Synthesis of ABA triblock copolymer nanoparticles by polymerization induced self-assembly and their application as an efficient emulsifier

Abstract

ABA triblock copolymer nanoparticles of PHPMA-b-PS-b-PHPMA were synthesized by PISA and demonstrated to be an efficient emulsifier.

Synthesis of Stimuli‐Responsive Block Copolymers and Block Copolymer Nano‐assemblies

“…Following this PISA adopted RAFT or ATRP, various BCP nano‐assemblies constructed with single BCP and blend with two or above two block copolymers or the BCP and homopolymer blend are prepared, [ 28‐58 ] and their formation and size/morphology evolution during the RAFT polymerization are revealed.…”

“…[ 27 ] By tuning the degree of polymerization (DP) of the solvophilic block or the solvophobic block, the monomer concentration and/or the solvent, various BCP nano‐assemblies with controllable size and morphology are obtained. [ 28‐58 ] These BCPs include AB diblock copolymer, [ 29‐36 ] ABA triblock copolymer, [ 40‐41 ] BAB triblock copolymer, [ 42‐43 ] ABC triblock copolymer, [ 44‐50 ] star block copolymers, [ 37‐39 ] and star ABC terpolymers, [ 51 ] in which A represents solvophilic block and B represents the solvophobic block, respectively. Some of the typical BCP nano‐assemblies including rods, lamellas, vesicles, flower‐like nanoparticles are typically shown in Figure 5.…”

“…To date, a number of BCP nano‐assemblies with different morphologies have already been prepared, including spheres, rods, vesicles, even some complex multicompartment nanostructures. [ 28‐58 ]…”

“…[ 28 ] It is found that in the synthesis of BCP nano‐assemblies following the PISA strategy by RAFT dispersion polymerization, an initial homogeneous polymerization and a subsequent heterogeneous polymerization are involved. Following this PISA strategy, nano‐assemblies of linear [ 29‐36 ] or star AB diblock copolymers, [ 37‐39 ] ABA [ 40‐41 ] or BAB [ 42‐43 ] triblock copolymers, ABC triblock copolymers, [ 44‐50 ] star ABC terpolymers, [ 51 ] the AB/A'B two diblock copolymer mixture, [ 52‐56 ] the AB/B diblock copolymer/homopolymer mixture [ 57 ] and the AB/BAB diblock copolymer/triblock copolymer mixture, [ 58 ] were synthesized, and their growth in particle size and evolution in particle morphology were investigated. To make smart or sensitive nano‐ assemblies, we designed several new thermo‐responsive [ 59‐66 ] and photo‐responsive polymers [ 67‐70 ] and the corresponding BCP nano‐ assemblies.…”

Exploration of the modification-induced self-assembly (MISA) technique and the preparation of nano-objects with a functional poly(acrylic acid) core

“…Therefore, the diblock copolymer should be the optimal model in the MISA system. In other words, the MISA system obeyed the general self-assembly theory [68][69][70][71][72][73][74] and can be used as an alternate route to prepare the nano-objects.…”