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Article
Redox, Ionic Strength, and pH Sensitive Supramolecular Polymer Assemblies
Journal of Polymer Science Part A-Polymer Chemistry (2009)
  • S Ghosh
  • V Yesilyurt
  • EN Savariar
  • K Irvin
  • S Thayumanavan
Abstract

Supramolecular complex of a cationic surfactant and oppositely charged disulfide containing polyelectrolyte was found to form micelle type aggregates at concentration much lower than the critical aggregate concentration (CAC) of the surfactant itself. We show that this difference can be utilized to generate stimulus-sensitive disassembly of these structures. This can be achieved either by converting the polyelectrolyte counterions to monovalent counterions in response to a stimulus or by simply weakening the interaction between the polymer and the surfactant in the presence of a stimulus. We have utilized three different stimuli to demonstrate these possibilities.

Keywords
  • amphiphiles,
  • disassembly,
  • glutathione,
  • ionic strength,
  • pH sensitive,
  • polyelectrolyte-surfactant aggregate,
  • polyelectrolytes,
  • redox,
  • stimuli-sensitive polymers,
  • supramolecular structures
Publication Date
January 1, 2009
Citation Information
S Ghosh, V Yesilyurt, EN Savariar, K Irvin, et al.. "Redox, Ionic Strength, and pH Sensitive Supramolecular Polymer Assemblies" Journal of Polymer Science Part A-Polymer Chemistry Vol. 47 Iss. 4 (2009)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/sankaran_thayumanavan/78/