Supramolecular self-assembly of novel thermo-responsive double-hydrophilic and hydrophobic Y-shaped [MPEO-b-PEtOx-b-(PCL)2] terpolymers

摘要: Nonlinear amphiphilic block copolymer architectures with precisely controlled structures bring new challenges to biomedical materials research. The paper describes the straightforward synthesis of “snake tongue“ Y-shaped terpolymers containing poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEtOx) and poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) blocks into structure [AB(C)2] (herein referred as [MPEO44-b-PEtOx252-b-(PCL)2×44], [MPEO44-b-PEtOx252-b-(PCL)2×87], [MPEO44-b-PEtOx252-b-(PCL)2×131]). A series well-defined were successfully synthesised by a combination living cationic anionic ring-opening polymerization (ROP). selected [MPEO44-b-PEtOx252-b-(PCL)2×44] terpolymer self-assembly was characterised in detail static dynamic light scattering, nanoparticle tracking analysis cryo-transmission electron microscopy. physico-chemical properties well molecular architecture effect on self-assembled LCST compared [MPEO44-b-PEtOx252-b-(PCL)2×87] [MPEO44-b-PEtOx252-b-(PCL)2×131] terpolymers. results indicated temperature-induced aggregation an between 60–63 °C for at 60 45–50 significant differences supramolecular behaviour analogous linear structure, clearly indicating crucial architecture. Furthermore, increase weight fraction hydrophobic triblock likely induced decrease LCST.