Aqueous Micelles from Supramolecular Graft Copolymers
-
Gohy, Jean-Francois; Hofmeier, Harald; Alexeev, Alexander; Schubert, Ulrich S.
- Abstract:
- Aqueous micelles have been prepared from
amphiphilic supramolecular graft copolymers, in which poly-
(ethylene glycol) (PEG) side chains were linked to a
poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) backbone via ruthenium(
II)-terpyridine complexes. Three different graft copolymers
were investigated, in which the average number of PEG
branches (constant length) and the length of the PMMA
backbone were varied. The successful formation of micelles
was proven by dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force
microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy
(TEM). A good agreement was found between TEM and
AFMobservations, which showpolydisperse spherical micelles.
The hydrodynamic diameter measured byDLS was much
larger, suggesting the formation of aggregates. No substantial
difference in the micellar characteristic features was found
between the three investigated samples.
- Year:
- 2003
- Type of Publication:
- Article
- Keywords:
- graft copolymers; metal complex; micelles; supramolecular chemistry; terpyridine
- Journal:
- Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics
- Volume:
- 204
- Pages:
- 1524 – 1530