The macromonomer of 2-hydroxyethyl methyacrylate-caprolactone (HEMA-PCL) was synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone initiated by 2-hydroxyethyl methyacrylate (HEMA). The random graft terpolymers of NIPAAm-co-AAc-co-HEMA-g-PCL with varying mole ratios were subsequently synthesized by free radical polymerization of HEMA-PCL, N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and acrylic acid (AAc), and characterized by 1H NMR, FTIR, gel permeation chromatograph, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and surface tension were used for the investigation of the self-assembly of the random graft terpolymers.

Key words: ε-capro1actone, 2-hydroxyethyl methyacrylate, N-isopropylacrylamide, acrylic acid, random graft terpolymer, self-assembly, core-shell structure