Degradable and comb-like PEG-based copolymers by nitroxide-mediated radical ring-opening polymerization

Biomacromolecules. 2013 Oct 14;14(10):3769-79. doi: 10.1021/bm401157g. Epub 2013 Sep 30.

Abstract

Three cyclic ketene acetals, 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (MDO), 5,6-benzo-2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (BMDO), and 2-methylene-4-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane (MPDL), have been copolymerized with oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate and a small amount of acrylonitrile (or styrene) at 90 °C by nitroxidemediated radical ring-opening polymerization, as a convenient way to prepare degradable PEG-based copolymers for biomedical applications. MPDL was the best candidate, enabling high monomer conversions to be reached and well-defined PEG-based copolymers with adjustable amount of ester groups in the main chain to be synthesized, leading to nearly complete hydrolytic degradation (5% KOH aqueous solution, ambient temperature). The noncytotoxicity of the obtained copolymers was shown on three different cell lines (i.e., fibroblasts, endothelial cells and macrophages), representing a promising approach for the design of degradable precursors for PEGylation and bioconjugation via the NMP technique.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetals / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Cell Survival
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Ethylenes / chemistry
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Free Radicals / chemistry
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Humans
  • Ketones / chemistry
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Nitrogen Oxides / chemistry*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemical synthesis
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Polymerization

Substances

  • Acetals
  • Ethylenes
  • Free Radicals
  • Ketones
  • Nitrogen Oxides
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • ketene