Showing papers on "Methacrylic acid published in 2011"

Interaction of Microstructure and Interfacial Adhesion on Impact Performance of Polylactide (PLA) Ternary Blends

Abstract: Polyactide (PLA) was blended with an ethylene/n-butyl acrylate/glycidyl methacrylate (EBA-GMA) terpolymer and a zinc ionomer of ethylene/methacrylic acid (EMAA-Zn) copolymer. The phase morphology of the resulting ternary blends and its relationship with impact behaviors were studied systematically. Dynamic vulcanization of EBA-GMA in the presence of EMAA-Zn was investigated by torque rheology, and its cross-link level was evaluated by dynamic mechanical analysis. Reactive compatibilization between PLA and EBA-GMA was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The dispersed domains in the ternary blends displayed a “salami”-like phase structure, in which the EMAA-Zn phase evolved from occluded subinclusions into continuous phase with decrease in the EBA-GMA/EMAA-Zn ratio. An optimum range of particle sizes of the dispersed domains for high impact toughness was identified. Also, the micromechanical deformation process of these ternary blends was also investigated by observation of the impact-fra...

Different EDC/NHS activation mechanisms between PAA and PMAA brushes and the following amidation reactions.

Abstract: Infrared spectroscopy was applied to investigate the well-known EDC/NHS (N-ethyl-N'-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)carbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide) activation details of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) brushes grafted on porous silicon. Succinimidyl ester (NHS-ester) is generally believed to be the dominant intermediate product, conveniently used to immobilize biomolecules containing free primary amino groups via amide linkage. To our surprise, the infrared spectral details revealed that the EDC/NHS activation of PMAA generated anhydride (estimated at around 76% yield and 70% composition), but not NHS-ester (around 5% yield and 11% composition) under the well-documented reaction conditions, as the predominant intermediate product. In contrast, EDC/NHS activation of PAA still follows the general rule, i.e., the expected NHS-ester is the dominant intermediate product (around 45% yield and 57% composition), anhydride the side product (40% yield and 28% composition), under the optimum reaction conditions. The following amidation on PAA-based NHS-esters with a model amine-containing compound, L-leucine methyl ester, generated approximately 70% amides and 30% carboxylates. In contrast, amidation of PAA- or PMAA-based anhydrides with L-leucine methyl ester only produced less than 30% amides but more than 70% carboxylates. The above reaction yields and percentage compositions were estimated by fitting the carbonyl stretching region with 5 possible species, NHS-ester, anhydride, N-acylurea, unreacted acid, unhydrolyzed tert-butyl ester, and using the Beer-Lambert law. The different surface chemistry mechanisms will bring significant effects on the performance of surface chemistry-derived devices such as biochips, biosensors, and biomaterials.

Rhodium-catalyzed regioselective olefination directed by a carboxylic group.

Abstract: The ortho-olefination of benzoic acids can be achieved effectively through rhodium-catalyzed oxidative coupling with alkenes. The carboxylic group is readily removable to allow ortho-olefination/decarboxylation in one pot. α,β-Unsaturated carboxylic acids such as methacrylic acid also undergo the olefination at the β-position. Under the rhodium catalysis, the cine-olefination of heteroarene carboxylic acids such as thiophene-2-carboxylic acid proceeds smoothly accompanied by decarboxylation to selectively produce the corresponding vinylheteroarene derivatives.

Pickering Emulsion Polymerization Using Laponite Clay as Stabilizer To Prepare Armored “Soft” Polymer Latexes

Abstract: The fabrication of “soft” nanocomposite clay armored polymer latexes is described. Laponite clay XLS is used as stabilizer in the Pickering emulsion polymerization of a variety of monomer mixtures, that is, methyl methacrylate and n-butyl acrylate, styrene and n-butyl acrylate, and styrene and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate. Overall solids contents of the hybrid latexes in complete absence of coagulation of up to 24 wt % are reported under batch conditions. Key mechanistic aspects of the Pickering emulsion polymerization process are discussed. The use of monomers that have high water solubility and are prone to hydrolyze under basic conditions, for example methyl methacrylate, should be restricted. The use of small amounts of methacrylic acid as auxiliary monomer promotes clay adhesion to the surface of the particles in the Pickering emulsion (co)polymerization of hydrophobic monomers. Detailed kinetic studies at both 60 and 80 °C of the Pickering emulsion copolymerization of styrene and n-butyl acrylate (Sty:BA =...

Amphiphilic Block Copolymers from a Direct and One‐pot RAFT Synthesis in Water

Abstract: The syntheses of amphiphilic block copolymers are successfully performed in water by chain extension of hydrophilic macromolecules with styrene at 80 °C. The employed strategy is a one-pot procedure in which poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid) or poly(methacrylic acid-co-poly(ethylene oxide) methyl ether methacrylate) macroRAFTs are first formed in water using 4-cyano-4-thiothiopropylsulfanyl pentanoic acid (CTPPA) as a chain transfer agent. The resulting macroRAFTs are then directly used without further purification for the RAFT polymerization of styrene in water in the same reactor. This simple and straightforward strategy leads to a very good control of the resulting amphiphilic block copolymers.

Preparation and characterization of pH-sensitive hydrogels based on chitosan, itaconic acid and methacrylic acid

Abstract: Novel pH-sensitive hydrogels based on chitosan, itaconic acid and methacrylic acid were prepared in two steps. Chitosan was first ionically crosslinked with itaconic acid, after which a free radical polymerization and crosslinking of the chitosan/itaconic acid network was performed by adding methacrylic acid and a crosslinker in order to achieve better mechanical properties and tunable swelling. The samples were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, dynamic mechanical analysis and the swelling ratios of the hydrogels at various pH values (2.0–8.0). The hydrogel composition is found to have a great impact on the hydrogel structure, mechanical and thermal properties, morphology and swelling kinetics. The highly porous morphology of the gels is probably connected with the bulky chitosan/itaconic acid network which reduces the degree of crosslinking in the second step of the synthesis due to steric hindrances. The gels demonstrate substantial change in buffer absorbency with change of pH, low for acid buffers and the higher for pH values above 6 where the swelling is considerably slow, thus suggesting their strong candidature for use as oral drug-delivery systems in the lower parts of the gastrointestinal tract and for drugs that require longer release times. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry

Synthesis of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Amino Acid Derivates by Using Different Functional Monomers

Abstract: Fmoc-3-nitrotyrosine (Fmoc-3-NT) molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were synthesized to understand the influence of several functional monomers on the efficiency of the molecular imprinting process. Acidic, neutral and basic functional monomers, such as acrylic acid (AA), methacrylic acid (MAA), methacrylamide (MAM), 2-vinylpyridine (2-VP), 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP), have been used to synthesize five different polymers. In this study, the MIPs were tested in batch experiments by UV-visible spectroscopy in order to evaluate their binding properties. The MIP prepared with 2-VP exhibited the highest binding affinity for Fmoc-3NT, for which Scatchard analysis the highest association constant (2.49 × 104 M−1) was obtained. Furthermore, titration experiments of Fmoc-3NT into acetonitrile solutions of 2-VP revealed a stronger bond to the template, such that a total interaction is observed. Non-imprinted polymers as control were prepared and showed no binding affinities for Fmoc-3NT. The results are indicative of the importance of ionic bonds formed between the –OH residues of the template molecule and the pyridinyl groups of the polymer matrix. In conclusion, 2-VP assists to create a cavity which allows better access to the analytes.

Dual Stimuli-Responsive Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) Microgels Based on Photo-Cleavable Cross-Linkers: pH-Dependent Swelling and Light-Induced Degradation

Abstract: Dual stimuli-responsive p(HEMA-co-MAA) microgels were prepared in a facile way by inverse miniemulsion copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with methacrylic acid (MAA) and two kinds of newly synthesized photodegradable cross-linkers. The pH-dependent swelling behavior induced by the protonation/deprotonation of the methacrylic acid groups in the network-forming polymer was investigated by means of the particle volume change as determined by DLS measurements. Photolytic degradation experiments were conducted by irradiation with UV light which led to particle disintegration caused by cleavage of the photolabile cross-linking points. The degradation behavior of the microgels was investigated with respect to degradation rates and changes in the degree of swelling. Those parameters were found to depend on the pH value of the solvent, the light intensities, and the irradiation wavelengths applied. For similar conditions, the degradation profile was demonstrated to strongly depend not only on t...

Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam-co-methacrylic acid) hydrogel microparticles for oral insulin delivery.

Abstract: pH-sensitive copolymeric hydrogels prepared from N-vinylcaprolactam and methacrylic acid monomers by free radical polymerization offered 52% encapsulation efficiency and evaluated for oral delivery of human insulin. The in vitro experiments performed on insulin-loaded microparticles in pH 1.2 media (stomach condition) demonstrated no release of insulin in the first 2 h, but almost 100% insulin was released in pH 7.4 media (intestinal condition) in 6 h. The carrier was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimeter, thermogravimetry and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques to confirm the formation of copolymer, while scanning electron microscopy was used to assess the morphology of hydrogel microparticles. The in vivo experiments on alloxan-induced diabetic rats showed the biological inhibition up to 50% and glucose tolerance tests exhibited 44% inhibition. The formulations of this study are the promising carriers for oral delivery of insulin.

Origin of the Difference in Structural Behavior of Poly(acrylic acid) and Poly(methacrylic acid) in Aqueous Solution Discerned by Explicit-Solvent Explicit-Ion MD Simulations

Abstract: The conformational and hydration behavior of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) in dilute aqueous solution, as a function of charge density, is studied using two different sets of force field parameters: FF-1 and FF-2. The two sets of force field parameters predict similar correlation distances between carboxylate groups and water. The simulations bring about the difference in the interaction of the counterions with the polyions PAA and PMA. FF-1 predicts that upon neutralization PMA shows stronger correlation with Na+ ions in comparison to PAA in aqueous solution. This difference in behavior agrees with the fact that, in poor solvents, the polyelectrolyte chain and the counterions interact strongly. The atomistic simulations using FF-1 parameters presented here bring about the difference in the conformational behaviors of PAA and PMA and the effect of solvent quality on the polyacrylate chain backbone structure.

Poly(2-cyclopropyl-2-oxazoline): From Rate Acceleration by Cyclopropyl to Thermoresponsive Properties

Abstract: The synthesis and microwave-assisted living cationic ring-opening polymerization of 2-cyclopropyl-2-oxazoline is reported revealing the fastest polymerization for an aliphatic substituted 2-oxazoline to date, which is ascribed to the electron withdrawing effect of the cyclopropyl group. The poly(2-cyclopropyl-2-oxazoline) (pCPropOx) represents an alternative thermo-responsive poly(2-oxazoline) with a reversible critical temperature close to body temperature. The cloud point (CP) of the obtained pCPropOx in aqueous solution was evaluated in detail by turbidimetry, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and viscosity measurements. pCPropOx is amorphous with a significantly higher glass transition temperature (Tg ∼ 80 °C) compared to the amorphous poly(2-n-propyl-2-oxazoline) (pnPropOx) (Tg ∼ 40 °C), while poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) piPropOx is semicrystalline. In addition, a pCPropOx comb polymer was prepared by methacrylic acid end-capping of the living cationic species followed by RAFT polymerization of the ma...

Investigation on Poly(methacrylic acid)-Grafted Cellulose/Bentonite Superabsorbent Composite: Synthesis, Characterization, and Adsorption Characteristics of Bovine Serum Albumin

Abstract: Investigation on adsorption behavior of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on superabsorbent composite is critical for many analytical and biomedical applications. In this study, a novel poly(methacrylic acid)-grafted cellulose/bentonite (PMAA-g-Cell/Bent) superabsorbent composite was synthesized by graft copolymerization reaction of methacrylic acid on cellulose (Cell) in the presence of bentonite (Bent) using N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide as a cross-linker. The original Cell and Bent and composite were analyzed using FTIR, XRD, SEM, TG, and potentiometric titrations. The ability of the composite to adsorb BSA from aqueous solutions has been studied at different optimized conditions. The optimum pH range for the maximum uptake of BSA was 4.5. Maximum adsorption of the BSA, i.e., 99.7%, was achieved from an initial concentration of 10.0 mg/L using 1.0 g composite at pH 4.0. The equilibrium time of adsorbing BSA was about 3 h. Experimental kinetic data were tested with pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kine...

Doubly crosslinked pH-responsive microgels prepared by particle inter-penetration: swelling and mechanical properties

Abstract: The structure and properties of conventional, singly crosslinked, pH-responsive microgel particles (SX microgels) have been extensively studied. Recently, doubly crosslinked microgels (DX microgels) have been reported. These are a new type of hydrogel that are constructed from covalently linked SX microgels. In this study we report for the first time an investigation of a new class of DX microgels which are pH responsive. The DX microgels were prepared using covalent linking of physically gelled dispersions of inter-penetrating, vinyl-functionalised microgels. The pH-responsive SX microgels used were poly(MMA/MAA/EGDMA) (methyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate) and poly(EA/MAA/BDDA) (ethylacrylate and butanediol diacrylate). The two microgel types considered (abbreviated as M-EGD and E-BDD) were functionalised with glycidyl methacrylate (GM). pH-triggered swelling of concentrated dispersions and free-radical coupling of the vinyl groups was used to prepare the DX microgels. The relationships between DX microgel composition and mechanical properties are investigated using dynamic rheology and swelling experiments. The DX microgels had storage modulus values of up to 20 kPa at a particle volume fraction (ϕp) of 0.10. The yield strains (γ*) could be varied between 5 and 65%. The ability to tune the mechanical properties of the DX microgels using the degree of functionalisation of the parent GM-functionalised microgel, ϕp and pH is demonstrated. We show that control of intra- and inter-particle crosslinking can be achieved using preparation conditions. The results are explained using a general relationship between the storage modulus and γ*. The new DX microgels have potential application as injectable gels for soft and load-bearing tissue repair.

Facile spray-drying assembly of uniform microencapsulates with tunable core-shell structures and controlled release properties.

Abstract: Microencapsulates with defined core–shell structures are of interest for applications, such as controlled release and encapsulation, because of the feasibility of fine-tuning individual functionalities of different parts. Here, we report a new approach for efficient and scalable production of such particles. Eudragit RS (a co-polymer of ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and a low content of methacrylic acid ester with quaternary ammonium groups) was used as the main shell component, with silica as the core component, formed upon a single-step spray-drying assembly. The method is capable of forming uniform core–shell particles from homogeneous precursors without the use of any organic solvents. Evaporation-induced self-assembly attained the phase separation among different components during drying, resulting in the core–shell spatial configuration, while precise control over particle uniformity was accomplished via a microfluidic jet spray dryer. Direct control over shell thickness can be achieved from ...

Crosslinked Graft Copolymer of Methacrylic Acid and Gelatin as a Novel Hydrogel with pH-Responsiveness Properties

Abstract: In this paper, a novel gelatin-based hydrogel was synthesized through crosslinking graft copolymerization of methacrylic acid (MAA) onto gelatin, using ammonium persulfate (APS) as a free radical initiator in the presence of methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker. A proposed mechanism for hydrogel formation was suggested and the structure of the product was established using FTIR spectroscopy and gravimetric analysis of the products. Moreover, morphology of the samples was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG). The effect of reaction variables such as concentration of APS and MBA were systematically optimized to achieve a hydrogel with swelling capacity as high as possible. The gelatin-g-PMAA hydrogel exhibited a pH-responsiveness character so that a swelling-deswelling pulsatile behavior was recorded at pHs 2 and 8. This on-off switching behavior makes the hydrogel as a good candidate for controlled delivery of bioactive agents.

Radiolytic synthesis of Pt-Ru catalysts based on functional polymer-grafted MWNT and their catalytic efficiency for CO and MeOH

Abstract: Pt-Ru catalysts based on functional polymer-grafted MWNT (Pt-Ru@FP-MWNT) were prepared by radiolytic deposition of Pt-Ru nanoparticles on functional polymer-grafted multiwalled carbon nanotube (FP-MWNT). Three different types of functional polymers, poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc), poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAc), and poly(vinylphenyl boronic acid) (PVPBAc), were grafted on the MWNT surface by radiation-induced graft polymerization (RIGP). Then, Pt-Ru nanoparticles were deposited onto the FPMWNTsupports by the reduction of metal ions using γ-irradiation to obtain Pt-Ru@FP-MWNT catalysts. The Pt-Ru@FP-MWNT catalysts were then characterized by XRD, XPS, TEM, and elemental analysis. The catalytic efficiency of Pt-Ru@FP-MWNT catalyst was examined for CO stripping and MeOH oxidation for use in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The Pt-Ru@PVPBAc-MWNT catalyst shows enhanced activity for electro-oxidation of CO and MeOH oxidation over that of the commercial E-TEK catalyst.

Nitroxide-Mediated Copolymerization of Methacrylic Acid and Sodium 4-Styrenesulfonate in Water Solution and One-Pot Synthesis of Amphiphilic Block Copolymer Nanoparticles

Abstract: The SG1-mediated copolymerization of methacrylic acid and a small percentage of sodium 4-styrenesulfonate was performed in water solution at 76 °C, using BlocBuilder as an alkoxyamine initiator under acidic conditions. Unexpectedly, these conditions, which could be considered as rather unfavorable due to the instability of SG1 in acidic water, led to very good results in term of polymerization kinetics and control over polymer chain growth. It appeared that low temperature and short reaction time were the key parameters to maintain a good living character to the chains as evaluated by in situ 31P NMR. The aqueous system was then used directly as the polymerization medium for the emulsion copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene performed at 90 °C. This one-pot procedure led to the synthesis of amphiphilic block copolymers that self-assembled into stable core–shell nanoparticles.

pH Responsivity and micelle formation of gradient copolymers of methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate in aqueous solution.

Abstract: A series of gradient copolymers of methacrylic acid (MAA)/methyl methacrylate (MMA) with four end-to-end composition profiles (uniform, linear gradient, triblock with linear gradient midblock, and diblock) but all having an average chain composition of FMMA ≈ 0.5 and an average chain length of 200 were synthesized via model-based, computer-programmed, semibatch atom-transfer radical copolymerization (ATRcoP). These samples allowed us to investigate systematically the effects of the gradient composition profile on the pH responsivity and micelle formation of the copolymers in an aqueous solution. Measurements included light transmittance, TEM, AFM, DLS, 1H NMR, and pH titration. It was found that linear gradient, triblock, and diblock copolymers formed spherical micelles at high pH. The micelles of the linear gradient copolymer contained MMA units in their hydrophilic shells, and those of the triblock and diblock copolymers had all of their MMA units residing in their cores. The composition profile showed...