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Synthesis and pH-sensitive micellization of doubly hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(acrylic acid) triblock copolymer in aqueous solutions

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Abstract

A doubly hydrophilic triblock copolymer poly(acrylic acid)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PAA-b-PEO-b-PAA) with M w/M n = 1.15 was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization of t-butyl acrylate (tBA), followed by acidolysis of the PtBA blocks. The pH-sensitive micellization of PAA-b-PEO-b-PAA in acidic solution was investigated by potentiometric titration, fluorescence spectrum, dynamic light scattering and zeta potential. The pK a was 6.6 and 6.0 in deionized water and in 0.1 mol/L NaCl solution, respectively. The copolymer formed micelles composed of a weakly hydrophobic core of complexed PAA and PEO and a hydrophilic PEO shell in 1 mg/mL solution at pH < 5.5 due to hydrogen bonding. The critical micelle concentration was 0.168 mg/mL at pH 2.0. At pH < 4.5, steady and narrow distributed micelles were formed. Increasing pH to 5.0, unsteady and broad distributed micelles were observed. At pH > 5.5, the micelle was destroyed owing to the ionization of the PAA blocks.

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Acknowledgements

The financial support to this work from the NSF of China (20534020) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute of Materials Science, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Yuelong Sun, Zhiping Peng, Xinxing Liu & Zhen Tong

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  1. Yuelong Sun
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  2. Zhiping Peng
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  3. Xinxing Liu
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  4. Zhen Tong
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Correspondence to Zhen Tong.

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Sun, Y., Peng, Z., Liu, X. et al. Synthesis and pH-sensitive micellization of doubly hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(acrylic acid) triblock copolymer in aqueous solutions. Colloid Polym Sci 288, 997–1003 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-010-2225-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-010-2225-7

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