The reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer(RAFT) miniemulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate mediated by xanthate

The reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer （RAFT） miniemulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate （VAc） mediated by methyl （methoxycarbonothioyl） sulfanyl acetate （MMSA） was carried out. The results showed that polymerizations initiated by AIBN and KPS proceeded in a controlled way. The RAFT miniemulsion polymerization of VAc initiated by KPS showed the shorter inhibition period, higher propagation rate coefficient and final conversion than those in experiment initiated by AIBN. When the monomer conversion reached 25%, the polydispersity index （PDI） of polymer became broad, which was related to chain transfer reaction in RAFT miniemulsion of VAc.

Synthesis of polystyrene-styrene/butadiene diblock copolymers via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer miniemulsion polymerization

Polystyrene-styrene/butadiene diblock copolymers were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer （RAFT） miniemulsion polymerization.During the polymerization process,the molecular weight distribution was narrow and the numerical molecular weight of the copolymers increased with increasing conversion of monomers,which was close to the theoretical.FT-IR and ^1H NMR results indicated that the microstructure of the polymer was mainly 1,4-trans-butadiene with small amount of 1,2-units,and composition in the copolymers was obtained.

Evaluation of the clenbuterol imprinted monolithic column prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization

To make more homogenous organic monolithic structure, reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer （RAFT） process was employed in the synthesis of the clenbuterol imprinted polymer. In the synthesis, the influence of synthetic conditions on the polymer structure and separation efficiency was studied. The result demonstrated that the imprinted columns prepared with RAFT process have higher column efficiency and selectivity than the columns prepared with conventional polymerization in the present study, which may result from the higher surface area, smaller pore size and the narrower globule size distribution in their structures. The result indicated that RAFT polymerization provided better conditions for the clenbuterol imprinted monolithic polymer preparation. 2009 Xiang Chao Dong. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

Grafting of MIPs from PVDF Membranes via Reversible Addition-fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization for Selective Removal of p-Hydroxybenzoic Acid

Effective molecularly imprinted membranes（MIMs） were developed as an efficient adsorbent for the selective removal ofp-hydroxybenzoic acid（p-HB） from acetylsalicylic acid（ASA, aspirin）. The MIMs were grafted successfully from poly（vinylidene fluoride） microfiltration membranes via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer（RAFT） polymerization. The graft copolymerization of acrylic acid（AA） in the presence of template p-hydroxybenzoic acid led to molecularly imprinted polymer（MIP） film coated membranes. The obtained MIMs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy（SEM）, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer（FTIR） and Raman spectra, and batch mode adsorption studies were carried ont to investigate the specific adsorption equilibrium, kinetics and selective recognition properties of different MIMs. The kinetic properties of the MIMs could be well described by the pseudo-second-order rate equation. Selective permeation experiments were performed to evaluate the permeation selectivity of the p-HB imprinted membranes. The observed performances of the MIMs are applicable to the further purification of aspirin. Keywords Acetylsalicylic acid; Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer; Molecularly imprinted membrane; p-Hydroxybenzoic acid; Selective adsorption

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers on Chloromethyl Polystyrene Resin Prepared via RAFT Polymerization

Surface molecularly imprinted polymers （SMIP） was prepared via the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer （RAFT） polymerization on the chloromethyl polystyrene resin （CPR） in the presence of the template D-phenylalanine. The structure of SMIP was characterized by FTIR and SEM. The adsorption behavior of D-phenylalanine of SMIP was preliminarily investigated.

Effect of Phase Separation Size on the Properties of Self-healing Elastomer

Regulation of phase structure has been recognized as one of the most effective ways to fabricate self-healing polymers with high mechanical strength.The mechanical properties of the resultant polymers are certainly affected by the size of separated phase domain.However,the study on this aspect is absence,because it can hardly exclude the influence of variation in monomer proportion required for tuning the separated phase size.Here,we report the first study on tuning the phase size through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer(RAFT)polymerization without changing the proportion of monomers.As expected,the size of separated phase has been successfully mediated from 15 nm to 9 nm by tuning the molecular weight of the chain transfer agent.It is found that the mechanical strength and the self-healing efficiency of the resultant polymers increase simultaneously with the decrease of phase size.The study on the formation kinetics of hydrogen bonds reveals that the decrease of phase size can facilitate the re-bonding rate of hydrogen bonds,even if the migration of polymer chains is restricted.

Synthesis of Self-assembled Star/Linear Block Copolymer Blends via Aqueous RAFT Dispersion Polymerization

Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer(RAFT)-mediated polymerization-induced self-assembly(PISA)of star block copolymer and linear block copolymer using a binary mixture of a star-like macro-RAFT agent and a linear macro-RAFT agent is reported.With this formulation,star block copolymer and diblock copolymer were formed simultaneously to generate colloidally stable star/linear block copolymer assemblies.Size exclusion chromatography(SEC)analysis confirmed the presence of two types of polymers in the final samples.The molar ratio of the star-like macro-RAFT agent and the linear macro-RAFT agent has a significant impact on the morphology of polymer assemblies.It was found that increasing the amount of star-like macro-RAFT agent facilitated the formation of higher-order morphologies.Additionally,effects of other reaction parameters including the length/number of the arm of the star-like macro-RAFT agent,degree of polymer(DP),monomer concentration on the morphology of star/linear block copolymer assemblies were also investigated.We expect that this work will offer new possibilities for the scalable preparation of polymer assemblies with unique structures and functions.

Enzyme-assisted Photoinitiated Polymerization-induced Self-assembly in Continuous Flow Reactors with Oxygen Tolerance

Polymerization-induced self-assembly(PISA)is an emerging method for the preparation of block copolymer nano-objects at high concentrations.However,most PISA formulations have oxygen inhibition problems and inert atmospheres(e.g.argon,nitrogen)are usually required.Moreover,the large-scale preparation of block copolymer nano-objects at room temperature is challenging.Herein,we report an enzyme-assisted photoinitiated polymerization-induced self-assembly(photo-PISA)in continuous flow reactors with oxygen toleranee.The addition of glucose oxidase(GOx)and glucose into the reaction mixture can consume oxygen efficiently and constantly,allow the flow photo-PISA to be performed under open-air conditions.Polymerization kinetics indicated that only a small amount of GOx(0.5 μmol/L)was needed to achieve the oxygen tolerance.Block copolymer nano-objects with different morphologies can be prepared by varying reaction conditions including the degree of polymerization(DP)of core-forming block,monomer concentration,reaction temperature,and solvent composition.We expect this study will provide a facile platform for the large-scale production of block copolymer nano-objects with different morphologies at room temperature.

Degradable and Recyclable Polymers by Reversible Deactivation Radical Polymerization

Reversible deactivation radical polymerization(RDRP)provides unprecedented control over polymer composition,size,functionality,and topology.Various materials,such as linear polymers,star polymers,branched polymers,graft polymers,polymer networks,and hybrid materials,have been prepared by RDRP.The ability to control polymer topology also enabled precision synthesis of well-defined polymer topologies with degradable functional groups located at specific locations along a polymer chain.This review outlines progress in the synthesis of degradable polymers designed by RDRP,organized by topology and synthetic route.Recent progress in the depolymerization of polymers using RDRP mechanisms is highlighted and critically discussed.

Mechanism study and molecular design in controlled/“living” radical polymerization

This tutorial review summarizes recent progress in the research field of controlled/"living" radical polymerization (CLRP) from Soochow University.The present paper gives a broad overview of the mechanism study and molecular design in CLRP.The mechanism study in CLRP aided by microwave,initiated by γ-radiation at low temperature,mediated by iron,in reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and the mechanism transfer between different CLRP processes are reviewed and summarized.The molecular design in CLRP,especially in RAFT polymerization for mechanism study,and in achieving tailor-made functional polymers is studied and discussed in the later part.

Preparation of ABA triblock copolymer assemblies through “one-pot” RAFT PISA

Poly(N,N-dimethyl acrylamide)-block-poly(styrene)-block-poly(N,N-dimethyl acrylamide)(PDMAc-bPSt-b-PDMAc)amphiphilic triblock copolymer micro/nano-objects were synthesized through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer(RAFT)dispersion polymerization of St mediated with poly(N,Ndimethyl acrylamide)trithiocarbonate(PDMAc-TTC-PDMAc)bi-functional macromolecular RAFT agent.It is found that the morphology of the PDMAc-b-PSt-b-PDMAc copolymer micro/nano-objects like spheres,vesicles and vesicle with hexagonally packed hollow hoops(HHHs)wall can be tuned by changing the solvent composition.In addition,vesicles with two sizes(600 nm,264 nm)and vesicles with HHHs features were also synthesized in high solid content systems(30 wt%and 40 wt%,respectively).Besides,as compared with typical AB diblock copolymers(A is the solvophilic,stabilizer block,and B is the solvophobic block),ABA triblock copolymers tend to form higher order morphologies,such as vesicles,under similar conditions.The finding of this study provides a new and robust approach to prepare block copolymer vesicles and other higher order micelles with special structure via PISA.

Polymer-chlorella cells conjugating with aggregation-induced functionality switch towards hydrogen evolution

The manipulation of physicochemical and biological properties of the encapsulated cells by cell surface engineering technique is now attracting more and more researchers’interest.In this study,we showed a mild and highly efficient way to build a type of polymer-living cell conjugates based on photoinduced electron transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization(PET-RAFT).The polymerization could proceed at room temperature under the blue light initiating and showed very less influence on the activity of the living cells.Significantly,the constructed positively charged polymer-living cell conjugates could aggregate with the negatively charged native Chlorella pyrenoidosa(CP)cell to form a microscale aggregate which then allowed a functionality switching of the encapsulated CP cells from the normal photosynthetic O2 towards H2 production with an average rate of 0.26μmol H2h-^1(mg chlorophyll)-^1 for 42 h.It is then anticipated that the method we show could contribute an effective way for generating different functionalized living cell-polymer hybrid structures on demand,and the demonstrated aggregation-induced functionality switching of the CP cells is also anticipated to inspire more applications of the cell-based materials towards biology green energy.

Recent advances in “living”/controlled radical polymerization of phosphorus-containing monomers and their potential applications

Special research attention has been paid to phosphorus-containing materials and their corresponding applications. This mini review considers recent publications devoted to the "living"/controlled radical(co)polymerization of phosphorus-containing monomers. In addition, different properties of the polymers involved in the phosphonate group in various chemical environments are demonstrated, and their potential applications are briefly discussed.

Hydrogels with Dynamically Controllable Mechanics and Biochemistry for 3D Cell Culture Platforms

Many cell-matrix interaction studies have proved that dynamic changes in the extracellular matrix(ECM)are crucial to maintain cellular properties and behaviors.Thus,developing materials that can recapitulate the dynamic attributes of the ECM is highly desired for threedimensional(3 D)cell culture platforms.To this end,we sought to develop a hydrogel system that would enable dynamic and reversible turning of its mechanical and biochemical properties,thus facilitating the control of cell culture to imitate the natural ECM.Herein,a hydrogel with dynamic mechanics and a biochemistry based on an addition-fragmentation chain transfer(AFCT)reaction was constructed.Thiol-modified hyaluronic acid(HA)and allyl sulfide-modifiedε-poly-L-lysine(EPL)were synthesized to form hydrogels,which were non-swellable and biocompatible.The reversible modulus of the hydrogel was first achieved through the AFCT reaction;the modulus can also be regulated stepwise by changing the dose of UVA irradiation.Dynamic patterning of fluorescent markers in the hydrogel was also realized.Therefore,this dynamically controllable hydrogel has great potential as a 3 D cell culture platform for tissue engineering applications.

RAFT Copolymerization of Glycidyl Methacrylate and N,N-Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate

In this work, copolymerization of two functional monomers, glycidyl methacrylate （GMA） and N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate （DMAEMA）, was firstly carried out via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer （RAFT） polymerization successfully. The copolymerization kinetics was investigated under the molar ratio of n[GMA＋DMAEMA]o/n[AIBN]o/n[CPDN]o=300/1/3 at 60℃. The copolymerization showed typical ＂living＂ features such as first-order polymerization kinetics, linear increase of molecular weight with monomer conversion and narrow molecular weight distribution. The reactivity ratios of GMA and DMAEMA were calculated by the extended Kelen-Tudos linearization methods. The epoxy group of the copolymer PGMA-co-PDMAEMA remained intact under the conditions of RAFT copolymerization and could easily be post-modified by ethylenedia- mine. Moreover, the modified copolymer could be used as a gene carrier.