Onion-like multilayered polymer capsules synthesized by a bioinspired inside-out technique

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Nature features many layered structures, like onions, formed from the inside out.
• Conventional methods for creating multilayered capsules often face limitations in control and complexity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel "inside-out" synthesis technique for fabricating multilayered polymer capsules.
• To demonstrate the ability to control layer composition, thickness, and properties of the synthesized capsules.

Main Methods:

• Initiator-loaded gel cores were sequentially exposed to different monomers.
• Polymerization initiated from the core and proceeded outwards, forming concentric shells.
• The process was repeated to build multiple distinct polymer layers.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized multilayered polymer capsules with controlled layer thickness and distinct polymer compositions.
• Demonstrated remarkable mechanical resilience and stimuli-responsive behaviors (e.g., pH, temperature).
• Showcased tailored solute release profiles based on layer chemistry and sequence.

Conclusions:

• The inside-out approach offers a versatile strategy for creating advanced multilayered polymer capsules.
• These capsules possess tunable properties for potential applications in controlled release and responsive materials.
• The method provides a new pathway for mimicking natural layered structures with synthetic materials.