Stimuli-Responsive Peptide-Based ABA-Triblock Copolymers: Unique Morphology Transitions With pH

Authors

Jacob G. Ray, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Sandeep S. Naik, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Emily A. Hoff, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Ashley J. Johnson, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Jack T. Ly, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Charles P. Easterling, University of Southern Mississippi
Derek L. Patton, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Daniel A. Savin, University of Southern MississippiFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-14-2012

School

Polymer Science and Engineering

Abstract

We report the synthesis and solution characterization of poly(L-lysine)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(L-lysine) (KPK) triblock copolymers with high lysine weight fractions (>75 wt%). In contrast to PK diblock copolymers in this composition range, KPK triblock copolymers exhibit morphology transitions as a function of pH. Using a combination of light-scattering and microscopy techniques, we demonstrate spherical micelle-vesicle and spherical micelle-disk micelle transitions for different K fractions. We interpret these morphology changes in terms of the energy penalty associated with folding the core P block to form a spherical micelle in relation to the interfacial curvature associated with different charged states of the K block.

Publication Title

Macromolecular Rapid Communications

Volume

33

Issue

9

First Page

819

Last Page

826

Recommended Citation

Ray, J. G., Naik, S. S., Hoff, E. A., Johnson, A. J., Ly, J. T., Easterling, C. P., Patton, D. L., Savin, D. A. (2012). Stimuli-Responsive Peptide-Based ABA-Triblock Copolymers: Unique Morphology Transitions With pH. Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 33(9), 819-826.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/252