Polyglycidol based amphiphilic double-comb copolymers and their self-association in aqueous solution

Abstract

Herein, we report synthesis and self-association properties of amphiphilic double-comb polymers with polyglycidol backbones. First, a bifunctional polyglycidol precursor is synthesized via monomer activated anionic polymerization. Next, two efficient and orthogonal polymer analogous reactions are carried out for grafting hydrophilic oligoethylene glycol side chains and hydrophobic linear aliphatic side-chains. The polymers are analyzed by means of NMR, GPC, and DSC. From the DSC analysis of the bulk samples it is evident that aliphatic side chains segregate from the polar backbone and thus crystallize. Furthermore, in aqueous media the double-comb polymers spontaneously self-assemble to form a multilayer structure. The present results pave a way to tailor and design amphiphilic polymers based on glycidols. Major advantages are spontaneous self-assembly in water and the possibility to form onion polymersomes relevant to encapsulation. Well-defined amphiphilic double-comb copolymers are prepared via a "grafting-onto" strategy from multifunctional polyglycidols. Their ability to self-assemble in water makes them promising candidates for novel multilayer polymersomes. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.