Chirality-controlled polymerization-induced self-assembly
Haolan Li, Erik Jan Cornel, Zhen Fan, Jianzhong Du
Abstract
into nanoparticles. For homo-chiral formulations, polymers self-assembled into vesicles once a sufficiently high phenylalanine degree of polymerization (DP) was obtained. Hetero-chiral formulations formed larger nanoparticles with various morphologies and, much to our surprise, using an equal enantiomer ratio inhibited PISA and led to a polymer solution instead. Finally, it was shown that the enzymatic biodegradation rate of such PISA particles is greatly affected by the polymer chirality. This PISA approach could be of great value to fabricate nanoparticles that exploit chirality in disease treatment.
Topics & Concepts
Chirality (physics)PolymerizationSelf-assemblyChemistryMaterials scienceNanotechnologyPolymer chemistryOrganic chemistryPhysicsPolymerQuantum mechanicsChiral symmetryNambu–Jona-Lasinio modelQuarkAdvanced Polymer Synthesis and CharacterizationInnovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques InnovationSupramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials