Diverse morphologies of self-aggregates from dodecyl chain grafted poly(2-hydroxyethyl aspartamide) in aqueous solution

Abstract

A series of amphiphilic graft copolymers, poly(2-hydroxyethyl aspartamide) grafted with dodecyl chains with different degree of substitution (DS), were synthesized and their self-aggregates showing various morphologies in aqueous media were prepared by direct dissolution method. Spherical micelles, wormlike micelles, tubular networks, and vesicles observed by TEM were found to be a function of DS of the hydrophobic dodecyl chain, and those self-assembled nanostructures can be explained in terms of interfacial energy and packing parameter. To our knowledge, this is the first report of diverse morphologies for a comb-like amphiphilic graft copolymer system. Our system suggests very attractive advantages for biomedical applications and for mass production of aggregates by direct dissolution into water without an organic solvent