title: Planar multilayer assemblies containing block copolymer aggregates.
abstract: The design, preparation, and properties of planar multilayer structures composed of various combinations of sequentially deposited polyelectrolyte (PE) chains and self-assembled layers of individual block copolymer aggregates (vesicles, micelles, or large compound micelles (LCMs)) are described. The aggregates contain negatively or positively charged corona chains while the PE multilayers contain alternating polyanionic or polycationic chains deposited on silicon wafers. The final structures consist of combinations of layers of various charged species: multilayers of alternating PEs of poly(allyl hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as well as vesicles, micelles, or large compound micelles of ionized poly(styrene)-b-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) or of poly(styrene)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PS-b-PAA). Two types of layer-by-layer (LbL) multilayer structures were studied: individual aggregate layers sandwiched between PE multilayers and layers of individual aggregates of various morphologies and of different corona chain charges, deposited on top of each other without intermediate multilayers or individual layers of PEs. The strong interactions between the successive layers are achieved mainly by electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged layers. The planar LbL multilayers containing block copolymer aggregates could, potentially, be used as carriers for multiple functional components; each aggregate layer could be loaded with hydrophobic (in the core of the micelles, LCMs, or vesicle walls) or hydrophilic functional molecules (in the vesicular cavities). The overall thickness of such planar LbL multilayers can be controlled precisely and can vary from tens of nanometers to several micrometers depending on the number of layers, the sizes of the aggregates, and the complexity of the structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, McGill University , Otto Maass Building, 801 Sherbrooke St. W, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2K6, Canada.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vyhnalkova
authors.forename: Miloslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sailer
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: Adi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eisenberg
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D008823:Micelles; D010316:Particle Size; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D004573:Electrolytes; D008823:Micelles; D011137:Polystyrenes; D011145:Polyvinyls; C521882:poly(styrene)-block-poly(4-vinylpyrindine) diblock copolymer; C509855:poly(styrene-b-acrylic acid); D012825:Silicon