Triple hydrogen-bonding containing materials: RAFT polymerization in the presence of 1-octylthymine and self-assembly behavior

Abstract

The synthesis of triple hydrogen-bonding block copolymers by sequential reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerizations was explored. In combination with 1-octylthymine as mediator, the amphiphilic triple hydrogen-bonding block copolymers with M n up to 24,900 Da and relatively broader molecular weight distribution were obtained. Micelles with hydrophobic core and hydrophilic corona could be fabricated by self-assembling of the corresponding block copolymer in water. Transmission electron microscopy and laser light scattering studies show that the micelles are in nano-scale with narrow size distribution. The obtained polymeric micelle with triple hydrogen-bonding unit could be used in biomedical materials field such as carrier of hydrophilic drug.