Poly(acrylic acid)-Lined Nanotubes of Poly(butyl methacrylate)-<i>b</i><i>lock</i>-poly(2-cinnamoyloxyethyl methacrylate)

Abstract

Two triblock copolymers of the poly(butyl methacrylate)- block -poly(2-cinnamoyloxyethyl methacrylate)- block -poly( tert -butyl acrylate) or PBMA- b -PCEMA- b -P t BA family were synthesized and characterized. The triblocks had PCEMA to P t BA volume ratios ≥1.3 and PBMA volume fractions ≥0.56. Their bulk morphologies consisted of cylindrical domains with P t BA cores and PCEMA shells dispersed in the PBMA matrix. Nanofibers of PBMA- b -PCEMA- b -P t BA were obtained after cross-linking PCEMA photochemically and separating the cross-linked cylinders from dissolved PBMA chains. PBMA- b -PCEMA nanotubes with PAA-lined channels were obtained after tert -butyl group removal from the P t BA cores by selective hydrolysis.