Poly(acrylic acid)-Lined Nanotubes of Poly(butyl methacrylate)-block-poly(2-cinnamoyloxyethyl methacrylate)

Abstract

Two triblock copolymers of the poly(butyl methacrylate)-block-poly(2-cinnamoyloxyethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) or PBMA-b-PCEMA-b-PtBA family were synthesized and characterized. The triblocks had PCEMA to PtBA volume ratios ≥1.3 and PBMA volume fractions ≥0.56. Their bulk morphologies consisted of cylindrical domains with PtBA cores and PCEMA shells dispersed in the PBMA matrix. Nanofibers of PBMA-b-PCEMA-b-PtBA were obtained after cross-linking PCEMA photochemically and separating the cross-linked cylinders from dissolved PBMA chains. PBMA-b-PCEMA nanotubes with PAA-lined channels were obtained after tert-butyl group removal from the PtBA cores by selective hydrolysis.