Charles E Mccormick

US Patent:

6855840, Feb 15, 2005

Filed:

Jan 6, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/337225

Inventors:

Charles L. McCormick - Hattiesburg MS, US
Michael S. Donovan - Hattiesburg MS, US
Andrew B. Lowe - Hattiesburg MS, US
Brent S. Sumerlin - Hattiesburg MS, US
David B. Thomas - Hattiesburg MS, US

Assignee:

University of Southern Mississippi - Hattiesburg MS

International Classification:

C07C327/00

US Classification:

558230, 526193, 526217, 526220, 526222, 526225

Abstract:

Polymers and copolymers synthesized by means that yield a narrow range of molecular weights can have different properties than polymers synthesized by conventional means. In order to obtain such polymers, however, polymerization must be controlled. One type of controlled polymerization is the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process, which has characteristics of a living polymerization. The present invention discloses a group of dithioesters and trithioesters suitable as chain transfer agents for RAFT polymerization. The present invention also discloses RAFT polymerizations conducted in aqueous media.

US Patent:

7179872, Feb 20, 2007

Filed:

Feb 14, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/057760

Inventors:

Charles L. McCormick - Hattiesburg MS, US
Michael S. Donovan - Hattiesburg MS, US
Andrew B. Lowe - Hattiesburg MS, US
Brent S. Sumerlin - Hattiesburg MS, US
David B. Thomas - Hattiesburg MS, US

Assignee:

University of Southern Mississippi - Hattiesburg MS

International Classification:

C08F 2/38

US Classification:

526222, 526193, 526217, 526220, 526225, 5263031, 524555

Abstract:

Polymers and copolymers synthesized by means that yield a narrow range of molecular weights can have different properties than polymers synthesized by conventional means. In order to obtain such polymers, however, polymerization must be controlled. One type of controlled polymerization is the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process, which has characteristics of a living polymerization. The present invention discloses a group of dithioesters and trithioesters suitable as chain transfer agents for RAFT polymerization. The present invention also discloses RAFT polymerizations conducted in aqueous media.

US Patent:

7186786, Mar 6, 2007

Filed:

Feb 14, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/057762

Inventors:

Charles L. McCormick - Hattiesburg MS, US
Michael S. Donovan - Hattiesburg MS, US
Andrew B. Lowe - Hattiesburg MS, US
Brent S. Sumerlin - Hattiesburg MS, US
David B. Thomas - Hattiesburg MS, US

Assignee:

University of Southern Mississippi - Hattiesburg MS

International Classification:

C08L 33/26

US Classification:

526222, 526193, 526217, 526220, 526225, 524555

Abstract:

Polymers and copolymers synthesized by means that yield a narrow range of molecular weights can have different properties than polymers synthesized by conventional means. In order to obtain such polymers, however, polymerization must be controlled. One type of controlled polymerization is the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process, which has characteristics of a living polymerization. The present invention discloses a group of dithioesters and trithioesters suitable as chain transfer agents for RAFT polymerization. The present invention also discloses RAFT polymerizations conducted in aqueous media.

US Patent:

7402690, Jul 22, 2008

Filed:

Jan 29, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/699266

Inventors:

Charles L. McCormick - Hattiesburg MS, US
Michael S. Donovan - Hattiesburg MS, US
Andrew B. Lowe - Hattiesburg MS, US
Brent S. Sumerlin - Hattiesburg MS, US
David B. Thomas - Hattiesburg MS, US

Assignee:

University of Southern Mississippi - Hattiesburg MS

International Classification:

C07C 329/14

US Classification:

558245, 558243

Abstract:

Polymers and copolymers synthesized by means that yield a narrow range of molecular weights can have different properties than polymers synthesized by conventional means. In order to obtain such polymers, however, polymerization must be controlled. One type of controlled polymerization is the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process, which has characteristics of a living polymerization. The present invention discloses a group of dithioesters and trithioesters suitable as chain transfer agents for RAFT polymerization. The present invention also discloses RAFT polymerizations conducted in aqueous media.

US Patent:

20030191262, Oct 9, 2003

Filed:

Feb 11, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/073820

Inventors:

Charles McCormick - Hattiesburg MS, US
Michael Donovan - Hattiesburg MS, US
Andrew Lowe - Hattiesburg MS, US
Brent Sumerlin - Hattiesburg MS, US
David Thomas - Hattiesburg MS, US

International Classification:

C08F012/30

US Classification:

526/288000, 526/303100, 526/258000, 526/286000, 526/287000

Abstract:

Polymers and copolymers synthesized by means that yield a narrow range of molecular weights can have different properties than polymers synthesized by conventional means. In order to obtain such polymers, however, polymerization must be controlled. One type of controlled polymerization is the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process, which has characteristics of a living polymerization. The present invention discloses a group of dithioesters and trithioesters suitable as chain transfer agents for RAFT polymerization. The present invention also discloses RAFT polymerizations conducted in aqueous media.

US Patent:

20030199653, Oct 23, 2003

Filed:

Mar 27, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/400346

Inventors:

Charles McCormick - Hattiesburg MS, US
Andrew Lowe - Hattiesburg MS, US
Brent Sumerlin - Pittsburgh PA, US

International Classification:

C08F004/04

US Classification:

526/219600, 526/227000, 526/286000, 526/348000

Abstract:

A new, facile, general one-phase method of generating thio-functionalized transition metal nanoparticles and surfaces modified by (co)polymers synthesized by the RAFT method is described. The method includes the stops of forming a (co)polymer in aqueous solution using the RAFT methodology, forming a colloidal transition metal precursor solution from an appropriate transition metal; adding the metal precursor solution or surface to the (co)polymer solution, adding a reducing agent into the solution to reduce the metal colloid in situ to produce the stabilized nanoparticles or surface, and isolating the stabilized nanoparticles or surface in a manner such that aggregation is minimized. The functionalized surfaces generated using these methods can further undergo planar surface modifications, such as functionalization with a variety of different chemical groups, expanding their utility and application.

US Patent:

20070043179, Feb 22, 2007

Filed:

Oct 25, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/586126

Inventors:

Charles McCormick - Hattiesburg MS, US
Andrew Lowe - Hattiesburg MS, US
Brent Sumerlin - Pittsburgh PA, US

International Classification:

C08F 4/00

US Classification:

526089000, 526219600, 526227000, 526286000, 526348000

Abstract:

A new, facile, general one-phase method of generating thiol-functionalized transition metal nanoparticles and surfaces modified by (co)polymers synthesized by the RAFT method is described. The method includes the steps of forming a (co)polymer in aqueous solution using the RAFT methodology, forming a colloidal transition metal precursor solution from an appropriate transition metal; adding the metal precursor solution or surface to the (co)polymer solution, adding a reducing agent into the solution to reduce the metal colloid in situ to produce the stabilized nanoparticles or surface, and isolating the stabilized nanoparticles or surface in a manner such that aggregation is minimized. The functionalized surfaces generated using these methods can further undergo planar surface modifications, such as functionalization with a variety of different chemical groups, expanding their utility and application.

US Patent:

20080234391, Sep 25, 2008

Filed:

Mar 14, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/048680

Inventors:

Charles L. McCormick - Hattiesburg MS, US
Brad S. Lokitz - Knoxville TN, US
Yuting Li - Sheffield, GB

International Classification:

A61K 47/32
C08L 53/00

US Classification:

5147721, 525 88

Abstract:

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a thermally responsive AB diblock copolymer prepared by RAFT polymerization wherein the diblock copolymer comprises poly(N-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide hydrochloride)-block-(N-isopropylacrylamide). Nanostructures of the thermally responsive diblock copolymer are formed by molecularly dissolving the diblock copolymer in aqueous solution at room temperature; and increasing the solution temperature to form nanostructures, for example vesicles or micelles. The first RAFT polymerization of an unprotected amino acid based monomer directly in water is also disclosed. The present invention also provides a method of forming shell cross-linked vesicles by adding a RAFT synthesized anionic homopolymer to a solution of the thermally responsive diblock copolymer. A method of forming interpolyelectrolyte complexed micelles or vesicles is also disclosed, the method comprising preparing by sequential aqueous RAFT polymerization a block copolymer comprised of N,N,-dimethyl acrylamide (DMA), N-acryloyl alanine (AAL) and N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAM); dissolving the block copolymers into aqueous solution; raising the solution temperature above the lower critical solution temperature of the NIPAM block; allowing the micelle solution to equilibrate; adjusting the pH of the solution to about 5; adding a cationic polymer to the solution; and stirring the solution. The reaction is readily reversed by the addition of a salt solution. In another aspect of the invention a reversible shell cross-linked micelle of a triblock copolymer cross-linked with cystamine is disclosed where a cleaving agent can be added to cleave the micelles. The reaction can be reversed with the addition of tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine or dithiothreitol.