Controlled nanogel and macrogel structures from self-assembly of a stimuli-responsive amphiphilic block copolymer.

ABSTRACT: RAFT polymerization was utilized to prepare an amphiphilic block copolymer containing both hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments. The self-assembly behavior of the block copolymer into nano-scale particulate structures was studied in both water and polar organic solvents. Uniform micelle assemblies were stabilized by reaction within the hydrophobic core, which contained pendant azide groups, through copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click chemistry with a dialkyne crosslinker. The reaction preceded efficiently with negligible residual azide functionality and resulted in core-shell nanogel structures that were analyzed by a variety of techniques including light scattering, electron microscopy and the ability to take up hydrophobic molecules. Both thermo- and pH-responsive c

SUBMITTER: Liu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5507065 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature