title: Polymer nanoparticles: shape-directed monomer-to-particle synthesis.
abstract: Well-defined dumbbell and tripartite organic nanoparticles (30-60 nm) were produced via a one-pot direct synthesis of branched amphiphilic block copolymers, avoiding the need for postsynthesis self-assembly steps. We show the mechanism of dumbbell formation is largely a concerted process of particle growth during polymerization, although data suggest that particle-particle linking also occurs, particularly at higher monomer conversions. Dumbbell particles formed using a disulfide bifunctional initiator lead to cleavable structures, underlining the role of initiator functionality in shape control and the potential for functionality placement. Trifunctional initiators allow the direct one-pot synthesis of "tripartite" clover-leaf shaped nanoparticles which would be difficult to achieve through conventional synthesis/self-assembly/cross-linking strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Centre for Materials Discovery, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Dave J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Andrew I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Steve P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Rannard