Stimuli-Responsive Aqueous Micelles made from an ABC Metallo-Supramolecular Triblock Copolymer

Gohy, Jean-Francois; Lohmeijer, Bas G. G.; Varshney, Sunil K.; Decamps, Brigitte; Leroy, Eric; Boileau, Sylvie; Schubert, Ulrich S.

Abstract:

A metallo-supramolecular ABC triblock copolymer containing a bis(2,2‘:6‘,2‘ ‘-terpyridine)ruthenium(II) complex as a supramolecular connection between the constituting poly(styrene)-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) diblock and poly(ethylene oxide) block (PS32-b-P2VP13-[Ru]-PEO70) has been prepared. This copolymer was further utilized in order to prepare aqueous micelles consisting of a PS core, a pH-sensitive P2VP shell, and a PEO corona. The accordingly formed micelles have been characterized by a combination of dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Spherical micelles and a minor fraction of bigger aggregates were observed by these three independent techniques. The pH sensitivity of the P2VP shell could be demonstrated and the reversibility of the metallo-supramolecular complex investigated utilizing a strong competitive ligand.

Year:

2002

Type of Publication:

Article

Journal:

Macromolecules

Volume:

35

Pages:

9748 – 9755