On the physics of block copolymers

Self-assembly of phosphorous containing oligomers: morphological features and pH-sensitiveness in suspension

Methacrylamide-based oligomers bearing phosphonate pending groups at the end of a long alkyl chain and originating from undecylenic acid synthons were subjected to direct oligomer dissolution. Size improvement towards much smaller objects was reached using the nanoprecipitation method: the oligomers were first dissolved in an organic solvent, and then precipitated in water using a syringe pump. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) showed phosphorous containing monomodal and quite narrow-sized self-assemblies in water with hydrodynamic diameters (DH) ranging from 80 to 280 nm (depending on the oligomer system). Direct visualization using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed filled and almost individual particles with spherical shape. They were considerably shrunk, suggesting the highly swollen character of the self-assemblies in suspension. Morphological information on the multi-scale self-assembled structures was complementarily obtained using static light scattering (SLS). Thus, at a low length-scale, highly segregated sub-units having sharp boundaries surrounded by water (Porod behaviour) were observed, whereas at a high length-scale random non-compact organization of these sub-units via weak interactions was found, forming a chaplet-like structure (Gaussian behaviour). Furthermore, the pH-sensitiveness of the suspensions obtained after the nanoprecipitation method was studied. Particularly, at pH = 12, the characteristic size drastically increased within few hours from typically ∼280 nm to 2 μm due to electrostatic repulsion between deprotonated hydroxyl groups. At longer times, the observed peculiar behaviour corresponded to the model of diffusion-limited cluster aggregation (DLCA) where the particles stuck easily together upon contact [continuation of the article by C. Bouilhac, C. Travelet, A. Graillot, S. Monge, R. Borsali and J.-J. Robin, Polym. Chem., 2014, 5, 2756-2767].

Biocompatible and biodegradable poly(trimethylene carbonate)-b-poly(L-glutamic acid) polymersomes: size control and stability

Poly(trimethylene carbonate)-b-poly(L-glutamic acid) (PTMC-b-PGA) diblock copolymers have been synthesized by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride (BLG) initiated by amino functionalized PTMC and subsequent hydrogenation. Self-assembly in water gave well-defined vesicles which have been studied combining light and neutron scattering techniques with electron microscopy imaging. The size and dispersity of vesicles have been tuned by varying preparation conditions, direct dissolution, or nanoprecipitation. In addition, PGA conformation could be reversibly manipulated as a function of environmental changes such as pH and ionic strength. Vesicles showed high tolerance and stability toward nonionic surfactant and pH due to a thick membrane and were revealed to be nonpermeable to water. Nevertheless, they can be rapidly degraded by enzymatic hydrolysis of the polycarbonate block. The ability to tune their size through the formation process, their stimuli responsiveness, their high stability, and their biodegradability make them suitable for biomedical applications.

Micelles and polymersomes obtained by self-assembly of dextran and polystyrene based block copolymers

The self-assembly of dextran-block-polystyrene (dex-b-PS) block copolymers was investigated in solution. The hydrophobic PS weight fraction in these block copolymers ranges from 7 to 92% w/w, whereas the average number molar mass of dextran was kept constant at 6600 gmol(-1). Self-assembly by direct dissolution in water could be performed only for block copolymers with a low hydrophobic content (7% w/w), whereas mixtures of tetrahydrofuran and dimethylsulfoxide were required for higher PS content, before transferring the structures into water. Core-shell micelles, ovoïds, and vesicles could be identified upon characterization by light and neutrons scattering, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Most of the morphologies observed were not expected considering the chemical composition of the block copolymers. Finally, the size and shape of these nanoparticles were fixed upon cross-linking the dextran block through reaction of the hydroxyl groups with divinylsulfone. The role of the dextran conformation on the self-assembly process is discussed.