Despite universal recognition of the utility of stimuli-responsive, synthetic (co)polymers and biological macromolecules, only recently have controlled polymerization processes become available that can yield (co)polymers with the requisite architectures, molecular weights, and narrow molecular weight distributions necessary for biorelevant applications. Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is clearly among the most versatile of these, allowing virtually all types of vinyl monomers to be polymerized in bulk or in a variety of solvents under simple reaction conditions. Recognizing the potential of the technique, several groups have now successfully synthesized a plethora of architectures via RAFT. Brent Sumerlin, honored in this symposium, and his colleagues in our laboratories at USM reported many of the first examples of RAFT polymerization of anionic, cationic, zwitterionic, and non-ionic monomers under conditions, often directly in water, that required no protecting groups. In this presentation, we overview that seminal research and demonstrate exquisite control afforded by aqueous RAFT over block copolymer structure and subsequent self-assembly into micelles and vesicles. Based on the rapid rate of RAFT technology development, it is likely that stimuli-responsive materials capable of being dissolved or dispersed in aqueous media or coated onto surfaces as thin films will find unprecedented applications in biomedical, pharmaceutical, optical, and diagnostic areas.McCormick, et al, Polymer Chemistry, 2011, 2 (7), 1428 - 1441Sumerlin, McCormick, et al, Soft Matter, 2008, 4, 1760-1773Tucker and Sumerlin, Polym. Chem., 2014, 5, 1566�1572

Significant contributions in aqueous RAFT polymerization: A mentor's perspective of student innovation

248th National Meeting (2014)

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