Use of Polyion Complexation for Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly in Water under Visible Light Irradiation at 25 °C

Qiuping Yu; Yi Ding; Hui Cao; Xinhua Lu; Yuanli Cai

doi:10.1021/acsmacrolett.5b00699

Use of Polyion Complexation for Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly in Water under Visible Light Irradiation at 25 °C

ACS Macro Lett. 2015 Nov 17;4(11):1293-1296. doi: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.5b00699. Epub 2015 Nov 5.

Authors

Qiuping Yu¹, Yi Ding¹, Hui Cao¹, Xinhua Lu¹, Yuanli Cai¹

Affiliation

¹ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, the College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.

PMID: 35614831
DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.5b00699

Abstract

Polyion complexation (PIC) as the driving force of polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA), that is, PIC-PISA, is explored. Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) dispersion polymerization of NH₃⁺-monomer 2-aminoethylacrylamide hydrochloride (AEAM) can be achieved in water under visible light irradiation at 25 °C, using nonionic poly2-hydroxypropylmethacrylamide (PHPMA) macromolecular chain transfer agent in the presence of anionic poly(sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate) (PAMPS) PIC-template. Sphere-to-network transition occurs, owing to the PIC of PAMPS with growing chains upon reaction close to isoelectric point (IEP); thereafter, the increase of electrostatic repulsion promotes the split of networks and the rupture of spheres into fragments. Therefore, the free-flowing solution becomes viscous liquid and free-standing physical gel, and then back into viscous and free-flowing liquid. Such a PIC-PISA is appealing for gene delivery because the size and surface charge are variable on demand and at high solids.