Polymerization-induced thermal self-assembly (PITSA)†

摘要: Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) is a versatile technique to achieve wide range of polymeric nanoparticle morphologies. Most previous examples self-assembled soft synthesis by PISA rely on growing solvophobic polymer block that leads changes in architecture during polymerization selective solvent. However, copolymers with stimuli-responsive form various shapes has yet be reported. This new concept using thermoresponsive polymers termed polymerization-induced thermal (PITSA). A reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) N-isopropylacrylamide from hydrophilic agent composed N,N-dimethylacrylamide and acrylic acid was carried out water above the known lower critical solution temperature (LCST) poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm). After reaching certain length, PNIPAm self-assembled, as induced LCST, into copolymer aggregates within which dispersion continued. To characterize nanoparticles at ambient temperatures without their dissolution, particles were crosslinked immediately following elevated via reaction groups diamine presence carbodiimide. Size exclusion chromatography used evaluate unimer molecular weight distributions kinetics. Dynamic light scattering transmission electron microscopy provided insight size morphologies nanoparticles. The resulting formed (e.g., micelles, worms, vesicles), function length.