Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(styrene-co-acrylamide) Polymers Prior to Electrospinning

Electrospun nanofibers present a new and rapidly growing research area due to their pronounced micro and nano characteristics associated with high surface area to volume ratio. Poly(styrene-co-acrylamide) and polystyrene polymers were synthesized by boiling temperature soap free emulsion polymerization in aqueous medium with potassium peroxosulphate as the initiator. The resulting polymers were dissolved in dimethylformamide and teterahydrofuran (DMF: THF) (4:1) to form polymer solutions that were electrospun into fiber mats with diameters ranging from 1.84 - 2.53 μm and 5.01 μm, respectively. The fibers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) equipped with universal ATR sampling accessory (4000 - 400 cm-1). The morphology and size were examined by a scanning electron miscroscope (SEM) and the thermal properties by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The FTIR spectra of the poly(styrene-co-acrylamide) revealed the presence of acrylamide on the polystyrene chain. Thus, surface modification of polystyrene with acrylamide is possible in a single step polymerization reaction prior to electrospinning.

A Temperature-sensitive Hydrogel Refolding System: Preparation of Poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) and Its Application in Lysozyme Refolding

Temperature-sensitive hydrogel—poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPA) was prepared and applied to protein refolding. PNIPA gel disks and gel particles were synthesized by the solution polymerization and inverse suspension polymerization respectively. The swelling kinetics of the gels was also studied. With these prepared PNIPA gels, the model protein lysozyme was renatured. Within 24h, PNIPA gel disks improved the yield of lysozyme activity by 49.3% from 3375.2U·mg^-1 to 5038.8U·mg^-1. With the addition of faster response PNIPA gel beads, the total lysozyme activity recovery was about 68.98% in 3h, as compared with 42.03% by simple batch dilution. The novel refolding system with PNIPA enables efficient refolding especially at high protein concentrations. Discussion about the mechanism revealed that when PNIPA gels were added into the refolding buffer, the hydrophobic interactions between denatured proteins and polymer gels could prevent the aggregation of refolding intermediates, thus enhanced the protein renaturation.

¹³C NMR and Raman Studies of Fullerene-Based Poly (Acrylamides)

A new classification of the different types of fullerene-containing polymers is presented according to their different properties and applications they exhibit in a variety of fields. 13C NMR and Raman studies of a series of polymeric samples of fullerene-grafted poly (acrylamide), which were prepared by systematic variation of concentration of fullerene and acrylamide, are described. 13C NMR spectral analysis of the polymeric samples showed a peak for fullerene at 143 δppm and for poly (acrylamide) between 170 and 180 δppm and Raman spectral analysis of the poly-meric samples gave the Raman band for fullerene between 1470 cm-1 and poly (acrylamide) at 2800 cm-1. The Tg value, obtained from DSC results, showed a high glass transition temperature at 100.94°C revealing the presence of fullerene in the polymeric matrix. TGA analysis shows that polymer is thermally stable up to 340°C.

One-pot Synthesis of 2,5-Disubstituted Oxazoles Using Poly[styrene(iodosodiacetate)]

Disubstituted oxazoles were prepared conveniently by treatment of aromatic -methyl ketones and nitriles with poly[styrene(iodosodiacetate)] in one-pot process.

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLY{4-[2-(tert-BUTYLDIMETHYLSILOXY)ETHYL]STYRENE}AND ITS HYDROLYSIS DERIVATIVE

The living cationic polymerization of 4-[2-(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy)ethyl]styrene (TBDMES) was studied in methylcyclohexane (MeChx)/methylchloride (MeCl) (50/50 V/V) solvent mixture at -80 degrees C. The initiator 1,1-diphenylethylene (DPE) capped 2-chloro-2,4,4-trimethylpentane (TMPCl) was formed in situ in conjunction with titanium tetrachloride (TiCl(4)). The Lewis acidity of TiCl(4) was decreased by the addition of titanium(IV) isopropoxide (Ti(OiPr)(4)) to accomplish living polymerization of TBDMES. Hydrolysis of poly(TBDMES) in the presence of tetra-butylammonium fluoride yielded poly[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)styrene] (poly(HOES)). FT-IR, NMR and DSC demonstrated the hydrolysis was complete.

Effect of Methyl Methacrylate– Acrylonitrile -Butadiene–Styrene (MABS) on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA)-Fly Ash Cenospheres (FAC) Filled Composites

With the advent of plastics and the wide range of fillers that are available have made modifications as precise as the tailored resins themselves. To modify the properties of polymer either by using fillers or by preparation of polymer blends gives rise to new materials with tailored properties. More complex, three-component systems, obtained by the addition of polymeric modifier to polymer filled composites may be of interest. Use of Fly ash cenospheres is very attractive because it is inexpensive and its use can reduce the environmental pollution to a significant extent. In the present study, Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA)-Fly ash cenospheres composites were prepared using extrusion followed by Injection molding. The effect of matrix modification with Methyl methacrylate– acrylonitrile -butadiene–styrene (MABS) on the performance of PMMA- Fly ash cenospheres compositions was also, studied. It was found that with the addition of Fly ash cenospheres particulate as filler in PMMA showed marginal reduction in Tensile Strength, % Elongation and Impact strength and improvement in Flexural Strength, Heat Deflection Temperature and Vicat Softening Point. Compared with PMMA-cenospheres composites, the notched Impact Strength of the PMMA/MABS/cenospheres composites showed marginal enhancement in values at higher loading of cenospheres. The optimum performances in mechanical and thermal properties were obtained when the ratio of MABS to cenospheres was 1:2.

SYNTHESIS OF MESOPOROUS POLY(STYRENE-co-MALEIC ANHYDRIDE)/SILICA HYBRID MATERIALS VIA A NONSURFACTANT-TEMPLATED SOL-GEL PROCESS

Mesoporous poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride)/silica hybrid materials have been prepared. The synthesis was achieved by the HCl-catalyzed sol-gel reactions of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer in the presence of 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) as a coupling agent and citric acid as a nonsurfactant template or pore-forming agent, followed by ethanol extraction. Characterization results from nitrogen sorption isotherms and powder X-ray diffraction indicate that polymer-modified mesoporous materials with large specific surface areas (e.g. 900 m(2)/g) and pore volumes (e.g. 0.6 cm(3)/g) could be prepared. As the citric acid concentration is increased, the specific surface areas, pore volumes and pore diameters of the hybrid materials increase.

Poly (Acrylamide-co-Acrylic Acid) Hydrogel Induced by Glow-Discharge Electrolysis Plasma and Its Adsorption Properties for Cationic Dyes

In this paper, poly （acrylamide-co-acrylic acid） （P（AM-co-AA）） hydrogel was pre- pared in an aqueous solution by using glow-discharge electrolysis plasma （GDEP） induced copoly- merization of acrylamide （AM） and acrylic acid （AA）, in which N,N＇-methylenebisacrylamide （MBA） was used as a crosslinker. A mechanism for the synthesis of P（AM-co-AA） hydrogel was proposed. To optimize the synthesis condition, the following parameters were examined in detail： the discharge voltage, discharge time, the content of the crosslinker, and the mass ratio of AM to AA. The results showed that the optimum pH range for cationic dyes removal was found to be 5.0-10.0. The P（AM-co-AA） hydrogel exhibits a very high adsorption potential and the ex- perimental adsorption capacities for Crystal violet （CV） and Methylene blue （MB） were 2974.3 mg/g and 2303.6 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption process follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. In addition, the adsorption mechanism of P（AM-co-AA） hydrogel for cationic dyes was also discussed.

SYNTHESIS OF POLYMERIC β-CYCLODEXTRIN SUPPORTED BY CROSSLINKED POLY(ACRYLAMIDE-co-VINYLAMINE)AND ITS CATALYSIS OF THE HYDROLYSIS OF p-NITROPHENYL ACETATE

Polymeric β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) supported by crosslinked poly(acrylamide-co-vinylamine) was synthesized as anartificial analog of hydrolytic enzyme and its catalysis of the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate (p-NPA) was theninvestigated. The result showed that the polymer-supported β-CD could accelerate the hydrolytic reaction of p-NPA morequickly than β-CD itself and crosslinked poly(acrylamide-co-vinylamine) alone. The acceleration rate of the polymer-supported β-CD was about 10 times as fast as that of free β-CD in 0.01 mol/L phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) containing 32%DMSO at 37±0.1℃ when the molar amount of β-CD units in the polymer was equal to that of free β-CD in the experiments.The enhanced acceleration of thc polymer-supported β-CD should be ascribed to the cooperative contribution of theinclusion effect of β-CD ring and the nucleophilic effect of amino groups on the polymeric support.

DETERMINATION OFTHE CRYSTALLINITY IN DIFFERENT TYPE POLY (OXYETHYLENE-STYRENE)BLOCK COPOLYMERS BY X-RAY DIFFRACTION METHOD

By means of the intensity theory of X-ray scattering and the two-phase concept of high polymer, the basic formula of the crystaUinity in block copolymers has been proposed after the corrections of atomic, temperature, absorption, Lorentz and polarization factor. Application of this method to different type poly (oxyethylene-styrene)block copolymers and the same type block copolymers with different EO contents indicates that the crystallinity in poly (oxyethylene-styrene ) block copolymers increases with the increase of the EO content and decreases in the order: PEO-PS-PEO>PEO-PS>PS-PEO-PS.

Poly[styrene(iodosodiacetate)]:An Efficient Reagent for Regioselective Azido-arylselenylation of Olefins

Poly[styrene(iodosodiacetate)] reacted with diaryl diselenides, followed by sodium azide, giving 1-azido-2-arylselenoalkanes regioselectively. The polymer reagent could be regenerated and reused.

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FOUR-ARMED BLOCK POLY(STYRENE-b-p-NITROPHENYL METHACRYLATE)PREPARED BY THE ATRP METHOD

A novel tetrafunctional initiator, C [CH_2O (CH_2)_3 OOCCH(Br)CH_3]_4 (1), was synthesized through the reaction oftetraol with α-bromopropionyl chloride, and then was used as initiator of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in thepreparation of 4-armed polystyrene (PSt) with narrow polydispersity. The structure, molecular weight and molecular weightdistribution (MWD) of each arm were studied by ~1H-NMR and GPC data of hydrolyzed products of the 4-armed PSt. TheATRP of St using 1/CuBr/bpy as initiator system is of 'living' character based on the following evidence: narrow MWD,constant concentration of chain radical during the polymerization, control of molecular weight by the molar ratio of monomerconsumed to 1. The 4-armed poly(St-b-p-nitrophenyl methacrylate) [poly(St-b-NPMA)] was prepared by the ATRP ofNPMA using 4-armed PSt with terminal bromine as the initiator, and characterized by FT-IR, ~1H-NMR spectra and GPCcurves. The micelles with PSt as core, and PNPMA as shell were formed by dropping DMSO into a solution of 4-armedpoly(St-b-NPMA) in DMF, as proved by laser light scatter (LLS) method.

Poly{[4-(hydroxyl)(tosyloxyl)iodo]styrene} Promoted Halotosyloxylation Reaction of Alkynes

Halotosyloxylation reaction of alkynes with iodine or NBS or NCS was efficiently promoted by the poly{[4-(hydroxyl)(tosoyloxyl)iodo]styrene}.

Synthesis of Poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene)-supported Dichloro Cyanuric Acid

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Phototactic Poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide)Microgels with Photoresponsive Property

Smart functional microgels hold great potential in a variety of applications,especially in drug transportation.However,current drug carriers based on physiological internal stimuli cannot efficiently orientate to designated locations.Therefore,it is necessary to introduce the self-propelled particles to the drug release of the microgels.In order to study self-propulsion of microgels induced by light,it is also a challenge to prepare micronsized microgels so that they can be observed directly under optical microscopes.In this work,phototactic microgels with photoresponsive properties are prepared.The microgel particles can be observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy.The photoresponsive properties of microgels are fully investigated by various instruments.Light can also regulate the state of the microgel solution,making it switch between turbidity and clarity.The phototaxis of particles irradiated by UV light was studied,which may be used for microgels enrichment and drug transportation and release.

Poly Ethylene Glycols as Efficient Media for the Synthesis of <i>β</i>-Nitro Styrenes from <i>α</i>, <i>β</i>-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids and Metal Nitrates under Conventional and Non-Conventional Conditions

Poly ethylene glycols (PEG-200, 400, 600, 4000 and 6000) supported reactions were conducted with certain α, β-unsaturated acids in presence of metal nitrates under solvent free (solid state) and mineral acid free conditions. The reactants were ground in a mortar with a pestle for about 30 minutes. The aromatic acids underwent nitro decarboxylation and afforded β-nitro styrene derivatives in very good yield while α, β-unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acids gave corresponding nitro derivatives. Addition of PEG accelerated rate of the reaction enormously. Reaction times substantially decreased from several hours to few minutes followed by highly significant increase in the product yield. Among the several PEGs PEG-300 has been found to be much more effective than other PEGs.

A Novel Sieving Medium for Separation of DNA Fragments-Poly(acrylamide-dimethylacrylamide)

A short chain poly (acrylamide-dimethylacrylamide) was synthesized in water phase using isopropanol as a chain transfer agent. This copolymer can form a stable dynamic coating on the inner surface of the capillary, thereby suppressing the electroosmotic flow and DNA-capillary wall interaction. The high efficient separation of DNA fragments and SSCP analysis were obtained in bare capillaries using this copolymer as a sieving medium.

Preparation and Characterization of Titania-grafted Poly(styrene-divinybenzene) Nanocomposite Microspheres

Titania-grafted poly（styrene-divinylbenzene）（TiO2/PSt-DVB） nanocomposite microspheres were prepared by an open-ring reaction and radical grafting copolymerization method. The TiO2 nanoparticles were first modified by attachment of epoxy groups to their surfaces to provide reactive groups that could covalently bond to the polymer （PSt-DVB） microspheres. The nanocomposite obtained was characterized by FTIR, SEM, XRD, and TGA analyses as well as UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The results indicated that the TiO2 nanoparticles were uniformly grafted onto the surface of the polymer microsphere producing grain sizes of about 5―10 μm. The modified TiO2 showed better UV absorbing property than the unmodified form, and the nanocomposite also retained the same UV absorbing property as the free modified TiO2 nanoparticle.

Study of radiation-induced grafting of acrylic acid-sodium styrene sulfonate onto poly (tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) film

Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) (FEP) films were immersed in aqueous solution of acrylic acid (AA) and sodium styrene sulfonate (SSS), then irradiated by Co γ-rays at 25℃. The effects of reaction 60 time,absorbed dose, dose-rate, inhibitor and monomer concentration on the grafting yield were studied. Grafting yields of both AA and SSS onto FEP, respectively, increase with irradiation dose, but some saturation will appear at high dose and monomer concentration. The grafting yield increases with reaction time and then levels off. The graft- ing of SSS onto FEP is more difficult than the grafting of AA. The analysis of grafted membranes using DSC and FT-IR have been done.

Synthesis and Properties of Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) and Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide) Hydrogels

The thermosensitive poly （ N-isopropylacrylamide ） （PNIPAAm） and poly （N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide） [ poly （NIPAAm-co-AAm） ] hydrogels with different acrylamide molar percentage are prepared by radiation polymerization using Co^60 γ-ray. Their swelling equilibrium data in the media of deionized water, NaCl aqueous solutions and different pH buffer solutions are determined. It appears that lower critical solution temperature （LCST） of the hydrogels will drop with the increase of ionic strength and increase with the rising of acrylamide content, A semi-empirical formula is set up with the experimental results. Moreover, it also indicates that this copolymer is pH-sensitive, which is similar to the homopolymer of PNIPAAm.