Kinetic control of block copolymer self-assembly into novel multicompartment and multigeometry nanoparticles

POSTER

Abstract

Nanoparticles with the phase separation of unlike hydrophobic blocks trapped in the same core have been produced via blending of two block copolymers in THF/water dilute solution. The dissolution of two amphiphilic block copolymer sharing the same polyacrylic acid PAA block and different hydrophobic block in pure THF undergoes consequent aggregation and phase separation via different kinetic control pathways. Importantly, the polymer is complexed with diamine molecules prior to either slow titration or fast addition of selective solvent which is the key of forming controlled micelle structure. Vesicle-cylinder, nested vesicle MCM and MGM nanoparticles were assembled and characterized via cryogenic TEM and selective staining methods. Small Angle X-ray scattering is applied to track the early-stage phase separation behavior which determines the final MCM/MGM nanoparticle formation.

*Thanks for NSF funding. We also thank the W. M. Keck College of Engineering electron microscopy laboratory at the University of Delaware, and the nuclear magnetic resonance facilities of the Dept of Chemistry at University of Texas A\&M

Authors

  • Yingchao Chen

    • University of Delaware

  • Shiyi Zhang

    • University of Tennessee
    • University of Texas A\&M

  • Shiyi Zhang

    • University of Tennessee
    • University of Texas A\&M

  • Shiyi Zhang

    • University of Tennessee
    • University of Texas A\&M

  • Jiahua Zhu

    • University of Delaware

  • Karen Wooley

    • University of Texas A\&M

  • Jimmy Mays

    • University of Tennessee

  • Darrin Pochan

    • University of Delaware
    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware