title: Self-Assembly and pH-Responsiveness of ABC Miktoarm Star Terpolymers.
abstract: This work deals with the self-assembly in water of ABC miktoarm star terpolymers consisting of hydrophobic poly(-caprolactone), hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), and pH-sensitive poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP). A variety of experimental techniques were used, including dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and zeta potential. Special attention was paid to the pH dependency of the supramolecular self-assemblies. A key observation is the capability of the miktoarm terpolymers to form micelles stable over the whole range of pH, although a transition was observed from neutral to highly positively charged nanoobjects upon decreasing pH.
authors.affiliation: Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules, UniVersité de Liège, B6 Sart-Tilman,B-4000 Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Butsele
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Fustin
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gohy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jérôme
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jérôme