Formation of novel polymeric nanoparticles.
We have found that not only block copolymers but also ionomers can self-assemble in a selective solvent to form surfactant-free nanoparticles. The self-assembly can be induced by chemical reaction, polymer-polymer complexation, and microphase inversion in addition to the temperature. A recently developed microwave method for the preparation of uniform surfactant-free polymeric nanoparticles is also reviewed. Our results have revealed that for a given dispersion, the particle surface area occupied per stabilizer (surfactant, polymer chains, and ionic groups) is close to a constant.
The Open Laboratory for Bond-Selective Chemistry, Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
G
G
Zhang
A
A
Niu
S
S
Peng
M
M
Jiang
Y
Y
Tu
M
M
Li
C
C
Wu
D008863:Microspheres; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents
D011108:Polymers; D013501:Surface-Active Agents