Synthesis of amphiphilic, Janus diblock hyperbranched copolyamides and their self-assembly in water

Abstract

An amphiphilic, Janus diblock hyperbranched copolyamide was synthesized by the condensation of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups at the focal point of hydrophilic and hydrophobic hyperbranched polyamides, respectively, in the presence of a condensation agent. The structure of the self-assembled Janus diblock hyperbranched copolyamide in water at 25 °C, observed by using a transmission electron microscope, consisted of spherical aggregates. As the temperature of the solution was increased, the morphology changed to cylindrical-like aggregates at 50 °C and to dendritic-like aggregates at 70 °C.