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Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions
Published on: October 10, 2016
UCST behavior of polyampholytes based on stoichiometric RAFT copolymerization of cationic and anionic monomers
Qilu Zhang1, Richard Hoogenboom
1Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. richard.hoogenboom@ugent.be.
Abstract:
Polyampholytes with controlled equimolar ratio of charges were synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerization of cationic and anionic monomers. The resulting charge-neutral polyampholytes exhibit upper critical solution temperature (UCST) thermoresponsive behavior in ethanol-water and methanol-water solvent mixtures based on electrostatic attraction. Finally, the temperature induced self-assembly of a polyampholyte with oligo(ethylene glycol) side chains into defined nanoparticles below the UCST transition is demonstrated.
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