Preparation and characterization of polyion complex micelles with a novel thermosensitive poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) shell via the complexation of oppositely charged block ionomers

Novel thermosensitive polyion complex (PIC) micelles were prepared in an aqueous medium based on the complexation of a pair of oppositely charged block ionomers, poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline)-b-poly(amino acid)s (PiPrOx-b-PAA), containing thermosensitive PiPrOx segments. The controlled synthesis of PiPrOx-b-PAA was achieved via the ring-opening anionic polymerization of N-carboxyanhydrides (NCA) of either eta-benzyloxycarbonyl-l-lysine (Lys(Z)-NCA) or beta-benzyl-l-aspartate (BLA-NCA) with omega-amino-functionalized PiPrOx macroinitiators and the subsequent deprotection reaction under acidic or basic conditions. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and 1H NMR spectroscopy revealed that the syntheses of two block ionomers, poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline)-b-poly(l-lysine) [PiPrOx-P(Lys)] and poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline)-b-poly(aspartic acid) [PiPrOx-P(Asp)], proceeded almost quantitatively to give samples with a narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn