Synthesis and application of PHEMA-b-PMPS copolymers using RAFT polymerization

Abstract

Poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-block-poly (3-(methacryloxy)propyl trimethoxysilane) (PHEMA-b-PMPS) was obtained through the reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) and analyzed using ¹H NMR, FTIR, GPC and DSC techniques. Under the polymerization condition, the M_w/M_n value of the well-defined block copolymers was around 1.1–1.2. These silicon-containing polymers possess many applications. First, this amphiphilic block copolymers shown good ability based on its surface tension control performance. Then, the self-assembly behaviors of block copolymer in the mixed solvents were studied. DLS results have shown that the aggregates could self-assemble into core–shell particles. These core–shell structure and resulting hybrid core–shell nanoparticles were analyzed by TEM. Finally, the biocompatibility of the copolymer hydrogels was verified by in vitro cell viability studies on fibroblasts L929.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Silicon
• block copolymer
• self-assemble
• nanoparticle
• the reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of this work by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21908086).

Additional information

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of this work by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21908086).