Synthesis of supramolecular polymer based on noncovalent "host-guest" inclusion complexation and its reversible self-assembly

A multi-responsive supramolecular polymer, β-CD-(PNIPAAm) 4 -Azo-(PMAA) 7 , is demonstrated here. This amphiphilic polymer can be achieved by altering the pH or temperature of a solution of the supramolecular polymer system. Absorption and emission spectroscopy, solution transmittance, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were applied. It was found that β-CD-(PNIPAAm) 4 -Azo-(PMAA) 7 can self-assemble into inverse spherical polymeric nanoaggregates and can then disassemble reversibly under the irradiation of UV light due to the trans -to- cis isomerization of the azo groups. The resulting supramolecular polymer is demonstrated to have useful properties, including self-aggregation, supramolecular gelation and stimulus-responsive behavior. A stimuli-responsive supramolecular polymer based on noncovalent "host-guest" inclusion complexation.