Based on the idea of structural design, a novel catalytic system was developed from a block copolymer for the oxidation reaction of 2,3,6-trimethylphenol (TMP). The block copolymer, poly(4-vinylpyridine)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP-PEG-P4VP), was synthesized via anionic polymerization. After self-assembly in water–1-hexanol solution and shell cross linking, the block copolymer formed the shell cross-linked reverse micelles (SCRMs). The CuCl2 complexed SCRMs were used in the catalytic oxidation reaction of TMP. Through coordinating with metal ions, regulating the distribution of metal catalytic active centers, and with the cocatalysis effect of the immobilized water droplets, this polymer-supported catalyst system demonstrated an efficient catalytic activity and recoverability. This work not only provides a promising catalyst based on mesoscale structure design using block copolymers but is also an example for deeper understanding on the structure effect in catalysis.

•β-TCMP mesoporous nanospheres were prepared directly from the aqueous solution.•Potential biomaterials have high drug loading efficiency.•The self-assembly process was controlled by EDTA ions.•The surface area of the nanospheres can be tuned.Mesoporous magnesium substituted β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCMP) nanospheres have been fabricated by the direction of EDTA. Metastable nanoparticles were firstly grown from the amorphous Mg2P2O7. Next, the EDTA ions were adsorbed on the surface of the metastable precursor nanoparticles and controlled their self-assembly into aggregates. The adsorption of the EDTA ions increased the surface charge of the precursor nanoparticles, driving the formation of interspaces in the aggregates. Then, nucleation and growth of β-TCMP occurred along the interspaces under the influence of EDTA. As a result, the mesoporous β-TCMP nanospheres formed by the self-transformation of the metastable precursor nanoparticles within the aggregates. Further, the particle size and specific surface area of the obtained porous β-TCMP nanospheres were tuned by a facile way. Interestingly, the mesoporous β-TCMP nanospheres were capable of loading Dox with a maximum drug loading efficiency of 96.9%. The Dox-loaded mesoporous β-TCMP nanospheres held properties of slow sustained release and easy cellular uptake. The materials could be potential biomaterials for drug delivery and tissue regeneration.

Amphiphilic triblock copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(ε-caprolatone) (PEG-PDMA-PCL) was synthesized using a one-pot sequential oxyanionic polymerization of DMA and ε-CL, associated with a PEG-O−K+ macroinitiator. The pH-responsive micellization behavior of the copolymer was studied using dynamic light scattering (DLS), steady–state fluorescence and TEM techniques. The anti-cancer drug of doxorubicin (DOX) was chosen as a model drug to investigate the potential application of this triblock copolymer in drug controlled release. The results indicated the important roles of the PCL block for drug loading, the PDMA block for pH-responsive release, and PEG block for good bio-affinity. Cell cytotoxicity tests showed that the DOX-loaded PEG-PDMA-PCL micelles were pharmaceutically active to suppress the growth of SKOV-3 cells. This novel stimuli–responsive block copolymer is an attractive candidate as the “smart” pH-responsive carrier for intracellular delivery of hydrophobic drugs.

•Using simple hydrothermal method to make material in one step.•By adding different ratio of raw material to regulate the specific surface area.•A clear preparation mechanism of the material is described.Through a hydrothermal process, materials contained copper-doped calcium phosphate (copper content 0.04–35.2 wt%) were prepared, which possessed space structure (specific surface area 18.4–89.6 m2/g) and maintained the activity of copper. The conditions of hydrothermal reaction were optimized, such as adding different organic compounds, adjusting pH, the concentration of reagents, reaction time, and temperature. By employing transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and other detection methods, to monitor the formation of the material, a mechanism was proposed. The material showed acceptable activity (better conversion than copper phosphate) and good recyclability (more than 5 recycles) in the aerobic oxidation of cyclohexene. The kinetic experiments at different temperature (40–60 °C) and time (0–12 h) indicated the reaction order with respect to cyclohexene was zero.