Precision polymer nanoparticles
Presented by Prof. Rachel O'Reilly
Hosted by Prof. Luis Campos
Abstract:
Crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) is a powerful tool in the solution polymer self-assembly toolbox and has been utilized to create an impressive range of hierarchical block copolymer structures. Unlike in conventional solution self-assembly, where the range of morphologies obtained are determined by varying the relative block composition of each block, in polymers assembled via CDSA, the formation of micelles with low interfacial curvature is favored. However, despite advances in CDSA there are relatively few examples where the aggregate morphology can be readily controlled to form nanostructures whose size can be controlled in 2 dimensions. Our group has the CDSA of poly(ester) based block copolymers. In this work we present the CDSA of a range of polylactone block copolymers which form a range of self-assembled nanostructures including 2D nanostructures. Using these we have further explored the design rules for the synthesis of such 2D nanomaterials and demonstrated their epitaxial growth, which highlights their potential as biocompatible nanomaterials.
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