Dynamic covalent chemistry is exploited to drive morphological order–order transitions to achieve the controlled release of a model payload (e.g., silica nanoparticles) encapsulated within block copolymer vesicles. More specifically, poly(glycerol monomethacrylate)–poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate) (PGMA–PHPMA) diblock copolymer vesicles were prepared via aqueous polymerization-induced self-assembly in either the presence or absence of silica nanoparticles. Addition of 3-aminophenylboronic acid (APBA) to such vesicles results in specific binding of this reagent to some of the pendent cis-diol groups on the hydrophilic PGMA chains to form phenylboronate ester bonds in mildly alkaline aqueous solution (pH ∼ 10). This leads to a subtle increase in the effective volume fraction of this stabilizer block, which in turn causes a reduction in the packing parameter and hence induces a vesicle-to-worm (or vesicle-to-sphere) morphological transition. The evolution in copolymer morphology (and the associated sol–gel transitions) was monitored using dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, oscillatory rheology, and small-angle X-ray scattering. In contrast to the literature, in situ release of encapsulated silica nanoparticles is achieved via vesicle dissociation at room temperature; moreover, the rate of release can be fine-tuned by varying the solution pH and/or the APBA concentration. Furthermore, this strategy also works (i) for relatively thick-walled vesicles that do not normally exhibit stimulus-responsive behavior and (ii) in the presence of added salt. This novel molecular recognition strategy to trigger morphological transitions via dynamic covalent chemistry offers considerable scope for the design of new stimulus-responsive copolymer vesicles (and hydrogels) for targeted delivery and controlled release of cargoes. In particular, the conditions used in this new approach are relevant to liquid laundry formulations, whereby enzymes require protection to prevent their deactivation by bleach.

We constructed a novel cancer theranostic hybrid platform, based on mesoporous silica-coated gold nanorods (AuNR@MSN) gated by sulfonatocalix[4]arene (SC[4]A) switches, for bio-friendly near-infrared (NIR) light-triggered cargo release in a remote and stepwise fashion. The advantages of supramolecular switches, mesoporous silicas, and AuNRs were combined in one drug delivery system. Mesoporous silicas coated on AuNRs guarantee a high drug payload and can be easily post-functionalized.Significantly, the plasmonic heating from the NIR light-stimulated AuNR cores can decrease the ringstalk binding affinity, leading to the dissociation of SC[4]A rings from the stalks, thus opening the nanovalves and releasing the cargos. The NIR light-responsive mechanized AuNR@MSN offers exciting prospects for non-invasive controlled drug delivery, being more effective and safer than other techniques.

A series of model sterically stabilized diblock copolymer nanoparticles has been designed to aid the development of analytical protocols in order to determine two key parameters: the effective particle density and the steric stabilizer layer thickness. The former parameter is essential for high resolution particle size analysis based on analytical (ultra)centrifugation techniques (e.g., disk centrifuge photosedimentometry, DCP), whereas the latter parameter is of fundamental importance in determining the effectiveness of steric stabilization as a colloid stability mechanism. The diblock copolymer nanoparticles were prepared via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) using RAFT aqueous emulsion polymerization: this approach affords relatively narrow particle size distributions and enables the mean particle diameter and the stabilizer layer thickness to be adjusted independently via systematic variation of the mean degree of polymerization of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks, respectively. The hydrophobic core-forming block was poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate) [PTFEMA], which was selected for its relatively high density. The hydrophilic stabilizer block was poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) [PGMA], which is a well-known non-ionic polymer that remains water-soluble over a wide range of temperatures. Four series of PGMAx–PTFEMAy nanoparticles were prepared (x = 28, 43, 63, and 98, y = 100–1400) and characterized via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). It was found that the degree of polymerization of both the PGMA stabilizer and core-forming PTFEMA had a strong influence on the mean particle diameter, which ranged from 20 to 250 nm. Furthermore, SAXS was used to determine radii of gyration of 1.46 to 2.69 nm for the solvated PGMA stabilizer blocks. Thus, the mean effective density of these sterically stabilized particles was calculated and determined to lie between 1.19 g cm–3 for the smaller particles and 1.41 g cm–3 for the larger particles; these values are significantly lower than the solid-state density of PTFEMA (1.47 g cm–3). Since analytical centrifugation requires the density difference between the particles and the aqueous phase, determining the effective particle density is clearly vital for obtaining reliable particle size distributions. Furthermore, selected DCP data were recalculated by taking into account the inherent density distribution superimposed on the particle size distribution. Consequently, the true particle size distributions were found to be somewhat narrower than those calculated using an erroneous single density value, with smaller particles being particularly sensitive to this artifact.

Nanoparticle occlusion within growing crystals is of considerable interest because (i) it enhances our understanding of biomineralization and (ii) it offers a straightforward route for the preparation of novel nanocomposites. However, robust design rules for efficient occlusion remain elusive. Herein, we report the rational synthesis of a series of silica-loaded poly(glycerol monomethacrylate)-poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate)-poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate)poly(methacrylic acid) tetrablock copolymer vesicles using polymerization-induced self-assembly. The overall vesicle dimensions remain essentially constant for this series, hence systematic variation of the mean degree of polymerization (DP) of the anionic poly(methacrylic acid) steric stabilizer chains provides an unprecedented opportunity to investigate the design rules for efficient nanoparticle occlusion within host inorganic crystals such as calcite. Indeed, the stabilizer DP plays a decisive role in dictating both the extent of occlusion and the calcite crystal morphology: sufficiently long stabilizer chains are required to achieve extents of vesicle occlusion of up to 41 vol% but overly long stabilizer chains merely lead to significant changes in the crystal morphology, rather than promoting further occlusion. Furthermore, steric stabilizer chains comprising anionic carboxylate groups lead to superior occlusion performance compared to those composed of phosphate, sulfate or sulfonate groups. Moreover, occluded vesicles are subjected to substantial deformation forces, as shown by the significant change in shape after their occlusion. It is also demonstrated that such T H-functional silica nanoparticles within calcite. In summary, this study provides important new physical insights regarding the efficient incorporation of guest nanoparticles within host inorganic crystals.