• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.40-46
• /
• 2011

The synthesis of well-defined poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) (SIBS) triblock copolymers was accomplished by cationic sequential block copolymerization of isobutylene (IB) with styrene (St) using 1,4-di(2-chloro-2-propyl) benzene (DCC) /$TiCl_4$/2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine(DtBP) as an initiating system in methyl chloride ($CH_3Cl$)/methylcyclohexane(MeChx) (50/50 v/v) solvent mixture at $-80^{\circ}C$. The triblock copolymers exhibited excellent thermoplastic and elastomeric characteristics. Tensile strengths and Shore hardness increased with increasing polystyrene (PS) content, while elongation at break decreased. The blood-compatibility of SIBS was assessed by SEM observation of the platelet adhesion, blood clotting time and haemolysis ratio. The haemolysis ratios were below 5% which met the medical materials standard. The platelet adhesion test further indicated that SIBS block copolymers had a good blood compatibility.

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.42-46
• /
• 2003

Cell attachment and proliferation on the polymer films of triblock copolymer(ester-ether)s comprising po1y (L-1actide) (PLLA) and poly (oxyethylene-co-oxypropylene)(PN) were investigated using 3T3 fibroblasts. It was found that on the tissue culture polystyrene(TCPS) and the PLLA control film the cells could spread well while on the copolymer films the cells showed a rounded morphology without spreading and proliferated weakly. Especially, little cells proliferated on the films of copolymer having a LN composition of 20 wt%. While the water absorption of the copolymer films increased with increasing PN content, the contact angle against water of copolymer films immersed in aqueous medium was almost identical, being slightly lower than that of the PLLA film. These properties were compatible with the results of cell attachment. The in vitro hydrolysis of the films of triblock and multiblock type copolymers was faster with increasing PN content. The increased hydrolyzability, the flexibility and the decreased cell attachment suggested that these copolymers may have high potential as biodegradable materials for medical use.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.408.2-409
• /
• 2002

The aim of this study is to prepare biodegradable microspheres without use of any kind of surfactants or emulsifiers for a novel sustained delivery carriers of protein drugs. Poly(e-caprolactone)/poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(e-caprolactone) (CEC) triblock copolymer was synthesized by ring-opening of e-caprolactone with dihydroxy poly(ethylene glycol) and was used to make surfactant-free microspheres. (omitted)

• Polymer Science and Technology
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.525-540
• /
• 2012

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2006.10a
• /
• pp.263-263
• /
• 2006

Poly (ethylene glycol)(PEG) - Poly (${\varepsilon}-caprolactone(CL)$) - Poly (D,L lactide(LA) (PCLA-PEG-PCLA) was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization to form temperature sensitive hydrogel triblock copolymer. The triblock copolymer was acrylated by acryloyl chloride. ${\beta}-amino$ ester was used as a pH sensitive moiety, in this study ${\beta}$- amino ester obtained from 1,4-butandiol diacrylate, and 4, 4' trimethylene dipiperidine, it have pKb around 6.6. pH/temperature sensitive penta-block copolymer (PAE-PCL-PEG-PCL-PAE) was synthesized by addition polymerization from acrylated triblock copolymer, 1,4-butandiol diacrylate, and 4, 4' trimethylene dipiperidine. Their physicochemical properties of triblock and penta-block copolymers were characterized by $^1H-NMR$ spectroscopy and gel permeation spectroscopy. Sol-gel phase transition behavior of PAE-PCL-PEG-PCL-PAE block copolymers were investigated by remains stable method. Aqueous media of the penta-block copolymer (at 20 wt%) changed from a sol phase at pH 6.4 and $10^{\circ}C$ to a gel phase at pH 7.4 and $37^{\circ}C$. The sol-gel transition properties of these block copolymers are influenced by the hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance of the copolymers, block length, hydrophobicity, stereo-regularity of the hydrophobic of the block copolymer, and the ionization of the pH function groups in the copolymer depended on the changing of environmental pH, respectively. The degradation and the stabilization at pH 7.4 and $37^{\circ}C$, and the stabilization at pH 6.4 and $10^{\circ}C,\;5^{\circ}C,\;0^{\circ}C$, of the gel were determined. The results of toxicity experiment show that the penta block copolymer can be used for injection drug delivery system. The sol?gel transition of this block copolymer also study by in vitro test ($200{\mu}l$ aqueous solution at 20wt% polymer was injected to mouse). Insulin loading and releasing by in vitro test was investigated, the results showed that insulin can loading easily into polymer matrix and release time is around 14-16days. The PAE-PCL-PEG-PCL-PAE can be used as biomaterial for drug, protein, gene loading and delivery.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.558-564
• /
• 2013

A simple and effective method is introduced to synthesize a series of polystyrene-b-poly(oligo(ethylene oxide) monomethyl ether methacrylate)-b-polystyrene (PSt-b-POEOMA-b-PSt) triblock copolymers. The structures of PSt-b-POEOMA-b-PSt copolymers were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance ($^1H$ NMR) spectroscopy. The molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the copolymer were measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Furthermore, the self-assembling and drug-loaded behaviours of three different ratios of PSt-b-POEOMA-b-PSt were studied. These copolymers could readily self-assemble into micelles in aqueous solution. The vitamin E-loaded copolymer micelles were produced by the dialysis method. The micelle size and core-shell structure of the block copolymer micelles and the drug-loaded micelles were confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The thermal properties of the copolymer micelles before and after drug-loaded were investigated by different scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results show that the micelle size is slightly increased with increasing the content of hydrophobic segments and the micelles are still core-shell spherical structures after drug-loaded. Moreover, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of polystyrene is reduced after the drug loaded. The drug loading content (DLC) of the copolymer micelles is 70%-80% by ultraviolet (UV) photolithography analysis. These properties indicate the micelles self-assembled from PSt-b-POEOMA-b-PSt copolymers would have potential as carriers for the encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Rheology Conference
• /
• 2000.05a
• /
• pp.43-46
• /
• 2000

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.294-301
• /
• 2013

Polymersomes made of biodegradable triblock copolymers based on poly(fumaric acid-co-sebacoyl chloride)/PEG (PEG-co-P(FA/SC)-co-PEG) were prepared and studied in aqueous solutions. TEM confirmed the formation of vesicles in aqueous media. Aggregation behavior of the copolymers was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy of 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid, and the critical aggregation concentration (c.a.c.) of the copolymer was found to be ${\sim}26.2{\mu}M$ indicating desirable stability of the vesicles. Dynamic light scattering revealed that the size of the vesicles was distributed within the range of 170-270 nm. Turbidity measurements confirmed the relative short-term stability of the polymersomes. Carboxyfluorescein, a hydrophilic compound, was simply encapsulated in the vesicles during polymersome preparation. The release of encapsulant from the polymersomes at 25 and $37^{\circ}C$ lasted about 3 weeks, and the rate of release followed a first-order kinetics. The release is speculated to be primarily carried out through diffusion. These results confirm that these polymersomes are promising as controlled-release carriers of various drugs.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.26 no.11
• /
• pp.1653-1668
• /
• 2005

Assembly of hybrid mesophases through the combination of amphiphilic block copolymers, acting as structuredirecting agents, and silicon sources using low acid catalyst concentration regimes is a versatile strategy to produce large quantities of high-quality ordered large-pore mesoporous silicas in a very reproducible manner. Controlling structural and textural properties is proven to be straightforward at low HCl concentrations with the adjustment of synthesis gel composition and the option of adding co-structure-directing molecules. In this account, we illustrate how various types of large-pore mesoporous silica can easily be prepared in high phase purity with tailored pore dimensions and tailored level of framework interconnectivity. Silica mesophases with two-dimensional hexagonal (p6mm) and three-dimensional cubi (Fm$\overline{3}$m, Im$\overline{3}$m and Ia$\overline{3}$d) symmetries are generated in aqueous solution by employing HCl concentrations in the range of 0.1−0.5 M and polyalkylene oxide-based triblock copolymers such as Pluronic P123 $(EO_{20}-PO_{70}-EO_{20})$ and Pluronic F127 $(EO_{106}-PO_{70}-EO_{106})$. Characterizations by powder X-ray diffraction, nitrogen physisorption, and transmission electron microscopy show that the mesoporous materials all possess high specific surface areas, high pore volumes and readily tunable pore diameters in narrow distribution of sizes ranging from 4 to 12 nm. Furthermore, we discuss our recent advances achieved in order to extend widely the phase domains in which single mesostructures are formed. Emphasis is put on the first synthetic product phase diagrams obtained in $SiO_2$-triblock copolymer-BuOH-$H_2O$ systems, with tuning amounts of butanol and silica source correspondingly. It is expected that the extended phase domains will allow designed synthesis of mesoporous silicas with targeted characteristics, offering vast prospects for future applications.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.121-133
• /
• 2014

Block copolymers including ABA triblock architectures are useful as thermoplastic elastomers and toughened plastics depending on the relative glassy and rubbery content. These materials can be blended with other polymers and utilized as additives, toughening agents, and compatibilizers. Most of commercially available block copolymers are derived from petroleum. Renewable alternatives are attractive considering the finite supply of fossil resources on earth and the overall economic and environmental expenses involved in the recovery and use of oil. Furthermore, tomorrow's sustainable materials are demanding the design and implementation with programmed end-of-life. The present review focuses on the preparation and evaluation of new classes of renewable ABA triblock copolymers and also emphasizes on the use of carbohydrate-derived poly(lactide) or plant-based poly(olefins) having a high glass transition temperature and/or high melting temperature for the hard phase in addition to the use of bio-based amorphous hydrocarbon polymers with a low glass transition temperature for the soft components. The combination of multiple controlled polymerizations has proven to be a powerful approach. Precision-controlled synthesis of these hybrid macromolecules has led to the development of new elastomers and tough plastics offering renewability, biodegradability, and high performance.