Synthesis and Self-Assembly of Double-Hydrophilic and Amphiphilic Block Glycopolymers

In this report, we present double-hydrophilic block glycopolymers of poly(-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-b-poly(2(beta-glucosyloxy)ethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA-b-PGEMA) and amphiphilic block glycopolymers of poly(ethyl methacrylate)-b-PGEMA (PEMA-b-PGEMA) synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The block glycopolymers were prepared in two compositions of P(H)EMA macro-chain transfer agents (CTAs) and similar molecular weights of PGEMA. Structural analysis of the resulting polymers as well as the conversion of (H)EMA and GEMA monomers were determined by H-1 NMR spectroscopy. Size exclusion chromatography measurements confirmed both P(H)EMA macro-CTAs and block glycopolymers had a low dispersity (D <= 1.5). The synthesized block glycopolymers had a degree of polymerization and a molecular weight up to 222 and 45.3 kg mol(-1), respectively. Both block glycopolymers self-assembled into micellar structures in aqueous solutions as characterized by fluorescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering experiments.