Temperature-induced morphological change of ABC 3-miktoarm star terpolymer assemblies in aqueous solution.
This work reports temperature-induced morphological change of ABC 3-miktoarm star terpolymer assemblies in aqueous solution. The terpolymer (MPEG)(PCL)(PPE) is composed of hydrophilic monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG), hydrophobic poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) and thermosensitive polyphosphoester (PPE) chains, emanating from a central junction point. It is thermosensitive in aqueous solution, forming spherical micelles at lower temperature, which transition to short nano-rod morphology at temperature higher than the cloud point. The temperature induced morphological transition of this biodegradable miktoarm star terpolymer shows that it has potential in stimulus-controlled drug delivery applications.
Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
You-Yong
YY
Yuan
Jun
J
Wang
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C028210:monomethoxypolyethylene glycol