1 research outputs found
Temperature-Sensitive Transitions below LCST in Amphiphilic Dendritic Assemblies: Host–Guest Implications
OligoÂ(ethylene
glycol)-decorated supramolecular assemblies have
been of great interest due to their charge-neutral character and thus
their propensity to avoid nonspecific interactions. These systems
are known to exhibit a macroscopic temperature-sensitive transition,
where the assembly phase-separates from the aqueous phase at higher
temperatures. While this so-called lower critical solution temperature
(LCST) behavior has been well-studied, there have been no studies
on the fate of these supramolecular assemblies below this transition
temperature. The work here brings to light the presence of a second,
sub-LCST transition, observed well below the LCST of oligoÂ(ethylene
glycol) (OEG)-based dendrons, where the host–guest properties
of the assembly are significantly altered. This sub-LCST transition
is accompanied by changes in the guest encapsulation stability and
dynamics of host exchange