Journal article
Nanoparticles assembled: Via pH-responsive reversible segregation of cyclodextrins in polyrotaxanes
BL Tardy, S Tan, HH Dam, H Ejima, A Blencowe, GG Qiao, F Caruso
Nanoscale | ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY | Published : 2016
DOI: 10.1039/c6nr04841b
Abstract
Supramolecular polymers with monomers bound together by secondary interactions, such as polyrotaxanes (PRXs), consisting of alpha cyclodextrin (αCD) threaded onto poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), have attracted interest as a result of their ability to overcome physical limitations present in conventional, covalently structured polymers. Herein, we describe the formation of pH-responsive supramolecular assemblies from carboxyethylester bearing αCD and PEG PRXs. These PRXs were formed using PEG of Mw 20 kDa and a threading degree of 28%. Upon charge neutralisation the threaded αCDs co-localise, resulting in aggregation of the PRXs and the formation of a suspension by self-assembly. This process is..
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Grants
Awarded by Australian Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
The authors thank Dr Markus Muellner and Martin van Koeverden for insightful discussions. This research was conducted and funded by the Australian Research Council Centre (ARC) of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology (project number CE140100036) and under the ARC Australian Laureate Fellowship (F. C., FL120100030). This work was performed in part at the Materials Characterisation and Fabrication Platform (MCFP) at the University of Melbourne and the Victorian Node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF).