Functional star polymers with a cholic acid core and their thermosensitive properties
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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Particles without a Box: Brush-first Synthesis of Photodegradable PEG Star Polymers under Ambient Conditions
Published on: October 10, 2013
1Department of Chemistry, Université de Montrééal, P.O. Box 6128, Downtown Station, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada.
Abstract:
Star polymers derived from cholic acid with poly(allyl glycidyl ether) arms have been prepared via anionic polymerization, yielding polymers with well-defined molecular weight and low polydispersity. The double bonds of the allyl groups on the polymer are used to introduce either amine or carboxylic acid groups to obtain amphiphilic polymers with cationic and anionic groups, respectively. The polymers can aggregate in water above a certain critical concentration, which was found to vary with the arm length of the star polymers. The star polymers bearing amino groups showed interesting thermosensitivity, which also depends on the pH of the media. A simple acetylation of the amine groups can sharpen the transition and vary the cloud point from 15 to 48 degrees C, depending on the degree of acetylation. Such polymers offer useful alternatives to the existing thermosensitive polymers.
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