Open AccessA roadmap for poly(ethylene oxide)‐ block ‐poly‐ε‐caprolactone self‐assembly in water: Prediction, synthesis, and characterization
Author(s) -
Ianiro Alessandro,
Patterson Joseph,
González García Álvaro,
van Rijt Mark M. J.,
Hendrix Marco M. R. M,
Sommerdijk Nico A. J. M.,
Voets Ilja K.,
Esteves A. Catarina C.,
Tuinier Remco
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of polymer science part b: polymer physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.65
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1099-0488
pISSN - 0887-6266
DOI - 10.1002/polb.24545
Subject(s) - copolymer , ethylene oxide , caprolactone , materials science , dynamic light scattering , polymer chemistry , lamellar structure , amphiphile , polymer , oxide , micelle , small angle x ray scattering , scattering , self assembly , chemical engineering , chemistry , nanotechnology , composite material , nanoparticle , physics , aqueous solution , optics , engineering , metallurgy
Numerical self‐consistent field (SCF) lattice computations allow a priori determination of the equilibrium morphology and size of supramolecular structures originating from the self‐assembly of neutral block copolymers in selective solvents. The self‐assembly behavior of poly(ethylene oxide)‐ block ‐poly‐ε‐caprolactone (PEO‐PCL) block copolymers in water was studied as a function of the block composition, resulting in equilibrium structure and size diagrams. Guided by the theoretical SCF predictions, PEO‐PCL block copolymers of various compositions have been synthesized and assembled in water. The size and morphology of the resulting structures have been characterized by small‐angle X‐ray scattering, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, and multiangle dynamic light scattering. The experimental results are consistent with the SCF computations. These findings show that SCF is applicable to build up roadmaps for amphiphilic polymers in solution, where control over size and shape are required, which is relevant, for instance, when designing spherical micelles for drug delivery systems © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56 , 330–339