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.