Assembling structurally customizable synthetic carriers of siRNA through thermodynamically self-regulated process.

This study demonstrates that our previously reported polywraplex, a synthetic siRNA carrier consisting of a uni-molecular polyplex core of customizable size and a self-assembled tri-block copolymer envelop, may be constructed using dendrimers as the crosslinking junctions. Replacing the branched low molecular weight PEI with polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer in the zeta potential regulated polymerization resulted in the similar network structured cationic polymer with electron microscopically visible crosslinking junctions. This visibility may offer a convenient way to characterize the molecular structure of the rationally designed networked siRNA-packing cationic polymer without altering its chemical properties and biologic functions.

Degradable/cytocompatible and pH responsive amphiphilic conetwork gels based on agarose-graft copolymers and polycaprolactone.

Amphiphilic conetwork (APCN) gels have emerged as an important class of biomaterials due to their diverse applications. APCN gels based on biocompatible/biodegradable polymers are useful for controlled release and tissue engineering applications. Herein, we report a facile synthesis of APCN gel films by click type sequential nucleophilic substitution reaction between pendent tertiary amine groups of agarose-g-poly(methyl methacrylate)-b(co)-poly(2-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate [Agr-g-PMMA-b(co)-PDMA] copolymers and activated benzyl chloride groups of polychloromethyl styrene or benzyl methyl chloride terminated polycaprolactone.

Microwave assisted preparation of n-butylacrylate grafted chitosan and its application for Cr(VI) adsorption.

Biopolymers such as chitosan possess excellent properties suited for varied applications. In this work, we describe a novel microwave assisted method for the preparation of n-butylacrylate grafted chitosan adsorbent and its utility for the adsorption of chromium(VI). A 3 min irradiation time was enough to prepare the adsorbent, and techniques such as FT-IR, powder XRD, SEM and EDS were used for comprehensive characterization.