Category Ranking
98%
Total Visits
921
Avg Visit Duration
2 minutes
Citations
20
Article Abstract
This paper reports a modular design of self-immolative poly(benzyl ether) (PBE) amphiphiles that allows precise control over polymer chain structure, end-group placement, and degradation behavior. By tuning block sequences and exposing reactive end groups, these amphiphiles undergo efficient head-to-tail depolymerization upon external stimuli. Structural variations in the monomers enable micelle formation with end groups displayed on the surface, while the carboxylate content in the hydrophilic block influences global micelle morphology. The resulting micelles are degradable in aqueous environments and can transform into spherical structures when combined with conventional surfactants. As a proof of concept, small-molecule cargos were successfully loaded and released from the mixed micelles on demand. This design platform offers a versatile route to create functional, stimulus-responsive surfactants with tunable assembly, degradation, and controlled release capabilities.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01845 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Reverse Block Sequence in Self-Immolative Poly(benzyl ether)-Based Amphiphiles for Tailoring End Groups and Self-Assembly Behavior.
Biomacromolecules
May 2025
School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61186, Korea.
This paper reports a modular design of self-immolative poly(benzyl ether) (PBE) amphiphiles that allows precise control over polymer chain structure, end-group placement, and degradation behavior. By tuning block sequences and exposing reactive end groups, these amphiphiles undergo efficient head-to-tail depolymerization upon external stimuli. Structural variations in the monomers enable micelle formation with end groups displayed on the surface, while the carboxylate content in the hydrophilic block influences global micelle morphology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRadiopaque, Self-Immolative Poly(benzyl ether) as a Functional X-ray Contrast Agent: Synthesis, Prolonged Visibility, and Controlled Degradation.
Biomacromolecules
May 2024
School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61186, Korea.
A self-immolative radiocontrast polymer agent has been newly designed for this study. The polymer agent is composed of a degradable poly(benzyl ether)-based backbone that enables complete and spontaneous depolymerization upon exposure to a specific stimulus, with iodophenyl pendant groups that confer a radiodensity comparable to that of commercial agents. In particular, when incorporated into a biodegradable polycaprolactone matrix, the agent not only reinforces the matrix and provides prolonged radiopacity without leaching but also governs the overall degradation kinetics of the composite under basic aqueous conditions, allowing for X-ray tracking and exhibiting a predictable degradation until the end of its lifespan.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFunctionalizable, Side Chain-Immolative Poly(benzyl ether)s.
ACS Macro Lett
April 2019
Institute of Chemical Biology and Nanomedicine, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China.
Herein, we report a poly(benzyl ether)-based self-immolative polymer (SIP) with pendant pyridine disulfide groups. Cleavage of the side-chain disulfides leads to the formation of phenolates, which initiate depolymerization from the side chain. Due to the higher density of the disulfide groups compared to that of the chain-end-capping group, which normally is responsible for initiating depolymerization of SIPs, the side chain-immolative polymer (ScIP) can be readily degraded in the solid state where the mobility of polymer chains is substantially limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFModulating the Depolymerization of Self-Immolative Brush Polymers with Poly(benzyl ether) Backbones.
Macromolecules
April 2018
Institute of Chemical Biology and Nanomedicine, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China.
We have synthesized a series of stimuli-responsive brush polymers by grafting azide-terminated side chains onto a self-immolative, alkyne-bearing poly(benzyl ether) backbone, which is prepared by anionic polymerization of quinone methide-based monomers. Upon exposure to a decapping reagent (Pd(0) or F), these brush polymers undergo an irreversible degradation cascade from head to tail to yield individual side chains. It is observed that several factors affect the depolymerization kinetics, including solvent polarity, type of counterion, the rate of the decapping chemistry, and interestingly, the rigidity of the side chains.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSelf-immolative polymers with potent and selective antibacterial activity by hydrophilic side chain grafting.
J Mater Chem B
November 2018
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th St., Troy, New York 12180, USA.
We report the first example of a self-immolative polymer that exerts potent antibacterial activity combined with relatively low hemolytic toxicity. In particular, self-immolative poly(benzyl ether)s bearing pendant cationic ammonium groups and grafted poly(ethylene glycol) chains in their side chains were prepared via post-polymerization thiol-ene chemistry. These functional polymers undergo sensitive and specific triggered depolymerization into small molecules upon exposure to a designed stimulus (in this example, fluoride ions cleave a silyl ether end cap).
View Article and Find Full Text PDF