Vesicular self-assembly of copolymer-grafted nanoparticles with anisotropic shapes

Abstract

Plasmonic nanovesicles show broad applications in such as cancer theranostics and drug delivery, but the preparation of nanovesicles from shaped nanoparticles remains challenging. This article describes the vesicular self-assembly of...

Hybrid Polymer Vesicles: Controllable Preparation and Potential Applications

“…15,28,88−93 For example, Nie and colleagues coated AuNPs with amphiphilic linear PS-b-PEO copolymers to produce AuNP amphiphiles (Figure 9a). 28,88,90 In THF/H 2 O mixed solvents, the AuNP amphiphiles underwent BCP-like self-assembly (Figure 9b−e). The BCP chains coating on the AuNP surface enabled the minimization of interfacial energy, and consequently the controlled organization of the amphiphilic AuNPs into vesicles or nanotubes with AuNPs in the middle of the wall.…”

“…In the above-mentioned approach, the number density of NPs is tunable by adjusting the molar ratio of the BCP-coated NP to the copolymer. This approach can be simplified by the self-assembly of amphiphilic NPs alone, which may produce hybrid vesicles with densely packed NPs in the wall. ,,− For example, Nie and colleagues coated AuNPs with amphiphilic linear PS- b -PEO copolymers to produce AuNP amphiphiles (Figure a). ,, In THF/H 2 O mixed solvents, the AuNP amphiphiles underwent BCP-like self-assembly (Figure b–e). The BCP chains coating on the AuNP surface enabled the minimization of interfacial energy, and consequently the controlled organization of the amphiphilic AuNPs into vesicles or nanotubes with AuNPs in the middle of the wall .…”

“…Inorganic nanoparticles (NPs), such as noble metal NPs, semiconducting quantum dots (QDs), and magnetic NPs, exhibit unique optical, electrical, and magnetic properties, which are different from those in their bulk materials. − Assembly of NPs in a specific order may provide physical properties different from those of the individual NPs due to interparticle coupling and/or energy exchange. − Polymer assemblies with different structures provide ideal matrices for organization of inorganic NPs for many purposes, such as improving the stability of particle suspensions, reducing particle toxicity, and affording multifunctions, etc . − Notably, polymer vesicles with three-dimensional (3D) hollow spherical structures offer great flexibilities in modulating the chemical and physical properties of inorganic NPs due to the controllable location of NPs into their walls, interfaces, coronae, or cavities. − With these characteristics, the resultant hybrid vesicles show great potential in a wide range of applications including bioimaging, drug delivery and release, photothermal therapy (PTT), and nanoreactors (NRCs), among many others. − ,, …”