Electrostatic hierarchical co-assembly in aqueous solutions of two oppositely charged double hydrophilic diblock copolymers

Functional Nano-Objects by Electrostatic Self-Assembly: Structure, Switching, and Photocatalysis

The design of functional nano-objects by electrostatic self-assembly in solution signifies an emerging field with great potential. More specifically, the targeted combination of electrostatic interaction with other effects and interactions, such as the positioning of charges on stiff building blocks, the use of additional amphiphilic, π−π stacking building blocks, or polyelectrolytes with certain architectures, have recently promulgated electrostatic self-assembly to a principle for versatile defined structure formation. A large variety of architectures from spheres over rods and hollow spheres to networks in the size range of a few tenths to a few hundred nanometers can be formed. This review discusses the state-of-the-art of different approaches of nano-object formation by electrostatic self-assembly against the backdrop of corresponding solid materials and assemblies formed by other non-covalent interactions. In this regard, particularly promising is the facile formation of triggerable structures, i.e. size and shape switching through light, as well as the use of electrostatically assembled nano-objects for improved photocatalysis and the possible solar energy conversion in the future. Lately, this new field is eliciting an increasing amount of understanding; insights and limitations thereof are addressed in this article. Special emphasis is placed on the interconnection of molecular building block structures and the resulting nanoscale architecture via the key of thermodynamics.

Patchy Micelles with a Crystalline Core: Self-Assembly Concepts, Properties, and Applications

Crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) of block copolymers bearing one crystallizable block has emerged to be a powerful and highly relevant method for the production of one- and two-dimensional micellar assemblies with controlled length, shape, and corona chemistries. This gives access to a multitude of potential applications, from hierarchical self-assembly to complex superstructures, catalysis, sensing, nanomedicine, nanoelectronics, and surface functionalization. Related to these applications, patchy crystalline-core micelles, with their unique, nanometer-sized, alternating corona segmentation, are highly interesting, as this feature provides striking advantages concerning interfacial activity, functionalization, and confinement effects. Hence, this review aims to provide an overview of the current state of the art with respect to self-assembly concepts, properties, and applications of patchy micelles with crystalline cores formed by CDSA. We have also included a more general discussion on the CDSA process and highlight block-type co-micelles as a special type of patchy micelle, due to similarities of the corona structure if the size of the blocks is well below 100 nm.

FRET-Based Determination of the Exchange Dynamics of Complex Coacervate Core Micelles

Complex coacervate core micelles (C3Ms) are nanoscopic structures formed by charge interactions between oppositely charged macroions and used to encapsulate a wide variety of charged (bio)molecules. In most cases, C3Ms are in a dynamic equilibrium with their surroundings. Understanding the dynamics of molecular exchange reactions is essential as this determines the rate at which their cargo is exposed to the environment. Here, we study the molecular exchange in C3Ms by making use of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and derive an analytical model to relate the experimentally observed increase in FRET efficiency to the underlying macromolecular exchange rates. We show that equilibrated C3Ms have a broad distribution of exchange rates. The overall exchange rate can be strongly increased by increasing the salt concentration. In contrast, changing the unlabeled homopolymer length does not affect the exchange of the labeled homopolymers and an increase in the micelle concentration only affects the FRET increase rate at low micelle concentrations. Together, these results suggest that the exchange of these equilibrated C3Ms occurs mainly by expulsion and insertion, where the rate-limiting step is the breaking of ionic bonds to expel the chains from the core. These are important insights to further improve the encapsulation efficiency of C3Ms.

Double hydrophilic block copolymers self-assemblies in biomedical applications

Double-hydrophilic block copolymers (DHBCs), consisting of at least two different water-soluble blocks, are an alternative to the classical amphiphilic block copolymers and have gained increasing attention in the field of biomedical applications. Although the chemical nature of the two blocks can be diverse, most classical DHBCs consist of a bioeliminable non-ionic block to promote solubilization in water, like poly(ethylene glycol), and a second block that is more generally a pH-responsive block capable of interacting with another ionic polymer or substrate. This second block is generally non-degradable and the presence of side chain functional groups raises the question of its fate and toxicity, which is a limitation in the frame of biomedical applications. In this review, following a first part dedicated to recent examples of non-degradable DHBCs, we focus on the DHBCs that combine a biocompatible and bioeliminable non-ionic block with a degradable functional block including polysaccharides, polypeptides, polyesters and other miscellaneous polymers. Their use to design efficient drug delivery systems for various biomedical applications through stimuli-dependent self-assembly is discussed along with the current challenges and future perspectives for this class of copolymers.

On Complex Coacervate Core Micelles: Structure-Function Perspectives

The co-assembly of ionic-neutral block copolymers with oppositely charged species produces nanometric colloidal complexes, known, among other names, as complex coacervates core micelles (C3Ms). C3Ms are of widespread interest in nanomedicine for controlled delivery and release, whilst research activity into other application areas, such as gelation, catalysis, nanoparticle synthesis, and sensing, is increasing. In this review, we discuss recent studies on the functional roles that C3Ms can fulfil in these and other fields, focusing on emerging structure-function relations and remaining knowledge gaps.

Fluorescent Polyion Complex for the Detection of Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate

Polyion complexes have been known about for decades, with their applications mainly restricted to drug and gene delivery. In this study, we show that by the introduction of fluorescent charged molecules into a polyion complex, it can be used as a specific detection system for surfactants. The fluorescence of 8-hydroxy-1,3,6-pyrenetrisulfonic acid trisodium salt (HPTS) is quenched in the ionic complex, while it can be recovered with the addition of the surfactant sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS), due to the stronger interaction between SDBS and the polyelectrolyte. This leads to a drastic color change of the solution, and a recovery of the strong emission of HPTS. Specifically, the fluorescence is linearly proportional to the concentration of SDBS, thus it can be used for the qualitative detection of SDBS. Furthermore, the detection limit for SDBS can be up to the order of 10-10 M. We believe that competitive dissociation of the ionic complex can be used as a general approach for the construction of new functional materials.

Kinetic trapping - a strategy for directing the self-assembly of unique functional nanostructures

Supramolecular self-assembly into various nano- or microscopic structures based on non-covalent interactions between molecules has been recognized as a very efficient approach that leads to functional materials. Since most non-covalent interactions are relatively weak and form and break without significant activation barriers, the thermodynamic equilibrium of many supramolecular systems can be easily influenced by processing pathways that allow the system to stay in a kinetically trapped state. Thus far, kinetic traps have been found to be very important in producing more elaborate structural and functional diversity of self-assembled systems. In this review, we try to summarize the approaches that can produce kinetically trapped self-assemblies based on examples made by us. We focus on the following subjects: (1) supramolecular pathway dependent self-assembly, including kinetically trapped self-assemblies facilitated by host-guest chemistry, coordination chemistry, and electrostatic interactions; (2) physical processing pathway dependent self-assembly, including solvent quality controlled self-assembly, evaporation induced self-assembly and crystallization induced self-assembly.

The electrostatic co-assembly in non-stoichiometric aqueous mixtures of copolymers composed of one neutral water-soluble and one polyelectrolyte (either positively or negatively charged) block: a dissipative particle dynamics study

The electrostatic co-assembly in non-stoichiometric aqueous mixtures of diblock copolymers.

Stabilization of polyion complex nanoparticles composed of poly(amino acid) using hydrophobic interactions

We report the design and preparation of polyion complex (PIC) nanoparticles composed of anionic hydrophobically modified and cationic poly(amino acid) and the effect of hydrophobic interactions on the stability of these PIC nanoparticles under physiological conditions. We selected poly(gamma-glutamic acid) (gamma-PGA) as the biodegradable anionic polymer and poly(epsilon-lysine) (epsilon-PL) as the cationic polymer. Amphiphilic graft copolymers consisting of gamma-PGA and L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) as the hydrophobic side chain were synthesized by grafting L-Phe to gamma-PGA. The PIC nanoparticles were prepared by mixing gamma-PGA-graft-L-Phe (gamma-PGA-Phe) with epsilon-PL in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The formation and stability of the PIC nanoparticles were investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. Monomodal anionic PIC nanoparticles were obtained using nonstoichiometric mixing ratios. When unmodified gamma-PGA was mixed with epsilon-PL in PBS, the formation of PIC nanoparticles was observed. However, within a few hours after the preparation, the PIC nanoparticles dissolved in the PBS. In contrast, gamma-PGA-Phe/epsilon-PL nanoparticles showed high stability for a prolonged period of time in PBS and over a wide range of pH values. The stability and size of the PIC nanoparticles depended on the gamma-PGA-Phe/epsilon-PL mixing ratio and the hydrophobicity of the gamma-PGA. The improved stability of the PIC nanoparticles was attributed to the formation of hydrophobic domains in the core of the nanoparticles. The fabrication of PIC nanoparticles using hydrophobic interactions was very useful for the stabilization of the nanoparticles. These results will provide a novel concept in the design of carrier systems composed of PIC. It is expected that the gamma-PGA-Phe/epsilon-PL nanoparticles will have great potential as multifunctional carriers for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications, such as drug and vaccine delivery systems.