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Polymer Nanosheet Containing Star‐Like Copolymers: A Novel Scalable Controlled Release System
Author(s) -
Cao PengFei,
Leon Al,
Rong Lihan,
Yin KeZhen,
Abenojar Eric C.,
Su Zhe,
Tiu Brylee David B.,
Exner Agata A.,
Baer Eric,
Advincula Rigoberto C.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201800115
Subject(s) - nanosheet , materials science , polymer , fabrication , copolymer , layer (electronics) , chemical engineering , nanomaterials , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , composite material , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , engineering
Poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL)‐based nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles and liposomes, have exhibited great potential as controlled release systems, but the difficulties in large‐scale fabrication limit their practical applications. Among the various methods being developed to fabricate polymer nanosheets (PNSs) for different applications, such as Langmuir–Blodgett technique and layer‐by‐layer assembly, are very effort consuming, and only a few PNSs can be obtained. In this paper, poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐based PNSs with adjustable thickness are obtained in large quantity by simple water exposure of multilayer polymer films, which are fabricated via a layer multiplying coextrusion method. The PNS is also demonstrated as a novel controlled guest release system, in which release kinetics are adjustable by the nanosheet thickness, pH values of the media, and the presence of protecting layers. Theoretical simulations, including Korsmeyer–Peppas model and Finite‐element analysis, are also employed to discern the observed guest‐release mechanisms.