Synthesis of poly(propylene oxide)-poly(N,N′-dimethylacrylamide) diblock copolymer nanoparticles via reverse sequence polymerization-induced self-assembly in aqueous solution

Sterically-stabilized diblock copolymer nanoparticles comprising poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) cores are prepared via reverse sequence polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) in aqueous solution. N,N′-Dimethylacrylamide (DMAC) acts as a cosolvent for the weakly hydrophobic trithiocarbonate-capped PPO precursor. Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of DMAC is initially conducted at 80% w/w solids with deoxygenated water. At 30–60% DMAC conversion, the reaction mixture is diluted to 5–25% w/w solids. The PPO chains become less solvated as the DMAC monomer is consumed, which drives in situ self-assembly to form aqueous dispersions of PPO-core nanoparticles of 120–190 nm diameter at 20 °C. Such RAFT polymerizations are well-controlled (Mw/Mn ≤ 1.31), and more than 99% DMAC conversion is achieved. The resulting nanoparticles exhibit thermoresponsive character: dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy studies indicate the formation of more compact spherical nanoparticles of approximately 33 nm diameter on heating to 70 °C. Furthermore, 15–25% w/w aqueous dispersions of such nanoparticles formed micellar gels that undergo thermoreversible (de)gelation on cooling to 5 °C.