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Novel Thermo‐Responsive Formation of a Hydrogel by Stereo‐Complexation between PLLA‐PEG‐PLLA and PDLA‐PEG‐PDLA Block Copolymers
Author(s) -
Fujiwara Tomoko,
Mukose Takashi,
Yamaoka Tetsuji,
Yamane Hideki,
Sakurai Shinichi,
Kimura Yoshiharu
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
macromolecular bioscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.924
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1616-5195
pISSN - 1616-5187
DOI - 10.1002/1616-5195(20010701)1:5<204::aid-mabi204>3.0.co;2-h
Subject(s) - copolymer , peg ratio , polymer chemistry , small angle x ray scattering , aqueous solution , rheology , chemistry , chemical engineering , materials science , polymer , scattering , organic chemistry , composite material , physics , finance , optics , economics , engineering
Gel formation was discovered in an aqueous mixture of enantiomeric triblock copolymers, PLLA‐PEG‐PLLA and PDLA‐PEG‐PDLA. This system is characteristic in that an interesting sol–gel transition was induced by the stereo‐complexation of the PLLA and PDLA segments of the block copolymers around 37°C. The process of gel formation was clearly monitored by the rheological change, and the responsibility of the stereo‐complex formation for the gelation was confirmed by wide‐angle X‐ray scattering. The mechanism of this gel formation is discussed in relation to its potential applications.