Poly(ε-caprolactone)-graft-poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) Amphiphilic Copolymers Prepared via a Combination of ROP and ATRP: Synthesis, Characterization, and Self-Assembly Behavior

Poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-graft-poly(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (PCL-g-PDMAEMAs), a kind of amphiphilic graft copolymer, was prepared by combination of ROP and ATRP. The FTIR, H-1 NMR, and GPC results indicate that well-defined polymers with controlled graft density and length of side chain were successfully synthesized. We prepared PCL-g-PDMAEMA nanoparticles by employing a nanoprecipitation technique. The pH- and thermosensitive properties of PCL-g-PDMAEMA nanoparticles were investigated by H-1 NMR, TEM, and DLS. It was found that the nanoparticles with an average size of 120 nm presented core shell structure in aqueous dispersion. Furthermore, the nanoparticles are sensitive to temperature in base while not in an acidic environment.