Marie Hurtgen

Insight into Organometallic-Mediated Radical Polymerization

This review focuses on an emerging class of controlled radical polymerization named Organometallic-Mediated Radical Polymerization (OMRP). The latter is based on the temporary deactivation of the growing radical species by a transition metal complex and the reversible formation of a carbon-metal covalent bond. Initially developed with cobalt complexes, OMRP has extended to several metals today. As highlighted here, the choice of the metal, the structure of ligands, temperature, and additives deeply affect the course of the polymerization and its mechanism. Macromolecular engineering opportunities offered by OMRP are also described, as well as practical applications sustained by the resulting polymer materials.

Synthetic and mechanistic inputs of photochemistry into the bis-acetylacetonatocobalt-mediated radical polymerization of n-butyl acrylate and vinyl acetate

The input of photochemistry to the Co(acac)2 mediated radical polymerization (CMRP) of n-butyl acrylate and vinyl acetate is investigated for the first time. Upon UV irradiation, photoinitiators are able to initiate the n-butyl acrylate polymerization that remains controlled up to very high molar masses (>4 × 106 g mol−1) with low polydispersities. The photoinitiator as well as the irradiation time must be appropriately chosen to reach acceptable initiator efficiencies while maintaining an optimal control over the polymerization. Laser flash photolysis experiments were then carried out to evidence the addition of alkyl and phosphonyl radicals onto Co(acac)2 and to determine the rate constants (kdeact) of these addition reactions that were still lacking. Finally, both kinetics of polymerization and spin-trapping experiments have evidenced that the C–Co bond at the extremity of the dormant polymer chains can be easily photocleaved. UV irradiation can therefore be considered as an additional lever for tuning the reactivity of the CMRP process mediated by Co(acac)2.

Synthesis of Poly(vinyl alcohol)/C60 and Poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)/C60 Nanohybrids as Potential Photodynamic Cancer Therapy Agents

Well-defined poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)-co-poly(vinyl acetate) (PNVP-co-PVAc) chains end-capped by Co(acac)(2) (acac=acetylacetonate) and prepared by cobalt-mediated radical polymerization (CMRP) are grafted onto a fullerene. Homolytic Co-C bond cleavage of the polymer chain ends at 30 degrees C releases the polymeric radicals that add onto C(60), thereby leading to the corresponding PVAc/C(60) and PNVP-co-PVAc/C(60) nanohybrids. The [polymer-Co(acac)(2)]/[C(60)] molar ratio was varied to adjust the structure of the nanohybrids, and more particularly the number of grafted arms. Finally, the potential of the hydrosoluble PVOH/C(60) nanohybrids, which result from the methanolysis of the ester groups of PVAc/C(60), and of the PNVP-co-PVAc/C(60) nanohybrids as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT), was approached. First, photobleaching tests demonstrated the ability of these nanohybrids to produce singlet oxygen upon irradiation, which can play a role in cell damage. Second, cell viability assays demonstrated that both types of nanohybrids are deprived of intrinsic cytotoxicity in the dark, whereas they promoted significant cell mortality when subjected to light treatment. The selective response of these materials to irradiation makes them promising compounds for PDT.

Thermo-responsive gold/poly(vinyl alcohol)-b-poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) core–corona nanoparticles as a drug delivery system

Core–corona gold/poly(vinyl alcohol)-b-poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) nanoparticles (gold@PVOH-b-PNVCL NPs) were fabricated via an in situ method, where a gold salt was reduced within the macromolecular aqueous solution. Arrangement of macromolecular chains on the surface of gold cores was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy. The responsiveness to temperature and the preserved colloidal stability of the gold@PVOH-b-PNVCL NPs above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) were confirmed by dynamic light scattering and turbidity measurements. The drug loading capacity (DLC of ca. 1.3–2.8 wt%) of the gold@PVOH-b-PNVCL NPs as a drug delivery system (DDS) was tested with Nadolol®, a hydrophilic drug, and the release behaviours were studied at several temperatures. PVOH-b-PNVCL copolymers with an LCST of a few degrees above the biological temperature (37 °C), for example, PVOH180-b-PNVCL110 (LCST of 41 °C), are preferential, due to the slower release at 37 °C, but a faster release at temperatures that are a few degrees higher. The cytocompatibility of the gold@PVOH-b-PNVCL NPs against mouse fibroblastic L929 cells was evaluated via the MTS assay. Cellular uptake within MEL-5 human melanoma cells was studied by confocal laser scanning microscopy, fluorescence-activated cell sorting and TEM techniques and it showed that gold@PVOH-b-PNVCL NPs preferably accumulated within the cellular cytoplasm, with an incubation concentration and period-dependent uptake process. All these results corroborated a general utility of these thermo-responsive gold@PVOH-b-PNVCL NPs for drug delivery and controlled drug release.

Photochemical Properties and Activity of Water-Soluble Polymer/C60 Nanohybrids for Photodynamic Therapy

Water-soluble star-like poly(vinyl alcohol)/C(60) and poly{[poly(ethylene glycol) acrylate]-co-(vinyl acetate)}/C(60) nanohybrids are prepared by grafting macroradicals onto C(60) and are assessed as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy. The photophysical and biological properties of both nanohybrids highlight key characteristics influencing their overall efficiency. The macromolecular structure (linear/graft) and nature (presence/absence of hydroxyl groups) of the polymeric arms respectively impact the photodynamic activity and the stealthiness of the nanohybrids. The advantages of both nanohybrids are encountered in a third one, poly[(N-vinylpyrrolidone)-co-(vinyl acetate)]/C(60) , which has linear grafts without hydroxyl groups, and shows a better photodynamic activity.