title: RAFT polymerization of 4-vinylphenylboronic acid as the basis for micellar sugar sensors.
abstract: Well-defined homo and mPEGylated block (co)polymers of the commercially available unprotected 4-vinylphenylboronic acid (4-VBA) monomer are reported based on reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The polymerization kinetics are studied in detail for homo and block (co)polymerizations with different chain transfer agents (CTAs) to optimize the preparation of well-defined polymer structures, eventually leading to comparatively low dispersities (Đ ≤ 1.25). Subsequently, block (co)polymers with methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) mPEG-b-P(4-VBA) are prepared using a mPEG-functionalized CTA. The formed block copolymer mPEG114 -b-P(4-VBA)30 is demonstrated to be pH and glucose responsive as its micellization behavior is dictated by pH as well as the presence of glucose. The glucose-responsive pH window of mPEG114 -b-P(4-VBA)30 is found to be pH 9-10 based on the DLS and TEM measurement.
authors.affiliation: Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Department of Organic Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S4, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Samarendra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maji
authors.affiliation: Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Department of Organic Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S4, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gertjan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vancoillie
authors.affiliation: Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Department of Organic Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S4, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lenny
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Voorhaar
authors.affiliation: Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Department of Organic Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S4, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Qilu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Department of Organic Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S4, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoogenboom
mesh_terms: D001897:Boronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis*; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008823:Micelles; D058105:Polymerization; D014753:Vinyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C427523:4-vinylphenyl boronic acid; D001897:Boronic Acids; D002241:Carbohydrates; D008823:Micelles; D014753:Vinyl Compounds; D005947:Glucose
keywords: block (co)polymer; pH-responsive polymers; reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization; self-assembly; sugar responsive