Recognition-induced transformation of microspheres into vesicles: morphology and size control.
Polystyrene functionalized with diamidopyridine (DAP) recognition units self-assembles in nonpolar media to form thermally reversible micrometer-scale spherical aggregates. The size and the thermal stability of these microspheres can be controlled by the molecular weight of the polymer. The addition of thymine-functionalized polymer to these self-assembled microspheres converted them into vesicular aggregates with a controlled size. The morphology change was reversible: the addition of DAP-functionalized polymer converted the vesicles back to microspheres.
Uzun
Oktay
O
Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
Sanyal
Amitav
A
Nakade
Hiroshi
H
Thibault
Raymond J
RJ
Rotello
Vincent M
VM
D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D008863:Microspheres; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000737:chemistry*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared
D011137:Polystyrenes; D011725:Pyridines