Room temperature synthesis of poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate)-based diblock copolymer nano-objects via Photoinitiated Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly (Photo-PISA). Issue 13 (2nd March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tan, Jianbo; Bai, Yuhao; Zhang, Xuechao; Zhang, Li
• Is Part Of: Polymer chemistry. Volume 7:Issue 13(2016)
• Page Start: 2372
• Page End: 2380
• Publication Date: 2016-03-02
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1039/c6py00022c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-9954

Abstract

Abstract : A remarkably diverse set of complex polymer nanoparticle morphologies have been prepared by photoinitiated polymerization-induced self-assembly (photo-PISA) at room temperature. Abstract : The photoinitiated polymerization-induced self-assembly (photo-PISA) of 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA) is conducted in water by using poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (PPEGMA) based macro-RAFT agents. Polymerizations were carried out at room temperature via exposure to visible light irradiation, and quantitative monomer conversions (>99%) were achieved within 30 min of visible light irradiation. A remarkably diverse set of complex morphologies (spheres, worms, and vesicles) have been prepared by aqueous photo-PISA under mild conditions (water medium, room temperature, and visible light). The morphology of nano-objects can be tuned by changing the reaction parameters ( e.g. degree of polymerization, solids concentration), and two detailed phase diagrams were constructed. The polymerization can be activated or deactivated by a simple "ON/OFF" switch of the light source. A thermo-responsive behavior of PPEGMA14 -PHPMA200 nanoparticles prepared at 15% w/w was investigated by changing the temperature from 25 °C to 4 °C.