Ternat, C.Kreutzer, G.Plummer, C. J.G.Nguyen, T. Q.Herrmann, A.Ouali, L.Sommer, H.Fieber, W.Velazco, M. I.Klok, H.-A.Månson, J.-A. E.2007-03-282007-03-282007-03-28200710.1002/macp.200600449https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/4101WOS:000244105800003Novel amphiphilic multi-arm star-block copolymers with a hyperbranched core, a hydrophobic inner shell, and a hydrophilic outer shell have been prepared from a commercial hyperbranched polyester macroinitiator by ring-opening polymerization of -caprolactone, followed by atom transfer radical polymerization of tert-butyl acrylate (tBuA). Hydrolysis of the tert-butyl groups was then used to convert the poly(tBuA) blocks to poly(acrylic acid), resulting in stable amphiphilic core-shell structures with significantly higher degrees of functionality than reported so far in the literature. A strong correlation between the maximum concentration of selected hydrophobic guest molecules and the concentration of amphiphilic star-block copolymer in aqueous solution was observed by 1H NMR, demonstrating the capacity of these copolymers to encapsulate and disperse significant loadings (up to about 27 wt.-%) of volatile hydrophobic molecules such as fragrances in water.amphiphilesatom transfer radical polymerizationcore-shell structuredelivery systemsencapsulationfragranceshyperbranched polymerring-opening polymerizationstar-block copolymerstext::journal::journal article::research article