders.

3 stage filtration system utilizing 3 distinct membranes derived from one single dope solution and finely-tuned phase inversion processes

Wastewater treatment by membrane processes requires at least 3 different membranes with performances falling in the microfiltration, ultrafiltration and nanofiltration ranges. Often, the composition of these membranes varies, and their preparation processes may involve several steps and lengthy or costly post-treatment procedures, for instance to endow the membrane with fouling-resistance property. Here, we intended to explore potential routes to simplify the treatment process. We solely used one single casting solution with the purpose of preparing 3 membranes without any post-treatment, that were then implemented in a 3-stage filtration process. This solution contains polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a copolymer of styrene and polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate (PS-r-PEGMA), and a solvent. 3 phase inversion processes: vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS), liquid-induced phase separation (LIPS) and evaporation-induced phase separation (EIPS) were executed to reach the desired membrane properties. Careful examination of the membrane structure, physical properties and permeability prove that the membranes prepared by VIPS (pore size: 0.4–0.8 µm), LIPS (pore size: 0.008–0.09 µm) and a combination of EIPS and LIPS (pore size: 3–6 nm) were suitable for the rejection of large biofoulants such as microalgae, large and small proteins, respectively, despite the presence of the antifouling copolymer that affected the membrane structure. Next, the 3 membranes were used to treat synthetic wastewater containing a mixture of microalgae, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme. The first filtration stage permitted to reject almost entirely the Microalgae (99.3–99.5% rejection), the second filtration stage then removed larger proteins (cumulated “Microalgae/protein” rejection of about 93%) while the last stage rejected a large quantity of the smaller protein. The copolymer was also shown to reduce fouling by a 5-fold factor. Hence, this work demonstrates that a complete set of pressure-driven antifouling membranes for full wastewater treatment may be prepared from one single formulation and by phase inversion only.

A Quasi‐Solid Electrolyte by In Situ Polymerization of Selective Solvent for Lithium‐Metal Batteries

AbstractLithium (Li) metal is a competitive anode material for rechargeable high energy density batteries due to its high specific capacity and low reduction potential. However, great challenges remain in addressing uncontrollable Li dendrite growth and unstable interface. Herein, we report a quasi‐solid electrolyte enabled by in situ polymerization of polyethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate. Meanwhile, a LiF‐enriched solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is built on Li‐metal surface by function of the fluoroethylene carbonate additive. The SEI with a good mechanical stability prompts the dense and uniform Li deposition behavior. The in situ polymerized gel polymer electrolyte exhibits an ionic conductivity of 1.71×10−4 S cm−1 at 30 °C, and a considerable oxidative stability up to 4.5 V (vs. Li/Li+). The Li||Li symmetric cells delivers a long‐term cycle life over 1400 h and a low voltage hysteresis at 0.5 mA cm−2, 1 mAh cm−2. To be paired with a LiFePO4 positive electrode, the cell shows a high discharge capacity of 135.6 mAh g−1 and capacity retention of 92.7 % after 300 cycles. This work provides a reference for the practical development of quasi‐solid electrolyte for lithium‐metal battery.

Covalent Conjugate of Ser-Pro-Cys Tripeptide with PEGylated Comb-Like Polymer as Novel Killer of Human Tumor Cells.

Recently, we detected a previously unknown Ser-Pro-Cys (SPC) tripeptide in the blood serum of multiple sclerosis patients. Its role as a biomarker of the autoimmune disease was suggested, although its origin and real biological activity remained unclear. Here, we created a biocompatible PEGylated comb-like polymer that was used as a platform for covalent immobilization of the SPC, which provided a possibility to explore the biological activity of this tripeptide. This macromolecular conjugate was synthesized via a reaction of the terminal epoxide group of the biocompatible copolymer of dimethyl maleate (DMM) and polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) with the amino group of the SPC tripeptide. Unexpectedly, the resulting conjugate containing SPC demonstrated anticancer activity in vitro. It possessed pro-apoptotic action toward human tumor cells, while there was no cytotoxic effect of that conjugate toward normal lymphocytes of human peripheral blood. The detected biological effects of the created conjugate inspired us to carry out a thorough study of structural and colloidal-chemical characteristics of this surface-active copolymer containing side PEG chains and a terminal nontoxic synthetic fragment. The copolymer composition, in particular, the content of the peptide fragment, was determined via elemental analysis and NMR spectroscopy. At CMC, it formed polymeric micelle-like structures with a hydrodynamic diameter of 180 ± 60 nm. The conjugation of the peptide fragment to the initial comb-like copolymer caused a change of zeta-potential of the formed micelle-like structures from -0.15 to 0.32 mV. Additional structural modification of the created polymeric nanoplatform was performed via attachment of fluorescein isothiocianate (FITC) dye that permitted monitoring of the behavior of the bioactive SPC-functionalized conjugate in the treated tumor cells. Its penetration into those cells and localization in their cytoplasm were revealed. The principal novelty of this study consists in finding that covalent conjugation of two nontoxic compounds-SPC tripeptide and comb-like PEGylated polymer-led to an unexpected synergy which appeared in the distinct cytotoxic action of the macromolecular complex toward human tumor cells. A potential role of peculiarities of the colloidal-chemical properties of the novel conjugate in its cytotoxic effect are discussed. Thus, synthesized comb-like PEGylated polymers can provide a prospective nanoplatform for drug delivery in anticancer chemotherapy.

Construction of pH-responsive nanoplatform from stable magnetic nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery and intracellular imaging

Currently, developing responsive hydrophobic drug delivery systems centered on magnetic nanoparticles is a promising approach for the efficient delivery of hydrophobic drugs to living cells. Here, an efficacious designed strategy was proposed to construct pH-responsive nanoplatform for targeted hydrophobic drug delivery based on the formation of surface-anchored targeting molecules on the surface of Fe3O4 @C via single electron transfer living radical polymerization (SET-LRP) method. First, we prepared polymer-modified Fe3O4 @C using 4-vinylphenylboronic acid (VB) and polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) as polymerized monomers and confirmed that Fe3O4 @C-VB-PEGMA had high biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity. Next, we prepared curcumin-containing Fe3O4 @C-VB-PEGMA-Cur nanoplatform with an encapsulation efficiency for Cur as high as 67.7%. Furthermore, the nanoplatform not only displayed pH-responsive release behaviors of Cur under different pH values (pH=7.2, 6.5, 5.4), but also can be effectively targeted into HepG2 cells. More importantly, the nanoplatform also exhibited effectively inhibiting the growth of HepG2 cells and continuously intracellular imaging by the targeted releasing of loaded Cur. It is envisaged that these findings are a step forward in the construction of pH-responsive platform as a tool for clinical hydrophobic drug delivery.

Designer composite of montmorillonite-reduced graphene oxide-PEG polymer for water treatment: Enrofloxacin sequestration and cost analysis

Synergistically combining lower performing adsorbents may effectively enhance the composite’s aqueous contaminant uptake and reduce water treatment cost. Hence in this study, Montmorillonite (Mont) was coupled to graphene oxide (GO)/reduced GO (rGO), and covalently bonded to polyethylene glycol methyl ether (PEG) using a scalable facile amidation method to produce the designer composite. This was employed for the sequestration of an aqueous emerging contaminant (enrofloxacin). Characterization showed attachment of thin GO-PEG films on the surface of Mont, with marked differences in elemental constitution and functionalities post-preparation. Enrofloxacin adsorption equilibrium was fast and optimal at ≤30 min and pH 6, respectively, while the data fitted the pseudo-second order and Langmuir models with maximum adsorption of 310.6 mg/g. Reuse and cost analysis of the composite showed effective optimal reuse (≥72 %) in real/simulated water samples after 4 adsorption–desorption cycles, while the clay-polymer composite was significantly a cheaper adsorbent with higher adsorption efficiency than other conventional adsorbents.

Co-delivery of gentiopicroside and thymoquinone using electrospun m-PEG/PVP nanofibers: In-vitro and In vivo studies for antibacterial wound dressing in diabetic rats

Nanofibers (NFs) provide several delivery advantages like their great flexibility and similarity with extracellular matrix (ECM) which qualify them to be the unique model of a wound dressing. NFs could create mats of polymeric matrix loaded with an active agent enhancing its solubility and stability. In our study, Gentiopicroside (GPS) and Thymoquinone (TQ) loaded in NFs polymeric mats composed of coblended polyvinyl pyrrolidine (PVP) and methyl ether Polyethylene glycol (m-PEG) were fabricated via electrospinning technique. A morphological study using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was performed for all formulae as well as in vitro release study using High-performance Liquid chromatography (HPLC) for sample analysis. The optimized formula (F3) was chosen for further assays using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Study of the antibacterial effect, and in vivo healing action for diabetic infected wounds to quantify Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and Cyclooxygenase-2 were also investigated. F3 achieved the highest % cumulative release (99.79 ± 6.47 for GPS and 96.89 ± 6.87 for TQ) at 60 min, and a smaller diameter (200 nm) showing significant anti-bacterial effects with well-organized skin architecture demonstrating great healing signs. Our results revealed that m-PEG/PVP NFs mats loaded with GPS and TQ could be considered an optimal wound care dressing.

GeFSIX‐1‐Cu based semi‐interpenetrating network mixed matrix membranes for efficient CO2 separation

AbstractIn order to increase CO2 separation efficiency, semi‐interpenetrating network mixed matrix membranes (SIPN‐MMMs) were loaded with GeFSIX‐1‐Cu (Cu(4,4′‐bipyridine)2(GeF6)) and poly ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (PEGDME). Two long‐chain polymers poly ethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) and poly ethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA) jointly constituted a crosslinked PEO backbone, and CO2‐philic short‐chain polymer PEGDME and anion‐pillared hybrid porous materials GeFSIX‐1‐Cu were embedded into the backbone to introduce strong CO2 adsorption sites and provide extra pore channels. Increasing GeFSIX‐1‐Cu loading in SIPN‐MMMs initially improved CO2 permeability and CO2/N2, CO2/CH4, and CO2/H2 selectivity, because the porous structure of GeFSIX‐1‐Cu provides additional pore channels for gas transport. In addition, the strong binding affinity between GeF62− and CO2 leads to improved membrane selectivity. When GeFSIX‐1‐Cu loading increased above 3 wt%, both CO2 permeability and CO2/N2, CO2/CH4, and CO2/H2 selectivity decreased, due to agglomeration of excess GeFSIX‐1‐Cu loading in SIPN‐MMMs. The highest CO2 permeability of 786 Barrer and CO2/N2 ideal selectivity of 43 (at GeFSIX‐1‐Cu loading of 3 wt%) were 36% and 38% higher than those of pure SIPN membrane, respectively, resolving the trade‐off between permeability and selectivity, and surpassing the Robeson upper bound (2008).

Controlling the Biological Behaviors of Polymer-Coated Upconverting Nanoparticles by Adjusting the Linker Length of Estrone Ligands.

The estrone ligand is used for modifying nanoparticle surfaces to improve their targeting effect on cancer cell lines. However, to date, there is no common agreement on the ideal linker length to be used for the optimum targeting performance. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of poly(poly ethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate) (PPEGMEMA) linker length on the cellular uptake behavior of polymer-coated upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs). Different triblock terpolymers, poly(poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate)-block-polymethacrylic acid-block-polyethylene glycol methacrylate phosphate (PPEGMEMAx-b-PMAAy-b-PEGMP3: x = 7, 15, 33, and 80; y = 16, 20, 18, and 18), were synthesized with different polymer linker chain lengths between the surface and the targeting ligand by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The estrone ligand was attached to the polymer via specific terminal conjugation. The cellular association of polymer-coated UCNPs with linker chain lengths was evaluated in MCF-7 cells by flow cytometry. Our results showed that the bioactivity of ligand modification is dependent on the length of the polymer linker. The shortest polymer PPEGMEMA7-b-PMAA16-b-PEGMP3 with estrone at the end of the polymer chain was found to have the best cellular association behavior in the estrogen receptor (ER)α-positive expression cell line MCF-7. Additionally, the anticancer drug doxorubicin•HCl was encapsulated in the nanocarrier to evaluate the 2D and 3D cytotoxicity. The results showed that estrone modification could efficiently improve the cellular uptake in ERα-positive expression cell lines and in 3D spheroid models.

Star-shaped polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate-co-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane modified poly(ethylene oxide)-based solid polymer electrolyte for lithium secondary battery

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based solid polymer electrolyte (SPE), as a key component connecting the internal channels, can improve the safety performance for lithium secondary battery, but it is still challenged by limited ionic conductance due to high polymer crystallinity at room temperature. Here, we develop a SPE by blending PEO with star-shaped polymer of polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate-co-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS-(PPEGMEM)8), which is synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) under octa (2-bromoisobutyryloxyethyl sulfide) octasilsesquioxane (POSS-Br8) as initiator and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEM) as polymerization monomer. The unique star-shaped structure of POSS-(PPEGMEM)8 is helpful to increasing the segmental motion by reducing the crystallinity of PEO polymer and supporting more ion transport channels to obtain higher ion conductivity. The mixed electrolyte containing 40% POSS-(PPEGMEM)8 exhibits the highest ionic conductivity (1.4 × 10−4 S cm−1, 50 °C) with a Li+ transference number of 0.51 and a wide electrochemical window (5.0 V vs. Li/Li+) and a high mechanical strength. The LiFePO4||Li battery, assembled with PEO/POSS-(PPEGMEM)8–40%, carries out 100 cycles at a current density of 0.1C, provides a stable reversible capacity of 129.4 mAh g−1 and a high capacity retention rate due to the high ratio of free volume of polymer electrolyte formed by the star-shaped POSS-(PPEGMEM)8, which indicates that PEO/POSS-(PPEGMEM)8 has good application prospects in high-performance all-solid-state lithium secondary battery.

Preparation of peG-DOX nanoparticles as nano drug carrier and treatment methods to achieve the best effect

Among anticancer drugs, the research and development and preparation of nano drugs have always been the focus of current researchers, looking for appropriate molecular carriers that can make drugs play a better role. In this paper, PEG-DOX polymer was synthesized by using Poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (PEG-OH), 4-carboxybenzaldehyde, 4-(dimethyl-amino)-pyridine (DMAP), 1-(3-dimethylamino propyl)-3-ethyl carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDCI), triethylamine (TEA), hydrochloric acid, sodium sulfate, sodium bicarbonate, etc., through reasonable design and assembly, The stability, release behavior and antitumor activity of the drug were determined experimentally, to explore the best preparation scheme for the best effect of the drug.