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Hollow Microcapsules with Enhanced Stability via Stereocomplex Assemblies
Author(s) -
Brzeziński Marek
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201700018
Subject(s) - template , supramolecular chemistry , emulsion , microfluidics , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , materials science , polymer chemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , molecule , engineering
This paper presents a microfluidic approach for fabricating stereocomplexed hollow microcapsules that uses water‐in‐oil‐in‐water double‐emulsion droplets as templates. The polylactides functionalized with 2‐ureido‐4[1H]‐pyrimidinone (UPy) end groups are intermolecularly stereocomplexed by polylactides with opposite configurations to promote their self‐assembly at a water‐chloroform interface. This intermolecular interaction can significantly enhance the stability of resulting hollow microcapsules so that they preserve their shape and size after drying. Moreover, because these stimuli‐responsive polylactides can assemble and disassemble into superstructures, they can be made to release their cargo by varying the pH values. The interfacially assembled supramolecular microcapsules, which possess stimuli‐responsiveness and long‐term stability, are potentially useful for encapsulation and delivery of drugs.