Abstract:Thermosensitive block copolymers of ethylene oxide and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) were synthesized. A five armed star shape oligo(ethylene oxide) initiator with a cyclotriphosphazene core was prepared and used for the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of NIPAM. The lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) of the copolymers were 36 to 46 o C, higher than that of PNIPAM (32 o C), depending on their molecular weights. The copolymers were soluble in water below the LCSTs but formed micelles above … Show more
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