Cationic amphiphilic model networks: Synthesis by group transfer polymerization and characterization of the degree of swelling

Group transfer polymerization (GTP) was applied to prepare model networks based on 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). The flexibility of GTP allowed the synthesis of three isomeric networks with different architecture of the segments between crosslinks. The networks were characterized in terms of their aqueous degree of swelling as a function of pH, and the effect of chain architecture on the swelling behavior of the amphiphilic networks.