Fig. 2: Molecular design of thermo-responsive micelles (TRMs).

endArg-TRM, possessing arginine at the hydrophilic end of the polymer forming the shell, was prepared from Arg-P(NIPAAm-co-AAm)-b-PBMA. intraArg-TRM, possessing multiple arginine units in the hydrophilic domain of the polymer forming the shell, was prepared from P(NIPAAm-co-ArgAAm)-b-PBMA. TRM (non-arginine control) was prepared from P(NIPAAm-co-AAm)-b-PBMA.