�Smart� polymers, or polymers that respond to stimuli such as pH, temperature, or ionic strength, can be synthesized and self-assembled for a wide range of potential applications, including delivery or advanced materials applications. The �smart� homopolymer poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) has been synthesized by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP). This �smart� polymer exhibits reversible hydrophobicity as a function of pH, temperature, and polymer architecture. A synthetic approach has been developed to control the polymer architecture, i.e. linear vs. comb PDMAEMA chains, to investigate the impact of polymer architecture on thermoresponsive behavior. The linear and comb polymers were characterized by 1H-NMR, size exclusion chromatography, and MALDI-TOF MS. Cloud points of both linear and comb PDMAEMA chains were measured as a function of pH using UV-Visible spectroscopy. Molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, functional group density, and polymer architecture were varied to determine the impact on PDMAEMA thermoresponsive behavior.

Synthesis and reversible self-assembly of linear and comb architectures of poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)

245th National Meeting (2013)

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