Ion-Sensitive “Isothermal” Responsive Polymers Prepared in Water

Ion-sensitive responsive polymers are prepared under fully aqueous conditions using controlled radical polymerization. Variations in comonomer content and sequence lead to temperature and salt-dependent solution behavior, with cloud-points ranging by ±40 °C following addition of Hofmeister series salts. A “hybrid” block copolymer, composed of a statistical sequence of monomers tipped with a hydrophilic block, formed stable micelle-like assemblies that exhibited burst release of an encapsulated model drug in response to addition of a kosmotrope, Na2SO4, at room temperature.