The morphologies of a diblock copolymer spherically confined within a homopolymer were investigated by using the static self-consistent field theory method. A homogeneous - diblock copolymer sphere was surrounded by a homopolymer . Upon changing the diblock volume fraction, homopolymer molecular weight and the interaction between the copolymer and its surrounding environment, different morphologies of the sphere were observed. Our calculations confirmed that when the homopolymer molecular weight was high a complete macrophase separation between the copolymer and the homopolymer was obtained. However, when the homopolymer molecular weight was low the homopolymer penetrated into the copolymer microdomains, diluting the diblock copolymer and reduced the interaction between the diblock copolymer segments and hence preventing them from segregating.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13065-019-0541-7 | DOI Listing |
ACS Nano
January 2025
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.
Block copolymers (BCPs) can form nanoparticles having different morphologies that can be used as photonic nanocrystals and are a platform for drug delivery, sensors, and catalysis. In particular, BCP nanoparticles having disk-like shape have been recently discovered. Such nanodisks can be used as the next-generation antitumor drug delivery carriers; however, the applicability of the existing nanodisks is limited due to their poor or unknown ability to respond to external stimuli.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChem Commun (Camb)
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi - 502 284, Sangareddy, Telangana, India.
An organomagnesium complex containing an imino-phosphanamidinate ligand was found to be a competent catalyst for the ROP of -LA and ε-CL as well as their copolymerization sequential addition of monomers, resulting in the formation of PCL--PLA diblock copolymer. The polymers obtained were characterized by H, C, DOSY NMR, DSC, TGA, POM, and SEM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSoft Matter
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033 Blindern, NO-0315 Oslo, Norway.
Due to the escalating threat of the pathogens' capability of quick adaptation to antibiotics, finding new alternatives is crucial. Although antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are highly potent and effective, their therapeutic use is limited' as they are prone to enzymatic degradation, are cytotoxic and have low retention. To overcome these challenges, we investigate the complexation of the cationic AMP colistin with diblock copolymers poly(ethylene oxide)--poly(methacrylic acid) (PEO--PMAA) forming colistin-complex coacervate core micelles (colistin-C3Ms).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Mater
January 2025
Príncipe Felipe Research Center, Polymer Therapeutics Lab., Valencia, 46012, Spain.
Mitochondria play critical roles in regulating cell fate, with dysfunction correlating with the development of multiple diseases, emphasizing the need for engineered nanomedicines that cross biological barriers. Said nanomedicines often target fluctuating mitochondrial properties and/or present inefficient/insufficient cytosolic delivery (resulting in poor overall activity), while many require complex synthetic procedures involving targeting residues (hindering clinical translation). The synthesis/characterization of polypeptide-based cell penetrating diblock copolymers of poly-L-ornithine (PLO) and polyproline (PLP) (PLO-PLP, n:m ratio 1:3) are described as mitochondria-targeting nanocarriers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolymers (Basel)
December 2024
School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Nanchang University, 999 Xuefu Avenue, Nanchang 330031, China.
Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) as a kind of important functional material are widely used in fuel cells. However, synthetic AEMs generally suffer from low conductivity, poor alkaline stability, and poor dimensional stability. Constructing efficient ion transport channels is widely regarded as one of the most effective strategies for developing AEMs with high conductivity and low swelling ratio.
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