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Polyion complex (PIC) micelles formed from oppositely charged styrene-based polyelectrolytes via electrostatic, hydrophobic, and π–π interactions

Polymer Journal volume 54, pages 1091–1101 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Polyion complex (PIC) micelles were fabricated by directly mixing aqueous solutions of oppositely charged diblock copolymers, poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethylphosphorylcholine)-block-poly(vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium chloride) (PMPC-b-PVBTAC; P91V100) and PMPC-block-poly(sodium p-styrenesulfonate) (PMPC-b-PNaSS; P91N100). Cationic and anionic diblock copolymers were synthesized via controlled/living radical polymerization using the poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) macrochain transfer agent. The subscript number represents the degree of polymerization (DP) of each block. A pair of oppositely charged diblock copolymers was mixed in an aqueous medium to prepare the PIC micelle using electrostatic, hydrophobic, and π–π interactions. The PIC micelles attained the maximum size and aggregation number when the charges of the cationic and anionic blocks were neutralized. The spherical core-shell micelle structure of the PIC micelle was confirmed. Generally, upon the addition of salt to the PIC micelle aqueous solution, the micelles dissociated because of the screening effect. However, the P91V100/P91N100 PIC micelle was stable against NaCl because the PVBTAC/PNaSS core of the PIC micelle was formed by electrostatic, hydrophobic, and π–π interactions. The P91V100/P91N100 PIC micelle can encapsulate charged and hydrophobic guest molecules.

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Acknowledgements

This research was partially supported by KAKENHI grants (21H02005, 21K19931, 21H05027, 21H05535) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), JSPS Bilateral Joint Research Projects (JPJSBP120203509), the Cooperative Research Program of “Network Joint Research Center for Materials and Devices (20214044),” and MEXT Promotion of Distinctive Joint Research Center Program (JPMXP 0621467946). The authors would like to thank Enago for English language editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Hyogo, 2167 Shosha, Himeji, Hyogo, 671-2280, Japan

    Thu Thao Pham & Shin-ichi Yusa

  2. Faculty of Chemistry, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam

    Tien Duc Pham

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  1. Thu Thao Pham
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Correspondence to Shin-ichi Yusa.

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Pham, T.T., Pham, T.D. & Yusa, Si. Polyion complex (PIC) micelles formed from oppositely charged styrene-based polyelectrolytes via electrostatic, hydrophobic, and π–π interactions. Polym J 54, 1091–1101 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-022-00659-3

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