Synthesis and self-assembly of polystyrene-based diblock and triblock coil–brush copolymers

Abstract

Anionic coil–brush, brush–coil–brush and coil–brush–coil type polystyrene-based di- and tri-block copolymers were synthesized and their micellization behavior was compared.

Synthesis, Hydrophilicity and Micellization of Coil-Brush Polystyrene-b-(polyglycidol-g-polyglycidol) Copolymer—Comparison with Linear Polystyrene-b-polyglycidol

“…The self-assembly of coil-brush polystyrene-b-poly[(4-vinylbenzyl chloride)-co-(styrene-gpoly(acrylic acid)] diblock copolymers with M n = 115000 in dioxane-water (50/50 vol/vol) produced particles with bimodal size distribution, namely D h = 84 nm and D h = 830 nm. This size distribution suggests that the mixture of polymeric micelles and polymeric micelle aggregates were obtained [26].…”

“…For instance, it was noticed, that shape and size of the micelles were determined by the location of the side poly(acrylic acid) chains in the polystyrene backbone. In addition, in the case of polystyrene-based anionic diblock copolymers the lower fraction of water in mixed solvent favoured formation of micelles, whereas higher fraction of water resulted in production of micellar aggregates with hydrodynamic diameters in the range from 500 to 1000 nm [26].…”

“…As mentioned before, the architecture of amphiphilic copolymers affects the size, shape, and morphology of formed particles (often micelles). It was reported that amphiphilic coilbrush di-and tri-block copolymers with hydrophobic polystyrene block and hydrophilic block(s) composed of poly(acrylic acid) grafted on modified polystyrene self-assemble in dioxane/water mixed solvent to form nanoparticles [26]. The morphology and size of the obtained objects depended on the 1,4-dioxane/water ratio and the architecture of the copolymers.…”

Macromolecular design and preparation of polymersomes

“…The degree of degradability of a polymersome can be dictated by the choice of monomers used. Non-degradable polymersomes typically include conjugated/aromatic hydrocarbon blocks such as poly (ethylethylene) (PEE), 6 poly(butadiene) (PBD) 22 and poly (styrene) (PSt) [22][23][24][25][26] as well as poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). [27][28][29] These polymers form the hydrophobic block of the copolymers but lack any bonds susceptible to hydrolytic cleavage.…”

“…The hydrophobic polymer blocks are then polymerised off both sides of the macroinitiator. 25,75 2.3.4 ABC triblock copolymers. ABC block copolymers are possibly the most interesting and unique of the all the block copolymers architectures due to the two differing hydrophilic blocks A and C. From Scheme 7, the confirmation of the block copolymer is cylindrical like the first conformation of ABA triblock copolymers.…”