Green Synthesis and Biomedical Properties of Novel Hydroxypropyl Cellulose-g-Polytetrahydrofuran Graft Copolymers with Silver Nanoparticles

Abstract

A green approach has been developed for the synthesis of hydroxypropyl cellulose-g-polytetrahydrofuran (HPC-g-PTHF) graft copolymer via combining living cationic ring-opening polymerization and nucleophile substitution reaction. The living PTHF chains (M n = 3200 g·mol–1) were synthesized in bulk initiated by allyl bromide/AgClO4 without any other hazardous solvents. Then, the living PTHF chains reacted with hydroxyl groups on the HPC backbone with grafting efficiency of ca. 100% to create a series of HPC-g-PTHF graft copolymers with various average grafting numbers (G N). The nanosized phase separation micromorphology was dependent on G N in HPC-g-PTHF. The water contact angles on graft copolymer film surfaces increased from 61.7° to 87.7° with increasing G N from 3 to 10 and after annealing treatment. The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in situ formed from AgClO4 uniformly dispersed in graft copolymer matrix and Ag contents were close to the theoretical data based on AgClO4. The HPC-g-PTHF graft copolymer films show good anti-protein adsorption performance against bull serum albumin. The HPC-g-PTHF/AgNPs compounds present good antibacterial activity.

Base-Layer-Driven Self-Healing Materials

“…Flexible and low- T g NCO-terminated polytetrahydrofuran (THF) was used as a urethane precursor to ensure excellent chain mobility for rapid ambient healing. The T g of the polyTHF backbone is very low (−∼ 80 °C) . The T g values of PIP and DA were 30 and 40 C, respectively.…”

“…The T g of the polyTHF backbone is very low (−∼ 80 °C). 21 The T g values of PIP and DA were 30 and 40 C, respectively. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of the DA and PIP base layers by the disappearance of the characteristic NCO peak at ∼2270 cm −1 (Figure 2B).…”

Amphiphilic Graft Copolymer of Polylysine-g-polytetrahydrofuran and Its Biological Properties

“…The living cationic ring-opening polymerization of THF initiated by the AllylBr/AgClO 4 system was carried out in bulk at 0 °C for 4 h to synthesize the desired living PTHF + chains according to our previous works. − …”

“…Poly­(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF) is a hydrophobic aliphatic saturated polyether elastomer synthesized from THF cationic ring-opening polymerization, having biological inertness and biocompatibility, wet strength, flexibility, and hydrolytic stability. − A series of PTHF-grafted copolymers have been synthesized in our previous works. − …”

“…In addition, Ag NPs can cause cell membrane denaturation . Ag NPs can be prepared by chemical reduction, electrochemical reaction, irradiation-assisted chemical reaction, or pyrolysis. − It is a plain and economical way to synthesize Ag NPs in situ through the coinitiator (AgClO 4 ) used for the synthesis of PTHF + living polymers in our works. – …”