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SET‐LRP Synthesis of Well‐Defined Light‐Responsible Block Copolymer Micelles
Author(s) -
Sedlacek Ondrej,
Filippov Sergey K.,
Svec Pavel,
Hruby Martin
Publication year - 2019
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.201900238
Subject(s) - copolymer , micelle , polymer chemistry , acrylate , amphiphile , dispersity , monomer , materials science , polymerization , radical polymerization , polymer , ethylene oxide , chemistry , organic chemistry , aqueous solution , composite material
Herein, the synthesis of well‐defined light‐sensitive amphiphilic diblock copolymers consisting of UV‐responsive poly(2‐nitrobenzyl acrylate) (PNBA) and hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blocks is reported. This is achieved by a single electron transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) of 2‐nitrobenzyl acrylate monomer initiated by PEO‐containing macroinitiator. Despite several reports on PEO‐ b ‐PNBA copolymers, this is the first time the PNBA block is synthesized by a controlled radical polymerization leading to the copolymers with low dispersity ( Ð = 1.10). In water, the copolymers self‐assemble into well‐defined micelles with a hydrodynamic diameter of 25 nm. Upon irradiation with UV‐light, the PNBA units degrade to hydrophilic poly(acrylate) resulting in disassembly of the micelles. Considering the robustness of the reported synthetic protocol, the prepared polymers represent an interesting platform for the construction of new stimuli‐responsive drug delivery systems.