A thermoresponsive crosslinker for reversible micelle stabilization

Abstract

Herein we report a thermoresponsive crosslinker that can be utilized to stabilize the surface of micelles through a “click” reaction and to trigger the disassembly via a retro Diels Alder (rDA) mechanism. The micelles generated were 100 nm in size and monodispersed. Above 60 °C, rDA dissociation of crosslinker occurs resulting to the degradation of the micelles and release of hydrophobic cargo.