Thermo-Induced Aggregation and Crystallization of Block Copolypeptoids in Water

Abstract

Block copolypeptoids comprising a thermosensitive, crystallizable poly(N-(n-propyl)glycine) block and a water-soluble poly(N-methylglycine) block, P70My (y = 23, 42, 76, 153, and 290), were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of the corresponding N-alkylglycine N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs) and examined according to their thermo-induced aggregation and crystallization in water by turbidimetry, micro-differential scanning calorimetry (micro-DSC), cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM), analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC), and static light scattering (SLS). At a temperature above the cloud point temperature, the initially formed micellar aggregates started to crystallize and grow into larger complex assemblies of about 100–500 nm, exhibiting flower-like (P70M23), ellipsoidal (P70M42 and P70M72), or irregular shapes (P70M153 and P70M290).