Techn. Hochsch., Diss., 2001--Aachen.

Techn. Hochsch., Diss., 2005--Aachen.

Abstract: ABC triblock copolymers self-organize into a wide variety of supramolecular structures in the bulk. However, their associative behavior in selective solvents has scarcely been studied. Within the search for new stimuli-responsive supramolecular architectures, our attention focused on a pH-responsive polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO) triblock copolymer. In addition to the synthesis of monodisperse spherical core-shell-corona (CSC) micelles, the reversibility and the cooperativity of the response to pH variations were studied, morphological transitions were induced and multi-responsive micellar gels were prepared. The micellization mechanism, the structure, the responsiveness and the internal organization of these new nanomaterials were investigated using a combination of transmission electronic microscopy, atomic force microscopy, light scattering, small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance and rheology. Finally, efforts were geared towards potential applications. The ability of PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO CSC micelles to encapsulate and release hydrophobic species was probed and gold nanoparticles were successfully synthesized within the P2VP layer of spherical and cylindrical micelles, which acted as nanoreactors./Résumé : Les copolymères triséquencés ABC sauto-organisent et forment une large gamme de structures supramoléculaires en phase solide. Cependant, peu détudes portent sur leur comportement associatif induit par des solvants sélectifs. Dans le cadre de la recherche de nouvelles architectures supramoléculaires sensibles aux stimuli externes, nous avons entrepris létude dun copolymère triséquencé sensible au pH : polystyrène-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine)-b-poly(oxyde déthylène). Outre la synthèse de micelles sphériques de type CSC, le caractère réversible et coopératif de la réponse au pH a été étudié, ainsi que linduction de transitions morphologiques et la préparation de gels micellaires sensibles à la température et au pH. Le mécanisme de micellisation, les paramètres structuraux, la sensibilité aux stimuli ainsi que lorganisation interne de ces nouveaux nanomatériaux ont été étudiés par une combinaison de microscopies électronique à transmission et à force atomique, diffusion lumineuse, diffusion de neutrons et rayons X aux petits angles, résonance magnétique nucléaire et rhéologie. Enfin, des applications ont été envisagées : la capacité des micelles CSC à encapsuler et libérer des composés hydrophobes a été testée et des nanoparticules dor ont été synthétisées avec succès au sein de ces nanoréacteurs, cest-à-dire dans la couche de P2VP des micelles sphériques et cylindriques.

This work presents the synthesis and the self-assembly of symmetrical amphiphilic ABA and BAB triblock copolymers in dilute, semi-concentrated and highly concentrated aqueous solution. A series of new bifunctional bistrithiocarbonates as RAFT agents was used to synthesise these triblock copolymers, which are characterised by a long hydrophilic middle block and relatively small, but strongly hydrophobic end blocks. As hydrophilic A blocks, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly(methoxy diethylene glycol acrylate) (PMDEGA) were employed, while as hydrophobic B blocks, poly(4-tert-butyl styrene), polystyrene, poly(3,5-dibromo benzyl acrylate), poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate), and poly(octadecyl acrylate) were explored as building blocks with different hydrophobicities and glass transition temperatures. The five bifunctional trithiocarbonates synthesised belong to two classes: the first are RAFT agents, which position the active group of the growing polymer chain at the outer ends of the polymer (Z-C(=S)-S-R-S-C(=S)-Z, type I). The second class places the active groups in the middle of the growing polymer chain (R-S-C(=S)-Z-C(=S)-S-R, type II). These RAFT agents enable the straightforward synthesis of amphiphilic triblock copolymers in only two steps, allowing to vary the nature of the hydrophobic blocks as well as the length of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks broadly with good molar mass control and narrow polydispersities. Specific side reactions were observed among some RAFT agents including the elimination of ethylenetrithiocarbonate in the early stage of the polymerisation of styrene mediated by certain agents of the type II, while the use of the RAFT agents of type I resulted in retardation of the chain extension of PNIPAM with styrene. These results underline the need of a careful choice of RAFT agents for a given task. The various copolymers self-assemble in dilute and semi-concentrated aqueous solution into small flower-like micelles. No indication for the formation of micellar clusters was found, while only at high concentration, physical hydrogels are formed. The reversible thermoresponsive behaviour of the ABA and BAB type copolymer solutions in water with A made of PNIPAM was examined by turbidimetry and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The cloud point of the copolymers was nearly identical to the cloud point of the homopolymer and varied between 28-32 °C with concentrations from 0.01 to 50 wt%. This is attributed to the formation of micelles where the hydrophobic blocks are shielded from a direct contact with water, so that the hydrophobic interactions of the copolymers are nearly the same as for pure PNIPAM. Dynamic light scattering measurements showed the presence of small micelles at ambient temperature. The aggregate size dramatically increased above the cloud point, indicating a change of aggregate morphology into clusters due to the thermosensitivity of the PNIPAM block. The rheological behaviour of the amphiphilic BAB triblock copolymers demonstrated the formation of hydrogels at high concentrations, typically above 30-35 wt%. The minimum concentration to induce hydrogels decreased with the increasing glass transition temperatures and increasing length of the end blocks. The weak tendency to form hydrogels was attributed to a small share of bridged micelles only, due to the strong segregation regime occurring. In order to learn about the role of the nature of the thermoresponsive block for the aggregation, a new BAB triblock copolymer consisting of short polystyrene end blocks and PMDEGA as stimuli-responsive middle block was prepared and investigated. Contrary to PNIPAM, dilute aqueous solutions of PMDEGA and of its block copolymers showed reversible phase transition temperatures characterised by a strong dependence on the polymer composition. Moreover, the PMDEGA block copolymer allowed the formation of physical hydrogels at lower concentration, i.e. from 20 wt%. This result suggests that PMDEGA has a higher degree of water-swellability than PNIPAM. / Die Arbeit behandelt die Synthese und das Selbstorganisationsverhalten von neuen funktionellen symmetrischen "stimuli-responsiven" Triblockcopolymeren ABA und BAB in wässrigen verdünnten und höher konzentrierten Lösungen. Neue symmetrische, bifunktionelle Bistrithiocarbonate wurden als RAFT-Agentien benutzt, um Triblockcopolymere mit langen hydrophilen (A) Innen- und kurzen hydrophoben (B) Außenblöcken zu synthetisieren. Als hydrophile A Blöcke wurden Poly(N-isopropylacrylamid) PNIPAM und Poly(methoxy diethylene glykol acrylat) PMDEGA benutzt, während als hydrophobe Blöcke B Poly(4-tert-butyl styrol), Polystyrol, Poly(3,5-dibromo benzyl acrylat), Poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylat), und Poly(octadecyl acrylat) als Bausteine mit unterschiedlicher Glasübergangstemperatur untersucht wurden. Die Selbstorganisation von ABA und BAB Copolymeren in Wasser mit A Blöcken aus PNIPAM wurde anhand von Trübungsphotometrie, dynamischer Lichtstreuung (DLS) und Rheologie untersucht. Die amphiphilen Blockcopolymere sind direkt wasserlöslich. Bei Konzentrationen von 0.01 bis 50 wt% zeigen Trübungsmessungen bei den Blockcopolymeren wie bei den Homopolymeren eine Übergangstemperatur bei 28-32 °C. Zurückzuführen ist dies auf die Bildung von Mizellen, bei der die hydrophoben Blöcke von einem direkten Kontakt mit Wasser abgeschirmt werden. DLS zeigt kleine Mizellen bei niedrigen Temperaturen und Aggregate mit großem hydrodynamischem Durchmesser bei Temperaturen oberhalb der Übergangstemperatur. Die rheologische Untersuchung von BAB Polymeren zeigt die Bildung von Hydrogelen bei höheren Konzentrationen (über 30-35 wt%). Die minimal benötigte Konzentration, bei der die von Hydrogelen auftreten, nimmt mit wachsender Glasübergangstemperatur ab, und nimmt mit der Länge der hydrophoben Blöcke B zu. Im Unterschied zu PNIPAM zeigen wässrige Lösungen von PMDEGA und seinen Blockcopolymeren reversible Übergangstemperaturen abhängig von der chemischen Struktur. Außerdem bilden PMDEGA Blockcopolymere Hydrogele bei niedriger Konzentration (ab 20 wt%). Dieses Ergebnis deutet darauf hin, dass PMDEGA stärker Wasser bindet als PNIPAM.

Thesis (doctoral)--Techn. Hochsch., Aachen, 2003.

Zugl.: Cottbus, Techn. University, Diss., 2009.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2003--Stuttgart.

Techn. Hochsch., Diss., 2002--Aachen.

Techn. Hochsch., Diss., 2004--Aachen.

Techn. Hochsch., Diss., 2005--Aachen.