Chemoenzymatic synthesis of Y‐shaped amphiphilic block copolymers and their micellization behavior

BACKGROUND: Y‐shaped block copolymers are a type of special star polymer that have received considerable attention due to their unique morphologies and phase behavior. This research is based on the preparation of novel Y‐shaped block copolymers using enzymatic ring‐opening polymerization (eROP) and atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), followed by an investigation of their micellization properties. RESULTS: Y‐shaped block copolymers consisting of polycaprolactone and poly(glycidyl methacrylate) were synthesized successfully by the combination of eROP and ATRP. NMR, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), Fourier transform infrared and atomic force microscopy analyses confirmed the compositions of the block copolymers. The dispersity obtained from GPC was less than 1.4, which indicated a control of the polymerization. The self‐assembly behavior of the Y‐shaped block copolymers was investigated in aqueous media. Aggregates of various morphologies (such as spherical micelles, lamellae, worm‐like micelles and large compound micelles) were observed. In addition, it was found that both the copolymer composition and concentration in tetrahydrofuran greatly influenced the morphologies of the aggregates. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the Y‐shaped diblock copolymers can be synthesized by simple methods. They have various morphologies, including normal spherical micelles, lamellae, worm‐like micelles and large compound micelles. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

New chemoenzymatic‐facilitated synthesis of diblock copolymers and biomedically appropriate vesicles

BACKGROUND: Biocatalytic approaches in polymer science are expected to further increase the diversity of polymeric materials. And the full exploitation of biocatalysis in polymer science will require the development of compatible chemoenzyme‐catalyzed methods. RESULTS: The well‐defined diblock copolymer poly(2,2,2‐trichloroethanol 10‐hydroxydecanate)‐block‐poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (P(TCE‐10‐HD)‐b‐PGMA) was obtained by combining enzymatic condensation polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). P(TCE‐10‐HD) was prepared by enzymatic condensation polymerization of 10‐hydroxydecanoic acid and 2,2,2‐trichloroethanol. This ? CCl₃‐terminated polyester permitted subsequent ATRP of glycidyl methacrylate. Kinetic studies indicated a ‘living’ controlled radical polymerization. The self‐assembly behavior of the amphiphilic diblock copolymer, in tetrahydrofuran/water, gave rise to aggregates with diameters ranging from 160 to 240 nm. The morphology of the assembly particles was studied using atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. CONCLUSION: To obtain the ATRP macromolecular initiator, this one‐step method is more convenient than other two‐step methods. The results of NMR, Fourier transform infrared and gel permeation chromatography analyses testified that this method is feasible. The formulated vesicles have great potential as biomedical materials. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Chemo‐enzymatic synthesis of poly(2,2,2‐trichloroethyl 10‐hydroxydecanate)‐block‐polystyrene combining enzymatic self‐condensation polymerization and ATRP

Enzymatic polymerization in a non‐natural environment is of interest as an environmentally friendly methodology as an alternative to the use of conventional chemical organometallic catalysts. Chemo‐enzymatic synthesis of the AB‐type diblock copolymer poly(2,2,2‐trichloroethyl 10‐hydroxydecanate)‐block‐polystyrene (PHD‐b‐PSt) was carried out by combining enzymatic self‐condensation polymerization (eSCP) and atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Biocatalyst Novozyme 435 was successful in catalyzing the eSCP of a novel ω‐hydroxyester, i.e. 2,2,2‐trichloroethyl 10‐hydroxydecanate. The resulting ? CCl₃‐terminated PHD initiated the ATRP of styrene, a ‘living’/controlled radical polymerization. The analysis of the hydrolysate from the copolymer proved the presence of a block copolymer structure. In addition, the well‐defined diblock copolymer PHD‐b‐PSt self‐assembled into nanoscale micelles in aqueous solution. The chemo‐enzymatic synthesis of diblock copolymer PHD‐b‐PSt was achieved by the combination of eSCP and ATRP. The structures and composition of the block copolymer were characterized by means of NMR, infrared and gel permeation chromatography measurements. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis showed that a microphase‐separation structure was formed in the copolymer, which was caused by the crystallization of the PHD segments. As investigated with atomic force microscopy and dynamic light scattering, these micelles had a mean diameter and a spherical shape. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a chemo‐enzymatic synthesis based on eSCP and ATRP. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Nanostructures and thermomechanical properties of epoxy thermosets containing reactive diblock copolymer

Polystyrene‐block‐poly(glycidyl methacrylate) reactive diblock copolymer (PS‐b‐PGMA) was synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The diblock copolymer was characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The cured epoxy thermosets with 10–20 nm PS particles were prepared by blending the diblock copolymer with epoxy resin. The nanostructures were examined by means of transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) and small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). The formation of the nanostructures was caused by the reaction‐induced microphase separation mechanism. It is significant that the glass transition temperatures (T_gs) of these epoxy thermosets were increased by the addition of PS‐b‐PGMA reactive block copolymer as revealed by both differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of Y-shaped diblock copolymer

Y-shaped diblock copolymer polycaprolactone-block-(polystyrene)₂ [PCL-b-(PSt)₂] was synthesized successfully by the combination of enzymatic ring-opening polymerization (eROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). CH₃O-terminated PCL was synthesized firstly by eROP of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) in the presence of biocatalyst Novozyme 435 and initiator CH₃OH, subsequently the resulting PCL was converted to macroinitiator by the esterification of it with 2,2-dichloro acetyl chloride (DCAC). PCL-b-(PSt)₂ diblock copolymers were synthesized in an ATRP of the styrene with CuCl/2,2′-bipyridine as the catalyst system. The kinetic analysis of ATRP indicated a controlled/‘living’ radical polymerization. The structure and composition of obtained polymers were characterized with NMR, GPC and FTIR. The thermal behavior was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).     

Synthesis of azobenzene‐containing side chain liquid crystalline diblock copolymers using RAFT polymerization and photo‐responsive behavior

Well‐defined azobenzene‐containing side chain liquid crystalline diblock copolymers composed of poly[6‐[4‐(4‐methoxyphenylazo)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate] (PAzoMA) and poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) were synthesized by a two‐step reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT). The thermal liquid‐crystalline phase behavior of the PGMA‐b‐PAzoMA diblock copolymers in bulk were measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized light microscopy (POM). The synthesized diblock copolymers exhibited a smectic and nematic liquid crystalline phase over a relatively wide temperature range. With increasing the weight fraction of the PAzoMA block, the phase transition temperatures, and corresponding enthalpy changes increased. Atomic force microscope (AFM) measurements confirmed the formation of the microphase separation in PGMA‐b‐PAzoMA diblock copolymer thin films and the microphase separation became more obvious after cross‐linking the PGMA block. The photochemical transition behavior of the PGMA‐b‐PAzoMA diblock copolymers in solution and in thin films were investigated by UV–vis spectrometry. It was found that the trans–cis isomerization of diblock copolymers was slower than that of the corresponding PAzoMA homopolymer and the photoisomerization rates decreased with increasing either the length of PAzoMA block or PGMA block. The photo‐induced isomerization in solid films was quite different with that in CHCl₃ solution due to the aggregation of the azobenzene chromophore. The cross‐linking structures severely suppressed the photoisomerization of azobenzene chromophore. These results may provide guidelines for the design of effective photo‐responsive anisotropic materials. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2165–2175, 2013     

Synthesis of defined polyhedral oligosilsesquioxane‐containing diblock and triblock methacrylate copolymers by atom transfer radical polymerization

Defined diblock and triblock copolymers composed of methyl methacrylate‐co‐glycidyl methacrylate block and 3‐{3,5,7,9,11,13,15‐hepta(2‐methylpropyl)‐pentacyclo[9.5.1.1^3,9.1^5,15.1^7,13]‐octasiloxan‐1‐yl}propyl methacrylate block(s), i.e., P(MMA‐co‐GMA)‐b‐PiBuPOSSMA and PiBuPOSSMA‐b‐P(MMA‐co‐GMA)‐b‐PiBuPOSSMA, were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). First, monofunctional and bifunctional P(MMA‐co‐GMA) copolymers were synthesized by ATRP. Subsequently, these copolymers were successfully used as macroinitiators for ATRP of POSS‐containing methacrylate monomer. The process showed high initiation efficiency of macroinitiators and led to products with low dispersity. The synthesized block copolymers were characterized by size exclusion chromatography, ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy and their glass transition temperatures were determined by differential scanning calorimetry. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Chemozymatic synthesis and characterization of H-shaped triblock copolymer

The synthesis of well-defined H-shaped block copolymer based on the enzymatic ring-opening polymerization (eROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is described. The dihydroxyl polycaprolactone (PCL) was synthesized by the eROP of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) in the presence biocatalyst Novozyme 435 and initiator ethylene glycol. Subsequently, the resulting PCL was converted to tetrafunctional macroinitiator by the esterification with 2,2-dichloro acetyl chloride (DCAC). The H-shaped block copolymer was then synthesized by the ATRP of styrene. The polymers were characterized by NMR and GPC. Linear first-order kinetics, linearly increasing molecular weight with conversion, and low polydispersities observed from the ATRP of St showed that the polymerization was well controlled. (PSt)₂-b-PCL-b-(PSt)₂ block copolymers with varying molecular weight and controllable composition were obtained.     

Amphiphilic block copolymer poly(lactic acid)‐block‐(glycidylazide polymer)‐block‐polystyrene: synthesis and self‐assembly

The triblock energetic copolymer poly(lactic acid)‐block‐(glycidylazide polymer)‐block‐polystyrene (PLA‐b‐GAP‐b‐PS) was synthesized successfully through atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene and ring‐opening polymerization of d,l ‐lactide. The energetic macroinitiator GAP‐Br, which was made from reacting equimolar GAP with α‐bromoisobutyryl bromide, firstly triggered the ATRP of styrene with its bromide group, and then the hydroxyl group on the GAP end of the resulting diblock copolymer participated in the polymerization of lactide in the presence of stannous octoate. The triblock copolymer PLA‐b‐GAP‐b‐PS had a narrow distribution of molecular weight. In the copolymer, the PS block was solvophilic in toluene and improved the stability of the structure, the PLA block was solvophobic in toluene and served as the sacrificial component for the preparation of porous materials, and GAP was the basic and energetic material. The three blocks of the copolymer were fundamentally thermodynamically immiscible, which led to the self‐assembly of the block copolymer in solution. Further studies showed that the concentration and solubility of the copolymer and the polarity of the solvent affected the morphology and size of the micelles generated from the self‐assembly of PLA‐b‐GAP‐b‐PS. The micelles generated in organic solvents at 10 mg mL^?1 copolymer concentration were spherical but became irregular when water was used as a co‐solvent. The spherical micelles self‐assembled in toluene had three distinct layers, with the diameter of the micelles increasing from 60 to 250 nm as the concentration of the copolymer increased from 5 to 15 mg L^?1. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(n‐butyl methacrylate)‐b‐polystyrene diblock copolymers by atom transfer radical emulsion polymerization

Poly(n‐butyl methacrylate) (PBMA)‐b‐polystyrene (PSt) diblock copolymers were synthesized by emulsion atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). PBMA macroinitiators that contained alkyl bromide end groups were obtained by the emulsion ATRP of n‐butyl methacrylate with BrCH₃CHCOOC₂H₅ as the initiator; these were used to initiate the ATRP of styrene (St). The latter procedure was carried out at 85°C with CuCl/4,4′‐di(5‐nonyl)‐2,2′‐bipyridine as the catalyst and polyoxyethylene(23) lauryl ether as the surfactant. With this technique, PBMA‐b‐PSt diblock copolymers were synthesized. The polymerization was nearly controlled; the ATRP of St from the macroinitiators showed linear increases in number‐average molecular weight with conversion. The block copolymers were characterized with IR spectroscopy, ¹H‐NMR, and differential scanning calorimetry. The effects of the molecular weight of the macroinitiators, macroinitiator concentration, catalyst concentration, surfactant concentration, and temperature on the polymerization were also investigated. Thermodynamic data and activation parameters for the ATRP are also reported. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 2123–2129, 2005     

Synthesis of amphiphilic poly(methyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly(methacrylic acid) diblock copolymers by atom transfer radical polymerization

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 1‐(butoxy)ethyl methacrylate (BEMA) was carried out using CuBr/2,2′‐bipyridyl complex as catalyst and 2‐bromo‐2‐methyl‐propionic acid ester as initiator. The number average molecular weight of the obtained polymers increased with monomer conversion, and molecular weight distributions were unimodal throughout the reaction and shifted toward higher molecular weights. Using poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with a bromine atom at the chain end, which was prepared by ATRP, as the macro‐initiator, a diblock copolymer PMMA‐block‐poly [1‐(butoxy)ethyl methacrylate] (PMMA‐b‐PBEMA) has been synthesized by means of ATRP of BEMA. The amphiphilic diblock copolymer PMMA‐block‐poly(methacrylic acid) can be further obtained very easily by hydrolysis of PMMA‐b‐PBEMA under mild acidic conditions. The molecular weight and the structure of the above‐mentioned polymers were characterized with gel permeation chromatography, infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation and characterization of PSt‐b‐PHEMA metal hybrids

The block copolymer polystyrene‐b‐poly[2‐(trimethylsilyloxy)ethylene methacrylate] (PSt‐b‐PTMSEMA) was synthesized using atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The hydrolysis of PSt‐b‐PTMSEMA led to the formation of an amphiphilic block copolymer, polystyrene‐b‐poly(2‐hydroxylethyl methacrylate) (PSt‐b‐PHEMA), which was characterized by GPC and ¹H‐NMR. TEM showed that the PSt‐b‐PHEMA formed a micelle, which is PSt as the core and PHEMA as the shell. Under appropriate conditions, the nickel or cobalt ion cause chemical reactions in these micelles and could be reduced easily. ESCA analysis showed that before reduction the metal existed as a hydroxide; after reduction, the metal existed as an oxide, and the metal content of these materials on the surface is more than that on the surface of the copolymer metal ion. XRD analysis showed that the metal existed as a hydroxide before reduction and existed as a metal after reduction. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 2883–2891, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10278     

Surface microphase separation in PDMS‐b‐PMMA‐b‐PHFBMA triblock copolymer films

Well‐defined poly(dimethylsiloxane)‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly(2,2,3,3,4,4,4‐heptafluorobutyl methacrylate) (PDMS‐b‐PMMA‐b‐PHFBMA) triblock copolymers were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Surface microphase separation in the PDMS‐b‐PMMA‐b‐PHFBMA triblock copolymer films was investigated. The microstructure of the block copolymers was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Surface composition was studied by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The chemical composition at the surface was determined by the surface microphase separation in the PDMS‐b‐PMMA‐b‐PHFBMA triblock copolymer films. The increase of the PHFBMA content could strengthen the microphase separation behavior in the PDMS‐b‐PMMA‐b‐PHFBMA triblock copolymer films and reduce their surface tension. Comparison between the PDMS‐b‐PMMA‐b‐PHFBMA triblock copolymers and the PDMS‐b‐PHFBMA diblock copolymers showed that the introduction of the PMMA segments promote the fluorine segregation onto the surface and decrease the fluorine content in the copolymers with low surface energy. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Synthesis,characterization, and application of novel amphiphilic poly(D‐gluconamidoethyl methacrylate)‐b‐polyurethane‐b‐ poly(D‐gluconamidoethyl methacrylate) triblock copolymers

Novel amphiphilic ABA‐type poly(D ‐gluconamidoethyl methacrylate)‐b‐polyurethane‐b‐poly(D ‐gluconamidoethyl methacrylate) (PGAMA‐b‐PU‐b‐PGAMA) tri‐block copolymers were successfully synthesized via the combination of the step‐growth and copper‐catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Dihydroxy polyurethane (HO‐PU‐OH) was synthesized by the step‐growth polymerization of hexamethylene diisocyanate with poly(tetramethylene glycol). PGAMA‐b‐PU‐b‐PGAMA block copolymers were synthesized via copper‐catalyzed ATRP of GAMA in N, N‐dimethyl formamide at 20°C in the presence of 2, 2′‐bipyridyl using Br‐PU‐Br as macroinitiator and characterized by ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy and GPC. The resulting block copolymer forms spherical micelles in water as observed in TEM study, and also supported by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and light scattering. Miceller size increases with increase in hydrophilic PGAMA chain length as revealed by DLS study. The critical micellar concentration values of the resulting block copolymers increased with the increase of the chain length of the PGAMA block. Thermal properties of these block copolymers were studied by thermo‐gravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetric study. Spherical Ag‐nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using these block copolymers as stabilizer. The dimension of Ag nanoparticle was tailored by altering the chain length of the hydrophilic block of the copolymer. A mechanism has been proposed for the formation of stable and regulated Ag nanoparticle using various chain length of hydrophilic PGAMA block of the tri‐block copolymer. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Self‐assembled nanostructures: preparation,characterization, thermal,optical and morphological characteristics of amphiphilic diblock copolymers based on poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐block‐N‐phenylmaleimide)

A series of well‐defined amphiphilic poly[(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)‐block‐(N‐phenylmaleimide)] diblock copolymers containing hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks of different lengths were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. The properties of the diblock copolymers and their ability to form large compound spherical micelles are described. Their optical, morphological and thermal properties and self‐assembled structure were also investigated. The chemical structure and composition of these copolymers have been characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR, UV–visible and fluorescence spectroscopy, and size exclusion chromatography. Furthermore, the self‐assembly behavior of these copolymers was investigated by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering, which indicated that the amphiphilic diblock copolymer can self‐assemble into micelles, depending on the length of both blocks in the copolymers. These diblock copolymers gave rise to a variety of microstructures, from spherical micelles, hexagonal cylinders to lamellar phases. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

ABA2-type triblock copolymer composed of PCL and PSt: synthesis and characterization

ABA₂-type (Y-shaped) triblock copolymer made from poly(??-caprolactone) (PCL) and polystyrene were synthesized by the combination of enzymatic ring-opening polymerization (eROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). First, CCl₃-terminated PCL were synthesized by eROP of ??-caprolactone in the presence of initiator 2,2,2-trichloroethanol and biocatalyst Novozyme 435, followed by the esterification of the resulting PCL with 2,2-dichloro acetyl chloride to obtain trifunctional macroinitiator. The well-defined Y-shaped block copolymer was then synthesized by ATRP of styrene. The systems display characteristics of a living radical polymerization as indicated by linear first-order kinetics, linearly increasing molecular weight with conversion, and low polydispersities. The macromolecular structures and composition were characterized by HNMR, GPC, and FTIR. The thermal properties were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry.     

Microphase separation behavior on the surfaces of poly(dimethylsiloxane)‐block‐poly(2,2,3,3,4,4,4‐heptafluorobutyl methacrylate) diblock copolymer coatings

Microphase separation behavior on the surfaces of poly(dimethylsiloxane)‐block‐poly(2,2,3,3,4,4,4‐heptafluorobutyl methacrylate) (PDMS‐b‐PHFBMA) diblock copolymer coatings was investigated. The PDMS‐b‐PHFBMA diblock copolymers were successfully synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The chemical structure of the copolymers was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Surface composition was studied by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Copolymer microstructure was investigated by atomic force microscopy. The microstructure observations show that well‐organized phase‐separated surfaces consist of hydrophobic domain from PDMS segments and more hydrophobic domain from PHFBMA segments in the copolymers. The increase in the PHFBMA content can strengthen the microphase separation behavior in the PDMS‐b‐PHFBMA diblock copolymers. And the increase in the annealing temperature can also strengthen the microphase separation behavior in the PDMS‐b‐PHFBMA diblock copolymers. Moreover, Flory‐Huggins thermodynamic theory was preliminarily used to explain the microphase separation behavior in the PDMS‐b‐PHFBMA diblock copolymers.© 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Synthesis and characterization of diblock copolymer by enzymatic ring-opening polymerization and ATRP from a novel bifunctional initiator

Summary A new method is reported for synthesizing AB-type diblock copolymer polycaprolactone-block-polystyrene (PCL-b-PSt) from a novel bifunctional initiator 2.2.2-trichloroethanol (TCE) by combining two different polymerization techniques: enzymatic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Trichloromethyl terminated PCL was prepared by enzymatic ROP of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) in the presence of Novozyme-435 and TCE as biocatalyst and initiator, respectively, and subsequently employed in ATRP of styrene (St) using CuCl/2, 2^′-bipyridine (bpy) as the catalyst system. The GPC and NMR analysis indicated the formation of the diblock copolymer including the biodegradable PCL block and the well-defined PSt block.     

Vesicular and micellar self‐assembly of stimuli‐responsive poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide‐b‐9‐anthracene methyl methacrylate) amphiphilic diblock copolymers

Dually responsive amphiphilic diblock copolymers consisting of hydrophilic poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) [poly(NIPAAm)] and hydrophobic poly(9‐anthracene methyl methacrylate) were synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization with 3‐(benzyl sulfanyl thiocarbonyl sulfanyl) propionic acid as a chain‐transfer agent. In the first step, the poly(NIPAAm) chain was grown to make a macro‐RAFT agent, and in the second step, the chain was extended by hydrophobic 9‐anthryl methyl methacrylate to yield amphiphilic poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide‐b‐9‐anthracene methyl methacrylate) block copolymers. The formation of copolymers with three different hydrophobic block lengths and a fixed hydrophilic block was confirmed from their molecular weights. The self‐assembly of these copolymers was studied through the determination of the lower critical solution temperature and critical micelle concentration of the copolymers in aqueous solution. The self‐assembled block copolymers displayed vesicular morphology in the case of the small hydrophobic chain, but the morphology gradually turned into a micellar type when the hydrophobic chain length was increased. The variations in the length and chemical composition of the blocks allowed the tuning of the block copolymer responsiveness toward both the pH and temperature. The resulting self‐assembled structures underwent thermally induced and pH‐induced morphological transitions from vesicles to micelles and vice versa in aqueous solution. These dually responsive amphiphilic diblock copolymers have potential applications in the encapsulation of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drug molecules, as evidenced from the dye encapsulation studies. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46474.     

Synthesis of poly[(decanoic acid)‐block‐styrene] diblock copolymers and their self‐assembly behavior in aqueous medium

Diblock copolymers, poly[(10‐hydroxydecanoic acid)‐block‐styrene] (PHDA‐b‐PSt), were synthesized by combining enzymatic condensation polymerization of HDA and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) as of St PHDA was first obtained via enzymatic condensation polymerization catalyzed by Novozyme‐435. Subsequently, one terminus of the PHDA chains was modified by reaction with α‐bromopropionyl bromide and the other terminus was protected by chlorotrimethylsilane. The resulting monofunctional macroinitiator was used subsequently in ATRP of St using CuCl/2,2′‐bipyridine as the catalyst system to afford diblock copolymers including biodegradable PHDA blocks and well‐defined PSt blocks. Polymeric nanospheres were prepared by self‐assembly of the PHDA‐b‐PSt diblock copolymers in aqueous medium. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry