Premium
2‐Methyltetrahydrofuran ( 2‐MeTHF ) as a versatile green solvent for the synthesis of amphiphilic copolymers via ROP , FRP , and RAFT tandem polymerizations
Author(s) -
Englezou Georgia,
Kortsen Kristoffer,
Pacheco Ana A. C.,
Cavanagh Robert,
Lentz Joachim C.,
Krumins Eduards,
SandersVelez Carlos,
Howdle Steven M.,
Nedoma Alisyn J.,
Taresco Vincenzo
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2642-4169
pISSN - 2642-4150
DOI - 10.1002/pol.20200183
Subject(s) - amphiphile , polymer , chemistry , raft , copolymer , solvent , lactide , nanoparticle , polymer chemistry , polymerization , tandem , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , materials science , nanotechnology , engineering , composite material
2‐methyltetrahydrofuran (2‐MeTHF) is a readily available, inexpensive, neoteric, bio‐based solvent. It has been adopted across a wide range of chemical processes including the batch manufacture of fine chemicals, enzymatic polycondensations and ring opening polymerizations. To reduce the environmental burden related to the synthesis of pharmaceutical‐grade polymers based on lactide and caprolactone, we envisaged the use of 2‐MeTHF. For the first time, we combined a series of metal‐free and enzymatic ROPs with free radical and controlled RAFT polymerizations (carried out separately and in tandem) in 2‐MeTHF, in order to easily tune the chemistry and the architecture of the final polymers. After a simple purification, the amphiphilic polymers were formulated into nanoparticles and tested for their cytocompatibility in three model cell lines, to assess their application as potential polymeric excipients for nanomedicines.