High-performance functional ecopolymers based on flora and fauna.
Liquid crystalline (LC) polymers of rigid monomers based on flora and fauna were prepared by in-bulk polymerization. Para-coumaric (p-coumaric) acid [4-hydroxycinnamic acid (4HCA)] and its derivatives were selected as phytomonomers and bile acids were selected as biomonomers. The 4HCA homopolymer showed a thermotropic LC phase only in a state of low molecular weight. The copolymers of 4HCA with bile acids such as lithocholic acid (LCA) and cholic acid (CA) showed excellent cell compatibilities but low molecular weights. However, P(4HCA-co-CA)s allowed LC spinning to create molecularly oriented biofibers, presumably due to the chain entanglement that occurs during in-bulk chain propagation into hyperbranching architecture. P[4HCA-co-3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid (DHCA)]s showed high molecular weight, high mechanical strength, high Young's modulus, and high softening temperature, which may be achieved through the entanglement by in-bulk formation of hyperbranching, rigid structures. P(4HCA-co-DHCA)s showed a smooth hydrolysis, in-soil degradation, and photo-tunable hydrolysis. Thus, P(4HCA-co-DHCA)s might be applied as an environmentally degradable plastic with extremely high performance.
Kaneko
Tatsuo
T
School of Materials Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi 923-1292, Japan. kaneko@jaist.ac.jp
D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D019826:Cholic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008095:Lithocholic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D044367:Phase Transition; D010666:Phenylpropionates / Q000737:chemistry; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D011422:Propionates; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D044366:Transition Temperature; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D003373:Coumaric Acids; D010666:Phenylpropionates; D011108:Polymers; D011422:Propionates; C035253:3-phenylpropionic acid; D008095:Lithocholic Acid; D019826:Cholic Acid; C495469:p-coumaric acid