Abstract

A series of poly(l-lactide)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PLLA-b-PAA) diblock copolymers with a range of hydrophobic or hydrophilic block lengths were designed in order to tune the size of the resultant cylindrical micelles using a crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) approach. The precursor poly(l-lactide)-b-poly(tetrahydropyran acrylate) (PLLA-b-PTHPA) was synthesized by a combination of ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The CDSA process was carried out in a tetrahydrofuran/water (THF/H2O) mixture during the hydrolysis of PTHPA block at 65 °C using an evaporation method. A majority of PLLA-b-PAA diblock copolymers resulted in the formation of cylindrical micelles with narrow size distributions (Lw/Ln < 1.30) as determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Furthermore, the length of PLLA block was found to control the length of the resultant cylindrical micelles while the length of PAA b...

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.