Stimuli-responsive aggregation of high molar mass poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide)-b-poly(4-acryloylmorpholine) in tetrahydrofuran

Plucinski, A., Pavlovic, M., Clarke, M. , Bhella, D. and Schmidt, B. V.K.J. (2022) Stimuli-responsive aggregation of high molar mass poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide)-b-poly(4-acryloylmorpholine) in tetrahydrofuran. Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 43(3), 2100656. (doi: 10.1002/marc.202100656) (PMID:34783099)

Abstract

The self-assembly of block copolymers constitutes a timely research area in polymer science with implications for applications like sensing or drug-delivery. In here, we investigate the unprecedented aggregation behaviour of high molecular weight block copolymer poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide)-b-poly(4-acryloylmorpholine) (PDEA-b-PAM) (Mn>400 kg/mol) in organic solvent tetrahydrofuran (THF). To elucidate the aggregation, dynamic light scattering, cryo transmission electron microscopy and turbidimetry were employed. The aggregate formation was assigned to the unprecedented upper critical solution temperature behaviour of PAM in THF at elevated concentration (> 6 wt%) and high molar masses. Various future directions for this new thermo-responsive block copolymer are envisioned, e.g. in the areas of photonics or templating of inorganic structures.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Clarke, Dr Mairi and Plucinski, Alexander and Schmidt, Dr Bernhard and Bhella, Professor David
• Authors: Plucinski, A., Pavlovic, M., Clarke, M., Bhella, D., and Schmidt, B. V.K.J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
• Journal Name: Macromolecular Rapid Communications
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 1022-1336
• ISSN (Online): 1521-3927
• Published Online: 15 November 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Macromolecular Rapid Communications 43(3): 2100656
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
301445		The Scottish Macromolecular Imaging Centre (SMIC)	David Bhella	Medical Research Council (MRC)	MC_PC_17135	III - Centre for Virus Research
301474		The purchase and maintenance of a cryo-electron microscope	David Bhella	Scottish Funding Council (SFC)	H17007	III - Centre for Virus Research
65654	1	Structural studies of human viruses and host interactions	David Bhella	Medical Research Council (MRC)	MC_UU_12014/7	MVLS III - CENTRE FOR VIRUS RESEARCH