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Synthesis, Self‐Assembly, and Multi‐Stimuli Responses of a Supramolecular Block Copolymer
Author(s) -
Yuan Weizhong,
Wang Jinju,
Li Lulin,
Zou Hui,
Yuan Hua,
Ren Jie
Publication year - 2014
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.201400308
Subject(s) - copolymer , ethylene glycol , polymer chemistry , methacrylate , micelle , covalent bond , supramolecular chemistry , peg ratio , chemistry , dithiothreitol , self assembly , materials science , organic chemistry , polymer , molecule , aqueous solution , finance , economics , enzyme
A supramolecular block copolymer is prepared by the molecular recognition of nucleobases between poly(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate‐ co ‐oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate)‐SS‐poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐adenine (P(MEO 2 MA‐ co ‐OEGMA)‐SS‐PCL‐A) and uracil‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG‐U). Because the block copolymer is linked by the combination of covalent (disulfide bond) and noncovalent (AU) bonds, it not only has similar properties to conventional covalently linked block copolymers but also possesses a dynamic and tunable nature. The copolymer can self‐assemble into micelles with a PCL core and P(MEO 2 MA‐ co ‐OEGMA)/PEG shell. The size and morphologies of the micelles/aggregates can be adjusted by altering the temperature, pH, salt concentration, or adding dithiothreitol (DTT) to the solution. The controlled release of Nile red is achieved at different environmental conditions.