Alternating Partially Quaternized Polytriazole Amphiphiles: Bridging Neutral and Ionic Domains for Tunable Aggregation

Abstract

Poly(1,2,3-triazole)-based polymers remain underexplored as a versatile platform for biomedical soft materials. Here, we report the modular synthesis of amphiphilic poly(1,2,3triazole)-co-polytriazolium copolymers obtained via copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) polyaddition and post-polymerization quaternization. Remarkably, these polymers exhibit visible coloration in the absence of chromophores, arising from solvent-dependent supramolecular aggregation. We extensively investigate the influence of solvent polarity and hydrogen-bonding capacity on polymer self-assembly using dynamic light scattering (DLS), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM), revealing clear aggregation-induced optical effects. Importantly, both neutral and quaternized polymers demonstrate excellent cytocompatibility toward human cell lines (HeLa, HEK293, THP-1) at concentrations up to 100 µg/mL, with no apparent immunogenic activation. These results establish single-chain poly(1,2,3-triazole)-co-polytriazolium polymers as a promising new class of tunable, biocompatible soft materials, offering a modular class of polymers for biointerface engineering and responsive biomedical applications.