A new design for light-breakable polymer micelles.
A new and general design strategy is presented for amphiphilic block copolymers whose micellar aggregates can be dissociated by light. A diblock copolymer composed of hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and a hydrophobic polymethacrylate bearing pyrene pendant groups (PPy) was synthesized using ATRP. Upon UV light irradiation of polymer micellar solutions, the photosolvolysis of pyrene moieties results in their detachment from the polymer and converts the hydrophobic PPy block into hydrophilic poly(methacrylic acid). This effect leads to complete dissociation of polymer micelles.
Jiang
Jinqiang
J
Département de chimie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1K 2R1.
Tong
Xia
X
Zhao
Yue
Y
D004337:Drug Carriers; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008823:Micelles; D010078:Oxazines / Q000737:chemistry; D010777:Photochemistry; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
D004337:Drug Carriers; D008823:Micelles; D010078:Oxazines; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D011721:Pyrenes; C030613:polymethacrylic acid; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C044808:nile red