Polymeric Surfactants for the New Millennium: A pH-Responsive, Zwitterionic, Schizophrenic Diblock Copolymer

Abstract

Schizophrenic character: A novel zwitterionic AB diblock copolymer was prepared by atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DEA) and 4-vinyl benzoic acid (VBA). Both conventional micelles and inverted micelles can be formed in aqueous solution at ambient temperature, by controlling the solution pH. At low pH, VBA-core micelles (A) are formed, at high pH DEA-core micelles (B) are formed, and at neutral pH, the system precipitates (C; see figure).