Arm-Cleavable Microgel Star Polymers: A Versatile Strategy for Direct Core Analysis and Functionalization

摘要

Arm-cleavable microgel star polymers were developed, where the arm chains can readily be cleaved by acidolysis after the synthesis, allowing isolation of the core, direct analysis of its structure, and also the creation of functional nanometer-sized microgels. The key is to employ a macroinitiator (PEG-acetal-Cl) that carries an acetal linkage between a poly(ethylene glycol) arm chain and a chloride initiating site. From this, star polymers were synthesized via the Unking reaction with a divinyl monomer and a ruthenium catalyst in living radical polymerization. The arms were subsequently cleaved by acidolysis of the acetal linker to give soluble microgels (cores free from arms). Full characterization revealed that the microgel cores are spherical, nano-sized (＜20 nm), and of relatively low density. Amphiphilic, water-soluble, and thermosensitive arm-free microgels can be obtained by additionally employing functional methacrylate upon arm linking.