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Synthesis of Novel Thermo‐ and pH‐Responsive Poly( L ‐lysine)‐Based Copolymer and its Micellization in Water
Author(s) -
Zhao Changwen,
Zhuang Xiuli,
He Chaoliang,
Chen Xuesi,
Jing Xiabin
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.200800494
Subject(s) - copolymer , lower critical solution temperature , micelle , cloud point , dynamic light scattering , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , materials science , self assembly , environmental scanning electron microscope , chemistry , scanning electron microscope , polymer , aqueous solution , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , nanoparticle , engineering , composite material
A series of novel temperature and pH responsive block copolymers composed of poly( N ‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly( L ‐lysine) (PLL) were synthesized. The effect of pH and the length of PLL on the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAM, and the self‐assembly of these PLL‐based copolymers induced by temperature and pH changes were investigated by the cloud point method, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). These PNIPAM‐ b ‐PLL copolymers can self‐assemble into micelle‐like aggregates with PNIPAM as the hydrophobic block at acidic pH and high temperatures; and at alkaline pH and low temperatures, they can self‐assemble into particles with PLL as the hydrophobic block. The copolymers may have potential applications in biotechnological and biomedical areas as drug release carriers.