Forcing Single-Chain Nanoparticle Collapse Through Hydrophobic Solvent Interactions In Comb Copolymers

Authors

Cheyenne H. Liu, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Logan D. Dugas, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Jared I. Bowman, University of Southern Mississippi
Tamuka Chidanguro, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Robson F. Storey, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Yoan C. Simon, University of Southern MississippiFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-14-2020

School

Polymer Science and Engineering

Abstract

We introduce a novel synthetic strategy in which high molecular weight comb copolymers with aliphatic side chains can collapse into single-chain nanoparticles (SNCPs) via photodimerization of anthracene under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. By deliberately selecting hydrophobic comonomers with disparate solvency, we demonstrated that we could control chain collapse. We attribute these results to the formation of pseudo-unimicellar structures, whereby polyisobutylene (PIB) side chains are preferentially solvated, thereby compressing anthracene moieties to form a denser crosslinked core. The control of hydrophobic interactions is a common occurrence in proteins and we believe that our approach can be further extended to achieve multi-compartment SCNPs whereby each section is responsible for a given function.

Publication Title

Polymer Chemistry

Volume

11

Issue

2

First Page

292

Last Page

297

Recommended Citation

Liu, C. H., Dugas, L. D., Bowman, J. I., Chidanguro, T., Storey, R. F., Simon, Y. C. (2020). Forcing Single-Chain Nanoparticle Collapse Through Hydrophobic Solvent Interactions In Comb Copolymers. Polymer Chemistry, 11(2), 292-297.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/17808