Title: Self-assembly and dynamics of oligocarbonate-functionalized telechelic polymers
Abstract: Hierarchical, self-assembled telechelic (triblock) copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in aqueous solutions provide advanced materials for biomaterial applications due to their ability to form drug-loaded micelles and injectable gels. Recent advancements in the synthesis of aliphatic polycarbonates-block-PEG show nontraditional micellar and hierarchical structures driven by the supramolecular assembly of the carbonate block functionality that includes cholesterol, vitamin D, or fluorene. The equilibrium between micelles and clustering of micelles and the properties of the clusters are of current fundamental interest. Further, characterization of the equilibrium on the temperature-composition phase diagram in terms of an uncooperative or cooperative self-assembly may open how chain conformation and self-assembly are coupled. This presentation shall describe the assembly structure and dynamics observed experimentally by static and dynamic light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering.