Self-Assembly of a Double Hydrophilic Block Glycopolymer and the Investigation of Its Mechanism

We report the self-assembly of a double hydrophilic block glycopolymer (DHBG) via hydrogen bonding and coordinate bonding. This DHBG, composed of poly(ethylene)glycol (PEG) and glycopolymer, self-assembled into a well-defined structure. The DHBG was prepared through the controlled radical polymerization of trimethylsilyl-protected propargyl methacrylate using a PEG-based reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer reagent, followed by sugar conjugation using click chemistry. The DHBG self-assembly capability was investigated by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Interestingly, the DHBG self-assembled into a spherical structure in aqueous solution. Hydrogen bonding and coordinate bonding with Ca2+ were identified as the driving forces for self-assembly.