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Block copolymer synthesis by controlled/living radical polymerisation in heterogeneous systems (2016)
Journal Article
Jennings, J., He, G., Howdle, S. M., & Zetterlund, P. B. (in press). Block copolymer synthesis by controlled/living radical polymerisation in heterogeneous systems. Chemical Society Reviews, https://doi.org/10.1039/c6cs00253f

Nanostructured soft materials open up new opportunities in material design and application, and block copolymer self-assembly is one particularly powerful phenomenon that can be exploited for their synthesis. The advent of controlled/living radical p... Read More about Block copolymer synthesis by controlled/living radical polymerisation in heterogeneous systems.

Improved particle size control for the dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in supercritical carbon dioxide (2016)
Journal Article
McAllister, T. D., Farrand, L. D., & Howdle, S. M. (in press). Improved particle size control for the dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in supercritical carbon dioxide. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.201600131

Dispersion polymerization is a well-established method of producing polymer particles that are easily handled and processed. With careful choice of reaction conditions this technique can yield well defined, spherical particles for a wide range of app... Read More about Improved particle size control for the dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in supercritical carbon dioxide.

Controlled polymerisation and purification of branched poly(lactic acid) surfactants in supercritical carbon dioxide (2016)
Journal Article
Goddard, A. R., Pérez-Nieto, S., Passos, T. M., Quilty, B., Carmichael, K., Irvine, D. J., & Howdle, S. M. (in press). Controlled polymerisation and purification of branched poly(lactic acid) surfactants in supercritical carbon dioxide. Green Chemistry, https://doi.org/10.1039/c6gc00745g

Product degradability, sustainability and low-toxicity are driving demand for the synthesis of biobased polymers and surfactants. Here we report the synthesis of novel surface active polymers using cyclic esters (D,L-lactide) and temperature sensitiv... Read More about Controlled polymerisation and purification of branched poly(lactic acid) surfactants in supercritical carbon dioxide.

Effect of supercritical CO2 on the copolymerization behavior of cyclohexene oxide/CO2 and copolymer properties with DMC/salen-Co(III) catalyst system (2016)
Journal Article
Meng, Q., Pepper, K., Cheng, R., Howdle, S. M., & Liu, B. (in press). Effect of supercritical CO2 on the copolymerization behavior of cyclohexene oxide/CO2 and copolymer properties with DMC/salen-Co(III) catalyst system. Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, https://doi.org/10.1002/pola.28162

The copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) was carried out under supercritical CO2 (scCO2) conditions to afford poly (cyclohexene carbonate)(PCHC) in high yield. The scCO2 provided not only the C1 feedstock but also prov... Read More about Effect of supercritical CO2 on the copolymerization behavior of cyclohexene oxide/CO2 and copolymer properties with DMC/salen-Co(III) catalyst system.

A facile and green route to terpene derived acrylate and methacrylate monomers and simple free radical polymerisation to yield new renewable polymers and coatings (2016)
Journal Article
Sainz, M. F., Souto, J. A., Regentova, D., Johansson, M. K. G., Timhagen, S. T., Irvine, D. J., …Howdle, S. M. (2016). A facile and green route to terpene derived acrylate and methacrylate monomers and simple free radical polymerisation to yield new renewable polymers and coatings. Polymer Chemistry, 7(16), 2882-2887. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6py00357e

We present new acrylic monomers derived directly from abundant naturally available terpenes via a facile, green and catalytic approach. These monomers can be polymerised to create new polymers with a wide range of mechanical properties that positions... Read More about A facile and green route to terpene derived acrylate and methacrylate monomers and simple free radical polymerisation to yield new renewable polymers and coatings.

Towards sustainable polymeric nano-carriers and surfactants: facile low temperature enzymatic synthesis of bio-based amphiphilic copolymers in scCO2 (2016)
Journal Article
Curia, S., & Howdle, S. M. (2016). Towards sustainable polymeric nano-carriers and surfactants: facile low temperature enzymatic synthesis of bio-based amphiphilic copolymers in scCO2. Polymer Chemistry, https://doi.org/10.1039/C6PY00066E

We demonstrate that useful bio-based amphiphilic polymers can be produced enzymatically at a mild temperature, in a solvent-free system and using renewably sourced monomers, by exploiting the unique properties of supercritical CO2 (scCO2). We present... Read More about Towards sustainable polymeric nano-carriers and surfactants: facile low temperature enzymatic synthesis of bio-based amphiphilic copolymers in scCO2.

How does dense phase CO2 influence the phase behaviour of block copolymers synthesised by dispersion polymerisation? (2015)
Journal Article
Jennings, J., Bassett, S., Hermida-Merino, D., Portale, G., Bras, W., Knight, L., …Howdle, S. (2015). How does dense phase CO2 influence the phase behaviour of block copolymers synthesised by dispersion polymerisation?. Polymer Chemistry, https://doi.org/10.1039/C5PY01823D

Block copolymers synthesised in supercritical CO2 dispersion undergo in situ self-assembly which can result in a range of nanostructured microparticles. However, our previous study revealed that copolymers with different block combinations possessed... Read More about How does dense phase CO2 influence the phase behaviour of block copolymers synthesised by dispersion polymerisation?.

Green process for green materials: viable low-temperature lipase-catalysed synthesis of renewable telechelics in supercritical CO2 (2015)
Journal Article
Curia, S., Barclay, A., Torron, S., Johansson, M., & Howdle, S. (2015). Green process for green materials: viable low-temperature lipase-catalysed synthesis of renewable telechelics in supercritical CO2. Philosophical Transactions A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 373(2057), https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2015.0073

We present a novel near ambient temperature approach to telechelic renewable polyesters by exploiting the unique properties of supercritical CO2 (scCO2). Bio-based commercially available monomers have been polymerised and functional telechelic materi... Read More about Green process for green materials: viable low-temperature lipase-catalysed synthesis of renewable telechelics in supercritical CO2.

High-pressure rheological analysis of CO2-induced melting point depression and viscosity reduction of poly(?-caprolactone) (2015)
Journal Article
Curia, S., De Focatiis, D. S., & Howdle, S. M. (2015). High-pressure rheological analysis of CO2-induced melting point depression and viscosity reduction of poly(?-caprolactone). Polymer, 69, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2015.05.026

High-pressure rheology has been used to assess the effects of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) on the melting point (Tm) and viscosity of poly (?-caprolactone) (PCL) over a range of temperatures and pressures up to 300 bar over a wide range of sh... Read More about High-pressure rheological analysis of CO2-induced melting point depression and viscosity reduction of poly(?-caprolactone).

Facile one-spot synthesis of highly branched polycaprolactone (2014)
Journal Article
Nguyen, N. T., Thurecht, K. J., Howdle, S. M., & Irvine, D. J. (2014). Facile one-spot synthesis of highly branched polycaprolactone. Polymer Chemistry, 5(8), https://doi.org/10.1039/C3PY01725G

Reported is the first solvent-free (bulk) synthesis of degradable/bioresorbable, highly branched polymers via tin octanoate Sn(Oct2) catalysed controlled ring opening co-polymerisation (ROP) of mono and di-functional lactone monomers that proceed to... Read More about Facile one-spot synthesis of highly branched polycaprolactone.

Bacteria clustering by polymers induces the expression of quorum sense controlled phenotypes (2013)
Journal Article
Lui, L. T., Xue, X., Sui, C., Brown, A., Pritchard, D. I., Halliday, N., …Alexander, C. (2013). Bacteria clustering by polymers induces the expression of quorum sense controlled phenotypes. Nature Chemistry, 5(12), https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.1793

Bacteria deploy a range of chemistries to regulate their behaviour and respond to their environment. Quorum sensing is one mean by which bacteria use chemical reactions to modulate pre-infection behaviour such as surface attachment. Polymers that can... Read More about Bacteria clustering by polymers induces the expression of quorum sense controlled phenotypes.

Interconnectivity and permeability of supercritical fluid-foamed scaffolds and the effect of their structural properties on cell distribution (2013)
Journal Article
Reinwald, Y., Johal, R. K., Ghaemmaghami, A. M., Rose, F. R., Howdle, S. M., & Shakesheff, K. M. (2014). Interconnectivity and permeability of supercritical fluid-foamed scaffolds and the effect of their structural properties on cell distribution. Polymer, 55(1), 435-444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2013.09.041

This study aims to investigate interconnectivity and permeability of scCO2-foamed scaffolds and the influence of structural scaffold properties on cell distribution. Supercritical fluid technology was utilized to fabricated scaffolds from 37 kDa, 53... Read More about Interconnectivity and permeability of supercritical fluid-foamed scaffolds and the effect of their structural properties on cell distribution.

Uniform cell colonization of porous 3-D scaffolds achieved using radial control of surface chemistry (2011)
Journal Article
Intranuovo, F., Howard, D., White, L. J., Johal, R. K., Ghaemmaghami, A. M., Favia, P., …Alexander, M. R. (2011). Uniform cell colonization of porous 3-D scaffolds achieved using radial control of surface chemistry. Acta Biomaterialia, 7(9), 3336-3344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2011.05.020

Uniform cellular distribution is a prerequisite to forming tissue within porous scaffolds, but the seeding process often results in preferential adhesion of cells at the periphery. We develop a vapour phase coating strategy which is readily applicabl... Read More about Uniform cell colonization of porous 3-D scaffolds achieved using radial control of surface chemistry.