Meng

Degradable amphiphilic block copolymers of 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (MDO) and vinyl esters were synthesized by RAFT polymerization using a macro-xanthate chain transfer agent (CTA), poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone). The polymers self-assembled in water to form nanoparticles with hydrodynamic diameters between 17 and 70 nm, dependent on the size of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic block, as determined by dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and static light scattering. The concept was further applied to a vinyl acetate derivative monomer to extend the functionality of the nanoparticles and introduce fluorescent properties via simple post-polymerization tools, as described by Guillaume G. Hedir, Anaïs Pitto-Barry, Andrew P. Dove, and Rachel K. O'Reilly on page 2699 (DOI: 10.1002/pola.27915).