Facile fabrication of multistimuli-responsive metallo-supramolecular core cross-linked block copolymer micelles

Metallo-supramolecular core cross-linked (CCL) micelles are fabricated from terpyridine-functionalized double hydrophilic block copolymers, poly(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate)-b-poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate-co-4′-(6-methacryloxyhexyloxy)-2,2′:6′, 2″-terpyridine) [PMEO₂MA-b-P(DEA-co-TPHMA)] via the formation of bis(terpyridine)ruthenium(II) complexes. These metallo-supramolecular CCL micelles exhibit not only high structural integrity under different pH values and temperatures in aqueous solution, but multistimuli responsiveness including pH-responsive cores, thermo-responsive shells, and reversible dissociation of bis(terpyridine)ruthenium(II) complexes upon addition of competitive metal ion chelator, which allows for precisely controlled release of the encapsulated hydrophobic guest molecules via the combination of different stimuli. Metallo-supramolecular core cross-linked (CCL) micelles are fabricated from terpyridine-functionalized double hydrophilic block copolymers via the formation of bis(terpyridine)ruthenium(II) complexes. The stable CCL micelles exhibit not only structural integrity under different pH and temperatures but multistimuli responsiveness in aqueous solution, including pH-responsive cores, thermo-responsive shells, and dissociable cross-linkers.