Two triblock polymers, tetraaniline-block-poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide)-block-poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) (TA-b-PNIPAM-b-PHEA) and TA-b-PHEA-b-PNIPAM, were synthesized with unambiguous structure by a two step method. The difference of these two diblock polymers is the connection order of carboxyl group to block, e.g., carboxyl group to PNIPAM block for PNIPAM-b-PHEA and to PHEA block for PHEA-b-PNIPAM. Secondly, block tetraaniline was linked to the diblock polymer through amidation to yield the corresponding triblock copolymer. Both of them have almost the identical chemical compositions. The only difference is the connection order of each block in the triblock polymers. When they were self-assembled at 45°C in a suitable solution, both of their aggregates have spherical shape with slight defects on their surface with the average diameter of about 400 nm. However, when their aggregate dispersion was cooled down to 20°C, only TA-b-PHEA-b-PNIPAM's morphology changed, forming worm-like aggregates with the diameter of about 100–200 nm transformed from spherical aggregates. Both amphiphilic property and position of each block in this triblock copolymer are very essential for this morphology transformation. Since the worm-like aggregates presented here by our group have hollow structure inside, its controlled release properties for doxorubicin were evaluated. Drug release experiment indicated that along with the temperature changes, the rearrangement of the intermediate layer structure caused morphology change in aggregate, thus accelerating the speed of drug release.

A series of linear poly glycidol copolymers, tethering with both alkene and hydroxyl groups, were prepared by a combination of anionic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) using specific reactions of ethoxy ethyl glycidyl ether (EEGE) and allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) firstly, and subsequently removal of the protection group of glycidol in EEGE to achieve the linear copolymer pendant with both hydroxyl groups and double bonds. The EEGE/AGE monomer reactivity ratio is measured to be 3.30/1.13. The chemical compositions of the as-synthesized polymers were characterized by ¹H NMR and GPC, and the glass transition temperatures (T_g) of as-synthesized polymers were determined by DSC. The final copolymers have abundant double bonds and hydroxyl as side groups. Furthermore, the ratio of the double bonds to hydroxyl groups can be controlled by the ratio of the starting materials in a wide range.

Four kinds of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivatives with the similar backbone and different side groups have been synthesized successfully. When both catecholamine and double bond are tethered to polymer backbone, i.e., the PEG backbone, simultaneously, the polymer can accelerate the curing speed of ethyl α-cyanoacrylate (commercially available as 502) greatly under the same conditions (the curing time of such system is no more than 5 s). Probably this is due to the autoxidation of catecholamines. Through the redox-cycling, catecholamines can produce, collect free radicals, and thus initiate the free radical polymerization. Due to the fast-curing of such material when mixed with α-cyanoacrylate, we could design and develop a new bicomponent super bioglue used in the dentistry or other bioenvironment requiring super fast settlement for further surgical operations.

A series of polyureas were synthesized through the reaction of aniline trimer with toluene-diisocyanate, diphenylmethane-4,4′-diisocyanate, and hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate, respectively. The chemical structure of these polyureas was characterized and verified by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, elemental analysis, UV, XRD and CV. The conductivity of these polyureas ranged from 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻⁶ S/cm measured by four-point-probe instrument. Compared to the standalone aniline trimer, the stability (thermal stability and electrochemical stability), response range and sensitivity of these polyureas are enhanced. The sensitivity of these polyureas DMF solution to pH value is superior to that of the standalone aniline trimer. The color of the polyureas DMF solution is greatly depended on pH value and the color change process is reversible, whenever from base to acid or from acid to base. These enhancements may give these polyureas more opportunities in order to be used as sensor materials.