Probing the association behavior of poly(ethyleneglycol) based amphiphiliccomb-like polymer

Amphiphilic comb-like polymer with and without intrinsic fluorophore was sy nthesized by the esterification of poly(styrene-maleic anhydride) copolymer with Brij35 (polyethyleneglycol (23) lauryl ether). The solution propertie s of this polymer in aqueous medium were investigated by pyrene solubilizat ion experiment, surface tension, steady-state fluorescence, viscosity and l aser Light scattering experiments as a function of pH. Surface tension expe riments suggest that the polymer is surface active throughout the pH range investigated and surface activity is very much pH dependent. Data from fluo rescence, reduced viscosity and Light scattering experiments indicate the p ossibility of two types of aggregates, intramolecular at low pH and intermo lecular at high pH. Pyrene solubilization experiments suggest that the part ition of hydrophobic molecules to the intermolecular aggregates is energeti cally more favorable than partition to intramolecular aggregates. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.