Tunable helical micelles via kinetic assembly of charged block copolymer

ORAL

Abstract

Helical cylinder micelles are made from the assembly of poly(acrylic acid)-\textit{block}-poly(methyl acrylate)-\textit{block}-polystyrene with organic multiamines in a THF/H$_{2}$O mixtures. Single- and double-stranded helices and left- and right-handed helices are found. Cryo-TEM study shows that the kinetic pathway for formation of helical cylinders follows a complex nanostructure evolution which involves the stacking of bended cylinders at early stages and the subsequent interconnection of these bended cylinders. Spherical micelles bud off of the interconnected nanostructure as the final step towards a defect-free helix. The stable pitch distance of the helices, which is due to unevenly distributed amine molecules in the corona, can be efficiently tuned.

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Authors

  • Sheng Zhong

    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA

  • Ke Zhang

    • Center for Materials Innovation, Department of Chemistry and Department of Radiology, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, 631

  • Karen Wooley

    • Center for Materials Innovation, Department of Chemistry and Department of Radiology, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, 631

  • Darrin Pochan

    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
    • Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware
    • UDEL
    • Unviersity of Delaware
    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of Delaware
    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware