title: Novel thermoresponsive and pH-responsive aggregates from self-assembly of triblock copolymer PSMA-b-PNIPAAm-b-PSMA.
abstract: A series of novel triblock copolymers of poly(stearyl methacrylate)-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-poly(stearyl methacrylate) (PSMA-b-PNIPAAm-b-PSMA) with different molecular weights was synthesized through carboxyl-terminated trithiocarbonates as a highly efficient RAFT agent via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The resultant polymers were characterized by 1H NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy, and GPC. By varying the organic solvent used in the self-assembly procedure and adjusting the copolymer composition, multiple morphologies ranging from vesicles and core-shell spherical aggregates with different dimensions to pearl-necklace-like aggregates were obtained. The aggregates showed thermoresponsive and pH-responsive properties through the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAAm and the two carboxyl end groups of the copolymer.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Junfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Qingquan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Haojie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Zhenrong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao