Responsive nanoassemblies via interpolyelectrolyte complexation of amphiphilic block copolymer micelles

  • Brad S. Lokitz
  • , Anthony J. Convertine
  • , Ryan G. Ezell
  • , Andrew Heidenreich
  • , Yuting Li
  • , Charles L. McCormick

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

130 Scopus citations

Abstract

Shell "locked" nanoassemblies ranging in size from 34 to 78 nm have been prepared from interpolyelectrolyte complexation of block copolymer micelles of poly[(N,N-dimethylacrylamide)-b-(N-acryloylalanine)-b-(N- isopropylacrylamide)] with the homopolymer poly(ar-vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium chloride above the unimer to micelle phase transition temperature of the block copolymer in water. Of technological significance is the reversibility of the shell cross-linking by addition of 0.4 M NaCl, allowing micelle dissociation below the lower critical solution temperature of the copolymer micelles. Poly(N-acryloylalanine) (AAL) and block copolymers were prepared directly in water via controlled reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization utilizing mono- and difunctional poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) macroCTAs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8594-8602
Number of pages9
JournalMacromolecules
Volume39
Issue number25
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 12 2006
Externally publishedYes

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