One-pot synthesis of micelles with a cross-linked poly(acrylic acid) core

Stable micelles with polystyrene (PS) as a shell and cross-linked poly[(acrylic acid)-co-(ethylene glycol diacrylate)] as a core have been successfully prepared by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerization of acrylic acid and ethylene glycol diacrylate in a selective solvent with PS-SC(S)Ph as a RAFT agent. For the preparation of stable micelles, the RAFT polymerizations are carried out in different solvents: benzene, cyclohexane, and mixtures of tetrahydrofuran and cyclohexane. The monomer/PS-SC(S)Ph molar ratio and molecular weight of the macro-RAFT agent, PS-SC(S)Ph, influence the RAFT polymerization and the formation of micelles.