Synthesis and Selective Loading of Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate-l-Polysulfone Amphiphilic Polymer Conetworks

Polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate-linked by-polysulfone amphiphilic polymer conetworks of two types of segments with T_g above room temperature are presented. The conetworks are prepared by free radical copolymerization of methacryloyl-terminated PSU macromers with 2-ethyl methacrylate, followed by removal of the TMS protecting groups by acidic hydrolysis. Phase separation in the nanometer range due to the immiscibility of the two covalently linked segments is observed using transmission electron and scanning force microscopy. The swelling of the conetworks in water and methanol as polar solvents and chloroform as nonpolar solvent are studied gravimetrically and then in a more detailed fashion by solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Selective swelling and also targeted loading of a small organic model compound specifically to one of the two phases are demonstrated.