Stimuli-responsive star polymers through thiol-yne core functionalization/crosslinking of block copolymer micelles

Thiol-yne photochemistry was applied for simultaneous functionalization and crosslinking of the core of poly(2-(3-butinyl)-2-oxazoline)-block-poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) micelles in water to yield functional star polymers. Samples with core-confined ionic groups exhibited stimuli-responsive properties and were sensitive to changes in temperature, pH, ionic strength, and nature of the salt. Salt-induced shifts of the cloud point temperatures were found to correlate with the Hofmeister series.