Block polymers are becoming widely used in biomedical applications. They have been used as drug carriers, prosthetic materials, tissue engineering substrates, medical membranes, and other biomedical materials. In this study, we have developed a new class of amphiphilic block copolymers combining two different controlled polymerization methods: ROMP (ring-opening metathesis polymerization) and living anionic polymerization. Using this newly developed synthetic strategy, we were able to synthesize poly(norbornene)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PNBE-PEO) diblock copolymers and poly(norbornene)-block-poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(norbornene) (PNBE-PEO-PNBE) triblock copolymers. These polymers have precisely controlled molecular weights and polymer block fractions, which is crucial for self-assembling desired colloidal nanostructures. We found that the diblock copolymer undergoes self-assembly in water to form a range of nanostructures including spherical micelle, worm-like micelle and vesicles at different concentrations. The triblock copolymer forms physically crosslinked gel structures. The nanostructured material presented may be further used in applications related to drug delivery, templated synthesis, or membrane separations.

Synthesis and colloidal self-assembly of PNBE-PEO amphiphilic block polymers

256th National Meeting (2018)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.