Lyotropic Morphology Transition of Double Zwitterionic Diblock Copolymer Aqueous Solutions

The Effect of Block Ratio and Structure on the Thermosensitivity of Double and Triple Betaine Block Copolymers

AB-type and BAB-type betaine block copolymers composed of a carboxybetaine methacrylate and a sulfobetaine methacrylate, PGLBT-b-PSPE and PSPE-b-PGLBT-b-PSPE, respectively, were synthesized by one-pot RAFT polymerization. By optimizing the concentration of the monomer, initiator, and chain transfer agent, block extension with precise ratio control was enabled and a full conversion (~99%) of betaine monomers was achieved at each step. Two sets (total degree of polymerization: ~300 and ~600) of diblock copolymers having four different PGLBT:PSPE ratios were prepared to compare the influence of block ratio and molecular weight on the temperature-responsive behavior in aqueous solution. A turbidimetry and dynamic light scattering study revealed a shift to higher temperatures of the cloud point and micelle formation by increasing the ratio of PSPE, which exhibit upper critical solution temperature (UCST) behavior. PSPE-dominant diblocks created spherical micelles stabilized by PGLBT motifs, and the transition behavior diminished by decreasing the PSPE ratio. No particular change was found in the diblocks that had an identical AB ratio. This trend reappeared in the other set whose entire molecular weight approximately doubled, and each transition point was not recognizably impacted by the total molecular weight. For triblocks, the PSPE double ends provided a higher probability of interchain attractions and resulted in a more turbid solution at higher temperatures, compared to the diblocks which had similar block ratios and molecular weights. The intermediates assumed as network-like soft aggregates eventually rearranged to monodisperse flowerlike micelles. It is expected that the method for obtaining well-defined betaine block copolymers, as well as the relationship of the block ratio and the chain conformation to the temperature-responsive behavior, will be helpful for designing betaine-based polymeric applications.

Electrokinetic detection of the salt-free condition in colloids. Application to polystyrene latexes

Because of their singular phenomenology, the so-called salt-free colloids constitute a special family of dispersed systems. Their main characteristic is that the dispersion medium ideally contains only the solvent and the ions compensating exactly the surface charge of the particles. These ions (often called released counterions) come into the solution when the surface groups responsible for the particles charge get ionized. An increasing effort is nowadays dedicated to rigorously compare theoretical model predictions for ideal salt-free suspensions, where only the released counterions are supposed to be present in solution, with appropriately devised experiments dealing with colloids as close as possible to the ideal salt-free ones. Of course, if the supporting solution is aqueous, the presence of atmospheric contamination and any other charged species different from the released counterions in the solution must be avoided. Because this is not an easy task, the presence of dissolved atmospheric CO₂ and of H⁺ and OH^- from water dissociation cannot be fully discarded in aqueous salt-free solutions (often denominated realistic in such case). Ultimately, at some point, the role of the released counterions will be comparable or even larger in highly charged concentrated colloids than that of added salts. These topics are covered in the present contribution. The model results are compared with experimental data on the dynamic mobility and dielectric dispersion of polystyrene spheres of various charges and sizes. As a rule, it is found that the model correctly predicts the significance of alpha and Maxwell-Wagner-O'Konski relaxations. Positions and amplitudes of such relaxations are well predicted, although it is necessary to assume that the released counterions are potassium or sodium instead of protons, otherwise the frequency spectra of experimental mobility and permittivity differ very significantly from those theoretically calculated. The proposed electrokinetic evaluation is an ideal tool for detecting in situ the possible contamination (or incomplete ion exchange of the latexes). A satisfactory agreement is found when potassium counterions are assumed to be in solution, mostly if one considers that the comparison is carried out without using any adjustable parameters.

Modulation of Double Zwitterionic Block Copolymer Aggregates by Zwitterion-Specific Interactions

Transformable double hydrophilic block copolymer assemblies are valid as a biocompatible smart macromolecular system. The molecular mechanisms in the spontaneous assembly of double zwitterionic diblock copolymers composed of a poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate) (PCB2) and a poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSB4) chains (PCB2-b-PSB4) were investigated by the modulation of the aggregates in response to nondetergent zwitterions. The PCB2-b-PSB4 diblock copolymers with a high degree of polymerization PSB4 block produced aggregates in salt-free water through "zwitterion-specific" interactions. The PCB2-b-PSB4 aggregates were dissociated by the addition of nondetergent sulfobetaine (SB4) and carboxybetaine (CB2) molecules, while the aggregates showed different aggregation modulation processes for SB4 and CB2. Zwitterions with different charged groups from SB4 and CB2, glycine and taurine, hardly disrupted the PCB2-b-PSB4 aggregates. The PCB2-b-PSB4 aggregate modulation efficiency of SBs associated with the intercharge hydrocarbon spacer length (CSL) rather than the symmetry with the SB in the PSB chain. These zwitterion-specific modulation behaviors were rationalized based on the nature of zwitterions including partial charge density, dipole moment, and hydrophobic interactions depending on the charged groups and CSL.