Poly(acrylic acid)-lined nanotubes of poly(butyl methacrylate)-block-poly(2-cinnamoyloxyethyl methacrylate)

Two triblock copolymers of the poly(butyl methacrylate)-block-poly(2-cinnamoyloxyethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) or PBMA-b-PCEMA-b-PtBA family were synthesized and characterized. The triblocks had PCEMA to PtBA volume ratios greater than or equal to1.3 and PBMA volume fractions greater than or equal to 0.56. Their bulk morphologies consisted of cylindrical domains with PtBA cores and PCEMA shells dispersed in the PBMA matrix. Nanofibers of PBMA-b-PCEMA-b-PtBA were obtained after cross-linking PCEMA photochemically and separating the cross-linked cylinders from dissolved PBMA chains. PBMA-b-PCEMA nanotubes with PAA-lined channels were obtained after tort-butyl group removal from the PtBA cores by selective hydrolysis.