Dual Reduction/Acid-Responsive Disassembly and Thermoresponsive Tunability of Degradable Double Hydrophilic Block Copolymer.

ABSTRACT: We report a thermoresponsive double hydrophilic block copolymer degradable in response to dual reduction and acidic pH at dual locations. The copolymer consists of a poly(ethylene oxide) block covalently connected through an acid-labile acetal linkage with a thermoresponsive polymethacrylate block containing pendant oligo(ethylene oxide) and disulfide groups. The copolymer undergoes temperature-driven self-assembly in water to form nanoassemblies with acetal linkages at the core/corona interface and disulfide pendants in the core, exhibiting dual reduction/acid responses at dual locations. The physically assembled nanoaggregates are converted to disulfide-core-crosslinked nanogels through disulfide-thiol exchange reaction, retaining enhanced colloidal stability, yet degraded to water-solub

SUBMITTER: Maruya-Li K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7045573 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature