Water-soluble, unimolecular containers based on amphiphilic multiarm star block copolymers

Kreutzer, G., Ternat, C., Nguyen, T.Q., Plummer, C.J.G., Manson, J.A.E., Sun, F., Sheiko, S.S., Herrmann, A., Ouali, L., Sommer, H., Fieber, W., Velazco, M.I., Klok, H.A. , Castelletto, V. and Hamley, I.W. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4549-0926 (2006) Water-soluble, unimolecular containers based on amphiphilic multiarm star block copolymers. Macromolecules, 39 (13). pp. 4507-4516. ISSN 0024-9297 doi: 10.1021/ma060548b

Abstract/Summary

A new class of water-soluble, amphiphilic star block copolymers with a large number of arms was prepared by sequential atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of n-butyl methacrylate (BMA) and poly( ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA). As the macroinitiator for the ATRP, a 2-bromoisobutyric acid functionalized fourth-generation hyperbranched polyester (Boltorn H40) was used, which allowed the preparation of star polymers that contained on average 20 diblock copolymer arms. The synthetic concept was validated by AFM experiments, which allowed direct visualization of single molecules of the multiarm star block copolymers. DSC and SAXS experiments on bulk samples suggested a microphase-separated structure, in agreement with the core-shell architecture of the polymers. SAXS experiments on aqueous solutions indicated that the star block copolymers can be regarded as unimolecular micelles composed of a PBMA core and a diffuse PPEGMA corona. The ability of the polymers to encapsulate and release hydrophobic guests was evaluated using H-1 NMR spectroscopy. In dilute aqueous solution, these polymers act as unimolecular containers that can be loaded with up to 27 wt % hydrophobic guest molecules.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/11409
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > Department of Chemistry
Uncontrolled Keywords	ATOM-TRANSFER POLYMERIZATION, TRANSFER RADICAL POLYMERIZATION, CORE-SHELL ARCHITECTURES, SMALL-ANGLE SCATTERING, DRUG-DELIVERY, METHYL-METHACRYLATE, POLY(ETHYLENE GLYCOL), COPPER(I) BROMIDE, AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS, MICELLES
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