Homopolymer and ABC Triblock Copolymer Mixtures for Thermoresponsive Gel Formulations
Our group has recently invented a novel series of thermoresponsive ABC triblock terpolymers based on oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate with average <i>M</i><sub>n</sub> 300 g mol<sup>−1</sup> (OEGMA300, A unit), <i>n</i>-butyl methacryla...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Gels |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/7/3/116 |
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| author | Anna P. Constantinou Nikitas Provatakis Qian Li Theoni K. Georgiou |
| author_facet | Anna P. Constantinou Nikitas Provatakis Qian Li Theoni K. Georgiou |
| author_sort | Anna P. Constantinou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Our group has recently invented a novel series of thermoresponsive ABC triblock terpolymers based on oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate with average <i>M</i><sub>n</sub> 300 g mol<sup>−1</sup> (OEGMA300, A unit), <i>n</i>-butyl methacrylate (BuMA, B unit) and di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (DEGMA, C unit) with excellent thermogelling properties. In this study, we investigate how the addition of OEGMA300<sub>x</sub> homopolymers of varying molar mass (MM) affects the gelation characteristics of the best performing ABC triblock terpolymer. Interestingly, the gelation is not disrupted by the addition of the homopolymers, with the gelation temperature (<i>T</i><i><sub>gel</sub></i>) remaining stable at around 30 °C, depending on the MM and content in OEGMA300<sub>x</sub> homopolymer. Moreover, stronger gels are formed when higher MM OEGMA300<sub>x</sub> homopolymers are added, presumably due to the homopolymer chains acting as bridges between the micelles formed by the triblock terpolymer, thus, favouring gelation. In summary, novel formulations based on mixtures of triblock copolymer and homopolymers are presented, which can provide a cost-effective alternative for use in biomedical applications, compared to the use of the triblock copolymer only. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:38:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-571c0132400140e28dba089cbaf208dc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2310-2861 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:38:38Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gels |
| spelling | doaj.art-571c0132400140e28dba089cbaf208dc2023-11-22T13:11:52ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612021-08-017311610.3390/gels7030116Homopolymer and ABC Triblock Copolymer Mixtures for Thermoresponsive Gel FormulationsAnna P. Constantinou0Nikitas Provatakis1Qian Li2Theoni K. Georgiou3Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UKDepartment of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UKDepartment of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UKDepartment of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UKOur group has recently invented a novel series of thermoresponsive ABC triblock terpolymers based on oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate with average <i>M</i><sub>n</sub> 300 g mol<sup>−1</sup> (OEGMA300, A unit), <i>n</i>-butyl methacrylate (BuMA, B unit) and di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (DEGMA, C unit) with excellent thermogelling properties. In this study, we investigate how the addition of OEGMA300<sub>x</sub> homopolymers of varying molar mass (MM) affects the gelation characteristics of the best performing ABC triblock terpolymer. Interestingly, the gelation is not disrupted by the addition of the homopolymers, with the gelation temperature (<i>T</i><i><sub>gel</sub></i>) remaining stable at around 30 °C, depending on the MM and content in OEGMA300<sub>x</sub> homopolymer. Moreover, stronger gels are formed when higher MM OEGMA300<sub>x</sub> homopolymers are added, presumably due to the homopolymer chains acting as bridges between the micelles formed by the triblock terpolymer, thus, favouring gelation. In summary, novel formulations based on mixtures of triblock copolymer and homopolymers are presented, which can provide a cost-effective alternative for use in biomedical applications, compared to the use of the triblock copolymer only.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/7/3/116thermoresponsive gelmixturestriblock copolymerhomopolymers |
| spellingShingle | Anna P. Constantinou Nikitas Provatakis Qian Li Theoni K. Georgiou Homopolymer and ABC Triblock Copolymer Mixtures for Thermoresponsive Gel Formulations Gels thermoresponsive gel mixtures triblock copolymer homopolymers |
| title | Homopolymer and ABC Triblock Copolymer Mixtures for Thermoresponsive Gel Formulations |
| title_full | Homopolymer and ABC Triblock Copolymer Mixtures for Thermoresponsive Gel Formulations |
| title_fullStr | Homopolymer and ABC Triblock Copolymer Mixtures for Thermoresponsive Gel Formulations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Homopolymer and ABC Triblock Copolymer Mixtures for Thermoresponsive Gel Formulations |
| title_short | Homopolymer and ABC Triblock Copolymer Mixtures for Thermoresponsive Gel Formulations |
| title_sort | homopolymer and abc triblock copolymer mixtures for thermoresponsive gel formulations |
| topic | thermoresponsive gel mixtures triblock copolymer homopolymers |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/7/3/116 |
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