Design of a C-b-(A-co-B)-b-C telechelic polyampholyte pH-responsive gelator

We report the synthesis and characterization of a C-b-(A-co-B)-b-C triblock terpolymer gelator, named telechelic polyampholyte, bearing a P(DEAEMA-co-MAA) statistical polyampholyte as the central long block, end-capped at both ends by PMMA blocks. This associative polymer forms 3D networks in aqueous media, composed of PMMA hydrophobic nanodomains, bridged by the hydrophilic P(DEA-co-MAA) ionogenic blocks. Thanks to the weak acid/base nature of the oppositely charged ionic moieties, the ionization degree of which are controlled by pH, the formed hydrogels exhibit unique pH-responsive behavior. The network structure and in turn the hydrogel rheological properties strongly depend on the preparation conditions, i.e. swelling film or direct dissolution in aqueous media.