pH responsive polymersome Pickering emulsion for simple and efficient Janus polymersome fabrication

Area of Science:

• Polymer Science
• Materials Chemistry
• Colloid Science

Background:

• Polymersomes are versatile self-assembled vesicles with tunable properties.
• Pickering emulsions, stabilized by solid particles, offer unique advantages in formulation.
• Anisotropic particles are crucial for advanced material design and self-assembly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To utilize crosslinked poly(acrylic acid)-b-polystyrene polymersomes for water-in-oil Pickering emulsion formation.
• To investigate the pH-responsive disassembly of these polymersomes.
• To achieve anisotropic modification of polymersomes using metal nanoparticles.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of crosslinked poly(acrylic acid)-b-polystyrene polymersomes.
• Formation of water-in-oil Pickering emulsions stabilized by the polymersomes.
• Selective modification of polymersome surfaces with metal nanoparticles.
• pH-triggered disassembly studies.

Main Results:

• Successful formation of stable water-in-oil Pickering emulsions stabilized by the polymersomes.
• Demonstration of easy and reversible emulsion disassembly triggered by pH changes.
• Facile and selective modification of the polymersome surface with metal nanoparticles.
• Creation of anisotropically modified Janus polymersomes.

Conclusions:

• Crosslinked poly(acrylic acid)-b-polystyrene polymersomes are effective stabilizers for water-in-oil Pickering emulsions.
• The pH sensitivity of the polymersomes allows for controlled and reversible emulsion disassembly.
• Selective nanoparticle modification enables the creation of functional Janus polymersomes for advanced applications.