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22 pages, 8154 KiB

Open AccessReview

Poly(2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline) as a Versatile Functional Polymer for Biomedical Applications

by Juraj Kronek, Alžbeta Minarčíková, Zuzana Kroneková, Monika Majerčíková, Paul Strasser and Ian Teasdale

Polymers 2024, 16(12), 1708; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16121708 - 14 Jun 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2821

Abstract

Functional polymers play an important role in various biomedical applications. From many choices, poly(2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline) (PIPOx) represents a promising reactive polymer with great potential in various biomedical applications. PIPOx, with pendant reactive 2-oxazoline groups, can be readily prepared in a controllable manner via several controlled/living polymerization methods, such as living anionic polymerization, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), reversible addition–fragmentation transfer (RAFT) or rare earth metal-mediated group transfer polymerization. The reactivity of pendant 2-oxazoline allows selective reactions with thiol and carboxylic group-containing compounds without the presence of any catalyst. Moreover, PIPOx has been demonstrated to be a non-cytotoxic polymer with immunomodulative properties. Post-polymerization functionalization of PIPOx has been used for the preparation of thermosensitive or cationic polymers, drug conjugates, hydrogels, brush-like materials, and polymer coatings available for drug and gene delivery, tissue engineering, blood-like materials, antimicrobial materials, and many others. This mini-review covers new achievements in PIPOx synthesis, reactivity, and use in biomedical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Functional Polymer Materials for Biomedical Applications)

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18 pages, 7444 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Surface Modification of Carbon Fiber for Enhancing the Mechanical Strength of Composites

by Ryoma Tokonami, Katsuhito Aoki, Teruya Goto and Tatsuhiro Takahashi

Polymers 2022, 14(19), 3999; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14193999 - 24 Sep 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3894

Abstract

The surface of carbon fibers (CFs) is often modified by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and the effect of the interface on the mechanical properties has been reported mostly for epoxy matrices. We achieved effective surface modification of CFs by a simple two-step process to graft a large amount of MWCNTs using a highly reactive polymer to enhance the bonding between CFs and MWCNTs. The first step was the reactive mono-molecular coating of a reactive polymer (poly-2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline; Pipozo) that has high reactivity with COOH from CFs and MWCNTs. The high reactivity between the oxazoline group and COOH or phenol OH was confirmed for low-molecular-weight reactions. The second step was the coating of MWCNTs from a dispersion in a solvent. This simple process resulted in a substantial amount of MWCNTs strongly bonded to CF, even after washing. The MWCNTs grafted onto CFs remained even after melt-mixing. The effect on the interface, i.e., physical anchoring, led to an improvement of the mechanical properties. The novelty of the present study is that Pipozo acted as a molecular bonding layer between CFs and MWCNTs as a physical anchoring structure formed by a simple process, and the interface caused a 20% improvement in the tensile strength and modulus. This concept of a composite having a physical anchoring structure of MWCNTs on CFs has potential applications for lightweight thermoplastics, such as in the automotive industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymer Composites: Synthesis, Characterization and Application)

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16 pages, 8238 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cell-Mediated Immunoreactivity of Poly(2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline) as Promising Formulation for Immunomodulation

by Ema Paulovičová, Zuzana Kroneková, Lucia Paulovičová, Monika Majerčíková and Juraj Kronek

Materials 2021, 14(6), 1371; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14061371 - 12 Mar 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2207

Abstract

Poly(2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline) (PIPOx) represents a functional polymer with high potential for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and immunomodulation. The immunomodulatory efficiency of the PIPOx formulation has been studied in vitro following splenic cells and RAW 264.7 macrophages exposition. The cell-specific immunomodulative effect on production of Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg signature cytokines has been demonstrated. The impact on the functionality of PIPOx-sensitized RAW 264.7 macrophages was assessed by cell phagocytosis. Time- and concentration-dependent cell internalization and intracellular organelles colocalization of fluorescently labeled PIPOx has been examined. The in vitro results demonstrated the PIPOx bioavailability and the capability of triggering immune cell responses resulting in the induced production of cell-specific signature interleukins, important prerequisite properties for future potential biomedical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications)

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15 pages, 6597 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reduction-Responsive Molecularly Imprinted Poly(2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline) for Controlled Release of Anticancer Agents

by Michał Cegłowski, Valentin Victor Jerca, Florica Adriana Jerca and Richard Hoogenboom

Pharmaceutics 2020, 12(6), 506; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics12060506 - 2 Jun 2020

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 4401

Abstract

Trigger-responsive materials are capable of controlled drug release in the presence of a specific trigger. Reduction induced drug release is especially interesting as the reductive stress is higher inside cells than in the bloodstream, providing a conceptual controlled release mechanism after cellular uptake. In this work, we report the synthesis of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) based on poly(2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline) (PiPOx) using 3,3′-dithiodipropionic acid (DTDPA) as a reduction-responsive functional cross-linker. The disulfide bond of DTDPA can be cleaved by the addition of tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP), leading to a reduction-induced 5-FU release. Adsorption isotherms and kinetics for 5-FU indicate that the adsorption kinetics process for imprinted and non-imprinted adsorbents follows two different kinetic models, thus suggesting that different mechanisms are responsible for adsorption. The release kinetics revealed that the addition of TCEP significantly influenced the release of 5-FU from PiPOx-MIP, whereas for non-imprinted PiPOx, no statistically relevant differences were observed. This work provides a conceptual basis for reduction-induced 5-FU release from molecularly imprinted PiPOx, which in future work may be further developed into MIP nanoparticles for the controlled release of therapeutic agents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecularly Imprinted Polymers in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Area: Let's Make the Point)

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2 pages, 175 KiB

Open AccessExtended Abstract

Poly(2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline) as a Versatile Platform for Multi-Functional Materials

by Florica Adriana Jerca, Valentin Victor Jerca, Dumitru Mircea Vuluga and Richard Hoogenboom

Proceedings 2019, 29(1), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2019029071 - 15 Oct 2019

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1175

Abstract

Multifunctional materials are designed to meet specific requirements through tailored properties. [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of Priorities of Chemistry for a Sustainable Development-PRIOCHEM)

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