Preparation of Self-Assembled PEG–DPCA Structures.

Lyophilized powders of PEG–DPCAs obtained from semipreparative fractionation were added directly to ultrapure water or 10 mM PBS (pH 7). Solutions were then heated to 50 °C in a water bath for 30 min, with periodic vortexing. Fully soluble, homogeneous solutions were then removed from heat and cooled to 25 °C in a bench-top shaker table for 1 h. Before dilution, all PEG–DPCA solutions were reheated to 50 °C and cooled.