Ion-sensitive isothermal responsive polymers prepared in water

Ion-sensitive responsive polymers are prepared under fully aqueous conditions using controlled radical polymerization. Variations in comonomer content and sequence lead to temperature and salt-dependent solution behavior, with cloud-points ranging by 40 C following addition of Hofmeister series salts. A hybrid block copolymer, composed of a statistical sequence of monomers tipped with a hydrophilic block, formed stable micelle-like assemblies that exhibited burst release of an encapsulated model drug in response to addition of a kosmotrope, Na(2)SO(4), at room temperature.