Synthesis, characterization and properties of chitosan modified with poly(ethylene glycol)-polydimethylsiloxane amphiphilic block copolymers

Synthesis of poly(ethylene glycol)-polydimethylsiloxane amphiphilic block copolymers is discussed herein. Siloxane prepolymer was first prepared via acid-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D₄) to form polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) prepolymers. It was subsequently functionalized with hydroxy functional groups at both terminals. The hydroxy-terminated PDMS can readily react with acid-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG diacid) to give PEG-PDMS block copolymers without using any solvent. The PEG diacid was prepared from hydroxy-terminated PEG through the ring-opening reaction of succinic anhydride. Their chemical structures and molecular weights were characterized using ¹H NMR, FTIR and GPC, and thermal properties were determined by DSC. The PEG-PDMS copolymer was incorporated into chitosan in order that PDMS provided surface modification and PEG provided good water swelling properties to chitosan. Critical surface energy and swelling behavior of the modified chitosan as a function of the copolymer compositions and contents were investigated.     

Drug‐release behavior of chitosan‐g‐poly(vinyl alcohol) copolymer matrix

Chitosan‐g‐poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) copolymers with different grafting percent were prepared by grafting water‐soluble PVA onto chitosan. The drug‐release behavior was studied using the chitosan‐g‐PVA copolymer matrix containing prednisolone in a drug‐delivery system under various conditions. The relationship between the amount of the released drug and the square root of time was linear. From this result, the drug‐release behavior through the chitosan‐g‐PVA copolymer matrix is shown to be consistent with Higuchi's diffusion model. The drug‐release apparent constant (K_H) was slightly decreased at pH 1.2, but increased at pH 7.4 and 10 according to the increasing PVA grafting percent. Also, K_H was decreased by heat treatment and crosslinking. The drug release behavior of the chitosan‐g‐PVA copolymer matrix was able to be controlled by the PVA grafting percent, heat treatment, or crosslinking and was also less affected by the pH values than was the chitosan matrix. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 458–464, 1999     

Graft-copolymerization of methylacrylic acid onto hydroxypropyl chitosan

Summary In order to study the graft modification of chitosan derivatives, hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCTS) was prepared and characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, and elemental analysis Methylacrylic acid (MAA) was grafted onto HPCTS in an aqueous solution using ammonium persuffate (APS) as an initiator. Evidence of grafting was obtained by comparison of FTIR spectra of HPCTS and the grafted copolymer as well as solubility characteristics of the products. Variations of grafting percentage and grafting efficiency with reaction time, temperature, concentraton of initiator and monomer had been investigated. Received: 25 Febuary 2002/Revised version: 7 July 2002/Accepted: 12 July 2002     

新型接枝共聚物EVA-g-PU的研究

通过乙烯一酷酸乙烯共聚物(EVA)的皂化产物与聚醚型聚氨酷预聚体(PU)之间的接枝反应,合成了一种新型的接枝共聚物EVA-g-PU。用13C-NMR和FTIR对共聚物EVA-g-PU进行结构表征。结果表明,PU预聚体成功接枝在EVA主链上。力学性能测试表明,EVA-g-PU接枝聚合物的拉伸强度与断裂伸长率优于纯EVA。动态力学分析(DMA)表明,EVA-g-PU接枝共聚物的储能模量相对于纯EVA有较大程度的提高。热失重(TG)分析表明,PU预聚体的加人能有效改善接枝聚合物的热稳定性能。     

Stability constants of amidoximated chitosan‐g‐poly(acrylonitrile) copolymer for heavy metal ions

Amidoximated chitosan‐g‐poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) copolymer was prepared by a reaction between hydroxylamine and cyano group in chitosan‐g‐PAN copolymer prepared by grafting PAN onto crosslinked chitosan with epychlorohydrine. The adsorption and desorption capacities for heavy metal ions were measured under various conditions. The adsorption capacity of amidoximated chitosan‐g‐PAN copolymer increased with increasing pH values, and was increased for Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ but a little decreased for Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ with increasing PAN grafting percentage in amidoximated chitosan‐g‐PAN copolymer. In addition, desorption capacity for all metal ions was increased with increasing pH values in contrast to the adsorption results. Stability constants of amidoximated chitosan‐g‐PAN copolymer were higher for Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ but lower for Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ than those of crosslinked chitosan. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 469–476, 1999     

Microwave promoted synthesis of chitosan‐graft‐poly(acrylonitrile)

Using microwave (MW) irradiation, polyacrylonitrile was grafted onto chitosan with 170% grafting yield under homogeneous conditions in 1.5 min in the absence of any radical initiator or catalyst. Under similar conditions a maximum grafting of 105% could be achieved when the K₂S₂O₈/ascorbic acid redox system was used as radical initiator in a thermostatic water bath at 35 ± 2°C. The representative graft copolymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, thermogravimetric analysis, and X‐ray diffraction measurement, taking chitosan as a reference. The effects of such reaction variables as monomer/chitosan concentration, MW power, and exposure time on the graft co polymerization were studied. A probable mechanism for grafting without the redox system under microwaves was proposed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 820–825, 2005     

Characterization of hydrogels based on chitosan and copolymer of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and poly(vinyl alcohol)

Copolymers composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) were crosslinked with chitosan to prepare semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels by an ultraviolet (UV) irradiation method for application as potential biomedical materials. PVA/PDMS copolymer and chitosan was cast to prepare hydrogel films, followed by a subsequent crosslinking with 2,2‐dimethoxy‐2‐phenylacetophenone as a nontoxic photoinitiator by UV irradiation. Various semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks (semi‐IPNs) were prepared from different weight ratios of chitosan and the copolymer of PVA/PDMS. Photocrosslinked hydrogels exhibited an equilibrium water content (EWC) in the range of 65–95%. Swelling behaviors of these hydrogels were studied by immersion of the gels in various buffer solutions. Particularly, the PCN13 as the highest chitosan weight ratio in semi‐IPN hydrogels showed the highest EWC in time‐dependent and pH‐dependent swelling. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 2591–2596, 2002     

A study on cytocompatible poly(chitosan-g-l-lactic acid)

A novel cytocompatible graft copolymer of chitosan and l-lactic acid (CL) was prepared by grafting l-lactic acid onto the amino groups in chitosan without a catalyst. The structures of the CL graft copolymers were characterized by FTIR, ¹³C-NMR and X-ray measurements. Degree of substitution and side-chain length were evaluated from salicylaldehyde and elemental analysis. The tensile strength and water uptake of the CL copolymers films were investigated as a function of feed ratio of LA/CS. The influence of pH on the swelling behavior of the copolymer films was determined and interpreted. Fibroblast culture was performed to evaluate cell proliferation on the copolymers films. The results showed that the cell growth rate on the copolymers films is faster than chitosan obviously.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Carboxymethyl Chitosan Grafted Methacrylic Acid Initiated by Ceric Ammonium Nitrate

O-carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCH) was prepared and characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Grafting of methacrylic acid (MA) onto CMCH using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as an initiator was carried out under nitrogen atmosphere in aqueous solution. Evidence of grafting was confirmed by comparison of FTIR spectra of CMCH and the grafted copolymer as well as scanning electron micrograph (SEM) and X-ray diffraction of the products. The effects of concentration of CAN, MA, reaction time and temperature on graft copolymerization were studied by determining the grafting percentage and grafting efficiency. Keeping other conditions constant, the optimum grafting conditions were obtained as follows: CMCH = 2 gm, CAN = 0.2 M and MAA = 0.581 mol/L, reaction temperature = 40°C and reaction time = 4.5 hr.     

Synthesis and characterization of polyurethane–chitosan interpenetrating polymer networks

A polyurethane–chitosan (PU–CH) coating was synthesized from castor-oil-based PU prepolymer and highly deacetylated and depolymerized chitosan. The films cast with the coating were used for the characterization. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, a surface-sensitive technique, indicated the chemical bonding between the chitosan and PU prepolymer as well as the enrichment of chitosan on the surface of the film PU–CH. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy using the nitroxyl radical 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidine-1-oxyl (4-hydroxy-TEMPO) as a reporter group was used to study the chain mobility in the film PU–CH. It was observed that T_50G of the probe and the first glass transition temperature (T_g1) of the film PU–CH were 10 and 18°C higher than those in the PU film, respectively, and the activation energy (27.0 kJ mol⁻¹) of tumbling for the probe covalently bonded with PU–CH was 12.8 kJ mol⁻¹ higher than that of the probe with the film PU. It suggests that the molecular motion in the PU–CH was restricted by grafted and crosslinked interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs). The results of the differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis proved that the thermostability of the film PU–CH was significantly higher than that of the film PU, and the T_g1 value is in good agreement with that calculated from ESR. It could be concluded that the IPNs resulted from the chitosan grafting and crosslinking with PU exist in the film PU–CH. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 68: 1321–1329, 1998     

Graft copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate onto carboxymethyl chitosan using CAN as an initiator

O-Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCH) was prepared and characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. Graft copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) onto CMCH using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as an initiator was carried out in an aqueous solution. Evidence of grafting was confirmed by comparison of FTIR spectra of CMCH and the grafted copolymer as well as scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the products. The effects of concentration of CAN, HEMA, reaction time and temperature on graft copolymerization were studied by determining the grafting percentage, grafting efficiency. With keeping other condition constant, the optimum grafting conditions was obtained as following: CMCH, 2 g; CAN, 0.2 M; and HEMA, 0.384 mol/l; reaction temperature, 40 °C; and reaction time, 4.5 h.     

Novel blood-compatible waterborne polyurethane using chitosan as an extender

A series of novel block polymers of polyurethane (PU) and chitosan have been prepared in two steps. The first step is the preparation of PU prepolymer, obtained from polytetramethylene oxide glycol (PTMO, M_n = 1000), isophrone diisocyanate (IPDI), and 2,2′-dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA), followed by ionizing PU prepolymer with triethylamine (TEA). The second step involves PU chain-extended by water-soluble chitosan of low molecular weight (M_n = 5000) by self-emulsion polymerization method. The sizes of the latex particles, morphology, and copolymer architecture have been characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), general tensile test, infrared spectroscopy (IR), surface contact angle measurement, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, it shows that the addition of chitosan remarkably increases anticoagulative property of PU elastomers confirmed by the recalcification time. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Graft Copolymerization onto Starch–I. Synthesis and Optimization of Starch Grafted with N-tert-Butylacrylamide Copolymer and its Hydrogels

Grafting of N-tert-butylacrylamide (BAM) onto starch in aqueous medium initiated by ceric ammonium nitrate ion has been studied under N₂ atmosphere. The optimum conditions with respect to monomer concentration, initiator concentration, polymerization temperature, polymerization time and material to liquor ratio were studied in terms of percent of grafting efficiency (%GE) and percent of grafting yield (%GY). The optimum conditions obtained for the grafting of BAM on 1.0 g starch were: [BAM]=0.020 mol/L, [CAN]=0.91×10^–3 mol/L, Temperature=30C, and Time=240 min. Starch-g-BAM copolymer was characterized by FTIR, TGA for thermal stability, X-ray diffraction (XRD) for the crystallinity and scanning electron microscope (SEM) for surface morphology of the copolymer. Acid hydrolysis and viscosity average molecular weight (M _v) of copolymer were evaluated for the copolymer. Hydrogels prepared by grafting of BAM onto gelatinized starch showed maximum water uptake and moisture retain of 162% and 63% respectively.     

Surface Modification of Acrylonitrile Copolymer Membranes by Grafting Acrylamide. II. Initiation by Fe2+/H2O2

Surface modification of membranes of an acrylonitrile copolymer (PAN) containing 5.5% methyl methacrylate and 4.0% sodium methylpropylenesulfonate by grafting acrylamide (AAm) with ferrous ammonium sulfate/H₂O₂ as an initiator in aqueous medium was studied. The grafted copolymer was verified by infrared spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). From the SEM photos, we know that the AAm homopolymer branches were grafted onto the surface of the membrane and the morphology of the PAN membrane did not change. The results showed that the extent of grafting was varied with some parameters, such as the pH value of the medium, reaction time and temperature, and concentration of AAm and H₂O₂. The results of the water-absorption percent of the membrane showed that the wettability of the modified PAN membrane was improved. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 1907–1915, 1998     

Grafting of polymers onto vapor grown carbon fiber surface by ligand-exchange reaction of ferrocene moieties of polymer with polycondensed aromatic rings of the wall-surface

To improve the dispersibility of vapor grown carbon fiber (VGCF) in solvents, the grafting of copolymer containing vinyl ferrocene (VFE) onto the surface by ligand-exchange reaction between ferrocene moieties of the copolymer and polycondensed aromatic rings of VGCF was investigated. The copolymer containing VFE was prepared by the radical copolymerization of VFE with methyl methacrylate (MMA) using 2, 2′-azobisisobutyronitrole as an initiator. It was found that by heating of VGCF with poly(VFE-co-MMA) in the presence of AlCl₃ and Al powder, the copolymer was grafted onto the wall-surface: the percentage of grafting reached to 57.5%. It is considered that the copolymer was grafted onto VGCF surface by ligand-exchange reaction between ferrocene moieties of the copolymer and polycondensed aromatic rings of VGCF. In addition, carboxyl groups were successfully introduced onto VGCF wall-surface by the ligand-exchange reaction of 1,1′-dicarboxyferrocene with VGCF in the presence of AlCl₃ and Al powder. The carboxyl groups on VGCF were reacted with hydroxyl-terminated polymers to give the corresponding polymer-grafted VGCF. The polymer-grafted VGCF gave a stable colloidal dispersion in solvents for grafted polymer. The electric properties of composite prepared from polymer-grafted VGCF in solvent vapor were investigated.     

pH‐ and thermal characteristics of graft hydrogels based on chitosan and poly(dimethylsiloxane)

Graft copolymerization of epoxy‐terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) onto chitosan was reacted without using a catalyst. pH‐sensitive hydrogels were obtained that are based on two different components: a natural polymer and a synthetic polymer. These PDMS substitutents provide the basis for hydrophobic interactions that contribute to the formation of hydrogels. Various graft hydrogels were prepared from different weight ratios of chitosan and PDMS. Swelling behavior of these hydrogels was studied by immersion of the gels in various buffer solution. Photocrosslinked hydrogels exhibited a high equilibrium water content (EWC). Particularly, the sample CP31 of the highest chitosan–PDMS weight ratio showed the highest EWC in time‐dependent, temperature‐dependent, and pH‐dependent swelling behavior. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 2661–2666, 2002     

Synthesis and characterization of lactobionic acid grafted pegylated chitosan and nanoparticle complex application

A series of chemical modifications of chitosan were conducted by grafting a hydrophilic methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) and a target sugar molecule lactobionic acid (LA). The MPEG was grafted onto C6-OH position of chitosan, and the grafting degree was reduced for chitosan with high degree of depolymerization. The lactobionic acid was proposed to graft onto C2-NH₂ position of chitosan. The LA grafting ratio was dependent on pegylation degree of chitosan, where the flexibility and shielding effect of MPEG hindered LA grafting onto chitosan. The lactobionic acid grafted pegylated chitosan, DADP-CS-(O-MPEG)-(N-LA), successfully provoked DNA condensation into nanoparticle complexes due to electrostatic compaction. The presence of MPEG on DADP-CS-(O-MPEG)-(N-LA) played an important role on preventing nanoparticle aggregation.     

Polydimethylsiloxane assisted supercritical CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> foaming behavior of high melt strength polypropylene grafted with styrene

Foamable high melt strength polypropylene (HMSPP) was prepared by grafting styrene (St) onto polypropylene (PP) and simultaneously introducing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) through a one-step melt extrusion process. The effect of PDMS viscosity on the foaming behavior of HMSPP was systematically investigated using supercritical CO₂ as the foaming agent. The results show that the addition of PDMS has little effect on the grafting reaction of St and HMSPP exhibits enhanced elastic response and obvious strain hardening effect. Though the CO₂ solubility of HMSPP with PDMS (PDMS-HMSPP) is lower than that of HMSPP without PDMS, especially for PDMS with low viscosity, the PDMS-HMSPP foams exhibit narrow cell size distribution and high cell density. The fracture morphology of PDMS-HMSPP shows that PDMS with low viscosity disperses more easily and uniformly in HMSPP matrix, leading to form small domains during the extrusion process. These small domains act as bubble nucleation sites and thus may be responsible for the improved foaming performance of HMSPP.

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Nanocomposites Based on Chitosan-Graft-Poly(N-Vinyl-2-Pyrrolidone): Synthesis,Characterization, and Biological Activity

Organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT) was synthesized by cationic exchange between Na⁺-MMT and N-octyl-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidonium bromide. Chitosan graft copolymer nanocomposites were synthesized by grafting N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone onto chitosan in aqueous acetic acid in the presence of OMMT using free radical polymerization. The chemical structures were verified by FTIR. Scanning electron microscopy showed a surface roughness for chitosan graft nanocomposites. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction confirmed the intercalation of grafted chitosan chains between OMMT galleries. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the thermal stability of grafted chitosan was enhanced by OMMT incorporation. Preliminary studies showed that the nanocomposites exhibited antimicrobial activity compared with chitosan graft copolymer.     

Free radical grafting of styrene onto polyethylene in intensive mixer

The graft copolymerization of styrene onto low density polyethylene (LDPE) with dicumyl peroxide as an initiator was studied. The existence of the graft copolymer was verified by infrared spectra. The effects of the initiator concentration, the feed composition, the reaction time, and the reaction temperature were discussed. Grafting efficiency reached a maximum value with the increase of reaction time. The effect of increasing the concentration of dicumyl peroxide was to decrease the grafting efficiency up to a minimum value. Grafting efficiency was not affected much by the variation of the reaction temperature. Grafting efficiency decreased largely with the increase of the feed composition of styrene. The compatibilizing effect of the copolymer prepared in this study was demonstrated by the morphology and mechanical properties of high impact polystyrene/LDPE blends. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 1307–1317, 1998