Formation of Core-Shell-Corona Micellar Complexes through Adsorption of Double Hydrophilic Diblock Copolymers into Core-Shell Micelles

Hydrogen-bonded polymer complexes and nanocages of weak polyacids templated by a Pluronic® block copolymer

We investigate the phase behavior, morphology, and temperature response of hydrogen-bonded assemblies formed by a triblock copolymer Pluronic® F127 (F127) and polycarboxylic acids of varied hydrophobicity and chain lengths. As confirmed by FTIR, the complexes of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) with F127 at acidic pH were stabilized by multiple hydrogen bonding between carboxylic acid groups of polyacids and ether groups of F127. The colloidal stability of the polyacid/F127 complexes (their occurrence as stable dispersions, slowly coagulating dispersions or precipitates) was dependent on the composition of complexes, polyacid molecular weight and hydrophobicity, as well as temperature. For both polyacids, complexes could not be solubilized in excess of polyacids, but excess of F127 resulted in the formation of colloidally stable nanostructured clusters whose size could be controlled from tens to hundreds of nanometers by the polyacid-to-F127 ratio, temperature, and the polyacid molecular weight. Hydrophobicity of polyacids had a dramatic effect on the temperature response of Pluronic®-enriched assemblies. While PMAA suppressed the LCST behavior of F127 due to binding within the temperature-responsive PPO core of F127, more hydrophilic PAA allowed F127 micellization and supported reversible, temperature-induced re-structuring of PAA-F127 clusters. At temperatures above the LCST of Pluronic®, low-molecular-weight PAA formed nanosized dispersed complexes, in which the polyacid chains were wrapped around individual F127 micelles. Chemical crosslinking of PAA in the shells of these complexes followed by removal of the templating F127 cores resulted in easy-to-prepare monodisperse pH-responsive polymer nanocages with controllable size and swelling amplitude.

Triggered disassembly of hierarchically assembled onion-like micelles into the pristine core-shell micelles via a small change in pH

The size and surface property of nanomaterial-based delivery systems administered intravenously play important roles in their cell uptake and in vivo distribution. Both of them should be capable of self-evolution in order to achieve efficient targeting performance. A facile strategy was proposed to manipulate both the size and surface property of polymeric micelles. It was found that the hierarchical assembly between trimethylated chitosan-g-poly(ε-caprolactone) (TMC-PCL) micelles and carboxyethyl chitosan-g-poly(ethylene glycol) (CEC-PEG) could produce onion-like micelles with enlarged size and PEGylated surface. The onion-like micelles could withstand the ionic strength of plasma and competitive exchange with BSA, and abruptly disassemble into the pristine TMC-PCL micelles via a small change in pH. By varying the degree of carboxyethylation, the disassembly pH could be modulated to the range of the tumoral microclimate pH. In contrast with TMC-PCL micelles, which displayed high cytotoxicity and endocytic ability towards C6 glioma cells, the onion-like micelles were cell-friendly and internalized by the cells at a very low level. Doxorubicin was used as a model chemotherapeutic agent and incorporated within TMC-PCL micelles. Dox release from both TMC-PCL micelles and the onion-like micelles was very slow under normal physiological conditions and displayed excellent pH sensitivity. Cell viability of Dox-loaded micelles was also investigated.

Hydrogen-bonding-induced complexation of polydimethylsiloxane-graft-poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(acrylic acid)-block-polyacrylonitrile micelles in water

Polydimethylsiloxane-graft-poly(ethylene oxide) (PDMS-g-PEO) copolymers form micelles in water with PDMS as the core and PEO as the corona. The introduction of poly(acrylic acid)-block-polyacrylonitrile (PAA-b-PAN) block copolymers in water leads to the formation of micellar complexes due to the hydrogen bonding between carboxyl groups and ether oxygens among the PAA and PEO chains in the corona of the micelles. The effects of pH, molar ratios (r) of PAA/PEO, and the standing time on the directly mixing these two micelles in water have been investigated using laser light scattering (LLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Our results showed that the complexation between PAA and PEO in the corona was greatly enhanced at a pH below 3.5. For a fixed pH value, the interactions between these two micelles in water were governed by the value of r. At r < ∼0.6, mixing the two micelles in water resulted in a large floccule because the smaller PAA-b-PAN micelles act as physical cross-links, which are absorbed onto one PDMS-g-PEO micelle and simultaneously bonded to PEO chains on the other micelles, forming bridges and causing flocculation. At ∼0.6 < r < ∼1.2, the mixing led to stable micellar complexes with a layer of PAA-b-PAN micelles absorbed onto the initial PDMS-g-PEO micelles. At r > ∼1.2, the resultant micellar complexes first remained stable, but they precipitated from solution after a long time standing.

Synthesis of amphiphilic poly(tetraethylene glycol succinate) and the thermosensitivity of its aggregation in water

Amphiphilic biodegradable polyester, poly(tetraethylene glycol succinate) (PTEGSuc), was synthesized via melt polycondensation of tetraethylene glycol and succinic acid on catalysis of p-toluenesulfonic acid. It was observed that PTEGSuc could self-assemble into micelles in water. In addition, thermosensitivity of PTEGSuc aggregation in water was first found in the experiment, and the critical aggregation temperatures could be controlled by solution concentration. Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the micellar morphologies of PTEGSuc in different solvents. It was found that particle shape is almost round although the micellar morphology is different depending on the solvent used. Based on the perfect properties, especially in micelle formation and thermosensitivity, PTEGSuc is promising in biomedical field as carrier of drug delivery system, scaffold of tissue engineering, and other medical devices.

Complex coacervate core micelles

In this review we present an overview of the literature on the co-assembly of neutral-ionic block, graft, and random copolymers with oppositely charged species in aqueous solution. Oppositely charged species include synthetic (co)polymers of various architectures, biopolymers - such as proteins, enzymes and DNA - multivalent ions, metallic nanoparticles, low molecular weight surfactants, polyelectrolyte block copolymer micelles, metallo-supramolecular polymers, equilibrium polymers, etcetera. The resultant structures are termed complex coacervate core/polyion complex/block ionomer complex/interpolyelectrolyte complex micelles (or vesicles); i.e., in short C3Ms (or C3Vs) and PIC, BIC or IPEC micelles (and vesicles). Formation, structure, dynamics, properties, and function will be discussed. We focus on experimental work; theory and modelling will not be discussed. Recent developments in applications and micelles with heterogeneous coronas are emphasized.

Interpolymer Complexes Based on the Core/Shell Micelles. Interaction of Polystyrene-block-poly(methacrylic acid) Micelles with Linear Poly(2-vinylpyridine) in 1,4-Dioxane Water Mixtures and in Aqueous Media

The size and structural changes of nanoparticles formed after the addition of poly(2-vinylpyridine), PVP, to block copolymer micelles of polystyrene-block-poly(methacrylic acid), PS-PMA, were studied by light scattering and atomic force microscopy. Due to the strong hydrogen bonding between PVP and PMA segments, complex structures based on the core/shell micelles form in mixed selective solvents. As proven by a combination of light scattering and atomic force microscopy, individual PS-PMA micelles are "glued" together by PVP chains. The dialysis against solvents with a high content of water results in transient increase in polydispersity and turbidity of originally clear solutions. However, the precipitated polymer material dissolves in basic buffers and stable soluble nanoparticles reform in aqueous media. The behavior of their solutions was studied in a broad pH range by light scattering, atomic force microscopy and capillary zone electrophoresis.