title: Room temperature aqueous self-assembly of poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(4-vinyl pyridine) block copolymers: From spherical to worm-like micelles.
abstract: The solution self-assembly and the formation, at room temperature, of a wide range of nanostructures based on monomethyl ether poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (mPEG-b-P4VP) block copolymer is reported. Copolymers with different compositions and molecular weights were synthesized through Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) method. The solution self-assembly of the block copolymers was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for different solution pHs. It was found that the formation of non-spherical nanostructures, such as rod- and worm-like micelles can be easily achieved, at room temperature, by simply varying the molecular weight of the different segments as well as the mPEG to P4VP ratio in the block copolymer structure. Because P4VP segments are known to form strong complexes with metals, the nanostructures prepared in this manuscript can find innovative applications in the biomedical field and be used as nano-templates for inorganic materials.
authors.affiliation: CEMUC-Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Polo II, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Daniela P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: CEMUC-Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Polo II, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: João R C
authors.initials: JRC
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: CEMUC-Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Polo II, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal; INEGI-Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management, FEUP Campus, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 400, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: CEMUC-Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Polo II, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Góis
authors.affiliation: CEMUC-Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Polo II, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Arménio C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.affiliation: CEMUC-Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Polo II, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: jcoelho@eq.uc.pt.
authors.forename: Jorge F J
authors.initials: JFJ
authors.lastname: Coelho
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D008823:Micelles; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers; D011725:Pyridines; D014867:Water; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C028210:monomethoxypolyethylene glycol; C029351:4-vinylpyridine
keywords: Amphiphilic block-copolymers; Rod-like micelles; Self-assembly; Worm-like micelles