Thermosensitive Block Copolymers Consisting of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and Star Shape Oligo(ethylene oxide)

Abstract

Thermosensitive block copolymers of ethylene oxide and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) were synthesized. A five armed star shape oligo(ethylene oxide) initiator with a cyclotriphosphazene core was prepared and used for the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of NIPAM. The lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) of the copolymers were 36 to 46 <TEX>${^{\circ}C}$</TEX>, higher than that of PNIPAM (32 <TEX>${^{\circ}C}$</TEX>), depending on their molecular weights. The copolymers were soluble in water below the LCSTs but formed micelles above the LCSTs. The thermosensitive micellization behaviors of the polymers were investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. With increasing the temperature of an aqueous solution of P2 and pyrene above the LCST, the peak of 333 nm red-shifted to appear around 339 nm and its intensity increased significantly, indicating the micelle formation. The transfer of pyrene into the micelles was also confirmed by a confocal laser scanning microscope. The fluorescence image obtained from P2 in an aqueous pyrene solution exhibited a green emission resulting from the pyrene transferred into the micelles. Salt effects on the solubility of the copolymers in an aqueous solution were investigated. The LCST of P2 decreased sharply as the concentration of sodium chloride increased, while decreased slowly with potassium chloride.