A schizophrenic gradient copolymer: switching and reversing poly(2-oxazoline) micelles based on UCST and subtle solvent changes

Abstract

The self-assembly of hydrophobic gradient copolymers of 2-nonyl-2-oxazoline and 2-phenyl-2-oxazoline in ethanol–water solvent mixtures is demonstrated to result in structures that respond to changes in temperature as well as subtle changes in the solvent composition leading to both switching and reversing of the formed micelles.