Facile Fabrication of Water Dispersible Latex Particles with Homogeneous or Chain-Segregated Surface from RAFT Polymerization Using a Mixture of Two Macromolecular Chain Transfer Agents

Formation of n-Hexane-in-DMF Nonaqueous Pickering Emulsions: ABC Triblock Worms versus AB Diblock Worms

Nonaqueous Pickering emulsions exhibit promising applications in many industrial areas but have been relatively less studied in the past. In this study, n-hexane-in-DMF nonaqueous Pickering emulsions stabilized by core cross-linked copolymer worms with mixed shells are demonstrated for the first time. Core cross-linked copolymer worms with mixed shells were prepared by seeded reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) quasi-solution polymerization. Specifically, polystyrene-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-P4VP) diblock copolymer worms were first prepared via RAFT-mediated dispersion polymerization in toluene under the given conditions using PS as both the macro-CTA and the stabilizer block. After the chemical cross-linking of P4VP cores, PS-P4VP diblock copolymer worms were chain-extended with LMA in DMF/toluene (1:9, weight ratio) mixed solvents, producing core cross-linked PS-P4VP-PLMA worms with PS/PLMA mixed shells. The as-prepared core cross-linked PS-P4VP-PLMA worms with mixed PS/PLMA shells were further utilized as Pickering emulsifiers for the generation of nonaqueous n-hexane-in-DMF Pickering emulsions. The emulsifying performances of mixed-shell copolymer worms were compared with those of their spherical and linear analogues with entirely identical chemical compositions as well as PS-P4VP diblock copolymer worm precursors, respectively.

Multiple Pickering emulsions stabilized by surface-segregated micelles with adaptive wettability

Surface-segregated micelles (SSMs) with adaptive wettability have considerable potential for application in Pickering emulsions and bioanalytical technology. In this study, spherical SSMs were prepared via polymerization-induced self-assembly co-mediated with a binary mixture of macromolecular chain transfer agents: pH-responsive poly(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) and hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane. Using these SSMs as the sole emulsifier, we adjusted the pH to successfully produce both water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) and oil-in-water-in-oil (O/W/O) multiple emulsions through a single-step emulsification process. Moreover, we demonstrated that multiple emulsion systems with adjustable pH are suitable for the development of an efficient and recyclable interfacial catalytic system. Multiple emulsion microreactors increase the area of the oil–water interface and are therefore more efficient than the commonly used O/W and W/O emulsion systems.

Surface-segregated micelles (SSMs) with adaptive wettability have considerable potential for application in Pickering emulsions and microreactors.

Multicompartment block copolymer nanoparticles: recent advances and future perspectives

This review focuses on the synthesis of multicompartment block copolymer nanoparticles (MBCNs) via solution self-assembly and polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA).

Recent advances in RAFT-mediated surfactant-free emulsion polymerization

We summarized the RAFT-mediated surfactant-free emulsion polymerization using various RAFT agents and the polymerization types for the preparation of organic/inorganic hybrid materials.

In situ synthesis of a self-assembled AB/B blend of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-polystyrene/polystyrene by dispersion RAFT polymerization

A diblock-copolymer/homopolymer self-assembled blend was synthesized through dispersion RAFT polymerization, and its morphology changed with a decreasing ratio of diblock-copolymer/homopolymer.

Adding a solvophilic comonomer to the polymerization-induced self-assembly of block copolymer and homopolymer: a cooperative strategy for preparing large compound vesicles

We report a RAFT dispersion polymerization of styrene and 4-vinylpyridine in methanol/water at 70 °C. The polymerization was mediated by a binary mixture of DDMAT and mPEG₄₅-DDMAT.

Versatile multicompartment nanoparticles constructed with two thermo-responsive, pH-responsive and hydrolytic diblock copolymers

Multicompartment block copolymer nanoparticles constructed with two smart diblock copolymers are prepared and their versatile morphology upon stimuli is demonstrated.