Figure 1.

Synthesis of a PGMA₅₆ macro-CTA via RAFT solution polymerization of GMA in ethanol using a CPDB RAFT agent and its subsequent chain extension via statistical copolymerization of varying molar ratios of HPMA and GlyMA to form diblock copolymer worms in aqueous solution via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA). Such worms are then cross-linked using APTES in a two-step post-polymerization process involving (i) an epoxy–amine reaction with the GlyMA residues and (ii) hydrolysis–condensation reaction with the hydroxyl groups on the HPMA residues.