Self-assembling Characteristics of Amphiphilic Star Block Copolymers with a Polyelectrolyte Shell

1 Results Amphiphilic block copolymers are capable of forming supramolecular assemblies resembling those observed in nature,such as spherical micelles,worm micelles,and vesicles.Changing the solvent composition,ionic strength or pH of the polymer solution may induce the self-assembly of block copolymers or trigger the transition between the geometries of noncovalent assemblies.In the current work,we have synthesised starlike amphiphilic block copolymers having hydrophobic poly(methyl methacrylate),PMMA,core,and hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid),PAA,shell.The self-assembling characteristics of these polymers have been investigated in aqueous solutions by light scattering and direct visualisation by cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryoTEM)[1]. Computer simulations along with the theoretical predictions made for the star-like system based on mean-field theory have been used to support the experimental observations[2]. The association of the starlike macromolecules resembles that of charged biopolymers,such as actin,since a balance between attractive and repulsive forces is required for the formation of cylindrical assemblies and can be manipulated by changing the pH or the ionic strength of the solvent[3].