Novel thermoresponsive and pH-responsive aggregates from self-assembly of triblock copolymer PSMA-b-PNIPAAm-b-PSMA.
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.
Zhou
Junfeng
J
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China.
Wang
Li
L
Yang
Qiang
Q
Liu
Qingquan
Q
Yu
Haojie
H
Zhao
Zhenrong
Z