Synthesis and assembly behavior of nucleobase‐functionalized block copolymers

Block copolymers consisting of a poly(ethylene glycol) chain and a thymine- or adenine-functional polymethacrylate block have been prepared with atom transfer radical polymerization, and their aggregation behavior in an aqueous medium has been studied. Upon the mixing of the two block copolymers, the critical aggregation concentration increases in comparison with the critical aggregation concentration of the individual block copolymers. It has therefore been demonstrated that the amphiphilic behavior of this class of block copolymers is affected by the interaction between the complementary nucleobases, which leads to an unexpected increase in the hydrophilicity of the block copolymer ensemble.