Stimulus-responsive micellar carrier

A method for producing a linear block copolymer, comprising:

• preparing an alcohol terminated polyethylene glycol (PEG) material having an acetal group, the preparation comprising:
• reacting an alcohol terminated PEG with 2-(vinyloxy)ethyl acetate to form an acetate terminated PEG having the acetal group, and
• hydrolyzing the acetate terminated PEG having the acetal group to form the alcohol terminated PEG material having the acetal group;
• introducing the alcohol terminated PEG having the acetal group with a cyclic carbonate monomer;
• and
• mixing the alcohol terminated PEG having the acetal group, the cyclic carbonate monomer, and a base to form a linear block copolymer, wherein the linear block copolymer consists of a hydrophilic block comprising a polyethylene glycol, a hydrophobic block having a structure comprising a carbonate group, and a stimulus-responsive junction moiety having the structure
• wherein one wavy bond represents a bond to the polyethylene glycol of the hydrophilic block and the other wavy bond represents a bond to the carbonate group of the hydrophobic block.