title: Comparison of methods for the fabrication and the characterization of polymer self-assemblies: what are the important parameters?
abstract: The ability to self-assemble was evaluated for a large variety of amphiphilic block copolymers, including poly(ethyleneoxide-b-ε-caprolactone), poly(ethyleneoxide-b-d,l-lactide), poly(ethyleneoxide-b-styrene), poly(ethyleneoxide-b-butadiene) and poly(ethyleneoxide-b-methylmethacrylate). Different methods of formation are discussed, such as cosolvent addition, film hydration or electroformation. The influence of experimental parameters and macromolecular structures on the size and morphology of the final self-assembled structures is investigated and critically compared with the literature. The same process is carried out regarding the characterization of these structures. This analysis demonstrates the great care that should be taken when dealing with such polymeric assemblies. If the morphology of such assemblies can be predicted to some extent by macromolecular parameters like the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance, those parameters cannot be considered as universal. In addition, external experimental parameters (methods of preparation, use of co-solvent, …) appeared as critical key parameters to obtain a good control over the final structure of such objects, which are very often not at thermodynamic equilibrium but kinetically frozen. A principal component analysis is also proposed, in order to examine the important parameters for forming the self-assemblies. Here again, the hydrophilic/hydrophobic fraction is identified as an important parameter.
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulouse, UPS/CNRS, IMRCP, 118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France. afmingo@chimie.ups-tlse.fr.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dionzou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morère
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roux
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lonetti
authors.forename: J-D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Marty
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mingotaud
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goudounèche
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Payré
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Léonetti
authors.forename: A-F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Mingotaud
mesh_terms: D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007700:Kinetics; D007783:Lactones / Q000737:chemistry*; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008823:Micelles; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012995:Solubility; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D007783:Lactones; D008689:Methacrylates; D008823:Micelles; D011091:Polyesters; D011137:Polystyrenes; C521904:poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(epsilon-caprolactone); C524499:polyethylene glycol methacrylate; C000589473:polyethylene glycol-poly(lactide-co-glycolide); C103390:polyethylene glycol-polystyrene; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols