Silica nanoparticle-loaded thermoresponsive block copolymer vesicles: a new post-polymerization encapsulation strategy and thermally triggered release

Abstract

multiple centrifugation-redispersion cycles, thermogravimetric analysis indicated that vesicle loading efficiencies of up to 86% can be achieved under optimized conditions. Thermally-triggered release of the silica nanoparticles is achieved by cleaving the disulfide bonds at 50 °C using tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP), followed by cooling to 20 °C to induce vesicle dissociation. SAXS is also used to confirm the release of silica nanoparticles by monitoring the disappearance of the structure factor peak arising from silica-silica interactions.

Topics & Concepts