Synthesis, multilayer film assembly, and capsule formation of macromolecularly engineered acrylic acid and styrene sulfonate block copolymers

Abstract

We report the use of copolymers synthesized with specific block ratios of weakly and strongly charged groups for the preparation of stable, pH-responsive multilayers. In this study, we utilized reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in the synthesis of novel pH-sensitive copolymers comprising block domains of acrylic acid (AA) and styrene sulfonate (SS) groups. The PAAX-b-SSy copolymers, containing 37%, 55%, and 73% of AA groups by mass (denoted as PAA37-b-SS63, PAA55-b-SS45, and PAA73-b-SS27, respectively), were utilized to perform stepwise multilayer assembly in alternation with poly(allylamine hydrochloride), PAH. The ratio of AA to SS groups, and the effec..