Nanoparticle-Loaded Multifunctional Block Copolymer Micelles

POSTER

Abstract

We have studied the incorporation of pre-synthesized hydrophobic inorganic nanoparticles within the cores of amphiphilic polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-PEO) diblock copolymer micelles formed through solvent-evaporation-induced interfacial instabilities of emulsion droplets. Using iron oxide, gold, and cadmium selenide nanoparticles coated with native alkane ligands, highly uniform encapsulation is obtained for cylindrical micelles, while spherical micelles can be enriched to $\sim $ 90 {\%} of loaded micelles through simple magnetic or centrifugal purification steps. Multiple different types of nanoparticles can easily be incorporated into each micelle, yielding multi-functional micelles. The ability to encapsulate both spherical and rod-like particles of different core chemistries and sizes ranging from $\sim $ 1 to 20 nm, without the necessity of coating particles with specially designed ligands, makes this a versatile route to prepare hybrid micelle structures.

Authors

  • Jinhye Bae

    • Polymer Science and Engineering Department at University of Massachusetts Amherst

  • Jimmy Lawrence

    • Polymer Science and Engineering Department at University of Massachusetts Amherst

  • Caroline Miesch

    • Polymer Science and Engineering Department at University of Massachusetts Amherst

  • Alexander Ribbe

    • Polymer Science and Engineering Department at University of Massachusetts Amherst

  • Weikun Li

    • School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Huazhong University of Science and Technology

  • Todd Emrick

    • University of Massachusetts Amhesrt
    • University of Massachusetts Amherst
    • UMass Amherst
    • Polymer Science \& Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
    • Polymer Science and Engineering Department at University of Massachusetts Amherst

  • Jintao Zhu

    • School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Huazhong University of Science and Technology

  • Ryan Hayward

    • University of Massachusetts Amherst
    • Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst
    • University of Massachusetts
    • UMass - Amherst Polymer Science and Engineering
    • University of Massachusetts Amhesrt
    • Polymer Science and Engineering Department at UMass-Amherst
    • University of Massachusetts - Amherst
    • Polymer Science and Engineering Department at University of Massachusetts Amherst