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07:32
Preparation and Characterization of Individual and Multi-drug Loaded Physically Entrapped Polymeric Micelles
Published on: August 28, 2015
Dynamic multicompartment-core micelles in aqueous media.
Felix Schacher1, Andreas Walther, Axel H E Müller
1Makromolekulare Chemie II and Zentrum for Kolloide und Grenzflächen, Universität Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany. felix.schacher@uni-bayreuth.de
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|June 23, 2009
Summary
Amphiphilic block terpolymers form pH-responsive micelles in water. Their structure, with a patchy or continuous shell, depends on pH and quaternization, influencing micelle behavior.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Supramolecular Chemistry
Background:
- Amphiphilic block terpolymers self-assemble into complex micellar structures in aqueous solutions.
- Understanding the influence of pH and polymer architecture on micelle formation is crucial for designing functional materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the micellar aggregates of polybutadiene-block-poly(2-vinyl pyridine)-block-poly(methacrylic acid) and its quaternized analogue.
- To elucidate the effect of pH and quaternization on the micelle structure and properties.
Main Methods:
- Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)
- Static Light Scattering (SLS)
- Cryogenic Transmission Electron Microscopy (cryo-TEM)
Main Results:
- At high pH, terpolymers form core-shell-corona micelles with a continuous poly(2-vinyl pyridine) shell.
- At pH 4, interpolyelectrolyte complex (IPEC) formation leads to patchy shells, more pronounced in quaternized analogues.
- Micelle size and charge are tunable via block terpolymer composition and responsive to pH and salinity.
Conclusions:
- The pH-dependent IPEC formation significantly alters micelle shell morphology.
- Quaternization of poly(2-vinyl pyridine) enhances the patchy shell structure.
- These tunable, dynamic micelles offer potential for advanced applications in responsive materials.
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