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Biocompatible and pH‐Responsive Colloidal Surfactants with Tunable Shape for Controlled Interfacial Curvature
Author(s) -
Sun Zhu,
Yang Chenjing,
Wang Fan,
Wu Baiheng,
Shao Baiqi,
Li Zhuocheng,
Chen Dong,
Yang Zhenzhong,
Liu Kai
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202001588
Subject(s) - ostwald ripening , amphiphile , chemical engineering , pickering emulsion , materials science , coalescence (physics) , colloid , emulsion , pulmonary surfactant , ethylene glycol , dimer , coprecipitation , particle (ecology) , nanotechnology , polymer chemistry , chemistry , nanoparticle , organic chemistry , copolymer , polymer , composite material , physics , oceanography , astrobiology , geology , engineering
Molecular‐surfactant‐stabilized emulsions are susceptible to coalescence and Ostwald ripening. Amphiphilic particles, which have a much stronger anchoring strength at the interface, could effectively alleviate these problems to form stable Pickering emulsions. Herein, we describe a versatile method to fabricate biocompatible amphiphilic dimer particles through controlled coprecipitation and phase separation. The dimer particles consist of a hydrophobic PLA bulb and a hydrophilic shellac–PEG bulb, thus resembling nonionic molecular surfactants. The size and diameter ratio of the dimer particles are readily tunable, providing flexible control over the water/oil interfacial curvature and thus the type of emulsion. The particle‐stabilized emulsions were stable for a long period of time and could be destabilized through a pH‐triggered response. The biocompatible amphiphilic dimer particles with tunable morphology and functionality are thus ideal colloidal surfactants for various applications.