Prof. Dr. Axel Müller

The precise control of the formation of stimuli-sensitive sequences (block- or graft-) as part of copolymer architectures is fascinating because of the remarkable phase behavior of their in aqueous solutions. One of the most interesting solution properties of the amphiphilic water-soluble copolymers is their ability to self-assemble into micelles, lamellar aggregate, vesicles and hydrogels.
In the present review we discuss the combinations of thermo-sensitive properties with other types of sensitivity: pH, light, magnetic field, solvent quality, etc., and their effect on the reversible self-assembly in aqueous copolymer solutions or on the hydrogel organization. For this purpose we describe the thermo-sensitive polymers as well as the methods for their controlled synthesis. The development of multifunctional building blocks imprinted into one macromolecule will help us to obtain controllable morphologies at a nanometer scale. Obviously, the multi-sensitive copolymer systems represent an essential part of the supramolecular polymer chemistry where the environment can have a large effect on the degree of interaction between the individual components in the material.