Polymer science block copolymers, self-assembly

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The description in this section has been summarized and adapted from J. Rodriguez-Hernandez et al., Toward smart nano-objects by self-assembly of block copolymers in solution, Progress in Polymer Science, 30 (2005), 691-724 [148],... 

S.B. Darling, Directing the self-assembly of block copolymers. Progress in Polymer Science 32 (10) (2007) 1152-1204. 

Abstract Self-assembly phenomena in block copolymer systems are attracting considerable interest from the scientific community and industry alike. Particularly interesting is the behavior of amphiphilic copolymers, which can self-organize into nanoscale-sized objects such as micelles, vesicles, or tubes in solution, and which form well-defined assemblies at interfaces such as air-liquid, air-solid, or liquid-solid. Depending on the polymer chemistry and architecture, various types of organization at interfaces can be expected, and further exploited for applications in nanotechnology, electronics, and biomedical sciences. 

Silicon-based polymers have interesting properties for the development of new materials. They are characterized by high hydrophobicity and low glass transition temperatures, thus yielding soft materials. Polydimethylsiloxanes, for example, are known for their oxygen permeability, which leads to their application in biomedical sciences. Therefore, a number of studies have concentrated on the amphiphilic self-assembly of block copolymers based on silicon-containing blocks. 

The concept for the design of supramolecular liquid crystals and supramolecular polymers has opened new fields in materials and polymer science, which are ever expanding. New stable and dynamic structures are generated by self-organization of these materials. Related functional polymeric materials such as dendrimers [140-143], block copolymers [144], polymer blends [145,146], rotaxanes [147-149], anisotropic gels [150-152], metallo-supramolecular polymers [153,154], nanoobjects [155,156] as well as supramolecular polymers are also obtained by self-assembly of multicomponents through noncovalent interactions. 

Polymersomes or polymer vesicles are hollow vesicular polymeric structures that possess a hydrophilic core surrounded by hydrophobic monbrane and a hydrophihc outer surface, as shown in the schematic representation in Figure 1.8 (Discher Eisenberg, 2002). Polymersomes are nanometer-sized vesicles that are formed as a result of self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers (Du O Reilly, 2009). These hollow vehicles have generated considerable interest for their application in biomedical and material science because of their attractive properties. Polymersomes can be loaded with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic cargoes simultaneously, along with... 

Cai, C., Zhu, W, Chen, T. et al. (2009) Synthesis and self-assembly behavior of amphiphilic polypeptide-based brush-coil block copolymers. Journal of Polymer Science Part A Polymer Chemistry, 47,5967-5978. 

Figure 19.6 AFM topography images obtained from a drop of copolymer solutions in water deposed on a mica surface (a) low concentration and (b) high concentration, (c) Schematic representation of the concentration effect on the morphology. (Reproduced with permission from A. de Cuendias, E. Ibarboure, S. Lecommandoux et al., Synthesis and self-assembly in water of coil-rod-coil amphiphilic block copolymers with central 7i-conjugated sequence, Journal of Polymer Science Part A Polymer Chemistry, 2008, 46, 4602-4616. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH Co. KGaA.)...

Liu, GJ. (2008) Block copolymer nanotubes derived from self-assembly. Advances in Polymer Science 220,29-64. 

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