Patent ID: 8022147

Claim:
A method of making a zwitterionic block copolymer comprising: combining a living polymerization initiator having a charged or chargeable group or a group that can be converted to a charged or chargeable group with a first monomer under conditions effective to form a polymer comprising a first block having attached to the non-living end of the block at least the portion of the initiator having the charged or chargeable group or the group that can be converted to the charged or chargeable group; combining the polymer with a second monomer under conditions effective to form a second block of a block copolymer; combining the copolymer with a third monomer under conditions effective to complete the copolymer with the third monomer, wherein the third monomer has an oppositely charged or chargeable group or a group that can be converted to an oppositely charged or chargeable group, compared to the charged or chargeable group of the initiator; and wherein the zwitterionic block copolymer comprises: a first terminal block comprising an amine and/or a protonated amine group at the terminal end thereof; and a second terminal block comprising a carboxylic acid and/or a deprotonated carboxylic acid group at the terminal end thereof; wherein each of the first and second terminal blocks independently comprises polymerized monomers selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, styrene, methyl(meth)acrylate, ethyl(meth)acrylate butadiene, isoprene and combinations thereof.