Facile production of nanoaggregates with tuneable morphologies from thermoresponsive P(DEGMA-co-HPMA)

Nghia Truong Phuoc, M.R. Whittaker, A. Anastasaki, D.M. Haddleton, J.F. Quinn, T.P. Davis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

70 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Thermoresponsive polymers are used to produce nanoparticles or nanoaggregates for a wide range of applications such as nanomedicine. However, low-toxicity, thermoresponsive polymers such as methacrylate polymers with short oligo(ethylene glycol) side chains are not readily applicable to the synthesis of nanoaggregates with both spherical and nonspherical morphologies. Here we report the synthesis of a low-toxicity, thermoresponsive copolymer, P(DEGMA-co-HPMA), and describe its application in the RAFT-mediated emulsion polymerization of styrene as a means to produce nanoparticles with tuneable morphology (sphere, cylinder, vesicle and lamella). These nanoaggregates offer considerable potential as a novel platform for the next generation of nanotherapeutics with improved efficacy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)430-440
Number of pages11
JournalPolymer Chemistry
Volume7
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Jan 2016

Keywords

  • Emulsification
  • Emulsion polymerization
  • Ethylene
  • Ethylene glycol
  • Medical nanotechnology
  • Nanoparticles
  • Styrene
  • Synthesis (chemical)
  • Toxicity
  • Facile production
  • ITS applications
  • Methacrylate polymers
  • Nanoaggregates
  • Oligo(ethylene glycol)
  • Thermo-responsive
  • Thermo-responsive copolymers
  • Thermoresponsive polymer
  • Morphology

Cite this