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PH and Salt Effects on Surface Activity and Self-Assembly of Copolymers Containing a Weak Polybase
Langmuir
  • Neta Cohen
  • Lana Binyamin
  • Yael Levi-Kalisman
  • Geoffrey Y. Berguig
  • Anthony J. Convertine, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Patrick S. Stayton
  • Rachel Yerushalmi-Rozen
Abstract

Copolymers with well-defined architectures, controlled molecular weights, and narrow molar mass dispersities (A) were synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The resultant polymers contain different combinations of the pH-responsive monomer 2-(diethylaminoethyl) methacrylate (DEAEMA), the hydrophobic comonomer butyl methacrylate (BMA), and a neutral hydrophilic stabilizing monomer polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether methacrylate (designated O950). Surface tension and cryo-TEM measurements of native and heavy-atom stained samples were used to characterize the pH and salt responsiveness of the different polymers as a function of their composition. These studies indicate that while the polymers predominately self-assemble to form spherical micelles, a narrow size distribution is observed in aqueous solutions of poly(O950)-b-(BMA) and poly(O950)-b-(DEAEMA-co-BMA), whereas a broad size distribution characterizes the assemblies of poly(O950)-b-(DEAEMA) and poly(DEAEMA-co-BMA). In the latter case, micelles having diameters around 15-25 nm are found along with smaller aggregates (about 10 nm) mostly arranged in elongated necklace-like structures. The pH and salt-responsiveness of the DEAEMA residue, as indicated by the surface activity of the copolymers, was found to depend on the nature of the additional components: covalently linked hydrophobic groups (BMA) moderated the pH response of the copolymer as compared to nonionic and hydrophilic groups as in poly(O950)-b-(DEAEMA). These results suggest that mutual interactions among the building blocks of self-assembling copolymers should be taken into account when designing responsive copolymers.

Department(s)
Materials Science and Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
  • Free radical polymerization,
  • Hydrophilicity,
  • Hydrophobicity,
  • Micelles,
  • Monomers,
  • Size distribution,
  • Solutions, Broad size distribution,
  • Butyl methacrylates,
  • Controlled molecular weight,
  • Hydrophilic groups,
  • Narrow size distributions,
  • Polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether,
  • Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization,
  • Spherical micelles, Self assembly
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2016 American Chemical Society (ACS), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
9-1-2016
Publication Date
01 Sep 2016
Citation Information
Neta Cohen, Lana Binyamin, Yael Levi-Kalisman, Geoffrey Y. Berguig, et al.. "PH and Salt Effects on Surface Activity and Self-Assembly of Copolymers Containing a Weak Polybase" Langmuir Vol. 32 Iss. 36 (2016) p. 9286 - 9292 ISSN: 0743-7463
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/anthony-convertine/32/