Twofold pH and temperature stimuli-responsive behaviour in block copolypeptide-decorated single wall carbon nanotubes

Temperature- and pH-responsive dispersions of carbon nanotubes in water have been obtained by using di- and tri-block copolypeptides, in which the temperature responsive behaviour is provided by a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) block, while the pH responsiveness is provided by two different polypeptides with an ampholytic behaviour, poly(L-glutamic acid) and poly(L-lysine). The molecular architectures of the block copolypeptides can be engineered to fine-tune the stimuli-responsive behaviour.