Structural and morphological characterization of a new semi-polyrotaxane architecture based on 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrins and polyisoprene

We report the synthesis of a new semi-polyrotaxane (SR) architecture with a coverage ratio of about 34% by encapsulation of the poly(isoprene) (PI) chains into the 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrins (HP beta CD) cavities. The complexation ability of HP beta CD (host) macrocycle molecules with PI (guest) polymer was proved by UV-vis ti-trations in ethanol and molecular docking computation. The matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF MS) allows us to estimate the average molecular weight of the PI/ HP beta CD SR, which prove the formation of the supramolecular architecture. The thermal and morphological properties of the PI/ HP beta CD SR were analyzed and compared with the naked polymer. The water contact angle measurements indicated a hydrophilic surface of the PI/ HP beta CD SR film compared with the hydrophobic of PI counterpart. The roughness parameters analyzed by AFM provided evidence for many changes of the surface topography of the PI/ HP beta CD SR film compared with those of the PI polymer.