SANS Study on Self-Assembled Structures of Glucose-Responsive Phenylboronate Ester-Containing Diblock Copolymer

Published

April 1, 2017

Author(s)

Yunyan Zhang, Wenwen Zhao, Junjiao Yang, Boualem Hammouda, Jin Yang, Gang Cheng

Abstract

Block copolymers that contain boronic acid-functionalized segments belong to an interesting class of materials that can be potentially used in developing self-regulated insulin delivery systems. Determination of the solution structure of these block copolymers is crucial to understanding their performance. The self-assembled structures of glucose-responsive diblock copolymers, poly(ethyleneglycol)-block-poly[(2-phenylboronate esters-1,3-dioxane-5-ethyl)methylacrylate] (PEG-b-PPBDEMA), in aqueous solution were studied using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). SANS data suggested that PEG-b-PPBDEMA block copolymers with different PEG contents formed vesicles or micelles that responded differently to glucose under physiological conditions. Upon elevation of pH, a shape transition was observed for vesicles, whereas only dissociation took place for micelles. The effect of molarity of the buffer on the stability of vesicle and micelles was also studied.

Citation

European Polymer Journal

Volume

83

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

self¿assembled structures, phenylboronate ester, block copolymers, small-angle neutron scattering

Citation

Zhang, Y. , Zhao, W. , Yang, J. , Hammouda, B. , Yang, J. and Cheng, G. (2017), SANS Study on Self-Assembled Structures of Glucose-Responsive Phenylboronate Ester-Containing Diblock Copolymer, European Polymer Journal, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=920300 (Accessed October 28, 2025)