title: Well-defined amphiphilic poly(2-oxazoline) ABA-triblock copolymers and their aggregation behavior in aqueous solution.
abstract: Self-organization of block copolymers in solution is a way to obtain advanced functional superstructures. The synthesis of well-defined polymethyloxazoline-block-polyphenyloxazoline-block-polymethyloxazoline triblock copolymers is described and proven by (1) H NMR spectroscopy, SEC, and ESI-MS. The surprisingly water- soluble block copolymers do self-organize in aqueous solutions uniquely forming three coexisting well-defined structures: unimolecular micelles, micellar aggregates, and very form-stable polymersomes. This is the first example of a polymersome forming ABA-triblock copolymer with a glassy middle block. The spherical vesicles are analysed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. It could be shown that these vesicles are indeed hollow spheres.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Biomaterials and Polymer Science, Department of Bio- and Chemical Engineering, TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Krumm
authors.forename: Christoph P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Fik
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meuris
authors.forename: Georg J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Dropalla
authors.forename: Helma
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Geltenpoth
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sickmann
authors.forename: Joerg C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tiller
mesh_terms: D007700:Kinetics; D008027:Light; D010080:Oxazoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010080:Oxazoles; D011108:Polymers; C577913:poly(2-oxazoline); D014867:Water