A CO2- and temperature-switchable “schizophrenic” block copolymer: from vesicles to micelles

Abstract

CO₂-responsiveness is imported into amphiphilic block copolymers, poly[(N,N-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-b-(N-isopropylacrylamide)] (PDEAEMA-b-PNIPAM), and a system dual-responsive to CO₂ and temperature is constructed. The copolymer self-assembles in aqueous solution, and undergoes phase transition when CO₂ and temperature stimuli occur, since the stimuli give rise to the conversion of the hydrophilicity of both blocks. Combining CO₂ and temperature as triggers, schizophrenic micelle to vesicle morphological transition of the polymer assemblies is controlled.