Temperature‐Sensitive (BA)(AC)2 Miktoarm Star Diblock Copolymer Based on PMMA, PPEGMA, and PNIPAm

Abstract

A well‐defined (BA)(AC)2 miktoarm star diblock copolymer, (PPEGMA32‐b‐PMMA41)‐b‐(PMMA45‐b‐PNIPAm19)2, is synthesized by the combination of ATRP and click reaction. The miktoarm star block copolymer and its precursors are characterized by means of NMR and SEC/MALLS measurements. The copolymer exhibits a low critical aggregation concentration in aqueous solution. Micelles that self‐assemble from the copolymer are prepared in aqueous solution below 15 °C by a sonication method. The micelles have a PMMA core and a PPEGMA/PNIPAm corona and exhibit temperature sensitivity. Using celecoxib as a guest molecule, it is found that the loading capacity of the star copolymer is 8.8 wt% and the celecoxib release from the loaded self‐assembly is temperature tunable. image