title: Core-shell nanostructures from single poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) macromolecules: stabilization and visualization.
abstract: Formation of core-shell poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) single-molecule nanostructures due to interaction of PVCL with metal ions was studied using transmission electron microscopy, 13C NMR, and light scattering. This study demonstrates that addition of CoCl2 to PVCL in its globular conformation yields unimolecular core-shell polymer particles with the core decorated with Co(II) ions. The crucial condition for formation of well-defined unimolecular nanostructures is the presence of stable globular aggregates in aqueous solution. Moreover, the metal ions should have a sufficiently high coordination number (higher than 2) to provide a cross-linking and stabilization of the core.
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA. lybronst@indiana.edu
authors.forename: Lyudmila M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bronstein
authors.forename: Maxim
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kostylev
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsvetkova
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tomaszewski
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Elena E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Makhaeva
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Okhapkin
authors.forename: Alexei R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Khokhlov
mesh_terms: D002209:Caprolactam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D015394:Molecular Structure; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D011108:Polymers; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; C086861:poly-N-vinylcaprolactam; D002209:Caprolactam