Tuning block copolymer micelles by metal–ligand interactions
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Guillet, Pierre; Fustin, Charles-Andre; Mugemana, Clement; Ott, Christina; Schubert, Ulrich S.; Gohy, Jean-Francois
- Abstract:
- A terpyridine end-capped poly(styrene)-block-poly(tert-butylacrylate) (PS-b-PtBA-[) copolymer has
been synthesized by nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization using a terpyridine-functionalized
initiator. Micellization of this copolymer was achieved in ethanol, a selective solvent for the PtBA
block. The formed micelles consist of a PS core and a PtBA corona. Terpyridine ligands are located at
the extremity of the PtBA chains and are available for complexation with metal ions. The effect of the
addition of various metal ions to this system was studied in the dilute regime by dynamic light
scattering. Whenever the concentration of the micelles is sufficiently low, addition of metal ions only
results in the intramicellar complexation of terpyridine-ended PtBA coronal chains. Since terpyridine
can either form mono-complexes or bis-complexes with metal ions, different situations have been
observed depending on the metal-to-ligand ratio and on the nature of the metal ions. Finally, the
possibility to use these metal–ligand complexes to add an additional poly(ethylene oxide) layer on the
initial micelles has been demonstrated. This new approach opens a pathway to tune the size,
conformation and functionality of coronal chains in block copolymer micelles.
- Year:
- 2008
- Type of Publication:
- Article
- Journal:
- Soft Matter
- Volume:
- 4
- Pages:
- 2278 - 2282