pH‐Dependent Self‐Assembly: Micellization and Micelle–Hollow‐Sphere Transition of Cellulose‐Based Copolymers

Abstract

Simply by decreasing the pH of the medium, hydroxyethyl cellulose-graft-polyacrylic acid (HEC-g-PAA) can form micelles in water. Cross-linking the PAA chains at the periphery of the micellar core can efficiently lock the integrality of the micelles (see scheme). The resultant micelles transform into hollow spheres as the pH value increases. Both the micellization and the transition from micelles to hollow spheres are reversible. The hollow spheres show “on-off” character at a pH value of about 3.