A well-defined random copolymer containing 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate (MEO 2 MA, M n = 188 g/mol) and poly-(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA, M n = 2080 g/mol) (poly(MEO 2 MA-co-PEGMA 2080 )), M n = 17300 g/mol) was synthesized using the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) process, and its thermoresponsive behaviors in aqueous solution were investigated. In comparison to other temperature-sensitive random copolymers based on oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylates, this copolymer exhibited an unusual thermally induced two-stage aggregation process. The copolymer chains associate at the first thermal transition followed by a rearrangement process at the second thermal transition to produce a stable core−shell micellar structure. The morphology of the micelle comprises of a methacrylate core stabilized by the longer ethylene glycol segments (M n = 2080 g/mol) shell.
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