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Updated: May 23, 2026
Fabrication of Spherical and Worm-shaped Micellar Nanocrystals by Combining Electrospray, Self-assembly, and Solvent-based Structure Control
Published on: February 11, 2018
Ultrasmall biocompatible nanocomposites: a new approach using seeded emulsion polymerization for the encapsulation of
Hauke Kloust1, Elmar Pöselt, Sascha Kappen
1Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.
Abstract:
We report a novel approach of seeded emulsion polymerization in which nanocrystals are used as seeds. Ultrasmall biocompatible polymer-coated nanocrystal with sizes between 15 and 110 nm could be prepared in a process that avoids any treatment with high shear forces or ultrasonication. The number of nanocrystals per seed, the size of the seeds, and the shell thickness can be independently adjusted. Single encapsulated nanocrystals in ultrasmall nanobeads as well as clusters of nanocrystals can be obtained. Polysorbat-80 was used as surfactant. It consists of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains, giving the particles outstanding biofunctional characteristics such as a minimization of unspecific interactions.
