title: pH-responsive capsules derived from nanocrystal templating.
abstract: In the current work we demonstrate a facile and versatile way to create hydrophilic polymeric capsules by integration of Au nanocrystal templating, surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization, and selective chemical cross-linking of polymer shells. Capsules of the homopolymer of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and its copolymers with 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate were constructed. They swell at low pH and shrink at high pH. On the basis of the pH sensitivity of the resulting capsules, encapsulation and release of a drug model, rhodamine 6G, were realized. Furthermore, by cleaving Au-S bonds between Au cores and polymer shells, capsules containing free Au cores were generated, paving a simple pathway to introduce more functionality to the polymeric capsules.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, D-14424, Germany.
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuang
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dayang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Dirk G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kurth
authors.forename: Helmuth
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Möhwald