Bozena Kaczmarczyk

Hydrogen bonds in poly(ester amide)s and their model compounds

Abstract The hydrogen bonds in poly(ester amide)s and their model compounds were investigated using infra-red spectroscopy in the temperature range from 20 to 240°C. It was found that in the polymers investigated both amide—amide and amide—ester hydrogen bonds were formed, while in the corresponding model compounds only amide-amide hydrogen bond formation was observed.

New Conjugated Azomethines Containing Triphenylamine Core —Characterization and Properties

A novel polyazomethines bearing triphenylamine core and a proper model compound were synthesized and their spectroscopic (FTIR, 1 H NMR) and optical (UV-vis, photoluminescence) properties and also a molecular dynamic calculations were investigated. The polymers which were soluble in organic solvents (chloroform, dimethylacetamide, m-cresol) and formed transparent foils, emitted blue light and their photoluminescence band and intensity were solvent dependent. Additionally, the effects of blending the new polyazomethines with other polymers—PMMA, polyvinylophenol on UV-vis spectra were examined. Non-covalent ionic-type interactions between azomethines and methanesulfonic acid (MSA), m-cresol (MC) and p-chlorophenol (pClp) were also investigated. The structure formation of azomethines complexes are discussed on the basis of 1H NMR and FTIR. Photoluminescence and absorption properties of the azomethines compounds after doping with MSA, MC and pClp were tested.

FTi.r. study of hydrogen bonds in aliphatic polyesteramides

Abstract FTi.r. spectroscopy was used to investigate hydrogen bonds in aliphatic block/segmented polyesteramides. It was proved that amide–amide and amide–ester hydrogen bonds are formed in these polymers. The investigations at elevated temperature in the range of 20–245°C show that amide–ester hydrogen bonds are more thermostable than amide–amide bonds.

Characteristic and spectroscopic properties of the Schiff-base model compounds

Two series of conjugated aromatic imines (Schiff-base model compounds) with different central groups and various side-group substitutions have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique, hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and ultra-violet and visible light (UV-vis) spectroscopy measurements. The UV-vis absorption of solutions of these compounds in dimethylacetamid (DMA), chloroform and methanol was investigated in the optical range from 240 to 450nm, where two distinct absorption bands: at 250-280 and 315-360nm with the different level of absorption have been observed. The influence of compound molecular structure and polarity of solvent on the absorption spectra and the possible optical transitions have been discussed. Structure of diamines in the azomethine models fundamentally affected their spectroscopic properties and conjugation of pi-electrons.

Star-shaped azomethines based on tris(2-aminoethyl)amine. Characterization, thermal and optical study.

The synthesis and detailed (physico)-chemical ((1)H/(13)C NMR, FTIR, UV-vis and elemental analysis) characterizations of new star-shaped compounds based on tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, including in their structure an azomethine function (HCN-) and alkoxysemiperfluorinated (-O-(CH(2))(3)-(CF(2))(7)-CF(3)), octadecyloxy aliphatic (-O-(CH(2))(17)-CH(3)) chain or two phenyl rings (-Ph-Ph-) as a terminal group, were reported. The mesomorphic behavior was investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM) and additionally by FTIR(T) and UV-vis(T) spectroscopy. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) technique was used to probe the structural properties of the azomethines. Moreover, the azomethine A1 was electro-spun to prepare fibers with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and investigated by DSC and POM. Additionally, a film of the A1 with PMMA was cast from chloroform and the thermal properties of the film were compared with the thermal properties of the fiber and powder. It was showed that terminal groups dramatically influence the thermal and optical properties of the star-shaped azomethines.

Designing bioresorbable polyester matrices for controlled doxorubicin release in glioma therapy.

The influence of the chain microstructure on release process of doxorubicin from polymeric matrices was analyzed. Aliphatic polyester copolymers with optimal chain microstructure, i.e. poly(glycolide-co-L-lactide, 15/85) (PGLA) and poly(glycolide-co-epsilon-caprolactone, 10/90) (PGCA) were synthesized for long-term doxorubicin delivery systems. Various release profiles from PGLA and PGCA matrices were obtained. The investigations revealed the most steadily doxorubicin release from PGCA matrices with 5% (w/w) of drug content. Degradation of matrices with and without drug was monitored by means of NMR spectroscopy and confirmed stability of degradation process. From PGCA matrices the increase of released doxorubicin amount was observed during first 60 days. On the contrary in case of matrices obtained from PGLA the delay of doxorubicin release was observed during first 50 days, what was caused by interaction of drug molecules with polylactide chain of polymer matrix. The interaction between doxorubicin molecules and polylactide chains was confirmed by IR spectroscopy. This fact can be used for designing of delivery systems consisting of combination of matrices with different microstructure of copolymer chains in order to adjust concentration of released doxorubicin and stabilization of drug release process.

Reactive blending of a functionalized polyethylene with a semiflexible liquid crystalline copolyester

Reactive blends (50/50 w/w) of a low molar mass polyethylene containing free carboxylic groups (PEox) and a semiflexible liquid crystalline polyester (SBH 1 : 1 : 2, by Eniricerche) have been prepared at 240°C in a Brabender mixer, in the presence of Ti(OBu) 4 catalyst, for different mixing times (15, 60, and 120 min). In order to prove the formation of a PE-g-SBH copolymer, the blends have been fractionated by successive extractions with boiling toluene and xylene. The soluble fractions and the residues have been analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetry (TG and DTG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All analytical procedures concordantly show that PE-g-SBH copolymers with different compositions, arising from differences of either the number of PEox carboxylic groups entering the transesterification or the length of grafted SBH branches, are formed as a result of blending. Depending on the relative content of PE and SBH segments, the copolymers dissolve in the solvents, together with any unreacted PEox, or remain in the residues, together with neat SBH. Qualitative IR analyses and quantitative TG measurements have shown that the amount of copolymers increases strongly with the mixing time. Preliminary SEM observations indicate that the unfractionated products of the reactive blending carried out with long (120 min) mixing times lead to improved interfacial adhesion and phase dispersion when added to PE/SBH blends.

Multidrug PLA-PEG filomicelles for concurrent delivery of anticancer drugs-The influence of drug-drug and drug-polymer interactions on drug loading and release properties.

This study aimed to analyze the influence of drug-drug and drug-polymer interactions on drug loading and release properties of multidrug micelles. Three hydrophobic drugs-paclitaxel (Ptx), 17-AAG and rapamycin (Rap) were incorporated in poly(l-lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA-PEG) filomicelles. Double loaded micelles containing Ptx and 17-AAG were used for the sake of comparison. (1)H NMR confirmed the effective incorporation of the various drugs in micelles, and HPLC allowed to determine the drug loading contents. FTIR was used to evaluate interactions between particular drugs and between drugs and copolymer. Ptx and 17-AAG present similar loading efficiencies in double loaded micelles probably due to interactions of drugs with each other and also with the copolymer. In contrast, unequal drug loading properties are observed for triple loaded micelles. Rapamycin shows very weak interactions with the copolymer, and displays the lowest loading efficiency. In vitro release of drugs from micelles was realized in pH 7.4 phosphate buffered saline at 37°C, and monitored by HPLC. Similar release profiles are observed for the three drugs: a strong burst followed by slower release. Nevertheless, Ptx release from micelles is significantly slower as compared to 17-AAG and Rap, probably due to interactions of NH and OH groups of Ptx with the carbonyl group of PLA. In vitro cytotoxicity of Ptx/17-AAG/Rap loaded micelles and a mixture of free drugs was determined. Drug loaded micelles exhibit advantageous effect of prolonged drug release and cytotoxic activity against Caco-2 cells, which makes them a promising solution for simultaneous drug delivery to solid tumors. Therefore, understanding of interactions within multidrug micelles should be a valuable approach for the development of concurrent delivery systems of anticancer drugs with tailored properties.

Oligo-3-hydroxybutyrate functionalised pyrroles for preparation of biodegradable conductive polymers

We report the synthesis and characterization of a novel polypyrrole material grafted with biodegradable oligo-3-hydroxybutyrate pendants. The polymer was prepared in a two-step process. Firstly, the potassium salt 1–(2-carboxyethyl)pyrrole was reacted with β-butyrolactone affording N-substituted macromonomer. Secondly, the macromonomer was oxidatively polymerised with FeCl3 Lewis acid. The reaction was carried out in solvents of assorted polarity: dimethylsulphoxide, acetonitrile, dimethylformamide and water. Obtained polymers have been characterised comprehensively using a suite of spectral techniques. The material was found to combine the well-known merits of 3-hydroxybutyrate polymers with the electrical conductivity imparted by polypyrrole units.

Supramolecular Modification of Optical Properties of Some New Polyazomethines

Novel polyazomethines containing triphenylamine structure in the main chain have been prepared on a way of polycondensation of 4,4′-diformyltriphenylamine with aromatic diamines in HMPT solution with the goal to study interactions between polymer chain (Ps) and dopant (methanesulfonic acid: MSA, m-cresol: MC and p-chlorophenol: pClp) by FTIR, UV-vis and PL measurements. The electronic absorption spectra and photoluminescence spectra of polyazomethines detected in various solutions were dependent on the diamines structures and could be tuned by supramolecular modification via protonation or H-bond formation of imine group with the dopant. Preliminary results suggest that the polyazomethines can be blue light emitting materials.