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Micelles

Micelles

Micelle formation is an intricate process that hinges on the properties of amphiphilic or amphipathic molecules and the conditions of the system in which they are found. Amphiphilic molecules, which have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts, play a critical role in this process.In aqueous environments, these molecules arrange themselves such that their hydrophilic heads are turned towards the water phase, while their hydrophobic tails are oriented away...

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Updated: May 28, 2026

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers

Published on: June 20, 2019

Flow-directed block copolymer micelle morphologies via microfluidic self-assembly.

Chih-Wei Wang¹, David Sinton, Matthew G Moffitt

¹Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3065, Victoria, BC, Canada V8W 3V6.

Journal of the American Chemical Society

|October 14, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Amphiphilic block copolymers self-assemble into diverse, flow-directed nanostructures within microfluidic reactors, unlike static, off-chip formations. This controlled assembly enables precise fabrication of functional colloidal nanostructures on-chip.

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Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions

Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions

Published on: October 10, 2016

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Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions

Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions

Published on: October 10, 2016

Area of Science:

Polymer Science
Materials Science
Chemical Engineering

Background:

Amphiphilic block copolymers self-assemble into spherical micelles under equilibrium conditions.
Controlling copolymer self-assembly to achieve non-equilibrium morphologies is challenging.
Microfluidic reactors offer unique environments for studying dynamic self-assembly processes.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers in a gas-liquid microfluidic reactor.
To explore the formation of flow-directed micellar morphologies distinct from equilibrium structures.
To demonstrate on-chip processing for creating specific functional colloidal nanostructures.

Main Methods:

Utilized a gas-liquid microfluidic reactor for copolymer self-assembly.
Employed a polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid) copolymer.
Manipulated water content and flow rate to control nanostructure formation.
Investigated the mechanism of collision-coalescence driven by on-chip shear fields.

Main Results:

Generated kinetic cylinders, Y-junctions, bilayers, and networks, deviating from off-chip spherical structures.
Achieved variable sizes and relative amounts of flow-directed nanostructures.
Demonstrated that on-chip shear fields enable collision-coalescence for complex morphologies.
Showcased on-chip processing routes to specific functional colloidal nanostructures.

Conclusions:

Microfluidic reactors enable the production of novel, flow-directed micellar morphologies.
On-chip shear fields are crucial for achieving non-equilibrium self-assembly pathways.
This study provides a platform for on-demand synthesis of functional colloidal nanostructures.