Invertible Architectures from Amphiphilic Polyesters

Abstract

We synthesized and characterized novel amphiphilic polyesters with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic functionalities. The polyesters are soluble in organic and aqueous media and reveal the formation of inverse architectures whose behavior could be correlated to their chemical structure. We foresee that the amphiphilic properties of the polyesters reported here are obviously the basis of new architectures both in solution and on the solid surfaces, which could be used in a broad range of applications. The described synthesis of the copolymers is very simple and is based on commercially available products. That makes this approach attractive in various uses.

Surface activity of new invertible amphiphilic polyesters based on poly(ethylene glycol) and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids

“…Four polyesters have been synthesized, as reported in our earlier work [23], via copolycondensation of decanedioic or dodecanedioic acid and poly(ethylene glycol) with a molecular weight of 600 g/mol (or 300 g/mol) in a toluene solution in the presence of trace amounts of sulfuric acid as a catalyst. The other chemicals used, sodium tetraborate buffer, dimethyl yellow, the solvatochromic dye E t 30 (Reichardt's dye) were purchased from Aldrich and used as received.…”

“…Recently, we described the development and characterization of the invertible alternated polyesters (Scheme 1 in supporting materials) based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) of two molecular weights and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids [23]. The polyesters are soluble in both aqueous and organic mediums.…”

“…Several copolymer compositions which differ in molecular weight and HLB of the monomer units were developed. We have recently shown [23,24] that due to the presence of hydrophilic PEG and the hydrophobic aliphatic acid residues they can form (and change) the micelle architecture in solvents of different polarities (reverse micelles in a non-polar medium). Presumably, the change on the surface of the polymer assembly is a result of changes in molecular conformation within monomer units in solvents of different polarities.…”

Amphiphilic Invertible Polyesters as Reducing and Stabilizing Agents in the Formation of Metal Nanoparticles

“…Recently, we have reported [10] on the synthesis of polyesters having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties alternately distributed along the polymer chains. We applied polymeric architectures formed from the amphiphilic polyesters as nanoreactors (ordered domain structures) for the synthesis of silver nanocolloids.…”

“…[10] To prepare a solution of silver precursor, 0.2 g of sodium hydroxide in 1.0 mL of water was added to a solution of 0.12 g of silver nitrate in water to give a brown precipitate of silver oxide. The last was isolated by filtration and washed on a filter with Millipore water until the pH of filtrate was about 8-9.…”