Polymerization-Induced Hierarchical Electrostatic Self-Assembly: Scalable Synthesis of Multicompartment Polyion Complex Micelles and Their Monolayer Colloidal Nanosheets and Nanocages
Qizhou Liu, Xiyu Wang, Lei Ma, Kaiwen Yu, Weixing Xiong, Xinhua Lu, Yuanli Cai
Abstract
Scalable synthesis of multicompartment polyion complex (PIC) systems has been achieved via visible light-initiated RAFT polymerization of cationic monomer in the presence of anionic diblock copolymer micelles in water at 25 °C. This polymerization-induced hierarchical electrostatic self-assembly (hierarchical PIESA) implements structural hierarchy via programmable self-assembly to form multicompartment PIC micelles and their monolayer colloidal nanosheets and nanocages. The anionic micelles play decisive roles in such a hierarchical PIESA to access biologically relevant yet otherwise inaccessible multicompartment PIC systems.
Topics & Concepts
MicelleNanocagesCationic polymerizationPolymerizationMaterials scienceCopolymerMonomerSelf-assemblyRaftMonolayerNanotechnologyChemistryPolymer chemistryPolymerOrganic chemistryCatalysisAqueous solutionComposite materialAdvanced Polymer Synthesis and CharacterizationPolymer Surface Interaction StudiesDendrimers and Hyperbranched Polymers