ABC triblock copolymer vesicles with mesh-like morphology.
Polymer vesicles made from poly(isoprene-b-styrene-b-2-vinyl pyridine) (PI-b-PS-b-P2VP) triblock copolymer confined within the nanopores of an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane are studied. It was found that these vesicles have well-defined, nanoscopic size, and complex microphase-separated hydrophobic membranes, comprised of the PS and PI blocks, while the coronas are formed by the P2VP block. Vesicle formation was tracked using both transmission and scanning electron microscopy. A mesh-like morphology formed in the membrane at a well-defined composition of the three blocks that can be tuned by changing the copolymer composition. The nanoscale confinement, copolymer composition, and subtle molecular interactions contribute to the generation of these vesicles with such unusual morphologies.
Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States.
Wei
W
Zhao
Dian
D
Chen
Yunxia
Y
Hu
Gregory M
GM
Grason
Thomas P
TP
Russell
D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011108:Polymers; D011137:Polystyrenes; D011145:Polyvinyls; D011725:Pyridines; C557737:poly(isoprene-b-styrene-b-2-vinyl pyridine); D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D000537:Aluminum Oxide