Synthesis and properties of butyl rubber–poly(ethylene oxide) graft copolymers with high PEO content. Issue 16 (16th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Karamdoust, Solmaz; Bonduelle, Colin V.; Amos, Ryan C.; Turowec, Bethany A.; Guo, Sharon; Ferrari, Lorenzo; Gillies, Elizabeth R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of polymer science. Volume 51:Issue 16(2013:Aug.)
• Page Start: 3383
• Page End: 3394
• Publication Date: 2013-05-16
• Subjects: biological applications of polymers -- graft copolymers -- polyisobutylene -- rubber -- self‐assembly; 547
• DOI: 10.1002/pola.26733
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0887-624X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Butyl rubber‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) graft copolymers with high PEO content (40–83 wt %) were synthesized by the functionalization and activation of the double bond moiety of butyl rubber containing high (7 mol %) isoprene content and subsequent reaction with PEO of different molecular weights from 750 to 5000 g/mol. The properties of these copolymers, along with other butyl rubber‐PEO graft copolymers were studied in films and in aqueous solution. Despite the high PEO content, films of the copolymers were quite stable in water with respect to mass loss and were capable of releasing an encapsulated probe molecule in a manner that was dependent on the PEO content. At high PEO content they were resistant to the adhesion and growth of C2C12 cells. Despite the resistance of films to dissolution, it was possible to prepare nanosized aqueous assemblies via a THF‐water exchange process and the sizes of the assemblies were tuned by their method of preparation. The assemblies were also able to encapsulate a probe molecule and were found to be nontoxic in vitro . Combined, this set of properties makes these new amphiphilic copolymers promising for a wide range of potential applications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3383–3394 Abstract : Butyl rubber–poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) graft copolymers were synthesized through the derivatization of the isoprene moieties in butyl rubber containing high (7 mol %) isoprene content. Films of these graft copolymers exhibited interesting properties such as high stability in aqueous solution and resistance to the growth of cells at high PEO content. The copolymers also formed stable nanosized assemblies in aqueous solution and their size could be controlled through their preparation method.