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Formation of Polymeric Nanocubes by Self‐Assembly and Crystallization of Dithiolane‐Containing Triblock Copolymers
Author(s) -
Margulis Katherine,
Zhang Xiangyi,
Joubert LydiaMarie,
Bruening Karsten,
Tassone Christopher J.,
Zare Richard N.,
Waymouth Robert M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201709564
Subject(s) - copolymer , micelle , dithiolane , crystallization , materials science , polymer , self assembly , nanoparticle , aqueous solution , ethylene oxide , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , monomer , nanotechnology , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering , composite material
Template‐free fabrication of non‐spherical polymeric nanoparticles is desirable for various applications, but has had limited success owing to thermodynamic favorability of sphere formation. Herein we present a simple way to prepare cubic nanoparticles of block copolymers by self‐assembly from aqueous solutions at room temperature. Nanocubes with edges of 40–200 nm are formed spontaneously on different surfaces upon water evaporation from micellar solutions of triblock copolymers containing a central poly(ethylene oxide) block and terminal trimethylene carbonate/dithiolane blocks. These polymers self‐assemble into 28±5 nm micelles in water. Upon drying, micelle aggregation and a kinetically controlled crystallization of central blocks evidently induce solid cubic particle formation. An approach for preserving the structures of these cubes in water by thiol‐ or photo‐induced crosslinking was developed. The ability to solubilize a model hydrophobic drug, curcumin, was also explored.