Synthesis and Properties of Amphiphilic Star Polysulfides

✍ Scribed by Lei Wang; Giona Kilcher; Nicola Tirelli

• Book ID: 102472888
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 319 KB
• Volume: 7
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1616-5187
• DOI: 10.1002/mabi.200700109

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

We here present the synthesis and characterisation of linear and star‐shaped amphiphilic block copolymers based on hydrophobic polysulfides (poly(propylene sulfide), PPS) and hydrophilic polyethers (poly(ethylene glycol), PEG). We also discuss the proof of the principle of their responsiveness to oxidising conditions. In a water environment, these polymers aggregate in the form of sub‐micron carriers that, due to the sensitivity to oxidation reactions typical of PPS, can be used for responsive drug delivery. In this first study we have focused on the study of large aggregates, which do not apparently show dramatic differences in behaviour when polymer chains with different degrees of branching are studied.

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