title: Synthesis and self-assembly of stimuli-responsive poly(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate)-block-fullerene (PDMAEMA-b-C60) and the demicellization induced by free PDMAEMA chains.
abstract: Well-defined poly(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate)-block-fullerene [60] ((PDMAEMA)-b-C(60)) with a galactose targeting moiety was prepared by atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). This copolymer was designed for possible use as a targeted drug carrier. The chemical composition and the self-assembly behavior were characterized using different techniques, including GPC, NMR, UV, and DLS. The self-assembly of the galactose-functionalized PDMAEMA-b-C(60) structure in aqueous solutions was investigated using dynamic light scattering (DLS) under different pH conditions. At pH 3 and 10, the DLS results showed the presence of both polymeric micelles and unimers. However, a smaller R(h) was observed at pH 10 than at pH 3 because of electrostatic repulsion at low pH values. In addition, free PDMAEMA chains induced the demicellization of self-assembled nanostructures caused by the formation of a charge-transfer complex between PDMAEMA and C(60.) This phenomenon offers possible applications for free-polymer-triggered drug release.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1.
authors.forename: Z L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Tam
mesh_terms: D037741:Fullerenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005690:Galactose / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D008823:Micelles; D009757:Nylons / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D037741:Fullerenes; D008689:Methacrylates; D008823:Micelles; D009757:Nylons; C407037:poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate); C069837:fullerene C60; D005690:Galactose