Investigation of Interpolymer Complexation Between Poly(Vinylcaprolactam) and Poly(Maleic Acid-Alt-Styrene)

Abstract

The interactions between two synthetic polymers used in biomedical applications, maleic acid-styrene copolymer (MAc-St) and poly(vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL), were investigated in dilute aqueous solution considering the influence of the pH, the added salt and the ratio between the components in the mixture. Hydrogen-bonding interactions between the COOH groups of MAc-St and the C=O groups of PVCL, together with hydrophobic interactions are involved in the formation of the interpolymer complex. The complex is insoluble below pH = 2.85 in aqueous solution, but the addition of NaCl enlarged the pH domain where the precipitation of the complex occurred. When the ratio between the polymers was varied, two maxima of the optical density were obtained: at a 1:1 ratio between the COOH and caprolactam groups, and also at a lower ratio (1:3). Other investigations, like Downloaded by [University of Lethbridge] at 19:13 21 June 20162 the measurements of the turbidity in-situ during mixing, and fluorescence, viscometric and potentiometric measurements were performed in order to understand these interactions. The phase separation of the thermosensitive poly(vinylcaprolactam) in the presence of MAc-St was also studied. The cloud point and the phase transition profile were found to be influenced by the amount of polyacid, as well as by the pH.

Decoration, Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity Evaluation of Novel Nano‐Based 1,2‐Phenylenediamine Functionalized Maleic Anhydride‐Allylphenyl Ether Conjugate

“…Anhydride‐containing copolymers have a wide range of uses for specific applications, notably as water solubility enhancers, starting materials for the formation of nanoparticles, surface chemical modification capabilities, synthetic macromolecular carrier system capacities, dental implants, and are effective agents in medical/diagnostic imaging [14] . Their current formulations in the field of biomedical application can be listed as polymer‐based conjugates, micelles, nanoparticles, nanocapsules, nanogels, liposomes and dendrimers.…”

Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Colloids Synthesized by Miniemulsion Polymerization for Recognition and Separation of Nonylphenol

“…Poly­( N -vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) is a nontoxic biocompatible polymer able to promote hydrogen bonding with hydroxyl or carboxylic acid groups. − PVCL has been previously involved in MIP synthesis for recognition of gemcitabine or Sumatriptan succinate templates, but none of these MIPs were designed as colloidal particles dispersed in water. Since the early work of Zuber et al about PVCL particles synthesized by miniemulsion polymerization involving toluene as a cosolvent, only two recent works have investigated the design of PVCL-based particles by miniemulsion polymerization. , The present work investigates polymerization in aqueous dispersed media as a green process to synthesize submicronic MIP colloids for the selective recognition of the hydrophobic NP pollutants in a water-based medium (Scheme ).…”