title: UCST behavior of polyampholytes based on stoichiometric RAFT copolymerization of cationic and anionic monomers.
abstract: Polyampholytes with controlled equimolar ratio of charges were synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerization of cationic and anionic monomers. The resulting charge-neutral polyampholytes exhibit upper critical solution temperature (UCST) thermoresponsive behavior in ethanol-water and methanol-water solvent mixtures based on electrostatic attraction. Finally, the temperature induced self-assembly of a polyampholyte with oligo(ethylene glycol) side chains into defined nanoparticles below the UCST transition is demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. richard.hoogenboom@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Qilu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoogenboom