Core-crosslinked micelles with a poly-anionic poly(styrene sulfonate)-based outer shell made by RAFT polymerization

Core-crosslinked micelles (CCMs) with a permanently charged anionic shell of sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS – Na + ) chains have been developed by convergent three-step one-pot RAFT polymerization starting 4-cyano-4-thiothiopropylsulfanyl pentanoic acid (CTPPA, R 0 -SC(S)S n Pr) as chain transfer agent, which includes polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) in the second step. The final crosslinking step -(SS - x b -St y Pr diblock was carried out diethylene glycol dimethacrylate (DEGDMA), either diluted into styrene (DEGDMA/St = 10:90) or neat. morphology intermediate and CCM particles studied dynamic light scattering (DLS) transmission electron microscopy (TEM) function relative degrees polymerizations for shell, core, blocks. Conformational instability observed aqueous dispersions micelles, especially shorter PSt blocks, yielding equilibria single large agglomerates. However, led to well-defined CCMs narrow size distributions optimized polymer compositions. DLS analysis compatibilizing 60:40 THF/H 2 O solvent mixture demonstrates that synthesis has quantitatively crosslinked all arms. • Latexes amhiphilic star polymers polystyrene sulfonate prepared self-assembly. Delicate are established between chains, larger shell-shell Coulombic repulsion blocks particle interpenetration avoids macrogelation during crosslinking.