Self-assembly is an attractive strategy for organizing molecules into ordered structures that can span multiple length scales. Crystallization Driven Self-Assembly (CDSA) involves a block copolymer with a crystallizable core-forming block and an amorphous corona-forming block that aggregate into micelles with a crystalline core in solvents that are selective for the corona block. CDSA requires core- and corona-forming blocks with very different solubilities. This hinders its use for the self-assembly of purely π-conjugated block copolymers since blocks with desirable optoelectronic properties tend to have similar solubilities. Further, this approach is not readily reversible, precluding stimulus-responsive assembly and disassembly. Here, we demonstrate that selective oxidative doping of one block of a fully π-conjugated block copolymer promotes the self-assembly of redox-responsive micelles. Heteroatom substitution in polychalcogenophenes enables the modulation of the intrinsic polymer oxidation potential. We show that oxidized micelles with a narrow size distribution form spontaneously and disassemble in response to a chemical reductant. This method expands the scope of π-conjugated polymers that can undergo controlled self-assembly and introduces reversible, redox-responsive self-assembly of π-conjugated polymers.
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8159418 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d0sc00806k | DOI Listing |
Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl
July 2021
School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Institute of Bioengineering, BioMAX/N-Bio Institute of Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Institute of Engineering Research, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:
Engineered muscle tissues can be used for the regeneration or substitution of irreversibly damaged or diseased muscles. Recently, graphene oxide (GO) has been shown to improve the adsorption of biomolecules through its biocompatibility and intrinsic π-π interactions. The possibility of producing various GO modifications may also provide additional functionality as substrates for cell culture.
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