Well-defined multi-stimuli responsive fluorinated graft poly(ether amine)s (fgPEAs)

Well-defined multi-stimuli responsive fluorinated graft poly(ether amine)s (fgPEAs) were synthesized through nucleophilic substitution/ring-opening reaction of commercial poly(propylene glycol) diglycidyl ether and Jeffamine L100, followed by functionalization of hydroxyl groups in backbone by fluorinated alkyl carboxylic acid. fgPEAs are comprised of hydrophilic short poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and hydrophobic fluorinated alkyl chains, which are grafted on poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) backbone alternately to form well-defined structure. In aqueous solution, fgPEA11 and fgPEA12 self-assembled into multi-dispersed micelles, while fgPEA13 formed the uniform-sized micro-micelles with diameter of about 200 nm. These obtained micelles from fgPEAs were multi-responsive to temperature, pH and ionic strength with tunable cloud point (CP). It's notable that CP of fgPEAs aqueous solution increased with the increasing amount of graft fluorinated alkyl chains.