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The utilization of renewable sources as alternatives for petroleum and natural gas products has immense commercial, health and global warming significance. D-Isosorbide (2) is a bifunctional, polar, chiral and rigid molecule, which is produced from renewable sources. Synthesis of new polymers containing 2 is of interest for polymers and in drug delivery. The aim of the present work is to synthesize various polymers (homo- and copolymers) containing 2 via the olefin metathesis routes, ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and acyclic-diene metathesis polymerization (ADMET). N-Phenyl-7-oxanorbornene-dicarboximide, and norbornene functionalized onto 2 were used as the monomers for ROMP. These monomers were polymerized using Grubbs’ catalysts to generate a series of homo-, co-, block and cross-linked-polymers. These polymers were characterized using GPC, NMR, and IR. In addition, ADMET polymerization of a terminal diolefinunctionalized D-isosorbide (2) was also conducted to produce ADMET polymers.

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Three-dimensional (3D) printing has an important role for fabrication of degradable scaffoldsfor soft tissue regeneration. Among the 3D printing techniques, photopolymerization-based 3Dprinting is one of fastest growing, offering environmental benefits and high precision of 3Dobjects. In this approach, photocurable macromonomers/monomers are cross-linked layer bylayer in the presence of photoinitiators under visible or UV light to fabricate 3D designedobjects. However, a limited biomedical material selection has prevented it from spreading overclinical application. Furthermore, poly(ε-caprolactone), a common degradable polymer usedfor 3D printing, shows not satisfactory physical properties for soft tissue regeneration. Thedearth of materials with proper properties raises the need for novel degradable materials,which should be not only compatible for photopolymerization-based 3D printing but alsosuitable for soft and gel-like scaffold fabrication. Here, the aim was to design photocurable macromonomers consisting of oligo(ε-caprolactoneran-p-dioxanone), oCLDX, with acrylate chain-end groups. A metal-free synthetic strategy wasdeveloped for the bulk ring-opening of ε-caprolactone (CL) and p-dioxanone (DX) at roomtemperature using diphenyl phosphate (DPP) as organocatalyst and multifunctional initiators. The oligomers had low dispersity (<1.2) and targeted molecular weight around 2000 g mol-1.The random sequence and the control over chain growth of oCLDXs were confirmed byreactivity ratios using 1D and 2D NMR analysis. Kinetics study of co-oligomerizationdemonstrated that within DPP-catalysed reaction, DX possessed higher reactivity than CL andthe ring-opening co-oligomerization followed an activated monomer mechanism (AMM). Thetopology of the co-oligomers could also be varied by using different alcohol initiators. The co-oligomers possessed lower degree of crystallinity than homopolymers of DX or CL and,depending on the composition, they were liquid at room temperature. The lower melting pointand gel-like appearance make them good candidates for photopolymerization-based 3Dprinting. The suitability toward photopolymerization was proven for the ethylene glycol-initiatedco-oligomer containing 30 mol% of DX. The cross-linked gels were soft but brittle and showedgood water uptake capacity. / Tredimensionell (3D)-utskrift har en viktig roll vid tillverkning av nedbrytbara matriser förregenerering av mjukvävnad. Bland 3D-utskriftteknikerna är fotopolymerisationsbaserad 3Dutskriften av de snabbast växande, och erbjuder miljöfördelar och hög precision hos 3Dobjekten.För att tillverka 3D-designade objekt med denna teknik är fotohärdandemakromonomerer/ monomerer tvärbundna lager på lager i närvaro av fotoinitiatorer och synligteller UV-ljus. Emellertid har ett begränsat urval av biomedicinska material hindrat tekniken frånatt spridas till kliniska applikationer. Vidare har poly(ε-kaprolakton), en vanlig nedbrytbarpolymer som används för 3D-utskrift, inte tillfredsställande fysikaliska egenskaper förregenerering av mjukvävnad. Bristen på material med rätt egenskaper ökar behovet av nyanedbrytbara material, som inte bara ska vara kompatibla för fotopolymerisationsbaserad 3Dutskriftutan också lämplig för mjuk och gelliknande matristillverkning.Här var syftet att designa fotohärdande makromonomerer bestående av oligo(ε-kaprolaktonsam-p-dioxanon), oCLDX, med akrylatkedjeändgrupper. En metallfri syntetisk strategiutvecklades för bulkringöppning av ε-kaprolakton (CL) och p-dioxanon (DX) vidrumstemperatur genom att använda difenylfosfat (DPP) som organisk katalysator ochmultifunktionella initiatorer. Oligomererna hade den förutbestämda molekylvikten, omkring2000 g mol-1, och en låg dispersitet (<1,2). Den slumpmässiga sekvensen och kontrollen avkedjans tillväxt, till oCLDX, bekräftades genom reaktivitetsförhållanden med hjälp av 1D och2D NMR-analys. Kinetikstudie av samoligomeriseringen visade att med DPP-katalyseradreaktion hade DX högre reaktivitet än CL och att den ringöppnande samoligomeriseringenföljde en aktiverad monomermekanism (AMM). Topologin hos samoligomererna kunde ocksåvarieras genom att använda olika alkoholinitiatorer. Samoligomererna hade lägre grad av kristallinitet än homopolymerer av DX eller CL ochberoende på kompositionen var de flytande vid rumstemperatur. Den lägre smältpunkten ochgelliknande utseendet gör dem till bra kandidater för fotopolymerisationsbaserad 3D-utskrift. Lämpligheten för fotopolymerisation bevisades för den etylenglykolinitierade samoligomerensom innehöll 30 mol% DX. De tvärbundna gelerna var mjuka men spröda och uppvisade godvattenupptagningskapacitet.

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This dissertation focuses on the synthesis and characterization of functional poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEtOx) containing homo- and block copolymers that are potential materials for membrane-based water purification and gas separation, drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging and tissue engineering applications. The polymerization of 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline (EtOx) was investigated with regard to the effects of initiator structures and reaction parameters such as polymerization time and temperature on molecular weight control and molecular weight distribution, endgroup functionality, living characteristics, and mechanism and kinetics. The structure of initiators was shown to significantly affect the molecular weight control and molecular weight distribution of PEtOx oligomers. Methyl triflate initiated polymerizations were found to result in oligomers with low polydispersity (PDI) values around 1.10-1.15 and symmetrical chromatograms were obtained via size exclusion chromatography (SEC) studies with the use of refractive index, light scattering and viscosity detectors. However, EtOx polymerizations initiated by halide containing initiators such as benzyl chloride, dibromo- and diiodo-p-xylene, and vinylsilylpropyl iodides yielded PEtOx oligomers with higher PDI values ~ 1.30-1.40. Higher molecular weight distributions can be attributed to the presence of covalent species during polymerization and slower initiation rate as evidenced by kinetic studies when compared to PEtOx prepared from methyl triflate initiators. In all cases, termination reactions with aliphatic cyclic amines were quantitative. Mono- and diamine functional PEtOx oligomers with controlled molecular weight and excellent end-group functionality may be used as prepolymers for incorporation into multiblock and graft copolymer and crosslinked structures for a variety of applications such as membranes and hydrogels for tissue engineering matrices. Poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) containing block copolymers were prepared using the macroinitiator method. First, amphiphilic triblock copolymers with hydrophobic poly(arylene ether sulfone) (PSF) central block and hydrophilic PEtOx side blocks were synthesized via polymerization of EtOx sequences from tosylate functional telechelic PSF macroinitiators. PSFs are well-known engineering thermoplastics with excellent resistance to hydrolysis and oxidation, as well as displaying good mechanical properties, thermal stability and toughness. Phenol functional PSFs were prepared via step-growth polymerization of dichlorodiphenylsulfone and bisphenol-A (slight excess) monomers. Phenolic chain ends were then converted to aliphatic hydroxyethyl endgroups by reaction with ethylene carbonate. Upon treatment with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride, tosylate functional PSF macroinitiators were prepared. PEtOx-b-PSF-b-PEtOx triblock copolymers (pendent acyl groups of PEtOx side blocks) were partially hydrolyzed in an acidic medium to introduce random charged poly(ethylene imine) units to prepare ionomer structures that may show good salt rejection, water flux and antibacterial properties for membrane-based water purification applications. Phosphonic acid modified poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEO-b-PEtOx) diblock copolymers were prepared via cationic ring opening polymerization of EtOx monomers from tosylate functional PEO macroinitiators and subsequent functionalization reactions on the polyoxazoline block. Post-modification reactions included controlled partial pendent acyl group hydrolysis under an acidic medium to form the random block copolymers of PEtOx and poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI), Michael addition of diethylvinyl phosphonate groups to PEI units and hydrolysis of the ethyl groups on the phosphonates to yield pendent phosphonic acid groups on the polyoxazoline block. After each step of functionalization reactions, structures and compositions were confirmed utilizing 1H NMR and the degree of phosphorylation was found to be > 95%. Both PEO and PEtOx are biocompatible polymers and the anionic quality of the phosphonic acid has the potential to be pH controllable and provide an environment where cationic drugs and contrast agents can be attached. Thus, these polymers have potential as drug carriers and contrast enhancement agents for magnetic resonance imaging applications. / Ph. D.

The ring opening polymerization of D,L-lactide (DLLA) using multifunctional hydroxyl-terminated initiators and catalyst/coinitiator systems based on Sn(Oct)2 afforded the preparation of star-shaped, poly(D,L-lactide)s (PDLLA)s of controlled molar mass, narrow molar mass distributions, and well-defined chain end functionality. Various modifications of star-shaped PDLLA resulted in macromolecules with tailored functionalities for biomedical applications. Star-shaped PDLLAs were modified to contain photoreactive methacrylate end groups and subsequent photo-crosslinking was performed. Photo-crosslinked networks based on methacrylated star-shaped PDLLAs exhibited thermal properties and mechanical performance that were superior to current approved clinical adhesives. In addition, the thermal and mechanical properties of the networks were strongly dependent on the composition and molar mass of the star-shaped PDLLA precursors. Tensile strengths in the range of 8-21 MPa were obtained while the Young's modulus increased from 12 to 354 MPa and were higher for networks based on urethane containing polymers. Star-shaped PDLLAs bearing complementary adenine and thymine terminal units were also prepared. The hydrogen bonding associations between complementary PDLLA macromolecules depended strongly on molar mass and hence, the concentration of multiple hydrogen bonding units. 1H NMR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of hydrogen-bonded complexes with a 1:1 optimal stoichiometry and an association constant of 84 M-1. The hydrogen-bonded complexes also exhibited significantly higher solution viscosities than non-blended polymer solutions of similar molar mass and concentration. Thermoreversible associations of PDLLA-based complementary polymers were observed in the melt phase and the melt viscosity of a blended complex was consistently an order of magnitude higher than non-functionalized star-shaped PDLLA of similar molar mass. Furthermore, melt electrospinning of the hydrogen-bonded complexes successfully resulted in fibers of significantly larger diameter (9.8 ± 2.0 µm) compared to the individual precursors (PDLLA-A = 4.0 ± 0.6 µm and PDLLA-T = 4.4 ± 1.0 µm). These results suggested that thermoreversibility, as well as the strength of the hydrogen bonding interactions between the end groups of the tailored star-shaped PDLLA-based supramolecular polymers controlled the fiber diameter in the melt electrospinning process. Highly ordered microporous honeycomb structures were developed on photo-functional star-shaped PDLLA surfaces. The pore dimensions were dependent on polymer solution concentration, polymer molar mass and relative humidity. The combination of self-organizing and cross-linking techniques resulted in free-standing, PDLLA membranes with high chemical stability as well as higher mechanical strength for further material patterning. Amikacin, an antibiotic commonly used for treating infections was successfully encapsulated in star-shaped PDLLA fibers that were electrospun from solution. Preliminary results suggested that molecular architecture influenced the encapsulation of the antibiotic and subsequent drug release profile. / Ph. D.