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Molecule‐Responsive Block Copolymer Micelles
Author(s) -
Ishihara Yoshihiro,
Bazzi Hassan S.,
Toader Violeta,
Godin François,
Sleiman Hanadi F.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.200601423
Subject(s) - micelle , copolymer , selectivity , molecule , monomer , thymine , chemistry , polymer , polymerization , small molecule , materials science , polymer chemistry , organic chemistry , catalysis , dna , biochemistry , aqueous solution
Ring‐opening metathesis polymerization was used to generate an ABC triblock copolymer, containing complementary diamidopyridine (DAP) and thymine (THY) outer blocks, which assembles into spherical aggregates held together by DAP–THY noncovalent interactions. Addition of THY‐containing small guest molecules results in complete opening and deaggregation of the block copolymer micelle. This molecular recognition and macroscopic response shows high selectivity to the guest structure, and tolerates only a small amount of conformational mobility in the THY guest. On the other hand, addition of a small DAP‐containing guest does not break the aggregates, but instead, results in new micelles which show a different selectivity profile from the parent morphology. We have examined the effect of a number of structural features in the block copolymers, on both the extent and selectivity of their macroscopic response to guests (that is, opening of the micelle). This study has resulted in a set of structural guidelines, which help in the design of effective molecule‐responsive micelles for applications in selective drug delivery, sensing, and surface patterning.