Synthetic polymers development

Nobel laureate Emil Fischer elucidated the c bohydrates and proteins, and Leo Baekeland prodi synthetic polymer in the early part of the 20th cen many other synthetic polymers developed in the firs were produced without much knowledge of po ym<... 

Despite present trends toward use of synthetic polymers developed over the last 10 or 20 years, starches are still being widely used as an adhesive in such applications as the production of paper and paperboard products, warp sizing, and bonding charcoal briquettes. Because of a unique combination of properties and low cost, these adhesives are almost impossible to exclude from many applications, especially those involving the use of hot paste (size) for anchoring fibers. For starch molecules to act as an adhesive, they must be chemically or thermally hydrated. Then, their adhesive character is developed and modified in different ways by chemicals or other additives for different end uses. As renewable resources that are both economical and reliable, starch and dextrin are likely to continue to be significant factors in the adhesive market for many years. 

The origin of available chiral selectors is natural proteins, oligosaccharides e.g., cyclodextrins (CDs), polysaccharides (e.g., cellulose), antibiotics, and amino acids, semisynthetic (modified oligo- or polysaccharides), and synthetic (Pirkle types, ligand exchange, and synthetic polymers). Development in this field is well reflected by the increasing amount of new selectors introduced in the past few years [2-4],... 

Dichromated Resists. The first compositions widely used as photoresists combine a photosensitive dichromate salt (usually ammonium dichromate) with a water-soluble polymer of biologic origin such as gelatin, egg albumin (proteins), or gum arabic (a starch). Later, synthetic polymers such as poly(vinyl alcohol) also were used (11,12). Irradiation with uv light (X in the range of 360—380 nm using, for example, a carbon arc lamp) leads to photoinitiated oxidation of the polymer and reduction of dichromate to Ct(III). The photoinduced chemistry renders exposed areas insoluble in aqueous developing solutions. The photochemical mechanism of dichromate sensitization of PVA (summarized in Fig. 3) has been studied in detail (13). 

A number of synthetic polymers having the abHity to control filtration rates at high temperature and in the presence of calcium and magnesium have also been developed (88). Such materials include vinyl sulfonate—vinyl amide copolymers (89,90), a copolymer of AMPS and A/,A/-dialkyl (meth) acrylamide (91) and a sulfonated hydroxylated polymer (92). AppHcation levels for these materials range from 5 to 18 kg/m (2—6 lb /bbl). Sulfonated asphalt is also used for high temperature filtration control. 

Biomaterials for Cardiovascular Devices. Perhaps the most advanced field of biomaterials is that for cardiovascular devices. For several decades bodily parts have been replaced or repaired by direct substitution using natural tissue or selected synthetic materials. The development of implantable-grade synthetic polymers, such as siHcones and polyurethanes, has made possible the development of advanced cardiac assist devices (see... 

Synthetic polymers have become extremely important as materials over the past 50 years and have replaced other materials because they possess high strength-to-weight ratios, easy processabiUty, and other desirable features. Used in appHcations previously dominated by metals, ceramics, and natural fibers, polymers make up much of the sales in the automotive, durables, and clothing markets. In these appHcations, polymers possess desired attributes, often at a much lower cost than the materials they replace. The emphasis in research has shifted from developing new synthetic macromolecules toward preparation of cost-effective multicomponent systems (ie, copolymers, polymer blends, and composites) rather than preparation of new and frequendy more expensive homopolymers. These multicomponent systems can be "tuned" to achieve the desired properties (within limits, of course) much easier than through the total synthesis of new macromolecules. 

Polysulfides. The polysulftde elastomer, best known under the trade name Thiokol, represents the earliest commercially developed synthetic mbber, developed ia 1930 by J. C. Patrick as a highly solvent and age-resistant elastomer (15). It is stiH considered the most solvent-resistant mbber, but its poor mechanical properties provide a serious disadvantage (see Polymers containing sulfur). 

The discovery and development of polypropylene, the one genuinely new large tonnage thermoplastics material developed since World War II, forms part of what is arguably the most important episode in the history of polymer science. For many years it had been recognised that natural polymers were far more regular in their structure than synthetic polymers. Whilst there had been some improvement in controlling molecular architecture, the man-made materials, relative to the natural materials, were structurally crude. 

The use of casein plastics was severely curtailed with the development of synthetic polymers, particularly after the Second World War. In addition stricter regulations concerning health and safety at work will have caused attention to be drawn to the formolising process. In the experience of the author the environment surrounding the formolising baths is most unpleasant and this will have accelerated the demise of the casein manufacturing industry. 

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a type of synthetic polymer that has properties between the characteristics of plastics and rubber. It belongs to the thermoplastic elastomer group. The typical procedure of vulcanization in rubber processing generally is not needed for TPU instead, the processing procedure for normal plastics is used. With a similar hardness to other elastomers, TPU has better elasticity, resistance to oil, and resistance to impact at low temperatures. TPU is a rapidly developing polymeric material. 

Nowadays, a strategic area of research is the development of polymers based on carbohydrates due to the worldwide focus on sustainable materials. Since the necessary multi-step synthesis of carbohydrate-based polymers is not economical for the production of commodity plastics, functionalization of synthetic polymers by carbohydrates has become a current subject of research. This aims to prepare new bioactive and biocompatible polymers capable of exerting a temporary therapeutic function. The large variety of methods of anchoring carbohydrates onto polymers as well as the current and potential applications of the functionalized polymers has been discussed recently in a critical review [171]. Of importance is that such modification renders not only functionality but also biodegradability to the synthetic polymers. 

Baekeland in America obtained his first patent for materials prepared from these two compounds. In 1910 he founded the General Bakelite Company to exploit this development, in the process making phenol-formaldehydes, the first synthetic polymers to achieve commercial importance. 

This account will summarise results in the development of n-conjugated materials incorporating phosphorus moieties with emphasis on the conceptual design and specific properties that result directly from the presence of the P-atom. Polyphosphazenes, which are the most familiar synthetic polymers incorporating phosphorus [8], will not be included in this review since they do not display the type of n-conjugation as sought in systems (A)-(D). 

Besides short ELPS, longer ELPs have also been conjugated to synthetic polymers. In one approach, Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition click chemistry was applied. For this purpose, ELPs were functionalized with azides or alkynes via incorporation of azidohomoalanine and homopropargyl glycine, respectively, using residue-specific replacement of methionine in ELP via bacterial expression [133]. More recently, an alternative way to site-selectively introduce azides into ELPs was developed. Here, an aqueous diazotransfer reaction was performed directly onto ELP[V5L2G3-90] using imidazole-1-sulfonyl azide [134]. 

Historically, after the development of oligopeptide-based vesicles, several groups developed and characterized vesicles using polypeptide hybrid systems consisting of polypeptide and synthetic polymer blocks [17-19]. Soon thereafter, vesicles formed entirely from polypeptides, such as poly(L-lysine)-h-poly(L-leucine) and poly(L-lysine)-h-poly(L-glutamate), were developed [20, 21]. This review will focus on recent developments in the formation of vesicles composed of polypeptide hybrid or polypeptide systems, as well as the potential promise of these systems as effective dmg delivery vehicles. A specific example of a polypeptide-based vesicle is shown in Fig. 1, where the hydrophobic segment is a-helical and the hydrophilic segment is a random coil. 

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