Study of molecular interactions between a phospholipidic layer and a pH-sensitive polymer using the Langmuir balance technique

Molecular interactions between a terminally alkylated pH-sensitive N-isopropylacrylamide copolymer DODA-poly(NIPAM-co-MAA) and a monolayer of distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) at the air/water interface are investigated using the Langmuir balance technique. The compression isotherms ofthe copolymer monolayer at the air-water interface confirm that the copolymer undergoes a structural transition with a change in pH ranging from an extended coil state at neutral pH to a collapsed globular state at a pH corresponding to the pH of the polymer phase transition. Adsorption kinetics of DODA-poly(NIPAM-co-MAA) in the DSPC monolayer is analyzed using a first-order kinetics model allowing an effective interaction area Ax between DSPC and DODA-poly(NIPAM-co-MAA) molecules to be evaluated. The results clearly indicate that the interaction area increases with a decrease in pH. The results also suggest that the penetration of the DODA-poly(NIPAM-co-MAA) within the phospholipid monolayer is enhanced by a decrease in pH which causes a change in the copolymer structure and an increase in specific attractive interactions between the copolymer and the phospholipid. Therefore, the copolymer can trigger the destabilization or rupture of the phospholipidic layer through a simple variation in its structure associated with a variation in molecular interactions when coupled or inserted within the membrane. This study greatly supports the prospects of the copolymer-functionalized liposomes as stable and tunable carrier systems for in vivo applications in drug delivery.     

Effects of lipid chain length on molecular interactions between paclitaxel and phospholipid within model biomembranes

Molecular interactions between an anticancer drug, paclitaxel, and phosphatidylcholine (PC) of various chain lengths were investigated in the present work by the Langmuir film balance technique and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Both the lipid monolayer at the air-water interface and lipid bilayer vesicles (liposomes) were employed as model biological cell membranes. Measurement and analysis of the surface pressure versus molecular area curves of the mixed monolayers of phospholipids and paclitaxel under various molar ratio showed that phospholipids and paclitaxel formed a nonideal miscible system at the interface. Paclitaxel exerted an area-condensing effect on the lipid monolayer at small molecular surface areas and an area-expanding effect at large molecular areas, which could be explained by the intermolecular forces and geometric accommodation between the two components. Paclitaxel and phospholipids could form thermodynamically stable monolayer systems: the stability increased with the chain length in the order DMPC (C14:0)>DPPC (C16:0)>DSPC (C18:0). Investigation of paclitaxel penetration into the pure lipid monolayer showed that DMPC had a higher ability to incorporate paclitaxel and the critical surface pressure for paclitaxel penetration also increased with the chain length in the order DMPC>DPPC>DSPC. A similar trend was testified by DSC studies on vesicles of the mixed paclitaxel/phospholipids bilayer. Paclitaxel showed the greatest interaction with DMPC while little interaction could be measured in the paclitaxel/DSPC liposomes. Paclitaxel caused broadening of the main phase transition without significant change at the peak melting temperature of the phospholipid bilayers, which demonstrated that paclitaxel was localized in the outer hydrophobic cooperative zone of the bilayer. The interaction between paclitaxel and phospholipid was nonspecific and the dominant factor in this interaction was the van der Waals force or hydrophobic force. As the result of the lower net van der Waals interaction between hydrocarbon chains for the shorter acyl chains, paclitaxel interacted more readily with phospholipids of shorter chain length, which also increased the bilayer intermolecular spacing.     

Flexibility of the triblock copolymers modulating their penetration and expulsion mechanism in Langmuir monolayers of dihexadecyl phosphoric acid

The surface activity of the poly–[block (ethylene oxide)]–poly [block (propylene oxide)]–poly [block (ethylene oxide)] copolymers (EO)_x–(PO)_y–(EO)_x adsorbed together with dihexadecyl phosphoric acid (DHP), a synthetic phospholipid, is analyzed from their surface pressure and surface potential isotherms. The block copolymers of (EO)_x–(PO)_y–(EO)_x with variable molecular weight (1100–14 000) were dissolved in the subphase for DHP monolayers. The concentration of the copolymers within the aqueous subphase were selected to render an initial surface tension of 60 mN/m. The simultaneous adsorption of the copolymer and DHP is attested by the observation of a liquid expanded state at large areas, absent for pure DHP monolayers. Above some critical surface pressure all copolymers cited above are expelled from the interface. The surface potential isotherms, which give information on the component of the molecular dipole moment normal to the plane of the monolayer, are interpreted in terms of changes in the copolymer conformation as well as in terms of the copolymer desorption from the air–liquid interface. For an equal hydrophobic/hydrophilic ratio, the size of the chains or molecular weight is decisive in the mechanism of the copolymer expulsion from the air–liquid interface.     

Reversible activation of diblock copolymer monolayers at the interface by pH modulation, 1: Lateral chain density and conformation

This study focuses on the design of chemically regulated surfaces that allow for reversible control of the interactions between biological matter (cells and proteins) and planar substrates. As a tunable interlayer, we use a monolayer of a near-monodisperse poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate-block-methyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA-PMMA) diblock copolymer. Owing to the relatively large fraction (50%) of the hydrophobic PMMA block, this copolymer forms a stable Langmuir monolayer at the air/water interface. Both in situ and ex situ film balance experiments suggest that the hydrophilic PDMAEMA block adsorbs to the air/water interface in its uncharged state (pH 8.5), but stretches into the subphase in its charged state (pH 5.5). Optimization of the preparation protocols enables us to fabricate stable, homogeneous diblock copolymer films on hydrophobized substrates via Langmuir-Schaefer transfer at well-defined lateral chain densities. Ellipsometry and X-ray reflectivity studies of the transferred films confirm that the film thickness can be systematically regulated by the lateral chain densities. The transferred copolymer films remain stable in water for about a week, suggesting that they are promising materials for the creation of pH-controlled solid substrates for the support of biological matter such as proteins and cells.     

Interfacial reactivity of block copolymers: understanding the amphiphile-to-hydrophile transition

Block copolymers offer an interesting platform to study chemically triggered transitions in self-assembled structures. We have previously reported the oxidative degradation of vesicles made of poly(propylene sulfide)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PPS-PEG) copolymers. Here we propose a mechanism for vesicle degradation deduced from copolymer conformational changes occurring at the air/water interface in a Langmuir trough together with a reactive subphase. The hydrophobic PPS block is converted into hydrophilic poly(propylene sulfoxide) and poly(propylene sulfone) by oxidation upon exposure to 1% aqueous H(2)O(2) subphase. As a result, a dramatic increase in area per molecule at constant surface pressure (Pi) was observed, followed by an apparent decrease (recorded as decrease in area at constant Pi) due to copolymer dissolution. For monolayers at the air/water surface, the large interfacial tensions present suppress increases in local curvature for alleviating the increased hydrophilicity of the copolymer chains. By contrast, vesicles can potentially rearrange molecules in their bilayers to accommodate a changing hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB). Similar time scales for monolayer rearrangement and vesicle degradation imply a common copolymer chain solubilization mechanism, which in vesicles lead to an eventual transition to aggregates of higher curvature, such as cylindrical and spherical micelles. Subtle differences in response to the applied surface pressure for the diblock compared to the triblock suggest an effect of the different chain mobility.     

Interaction of amphiphilic block copolymer micelles with surfactants

An out line and summary of literature studies on interactions between different types of amphiphilic copolymer micelles with surfactants has been given. This field of research is still emerging and it is difficult presently to make generalisations on the effects of surfactants on the copolymer association. The effects are found to be varied depending upon the nature and type of hydrophobic (hp) core and molecular architecture of the copolymers and the hydrocarbon chain length and head group of surfactants. The information available on limited studies shows that both anionic and cationic surfactants (in micellar or molecular form) equally interact strongly with the associated and unassociated forms of copolymers. The beginning of the interaction is typically displayed as critical aggregation concentration (CAC), which lies always below the critical micelle concentration of the respective surfactant. The surfactants first bind to the hydrophobic core of the copolymer micelles followed by their interaction with the hydrophilic (hl) corona parts. The extent of binding highly depends upon the nature, hydropobicity of the copolymer molecules, length of the hydrocarbon tail and nature of the head group of the surfactant. The micellization of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)–poly(propylene oxide) (PPO)–poly(ethylene oxide) was found to be suppressed by the added surfactants and at higher surfactant concentrations, the block copolymer micelles get completely demicellized. This effect was manifested itself in the melting of liquid crystalline phases in the high copolymer concentrations. However, no such destabilization was found for the micelles of polystyrene (PS)–poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers in water. On the contrary, the presence of micellar bound surfactant associates resulted in to large super micellar aggregates through induced intra micellar interactions. But with the change in the hydrophobic part from polystyrene to poly(butadiene) (PB) in the copolymer, the added surfactants not only reduced the micellar size but also transformed cylindrical micelles to spherical ones. The mixtures in general exhibited synergistic effects. So varied association responses were noted in the mixed solutions of surfactants and copolymers.     

Effects of lipid chain unsaturation and headgroup type on molecular interactions between paclitaxel and phospholipid within model biomembrane

Molecular interactions between paclitaxel, an anticancer drug, and phospholipids of various chain unsaturations and headgroup types were investigated in the present study by Langmuir film balance and differential scanning calorimetry. Both the lipid monolayer at the air-water interface and the lipid bilayer vesicles (liposomes) were employed as model cell membranes. It was found that, regardless of the difference in molecular structure of the lipid chains and headgroup, the drug can form nonideal, miscible systems with the lipids at the air-water interface over a wide range of paclitaxel mole fractions. The interaction between paclitaxel and phospholipid within the monolayer was dependent on the molecular area of the lipids at the interface and can be explained by intermolecular forces or geometric accommodation. Paclitaxel is more likely to form thermodynamically stable systems with 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1,2-dielaidoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DEPC) than with 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DPPE) and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC). Investigation of the drug penetration into the lipid monolayer showed that DPPC and DEPC have higher incorporation abilities for the drug than DPPE and DSPC. A similar trend was also evidenced by DSC investigation with liposomes. While little change of DSC profiles was observed for the DPPE/paclitaxel and DSPC/paclitaxel liposomes, paclitaxel caused noticeable changes in the thermographs of DPPC and DEPC liposomes. Paclitaxel was found to cause broadening of the main phase transition without significant change in the peak melting temperature of the DPPC bilayers, which demonstrates that paclitaxel was localized in the outer hydrophobic cooperative zone of the bilayer, i.e., in the region of the C1-C8 carbon atoms of the acyl chain or binding at the polar headgroup site of the lipids. However, it may penetrate into the deeper hydrophobic zone of the DEPC bilayers. These findings provide useful information for liposomal formulation of anticancer drugs as well as for understanding drug-cell membrane interactions.     

Enzymatic chain scission kinetics of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) monolayers

The hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation behavior of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) is investigated using the Langmuir monolayer technique, and an improved data acquisition and data reduction procedure is presented. Hydrolytic and enzymatic monolayer degradation experiments of PCL with various molecular weights by Pseudomonas cepacia lipase have been carried out to analyze the influence of subphase pH, subphase temperature, enzyme concentration, and the packing density of polymer chains on the degradation kinetics. The enzymatic monolayer degradation results in an exponential increase in the number of dissolved degradation fragments with increasing degradation time, which confirms random chain scission to be the dominant scission mechanism. The increase in the enzymatic scission rate constant with decreasing initial average molecular weight of the polymers is assigned to the influence of the area density of polar terminal groups on the substrate-enzyme complex formation.     

Dynamic Behaviors and Morphology Change of Anionic Phospholipid DPPG Monolayer Caused by Bovine Serum Albumin at Air-Water Interface

The interaction between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the anionic 1.2-dipalmitoyl-snglycero- 3-(phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)) (sodium salt) (DPPG) phospholipid at different subphase pH values was investigated at air-water interface through surface pressure measurements and atomic force microscopy (AFM) observation. By analyzing surface pressure-mean molecular area (π-A) isotherms, the limiting molecular area in the closed packing state-the concentration of BSA (A_lim-[BSA]) curves, the compressibility coefficient-surface pressure (C_S^-1-π) curves and the difference value of mean molecular area-the concentration of BSA (ΔA-[BSA]) curves, we obtained that the mean molecular area of DPPG monolayer became much larger when the concentration of BSA in the subphase increased at pH=3 and 5. But the isotherms had no significant change at different amount of BSA at pH=10. In addition, the amount of BSA molecules adsorbed onto the lipid monolayer reached a threshold value when [BSA]>5×10^-8 mol/L for all pHs. From the surface pressure-time (π-t) data, we obtained that desorption and adsorption processes occurred at pH=3, however, there was only desorption process occurring at pH=5 and 10. These results showed that the interaction mechanism between DPPG and BSA molecules was affected by the pH of subphase. BSA molecules were adsorbed onto the DPPG monolayers mainly through the hydrophobic interaction at pH=3 and 5, and the strength of hydrophobic interaction at pH=3 was stronger than the case of pH=5. At pH=10, a weaker hydrophobic interaction and a stronger electrostatic repulsion existed between DPPG and BSA molecules. AFM images revealed that the pH of subphase and [BSA] could affect the morphology features of the monolayers, which was consistent with these curves. The study provides an important experimental basis and theoretical support to understand the interaction between lipid and BSA at the air-water interface.     

The influence of pH on phosphatidylcholine monolayer at the air/aqueous solution interface

The measurements of the interfacial tension at the air/aqueous subphase interface as the function of pH were performed. The interfacial tension of the air–aqueous subphase interface was divided into contributions of individuals. A simple model of the influence of pH on the phosphatidylcholine monolayer at the air/hydrophobic chains of phosphatidylcholine is presented. The contributions of additive phosphatidylcholine forms (both interfacial tension values and molecular area values) depend on pH. The interfacial tension values and the molecular areas values for LH⁺, LOH⁻ forms of phosphatidylcholine were calculated. The assumed model was verified experimentally.     

Acidic solution properties of beta-casein-graft-dextran copolymer prepared through Maillard reaction

The copolymer of beta-casein-graft-dextran was prepared using the Maillard reaction and the acidic solution properties of the copolymer were studied with dynamic light scattering. At pH range 4-5 where is close to the isoelectric point of beta-casein, the copolymer forms micelles which are spherical verified by atomic force microscopy imaging. The size and existent time of the micelles depend on the graft degree and the length of dextran side chains of the copolymers. During storage at pH 4.6, the micelles formed by the copolymers with short side chains and low graft degree tend to precipitate, while the micelles formed by the copolymers with long side chains and high graft degree tend to dissociate. The micellization of the copolymers can be suppressed by adding NaCl. Optical microscopy and turbidity studies show that the copolymers dissolved in molecular state and with higher hydrophilicity have better emulsifying ability.     

Dynamic Monte Carlo simulation of aggregation of nanoparticles in the presence of diblock copolymer

The aggregation of hydrophobic nanoparticles in the presence of diblock copolymers is investigated using dynamic Monte Carlo simulation on a simple cubic lattice. One nanoparticle occupies one lattice site, one block copolymer (A(m)B(m)) occupies 2m sequentially linked sites with m segments of A and m segments of B, and solvents are represented by any unoccupied sites. All of them are self-avoiding and nearest-neighbor interactions are considered. A compact big aggregate, dispersed aggregates wrapped by polymer chains, and an ordered lamellar structure are obtained by varying the concentration of copolymer. The structures are seen to be controlled by competing forces between the interaction of copolymer with nanoparticles and the self-assembly of copolymer in solution. The critical concentration of copolymer needed to form the lamellar structure, C(p,L), decreases with the chain length. It is also found that C(p,L) decreases roughly linearly with the concentration of nanoparticles C(n), which can be approximately expressed as C(p,L)=0.764-0.857C(n) when m=2. The simulation demonstrates that addition of diblock copolymer can effectively control the aggregation of nanoparticles and lead to the formation of a variety of nanostructures.     

Novel approach to synthesizing hydrophobically associating copolymer using template copolymerization: the synthesis and behaviors of acrylamide and 4-(omega-propenoyloxyethoxy) benzoic acid copolymer

Hydrophobically associating copolymers of acrylamide (AM) with a small amount of 4-(omega-propenoyloxyethoxy) benzoic acid (PEBA, <2.5%) were synthesized by template copolymerization in the presence of poly(allylammonium chloride) (PAAC) as a template in an aqueous medium. These template copolymers exhibited remarkable thickening properties due to the effective hydrophobic association, which were similar to those copolymers with a multiblock structure obtained by the micellar process. The pH of the reaction medium and the molecular weight of the template strongly influenced the thickening properties of the products. In the experimental range, the higher the PEBA content, the larger the thickening capacity of these hydrophobic copolymers. The aggregate behaviors of these copolymers were studied by fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and light scattering techniques. The apparent critical interpolymer aggregate concentration (cac) of the copolymer solution was about 0.5 g/dL. As the concentration of the copolymer became higher than the cac, the aggregates changed their morphology from small hollow spheres to big flower-shaped aggregates. All the above results indicated that the template copolymerization gave access to a very simple and powerful means for the preparation of hydrophobically associating copolymers and other functional polymer materials.     

Surface-induced morphologies in thin films of a rod-coil diblock copolymer

A block copolymer containing a rodlike block is studied for its adsorption and formation of nanostructured thin films on the substrate surface. The block copolymer is poly(styrene-b-3-triethoxysilylpropylisocyanate) (PS-b-PIC) of which the PIC chain consists of repeating amide units with triethoxysilyl side groups. As the copolymer chains are adsorbed onto silica surfaces, the PIC blocks pack laterally on the plane in a smectic manner, and the PS chains segregate along the ordered PIC chains, resulting in stripe patterns. The width of the stripes formed on the silica surface appeared to be much larger that on the carbon surface. This was accounted for by the bilayered smectic packing of the rod blocks that is induced by rod-surface attractive interaction. The periodicity of the stripe pattern on the carbon surface indicates that interdigitated packing is preferred by the copolymers on the hydrophobic surface in a manner similar to those in the bulk state of rod-coils. Excess rod-coils on the bilayered smectic layer resulted in a terraced morphology due to large difference in the periodicity between the bilayered smectic layer at the substrate surface and the interdigitated smectic layer in the bulk.     

Synthesis and nanostructure of strong polyelectrolyte brushes in amphiphilic diblock copolymer monolayers on a water surface

We synthesized an ionic amphiphilic diblock copolymer, poly(hydrogenated isoprene)-b-poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PIp-h2-b-PSS), by living anionic polymerization, and the nanostructure of its monolayer spread on a water surface was directly investigated by the in situ X-ray reflectivity technique. The monolayer of the diblock copolymer on a water surface had a smooth hydrophobic PIp-h2 layer on water and a "carpet"/polymer brush double layer in a hydrophilic sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSSNa) layer under the water. The surface pressure dependence and PSSNa chain length dependence of the PIp-h2 layer thickness and the brush nanostructure were quantitatively studied. The effect of salt concentration in the subphase was also investigated in aqueous solutions containing 0-2 M NaCl. The salt effect on monolayer structure occurred at around 0.2 M. The thickness of the PSS brush layer decreased at salt concentrations above 0.2 M, while no structural change was observed below 0.2 M. This critical salt concentration is thought to be related to the balance of ionic concentrations inside the brush and in bulk solution.     

Studies on microstructure and aqueous solution properties of block copolymer of acrylamide-styrene

Three series of block copolymers of acrylamide (AM) and styrene (St) as hydrophobic comonomer with varied microstructures were prepared in microemulsion medium by changing feed ratio of monomers, ratio of St to surfactant, and amount of initiator, respectively. The effects of microstructure factors of the amphiphilic block copolymers PAM-b-PSt on their aqueous solution properties were investigated by fluorescence probe technique and surface tension measurement in detail. The experimental results show that the aqueous solution properties of PAM-b-PSt are strongly dependent on their microstructure factors, such as the length and content of PSt hydrophobic blocks in the copolymers and their molecular weight. It was found that the main microstructure factors which effect the hydrophobic association behavior of the copolymer PAM-b-PSt are the length and content of PSt hydrophobic blocks in the copolymer, whereas the hydrophobic association behavior of the copolymer is not affected nearly so much by molecular weight in more dilute regions. At the same time, it was also found that the main microstructure factors which affect the surface activity of the copolymer are the content of PSt hydrophobic blocks in the copolymer and molecular weight, whereas the length of PSt blocks in copolymer does not affect surface activity of the copolymer nearly so much under fixed content of PSt hydrophobic blocks and molecular weight in the copolymer.     

Langmuir isotherm analysis of novel branched per-fluorinated surfactants and their interactions with single stranded DNA

The efficient synthesis and surface properties of new fluorinated gemini surfactants are described. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between the molecular structure and the Langmuir layer properties of these fluorinated gemini lipids. The electrostatic ssDNA binding interactions of amino groups included on the spacer were also investigated. The synthesis corresponds to the substitution of vinyl fluorine atom of fluoro-unsaturated esters by a diethylene-oxide diamine via a Michael addition followed by a fluoride elimination reaction. For the spread layers, the measurements of surface pressure versus molecular area were performed with or without ssDNA in the subphase. The monolayers characteristics depend on the hydrophobic chain length, the polar-head, the pH of the subphase and the flexibility of the spacer. The introduction of ssDNA in the subphase seems to show a low interaction between the surfactants and the oligonucleotide.     

Effect of temperature on the interfacial behavior of a polystyrene-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) diblock copolymer at the air/water interface

Monolayers of a polystyrene-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-PMMA) diblock copolymer at the air-water interface were studied by measuring the surface pressure-area isotherms at several temperatures. Langmuir film balance experiments and atomic force microscopy showed that the diblock copolymer molecules formed surface micelles. In the plot of the surface pressure versus surface area per repeating unit, the monolayer changed from the gas phase to the liquid expanded phase at lower surface pressure for systems at low temperature compared to those at high temperature. In addition, a plateau, corresponding to the transition from the liquid expanded to liquid condensed phase, appeared in that plot at lower surface pressure for systems with a higher subphase (water) temperature. Hysteresis was observed in the compression-expansion cycle process. Increasing the subphase temperature alleviated this hyteresis gap, especially at low surface pressures. The minimum in the plot of the surface pressure versus surface area per repeating unit in the expansion process (which arises from the transition) and the transition plateau appeared more vividly at higher water temperature. These dynamic experimental results show that PS-PMMA diblock copolymers, in which both blocks are insoluble in water, do not form complicated entanglements in two-dimensional space. Although higher water temperature provided more entropy to the chains, and thus more conformational freedom, it did not change the surface morphology of the condensed film because both blocks of PS-PMMA are insoluble in water.     

Bilayers and interdigitation in block copolymer vesicles

Amphiphilic block copolyethers assemble into membranes with thickness between 2.4 and 7.5 nm. The vesicular morphology has been confirmed by small-angle X-ray scattering combined with electron microscopy for diblock copolymers and triblock copolymers of both architectures. The scaling of the membrane thicknesses with the length of the hydrophobic block is in good agreement with the strong segregation theory for block copolymer melts, indicating a mixed and stretched conformation of the hydrophobic chain inside the vesicle membrane. This result is in contrast to previously published results where the hydrophobic membranes were observed to have bilayer geometry and polymer chains that are relatively unperturbed from their ideal Gaussian dimensions.     

Microstructure and association property of hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide of a new family

A new family of hydrophobically modified polyacrylamides was synthesized via copolymerization of acrylamide (AM) and anionic surface-active monomer of acrylamide-type, sodium 2-acrylamido-tetradecane sulfonate (NaAMC₁₄S), in aqueous solution. In the copolymerization, by varying various factors, such as the feed ratio of NaAMC₁₄S to AM and the amount of added electrolyte NaCl and initiator, we prepared copolymers NaAMC₁₄S/AM with different block structures. The relationship between structures and hydrophobic association properties of copolymer chains was studied by using fluorescence probe and viscosimetry. Effects of the content and length of the hydrophobic blocks and the total molecular weight on hydrophobic association of the copolymers in pure water and in brine solution were examined, respectively. The results show that in pure water, hydrophobic association of the copolymers was enhanced as the content and length of the hydrophobic block increase. On the other hands, for a given content and length of the hydrophobic block, the hydrophobic association of the copolymers was enhanced as the total molecular weight increases. For all the copolymers studied, the apparent viscosity of their solutions in pure water has a limited value, but the apparent viscosities of the copolymer brine solutions are much higher than that of their corresponding water solutions, and show strong positive salinity sensitivity. Similarly, the hydrophobic association of the copolymer in brine solutions was enhanced as the content and length of the hydrophobic block increase.