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Prolate and Temperature‐Responsive Self‐Assemblies of Amphiphilic Random Copolymers with Perfluoroalkyl and Polyoxyethylene Side Chains in Solution
Author(s) -
Martinelli Elisa,
Guazzelli Elisa,
Galli Giancarlo,
Telling Mark T. F.,
Poggetto Giovanni Dal,
Immirzi Barbara,
Domenici Fabio,
Paradossi Gaio
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201800210
Subject(s) - radius of gyration , copolymer , hydrodynamic radius , polymer chemistry , amphiphile , polar , side chain , materials science , gyration , solvent , prolate spheroid , chemistry , polymer , organic chemistry , physics , composite material , geometry , mathematics , astronomy , classical mechanics
Two amphiphilic random copolymers, PEGMAx‐ co ‐FAy ( x = 90 and 70 mol%), are synthesized by ATRP and their solutions are investigated as a function of solvent, concentration, and temperature by DLS and SANS analyses. Both copolymers self‐assemble in nanostructures by single‐chain folding in water solutions over a wide range of temperatures. The values of the DLS hydrodynamic radius and the SANS radius of gyration are found to be ≈4 nm and ≈3.4–3.7 nm, respectively. Moreover, SANS shows the self‐folded nanoassemblies to be prolated spheroids with a ratio of polar/equatorial axes of ≈5:1 for PEGMA90‐ co ‐FA10 and ≈2:1 for PEGMA70‐ co ‐FA30. On heating above a critical temperature T c , multichain microassemblies are formed that revert back to nanoassemblies on cooling below T c . This temperature‐responsive transition is fully and sharply reversible.