Unique aqueous self-assembly behavior of a thermoresponsive diblock copolymer

Abstract

A new amphiphilic diblock copolymer prepared via polymerization-induced self-assembly forms spheres, worms, vesicles or lamellae in aqueous solution on adjusting the temperature.

Photochemically Induced Cyclic Morphological Dynamics via Degradation of Autonomously Produced Self-Assembled Polymer Vesicles

“…This gelation is associated with previously reported temperature-dependent gelation as an inherent property of PEG-b-PHPMA co-polymers 33 . In fact, due to the presence of a large number of hydroxy groups, the core-forming block, PHPMA, in spite of its hydrophobic nature, is a highly hydrated polymer.…”

Design principles for metamorphic block copolymer assemblies

“…It appears that a composition window (expressed in terms of the relative block length) of 3.5 t f B t 5.5 is optimal as the resulting assemblies exhibit metamorphic behavior within a useful w BS range. This agrees with recent experimental results, 31,35 where two types of block copolymers with temperature-responsive lyophobic blocks and 4.5 t f B t 5 exhibited the ability to form spheres, cylinders or vesicles in water depending on the solution temperature. The values of w S-C BS and w C-B BS can be controlled by varying f B and adjusted by an appropriate choice of the lyophilic block ( Fig.…”

Thermoresponsive properties of poly(acrylamide-co-acrylonitrile)-based diblock copolymers synthesized (by PISA) in water

“…Temperature-induced morphological transitions have already been observed in the literature for PISA-derived particles, but never for UCST-like polymers. [76][77][78][79] Such morphological transitions have been explained by an interfacial hydration of the core block inducing a subtle decrease in the packing parameter. 79,80 Generally, in water the observed transition is a LCST-like one, where the core-chain become less hydrated above heating, leading to the formation of higher-order morphologies.…”