Stimuli-responsive hyperbranched star block copolymers: Synthesis and self–assembly

Amphiphilic copolymer-based nanoparticles have attracted significant interest in contemporary materials science due to their superior tunability and effectiveness across a wide range of applications, making them versatile tools for innovative solutions both in solution/suspension forms and as surface coatings. In light of the necessity for such finely tuned structures, novel (H-PLMA)-b-PDMAEMA hyperbranched star block copolymers were synthesized via RAFT polymerization, with a hyperbranched hydrophobic core and multiple linear hydrophilic shell blocks. Monomer ratios were adjusted to achieve the desired self-assembly properties. The chemical structures of the resulting copolymers were meticulously confirmed via FT-IR and 1 H-NMR. Additionally, SEC was employed to evaluate their apparent molecular weight and dispersity, supporting the intended macromolecular architecture. These innovative “core–shell” type copolymers, at the molecular level, demonstrate pH-responsive and salt-responsive self-assembly behaviors, highlighting their potential for nanotechnological applications. Multimicellar structures were generated in aqueous solutions with well-defined properties in terms of size, polydispersity, and stability when the hydrophobic block is a major component. These advanced macromolecular systems exhibit substantial promises for use in encapsulation and targeted-release nanoformulations across diverse fields within nanotechnology.