Thermo-Induced Aggregation Behavior of Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Block Copolymers in the Presence of Cationic Surfactants

Interfacial Structure and Electrostatics Related to Solute Activity in a Model Anionic-Surfactant/Polymer Self-Assembly

Polymer/surfactant composites are used in industry as an excipient for water-insoluble solutes. Such enhanced dissolution ability of composite media is related to the spontaneous formation of pre-micellar polymer surfactant aggregates (PS) at a magnitude of order lower than the surfactant critical micelle concentration in water. Combining electrochemical and spectroscopic studies, we investigate the microscopic interfacial structure (i.e., interface electrostatics and surface polarity) of PS formed in composite media. We establish that in a composite system, a mere change in the polymer concentration at a fixed surfactant concentration makes possible to regulate the counter-ion binding ability, surface potential, surface charge density, packing and surface polarity of the PS interface. Our study shows that the higher dissolution of water-insoluble nonionic solutes in composite media is driven by the depressing of surface charge density and polarity of the PS interface. A similar modulation of the PS interface acts as a barrier for the passive relocation of water-soluble charged solutes into the PS pseudo-phase. The time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy study allows us to underline the effect of surface charge modulation on the dynamical aspects of solutes at the PS interface.

100th Anniversary of Macromolecular Science Viewpoint: Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-Based Thermally Responsive Micelles

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm)-based thermally responsive micelles are of great importance as smart materials for a number of applications such as drug delivery and biosensing, owing to their tunable lower critical solution temperature (LCST). Their design and synthesis in the nanoscale size range have been widely studied, and research interest in their structural and physic-chemical properties is continually growing. In this Viewpoint, representative research on the construction of PNIPAAm-based thermally responsive micelles as well as their applications are highlighted and discussed, which would serve as a good start for newcomers in this field and a positive guide for future research.

Aqueous Solutions of Poly(ethylene oxide)-Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide): Thermosensitive Behavior and Distinct Multiple Assembly Processes

Detailed phase transition and conformational changes taking place as a function of temperature in poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PEO-b-PNIPAM) semidiluted aqueous solutions are elucidated in the present study. By the use of elaborate vibrational spectroscopy techniques in combination with two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2Dcos), three transition regions including respective rich domains (<29 °C), loose aggregations (30-36 °C), and dense sphere micelles (>37 °C) are depicted. In particular, subtle variations of hydrogen bonds are detected even under the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), and the respective rich domain regime is marked with strong participation from hydrogen bonding at different concentrations and compositions. Both the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds and the less hydration degrees of PNIPAM segments compared with PNIPAM homopolymer at elevated temperatures verify the evolution of PNIPAM from their own domains to loose aggregations with PEO shells. Dense micelles are formed beyond the LCST of PNIPAM, while the outmost PEOs act as buffer layers and postpone the shrinkage of PNIPAM chains. Due to the existence of a buffer layer, higher phase transition temperatures compared with PNIPAM homopolymer are observed.

Doubly-grafted copolymers with hydrophilic and thermosensitive side chains: thermosensitivity and complexation with surfactants

The behavior in aqueous solution of the doubly-grafted anionic polyelectrolyte poly(sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate-co-sodium acrylate-)-g-poly(N-isopropylacry-lamide)-g-poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide), P(AMPSNa-co-ANa)-g-PNIPAM-g-PDMAM, was compared to that of the single-grafted anionic polyelectrolyte poly(sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate-co-sodium acrylate)-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), P(AMPSNa-co-ANa)-g-PNIPAM. The investigation through turbidimetry, pyrene fluorescence probing, viscometry and dynamic light scattering revealed that the existence of the hydrophilic poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide), PDMAM, side chains in the doubly-grafted copolymer P(AMPSNa-co-ANa)-g-PNIPAM-g-PDMAM did not perturb the thermoresponsiveness of the poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), PNIPAM, side chains, but favoured the stabilization in water of the core-corona nanoparticles, formed upon heating the aqueous solution above the Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST) of PNIPAM chains. In a similar manner, the complexes formed between the cationic surfactant N,N,N,N-dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride, DTAC, and the oppositely charged backbone of the doubly-grafted copolymer P(AMPSNa-co-ANa)-g-PNIPAM-g-PDMAM were stabilized in water by the PDMAM side chains. Thus, phase separation was prevented upon heating the aqueous solution above LCST. Moreover, the (1)H NMR study revealed that the fraction of PNIPAM chains forming solid-like aggregates at high temperature increased substantially in the presence of DTAC, as a consequence of the net charge decrease of the backbone due to the polymer/DTAC complexation.

Effect of surfactants on the self-assembly of a model elastin-like block corecombinamer: from micelles to an aqueous two-phase system

Recent advances in genetic engineering now allow the synthesis of protein-based block corecombinamers derived from elastin-like peptide sequences with complete control of chemistry and molecular weight, thereby resulting in unique physical and biological properties. The individual blocks of the elastin-like block corecombinamers (ELbcR's) display different phase behaviors in aqueous solution, which leads to the thermally triggered self-assembly of nano-objects ranging from micelles to vesicles. Herein, the interaction of cationic surfactant dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), anionic surfactant dodecyl sodium sulfate (SDS), and nonionic surfactant octyl-β-glucopyranoside (OG) with an ELbcR has been investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS), the ζ potential and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). At 65 °C and neutral pH in aqueous solution, the ELbcR (E50A40) is associated into micelles with a diameter of 150 nm comprising a hydrophobic (A) core and a hydrophilic (E) anionic (from the glutamic acid residues) corona. The size of these self-assemblies can be controlled by adjusting the cosurfactant concentrations. Although the effects of surfactants on the self-assembly behavior of ELbcR's depend on the hydrocarbon chain length and headgroup of the surfactants, a general tendency to increase in size, which in some cases leads to flocculation and a phase-separated state, is observed. These results support the use of surfactants as a highly interesting means of controlling the self-assembly of ELbcR's in aqueous solution as well as their use in drug delivery and purification processes.

Bulk and solution properties of a thermo-responsive rod–coil block polymer based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

Molecular weight dependence on thermoresponsive behaviors of rod–coil diblock copolymers (x indicates the DP of rod PHIPPVTA blocks).

Self-Assembly Behavior of Thermoresponsive Oligo(ethylene glycol) Methacrylates Random Copolymer

A well-defined random copolymer containing 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate (MEO₂MA, M_n = 188 g/mol) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA, M_n = 2080 g/mol) (poly(MEO₂MA-co-PEGMA₂₀₈₀)), M_n = 17300 g/mol) was synthesized using the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) process, and its thermoresponsive behaviors in aqueous solution were investigated. In comparison to other temperature-sensitive random copolymers based on oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylates, this copolymer exhibited an unusual thermally induced two-stage aggregation process. The copolymer chains associate at the first thermal transition followed by a rearrangement process at the second thermal transition to produce a stable core-shell micellar structure. The morphology of the micelle comprises of a methacrylate core stabilized by the longer ethylene glycol segments (M_n = 2080 g/mol) shell.

Investigation of phase separation behavior and formation of plasmonic nanocomposites from polypeptide-gold nanorod nanoassemblies

Genetically engineered elastin-like polypeptides (ELP) can be interfaced with cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)-stabilized gold nanorods (GNRs) resulting in the formation of stable dispersions (nanoassemblies). Increasing the dispersion temperature beyond the ELP transition temperature results in phase separation and formation of solid-phase ELP-GNR matrices (nanocomposites). Here, we investigated different physicochemical conditions that influence nanocomposite formation from temperature-induced phase separation of ELP-GNR nanoassemblies. The presence of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), used to template the formation of gold nanorods, plays a significant role in the phase separation behavior, with high concentrations of the surfactant leading to dramatic enhancements in ELP transition temperature. Nanocomposites could be generated at 37 °C in the presence of low CTAB concentrations (<1.5 mM); higher concentrations of CTAB necessitated higher temperatures (60 °C) due to elevated transition temperatures. The concentration of gold nanorods, however, had minimal influence on the phase separation behavior and nanocomposite formation. Further analysis of the kinetics of nanocomposite formation using a mathematical model indicated that CTAB largely influenced the early event of coacervation of ELP-GNR nanoassemblies leading to nanocomposites, but had minimal effect on nanocomposite maturation, which is a later-stage longer event. Finally, nanocomposites prepared in the presence of low CTAB concentrations demonstrated a superior photothermal response following laser irradiation compared to those generated using higher CTAB concentrations. Our results on understanding the formation of plasmonic/photothermal ELP-GNR nanocomposites have significant implications for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery.