Structural and dynamic characteristics of a star-shaped calixarene-containing polymer in aqueous solutions: the formation of mixed-shell micelles in the presence of poly(methacrylic acid)

Structural and dynamic characteristics of a star-shaped polymer with a central tert-butylcalix[8]arene core and poly(N-isobutyryl ethylenimine)-ω-piperazine arms in aqueous solutions were studied via the polarized-luminescence method. To conduct investigations, a luminescent label of the anthracene structure was attached to the polymer. It has been shown that polymer macromolecules are in an aggregate state in water. The aggregate comprises about 5 macromolecules. During mixing of the star-shaped polymer with macromolecules of un-ionized poly(methacrylic acid), a mixed-shell micelle in which poly(methacrylic acid) units interact with both poly(N-isobutyryl ethylenimine)-ω-piperazine moieties and isobutyl fragments incorporated into the core of the micelle is formed.