Volume 33, Issue 9 p. 819-826
Communication

Stimuli-Responsive Peptide-Based ABA-Triblock Copolymers: Unique Morphology Transitions With pH

Jacob G. Ray,

School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5050, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA

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Sandeep S. Naik,

School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5050, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA

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Emily A. Hoff,

School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5050, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA

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Ashley J Johnson,

School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5050, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA

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Jack T. Ly,

School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5050, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA

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Charles P. Easterling,

School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5050, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA

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Derek L. Patton,

School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5050, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA

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Daniel A. Savin,

Corresponding Author

School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5050, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA

School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5050, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA.Search for more papers by this author
First published: 05 April 2012
Citations: 34

Abstract

We report the synthesis and solution characterization of poly(L-lysine)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(L-lysine) (KPK) triblock copolymers with high lysine weight fractions (>75 wt%). In contrast to PK diblock copolymers in this composition range, KPK triblock copolymers exhibit morphology transitions as a function of pH. Using a combination of light-scattering and microscopy techniques, we demonstrate spherical micelle-vesicle and spherical micelle-disk micelle transitions for different K fractions. We interpret these morphology changes in terms of the energy penalty associated with folding the core P block to form a spherical micelle in relation to the interfacial curvature associated with different charged states of the K block.

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