Synthesis and Self-Assembly of Fully Zwitterionic Triblock Copolymers

Zwitterionic polymers are a distinctive class of materials with unique physical and chemical properties. In this study, the synthesis of fully zwitterionic ABA triblock copolymers was achieved by controlled radical polymerization using two different zwitterionic monomers, sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) and 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC). Due to the strong tendency of the sulfobetaine groups to aggregate, the fully zwitterionic triblock copolymers demonstrated self-assembly as well as salt and thermal responsiveness in solution.