Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Multiphase copolymers generally consist of copolymers where the disparate natures of each of the segments results in complex phase-segregated morphologies in the solid state. The outstanding properties and wide range of applications of multiphase copolymers has led to the need for more sophisticated synthesis methods to produce copolymers with controlled structures. Associated with developments in synthetic methods is the need to develop suitable techniques to characterize these materials in order to obtain a better understanding of their structure–property relationships. The synthesis of multiphase copolymers presents many challenges. These are related to the nature of the molecular requirements, were the monomers of each of the different components may not be polymerized by all available polymerization techniques. This has led to the need to combine different polymerization techniques to overcome such limitations. The focus of this study is the combination of living controlled polymerization techniques, namely anionic polymerization and RAFT polymerization, with hydroboration/autoxidation, to produce non-polyolefin block and graft copolymers. Block copolymers were synthesized by coupling anionic polymerization and hydroboration/autoxidation reactions. The first block segment was prepared via anionic polymerization, and then end-functionalized with a suitable functional group (e.g. an allyl group). A hydroboration/autoxidation reaction was then used to initiate the polymerization of the second block by the slow addition of oxygen at room temperature. Graft copolymers were synthesized using the 'grafting from' technique, by coupling RAFT copolymerization with hydroboration/autoxidation reactions. The backbone polymer was synthesized via RAFT copolymerization of symmetric and asymmetric monomer, after which a hydroboration/autoxidation reaction was carried out to produce graft copolymers. The hydroboration/hydroxylation reaction could also be used to modify an unsaturated polymer chain. The EPDM rubber chain was modified by transforming the double bond into an hydroxyl group, which could undergo an esterification reaction with an acid chloride RAFT agent to produce the multifunctional RAFT polymer. This was used for the controlled living free radical polymerization of the graft chains. Significant amounts of homopolymerization in addition to graft formation were obtained. Solid state NMR (SS NMR) and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy were used to determine the compositional phase segregation point in the graft copolymers. The spin diffusion data from the SS NMR provided insight into the seemingly anomalous positron data at the phase segregation point. It is demonstrated how these two techniques can provide complimentary data on the solid state morphology of these multiphase materials. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die algemeen bestaan multifase kopolimere uit segmente van verskillende aard wat komplekse fase-geskeide-morfologie in die vastetoestand tot gevolg het. Die uitstekende eienskappe en wye reeks toepassings van multifase kopolimere het daartoe gelei dat meer gesofistikeerde sintesemetodes vir die bereiding van kopolimere met gekontrolleerde strukture nodig was. Gepaardgaande met verwante ontwikkelings op die gebied van sintesemetodes was dit nodig om gepaste analitiese tegnieke te ontwikkel vir die karakterisering van hierdie verbindings, ten einde die struktuur–eienskap verwantskap van hierdie materiale beter te verstaan. Daar is egter baie uitdagings m.b.t. die sintese van hierdie multifase kopolimere. Dit is afhanklik van die aard van die molekulêre vereistes waar die monomere van elk van die verskillende komponente nie deur alle beskikbare polimerisasietegnieke gepolimeriseer kan word nie. Dit het daartoe gelei dat verskillende polimerasietegnieke gekombineer is ten einde hierdie beperkinge te oorbrug. Die fokus van hierdie studie is die kombinering van lewende vry-radikaal gekontrolleerde polimerisasietegnieke, naamlik anioniese polimerisasie en RAFTpolimerisasie, met hidroborering/outoksidasie, om nie-olefiniese blok- en entkopolimere te berei. Blok-kopolimere is berei deur die koppeling van anioniese polimerisasie en hidroborering/outoksidasie reaksies. Die eerste bloksegment is berei via anioniese polimerisasie en daarna is endfunksionering met 'n geskikte funksionele groep (bv. 'n allielgroep) bewerkstellig. Daarna is 'n hidroborering/outoksidasie reaksie gebruik om die polimerisasie van die tweede blok te inisieer d.m.v. die stadige toevoeging van suurstof by kamertemperatuur. Entkopolimere is berei deur gebruik te maak van die 'ent-vanaf' tegniek, d.m.v. die koppeling van RAFT-kopolimerisasie met hidroborering/outoksidasie reaksies. Die rugraatpolimeer is berei d.m.v. kopolimerisasie van simmetriese en nie-simmetriese monomere waarna die hidroborering/outoksidasie reaksie uitgevoer is om sodoende entkopolimere te vorm. Die hidroborering/hidroksilasie reaksie kon ook gebruik word om 'n onversadigde polimeerketting te wysig. Die EPDM rubberketting is gewysig deur die omskakeling van die dubbelbinding in 'n hidroksielgroep, wat dan 'n esterifikasie reaskie kon ondergaan met 'n suurchloried-RAFT verbinding, om sodoende die multifunksionele RAFT-polimeer te vorm. Dit is gebruik vir die gekontrolleerde lewende vry-radikaalpolimerisasie van die entkettings. Behalwe entvorming is 'n hoë mate van homopolimerisasie waargeneem. Vastetoestand KMR (VS KMR) en positronvernietigingsleeftydspektroskopie is gebruik om die saamgestelde faseskeidingspunt in die entkopolimere te bepaal. Die spindifffusie data van VS KMR het insig verleen aan die oënskynlik onreëlmatige positrondata by die faseskeidingspunt. In die studie is bewys hoe hierdie twee tegnieke komplimentêre data kan lewer m.b.t. die vastetoestandmorfologie van hierdie multifase materiale.

The addition of isocyanates to C=N double bonds of imines gives triazindione heterocycle structures; their thermal properties are reported. Mono-isocyanates were used to form 2:1 adducts with the imine bases 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN) and 2-tert-butyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (tBuTMG). A 2:1 stoichiometry of the adducts was proven by NMR and IR spectroscopy, and single crystal X-Ray diffraction; certain cleavage temperatures (70 and 160 °C) were measured. Thermal analysis (TG-MS) of adducts indicates the release of free isocyanate during adduct cleavage. Furthermore, a new class of step-growth oligomers (MN = 750–7,000 g∙mol–1) composed of multi-functional isocyanates and these imine bases was introduced. Their systematic spectroscopic and thermal analysis is shown revealing the similarity in their chemical properties to the 2:1 adducts. Radical homo- and copolymerization of acrylates is initiated by the meta-stable adducts and oligomers of this work; the generation of novel telomeric block-copolymer architectures composed of polyacrylate and oligourea building blocks is demonstrated. / Dieser Beitrag ist aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

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La recherche de solutions innovantes pour améliorer les performances des assemblages collés structuraux, particulièrement sensibles à l’humidité, est un défi académique à fort potentiel applicatif. Cette thèse s’inscrit donc dans ce contexte pour proposer l'élaboration de nouvelles formulations de résines polyépoxydes résistantes au vieillissement en environnement humide. La diffusion de molécules d’eau au sein de réseaux polyépoxydes provoque une diminution de leurs propriétés thermo-mécaniques et de l’adhérence lorsqu'ils sont utilisés sous forme de joints collés. L’eau se trouve alors sous forme libre ou liée par une ou plusieurs liaisons hydrogène. Les dégradations induites sont dépendantes des conditions de vieillissement (température et degré d’humidité imposé), qui influencent la cinétique de diffusion de l’eau et la quantité totale absorbée. Ces dégradations sont également intimement liées à la nature de l’adhésif époxyde utilisé. La deuxième partie de cette étude a consisté à développer des formulations de réseaux polyépoxydes permettant l’amélioration de la tenue au vieillissement grâce à l’incorporation de copolymères à blocs. Notre choix s’est porté sur des copolymères triblocs POE-POP-POE. Nous avons pu mettre en évidence la capacité des nanostructures obtenues à établir des interactions avec les molécules d’eau. Ces liaisons faibles multiples permettent de limiter les dégradations des propriétés mécaniques par l’eau. Le vieillissement des réseaux nanostructurés permet de souligner une amélioration significative de la durabilité avec une conservation des propriétés mécaniques. / The research of innovations to improve the performance of structural bonded-joints, too much sensible to humid aging, is an academic key-lock with a huge impact on technologies. This thesis have been proposed within the scope of the development of new epoxy resins able to resist to aging in humid condition. Diffusion of water is responsible of the decrease of mechanical properties and the loss of adhesion properties in many structural assemblies. In this kind of hydrophilic networks, water can be free or linked by one or several hydrogen bonds. We prove that the chemical and mechanical degradations depend on aging conditions (temperature and humidity level). The diffusion kinetics and the final amount of absorbed water is also strongly dependant on the chemical nature of epoxy resin.The second part of this work deals with the development of new epoxy resins formulations allowing the improvement of durability thanks to the incorporation of blocks copolymers, such as POE-POP-POE triblocks copolymers. Their capacity to self-organize allows the creation of nanodomains capable to establish interactions with water molecules, acting as nano-tanks. The presence of water in nano-domains tends to limit the degradation of mechanical properties of the epoxy matrix. Aging of nanostructured epoxy resins emphasize considerable improvements on durability with conservation of mechanical properties.

O objetivo desta dissertação é a utilização de metodologias de RMN para caracterizar a separação de fases e, em algum grau, a dinâmica de segmentos moleculares em copolímeros em bloco. Na primeira parte do trabalho, técnicas de RMN de Difusão de Spins, cujo fenômeno envolvido traz informações sobre a formação de domínios de segmentos moleculares, foram exploradas no sentido de avaliar seu desempenho assim como as principais dificuldades experimentais. Para isso, foi usado como referência o copolímero tri-bloco SEBS (Estireno-EtilenoButileno-Estireno), cuja morfologia é bem conhecida. Os testes experimentais foram realizados em equipamentos de RMN com campo magnético de 0.5 T e 9.4 T, sendo que em baixo campo uma proposta alternativa de tratamento dos dados foi utilizada. Como já apontado na literatura, os resultados indicaram que embora seja possível realizar tais experimentos em baixo campo a análise dos dados se torna mais complexa devido aos tempos de relaxação T1 mais curtos, tornando necessário o uso de simulações numéricas, que fazem a análise mais dependente de modelos específicos. A segunda parte do trabalho foi dedicada ao estudo de copolímeros em bloco compostos por polióxidoetileno (POE) ou Polietileno Glicol (PEG - POE de baixo peso molecular) e poliestireno (PS) e atambém copolimeros a base de PS e acrilatos ramificados com POE (PMAPEG - do inglês Poly Methyl Acrilate Polyethylene Glicol). Nesses estudos, técnicas de RMN de 1H e 13C como função da temperatura foram usadas para estudar as principais transições dinâmicas das cadeias de POE. Foi demonstrado que, embora o comportamento dinâmico das cadeias de POE seja similar em todos os copolímeros estudados, nas amostras de copolímeros com PMAPEG o grau de heterogeneidade dos movimentos das cadeias de POE é consideravelmente menor, o que foi atribuído ao empacotamento local semelhante e mais regular nos segmentos PMAPEG. Experimentos de RMN de Difusão de Spins foram utilizados nos estudos de morfologia, sendo demonstrada a separação de fases com formação de domínios em todas as amostras, com a regularidade desses domínios dependendo da composição. As dimensões médias dos domínios foram estimadas e os resultados correlacionados com os aspectos dinâmicos. / The main objective of this dissertation is the use of NMR methods to characterize the phase separation and, to some extent, the dynamics of the molecular segments in block copolymers. In the first part, NMR Spin Diffusion methods were explored in order to evaluate their performance as well as the main experimental difficulties. For that, a reference tri-block polymer SEBS (styrene-block-butadiene-block-styrene), which had a well known morphology, was used. The experimental tests were carried out in NMR equipments with magnetic field of 0.47 T and 9.4 T and at low filed an alternative proposal for data analysis was used. A already shown in the literature, the results indicated that , despite being possible to accomplish these experiments in low field, the data analysis become more intricate due to the shorter T1 values at this magnetic field, requiring the use of numerical simulations, which make the method more model dependent. The second part was dedicated to the study of copolymers consisting of Polyoxyethylene (PEO) or Polyethylene Glycol (PEG-low molecular weight PEO) and polystyrene (PS) as well as copolymers based on PS and Poly acrylates with PEO branches (PMAPEG -Poly Methyl Acrylate Polyethylene Glicol). In these studies, 1H and 13C NMR methods as function of temperature were used to characterize the main dynamic transitions in the PEO chains. It was shown that, despite similar dynamic behavior was observed in all samples, the PS-PMAPEG copolymers present a smaller degree of motional heterogeneity, which was attributed to the similar local packing of the PMAPEG chains. Using Spin diffusion NMR information about the morphology of the samples were obtained, showing evidences of phase separation and domain formation in all samples, being the regularity of the domain related with the sample composition. The average domain sizes were estimated.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / A solubilidade do fÃrmaco em Ãgua à um fator importante para sua eficÃcia. Entretanto, a maioria dos fÃrmacos apresenta baixa solubilidade em Ãgua. Para resolver este problema, copolÃmeros em bloco com propriedades surfactantes tÃm sido bastante investigados. O objetivo deste trabalho à investigar os copolÃmeros F87 (E62P39E62), E43B14E43 e suas misturas 50/50 a 90/10, com proporÃÃo crescente do copolÃmero mais hidrofÃbico (E43B14E43), a sÃrie de diblocos EmBn para carrear o fÃrmaco modelo griseofulvina atravÃs de diferentes mÃtodos de solubilizaÃÃo e estudar a sua liberaÃÃo, bem como o estudo da solubilizaÃÃo dos fÃrmacos quercetina e mangiferina nos copolÃmeros E65G5 e E65G7E65 visando suas aplicaÃÃes no carreamento e liberaÃÃo controlada de fÃrmacos. Utilizou-se a tÃcnica de inversÃo de tubo para o estudo das propriedades geleificantes dos copolÃmeros F87, E43B14E43 e suas misturas 50/50 a 90/10. Para a determinaÃÃo da concentraÃÃo micelar crÃtica (CMC) utilizou-se o mÃtodo de solubilizaÃÃo de corante medida por fluorescÃncia. A solubilidade dos fÃrmacos griseofulvina, quercetina e mangiferina nos sistemas micelares foi medida por espectrofotometria UV-Vis e para os sistemas dos copolÃmeros E65G5 e E65G7E65 utilizou-se a cromatografia lÃquida de alta eficiÃncia (HPLC). Os copolÃmeros puros e os sistemas contendo os fÃrmacos foram caracterizados por tÃcnicas de espectroscopia de absorÃÃo na regiÃo do infravermelho (FT-IR), espectroscopia RAMAN (FT-RAMAN), raios-X, tamanho de partÃcula por espalhamento de luz dinÃmico (Zetasizer), e experimentos de liberaÃÃo in vitro foram realizados para alguns dos sistemas. Os copolÃmeros F87, E43B14E43, suas misturas, os diblocos da sÃrie EmBn e os copolÃmeros E65G5 e E65G7E65 sÃo promissores para administraÃÃo de fÃrmacos hidrofÃbicos, pois apresentaram bons valores de capacidade de solubilizaÃÃo (Scp). Os copolÃmeros E65G5 e E65G7E65 foram os que mais se destacaram na solubilizaÃÃo da quercetina (HPLC): seu sistema micelar aumentou a solubilidade aquosa da quercetina em 264 vezes a 25 ÂC em ambos os copolÃmeros e 118 e 135 vezes a 37ÂC, no dibloco e tribloco, respectivamente, e suas partÃculas apresentaram total eficiÃncia de encapsulaÃÃo da quercetina. Portanto, o dibloco de glicidil (E65G5) à o melhor copolÃmero para encapsulamento de fÃrmaco. / Most drug candidates fail to progress in their formulations due to its low solubility in water. To resolve this issue, block copolymers with surfactant properties have been well investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate the copolymers F87 (E62P39E62), and mixtures thereof E43B14E43 50/50 to 90/10, with increasing proportion of the more hydrophobic copolymer (E43B14E43), the series of diblock EmBn to carry the model drug through different griseofulvin solubilization methods and study their release, and the study of drug solubilization of quercetin and mangiferin E65G5 the copolymers and their applications in order E65G7E65 Entrainment and controlled release of drugs. We used the technique of inversion of the tube for the study of gelling properties of copolymers F87, and mixtures thereof E43B14E43 50/50 to 90/10. To determine the critical micelle concentration (CMC) used the dye solubilization method measured by fluorescence. The solubility of drugs griseofulvin, quercetin and mangiferin in micellar systems was measured by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and systems of copolymers E65G5 E65G7E65 and used the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The pure copolymers and the systems containing the drugs were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy (FT-Raman), X-rays, particle size by dynamic light scattering (Zetasizer), and experiments in vitro release were carried out for some systems. The copolymers F87, E43B14E43, their mixtures, the number of diblock copolymers and EmBn E65G5 E65G7E65 and are promising for administration of hydrophobic drugs, because they showed good solubilising capacity values ​​(Scp). The copolymers were E65G7E65 E65G5 and those who stood out in solubilization of quercetin (HPLC): its micellar system increased the aqueous solubility of quercetin in 253 times at 25  C for both copolymers and 124 and 142 times at 37  C for the diblock and triblock, respectively, and its particles showed complete encapsulation efficiency of quercetin

The first polysulfenamides were synthesized with S-N and N-S-N bonds along the backbone. We demonstrated that sulfenamides were stable in polar protic and aprotic solvents, but degraded rapidly when exposed to acidic conditions. Microparticles were fabricated from polysulfenamides with S-N bonds, their surfaces were readily functionalized, and they were internalized by cells allowing for intracellular delivery of their cargo. These microparticles were also stable at physiological pH, degraded under acidic conditions, and possessed minimal toxicity towards cells. This work demonstrated that polysulfenamides form the basis for a new set of polymers for drug delivery that greatly differ from prior work in this field. New biodegradable polymers with N-S-N bonds along the backbone were synthesized. These were the first polymers with these bonds and possessed many of the same characteristics as polymers synthesized with S-N bonds. The synthesis and characterization of comb block copolymers with arms composed of poly(lactic acid), poly(butyl acrylate), and poly(styrene-b-vinylpyridine) were described. The self-assembled morphologies in the solid state of comb tri- and tetrablock copolymers with poly(styrene) were also described. These assemblies demonstrated that well-ordered and complex morphologies were assembled from these polymers. The steric effect of substitutions on oxanorbornenes in ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) was investigated. Oxanorbornenes substituted with methyls at the bridgehead positions showed limited reactivity with the Grubbs first and second generation catalysts and the Grubbs first generation methylidene catalyst.

<p>This thesis describes syntheses and characterization of star-like amphiphilic block copolymers consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as the hydrophilic block,polycarbonate as the hydrophobic block and an amine-containing dendrimer as the core molecule. The macromolecules were synthesized by either a convergent or adivergent approach that includes tandem click reactions and ring opening polymerizations (ROP) of methyl trimethyl carbonates (MTC) with differentfunctionalities. The ROP of MTC monomers was performed using organocatalysts that allow mild reaction condition and reasonable molecular weight distribution(PDI~1.3). These synthetic approaches provide the resultant polymers with three different conformations, which are; mikto-arm type, comb-block with short PEGbrushes, and linear block with long PEG chain. The star-like polymers that were synthesized were all water soluble and most of them formed nano aggregates inwater. Different morphologies were observed in AFM study depending on the polymer conformation. Interestingly, some of them had indications pointing towards alower critical solution temperature.</p>

Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was grafted onto both termini of Pluronic F87 (PEO₆₇-PPO₃₉-PEO₆₇) via atom transfer radical polymerization to produce a novel muco-adhesive block copolymer PAA₈₀-b-F₈₇-b-PAA₈₀. It was observed that PAA₈₀-F₈₇-PAA₈₀ forms stable complexes with weakly basic anti-cancer drug, Doxorubicin. Thermodynamic changes due to the drug binding to the copolymer were assessed at different pH by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The formation of the polymer/drug complexes was studied by turbidimetric titration and dynamic light scattering. Doxorubicin and PAA-b-F87-b-PAA block copolymer are found to interact strongly in aqueous solution via non-covalent interactions over a wide pH range. At pH>4.35, drug binding is due to electrostatic interactions. Hydrogen-bond also plays a role in the stabilization of the PAA₈₀-F₈₇-PAA₈₀/DOX complex. At pH 7.4 (α=0.8), the size and stability of polymer/drug complex depend strongly on the doxorubicin concentration. When CDOX <0.13mM, the PAA₈₀-F₈₇-PAA₈₀ copolymer forms stable inter-chain complexes with DOX (110 ~ 150 nm). When CDOX >0.13mM, as suggested by the light scattering result, the reorganization of the polymer/drug complex is believed to occur. With further addition of DOX (CDOX >0.34mM), sharp increase in the turbidity indicates the formation of large aggregates, followed by phase separation. The onset of a sharp enthalpy increase corresponds to the formation of a stoichiometric complex. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

This work describes the synthesis and characterization of stimuli-responsive polymers made by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and the investigation of their self-assembly into “smart” hydrogels. In particular the hydrogels were designed to swell at low temperature and could be reversibly switched to a collapsed hydrophobic state by rising the temperature. Starting from two constituents, a short permanently hydrophobic polystyrene (PS) block and a thermo-responsive poly(methoxy diethylene glycol acrylate) (PMDEGA) block, various gelation behaviors and switching temperatures were achieved. New RAFT agents bearing tert-butyl benzoate or benzoic acid groups, were developed for the synthesis of diblock, symmetrical triblock and 3-arm star block copolymers. Thus, specific end groups were attached to the polymers that facilitate efficient macromolecular characterization, e.g by routine 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Further, the carboxyl end-groups allowed functionalizing the various polymers by a fluorophore. Because reports on PMDEGA have been extremely rare, at first, the thermo-responsive behavior of the polymer was investigated and the influence of factors such as molar mass, nature of the end-groups, and architecture, was studied. The use of special RAFT agents enabled the design of polymer with specific hydrophobic and hydrophilic end-groups. Cloud points (CP) of the polymers proved to be sensitive to all molecular variables studied, namely molar mass, nature and number of the end-groups, up to relatively high molar masses. Thus, by changing molecular parameters, CPs of the PMDEGA could be easily adjusted within the physiological interesting range of 20 to 40°C. A second responsivity, namely to light, was added to the PMDEGA system via random copolymerization of MDEGA with a specifically designed photo-switchable azobenzene acrylate. The composition of the copolymers was varied in order to determine the optimal conditions for an isothermal cloud point variation triggered by light. Though reversible light-induced solubility changes were achieved, the differences between the cloud points before and after the irradiation were small. Remarkably, the response to light differed from common observations for azobenzene-based systems, as CPs decreased after UV-irradiation, i.e with increasing content of cis-azobenzene units. The viscosifying and gelling abilities of the various block copolymers made from PS and PMDEGA blocks were studied by rheology. Important differences were observed between diblock copolymers, containing one hydrophobic PS block only, the telechelic symmetrical triblock copolymers made of two associating PS termini, and the star block copolymers having three associating end blocks. Regardless of their hydrophilic block length, diblock copolymers PS11 PMDEGAn were freely flowing even at concentrations as high as 40 wt. %. In contrast, all studied symmetrical triblock copolymers PS8-PMDEGAn-PS8 formed gels at low temperatures and at concentrations as low as 3.5 wt. % at best. When heated, these gels underwent a gel-sol transition at intermediate temperatures, well below the cloud point where phase separation occurs. The gel-sol transition shifted to markedly higher transition temperatures with increasing length of the hydrophilic inner block. This effect increased also with the number of arms, and with the length of the hydrophobic end blocks. The mechanical properties of the gels were significantly altered at the cloud point and liquid-like dispersions were formed. These could be reversibly transformed into hydrogels by cooling. This thesis demonstrates that high molar mass PMDEGA is an easily accessible, presumably also biocompatible and at ambient temperature well water-soluble, non-ionic thermo-responsive polymer. PMDEGA can be easily molecularly engineered via the RAFT method, implementing defined end-groups, and producing different, also complex, architectures, such as amphiphilic triblock and star block copolymers, having an analogous structure to associative telechelics. With appropriate design, such amphiphilic copolymers give way to efficient, “smart” viscosifiers and gelators displaying tunable gelling and mechanical properties. / Diese Arbeit befasst sich mit der RAFT-vermittelten Synthese und Charakterisierung von stimuli-empfindlichen Polymeren und ihrer Selbstorganisation zu „intelligenten” Hydrogelen. Die Hydrogele wurden so entwickelt, dass sie bei niedrigen Temperaturen stark quellen, bei Temperaturerhöhung jedoch reversibel in einem hydrophoben, kollabierten Zustand umgewandelt werden. Mit dem permanent hydrophoben Polystyrol (PS) und dem hydrophilen, thermisch schaltbaren Poly(methoxy-diethylen¬glycol-acrylat) (PMDEGA) als Bausteine, wurden unterschiedliche Gelierungsverhalten und thermische Übergangstemperaturen erreicht. Zur Synthese von Diblock-, symmetrischen Triblock- und dreiarmigen Sternblock-Copolymeren wurden neue funktionelle Kettenüberträger entwickelt. Diese gestatteten es, tert-butyl Benzoeester und Benzoesäure Endgruppen in die Polymere einzubauen, die einerseits eine effiziente Analyse mittels Routine 1H-NMR und darüber hinaus eine spätere Funktionalisierung der Endgruppen mit einer Fluoreszenzsonde ermöglichten. Da über PMDEGA kaum Daten vorlagen, wurde der Einfluss von Molekulargewicht, Endgruppen und Architektur auf das thermo-responsive Verhalten untersucht. Die speziellen Kettenüberträger ermöglichten es, gezielt hydrophobe wie hydrophile Endgruppen in die Polymere einzuführen. Die Trübungspunkte der wässerigen Lösungen von PMDEGA zeigten sich bis zu relativ hohen molaren Massen abhängig gegenüber allen untersuchten Variablen, nämlich dem Molekulargewicht, der Art und Zahl von Endgruppen. Durch Variation der diversen Parameter ließ sich die Schalttemperatur von PMDEGA in physiologisch relevanten Temperaturbereich von 20 bis 40 °C einstellen. Um die Polymere für einen zweiten Stimulus, nämlich Licht, empfindlich zu machen, wurden Azobenzol-funktionalisierte Acrylate synthetisiert und statistisch mit MDEGA copolymerisiert. Die Zusammensetzung der Polymeren wurde variiert und das isotherme Schalten der Löslichkeit durch Licht untersucht. Obwohl ein reversibles Schalten erreicht wurde, waren die Unterschiede zwischen den Trübungstemperaturen von UV-Licht bestrahlten und unbestrahlten Proben nur gering. Interessanterweise senkte die UV-Bestrahlung, d.h. ein erhöhter Gehalt von cis-Azobenzol-Gruppen, die Trübungstemperaturen herab. Dies ist genau umgekehrt als für azobenzolbasierten Systeme klassisch beschrieben. Die Gelbildung der verschiedenen Blockcopolymere von PS und PMDEGA wurde mittels Rheologie untersucht. Dabei traten deutliche Unterschiede auf, zwischen dem Gelierungsverhalten der Diblockcopolymere, die nur einen PS Block enthalten, dem der symmetrischen Triblockcopolymere, die zwei assoziative PS Endblöcken besitzen, und dem der Sternpolymere, die drei assoziative PS Blöcke aufweisen. Unabhängig von der Länge des hydrophilen Blockes, bilden Diblockcopolymere des Typs PS11-PMDEGAn keine Gele, sondern selbst bei hohen Konzentrationen von 40 Gew. % Lösungen. Im Gegensatz dazu bildeten die Triblockcopolymere des Typs PS8-PMDEGAn-PS8 Gele bei niedrigen Temperaturen, vereinzelt schon ab 3.5 wt. %. Mit steigender Temperatur, tritt bereits unterhalb des Trübungspunktes für diese Systeme ein Gel-Sol Übergang auf. Der Gel-Sol Übergang bewegt sich zu höheren Temperaturen mit steigende Länge des hydrophilen inneren Blocks. Dieser Trend verstärkt sich mit zunehmender Anzahl von Endblöcken und deren Länge. An der Trübungstemperatur veränderten sich die mechanischen Eigenschaften aller Gele signifikant und die gebildeten flüssigen Dispersionen ließen sich reversibel beim Abkühlen wieder zu Gel schalten. Diese Arbeit, zeigt dass PMDEGA ein bei niedrigen Temperaturen gut wasserlösliches, nicht-ionisches, thermisch-schaltbares und wahrscheinlich biokompatibles Polymer ist. PMDEGA liest sich einfach mittels den RAFT-Verfahren molekular maßschneiden, mit spezifischen Endgruppen und komplexen Polymerarchitekturen. Solche amphiphilen Triblock- und Sternblock-Copolymeren hoher Molmasse, wirken als assoziative Telechele. Daher eigenen sich bei entsprechendem Design diese amphiphilen Blockcopolymere als effiziente Verdicker und Gelbildner mit einstellbaren mechanischen und thermischen Eigenschaften.