Multifunctional stimuli responsive ABC terpolymers: From three-compartment micelles to three-dimensional network

A highly asymmetric P2VP(58)-PAA(924)-PBMA(48) double hydophilic block terpolymer exhibits a rich phase behavior as a function of pH. In acidic media (pH 1) three compartment micelles with a positively charged outer corona are formed. At high pH, the above structure is transformed into a three-dimensional transient network constituted of hydrophobic domains interconnected with negatively charged bridging chains (PAA chains). At even higher pH (14) the network is disrupted and finally exhibits a closed loop sol-gel-sol behavior.