title: Two types of block copolymer micelles with ion-containing cores.
abstract: We report a combined experimental and theoretical study of micellization of block copolymer with hydrophilic nonionic corona-forming blocks and weak polyelectrolyte (wPE) core-forming blocks with pH-triggered solubility in aqueous solutions. We demonstrate that in addition to micelles with neutral cores, there exist two other types of micelles with PE- or ionomer-like cores, in which monovalent counterions are released or condensed on core wPE block, respectively. The transition between the two types of micelles occurred upon changes in ionization of the PE core block and resulted in nonmonotonous changes of aggregation number as a function of pH. Such micelles with stimulus responsive cores represent promising nanocarriers for controlled delivery applications.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Chemical Biology, and Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, USA.
authors: Irem
authors: I
authors: Erel
authors: Zhichen
authors: Z
authors: Zhu
authors: Svetlana
authors: S
authors: Sukhishvili
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Patyukova
authors: Igor
authors: I
authors: Potemkin
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Kramarenko