Dual hydrophilic and salt responsive schizophrenic block copolymers – synthesis and study of self-assembly behavior. Issue 4 (16th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vasantha, Vivek Arjunan; Jana, Satyasankar; Lee, Serina Siew-Chen; Lim, Chin-Sing; Teo, Serena Lay-Ming; Parthiban, Anbanandam; Vancso, Julius G.
• Is Part Of: Polymer chemistry. Volume 6:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 599
• Page End: 606
• Publication Date: 2014-10-16
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1039/c4py01113a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-9954

Abstract

Abstract : Block copolymers undergoing conversion from "conventional" to "inverse" micelles upon changing the medium are described. Abstract : A new class of dual hydrophilic diblock copolymers (BCPs) possessing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and zwitterionic polysulfabetaine (PSB) was synthesized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. These BCPs formed schizophrenic micelles undergoing core–shell transitions upon changing the medium from deionized water to an electrolyte solution. "Conventional" micelles, i.e. PSB at the core and PEG at the periphery, were formed in deionized water. The micelles "inverted" to form PSB at the shell and PEG at the core in electrolyte solutions. The reversal of core–shell structures was thoroughly studied by 1 H-NMR spectroscopic analysis, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) techniques. Antifouling evaluation in the sea indicated that BCPs displayed antifouling behaviour to some extent. The dual hydrophilic BCPs reported here are potentially useful as stimuli responsive materials.