title: Solvent-free synthesis and purification of poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] by atom transfer radical polymerization.
abstract: Solvent-free synthesis of well-defined poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) (co)polymers was performed by atom transfer radical polymerization conducted under very mild conditions (in bulk at 25 degrees C). The pH-dependence and the thermo-responsive behaviour of PDMAEMA in aqueous solution were operated to isolate and purify the (co)polymers without using any organic solvent or further catalyst extraction. The viscosity in aqueous solution of so-purified PDMAEMA homopolymers and their block copolymers with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was studied as a function of molar mass and concentration and a typical polyelectrolyte behaviour was observed, these catalyst-deprived polycations are able to form stable and non toxic complexes with DNA, showing good transfection efficacies in gene therapy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, University of Mons-Hainaut, Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nadège
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pantoustier
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moins
authors.forename: Michaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wautier
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Degée
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubois