Multistimuli-Responsive Hyperbranched Poly(ether amine)s

Multistimuli-responsive hyperbranched poly(ether amine)s (hPEAs) were successfully synthesized through nucleophilic addition/ring-opening reaction of commercial diglycidyl ether and amine via one-pot synthesis. In aqueous solution, these hPEAs exhibited very sharp response to temperature, pH, and ionic strength, with well-tunable cloud point (CP). Through changing the poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chain content of hPEAs, pH, and ionic strength, the CP could be adjustable from 35 to 100 degrees C, and increased with the increasing of PEO content, the decreasing of pH and ionic strength. The CP of hPEAs aqueous solution presents a linear relationship to the PEO content in pH range from 6.6 to 8.0. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) investigation indicated that these hPEAs dispersed in aqueous solution to form the stable nanomicelles, whose aggregation can be controlled by temperature, pH, and ionic strength. Moreover, the obtained hPEAs contain reactive amino groups in periphery and hydroxyl groups inside, which can be further functionalized. (c) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4252-4261, 2010