Effect of the graft ratio on the properties of polythiophene‐g‐poly(ethylene glycol)

Abstract

Graft copolymers formed by anchoring poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains to conjugated polythiophene have been prepared by copolymerizing two compounds: . The electroactivity and electrochemical stability of PTh 3 * -g-PEG is not only higher than that of PTh 5 -g-PEG but also higher than that of PTh 3 , the latter presenting a very compact structure that makes difficult the access and escape of dopant ions into the polymeric matrix during the redox processes. Furthermore, the optical - * lowest transition energy of PTh 3 * -g-PEG is lower than that of both PTh 5 -g-PEG andPTh 3 . These properties, combined with suitable wettability and roughness, result in an excellent behavior as bioactive platform of PTh 3 * -g-PEG copolymers, which are more biocompatible, in terms of cellular adhesion and proliferation, and electro-compatible than PTh 5 -g-PEG.

Graft Copolymers with Conducting Polymer Backbones: A Versatile Route to Functional Materials

“…In the case of CP‐based graft copolymers, the end‐functionalised polymers (termed macromonomers) are generally commodity polymers (where the aim is to improve the mechanical properties and processability of the backbone), or polymers with a specific chemical functionality or stimuli‐responsive behaviour suited to the desired application. The end groups, often comprising functionalised aromatic rings, then form the CP backbone, with or without a comonomer (Figure a) . ‘Grafting from’ synthesis of CP‐based graft copolymers involves the use of a CP that is side‐functionalised with initiation sites (termed ‘macroinitiator’), from which the desired sidechains can then be grafted, generally by a chain‐growth mechanism (Figure b).…”

“…The behaviour, synthesis, and applications of polymer brushes have been the subject of a number of excellent reviews . While the term ‘polymer brush’ most commonly refers to densely grafted polymer arrays on a surface, soluble graft copolymers may adopt a ‘bottle brush’ or molecular brush conformation, where densely grafted sidechains stretch outward from the backbone . In this review, both soluble and surface‐grafted copolymers will be discussed.…”

Insulating and semiconducting polymeric free-standing nanomembranes with biomedical applications

“…Similarly, a collagen layer was recently used to inhibit the cytotoxic effects of the remaining monomer leaking from a supported PTh 3 film, the resulting PTh 3 /collagen biointerface behaving as bioactive platforms. 132 …”

Amphiphilic polypyrrole-poly(Schiff base) copolymers with poly(ethylene glycol) side chains: synthesis, properties and applications

“…35,36 In the last few years, most of our research interest in PTh-graft copolymers for biomedical applications has been focused on systems containing PEG side chains anchored to a PTh backbone (PTh-g-PEG). 1,[37][38][39][40][41] For example, we used pentathiophene-PEG macromonomers (Th 5 -PEG M , where M refers to the molecular weight of the PEG side chain, with M n = 1000 or 2000 g mol −1 ) to produce graft copolymers, denoted as PTh 5 -g-PEG M (Scheme 1). 1,38,40 These materials were successfully employed as active surfaces for the selective adsorption of proteins and as cellular matrices for tissue engineering.…”

“…More recently, we synthesized PTh 3 -g-PEG 2000 copolymers (Scheme 2) via a macromonomer approach using a terthiophene-PEG macromonomer (Th 3 -PEG 2000 ) copolymerized with terthiophene (Th 3 ) using different Th 3 -PEG 2000 : Th 3 ratios. 40 These materials showed excellent behavior as bioactive platforms; they were more biocompatible in terms of cellular adhesion and proliferation and more electroactive than PTh 5 -g-PEG M (Scheme 1).…”